[Short-term effectiveness of robot-guided femoral neck system combined with cannulated compression screw fixation in treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients].

Objective: To investigate short-term effectiveness of robot-guided femoral neck system (FNS) combined with cannulated compression screw (CCS) fixation in treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients. Methods: A clinical data of 49 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fractures, who met the selection criteria and admitted between January 2021 and June 2023, was retrospectively analyzed. After reduction of femoral neck fractures, 27 cases were treated with robot-guided FNS fixation (FNS group) and 22 cases with robot-guided FNS and CCS fixation (FNS+CCS group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, cause of fracture, time from fracture to operation, fracture side, and classification (Garden classification and Pauwels classification) between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, the time when the patient began bearing weight, and hip joint pain and functional scores (VAS score and Harris score) at last follow-up for two groups were recorded. Imaging re-examination was taken to evaluate the quality of fracture reduction, fracture healing, as well as the occurrence of fracture non-union, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and femoral neck shortening. Results: All operations were successfully completed and the incisions healed by first intention. There was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups ( P>0.05), and the intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency in FNS+CCS group significantly increased compared to FNS group ( P<0.05). All patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14.1 months). Imaging re-examination showed that there was no significant difference in fracture reduction quality between the two groups ( P>0.05), but the fracture healing time was significantly shorter in FNS+CCS group than in FNS group, and weight-bearing began earlier ( P<0.05). The incidences of femoral neck shortening, fracture non-union, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head were lower in FNS+CCS group than in FNS group, and there was significant difference in the incidence of femoral neck shortening between groups ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). However, the Harris score was significantly higher in FNS+CCS group than in FNS group ( P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with FNS fixation alone, robot-guided FNS combined with CCS fixation in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in young and middle-aged patients has obvious advantages in terms of early weight bearing and fracture healing, improves fracture healing rate, effectively prevents postoperative complications, and can obtain good short-term effectiveness.

[Early effectiveness of Ti-Robot assisted femoral neck system for minimally invasive treatment of elderly Garden type â ¡ and â ¢ femoral neck fractures].

Objective: To investigate the early effectiveness of the Ti-Robot assisted femoral neck system (FNS) in the treatment of elderly Garden type Ⅱ and Ⅲ femoral neck fractures. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 41 elderly patients with Garden type Ⅱ and Ⅲ femoral neck fractures who were admitted between December 2019 and August 2022 and met the selection criteria. Among them, 21 cases were treated with Ti-Robot assisted FNS internal fixation (study group), and 20 cases were treated solely with FNS internal fixation (control group). There was no significant difference in baseline data, including gender, age, side, cause of injury, time from injury to surgery, fracture Garden classification, and fracture line classification, between the two groups ( P>0.05). Surgical effectiveness was evaluated based on parameters such as operation time (including incision time and total operation time), reduction level, number of dominant pin insertions, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, incision length, whether to extend the incision, need for assisted reduction, postoperative hospital stay, fracture healing time, incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 1 day, and Harris hip score at last follow-up. Results: The study group showed significantly shorter incision time, fewer dominant pin insertions, fewer instances of extended incisions, fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and smaller incisions than the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in total operation time, reduction level, and assisted reduction frequency between the two groups ( P>0.05). Both groups achieved primary wound healing postoperatively, with no complications such as incision leakage or skin infection. All patients were followed up 12-24 months with an average of 14.6 months. Fractures healed in both groups, with no significant difference in healing time ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). The study group showed significantly better VAS score at 1 day after operation and Harris hip score at last follow-up when compared to the control group ( P<0.05). No complication such as internal fixation failure, fracture displacement, or hip joint varus occurred in both groups during the follow-up. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head occurred in 1 patient of the control group, while no was observed in the study group, and the difference in the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head between the two groups was not significant ( P=0.488). Conclusion: Compared to sole FNS internal fixation treatment, Ti-Robot assisted FNS internal fixation for elderly Garden typeⅡ and Ⅲ femoral neck fractures can reduce incision time, achieve minimally invasive and accurate nail implantation, and decrease intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, leading to improved postoperative hip joint function recovery.

[Study on application of ultrasonic bone curette in anterior cervical spine surgery].

