Nonplanar Nanographene: A Hydrocarbon Hole-Transporting Material That Competes with Triarylamines.

Hole-transporting materials (HTMs) are essential for optoelectronic devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), dye-sensitized solar cells, and perovskite solar cells. Triarylamines have been employed as HTMs since they were introduced in 1987. However, heteroatoms or side chains embedded in the core skeleton of triarylamines can cause thermal and chemical stability problems. Herein, we report that hexabenzo[a,c,fg,j,l,op]tetracene (HBT), a small nonplanar nanographene, functions as a hydrocarbon HTM with hole transport properties that match those of triarylamine-based HTMs. X-ray structural analysis and theoretical calculations revealed effective multidirectional orbital interactions and transfer integrals for HBT. In-depth experimental and theoretical analyses revealed that the nonplanarity-inducing annulative π-extension can achieve not only a stable amorphous state in bulk films, but also a higher increase in the highest occupied molecular orbital level than conventional linear or cyclic π-extension. Furthermore, an in-house manufactured HBT-based OLED exhibited excellent performance, featuring superior curves for current density-voltage, external quantum efficiency-luminance, and lifetime compared to those of representative triarylamine-based OLEDs. A notable improvement in device lifetime was observed for the HBT-based OLED, highlighting the advantages of the hydrocarbon HTM. This study demonstrates the immense potential of small nonplanar nanographenes for optoelectronic device applications.

Effects of applying high-pass filtering in pelvimetry with Martius images.

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the results of pelvimetry using original radiographic Martius images and the same images with high-pass filtering applied ("edge images") would be consistent. METHODS: A total of 30 primagravidas were included in this study. Three obstetricians independently measured the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the pelvic inlet in the original and the edge images, recording the x- and y-coordinates of the four endpoints. A Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was performed on the coordinate data to evaluate differences between the original and edge images. RESULTS: In the analysis of all coordinate data, statistically significant differences were found in both x- and y-coordinates of the sacral promontory point (SPP). In the y-coordinate of the SPP, a statistically significant difference was found in 9 of 30 pairs of images, and in all 9 the anteroposterior diameter was shorter in the edge images compared to the original images due to the more caudal placement of the SPP. CONCLUSIONS: The coordinates of the SPP on original radiographs and their edge images were not consistent in pelvimetry using Martius images. Our results suggest that improved image contrast will allow obstetricians to better assess pelvic narrowing and cephalopelvic disproportion and even reduce radiographic dose, thereby reducing risks for pregnant women and their fetuses.

Arthroscopic subscapularis repair using the subscapularis interlocking (SICK)-stitch technique leads to restoration of clinical function with low complication and revision rates.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the mid-term outcome after arthroscopic subscapularis tendon (SCP) reconstruction using the subscapularis interlocking (SICK)-stitch technique. The hypotheses are that arthroscopically repaired SCP lesions using the SICK-stitch show a good restoration of shoulder function with low complication and failure rates. Methods: This is a retrospective monocentric study of n = 199 patients (n = 106 female) with arthroscopically treated SCP tears with the interlocking (SICK) stitch technique from July 2013 to October 2018. Inclusion criteria: minimum follow-up of 2 years. Exclusion criteria: irreparable and massive cuff tears, osteoarthritis, and fractures. The postoperative assessment consisted of the range of motion, constant score, simple shoulder test, simple shoulder value, disability of the shoulder and arm score, short form 12, and patient satisfaction. Results: Mean age was 61 years (25-83); n = 4 (2%) patients were lost to follow-up with mean follow-up time of 63.6 months (36-96). Additional supraspinatus tendon lesions (n = 147) were repaired in n = 101 cases. SCP grading (n = 69) (35% traumatic) (Fox/Romeo): n = 113 grade II, n = 71 grade III, n = 11 grade IV. A positive preoperative lift-off test (n = 132, 68%) was corrected in n = 124 (94%) of cases. Ninety seven percent of patients would undergo surgery again with a mean satisfaction score of 14.4/15. Results at final follow-up (data: mean pre; post; P value): lexion (130; 166; .001), abduction (123;159; .001), external rotation (35;82; .001), internal rotation (52; 68; .07), constant score (50; 82; .001), disability of the shoulder and arm score (40; 19; .001), simple shoulder test (5; 10; .001), and simple shoulder value (44; 83; .001) significantly improved. The mean physical health scale short form 12 was 46 (24-63) and 51 (15-66) for mental health. Age, body mass index, SCP-grading, and supraspinatus tendon repair did not significantly affect any outcome parameter. Three (1.5%) patients underwent revision surgery, of which 1 (0.5%) had an infection. Conclusion: Two years after arthroscopic SCP repair using the SICK-stitch technique, we observed excellent restoration of clinical function with low complication and revision rates. The SICK-stitch technique thus represents a good and reliable therapeutic option for the arthroscopic repair of SCP lesions.

