Correlation between Preoperative MRI Parameters and Oswestry Disability Index in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a degenerative condition posing significant challenges in clinical management. Despite the use of radiological parameters and patient-reported outcome measures like the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for evaluation, there is limited understanding of their interrelationship. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative MRI parameters and ODI scores in patients with LSS undergoing surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 86 patients diagnosed with LSS over a 5-year period. Preoperative MRI measurements, including the cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle, lumbar canal stenosis, neural foramina area, and facet joint osteoarthritis, were assessed. ODI scores were collected preoperatively and at a 1-year follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software (version 26). Results: Weak to moderate correlations were observed between certain MRI parameters and ODI scores. The initial ODI score had a weak positive correlation with the severity of lumbar canal stenosis according to Schizas criteria (rho = 0.327, p = 0.010) and a moderate negative correlation with the relative cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle (rho = -0.498, p = 0.000). At 1-year follow-up, the ODI had a weak negative correlation with the relative cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle (rho = -0.284, p = 0.026). Conclusions: While the severity of LSS showed a weak correlation with initial ODI, it was not a predictor of 1-year postoperative ODI. Furthermore, although the cross-sectional area of the thecal sac, the sagittal area of the neural foramen, and the grade of facet joint osteoarthritis influence the imagistic severity, none of them correlate with ODI. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive model that integrates multiple imaging and clinical parameters for a holistic understanding of LSS and its functional outcomes.

The Consequence of Repetitive Heavy Object Lifting on the Normal Standing Posture of Factory Workers.

Low back pain is one of the most common physical symptom and is frequently related with an abnormal body posture. It may be caused by poor upper body and limb coordination; repetitive lifting of heavy objects or poor working are ergonomics. This study analysis the consequence of repetitive heavy lifting on the normal standing posture of factory workers. To asses the posture malformations the Microsoft Kinect sensor was used to obtain postural data from 88 factory workers. The study has shown that more than 90% of the study group has some sort of postural malformation and lower back pain.

Haematology panel biomarkers for humeral, femoral, and tibial diaphyseal fractures.

PURPOSE: The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple predictor used in oncology and cardiology. We aimed to analyze the NLR profile of patients with diaphyseal fractures of the humerus, femur, and tibia. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, consecutive-case population-based study including 148 patients (41.9% men respectively 58.1% women) with humeral (23.0%), femoral (30.4%), and tibial (46.6%) diaphyseal fractures, admitted for surgical treatment in our level 1 trauma centre over two years. RESULTS: The differences in NLR between the studied subgroups were not significant (p = 0.067), the highest value being observed in patients with femoral fracture (5.6) in contrast to patients with humeral fracture (4). In the global cohort, there was a significantly positive correlation between NLR and PLR (platelet to lymphocyte ratio; Spearman's r = 0.595; p < 0.001). The stratified subgroup analysis found significant association between NLR and duration of admission only for patients with femoral fracture (Spearman's r = - 0.308; p < 0.001). When compared with controls, all three fracture types had significantly higher neutrophil numbers and NLR and lower thrombocyte numbers. CONCLUSIONS: NLR are elevated in femur diaphyseal fractures compared with tibia and humerus, up to cut-off values with negative prediction of outcome in malignancy and cardiovascular patients. Increased NLR are predictive of longer hospital admissions for femur fractures.

The beginnings of orthopaedics in Romania.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To offer a glimpse into the orthopaedic practice in Romania during the nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century, corresponding to a period when this surgical specialty was defining itself. INTRODUCTION: As in other parts of the world, in Romania, the orthopaedics and traumatology specialty derived from the main general surgery core. At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Romanian doctors were eager to improve and to further develop the medical practice in their home country and, thus, the development of the orthopaedics and traumatology also benefited from this enthusiasm. METHOD: A review of the literature was performed and both the online and offline libraries were searched for specific terms. The resulted data was structured and edited into separate subchapters for each doctor. RESULTS: Summarized biographic information are presented, covering the most distinguished figures that have helped develop orthopedic surgical branch in Romania. Great doctors such as Carol Davila (1828-1884), Constantin Dumitrescu Severeanu (1840-1930), Ernest Juvara (1870-1933), Ioan (Ion) Ghiulamila (1872-1936), Ion (Iancu) Jianu (1880-1972), and Alexandru D. Radulescu (1886-1979) are some of the most renowned for laying the foundation and for developing modern orthopaedics and traumatology in Romania. DISCUSSION: Although up until the late 1860s all doctors practicing in Romania graduated from widely recognized European medical schools, after this period, great surgeons graduated from its own Romanian National Medical School. This led to a blooming development in the surgical and medical field as physicians were competing with each other to bring the best treatments and techniques in medical practice. CONCLUSION: Although orthopaedic practice in the early nineteenth century was poorly represented, after sustained reforms and great visionary surgeons, it had rapidly developed into a separate and well-defined surgical specialty by the early twentieth century.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a patient-reported hip outcome score.

