Plain radiographic findings in anterior cruciate ligament injury and repair

Although magnetic resonance imaging is the most accurate imaging method of evaluating the anterior cruciate ligament, several plain radiographic signs suggestive of anterior cruciate ligament injury have been described. Plain radiographs also play an important role in evaluating anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.     

Closing patellar tendon defects after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: absence of any benefit

The most common graft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery involves using the central one-third of the patellar tendon. Knowledge concerning the postoperative disability after harvesting the patellar tendon is, however, limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact patellar tendon suture and bone grafting of the patellar bone defect might have in terms of functional outcome and patellofemoral pain after harvesting the bone-tendon-bone graft, compared with leaving the harvested site non-sutured and non-grafted. Sixty patients, scheduled for arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction, were randomly allocated to two groups. In group I, suture of the patellar tendon and bone grafting of the patellar defect were performed. In group II, the tendon gap and the patellar defect were left open. Preoperatively, there was no significant difference between the groups when comparing objective knee stability, as measured with a KT-1000 laxity meter, Lysholm score, Tegner activity level, IKDC score, or patellofemoral pain score. Both groups had a significantly improved Lysholm score at the 2-year follow-up, without any difference between them. Tegner's activity level was significantly lower at follow-up, compared with the pre-injury level in both groups. The patellofemoral pain score improved significantly after the reconstruction, without any difference between the groups. Ultrasonography did not reveal any difference between the groups in terms of healing of the tendon gap. This study revealed no differences in donor site morbidity, functional outcome, patellofemoral pain score or knee joint stability between the two treatment groups. The conclusion is that suture of the patellar tendon and bone grafting of the patellar defect do not improve the functional results or reduce donor site morbidity after arthroscopically assisted ACL. Received: 17 December 1996 Accepted: 30 July 1997     

Transfer of lumbosacral load to iliac bones and legs Part 1: Biomechanics of self-bracing of the sacroiliac joints and its significance for treatment and exercise

This study deals primarily with the stability of the base of the spine. The sacroiliac joints are vulnerable to shear loading on account of their predominantly flat surfaces. This raises the question of what mechanisms are brought into action to prevent dislocation of the sacroiliac joints when they are loaded by the weight of the upper part of the body and by trunk muscle forces. First a model is introduced to compare load transfer in joints with spherical and with flat joint surfaces. Next we consider a biomechanical model for the equilibrium of the sacrum under load, describing a self-bracing effect that protects the sacroiliac joints against shear according to ‘the sacroiliac joint compression theory’, which has been demonstrated in vitro. The model shows joint stability by the application of bending moments and the configuration of the pelvic arch. The model includes a large number of muscles (e.g. the gluteus maximus and piriformis muscles), ligaments (e.g. the sacrotuberous, sacrospinal, and dorsal and interosseous sacroiliac ligaments) as well as the coarse texture and the ridges and grooves of the joint surfaces.     

骨桥栓桩与界面螺钉固定前交叉韧带重建移植物胫骨端的临床价值对比

对比骨桥栓桩与界面螺钉在膝关节前交叉韧带断裂重建术中的临床价值。方法 回顾性分析2019年7月—2020年12月我院700例在关节镜下行前交叉韧带重建手术的患者,股骨隧道均以横穿钉固定。按移植物胫骨端固定方式分为骨桥栓桩组（380例）及界面螺钉组（320例）。对比两组手术时间、切口长度、住院时间及费用;比较两组术后3个月、12个月胫骨隧道大小、膝关节功能Lyshlom评分及术后12个月关节松弛度。结果 两组患者手术时间、胫骨端切口长度、住院时间比较差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,但骨桥栓桩组手术费用显著低于界面螺钉组（P＜0.05）。术后3个月、12个月两组患者胫骨隧道大小、膝关节功能Lyshlom评分及关节松弛度比较差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,但随着时间的延长,两组患者隧道均有不同程度的扩大（P＜0.05）。结论 对于行关节镜下前交叉韧带重建术的患者,采用骨桥栓桩胫骨端固定方式可取得与界面螺钉固定相当的临床效果,但骨桥栓桩固定更具医疗经济优势,是一种可广泛推广的胫骨端固定方法     

Inhibitory effect of amiloride and gadolinium on fine afferent nerves in the rat knee: evidence of mechanogated ion channels in joints

Synovial joints are complex sensory organs which provide continuous feedback regarding position sense and degree of limb movement. The transduction mechanisms which convert mechanical forces acting on the joint into an electrochemical signal which can then be transmitted to the central nervous system are not well understood. The present investigation examined the effect of the mechanogated ion channel blockers amiloride and gadolinium on knee joint mechanosensitivity. In deeply anaesthetised rats (sodium thiopental: 100–120 mg/kg, i.p.), single unit extracellular recordings were made from knee joint group III (Aδ) and group IV (C) primary afferents in response to mechanical rotation of the joint. Afferent firing rate was measured before and after topical application of either amiloride (0.1 mM, 1 mM) or gadolinium (250 μM) onto the receptive field of the sensory unit and recording was continued every 10 min up to a total of 50 min. With normal rotation of the knee, joint mechanosensitivity was significantly reduced by both amiloride (P<0.0001; n=10–21) and gadolinium (P=0.001; n=12) and this effect was sustained throughout the recording period. This investigation provides the first in vivo electrophysiological evidence that joint mechanotransduction involves the activation of amiloride and gadolinium-sensitive mechanogated ion channels. Future studies to determine the mechanogated ion channel subtypes present in joints and the modulation of their gating properties during inflammation may yield novel approaches for the control of arthritis pain. Funding: JJMcD is funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, and the Arthritis Society of Canada.     