Midterm outcomes of autologous bridging of rotator cuff tears with an autologous tendon patch (TEAR patch).

BACKGROUND: Large and massive rotator cuff tears and tears after failed surgical repair are a challenging clinical problem with different treatment options. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the midterm outcomes after rotator cuff repair (RCR) with autologous hamstring tendon graft bridging (tissue-enhanced autologous rotator cuff repair [TEAR] patch) with the hypothesis that outcomes would be reasonable and complication rates would be low. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series study of patients who underwent open RCR using a TEAR patch from June 2015 to March 2019. The exclusion criteria included evidence of cuff tear arthropathy, advanced fatty infiltration, moderate-to-severe arthropathy, and workers compensation board or litigation involved. Clinical outcome measures were Constant score; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; Simple Shoulder Test; Subjective Shoulder Value; range of motion (ROM); and manual muscle test for forward elevation, abduction, external and internal rotation, patient satisfaction, and willingness to perform the operation again. Radiographic outcome measures were magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and radiographs: graft integrity and acromiohumeral distance (AHD). RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were followed (89%) for ≥2 years (45 shoulders, mean age 60.3 years [48-76 years], mean follow-up 4.3 years [2-6 years]). All clinical outcome measures (Constant score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, Simple Shoulder Test, Subjective Shoulder Value, ROM, and manual muscle test) demonstrated significant improvement except active external and internal rotation. At 2 years of follow-up, the mean patient satisfaction was high (12.2 of 15 points), and 33 of 38 patients (73.3%) would perform the operation again. A perfect graft integration was observed in 30 (66.7%), a small gap in 7 (15.6%), a retear in 3 (7%), and a complete failure of the tendon patch in 5 (11%) patients. Graft integrity was strongly correlated with the postoperative AHD (r = 0.599, P = .001) and the gain in AHD (r = 0.599, P = .001) but not with ROM or patient-reported outcome measures or patient satisfaction. Four patients required revision surgeries (3 due to deep infection and 1 for poor function and pain). CONCLUSIONS: Midterm clinical and radiographic outcomes after RCR with graft bridging using a TEAR patch were reasonable. The procedure resulted in improved shoulder function and a high level of patient satisfaction. The revision rate is acceptable in view of the specific patient group and treatment alternatives. The described technique of the TEAR patch can be a valuable alternative to existing methods and a new autograft source for rotator cuff surgeries that need bridging of a tendon defect.

A Deep Learning-Based Model for Classifying Osteoporotic Lumbar Vertebral Fractures on Radiographs: A Retrospective Model Development and Validation Study.

Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment for fresh osteoporotic lumbar vertebral fractures (OLVF) are crucial. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is generally performed to differentiate between fresh and old OLVF. However, MRIs can be intolerable for patients with severe back pain. Furthermore, it is difficult to perform in an emergency. MRI should therefore only be performed in appropriately selected patients with a high suspicion of fresh fractures. As radiography is the first-choice imaging examination for the diagnosis of OLVF, improving screening accuracy with radiographs will optimize the decision of whether an MRI is necessary. This study aimed to develop a method to automatically classify lumbar vertebrae (LV) conditions such as normal, old, or fresh OLVF using deep learning methods with radiography. A total of 3481 LV images for training, validation, and testing and 662 LV images for external validation were collected. Visual evaluation by two radiologists determined the ground truth of LV diagnoses. Three convolutional neural networks were ensembled. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.89, 0.83, and 0.92 in the test and 0.84, 0.76, and 0.89 in the external validation, respectively. The results suggest that the proposed method can contribute to the accurate automatic classification of LV conditions on radiography.