PURPOSE: We aimed to perform psychometric testing for the translated Oxford Hip Score (OHS) for use as a recommended tool to measure treatment outcomes. METHODS: The original English questionnaire was translated and culturally validated using the instrument developer's guidelines and the ISPOR principles of good practice. One hundred patients completed the form together with the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and EQ-5D-5 L. Fifty patients repeated the form after two days. They were suffering from hip osteoarthritis, had had hip replacement or underwent osteosynthesis for a fracture of the trochanteric region. RESULTS: The questionnaire had a high degree of reliability with a Cronbach α of 0.917 at the initial completion and 0.917 at the second testing, respectively. The two results were strongly positive and significantly correlated (Pearson's r = 0.947; p < 0.001). The OHS was strongly and significantly correlated with the HHS (Pearson's r = 0.880 initial and r = 0.840 s; p < 0.001) and strongly, positive and significantly correlated with the EQ-5D-5 L VAS (Pearson's r = 0.614 initial and r = 0.704 s; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the translation of the OHS is a reliable, reproducible and valid measure of function in patients who undergo treatment for hip pathology.

Clock-Drawing Test as a Bedside Assessment of Post-operative Delirium Risk in Elderly Patients with Accidental Hip Fracture.

BACKGROUND: Currently applied cognitive tests for assessing the risk of post-operative delirium require time and specialised medical staff, in addition to the patients' mental strain. We investigated the four-point scoring Clock-Drawing Test (CDT-4) as a preoperative independent predictor for post-operative delirium. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients aged over 65 years admitted for accidental hip fracture were assessed for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method Scale. The cognitive function was rated with mini-mental state examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), and CDT-4. Descriptive statistics were performed, and a logistic regression model for post-operative delirium was applied. RESULTS: Out of the 100 enrolled patients 98 underwent hip repair surgery and 65 (66%) had post-operative delirium, with 24 (42%) incident cases. The median (IQR) ages were 78 (72-83) and 84 (80-87) years for the non-delirium and post-operative delirium groups, respectively. The logistic regression concluded with age and CDT-4 as independent preoperative predictors, while controlling for gender, pre-surgery delirium, MoCA visual, and MoCA attention: OR 1.32 [95% CI (1.099-1.585); p = 0.003] for age; OR 0.153 [95% CI (0.033-0.719); p = 0.017] for CDT-4. CONCLUSIONS: Employing CDT-4 as a bedside assessment of delirium risk may help to preoperatively stratify and prioritise the patients for preventive perioperative care in a timely manner.

Case series of patients with pathological dyaphiseal fractures from metastatic bone disease.

INTRODUCTION: Fractures on pathologic bone have major impact on life quality. The appropriate treatment is not standardized, but the current literature delineates that surgery must provide adequate stabilization for the life expectancy. We aimed to review the epidemiology, treatment outcomes and survival in our department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The electronic database from a major referral centre was searched for patients treated for tumours and fractures by the corresponding ICM-10 codes over five years. Eighty-nine patients were identified. Eleven females and nine males, with an average age of 64 years underwent 23 operations during the selected timeframe. Six fractures were subtrochanteric, five at the femoral neck and five at the femoral diaphysis. Seventeen cases were metastatic carcinomas, out of which five mammary, three pulmonary and seven carcinomas of undetermined origin without immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Fourteen types of surgical intervention were osteosynthesis with intramedullary nails and six were partial hip replacements of which one had proximal femur resection and revision stem hemiarthroplasty. Four patients had single metastatic lesions which underwent resection and defect filling using PMMA cement (polymethylmethacrylate). The follow-up period ranged between two and seven years or until death. Only five patients (25%) were alive at the last follow-up. Local recurrence appeared in one patient. There was one immediate post-operative complication (dehiscent wound) and one implant failure after five years and was replaced with a larger diameter (exchange nailing). CONCLUSION: Both hip arthroplasty and femoral nailing are safe and routine procedures that are performed with relatively technical ease and low surgical stress and few peri-operative complications for the patient. They allow for immediate mobilization and weight-bearing with moderate and rapidly decreasing pain and discomfort.

