Syndecans, Exostosins and Sulfotransferases as Potential Synovial Inflammation Moderators in Patients with Hip Osteoarthritis.

The gradual deterioration of articular cartilage was thought to be the central event in osteoarthritis (OA), but recent studies demonstrated the importance of low-grade synovitis in the progression of OA. The Syndecan (SDC) family of membrane proteoglycans is known to be involved in the regulation of inflammation, but there is limited evidence considering the role of syndecans in OA synovitis. Our study aimed to investigate the hip OA synovial membrane expression patterns of SDC1, SDC2 and SDC4, as well as exostosins and sulfotransferases (enzymes involved in the polymerisation and modification of syndecans' heparan sulphate chains). Synovial membrane samples of patients with OA (24) were divided into two groups according to their Krenn synovitis score severity. The immunohistochemical expressions of SDC1, SDC2, SDC4, EXT1, EXT2, NDST1 and NDST2 in synovial intima and subintima were then analysed and compared with the control group (patients with femoral neck fracture). According to our study, the immunoexpression of SDC1, NDST1 and EXT2 is significantly increased in the intimal cells of OA synovial membrane in patients with lower histological synovitis scores and SDC4 in patients with higher synovitis scores, in comparison with non-OA controls. The difference in the expression of SDC2 among the OA and non-OA groups was insignificant. SDC1, SDC4, NDST1 and EXT2 seem to be involved as inflammation moderators in low-grade OA synovitis and, therefore, should be further investigated as potential markers of disease progression and therapeutic goals.

A retrospective study of antibiotic prophylaxis value in surgical treatment of lower limb fracture.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) are nosocomial infections that cause considerable problems in orthopaedic surgery. Antibiotic prophylaxis can be used to reduce the risk for SSI. There is no universal antibiotic that can be recommended for prophylaxis in terms of coverage of all possible pathogens because of antibiotic resistance, and there are no universal recommendations for different types of patients in terms of injury type, selected operation and risk factors for development of SSI. The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical treatment (ORIF) of closed lower limb fractures in young, healthy patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patient details were collected from the patient histories. Inclusion criteria for participants were age 20-30 years, not suffering from any type of chronic disease or state that may affect postoperative infection and ISS≤9. Antibiotic prophylaxis use and outcome (SSI) were compared between two groups of patients. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test and t-test for proportions. RESULTS: A total of 347 patients with closed lower limb fractures treated with ORIF met the inclusion criteria. There were 290 male and 57 female patients, with an average age of 24.47 years. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to 242 patients (69.74%); 2g ceftriaxone was administered to 88.02% of the patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis. Ten patients developed postoperative infection (eight out of 242 with antibiotic prophylaxis and two out of 105 without antibiotic prophylaxis). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P=0.749). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis was ineffective in preventing SSI in patients with no risk factors for SSI who were undergoing ORIF for closed lower limb fractures.

The Results of Internal Fixation of Proximal Humeral Osteoporotic Fractures with PHILOS Locking Plate.

BACKGROUND: In the last fifty years since plate and screw osteosynthesis has been implemented in fracture treatment, osteosporotic bone fractures were observed as a special problem. Due to special histologic, anatomic, physical and biomehanic properties of osteoporotic changed bone the laws of biomechanics suggest that stable osteosynthesis for osteoporotic bone is necessary to increase the contact surface of metallic implants and bone and the stability of the screw-plate-bone compound. There are numerous surgical techniques and methods for treatment of osteoporotic proximal humeral fractures. Every surgical procedure has to establish anatomical reduction and stable fixation that will enable early mobilisation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to present results of internal fixation of proximal humeral osteoporotic fractures with PHILOS locking plate. Between 2007 and 2012, a total of 67 patients older than 65 years with closed proximal humerus fractures underwent surgical treatment with PHILOS plate system (Synthes, Switzerland). 42 patients were operated with deltopectoral approach and 25 with deltoid split approach. After a mean follow up period of 14.68 (6-28) months functional and radiologic results were assessed. RESULTS: We noted 9 postoperative complications related to surgical technique (1 intraarticular screw placement, 1 displacement in major tuberculum fragment, 1 displacement in major tuberculum fragment along with oblique placement of the plate, 2 cases of inadequate reduction, 1 case of humeral head avascular necrosis, varus humeral head fixation in 3 cases). None of the patients developed superficial or deep surgical infection. There was no nonunions. In the final evaluation, the Constant shoulder score was 91.75 (72-100). CONCLUSIONS: In this study PHILOS locking plate showed good applicability, respecting bone biologic properties because of negligible interference with blood supply of the humeral head. There was no requirement to shape the plate enabling stabilization at constant angles as clear benefit of this plate. All that enables early mobilisation, and no implant insufficiency resulting in satisfactory treatment results and high Constant shoulder scores.