Long Head of the Biceps Pediculated Autograft Augmentation of Arthroscopic Subscapularis Repair.

Subscapularis (SSc) repairs are not free of failure and continues to pose a challenging problem. Although various biological and structural augmentation methods are available for the posterosuperior rotator cuff, few options have been explored for the anterior one. In the Technical Note, we describe an all-arthroscopic technique in which we use the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) as a pediculated autograft to reinforce an SSc repair. After SSc repair and LHBT tenodesis, the intra-articular portion of the LHBT is placed on the upper part of the SSc tendon at the rotator interval. Repurposing the otherwise-discarded tendon brings several biological and mechanical advantages at a lower cost without donor-site morbidity.

Lithium-Mediated Mechanochemical Cyclodehydrogenation.

Cyclodehydrogenation is an essential synthetic method for the preparation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic heteroaromatic compounds, and nanographenes. Among the many examples, anionic cyclodehydrogenation using potassium(0) has attracted synthetic chemists because of its irreplaceable reactivity and utility in obtaining rylene structures from binaphthyl derivatives. However, existing methods are difficult to use in terms of practicality, pyrophoricity, and lack of scalability and applicability. Herein, we report the development of a lithium(0)-mediated mechanochemical anionic cyclodehydrogenation reaction for the first time. This reaction could be easily performed using a conventional and easy-to-handle lithium(0) wire at room temperature, even under air, and the reaction of 1,1'-binaphthyl is complete within 30 min to afford perylene in 94% yield. Using this novel and user-friendly protocol, we investigated substrate scope, reaction mechanism, and gram-scale synthesis. As a result, remarkable applicability and practicality over previous methods, as well as limitations, were comprehensively studied by computational studies and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Furthermore, we demonstrated two-, three-, and five-fold cyclodehydrogenations for the synthesis of novel nanographenes. In particular, quinterrylene ([5]rylene or pentarylene), the longest nonsubstituted molecular rylene, was synthesized for the first time.

Graft Healing Is More Important Than Graft Technique: Superior Capsular Reconstruction Versus Bridging Grafts-A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) versus bridging graft (BG) for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs). METHODS: A prospective double-blind randomized study was conducted to compare SCR versus BG for massive irreparable RCTs. Fifty patients (mean age: 60.2 ± 6.0 years) with chronic tears (mean duration of symptoms: 5 ± 5.2 years) were intraoperatively randomized following partial repair to SCR or BG using human dermal allograft. All patients underwent standardized rehabilitation and were followed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months clinically and radiographically. Magnetic resonance imaging were obtained at 12 months to determine graft integrity. RESULTS: At 2 years, 46 patients were available for follow-up. Mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC), and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores were 74.8 ± 23.9, 66.0 ± 28.3, and 24.7 ± 26.1 for the SCR group, and 77.9 ± 19.9, 69.5 ± 24.5, and 25.0 ± 19.1 for the BG group, respectively, with no significant difference between groups. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated 18 of 24 (75%) in the SCR group and 14 of 22 (64%) in the BG group were intact at 12 months (P = .53). Patients with intact grafts compared with those with retorn grafts, whether SCR or BG, had greater ASES and WORC scores at 24 months (ASES 81.0 ± 18.7 vs 65.7 ± 24.4, P = .021 and WORC 72.3 ± 24.6 vs 53.7 ± 26.7, P = .04) and greater acromiohumeral intervals on radiographs at all follow-up time points. CONCLUSIONS: When performing arthroscopic reconstruction using human dermal allograft for an irreparable RCT, whether the proximal edge of the graft is attached on the glenoid bone or to the torn tendon does not significantly change short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I, therapeutic.

Increased Gene Copy Number of DEFA1A3 Is Associated With the Severity of Ulcerative Colitis.

