When is a spine fused?

The ability to correctly diagnose spinal non-union is vital to our ability to diagnose and treat patients with new or recurrent symptoms following spine fusion and to accurately assess the efficacy of spine fusion techniques and technologies. Surgical exploration has traditionally been the gold-standard investigation for spinal non-union. As routine surgical exploration is impractical in the majority of patients the use of non-invasive radiologic methods of spine fusion assessment is necessary. The purpose of this paper is to outline the most common radiologic methods of spine fusion assessment including the strengths and limitations associated with each imaging modality. In addition we will review the best-available evidence for the use of radiologic investigations to diagnose spine non-unions. We will then provide recommendations for what we believe to be the best methods of diagnosing successful union of cervical interbody, lumbar interbody and lumbar posterolateral fusions that can be used by spine clinicians and researchers alike.     

Assessing the relationship of the peroneal nerve to the posterolateral corner of the knee and influence of race on its dimensions– A MRI based study in Indian population

BackgroundThe relationship of Common peroneal nerve (CPN) to the posterolateral corner of the knee joint is important for surgeons who perform total knee arthroplasty to avoid injury to the nerve during surgery. This relationship varies among different races on account of anthropometry. This study aims to evaluate the anatomical location of this nerve in Indian patients using an MRI based reference system.Methods213 knee magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were evaluated in axial plane 8 mm below the joint line for distance of the CPN from the closest posterolateral capsule. The angle of the CPN from the center of the tibial anteroposterior axis and relation of CPN with respect to the popliteus were evaluated. A comparative analysis of these measurements among Caucasian, Chinese and Indian patients was made to evaluate for any differences.ResultsThe mean distance between the CPN and the knee capsule was 15.55 mm (range, 7.8–26.2 mm). The mean angle of the CPN from the center of the AP axis was 50.1° (range, 38–63). CPN was found to be in line with the popliteus from center of the knee in 62% cases. There was no significant difference among the different races among the measured parameters (p > 0.005).ConclusionThis study establishes a “danger zone” and a “safe zone” to avoid CPN injury in total knee arthroplasty in Indian patients and identifies anatomic landmarks to localize the nerve before the soft-tissues release in order to avoid direct injury.     

Posterior approaches to the ankle – an analysis of 3 approaches for access to the posterior malleolar fracture

BackgroundAn anatomical study to determine what degree of access to the posterior distal tibia could be gained by using 3 different approaches; the posterolateral, the posteromedial and the medial posteromedial approaches.MethodsA comparison study, between the anatomical dissection of 7 fresh frozen cadaveric lower legs and image analysis of CT data of posterior malleolar fractures from a prospectively collected database was conducted. All fractures have been classified using the Mason and Molloy classification.ResultsIn comparing the posterior malleolar fracture fragment width to distal tibia width, the posterolateral fragment encompasses 60.1% (95% CI 56.8, 63.3) of the total width of the tibia. If the posteromedial fragment is included the fragments encompass the entire distal tibia (100%). In type 3 fractures, 81.4% (95% CI 75.5, 87.1) of the distal tibia width is involved.When comparing the fracture width to the approach, no approach achieves a complete exposure of the type 2B or 3 fracture patterns. The overall surface area of the type 2B and 3 fractures, is significantly greater than all the approaches. Considering the lateral to medial extent of the fracture, the posterolateral fragment mean width is 33% greater than what can be exposed by the posterolateral approach (mean 24.9 vs 16.8 mm). In type 2B and 3 fractures, the horizontal exposure reduces to 39.8% and 47.6% respectively. In comparison, the PM approach exposes 47.6% of the type 2B fracture pattern and 57.1% of the type 3 fracture pattern and allows a preferable angle for hardware insertion. The MPM approach does not expose any of the posterolateral fragments in this study, however it does expose 92% (mean 21.9 vs. 23.8 mm) of the medial to lateral width of a posteromedial fragment of a type 2B fracture.ConclusionEach approach allows access to different parts and amounts of the posterior tibia. An understanding of and utilisation of these approaches can lead to adequate exposure for fixation of most posterior malleolus fracture patterns seen.     

