Comparison of Bone-setting Robots and Conventional Reduction in the Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fracture: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Intertrochanteric fracture of the femur is a common fracture in older people. Due to the poor systemic condition and prognosis of elderly patients, it is prone to more complications. We introduce the bone-setting concept in the design of the robots, which are used for intertrochanteric fracture of the femur reduction. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of bone-setting robots and conventional reduction in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur (IFF). METHODS: From June 2021 to January 2023, 60 patients with IFF who were treated surgically were assigned to bone-setting robots group and conventional reduction methods group in this retrospective study. The reduction time, operation time, total time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, fluoroscopy time, and the follow-up time were reviewed. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Harris scores were used for functional assessment. For continuous variables, independent t-tests were applied; for categorical data, the chi-square test was applied. The significance level as p < 0.05. RESULTS: Among the 60 patients with IFF, 31 were assigned to the bone-setting robots group, and 29 were assigned to the conventional reduction methods group. Both groups with a similar baseline in the number, gender, age, and classification (p > 0.05). The reduction time, operation time, total time, intraoperative blood loss, and fluoroscopy time were less than those in the bone-setting robots reduction group compared to the conventional reduction group. In the bone-setting robots reduction group, the preoperative VAS score was 6.2 ± 1.3, the Harris score was 35.3 ± 3.1, 1 week after surgery VAS score was 3.3 ± 1.2, the Harris score was 57.3 ± 3.7, and at the last follow-up VAS score was 2.4 ± 0.8, and the Harris score was 88.7 ± 3.4. While in the conventional reduction group, the preoperative VAS score was 6.3 ± 1.3, the Harris score was 35.9 ± 2.9, 1 week after surgery VAS score was 4.8 ± 1.4, the Harris score was 46.8 ± 2.8, and at the last follow-up VAS score was 2.6 ± 0.8, and the Harris score was 87.3 ± 3.3. There were no significant differences between the two groups at the preoperative and 6-month postoperative follow-ups in VAS score and Harris score (p > 0.05, p > 0.05, respectively). But the difference was statistically significant at the one-week postoperative follow-up in VAS and Harris scores (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The bone-setting robots can better protect the "fracture environment" and have the advantages of being precise, minimally invasive, simple, short time, low radiation, and rapid fracture recovery. The clinical effect of closed repair of IFF is ideal.

Imaging of atherosclerotic aorta of rabbit model by detection of plaque inflammation with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the primary mechanism of thrombosis which plays a key role in the onset of acute coronary syndromes. Detection of these plaques prone to rupture (vulnerable plaque) could be clinically significant for prevention of cardiac events. It has been shown that high metabolism cells have a high uptake of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG). The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of FDG uptake and the immuno-histochemistry parameters of plaques, and the effect of atorvastatin on vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in a rabbit model. METHODS: Ten male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups as follows: (1) normal control group (n = 2, C group): the animals were fed a standard diet at 120 g/d and were given water ad labium; (2) atherosclerosis group (n = 4, As group): animals were fed with high fat diet for 5 months after aortic endothelia damage; (3) treatment group (atherosclerosis + atorvastatin, n = 4, Statin group): animals were fed with high fat diet for 5 months and then changed into normal chow plus atorvastatin (2.5 mg·d(-1)·kg(-1)) treatment for another 4 months. Then these four rabbits were imaged with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and sacrificed for pathohistologic studies. FDG uptake by the aorta was expressed as target-to-background ratio (TBR). Maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) was measured over the thoracic and abdominal aortas. The aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) number, CD-14 antibody positive cell (macrophage) number and the ratio of the thickness of fibrous cap to the thickness of lipid core (cap-to-core ratio) in atherosclerotic plaques were analyzed. RESULTS: As group showed significantly higher uptake of FDG than C group (SUVs: 0.746 ± 0.172 vs. 0.286 ± 0.073, P < 0.001). After 4 months of atorvastatin treatment and the modification of diet, SUVs decreased significantly (Statin group: 0.550 ± 0.134, compared to As group, P < 0.001). However, no marked difference was found in TBR, the number of macrophages, the number of SMC and the cap-to-core ratio in the aortic segments between Statin group and As group. The correlation of aortic FDG uptake with SMC assessed by histopathology was negatively significant (r = -0.57, P < 0.001). When aortic FDG uptake was expressed as TBR, it correlated significantly (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) with the macrophage number, and also correlated significantly (r = -0.78, P < 0.001) with the cap-to-core ratio. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET/CT might serve as a useful non-invasive imaging technique for detection of atherosclerotic plaque and potentially permit monitoring of relative changes in inflammation within the atherosclerotic lesion.

Total hip arthroplasty for active tuberculosis of the hip.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been used as a successful form of treatment in patients with long-standing tuberculosis, but it is unclear whether THA should be performed in patients with current infection. We performed THA in six patients with advanced active tuberculosis of the hip from 2002 to 2006. Tuberculosis was confirmed in all cases by histological examination. All patients were treated with antituberculous medications for at least two weeks followed by thorough debridement and THA. Antituberculous medications were administered postoperatively for at least 12 months. The duration of postoperative follow-up was an average of 49 months. No reactivation of the infection was detected in our series. Using the Harris hip score system, five of the patients were classified as excellent and one as good. THA in advanced active tuberculosis of the hip is a safe procedure providing symptomatic relief and functional improvement. Thorough debridement of infected tissues and postoperative antituberculous therapy are the keys to lowering the potential risk of reactivation of tuberculosis.

