Vitamin D Deficiency Is Frequent in Patients with Rapidly Destructive Osteoarthritis-Data from a Single-Center Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Rapidly destructive osteoarthritis (RDO) of the hip joint is characterised by the rapid destruction of the femoral head with or without acetabular involvement. There has been increasing interest in this disease over the past years; however, the entity is still poorly understood, and its pathophysiology remains unknown. Yet, there is ample evidence today that increased bone metabolism might play a role in the onset and progression of the disease. Vitamin D is of utmost importance to maintain a balanced bone metabolism. However, whether vitamin D deficiency is involved in disease development remains to be elucidated. Further, the vitamin D status of patients with RDO has not yet been analysed. For this reason, the objective of this study was to assess the vitamin D status of patients with RDO. Moreover, the aim was to clarify whether there is a difference in the vitamin D status of patients with RDO compared with patients with primary osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: In this single-centre analysis, the 25(OH)D, PTH, and calcium levels of 29 patients who presented with RDO between 2020 and 2022 were assessed. RESULTS: Altogether, 97% of patients (28/29) were vitamin D deficient, a further 3% (1/29) were vitamin D insufficient, and not a single patient presented with a sufficient vitamin D status. Notably, the vitamin D levels of RDO patients (mean = 11.04 ng/mL) were significantly lower than the vitamin D levels of patients with OA (mean = 22.16 ng/mL, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found a widespread and high rate of vitamin D deficiency in patients with RDO. Hence, we believe that 25(OH)D status should routinely be analysed in these patients.

Epidemiological Analysis of Traumatic Compartment Syndromes in Germany.

Background: Traumatic compartment syndrome is a critical condition that can lead to severe, lifelong disability. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed hospital billing data from 2015 to 2022, provided by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, to examine the demographics and trends of traumatic compartment syndrome in Germany. The analysis included cases coded with ICD-10 codes T79.60 to T79.69 and any therapeutic OPS code starting with 5-79, focusing on diagnosis year, gender, ICD-10 code, and patient age. Results: The results showed that out of 13,305 cases, the majority were in the lower leg (44.4%), with males having a significantly higher incidence than females (2.3:1 ratio). A bimodal age distribution was observed, with peaks at 22-23 and 55 years. A notable annual decline of 43.87 cases in compartment syndrome was observed, with significant decreases across different genders and age groups, particularly in males under 40 (23.68 cases per year) and in the "foot" and "lower leg" categories (16.67 and 32.87 cases per year, respectively). Conclusions: The study highlights a declining trend in traumatic CS cases in Germany, with distinct demographic patterns. Through these findings, hospitals can adjust their therapeutic regimens, and it could increase awareness among healthcare professionals about this disease.

Does Body Mass Index (BMI) Affect the Reconstruction of Biomechanical Parameters in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Replacement (THR) through the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA)?

OBJECTIVE: Direct anterior approach total hip replacement (DAA-THR) is gaining increased interest due to its tissue-sparing nature and rapid recovery. Obesity has been shown to be a significant parameter influencing cup positioning in DAA-THR. It was the intention of this retrospective study to examine how obesity would influence the restoration of native hip biomechanical parameters during DAA-THR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 74 patients from a high-volume university orthopedic center after unilateral DAA-THA were included. Patients were retrospectively allocated to a study group (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and a control group (BMI < 30 kg/m2). Furthermore, propensity-score matching for baseline parameters was performed, leaving 30 patients in each group. Biomechanical parameters of the hip (i.e., femoral offset (FO), abductor lever arm (ABL), acetabular offset (AO), center of rotation (COR), stem alignment (SA), body weight lever arm (BWL), cup inclination (CI), and leg length discrepancy (LLD) were evaluated on standardized plain radiographs, and parameters were compared to the native contralateral hip. RESULTS: Mean BMI in the study group was 35.07 ± 5.13 kg/m2 and 25.43 ± 2.64 kg/m2 in the control group. There was a significant decrease of the ABL only in the study cohort (p = 0.01). CI and SA did not differ between both cohorts. FO was slightly increased compared to the native hip in both groups. There was a marginally higher but non-significant proportion of improper FO restoration in the study group (19 vs. 16 patients, p = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, as quantified by BMI, only has a limited impact on the adequate reconstruction of native biomechanical parameters of the hip during DAA-THR. ABL was the only parameter to be significantly decreased in the overweight patients after DAA-THR. Therefore, special care should be taken on proper acetabular reaming and consequent seating of the cup in the obese patient to avoid excessive lateral positioning.