Measuring the Negative Impact of Long Sitting Hours at High School Students Using the Microsoft Kinect.

This paper suggests the usage of the Microsoft Kinect to detect the onset of the scoliosis at high school students due to incorrect sitting positions. The measurement is done by measuring the overall posture in orthostatic position using the Microsoft Kinect. During the measuring process several key points of the human body are tracked like the hips and shoulders to form the postural data. The test was done on 30 high school students who spend 6 to 7 hours per day in the school benches. The postural data is statistically processed by IBM Watson's Analytics. From the statistical analysis we have obtained that a prolonged sitting position at such young ages affects in a negative way the spinal cord and facilitates the appearance of malicious postures like scoliosis and lordosis.

The variability of vertebral body volume and pain associated with osteoporotic vertebral fractures: conservative treatment versus percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) can lead to late collapse which often causes kyphotic spinal deformity, persistent back pain, decreased lung capacity, increased fracture risk and increased mortality. The purpose of our study is to compare the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty against conservative management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures without neurologic symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 66 patients with recent OVF on MRI examination were included in the study. All patients were admitted from September 2009 to September 2012. The cohort was divided into two groups. The first study group consisted of 33 prospectively followed consecutive patients who suffered 40 vertebral osteoporotic fractures treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (group 1), and the control group consisted of 33 patients who suffered 41 vertebral osteoporotic fractures treated conservatively because they refused vertebroplasty (group 2). The data collection has been conducted in a prospective registration manner. The inclusion criteria consisted of painful OVF matched with imagistic findings. We assessed the results of pain relief and minimal sagittal area of the vertebral body on the axial CT scan at presentation, after the intervention, at six and 12 months after initial presentation. RESULTS: Vertebroplasty with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was performed in 30 patients on 39 VBs, including four thoracic vertebras, 27 vertebras of the thoracolumbar jonction and eight lumbar vertebras. Group 2 included 30 patients with 39 OVFs (four thoracic vertebras, 23 vertebras of the thoracolumbar junction and 11 lumbar vertebras). There was no significant difference in VAS scores before treatment (p = 0.229). The mean VAS was 5.90 in Group 1 and 6.28 in Group 2 before the treatment. Mean VAS after vertebroplasty was 0.85 in Group 1. The mean VAS at six months was 0.92 in Group 1 and 3.00 in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The mean VAS at 12 months was 0.92 in Group 1 and 2.36 in Group 2. The mean improvement rate in VAS scores was 84.40% and 62.42%, respectively (p < 0.05). For Group 1, mean area of the VBs measured on sagital CT images was 8.288 at the initial presentation, 8.554 postoperatively, 8.541 at five months and 8.508 at 12 months, respectively, and 8.388 at the initial presentation, 7.976 at six months and 7.585 at 12 months for Group 2 (Fig. 4). DISCUSSIONS: Although conservative treatment is fundamental and achieves good symptom control, in patients who suffer osteoporotic compression fractures (OCF), the incidence of late collapse is high and the prognosis is poor. In order to relieve the pain and avoid VB collapse, vertebroplasty is the recommended treatment in OCFs. Considering the above findings, the dilemma is whether vertebroplasty can change the natural history (pain and deformity) of OCFs. CONCLUSION: In our study on OVF, vertebroplasty delivered superior clinical and radiological outcomes over the first year from intervention when compared to conservative treatment of patients with osteoporotic compression fractures without neurological deficit. We believe that the possibility of evolution towards progressive kyphosis is sufficient to justify prophylactic and therapeutic intervention such as vertebroplasty, a minor gesture compared with extensive correction surgery and stabilization.