INTRODUCTION: DEFA1A3 encodes human neutrophil peptides (HNPs) 1-3 and has multiple copy number variations (CNVs). HNPs are associated with innate immunity. Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder, is a life-threatening condition, and predictive markers of UC severity are needed. This study investigated the relationship between DEFA1A3 CNV and UC severity. METHODS: This study enrolled 165 patients with UC. The relationship between DEFA1A3 CNV and disease severity was analyzed based on Mayo score, patient characteristics, and treatment methods. In addition, serum and stimulated neutrophil-derived HNP concentrations were also measured in patients with high and low DEFA1A3 CNV. RESULTS: DEFA1A3 CNV was significantly correlated with Mayo score and white blood cell count (R = 0.46, P < 0.0001; R = 0.29, P = 0.003, respectively), and only high copy numbers of DEFA1A3 were independent factors for severe UC (P < 0.001, odds ratio: 1.88, 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.61). The number of severe UC patients with high DEFA1A3 CNV was significantly greater than those with low CNV. We confirmed the associations between DEFA1A3 and UC severity using a validation cohort. In addition, the HNP concentration in high-copy number patients was significantly higher after neutrophil stimulation than that in low-copy number patients. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated that there is a correlation between DEFA1A3 copy number and severity in patients with UC. In addition, neutrophils from UC patients with higher DEFA1A3 CNV had high reactivity of secretion of HNPs after stimulation. DEFA1A3 CNV may be a novel severity marker and a potential therapeutic target for UC.

The Role of Partial Rotator Cuff Repairs in Patients With Massive Irreparable Tears Without Arthritis.

In patients with chronic massive rotator cuff tears, complete repair is often not achievable or the repair is performed under significant tension with risk of early failure. The goal of a partial rotator cuff repair is to decrease pain, restore force couples, and improve range of motion of the shoulder. A systematic review was performed to assess active range of motion (ie, forward elevation, external rotation), pain, and patient-reported outcome scores after partial repair of massive rotator cuff tears. Significant improvements in forward elevation, visual analog scale pain scores, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores, and Constant scores were observed, and perioperative complication rates were minimal. Partial rotator cuff repairs remain a viable treatment option in this patient population. [Orthopedics. 2020; 43(1):e1-e7.].

Long-term outcomes following isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair: a 9- to 12-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The long-term outcomes following arthroscopic Bankart repair have been rarely reported. Because of its relative novelty, little is known about recurrent instability, postoperative arthritis, and patient satisfaction, particularly for well-established modern procedures. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes following arthroscopic Bankart repair. METHODS: Patients who underwent isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair from 2003 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Recurrent instability, radiographic, and clinical scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], Simple Shoulder Test [SST], and Rowe scores) were evaluated. Patient factors (ie, age, gender, side, number of instability episodes, contact sports, and bone loss) were analyzed to determine the correlation with outcome measures. RESULTS: Among the 98 patients (102 shoulders), we were able to contact 50 patients (51 shoulders, mean age 27.0 years, mean follow-up 121.2 months). Significant bone loss in glenoid and humerus was arthroscopically observed in 16 (31.4%) and 28 (54.9%) shoulders, respectively. Sixteen shoulders (31.4%) experienced recurrent instability. Recent radiographs were obtained for 38 shoulders, 14 (36.8%) of which showed moderate to severe arthritis. Clinical outcomes at follow-up were 89.3, 10.8, and 76.0 for ASES, SST, and Rowe scores, respectively. Neither recurrent instability nor arthritis was correlated with any patient factors. CONCLUSION: When isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair was used in all patients with shoulder instability regardless of bony defect, postoperative recurrent instability and arthritis rates were unacceptably high. Additional procedures should be chosen after careful consideration of multiple patient factors.

Supraspinatus muscle location changes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a potential source of preoperatively predicting tear patterns.

PURPOSE: When repairing retracted rotator cuff tears, the tear pattern (eg, crescent-shaped, L-shaped) is best determined intraoperatively by evaluating the mobility of the tendon in multiple directions. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the location of the supraspinatus (SSP) muscle belly on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of retracted rotator cuff tears. We hypothesized that the location of the rotator cuff muscle would move after tendon repair, and that the perioperative change in muscle position would correlate with the tear pattern. METHODS: A series of primary arthroscopic repairs for rotator cuff tears with >3 cm of medial retraction from 2015 to 2016 was reviewed. MRIs were performed preoperatively and within 10 days postoperatively. The SSP muscle was assessed on sagittal MRI and evaluated for the "occupation ratio", "tangent sign", and the "location index" proposed in this study. Pre and postoperative MRIs were compared, and correlated with intraoperatively determined tear patterns. Fifty shoulders without rotator cuff pathology were also assessed for the "location index" as control. RESULTS: Fifty-nine shoulders (mean age 65.0 years) were included, among which five reverse L-shaped tears were identified. The occupation ratio and tangent sign improved postoperatively. Preoperatively, in the majority of tears, the SSP muscle was located more posteriorly in the SSP fossa, compared to the control group, and shifted anteriorly after repair. However, in reverse L-shaped tears the SSP muscle was located more centrally in the fossa, and shifted posteriorly following repair. CONCLUSION: Rotator cuff tearing and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair change the location of the SSP muscle. Although repair usually results in shifting of the muscle belly from posterior to anterior, reverse L-shaped tears demonstrated an opposite pattern. The location of the SSP muscle belly may be useful in predicting tear patterns of retracted rotator cuff tears. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV (case series).

Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: What Is the Rate of Tear Progression? A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the literature and determine the rate of radiographic tear progression of nonoperatively treated full-thickness rotator cuff tears. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically reviewed to identify all articles related to nonoperatively treated rotator cuff tears. English-language studies of Level I through IV evidence examining chronic, full-thickness rotator cuff tears in adults were included. Partial-thickness tears were excluded. Rotator cuff tears were analyzed according to the presence or absence of symptoms. The primary outcome was radiographic tear progression defined as an increase in tear size of 5 mm or greater on magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound. RESULTS: Eight studies were included for statistical analysis, and 411 tears were analyzed for progression. No difference in the rate of tear progression was detected between the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups (40.6% at 46.8 months and 34.1% at 37.8 months, respectively; P = .65). Calculation of the number needed to treat showed that for an 8% retear rate at 2-year follow-up, approximately 7 patients with rotator cuff tears would have to undergo operative repair to prevent 1 tear from progressing radiographically. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that with the data available, asymptomatic and symptomatic rotator cuff tears carry similar rates of tear progression over time. Most of these tears will not progress significantly over short- to intermediate-term follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level I through IV evidence.

Clinical effect of long-term administration of tolvaptan in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

The effectiveness of long-term administration of tolvaptan in heart failure (HF) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been fully studied. Hence, in this study, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of tolvaptan on patients with HF and CKD. We consecutively enrolled 31 patients with acute HF syndrome (AHFS) who were administrated tolvaptan as a long-term medication (TLV group). All patients had a history of prior HF admission and CKD. We also consecutively enrolled 27 patients with AHFS, a prior history of HF and CKD (conventional group). We compared renal function and outcomes between the two groups at discharge for AHFS and after 6 months of follow-up. The estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was maintained at approximately the same level in the TLV group exhibited approximately the same eGFR (-1.1 ± 8.3 mL/min/1.73 m2) but decreased in the conventional group (-7.4 ± 10.4 mL/min/1.73 m2). There was a significant difference in the changes observed in eGFR between the conventional and TLV groups (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in the frequencies of rehospitalization and death. Long-term administration of tolvaptan may prevent increased renal dysfunction in HF patients with CKD. This conclusion should be confirmed in a large-scale prospective study.

A Novel Heterozygous Mutation in the T-box Protein 4 Gene in an Adult Case of Small Patella Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Small patella syndrome (SPS) is a rare skeletal dysplasia relating to the T-box protein 4 (TBX4) gene, which regulates the development of lower extremities. Patients typically present with recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) in childhood or adolescence, leading to a diagnosis of SPS and subsequent treatment to improve activity levels. However, those with mild symptoms may not be diagnosed when young and present later after skeletal maturation, which might compromise treatment options. Further understanding of genetic mutations of SPS could possibly help early diagnosis and following adequate surgical treatment. In this case report, we present a surgically treated adult female case of RPD associated with SPS, carrying a novel heterozygous mutation in the TBX4 gene. CASE REPORT: A 19-year-old female presented with persistent right knee pain after an atraumatic episode ofpatellar dislocation during walking. The patient had a history of recurrent patella instability of the right knee with an onset at the age of 8 years due to a minor trauma. Patellar apprehension sign was positive bilaterally. There was radiological evidence of bilateral small patellae, hypoplastic femoral trochlea, and tibial tuberosity. A direct sequencing of the coding regions in the TBX4 gene had confirmed the diagnosis of SPS. A novel heterozygous mutation (p.L39PfsX35) was found in the patient and her father. Surgical treatment was indicated and the patient underwent an isolated medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction while no distal realignment osteotomy was performed due to hypoplastic tibial tuberosity. Excellent subjective and objective outcomes were obtained at 1 year postoperatively. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported SPS case with a novel mutation in the TBX4 gene in an Asian population. While a satisfying short-term outcome was obtained by an isolated MPFL reconstruction, early genetic diagnosis in childhood with adequate surgical treatment (e.g., Roux-Goldthwait procedure) would be ideal considering the limited treatment options in skeletally matured patients. The reported case has added one mutation variant of the TBX4 gene, which may help prevent delays in diagnosis of SPS.