Zirconium as a Promising Synovial Biomarker for Loose Cemented Knee Prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Aseptic loosening is the most common mode of failure after total knee arthroplasty. Despite this, the diagnosis often remains challenging and mainly relies on imaging modalities. Until today, no biomarker exists to aid in diagnosing loosening of the implants. As zirconium (Zr) is often found in bone cement, where it serves as radiopacifier, this study aimed to establish Zr as a synovial biomarker for loosened cemented knee prostheses. METHODS: A total of 31 patients scheduled for revision of a cemented knee prostheses were included. In all patients, the initial used cement contained Zr. After arthrotomy, specimens of synovial fluid were taken and levels of Zr were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Depending on the necessary amount of force for explantation, the implants were graded "loose" or "well-fixed". Preoperative radiographs were evaluated by 2 independent physicians. RESULTS: The concentration of Zr in the synovial fluid differed significantly (P < .001) between the "loose" (mean 170.9 µg/L, range 0 to 1941 µg/L) and the "well-fixed" (mean 0.6 µg/L, range 0 to 6 µg/L) implants. The receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed 0.25 µg/l as an optimal cutoff value leading to a sensitivity of 0.84, a specificity of 0.92, a positive predictive value of 0.94, and a negative predictive value of 0.79. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance compared to radiographs (P = .66). CONCLUSIONS: Zirconium proved to be a reliable novel synovial biomarker for diagnosing aseptic loosening of knee prothesis fixed with cement containing Zr. This biomarker should not be interpreted in isolation, but in combination with existing diagnostic tools.

Accuracy of Positioning and Risk Factors for Malpositioning Custom-Made Femoral Stems in Total Hip Arthroplasty-A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is commonly performed using off-the-shelf implants. In the case of a severe mismatch between the anatomy of the proximal femur and the geometry of the stem, the use of custom-made stems might become necessary. The goal of this study was to investigate the precision of the implantation of custom-made stems of one manufacturer (CTX stem, AQ Implants) and to determine risk factors for malpositioning. All patients receiving a custom-made CTX stem between 2014 and 2020 at six high-volume academic centers were retrospectively recruited. The achieved position of the stem, as determined by stem version, stem coronal angle, and implantation depth on radiographs, was compared to the plan. The influence of radiographic and demographic parameters on the position was investigated. The results revealed a high variability of the achieved implant position in relation to the preoperative plan. While the stem coronal angle only differed slightly from the intended position, the stem version and the implantation depth showed a high frequency and amount of deviation. Right stems showed significantly higher positions than planned. Surgeons must be aware of this potential problem when implanting custom-made stems.

Impact of COVID-19 on Fracture Incidence in Germany: A Comparative Age and Gender Analysis of Pre- and Post-Outbreak Periods.

In March 2020, Germany imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, prompting questions about the impact on the incidence of common fractures. This study examined 15 fracture types in pre-outbreak (2010-2019) and post-outbreak (2020-2021) periods, using data categorized by age (18-64 years, >65 years) and sex (male, female). Linear regression assessed annual growth rates, and mean fracture numbers were compared across periods for significant differences. Results indicated a positive correlation between fracture incidence rates and time for various types, such as cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic spine fractures, rib fractures, femoral neck, pertrochanteric femur, femoral shaft, and ankle fractures. Frequencies of proximal humerus, distal radius, femoral neck, pertrochanteric femur, femoral shaft, and ankle fractures in 2020 and 2021 were within predicted ranges from previous years. However, rib fractures and spinal fractures (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic spine) occurred less frequently during this time. Notably, this study found a consistent decline in most fracture types for individuals aged 18-64 after the pandemic's onset, while the fracture incidence of hip fractures, often referred to as fragility fractures, for those over 65 remained unchanged. Fibula fractures showed the most considerable decrease in both age groups. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted fracture incidence, with lower rates among individuals under 65 and unchanged fragility fractures in the elderly population.

The AMADEUS score is not a sufficient predictor for functional outcome after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) of the knee: data from the German Cartilage Registry (KnorpelRegister DGOU).

