Correlation between Ankle Imaging Findings and Self-Reported Outcomes: A Longitudinal Assessment in Patients with Tibiofibular Diastasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This longitudinal study investigated the correlation between imaging findings and self-reported questionnaire outcomes in patients with tibiofibular diastasis, exploring the effects of surgical screw removal versus conservative treatment. This study was conducted at "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timisoara between 2018 and 2023. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 85 patients in the screw removal group and 44 in the conservative group, assessed at 2 and 6 months post-surgery, answering the SF-36, HADS, and WHOQOL questionnaires. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed at 2 months post-surgery, with the screw removal group showing lower shear wave velocities in ankle dorsiflexion (8.9 ± 1.4) and anterior talofibular ligament (2.8 ± 0.9), indicating better mobility compared to the conservative group (ankle dorsiflexion: 10.1 ± 1.8, ATFL: 3.2 ± 1.1). Radiographically, lower tibiofibular overlap (8.1 ± 2.1) in the screw removal group suggested improved joint fixation quality. These physical improvements were mirrored in the quality-of-life assessments, where the screw removal group reported higher physical health scores on the SF-36 survey at 2 months, a trend that continued at 6 months. At 2 months, ankle dorsiflexion demonstrated a strong negative correlation with the SF-36 Physical score (r = -0.417) and WHOQOL Physical domain (r = -0.394), and a positive correlation with HADS Anxiety (r = 0.312). Similarly, ATFL and CFL velocities negatively correlated with the SF-36 Physical score (ATFL: r = -0.251; CFL: r = -0.237). Radiographic tibiofibular overlap and clear space positively correlated with WHOQOL Physical domain (TOL: r = 0.291; TCS: r = 0.276), with TCS also negatively correlating with HADS Anxiety (r = -0.228). At 6 months, these correlations persisted, with notable negative correlations between ultrasound ankle dorsiflexion and both SF-36 Physical score and WHOQOL Physical domain. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the advantages of screw removal in enhancing physical recovery and reducing anxiety in the short term, while indicating similar long-term mental health outcomes between treatment approaches.

Impact of Syndesmotic Screw Removal on Quality of Life, Mobility, and Daily Living Activities in Patients Post Distal Tibiofibular Diastasis Repair.

Background and Objectives: While numerous studies have been conducted on syndesmotic screw management following distal tibiofibular diastasis repair, a clear consensus remains unclear. This research aims to evaluate whether the postoperative removal of syndesmotic screws leads to improved patient outcomes, specifically in quality of life, mobility, and daily living activities, and whether it offers a cost-effective solution. Materials and Methods: Patients with a history of unimalleolar or bimalleolar ankle fractures, classified according to the Danis-Weber and Lauge-Hansen systems, were included. Comprehensive evaluations were made via standardized questionnaires like the SF-36 Health Survey, HADS, and WHOQOL-BREF, distributed approximately 2 months post surgery. A total of 93 patients underwent syndesmotic screw removal while 51 retained the screws (conservative approach). Results: Patients who underwent screw removal reported superior satisfaction in mobility, with a score of 7.8, compared to 6.7 in the conservative approach (p = 0.018). Similarly, their ability to perform daily activities scored 8.1, higher than the 6.5 from the conservative cohort (p < 0.001). Pain levels were also more favorable in the screw removal group, with a score of 5.3 against 6.8 in the conservative group (p = 0.003). On the SF-36 physical domain, the screw removal group achieved a mean score of 55.9 versus 53.3 for the conservative group (p = 0.027). Notably, the HADS anxiety subscale highlighted reduced anxiety levels in the screw removal cohort with a mean score of 5.8 against 7.3 in the conservative group (p = 0.006). However, overall quality of life and recommendations to others showed no significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: Syndesmotic screw removal postoperatively leads to marked improvements in patients' mobility, daily activity abilities, and reduced postoperative pain and anxiety levels. However, overall quality of life was similar between the two approaches. The findings offer valuable insights for orthopedic decision making and patient-centered care concerning the management of syndesmotic screws after distal tibiofibular diastasis repair.

Well-posedness for a stochastic 2D Euler equation with transport noise.

We prove the existence of a unique global strong solution for a stochastic two-dimensional Euler vorticity equation for incompressible flows with noise of transport type. In particular, we show that the initial smoothness of the solution is preserved. The arguments are based on approximating the solution of the Euler equation with a family of viscous solutions which is proved to be relatively compact using a tightness criterion by Kurtz.

Asymptotic behavior of the forecast-assimilation process with unstable dynamics.