Objective: To investigate the effect of ultrasonic bone curette in anterior cervical spine surgery. Methods: A clinical data of 63 patients with cervical spondylosis who were admitted between September 2019 and June 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 32 cases were operated with conventional instruments (group A) and 31 cases with ultrasonic bone curette (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in gender, age, surgical procedure, surgical segment and number of occupied cervical space, disease type and duration, comorbidities, and preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, cervical dysfunction index (NDI), and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, and the occurrence of postoperative complications were recorded in both groups. Before operation and at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation, the JOA score and NDI were used to evaluate the function and the postoperative JOA improvement rate was calculated, and VAS score was used to evaluate the pain improvement. The anteroposterior and lateral cervical X-ray films were taken at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation to observe whether there was any significant loosening and displacement of internal fixators. Results: Compared with group A, group B had shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay, less intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). All incisions healed by first intention in the two groups, and postoperative complications occurred in 5 cases (15.6%) in group A and 2 cases (6.5%) in group B, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 7.9 months). The JOA score and improvement rate gradually increased in groups A and B after operation, while the VAS score and NDI gradually decreased. There was no significant difference in VAS score between 3 months and 1 month in group B (P>0.05), and there were significant differences between the other time points of each indicator in the two groups (P<0.05). At 1, 3, and 6 months after operation, the JOA score and improvement rate in group B were better than those in group A (P<0.05). X-ray films examination showed that there was no screw loosening or titanium plate displacement in the two groups after operation, and the intervertebral cage or titanium mesh significantly sank. Conclusion: Compared with traditional instruments, the use of ultrasonic bone curette assisted osteotomy in anterior cervical spine surgery has the advantages of shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, less postoperative drainage, and shorter hospital stay.

A comparison of functional and radiological outcome of combine compression antegrade intertrochanteric nail (InterTan) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation II (PFNA-II) in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures.

Objective: To compare the functional and radiological outcome of combine compression interlocking intramedullary nail (InterTan) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation II (PFNA-II) in the treatment of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures. Methods: As a retrospective cohort study, records of 88 patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated in our hospital from January 1st, 2019 to July 31st, 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. According to treatment records, it included 45 patients treated with InterTan (Group-A) and 43 patients treated with PFNA-II (Group-B). The operation safety and functional rehabilitation of the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: This study included 88 patients with intertrochanteric fractures (mean [SD] age, 68.72 [0.10] years at baseline), of whom 52 (59.09%) were males and 36 (40.91%) were females. Operation time and intraoperative blood loss in Group-B were less than Group-A, while fracture healing time was shorter in Group-A. The fracture separation distance was measured four weeks after the operation. The widening rate of the fracture line in Group-A was lower than Group-B (4.4% vs.18.6%; P<0.05). The incidence of complications in Group-A was lower than Group-B (4.4% vs.18.6%; P<0.05). At three, six and twelve months after the operation, the Harris hip score of the two groups was higher than at discharge (P<0.05), with no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: We found no significant difference in the functional outcome in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with InterTan and PFNA-II. Early fracture healing and reduced complication rate however has been noted with InterTan.

Graded-Three-Dimensional Cell-Encapsulating Hydrogel as a Potential Biologic Scaffold for Disc Tissue Engineering.

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration, which can cause lower back pain, is a major predisposing factor for disability and can be managed through multiple approaches. However, there is no satisfactory strategy currently available to reconstruct and recover the natural properties of IVDs after degeneration. As tissue engineering develops, scaffolds with embedded cell cultures have proved critical for the successful regeneration of IVDs. METHODS: In this study, an integrated scaffold for IVD replacement was developed. Through scanning electron microscopy and other mechanical measurements, we characterized the physical properties of different hydrogels. In addition, we simulated the physiological structure of natural IVDs. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and annulus fibrosus-derived stem cells (AFSCs) were seeded in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel at different concentrations to evaluate cell viability and matrix expression. RESULTS: It was found that different concentrations of GelMA hydrogel can provide a suitable environment for cell survival. However, hydrogels with different mechanical properties influence cell adhesion and extracellular matrix component type I collagen, type II collagen, and aggrecan expression. CONCLUSION: This tissue-engineered IVD implant had a similar structure and function as the native IVD, with the inner area mimicking the NP tissue and the outer area mimicking the stratified annulus fibrosus tissue. The new integrated scaffold demonstrated a good simulation of disc structure. The preparation of efficient and regeneration-promoting tissue-engineered scaffolds is an important issue that needs to be explored in the future. It is hoped that this work will provide new ideas and methods for the further construction of functional tissue replacement discs.