Mechanical and imaging evaluation of the effect of sutures on tendons: tape sutures are protective to suture pulling through tendon.

BACKGROUND: High-strength sutures, including #2 and tape-type, are popular when performing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Although the most common mechanism of anatomic failure of rotator cuff repair is suture pulling through tendon, the effect of sutures on the suture-tendon interface has rarely been investigated. We evaluated the effect of commercially available modern high-strength standard #2 and tape-type sutures on tendon. METHODS: Isolated sutures (FiberTape, #2 FiberWire [Arthrex Inc., Naples, FL, USA], Ultratape, and #2 Ultrabraid [Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA]) and suture-tendon constructs using sheep infraspinatus tendons were evaluated using mechanical testing and imaging (microcomputed tomography) techniques. RESULTS: For the 4 suture-tendon constructs evaluated, maximum and residual displacements were all less than 3 mm. Whether evaluating isolated sutures or suture-tendon constructs, tape-type sutures had smaller displacements than standard #2 sutures when products from the same company were compared. On initial suture passing and after mechanical testing, hole volume was larger in constructs with tape-type rather than standard #2 sutures comparing within the same company. Collectively, constructs with larger hole volumes after mechanical testing had stiffer sutures. The percentage difference in hole volume was larger for standard #2 than tape-type sutures: FiberWire (43%), Ultrabraid (17%), FiberTape (11%), and Ultratape (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Tape-type sutures created larger final holes than standard #2 sutures from the same company. When initially passed through the tendon, tape-type sutures produced larger holes than standard #2 sutures; however, standard #2 sutures enlarged their initially smaller holes more and displaced more than tape-type sutures during cyclic loading, which suggests that tape-type sutures may be protective to suture pulling through tendon.

Gene-expression changes in knee-joint tissues with aging and menopause: implications for the joint as an organ.

BACKGROUND: When considering the "joint as an organ", the tissues in a joint act as complementary components of an organ, and the "set point" is the cellular activity for homeostasis of the joint tissues. Even in the absence of injury, joint tissues have adaptive responses to processes, like aging and menopause, which result in changes to the set point. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study in a preclinical model was to investigate age-related and menopause-related changes in knee-joint tissues with the hypothesis that tissues will change in unique ways that reflect their differing contributions to maintaining joint function (as measured by joint laxity) and the differing processes of aging and menopause. METHODS: Rabbit knee-joint tissues from three groups were evaluated: young adult (gene expression, n=8; joint laxity, n=7; water content, n=8), aging adult (gene expression, n=6; joint laxity, n=7; water content, n=5), and menopausal adult (gene expression, n=8; joint laxity, n=7; water content, n=8). Surgical menopause was induced with ovariohysterectomy surgery and gene expression was assessed using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Aging resulted in changes to 37 of the 150 gene-tissue combinations evaluated, and menopause resulted in changes to 39 of the 150. Despite the similar number of changes, only eleven changes were the same in both aging and menopause. No differences in joint laxity were detected comparing young adult rabbits with aging adult rabbits or with menopausal adult rabbits. CONCLUSION: Aging and menopause affected the gene-expression patterns of the tissues of the knee joint differently, suggesting unique changes to the set point of the knee. Interestingly, aging and menopause did not affect knee-joint laxity, suggesting that joint function was maintained, despite changes in gene expression. Taken together, these findings support the theory of the joint as an organ where the tissues of the joint adapt to maintain joint function.