Extensive numerical evidence shows that the assimilation of observations has a stabilizing effect on unstable dynamics, in numerical weather prediction, and elsewhere. In this paper, we apply mathematically rigorous methods to show why this is so. Our stabilization results do not assume a full set of observations and we provide examples where it suffices to observe the model's unstable degrees of freedom.

Avoiding the Removal of Syndesmotic Screws after Distal Tibiofibular Diastasis Repair: A Benefit or a Drawback?

There is still no general agreement about the most effective form of syndesmosis fixation with syndesmotic screws for patients affected by ankle fractures that are accompanied by syndesmotic injuries. In the same manner, no consensus has been reached yet on whether or not the tibiofibular syndesmotic screw is more beneficial if removed or not, as well as the exact timing of removal if this proves superiority. The purpose of this research was to verify whether or not removing syndesmotic screws reduces the risk of developing a diastasis and compare outcomes in patients whose syndesmotic screw was or was not removed at all. A retrospective observational study was carried out to cover a period of five years and a computed sample size of almost 300 cases. Patients were included in the current study if their history was positive for ankle fracture with distal tibiofibular diastasis repair with syndesmotic screws. Loss of reduction was more frequent after screw removal (8.5% vs. 2.1%), although the quality of reduction was generally excellent in both groups. The mean AOFAS score was significantly better in patients who had their tibiofibular screw removed (92.6 vs. 88.4), but the tibiofibular clear space and incisura fibularis depth widened more following the second intervention (3.8 mm vs. 3.6 mm, and, respectively, 4.3 vs. 4.1). Lastly, the same patients with tibiofibular screw removal had a significantly higher cost of total interventions and more days of medical leave (21 vs. 15 days on average). It seems that a strong conclusion in favor of removing or not removing syndesmotic screws after distal tibiofibular diastasis repair cannot be given. However, several radiographic findings lean toward the benefit of those patients whose tibiofibular screws were not removed, although mobility was notably better after the screw was removed. Furthermore, treatment expenses are greatly lowered if a subsequent operation for screw removal is avoided, as well as if individuals who have a single surgery take a shorter medical leave.

Novel Parathyroid Hormone-Based Bone Graft, KUR-113, in Treatment of Acute Open Tibial Shaft Fracture: A Phase-2 Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of an open tibial shaft fracture (TSF) is complex, and many cases are associated with delayed bone union or malunion. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays a key role in bone metabolism. A peptide fragment of PTH (PTH1-34) has been shown to promote bone healing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel PTH-based bone graft (KUR-113) in the treatment of subjects with an open TSF. METHODS: The study was a randomized, controlled, open-label (dose-blinded), dose-finding study of 200 subjects who had an open TSF secondary to trauma. Subjects were randomized into 1 of 4 groups to receive the standard of care (SoC) alone (control) or the SoC plus a single application of 4 mL of KUR-113 containing TGplPTH1-34 in fibrin at a concentration of 0.133 mg/mL (KUR-113-low), 0.4 mg/mL (KUR-113-mid), or 1.0 mg/mL (KUR-113-high). KUR-113 was administered at the fracture site after internal fracture fixation and before wound closure. Subjects were followed for up to 12 months after treatment. The primary outcome measure was fracture healing at 6 months assessed by the study investigator using radiographic and clinical measures. The primary end point was the proportion of subjects with fracture healing at 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 200 subjects were enrolled and randomized to 1 of the 4 treatments. The primary end point was met in the KUR-113-mid group, which showed a significantly higher prevalence of healing at 6 months than the control group (37 of 46; 80.4% versus 31 of 48; 64.6%). By 12 months, healing had occurred in the majority of subjects in all treatment groups, with the control group requiring more surgical interventions to achieve fracture healing. Adverse events occurred at similar frequencies between the KUR-113 groups and the SoC group. No ectopic bone formation or abnormal bone resorption at the fracture site was observed in any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: KUR-113 has the potential to be a good adjunctive therapy in the treatment of open TSFs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Evaluation of normal and pathological Achilles tendon by real-time shear wave elastography.