Comparison of clinical efficacy of suprapatellar and infrapatellar intramedullary nailing in treating tibial shaft fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To compare clinical efficacies of suprapatellar and infrapatellar intramedullary nailing approaches in treating tibial shaft fractures. METHODS: Patients (n=110) admitted with tibial shaft fractures in our hospital from January 2017 to June 2020, who underwent procedures with internal fixation intramedullary nails, were retrospectively divided into suprapatellar and infrapatellar approach groups (n = 55 each) based on the surgical method used for fracture repair. The clinical and functional outcomes of the knee were assessed six months after the surgery. RESULTS: Six months after the operation, the pooled value for excellent and good efficacy rates in the suprapatellar approach group, as indicated by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee scoring system, was 90.91%, which was significantly higher than that in the infrapatellar approach group (76.36%). The degree of pain (visual analogue scale (VAS) score) of the patients in the suprapatellar approach group was over 2-fold lower than in the infrapatellar approach group (P < 0.001).The Lysholm knee score, range of motion (ROM), SF-36p, and SF-36M scores in the suprapatellar approach group were significantly higher than those in the infrapatellar approach group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Suprapatellar approach had significantly higher clinical efficiency than infrapatellar approach, and can significantly reduce the degree of pain, promote the recovery of patients with knee joint involvement, improve the physical and psychological well-being, reduce the number of cases of postoperative delayed healing.

Neobavaisoflavone protects osteoblasts from dexamethasone-induced oxidative stress by upregulating the CRNDE-mediated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Neobavaisoflavone (NBIF) is a flavonoid, which has a variety of pharmacological activities. However, the mechanism of NBIF in the treatment of osteoporosis still needs further exploration. The differentiation of osteoblast MC-3T3-E1 cells after treatment was observed by Alizarin red staining. Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect viability, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of treated MC-3T3-E1 cells, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were tested by ELISA kits. The expressions of lncRNA MALAT1, MEG3, CRNDE, Runx2, osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), collagen I (col-I), nuclear Nrf2, cytoplasm Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in treated MC-3T3-E1 cells were examined by Quantitative real-time PCR or Western blot. Dexamethasone (Dex) inhibited the viability of MC-3T3-E1 cells, while the appropriate amount of NBIF had no significantly effect on cell viability. Dex downregulated CRNDE expression, whereas NBIF upregulated CRNDE. Overexpressed CRNDE and NBIF reversed the inhibitory effects of Dex on cell viability, differentiation and levels of SOD, GSH-Px, Runx2, OCN, OPN, col-I, nuclear Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 while reversing the promoting effect of Dex on apoptosis and the levels of ROS, MDA, LDH and cytoplasm Nrf2 in MC-3T3-E1 cells, respectively, but shCRNDE further reversed the effects of NBIF in MC-3T3-E1 cells. NBIF protected osteoblasts from Dex-induced oxidative stress by upregulating the CRNDE-mediated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