Long term results after arthroscopic resection of medial plicae of the knee-a prospective study.

PURPOSE: The medial plica (MP) is a normal anatomic structure consisting of a fold in the synovial layer of the joint. Arthroscopic resection is currently used as a gold standard procedure in patients with medial plica syndrome (MPS), but there are few prospective studies that analyze the long-term functional outcomes of plica resection. METHODS: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the long-term results of arthroscopic resection of the medial plicae of the knee. Between 1999 and 2014 we included 267 patients that showed MRI evidence of MP out of the 5682 knee arthroscopies that we performed. We recorded pre and post-operative Tegner Lysholm knee scale scores (TLKSS) for up to 36 (3, 6, 12, 24, 36) months. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used to measure the patients' generic health status. RESULTS: The mean values of the TLKSS were 68 (61-82) pre-operative, 87 (81-94) at the 3-month follow-up and 94 (92-97) at the 6-month follow-up. The long term results (TLKSS at 12, 24, and 36 months post-operatively) were 94.8 (91-98), 94.8 (90-97), and 94.5 (92-97) respectively. The EQ-5D and EQ-VAS showed significant improvement between each of the first three data registering moments (pre-operative, 3 and 6 month follow-up). CONCLUSION: The quality of the treatment and the final functional result is directly influenced by the type of plica that creates the symptomatology. We have achieved good overall results for our patients, the ones with less cartilage damage having the fastest recovery time. The arthroscopic resection is a very good option for medial plicae that do not respond to conservative treatment, and it must be initiated as a first option when cartilage damage is suspected.

A Virtual Patient Representation in the Medical Rehabilitation Domain.

This paper proposes a virtual patient (VP) for the medical rehabilitation domain using the digital representation of the real life patient's matchstick skeleton. This virtual patient is used to analyze and track the recovery of the orthopedic patient with malicious posture problems. The creation of the digital patient was realized using a markerless depth camera, the Microsoft Kinect. The gathered data was saved in to a BVH type motion capture file. This file records not only the skeletal structure of the patient but its movements as well from witch the adduction, rotation and flexion angles of the joints can be analyzed. The data is stored in structured text format making it suitable to be used in telemedicine. The results confirm the utility and usability of the digital patient in clinical reasoning and in educational applications.

Sagittal balance parameters correlate with spinal conformational type and MRI changes in lumbar degenerative disc disease: results of a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Spinopelvic parameters can be useful in identifying risk factors for lumbar degenerative disc disease, but few studies assess patients with single-level disc herniation and most do not evaluate symptoms. This comparative retrospective study was aimed to analyse spinopelvic parameters, symptoms and MRI changes in patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation undergoing conservative or surgical treatment. METHODS: Patients with clinical and radiological assessment (Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score) and an MRI evaluation of the lumbar spine were identified and divided into two groups: surgically treated (group A) and not requiring surgery (group B). Spinopelvic parameters were determined on standing profile radiographs of the lumbar spine and pelvis, and mean values were compared to those reported in the literature for normal subjects. MRI findings were graded according to the system described by Pfirrmann et al. RESULTS: The study included 71 patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation: 26 in group A (39.4 ± 12.1 years) and 45 in group B (51.4 ± 17.2 years). The notable differences in spinopelvic parameter means between the two groups did not reach statistical significance. A positive correlations of age with pelvic tilt and Pfirrmann changes with pelvic incidence was only found in group A, while both groups showed highly significant positive correlations of pelvic incidence with the spine's conformational type (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Characteristic changes in spinopelvic parameters identified in patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease were a reduction in pelvic incidence, sacral slope and lumbar lordosis, with an increased pelvic tilt. These were found to correlate with MRI changes in surgically treated patients.

Utility of the pedicle subtraction osteotomy for the correction of sagittal spine imbalance.