胫骨平台后外侧柱骨折手术患者发生切口感染的手术室相关因素及对策分析

目的探讨胫骨平台后外侧柱骨折手术患者发生切口感染的手术室相关因素及对策分析。方法选择2015年1月～2018年6月在我院治疗的胫骨平台后外侧柱骨折的患者383例的临床资料进行回顾性分析,根据术后是否发生切口感染分为感染组(n=36)与非感染组(n=347)。统计切口病原菌分布情况,分析影响患者术后切口感染手术室相关因素,并探讨预防对策。结果 36例患者共分离出病原菌48株。革兰阳性菌比例最高,占66.7%,其中金黄色葡萄球菌构成比最高,其次为表皮葡萄球菌。革兰阴性菌中铜绿假单胞菌是主要菌株,分离出1例真菌。多因素分析结果显示:急诊手术、有参观人员、接台手术、手术时间≥3 h是胫骨平台后外侧柱骨折患者术后切口感染的独立危险因素,而层流室是保护因素(P0.05)。结论胫骨平台后外侧柱骨折手术患者术后切口感染的手术室相关因素包括急诊手术、有参观人员、接台手术、手术时间≥3 h,应加强手术室相关管理,采取必要的措施,降低术后切口感染风险。     

Allograft alone versus allograft with bone marrow concentrate for the healing of the instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion

Background contextSpondylodesis in the operative management of lumbar spine diseases has been the subject of numerous studies over several decades. The posterolateral fusion (PLF) with pedicle screw fixation is a commonly used procedure.PurposeTo determine whether the addition of bone marrow concentrate (BMC) to allograft bone increases fusion rate after instrumented posterior lumbar fusion.Study designThe study was prospective, randomized, controlled, and blinded.MethodsEighty patients with degenerative disease of the lumbar spine underwent instrumented lumbar or lumbosacral PLF (22 men, 58 women; body mass index less than 35 for a good visualization of the PLF in the X-rays). In 40 cases, the PLF was done with spongious allograft chips alone (Group I, age 62.7 years in average, range 47–77 years, level of fusion 1–2). In another 40 cases, spongious allograft chips were mixed with BMC (Group II, age 58.5 years in average, range 42–80, level of fusion 1–3), including the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Patients were scheduled for anteroposterior and lateral radiographs 12 and 24 months after the surgery and for computed tomography scanning 24 months after the surgery. Fusion status and the degree of mineralization of the fusion mass were evaluated separately by two radiologists blinded to patient group affiliation. The bony mass was judged as fused if there was uninterrupted bridging of well-mineralized bone between the transverse processes or sacrum, with trabeculation indicating bone maturation on least at one side of the spines.ResultsIn Group I at 12 months, the bone graft mass was assessed in X-rays as fused in no cases (0%) and at 24 months in four cases (10%). In Group II, 6 cases (15%) achieved fusion at 12 months and 14 cases (35%) at 24 months. The statistically significant difference between both groups was proven for complete fusion at both 12 (p=.041) and 24 months (p=.011). Computed tomography scans showed that 16 cases (40%) in Group I and 32 cases (80%) in Group II had evidence of at least unilateral continuous bridging bone between neighboring vertebrae at 24 months (p<.05).ConclusionsWe have confirmed the hypothesis that the autologous BMC together with the allograft is a better alternative for PLF than the allograft alone. The use of autologous MSCs in form of BMC in combination with allograft is an effective option to enhance the PLF healing.     

Is the popliteus tendon always inserted antero-inferiorly 18.5 mm from the lateral collateral ligament of the femur? Magnetic resonance imaging and cadaveric evaluations

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyze the locations of the femoral attachments of the popliteus tendon (PT) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cadaveric dissection in a Korean population and compare with literature standards to determine whether variability exists.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed knee MRIs from 87 cases selected from January 2017 to December 2018. The relationship between the femoral attachment of PT and LCL was analyzed by MRI using PACS and Image J. In addition, the femoral attachments of each structure were identified and marked in 14 unpaired human cadaveric knees. Three-dimensional models were reconstructed, and the surface area, location and distances were analyzed.ResultsOn MRI, the femoral attachment of PT was located at mean distances of 0.89 mm posterior and 9.35 mm inferior to the LCL femoral attachment. We identified three groups of PT locations relative to the LCL on MRI evaluation: parallel (63%), posterior (29%), and anterior (8%). On cadaveric evaluation, the femoral attachment of the PT was located at mean distances of 0.77 mm posterior and 8.90 mm inferior to the LCL femoral attachment. We also identified three groups of PT locations relative to the LCL on cadaveric evaluation: parallel (43%), posterior (36%), and anterior (21%).ConclusionsBased on both MRI and cadaveric evaluations in a Korean population, the femoral attachment of the PT is located just distal to and posterior to the LCL. The differences between the centroids of the femoral attachments of the two structures was approximately 9.7 mm, suggesting that racially based anatomical differences of the posterolateral corner may exist.     