[Comparison of effectiveness of two cannulated screw configurations in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in young adults].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the effectiveness of internal fixation with the two different cannulated screw implanting methods of rhomboid and inverted triangle in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young adults. METHODS: The clinical data of 38 young adults with femoral neck fracture who met the selection criteria between January 2018 and August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different methods of cannulated screw implanting, the patients were divided into two groups, 19 cases in each group. The trial group was treated with closed reduction and cannulated screw rhombic distribution internal fixation, while the control group was treated with closed reduction and cannulated screw inverted triangular distribution internal fixation. There was no significant differences in patients' gender, age, cause of injury, Garden classification of fracture, and time from injury to operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). The fracture healing time, the incidence of nonunion, femoral neck shortening, and femoral head necrosis were recorded and compared between the two groups; the effectiveness was evaluated by Harris score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score at last follow-up. RESULTS: The incisions of the two groups healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-24 months with an average of 15.5 months. There were 1 case of fracture nonunion and 2 cases of shortening of femoral neck in the trial group; while there were 2 cases of fracture nonunion, 1 case of necrosis of femoral head, and 6 cases of femoral neck shortening in the control group; the difference in the incidence of complications (15.8% vs. 47.4%) between the two groups was significant ( χ 2=4.385, P=0.036). The remaining 18 cases in the trial group and 17 cases in the control group all achieved osteonal union, and the healing time was (14.8±1.6) weeks and (15.9±1.3) weeks, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( t=1.265, P=0.214). At last follow-up, Harris score and VAS score of the trial group were 88.9±4.3 and 1.1±0.7, respectively, while those of the control group were 86.9±5.9 and 1.3±0.9, respectively, showing no significant difference ( t=0.603, P=0.550; t=1.152, P=0.257). Hip function was evaluated in accordance with Harris score, the results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 6 cases, and fair in 1 case in the trial group, the excellent and good rate was 94.74%; the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 2 cases in the control group, the excellent and good rate was 89.47%; there was no significant difference in the excellent and good rate between the two groups ( χ 2=0.368, P=0.544). CONCLUSION: The short-term effectiveness of the two kinds of cannulated screw implanting methods is clear, rhomboid fixation of 4 screws has strong stability with stress distribution, which can effectively reduce the incidence of femoral neck shortening, fracture nonunion, femoral head necrosis, and other complications.

Development of a novel customized cutting and rotating template for Bernese periacetabular osteotomy.

BACKGROUND: Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has been shown to be applicable as a hip-preserving technique for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The approach could be designed preoperatively using various types of reverse-engineering software and finite element analysis, but how to implement it in the actual PAO remains a challenge. This study examines and evaluates a solution to achieve higher accuracy when performing a PAO. METHODS: A patient-specific cutting and rotating template was predesigned through computer-aided design (CAD) with three-dimensional (3D) modeling programs. The templates were then reproduced with rapid prototyping (RP) technology and used in the actual PAO. Finally, the clinical and radiographic effects were assessed and compared between the newly developed PAO and conventional PAO groups. RESULTS: The customized cutting template fit well with the bone surface and served as a guide for surgeons as they slid the osteotome to the precise location that had been determined prior to surgery. A very similar acetabular fragment was reproduced, and no major complications occurred when performing the osteotomy along the edge of the cutting template. The acetabular fragment was then corrected to the predetermined position through one-off manipulation with the customized rotating template. The final position of the acetabular fragment in the new developed PAO group was highly consistent with the planned position, and the postoperative morphological parameters were consistent with the preoperative planned data compared to the conventional PAO group. The duration of the operation and the number of irradiation decreased significantly. The Harris hip score (HHS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) score improved significantly with the use of the new developed PAO. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that our system, which was based on CAD-RP technology, is feasible and could realize the predicted results accurately during the actual PAO.

Downregulation of microRNA-23b protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury via p53 signaling pathway by upregulating MDM4 in rats.

Total knee arthroplasty is a commonly performed safe procedure and typically executed in severe knee arthritis, but it also triggers ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). More recently, microRNAs (miRs) have been reported to play a contributory role in IRI through the key signaling pathway. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the effect and specific mechanism of microRNA-23b (miR-23b), murine double minute 4 (MDM4), and the p53 signaling pathway in IRI rat models. First, the IRI model was established, and the expression pattern of miR-23b, MDM4, and the p53 signaling pathway-related genes was characterized in cartilaginous tissues. Then, miR-23b mimics or inhibitors were applied for the elevation or the depletion of the miR-23b expression and siRNA-MDM4 for the depletion of the MDM4 expression in the articular chondrocytes. By means of immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis, IRI rats exhibited increased miR-23b expression, activated p53 signaling pathway, and decreased MDM4 expression. MDM4 was verified as a target gene of miR-23b through. Downregulated miR-23b increased the expression of MDM4, AKT, and Bcl-2, but decreased the expression of p53, p21, and Bax. In addition, a series of cell experiments demonstrated that downregulated miR-23b promoted articular chondrocyte proliferation and cell cycle entry, but inhibited articular chondrocyte apoptosis. The absence of the effects of miR-23b was observed after MDM4 knocked down. Our results indicate that silencing miR-23b could act to attenuate IRI and reduce the apoptosis of articular chondrocytes through inactivation of the p53 signaling pathway by upregulating MDM4, which provide basic therapeutic considerations for a novel target against IRI.