INTRODUCTION: Pedicle substraction osteotomy (PSO) in the lumbar spine is indicated in the treatment of large sagittal deformities of the lumbar spine. Substantial complications associated with PSOs include pseudarthrosis and mechanical failure. The purpose of the present study was to assess the complications of this procedure and the causes of mechanical complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients aged between 38 and 79 years (mean age 63.8±12.82) were operated on between June 2011 and September 2014 for sagittal imbalance by means of one-level PSO. Pre-operative and post-operative values of radiological spino-pelvic sagittal parameters were measured. Clinical and radiological evaluations were conducted pre-operatively and post-operatively at six months and one year. Clinical evaluation included intra- and post-operative complications. RESULTS: Mean pelvic incidence was 54.86 ± 11.82°. Lumbar lordosis (LL) was measured to be 12.26 ± 18.48° pre-operatively and increased to 42.73 ± 14.05° post-operatively (p< 0.05). Mean gain of lordosis after PSO at index level was calculated to be 28 ± 11° (range, 14-41). SVA decreased post-operatively from 93.46 ± 36.69 mm to 61.73 ±38.68 mm (p< 0.05). Several complications (n = 8), including two minor (one dural tear with no clinical consequences and one transient radicular deficit) and six major with re-intervention, were observed in our series. DISCUSSIONS: Optimal post-operative correction in the sagittal plane: SVA <50 mm, LL= -(PI+10°) is an important parameter to reduce the risk of developing sagittal decompensation which is a common condition after PSO. Rate of complications after PSO is not negligible in the literature up to 45%. CONCLUSIONS: The main cause of mechanical complications was insufficient sagittal correction. To limit the risk of mechanical complications and to achieve a good sagittal balance, PSO must be associated with additional SPOs or a second corrective surgery to obtain a solid anterior fusion.

The post-stroke depression and its impact on functioning in young and adult stroke patients of a rehabilitation unit.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and a major public health problem. AIMS: To determine frequency and degree of post-stroke depression (PSD) and its impact on functioning in young and adult stroke patients in a rehabilitation unit. METHOD: The study included 72 stroke patients (aged 29-59 years) who were attending rehabilitation. The patients were assessed for depressive symptoms by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and their functioning by using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) and the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (ADL). RESULTS: Forty-eight patients had different degrees of depression: borderline clinical depression (13.8%), moderate depression (34.7%), severe depression (15.2%) or extreme depression (2.9%). There were no significant differences of BDI scores in 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 years groups. Statistically significant correlations were between BDI score and SIS score, between BDI score and ADL index, and between SIS score and ADL index in men, women and total study patients. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the PSD patients had a moderate degree of depression. Significant correlations were noticed between depressive symptoms and functional status evaluated both by an instrument of assessing stroke impact upon general health and an instrument for assessing the everyday activities.

About the beginnings of orthopaedics in Timisoara.

The historical and geographical territory of Banat is part of present-day Romania. Timisoara's history, the capital city of Banat region, dates back to the second century B.C. Medical life in Banat was re-organised after the promulgation of the Aulic Laws in the eighteenth century. Thorough research was undertaken through historic manuscripts, old newspapers, biographies and other papers about the history of Romanian medicine. The eighteenth century witnessed the building of three hospitals in Timisoara. In that period, Banat region benefited from the expertise and professionalism of doctors who graduated and were trained mainly in Central and Western European universities. By the beginning of the twentieth century, many medical clinics or sanatoriums specialising in orthopaedics and traumatology were offering their services to the population. Banat region had many good orthopaedists, and one of them was Prof. Dr. Doc. Berceanu, who graduated from the University of Medicine Bucharest and further specialised in Paris, France. He is the founder of the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic in Timisoara.

Prof. Ioan Jianu: founding member of SICOT.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Romania witnessed the rise of some brilliant doctors. One of them was Prof. Ioan Jianu, also known in the scientific world as Jean Jiano, whose career was dedicated to medicine and training young generations of doctors. He was one of the founding members of SICOT, at the first meeting held in 1929 at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, representing Romania. He was a main figure in Romanian surgery, pioneering in the fields of traumatology, reconstructive and plastic surgery and also showing interest in replantation surgery. He also founded the first laboratory of experimental surgery in Romania and two professional associations.

Emergency pelvic stabilization in patients with pelvic posttraumatic instability.