An intramedullary nail with multifunctional interlocking for all types of fracture in both femurs.

OBJECTIVE: A femoral compound interlocking intramedullary nail (FCIIN) was designed to treat all types of fractures between the trochanter and epicondyle of both femurs. It could substitute for femoral interlocking intramedullary nails (FIIN) at five points. METHODS: According to the morphological characteristics of the femoral medullary canal, the nail is designed to accommodate a 1250 mm radius of radian and a 135° neck-shaft angle. Three interlocking holes of 6.5 mm diameter are located at the proximal end of the FCIIN, making crossing of the screws possible. The hole is designed to be vertical (90°) or oblique (45° upper or lower). At the tip of the proximal interlocking screws, whose root diameter gradually increases from 3.5 mm to 6.5 mm, a self-tapping cancellous screw is placed. There are two types of distal interlocking screws. One is a fine thread and the other a bolt screw. Two interlocking holes and a recess 4.5 mm in diameter are located at the distal end of the FCIIN. Under biomechanical destructive testing, the proximal interlocking screw device has satisfactory strength and reasonable structure. A total of 47 patients (31 males and 16 females, with an average age of 39.83 years) with femoral fractures were assessed in this study. Fourteen cases were diagnosed as intertrochanteric, 7 as subtrochanteric, 18 as femoral shaft, and 8 as supracondylar fractures. All 47 patients were treated with the FCIIN. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients, anatomic reduction was achieved in 34, good reduction in 11, and forced line reduction in 2 cases. Reduction was excellent or good in 95.87% of the fractures. The removal time of the FCIIN was 12 to 21 months (average, 16.9 months). One patient with an intertrochanteric fracture who had a fixation failure combined with non-union achieved healing with an external fixator at 18 months. Failure to insert the distal interlocking screws occurred in 5 patients but did not affect bone healing. CONCLUSION: The FCIIN is a useful device in the treatment of a variety of femoral fractures.

[In vivo noninvasive detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque by (99)Tc(m)-Annexin V imaging in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.].

OBJECTIVE: Apoptosis contributes to the instability of the atherosclerotic (AS) lesions. The vulnerable plaque was identified in vivo by detecting the apoptosis with radiolabeled annexin V in an atherosclerotic rabbit model. METHODS: Eight male New Zealand white rabbits on 2% cholesterol diet for 2 weeks had abdominal aortic balloon injury and fed a 2% cholesterol diet for another 15 weeks (AS group), 3 rabbits fed a normal rabbit chow for 17 weeks without balloon injury served as controls. Annexin V labeled with (99)Tc(m) was then intravenously administered and planar whole-body images were captured using a gamma camera in the left lateral position. The entire length of the abdominal aorta was explanted for ex vivo imaging with gamma camera. The aorta then was divided into several segments according to the severity of AS. The segments were separated weighted and counted in an gamma counter for the absorptive dose of annexin per gram of tissue. Histology examinations were made on specimens. RESULTS: At 2 hours post annexin V injection, clear delineation of radiolabel within the abdominal aorta could be evidenced in vivo gamma imaging. After explanation of the aorta, ex vivo imaging showed a robust uptake of radiotracer in the infradiaphragmatic aorta corresponding to the in vivo images and conforming to the macroscopic distribution of atherosclerotic lesions. The uptake of radiolabel was absent in areas without grossly visible atherosclerotic lesions. The in vivo and ex vivo images identified plaque areas were identical and corresponded histological results on the explanted specimen. The aortic specimen was divided into 18 segments on lesions. The magority of the lesions (14/18) manifested as type IV or type V lesions of AHA classification (vulnerable lesions), except segments 1 - 4, which manifested as type I or type II lesions. The thickness of fibrous cap (TFC) and the ratio of cap and lipid nuclear (RCN) were significantly reversely correlated to the unit radioactivity counts, and the correlation between RCN and the unit radioactivity counts was more significant than that between TFC and the unit radioactivity counts (r = -0.904, P < 0.01, and r = -0.8, P < 0.01). Apoptosis detection (TUNEL): annexin V intake in plaques was positively correlated to apoptotic index(r = 0.651, P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive Annexin V imaging could be used to detect vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in vivo.

[Immunogenicity and safety of recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine in adults].

OBJECTIVE: To study the immunogenicity and safety of recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine (YDV) in adults. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four healthy teachers aged 22 approximately 58 years with serum negative HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and with normal temperature were randomly selected from Beipiao city, Liaoning province. All the subjects were immunized with 5 microg/0.5 ml of YDV made by Beijing Institute of Biologic Products, for three doses at an interval of one and six months, respectively. RESULTS: The positivity of serum anti-HBs was 35.0%, 83.3%, 65.5% and 32.7% with a geometric mean titre (GMT) of 12.6 mIU/ml, 402.0 mIU/ml, 70.3 mIU/ml and 20.3 mIU/ml, respectively, three, seven, 12 and 24 months after immunization. The positivity and GMT of serum anti-HBs appeared the highest seven months after immunization, then began to decrease sharply. The positivity and GMT of serum anti-HBs in women was higher than that in men either three, or seven, or 12, or 24 months after immunization. The positivity of serum anti-HBs in those of 35 years or over was lower than that less than 35 years, seven months after immunization, but no age difference could be found 12 months after immunization. No local or systematic adverse reactions were found in all the subjects within three days after immunization. CONCLUSION: The recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine (YDV) is immunogenic and safe for adults, but the persistency of serum anti-HBs in after immunization should be followed-up further.