Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Year:2023 | Volume:11 | Issue:12|Papers Count:11

Objectives: Based on WHO data, as of June 2022, there were 532. 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases globally. In the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients experiencing critical illness marked by severe respiratory distress were commonly subjected to corticosteroid treatment. Regrettably, the administration of exogenous corticosteroids stands as the prevailing cause of ONFH. In the current narrative review, we aim to evaluate if active screening should be utilized to diagnose post-COVID-19 ONFH in its early stages. Methods: The databases for PubMed, CINAHL, and Science Direct were systematically queried in March 2022. The search terms were as follows: “COVID-19”, “severe acute respiratory syndrome”, “coronavirus”, “systemic steroid”, “corticosteroid”, “femoral head osteonecrosis”, “avascular necrosis”, or “steroid therapy. ” The included studies for review were all required to be peer-reviewed studies in the English language with Reported complications linked to steroid therapy in COVID-19 patients or potential connections to the development of ONFH in individuals recovering from the novel coronavirus have been documented. Results: Systemic corticosteroids were frequently employed in managing critically ill COVID-19 patients. The CDC reports up to June 2022 showed more than 4. 8 million COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US, with approximately over one million patients receiving steroids. In a study of ONFH after infection with COVID-19, all patients had bilateral involvement. The average duration from the initiation of corticosteroid treatment to the onset of symptoms was 132. 8 days. Conclusion: In summary, a distinct correlation exists between the administration of steroids to individuals with COVID19 and the subsequent risk of ONFH. Moreover, an elevated dosage and prolonged duration of steroid therapy in COVID-19 patients are associated with an increased likelihood of developing ONFH. Therefore, active screening for high-risk patients, that may have received systemic corticosteroid treatment during a COVID-19 illness, may be reasonable. Level of evidence: IV

Objectives: As COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic, understanding our historical response allows us to predict and improve our current practices in preparation for the next pandemic. Following the removal of the elective surgery suspension at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear whether sports medicine surgery volume has returned to pre-pandemic levels as well as whether the backlog from the original suspension was addressed. The purpose of this study to observe the monthly changes in volume and backlog of knee and shoulder sports surgery one year since the original suspension. Methods: National all-payer data was utilized to identify patients undergoing knee and shoulder sports procedures from January 2017 to April 2021. Descriptive analysis was utilized to report the monthly changes in surgeries. A linear forecast analysis using historical data was utilized to determine the expected volume. This was compared to the observed case volume. The difference in expected and observed volume was utilized to calculate the estimated change in backlog. Results: From March to May 2020, there was a persistent decrease in the observed shoulder and knee sports volume when compared to the expected volume. By June 2020, all knee and shoulder sports volume reached the expected volume. By April 2021, the estimated backlog for shoulder and knee procedures had increased by 49. 8% (26, 412 total cases) and 19. 0% (26, 412 total cases), respectively, with respect to the original calculated backlog from March to May 2020. Conclusion: Within four months, the sudden decrease in volume for knee and shoulder sports procedures had returned to pre-pandemic levels,however, the original backlog in cases has continually increased one year following the suspension. Additionally, the backlog is significantly higher for knee when compared to shoulder surgeries. Level of evidence: IV

Objectives: The increasing number of total hip arthroplasties (THA) has led to increased patient demands and expectations, making it crucial to assess patients' ability to "forget" their implants in daily life. This study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of a Persian version of the Forgotten Joint Score (P-FJS) in THA patients. Methods: The questionnaire was translated bidirectionally with the permission of the questionnaire designer. Data were collected from 2018 to 2020 and included 142 patients who had undergone THA by the same surgeon at least one year ago. Participants completed the FJS questionnaire twice within a one-week interval, and the validity, reliability, and feasibility of the questionnaires were assessed using statistical tests on the HHS and OHS forms completed by all participants. Results: In 142 patients (52. 1% male) with a mean age of 65 ± 0. 5 years who answered the questionnaires, P-FJS correlated strongly with OHS and HHS. The internal consistency (α = 0. 91) and reproducibility of the questionnaire were excellent. None of the floor and ceiling effects were detected. Conclusion: The P-FJS questionnaire in the THA is considered a legitimate, repeatable, and self-administered survey that can be compared to its English-language counterpart. In addition, it is noteworthy that this version does not show any floor or ceiling effects. Level of evidence: III

Objectives: Dislocation rate of total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be as high as 20% for patients with fracture neck of femur, which is a disastrous complication in these vulnerable patients. Numerous techniques, including bipolar arthroplasty and constrained liner, have been adopted to minimize the risk of dislocation. We aimed to evaluate the role of dual mobility Cups in treating patients with fractures of the femoral neck with high risk of postoperative dislocation due to neuromuscular instability disorders. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted (place is blinded as asked during submission), between 2016 and 2019, with a post-operative follow up period of two years. We included skeletally mature patients with femoral neck fractures having neuromuscular disorders and cognitive dysfunction who are candidates for THA above 60 years. Patients were then followed up clinically and radiographically at the clinic using Harris Hip Score (HHS) and x-rays at six weeks, six months, one year and two years postoperatively. Results: Twenty patients (20 hips) with femoral neck fractures with high risk of postoperative dislocation due to neuromuscular instability disorders undergoing dual mobility cup were included. The mean age of patients was 70. 5 ±6. 42 years. There is highly significant difference between HHS preoperatively and postoperatively (six weeks, six months and one, two years) p<0. 001. Infection occurred in one case (5 %), sciatic nerve injury occurred in one case (5%), and none of the patients had postoperative dislocation. Conclusion: Dual mobility cup is effective in preventing early dislocation in patients suffered from fracture neck of femur with muscle weakness due to neurologic disorders. Level of evidence: IV