Ligament tissue engineering: an evolutionary materials science approach

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is important for knee stabilization. Unfortunately, it is also the most commonly injured intra-articular ligament. Due to poor vascularization, the ACL has inferior healing capability and is usually replaced after significant damage has occurred. Currently available replacements have a host of limitations, this has prompted the search for tissue-engineered solutions for ACL repair. Presently investigated scaffolds range from twisted fiber architectures composed of silk fibers to complex three-dimensional braided structures composed of poly (l-lactic acid) fibers. The purpose of these tissue-engineered constructs is to apply approaches such as the use of porous scaffolds, use of cells, and the application of growth factors to promote ligament tissue regeneration while providing mechanical properties similar to natural ligament.     

子宫阔韧带内静脉的解剖学研究及其临床意义

子宫底和体上部的静脉汇集于子宫角处浅出,应称子宫上静脉。该静脉续为卵巢静脉。子宫上静脉1条者占30%,2条者占56.7%,3条者占13.3%。子宫上静脉与输卵管峡部中点相对处的口径是3.7±0.2mm,卵巢丛与子宫上静脉汇合后的口径为5.0±0.4mm。输卵管峡部中点与子宫上静脉的间距为6.3±0.6mm。在输卵管系膜中见有输卵管静脉汇入子宫上静脉。本文研究结果认为盆腔静脉淤血症的发生,与结扎手术中损伤子宫上静脉和输卵管静脉有关。     

Transcatheter arterial embolization of abnormal neovessels in a swine model of knee arthritis

BackgroundIn recent years, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS) has attracted attention as a treatment for relieving osteoarthritis (OA) pain. However, IPM/CS is not approved by Japanese medical insurance for use as an embolic material. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new embolic materials for TAE to relieve OA pain. The purpose of this study was to develop a swine model of knee arthritis and embolize abnormal neovessels (ANs) using two different embolic materials. We compared the embolic effects and tissue damage in knees.MethodsKnee arthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of papain into 12 knees in six female swine. The swine were divided into two groups of three swine each (six knees per group) for embolization of ANs in the knees with either IPM/CS or soluble gelatin sponge particles (SGSs). Three days after embolization, we compared the embolic effects using angiography and the tissue damage histopathologically.ResultsANs were observed in all 12 knees at 42 days after papain injection. The ANs disappeared and the patent arteries were recanalized 3 days after TAE in all 12 knees. Histopathological evaluation revealed synovitis changes, such as synovial thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration, in all 12 knees. There was no evidence of skin or muscle necrosis in either group. The appearance of ANs, recanalization of the parent arteries, and histopathological outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionSGSs were as safe as IPM/CS for TAE of ANs in this swine model of knee arthritis.     

Acoustic transmission in normal human hips: structural testing of joint symmetry

An acoustical technique has been developed for the measurement of structural symmetry of the hip joints. A mild vibratory force was applied to the sacrum and sound signals were picked up at both hips by a pair of microphones installed in two stethoscopes. These stethoscope–microphone assembles were calibrated to achieve a difference in relative sensitivity of less than 0.2 dB. The relative transmission of sound signals was analysed and compared between both hips by a dual-channel signal analyser. Twenty-seven healthy adults, 20 healthy pre-school children and 19 normal neonates were tested. Results from these three groups showed high coherence of the sound signals and that the discrepancy between both hips was smallest in the frequency range of 200–315 Hz. For normal neonates, the sound signals maintained a high coherence (γ²>0.97) and small discrepancy (D<1.25 dB) between both hips. This study has shown that the acoustical technique provides a practical structural testing for bony symmetry of the hips and the results offer a baseline for further investigation into developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in neonates. Clinical screening for DDH is still problematic in developing countries.     

下胫腓联合分离内固定术式的生物力学研究

目的　探讨下胫腓联合分离采用新型内固定术式———下胫腓钩板固定器 (Hook -platefixation ,HPF)的生物力学特性 ,与螺钉、钢板和带钩固定器三种内固定方式比较 ,为临床提供科学依据。方法　采用新鲜成人尸体足标本 6具 ,运用生物力学实验应力分析方法和压敏片技术 ,测量不同内固定术式的远端胫腓骨强度、应变、负重面积、接触应力和足弓承载能力及踝关节稳定性的变化。结果　新型下胫腓钩板固定器内固定术式无论在胫腓骨强度和刚度、负重面积、接触压力、足弓的变形、移位强度和刚度、承载能力以及踝关节的稳定性方面均优于其它三种内固定术式 ,具有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　实验结果表明 ,采用下胫腓钩板固定器 (HPF) ,既有利于提高生物力学性能 ,又有利于改善踝关节的稳定性 ,与传统手术方式相比可减少一次手术 ,避免了断钉等并发症 ,且能有效地提高足部承载能力 ,是下胫腓联合分离内固定的一种优良术式