Satisfactory functional and radiological outcomes can be expected in young patients under 45 years old after open wedge high tibial osteotomy in a long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term outcomes of medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) for the treatment of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis in patients younger than 45 years old. It was hypothesized that the correction of knee alignment would result in preservation of knee function in a long-term follow-up. METHODS: Patients under 45 years old, who underwent MOWHTO for symptomatic medial compartment knee osteoarthritis between 2001 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed after a minimum of 10 years. The osteotomy was performed utilizing a locking plate without the use of bone graft. Patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using the International Knee Documentation Committee Score, the Oxford Knee Score, the Knee injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and the Short Form-12 Score. Standardized standing whole-limb radiographs were also obtained to assess mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA) and the grade of osteoarthritis. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients (18 males, 2 females, mean age 35.4 years) with a mean follow-up of 12.3 years were included in the study. During the follow-up period, one patient required conversion to total knee replacement (95% survival rate). All clinical outcome scores (IKDC, KOOS, OKS, and SF-12) significantly improved postoperatively (p < 0.05), with no significant deterioration over time. Preoperative varus alignment with an mTFA of - 5.8 ± 2.4° was corrected to 2.5 ± 1.9° immediately after surgery (p < 0.05), and remained 2.2 ± 1.7° at the last follow-up. Furthermore, no significant radiographic progression of osteoarthritis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: MWOHTO with a locking plate is an effective joint preservation method to treat medial compartment OA in active patients less than 45 years. Clinical and radiological results are satisfactory and the survival rate is 95%, 12 years after the procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV therapeutic, retrospective, cohort study.

Arthroscopic Single-Row Versus Double-Row Suture Bridge Technique for Rotator Cuff Tears in Patients Younger Than 55 Years: A Prospective Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: When arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is performed on a young patient, long-lasting structural and functional tendon integrity is desired. A fixation technique that potentially provides superior tendon healing should be considered for the younger population to achieve long-term clinical success. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose was to compare the radiological and clinical midterm results between single-row and double-row (ie, suture bridge) fixation techniques for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients younger than 55 years. We hypothesized that a double-row technique would lead to improved tendon healing, resulting in superior mid- to long-term clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: A consecutive series of 66 patients younger than 55 years with a medium to large full-thickness tear of supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons who underwent arthroscopic single-row or double-row (ie, suture bridge) repair were enrolled and prospectively observed. Thirty-four and 32 patients were assigned to single-row and double-row groups, respectively. Postoperatively, tendon integrity was assessed by MRI following Sugaya's classification at a minimum of 12 months, and clinical outcomes were assessed with the Constant score and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score at a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 46 months (range, 28-50 months). A higher tendon healing rate was obtained in the double-row group compared with the single-row group (84% and 61%, respectively [ P < .05]). Although no difference in outcome scores was observed between the 2 techniques, patients with healed tendon demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared with patients who had retorn tendon (UCLA score, 34.2 and 27.6, respectively [ P < .05]; Constant score, 94 and 76, respectively [ P < .05]). CONCLUSION: The double-row repair technique potentially provides superior tendon healing compared with the single-row technique. Double-row repair should be considered for patients younger than 55 years with medium to large rotator cuff tears.

Long-term outcomes of the Bankart and Latarjet repairs: a systematic review.

The most common surgical techniques for the treatment of recurrent anterior shoulder instability include the arthroscopic Bankart repair, the open Bankart repair and the open Latarjet procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the long-term outcomes following these procedures. A systematic review of modern procedures with a minimum follow-up of 5 years was completed. The objective outcome measures evaluated were post-operative dislocation and instability rate, the Rowe score, radiographic arthritis and complications. Twenty-eight studies with a total of 1652 repairs were analyzed. The estimated re-dislocation rate was 15.1% following arthroscopic Bankart repair, 7.7% following open Bankart repair and 2.7% following Latarjet repair, with the comparison between arthroscopic Bankart and open Latarjet reaching statistical significance (p<0.001). The rates of subjective instability and radiographic arthritis were consistently high across groups, with no statistical difference between groups. Estimated complication rates were statistically higher in the open Latarjet repair (9.4%) than in the arthroscopic Bankart (0%; p=0.002). The open Latarjet procedure yields the most reliable method of stabilization but the highest complication rate. There are uniformly high rates of post-operative subjective instability symptoms and radiographic arthritis at 5 years regardless of procedure choice.