Objectives: The most critical step in the calculation of final limb length discrepancy (LLD) is estimating the length of the short limb after skeletal maturity(Sm). Paley's multiplier method is a fast, convenient method for calculating Sm and LLD after skeletal maturity,nonetheless, the calculation of the process of Sm and LLD in acquired type cases is complex in contrast to congenital type in this method. Notwithstanding. The multiplier method uses a variable called "growth inhibition" for the calculation process in acquired type LLD,however, its mathematical proof has not been published yet. The present study aims to find out whether there is an alternative way to estimate the length of Sm and LLD in skeletal maturity without using growth inhibition (GI) and its com plex calculation process in acquired type LLD. Methods: We used trigonometric equations to prove the GI concept and conducted proportionality analysis to calculate the length of short limbs and LLD in skeletal maturity without using GI. Results: Based on the results, the following proportionality can estimate the length of the short limb in skeletal maturity. (ΔLm/ΔL = ΔSm/ΔS) Conclusion: The GI concept can be proved trigonometrically,nonetheless, its numerical value is not necessary for estimating the length of the short limb in skeletal maturity. Instead, a simple proportionality analysis serves the purpose of calculation. Level of evidence: II

Objectives: Quantitative biomechanical tests, along with physical assessment, may be useful to understand kinematics associated with graft types in anterior cruciate ligament surgery, particularly in individuals aiming for a safe return to sport. Methods: Sixty male soccer players in three groups participated in this study. Three equal groups of healthy, auto transplanted and allotransplanted participants, matched for age, gender, activity level and functional status, landed with one foot on a force plate. Their kinematic information was recorded by the motion analyzer and used to describe coordination the variability by measuring coupling angles using vector coding. Results: The coordination variability of the allograft group in the surgical limb was significantly greater than that of the healthy group at least 9 months after the reconstructive surgery of the ACL and at the stage of return to sports, (F (6, 35) = 2. 79, p = 0. 025,Wilk's Λ = 0. 676, partial η2 = 0. 32). The coordination pattern in the surgical and healthy limbs of the surgical groups also differed from that of the healthy people, which was more pronounced in the allograft group, (F (6, 35) = 2. 61, p = 0. 034,Wilk's Λ = 0. 690, partial η2 = 0. 31). Conclusion: These results show that the allograft group has a different coordination variability at return to sport than the healthy group, so they may need more time for excessive training and competition. Level of evidence: II

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and low bone mineral content (BMC) as chronic complications of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and identify the associated variables and patient characteristics to investigate the relationship between BMD and influential factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 54 patients with JSLE, including 38 females and 16 males. The BMD and BMC were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the hip (femoral neck) and the lumbar spine. Low BMD was considered a Z-score <-2. The study investigated the association of BMC and Z-score with the current daily dose of corticosteroids, the daily dose of corticosteroids at disease onset, the duration of disease, the duration of steroid treatment, the time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, and renal involvement. Results: The prevalence of low BMD in the lumbar spine and the femoral neck was 14. 8% and 18. 5%, respectively,the reduction of BMD was more significant in the femoral neck compared to the lumbar spine. Osteoporosis was detected in one patient. The multiple linear regression analysis found a significant association between a higher daily corticosteroid dose and lower BMC of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine. In addition, patients receiving higher doses of corticosteroids at disease onset showed better follow-up bone mineral densitometry results. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, JSLE more affects the femoral neck than the lumbar spine. Patients receiving a more robust treatment with higher doses of corticosteroids at disease onset (to control the inflammatory processes) showed better spinal BMC results. A higher dose of daily corticosteroid treatment during assessment was identified as a risk factor for low BMD. Level of evidence: IV

A 41-year-old man underwent Total Knee Arthroplasty with NexGen Legacy Constrained Condylar Knee (LCCK) system to treat his nonunion of distal femur, stiff knee, and malunion of tibia plateau. The treatment involved femoral and tibial stems and PS polyethylene. As a result, his knee range of motion improved, and he no longer experienced pain. After two years, he resumed work without any signs of loosening or stiffness. Level of evidence: IV

Low back pain is one of the most common pathologies worldwide. When conservative treatment fails to yield good results, surgery is the recommended approach. Despite spinal fusion, some patients continue to experience persistent low back pain. This is where a series of studies come into play to detect the source of treatment failure. The use of bone scintigraphy with SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) in combination with computed tomography (CT) has greatly improved the anatomical localization of abnormalities found in SPECT. While pseudoarthrosis is a significant cause of spinal fusion failure, in recent years, it has been observed that certain low-virulence pathogens are also implicated in persistent low back pain. This is the focus of our s tudy, in which we identified two patients with persistent low back pain after surgery, both of whom tested positive for chronic low-grade infection using SPECT/CT. Level of evidence: IV

We read with great interest the article "Closing-Wedge and Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy as Successful Treatments of Symptomatic Medial Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial" by Mohammadreza Safdari et al [1]. We appreciate the authors' efforts to describe the efficacy of high tibial osteotomy as a treatment for medial osteoarthritis of the knee. However, we had several concerns about the study results and believe that the authors' responses may help to address them.

We read with great interest the article “Trans-Table Intraoperative Fluoroscopic Technique for Obtaining a True Lateral View of the Proximal Femur in the Lateral Decubitus Position” by Pisoudeh, K et al [1]. We acknowledge the authors' efforts to elucidate the effectiveness of trans-table intraoperative fluoroscopy as a technique for obtaining a true lateral view in the management of proximal femoral fractures. However, we had several concerns about the study results and believe that the authors' responses may help to address them.