Tendinopathy covers a range of several tendon conditions, mostly caused by overuse but at least in Achilles tendon pathology, favored by obesity, diabetes, inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Subclinical tendon pathology is difficult to diagnose, as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations are sometimes inconclusive and not cost-effective. Elastography is an ultrasound examination method that uses mechanical impulses to produce shear waves in the tissue of interest, then measures the tissue displacement and calculates the shear wave speed or the elastic modulus of the examined tissue. We have used B-mode ultrasonography and shear wave elastography on 80 Achilles tendons from healthy volunteers with or without tendon pathology history, and correlated the data obtained with the clinical parameters of the volunteers, such as age, body mass index (BMI) and sports practice. We have shown that there is no significant correlation between the elastic modulus of the Achilles tendon and age, sports practice and body mass index with the exception of the correlation between the elastic modulus of the right Achilles tendon in men and age. Shear wave elastography has proved to be cost-effective for the evaluation of the Achilles tendon in healthy volunteers and was able to monitor the evolution of one patient with old tendon rupture treated by surgery. It can complete MRI investigation and it can replace B-mode ultrasonography particularly in monitoring the post-surgery evolution.

Pathological fracture of the femur in a patient with Paget's disease of bone: a case report.

Paget's disease of bone is a benign disease characterized by exaggerated remodeling of the bone matrix after osteoclast-mediated bone destruction. Its etiology is still unknown, despite the fact that it was discovered and described in 1877, but genetic factors and environmental triggers were shown to play their part in the pathogenesis of the disease. The main clinical presentations of the disease are related to bone pain and deformities. Radiological diagnosis is the main detection tool, though many monostotic Paget's disease cases may remain undiagnosed. We present the case of an 81-year-old male patient admitted to the Clinic of Orthopedics, Emergency County Hospital, Timisoara, Romania, with intense pain and deformity of the upper left thigh. Radiological examination performed shows a complete fracture of the upper third diaphysis of the left femur with suggestive signs for Paget's disease of the bone therefore a biopsy was taken and the patient was treated by surgical realignment with favorable evolution. He was discharged 13 days after surgery. The biopsy of the bone revealed extensive bone remodeling with numerous osteoclasts and extensive bone matrix deposition, unevenly stained and unevenly mineralized and reverse cement lines, which are consistent with the diagnosis of Paget's disease of the bone. Histomorphometric analysis show intense matrix deposition with a highly active remodeling process. Computed tomography (CT) scans were performed three years later and show the extension of the disease into the lower half of the left femur.

The Expression of Nuclear Transcription Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) in the Case of Critically Ill Polytrauma Patients with Sepsis and Its Interactions with microRNAs.

Critical polytrauma patients present a series of pathophysiological disturbances, biochemical and molecular dysfunction, which comprise to be the major cause of intensive care unit admission. In regard to molecular damage, there exists a series of factors, which all together contribute to the aggravation of the clinical status leading to increased mortality rate in these patients. One of the most important biochemical factors involved is the nuclear transcription factor B (NF-κB). Impaired NF-κB functioning is reflected on the clinical status of the patient through increased production of pro-inflammatory molecule, leading to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In addition to this, through microRNAs interactions, various pathophysiological as well as biochemical disturbances are produced, which altogether further reduce the patient's survival rate. In this paper, we would like to present the modifications seen in the expression of NF-κB in critically polytraumatized patients with sepsis. In additions to this, we would like to discuss the correlation between the microRNAs and its further implications in clinical status of these patients.

Using the Expression of Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMP) for the Evaluation and Monitoring of the Critically Ill Polytrauma Patient.

BACKGROUND: The critically ill polytrauma patient continues to be one of the most complex cases in the intensive care unit (ICU). The molecular damage is closely connected with the severe, specific pathophysiological imbalances, such as severe inflammation, infections, hypermetabolism, oxidative stress, and ultimately multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). METHODS: The literature available on PubMed and Scopus was analysed for this study. The key words used in the search were "biomarkers in critically ill patients", "molecular damage", "sepsis biomarkers", "miRNAs biomarkers", and "oxidative stress". RESULTS: After reviewing the available literature, 133 science articles were selected. According to recent studies, the gold goal in the management of the critically ill patient is the optimization of intensive care therapy dependent on the molecular damage. CONCLUSIONS: Furthermore, evaluation, monitoring, and therapy adaptation in this type of patient is closely related to the biochemical and molecular disorders.

Literature Research Regarding miRNAs' Expression in the Assessment and Evaluation of the Critically Ill Polytrauma Patient with Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND: One of the most severe conditions specific to the critically ill polytrauma patient is traumatic brain injury and traumatic spinal cord injury. The mortality rate is high in the case of these patients, both because of the direct traumatic lesions, and because of the pathophysiological imbalances associated with trauma. Amongst the most common pathologies associated with the critically ill polytrauma patients responsible for a lower survival rate, are redox imbalance, systemic inflammatory response, infections, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. METHODS: For this study, was analysed the literature available on PubMed. The key words used in the search were "traumatic brain injury", "spinal cord injury", "microRNAs expression", "polytrauma patients", and "biomarkers". RESULTS: For the study were selected 34 science articles. The oxidative attack on lipids is responsible for the biosynthesis of an increased quantity of free radicals, which further intensifies and aggravates the redox status in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: A new era for biomarkers is represented by the expression of miRNAs. In the case of the critically ill polytrauma patient, using miRNAs' expression as biomarkers for the evaluation and monitoring of the molecular and pathophysiological dysfunctions can bring a range of valuable answers that could contribute to an increased survival rate.