INTRODUCTION: Unstable pelvic ring disruptions have been associated with high rates of morbidity. Accurate reduction with fixation diminishes pain, permits early patient mobility, and allows the pelvic ring to improve functional outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study, whereby 30 polytrauma hospitalized patients were included, with unstable pelvic lesions stabilized with an external fixator as a mean of temporary or definitive fixation. Data collected for these sample were: age, sex, cause of trauma, type of pelvic lesion, associated lesions (ISS score), pelvic stabilization methods, and functional outcome. There were 17 male subjects (57%) and 13 female subjects (43%), with a mean age of 42.5 years (range 18-62 years). According to Tile classification, the unstable pelvic ring lesions prevailed; 60 % of patients were type C while three patients with type C instability had associated acetabular fractures, and 40% had type B rotational instability. Stabilization was achieved using an external fixator in 16 patients; in 14 patients the anterior ring fixation was used with an external fixator combined with posterior stabilization using percutaneous sacroiliac screws. The pelvic stabilization using the external fixator was later replaced with plates and screws (ORIF) in four patients. Follow-up at one, three, six and 12 months postoperatively was based on the Majeed functional score and radiographic assessment. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (78%) had an excellent Majeed functional score, four patients had a good score, and only one patient had a fair functional outcome. Malunions were recorded in four patients with Tile C that were stabilized only by external fixation, and superficial pin track infection occurred in three patients. Within the studied group seven deaths have been recorded (23%) in patients with extremely severe associated injuries (ISS over 50), this being the decisive factor that determined the unfavourable evolution in six patients. CONCLUSIONS: The external fixation stabilizes the anterior pelvic ring lesions and it can be combined with the posterior stabilization using percutaneous sacro-iliac screws in case of associated lesions of the posterior ring. The external fixator is very useful especially in the acute phase, acquiring an acceptable reduction and an adequate stability in the partially unstable lesions (Tile B) and also reduces the pelvic volume and bleeding, being considered essential within the resuscitation protocols. The external fixator can be used as a permanent stabilization method when it guarantees a satisfying reduction.

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.

Microscopic assessment of degenerated intervertebral disc: clinical implications and possible therapeutic challenge.

AIM: To investigate a possible correlation between the histological and morphometric properties of herniated intervertebral disc, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of patients with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty six patients with LDD were clinically evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (JOAS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain in the lower back or in the pelvic limb; MRI-based classification according to Pfirrmann and Modic criteria. All patients underwent decompressive surgery and herniated intervertebral disc samples were histologically and morphometrically analyzed. Data obtained were statistically analyzed for bivariate and partial correlations. RESULTS: The mean area size of chondron clusters correlated with age, JOAS (r=-0.385, p=0.032, tau=-0.279, rho=-0.380), Pfirrmann (r=0.505, p=0.002, tau=0.289, rho=0.365) and Modic (r=0.500, p=0.002, tau=0.331, rho=0.419) grading. There was a strong correlation between maximum area size of chondrons and JOAS (r=-0.427, p=0.009, tau=-0.299, rho=-0.430), Pfirrmann changes (r=0.432, p=0.008, tau=0.309, rho=0.388) and Modic endplate changes (r=0.444, p=0.007, tau=0.343, rho=0.434). JOAS correlated with both MRI classifications used for LDD. CONCLUSION: The intervertebral disc cells tend to aggregate in clusters and the size of the chondrons from LDD correlated with JOAS, Pfirrmann and Modic. JOAS correlates with the imagistic evaluation systems Pfirrmann and Modic.

Reduced operating time but not blood loss with cruciate retaining total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the use of retaining or replacing cruciate implants for patients with limited deformity who undergo a total knee replacement. Scope of this paper is to evaluate whether a cruciate sparing total knee replacement could have a reduced operating time compared to a posterior stabilized implant. METHODS: For this purpose, we performed a randomized study on 50 subjects. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon in the same conditions to minimize bias and only knees with a less than 20 varus deviation and/or maximum 15° fixed flexion contracture were included. RESULTS: Surgery time was significantly shorter with the cruciate retaining implant (P = 0.0037). The mean duration for the Vanguard implant was 68.9 (14.7) and for the NexGen II Legacy was 80.2 (11.3). A higher range of motion, but no significant Knee Society Scores at 6 months follow-up, was used as controls. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, both implants had the potential to assure great outcomes. However, if a decision has to be made, choosing a cruciate retaining procedure could significantly reduce the surgical time. When performed under tourniquet, this gain does not lead to reduced blood loss.