前路辅助上方关节囊入路全髋关节置换对髋臼假体位置及术后早期髋关节功能的影响

目的 探讨前路经皮辅助上方关节囊入路（Anterior SuperPATH）行人工全髋关节置换术（THA）对髋臼假体位置及早期髋关节功能的影响。方法 回顾性分析2019年11月至2022年6月在我院行THA的75例病人的临床资料,根据手术入路不同分为两组,38例采用前路经皮辅助上方关节囊入路的病人纳入前路通道组,37例采用传统后外侧入路的病人纳入后外侧组。记录并比较两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后卧床时间、住院时间、术后24 h疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分,以及术后1周、1个月的髋关节Harris评分。术后拍摄骨盆正位X线片,测量髋臼假体的外展角与前倾角,并与Lewinnek安全区（髋臼外展角40°±10°、髋臼前倾角15°±10°）进行比较,评估放置髋臼假体的准确性。结果 病人随访8~21个月,平均为12.1个月。所有病人术后6个月均未见脱位。前路通道组手术时间长于后外侧组,手术出血量少于后外侧组,术后卧床时间与住院时间短于后外侧组,术后24 h的VAS评分低于后外侧组,术后1周、1个月的髋关节Harris评分高于后外侧组,两组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。前路通道组的外展角和前倾角分别为42.78°±4.98°、15.29°±4.97°,二者均在安全区域的比例为84.2%（32/38）;后外侧组的外展角和前倾角分别为41.49°±5.50°、13.58°±4.74°,二者均在安全区域的比例为83.8%（31/37）;两组间比较,差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 采用前路经皮辅助上方关节囊入路和后外侧入路行THA,髋臼假体位置无明显差异。虽然前路经皮辅助上方关节囊入路手术时间更长,但能明显减少手术出血,缓解手术疼痛,缩短住院时间,加速康复。     

Surgical treatment of posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner injuries. An anatomical, biomechanical and clinical review

The posterior cruciate ligament has become an increasingly popular subject of orthopaedic research and debate. While biomechanical studies have shown its role as major stabilizer of the knee, clinical studies have shown its increasing incidence. Furthermore, injuries to posterolateral structures are frequently encountered and failure to recognize and treat this associated injury may lead to stretching or failure of the cruciate reconstruction. Surgical reconstruction of isolated/combined injuries is now more effective than before and different technical options are now available for the surgeon, even if much work remains ahead of us as we try to understand how to successfully treat these complex knee injuries.     

直接前入路与后外侧入路全髋关节置换临床疗效的Meta分析

目的 比较经直接前入路(DAA)与后外侧入路(PLA)行全髋关节置换手术的临床疗效。方法 在中国知网数据库、万方数据库、PubMed数据库、Cochrane数据库,以“全髋关节置换”“直接前入路”“后外侧入路”和“direct anterolateral approach”“posterolateral approach”“total hip arthroplasty”为关键词,计算机检索2010年1月—2018年4月国内外已发表关于经DAA与PLA行全髋关节置换术的病例对照研究或随机对照试验的中英文文献,严格评价文献质量,并提取相关数据,运用RevMan 5.3软件对手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间、术后疼痛VAS、术后髋关节功能Harris评分(HHS),以及并发骨折、感染、脱位情况进行Meta分析。结果 纳入14项研究共6 341例患者,其中经DAA手术3 282例,经PLA手术3 059例。3项随机对照试验Cochrane偏倚风险评估均为低风险,11项病例对照研究NOS评分,高质量10项、较高质量1项。Meta分析结果显示,经DAA较PLA 平均手术时间长(WMD=17.26, 95%CI 7.22～27.30, P＜0.05 ),平均术中出血量多(WMD=113.50, 95%CI-1.13～228.14, P=0.05),平均住院时间短(WMD=-0.56, 95%CI -0.94～-0.17, P＜0.05),术后疼痛VAS低(WMD=2.01, 95%CI 0.74～3.28, P＜0.05),术后髋关节功能恢复好(WMD=2.01, 95%CI 0.74～3.28, P＜0.05),差异均有统计学意义;而术后并发骨折(OR=1.25, 95%CI 0.88～1.77, P＞0.05)、感染(OR=0.77, 95%CI 0.21～2.79, P＞0.05)、髋关节脱位(OR=0.68, 95%CI 0.40～1.18, P＞0.05),经DAA和PLA比较差异均无统计学意义。结论 经DAA与PLA行全髋关节置换术均能获得基本满意的临床效果,经DAA手术平均住院时间短,术后疼痛轻,髋关节功能恢复较好;而经PLA手术时间短,术中出血量少。