Occult fractures of the proximal femur: imaging diagnosis and management of 82 cases in a regional trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Occult hip fractures are often difficult to identify in busy trauma units. We aimed to present our institutions experience in the diagnosis and treatment of occult fractures around the hip and to help define a clinical and radiological management algorithm. METHOD: We conducted a seven-year retrospective hospital medical record analysis. The electronic database was searched for ICD-10 CM codes S72.0 and S72.1 used for proximal femoral fractures upon patient discharge. We identified 34 (4.83 %) femoral neck fractures and 48 (4.42 %) trochanteric fractures labeled as occult. RESULTS: The majority of the cases were diagnosed by primary MRI scan (57.4 %) and 12 were diagnosed by emergency CT scan (14.6 %). For the remaining cases the final diagnosis was confirmed by 72 h CT scan in 9 patients (representing 39 % of the false negative cases) or by MRI in the rest of 14 patients. MRI was best at detecting incomplete pertrochanteric fracture patterns (13.45 % of total) and incomplete fractures of the greater trochanter (3.65 % of total) respectively. It also detected the majority of Garden I femoral neck fractures (20.7 % of total). CT scanning accurately detected 100 % of Garden 2 fractures (2.44 %) and 25 % (3.65 %) of the complete pertrochanteric fractures (false negative 25 %). CONCLUSION: Occult fractures should be suspected in all patients with traumatic onset of hip pain that is inconsistent with normal radiographic findings. MRI is the golden standard but not as readily available not as cheap and not quite as quick to perform as as a CT scan. The latter which in turn can provide falsely negative results in the first 24 h. Improved imaging protocols could expedite management and improve treatment.

Gait characteristics before hardware removal in patients operated upon for tibial plateau fractures.

PURPOSE: The reporting of gait analysis data on operated fractures of the tibial plateau, while extensive for studies of knee osteoarthritis of mostly undisclosed aetiology and ACL deficient knees, is rather limited in literature. METHODS: In the present study we investigated 25 tibial plateau fractures classified as Schatzker II, IV, V and VI that underwent operative reduction and lateral plate osteosynthesis. Apart from routine radiographic exploration and patient completed (KOOS) scores at three (mean of 3.2 months), six (mean of 5.6 months) and 12 months (mean of 11.3 months) postoperatively, gait analysis was performed at these intervals as well. Cadence, step time and knee flexion were the gait parameters that were selected for the comparison at six and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The analysed gait parameters were significantly improved between the six and the 12-month session and statistically significant differences were found between the two groups of values. Cadence had a mean value of 41 steps/minute at six months and 45 steps/minute at 12 months (p = 0.99). Step time was a mean of 0.74 seconds at six months while at 12 months the median value was 0.66 seconds (p = 0.94). Knee flexion angles evolved in a similar manner with mean values of 58° at six months and 69° at 12 months (p = 0.95). The mean KOOS scores were 42.4, 56.3 and 67.99 at three, six and 12 months postoperatively, respectively. CONCLUSION: Complex intra-articular fractures, classified as Schatzker IV, V and VI, had a higher impact on joint function than Schatzker II fractures treated with similar techniques and implants. There were statistically significant improvements in the recovery status at 12 months postoperatively compared to six months with extended chances for improvement.

Combined bilateral femoral head necrosis and pertrochanteric fracture: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Modular femoral implants have become a regular feature of revision hip surgery. However, for a primary hip arthroplasty, such as a femoral neck fracture case, the implant of choice is a standard femoral component, while compelling literature evidence have made osteosynthesis the standard procedure for the vast majority of trochanteric fractures. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 66-year-old Caucasian woman presenting with two trochanteric fractures associated with primary and secondary hip osteoarthritis that were treated with an uncemented total hip replacement with a modular femoral component. CONCLUSIONS: We found that a modular femoral component can address the issues of stability and, in our case, proved to be a viable solution for treating cases that are complicated by concomitant acetabular or femoral head and neck pathology.