INTRODUCTION: The AMADEUS (Area Measurement And DEpth and Underlying Structures) score has advanced to a commonly used tool for MRI-based chondral defect severity grading prior to cartilage knee surgery. It was the intention of this study to assess the AMADEUS for a potential correlation with clinical data by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). METHODS: A total of 51 patients undergoing ACI (autologous chondrocyte implantation) between 2016 and 2022 were found eligible and retrospectively analyzed. All patients were registered in the German Cartilage Registry prior to surgery and follow-up data were collected using the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome score (KOOS), the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Form and the numeric rating scale (NRS). Pre-operative MRI images were scored by three raters using the AMADEUS classification system, and an overall AMADEUS score was calculated which was subsequently correlated with pre- and post-operative PROMs. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 32.67 ± 8.37 years and mean defect size area 343.04 mm2 ± 139.45 mm2. No correlative capacity of the pre- and postoperative IKDC, KOOS or NRS scores was found with the AMADEUS final score or any of its subscores. From the pre- to postoperative visit, a significant improvement of the PROMs (IKDC: 45.53 ± 21.00 vs. 59.83 ± 17.93, p = 0.04; KOOS Pain: 58.00 ± 16.70 vs. 76.06 ± 19.20, p = 0.03; KOOS ADL: 64.17 ± 18.76 vs. 82.11 ± 16.68, p < 0.01; KOOS Sports: 26.11 ± 18.52 vs. 50.56 ± 23.94, p = 0.01; KOOS QOL: 25.50 ± 14.26 ± 45.28 ± 19.03, p = 0.00) was found. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed an overall good interrater agreement for the AMADEUS total score (ICC = 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest no correlative capacity of the AMADEUS with routinely used PROMs in patients undergoing ACI. Therefore, radiographically assessed cartilage defect characteristics poorly translate to pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcome data.

Epidemiology and Trends in Cartilage Surgery of the Foot and Ankle in Germany: An Analysis of National Healthcare Billing and Reporting Data from 2006 to 2020.

Background and objectives: Cartilage surgery constitutes a standard intervention in foot and ankle procedures. Currently, there is a lack of epidemiological data on its frequency, age distribution, and surgical options for cartilage surgery. This study aimed to investigate the current landscape of cartilage surgery in Germany and identify the most common procedures from an epidemiological standpoint. Materials and methods: Medical billing and reporting data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, encompassing the period 2006-2020, was examined, including all foot and ankle cartilage surgical procedures (summarized under OPS codes 5-812 and 5-801). The dataset incorporated information on the affected joint, patient age and sex, and surgery type. Each surgical procedure was categorized as "debridement", "regeneration" or "refixation". Linear and nonlinear regression analyses were employed, with a statistical significance threshold of 0.05. Results: From the total of 136,501 procedures conducted during the study period, the most frequently performed interventions were microfracture (58,252) and chondroplasty (56,135), and thus, debridement procedures were in the leading position. The use of acellular membranes was the most used regenerative technique (n = 11,414). At the ankle joint, interventions were mostly arthroscopic and in men, while foot cartilage surgeries were preferably performed via open surgery and mostly in women. Age distribution analysis revealed two primary peaks: the first in the 20-25-year-old group (ankle and foot) and the second in the 45-50-year-old group (ankle) and 55-60-year-old group (foot). Refixation and regenerative procedures were more frequent among younger individuals, while debriding procedures were more frequent among older individuals. Regenerative procedures, particularly in the ankle, significantly increased over time. Conclusions: Cartilage surgery of the foot and ankle was common, with two primary age groups predominantly affected. Notably, recent years have witnessed a considerable rise in cartilage regenerative procedures.

Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting Detector CT Arthrography of the Ankle: A Feasibility Study.

This study was designed to investigate the image quality of ultra-high-resolution ankle arthrography employing a photon-counting detector CT. Bilateral arthrograms were acquired in four cadaveric specimens with full-dose (10 mGy) and low-dose (3 mGy) scan protocols. Three convolution kernels with different spatial frequencies were utilized for image reconstruction (ρ50; Br98: 39.0, Br84: 22.6, Br76: 16.5 lp/cm). Seven radiologists subjectively assessed the image quality regarding the depiction of bone, hyaline cartilage, and ligaments. An additional quantitative assessment comprised the measurement of noise and the computation of contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR). While an optimal depiction of bone tissue was achieved with the ultra-sharp Br98 kernel (S ≤ 0.043), the visualization of cartilage improved with lower modulation transfer functions at each dose level (p ≤ 0.014). The interrater reliability ranged from good to excellent for all assessed tissues (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.805). The noise levels in subcutaneous fat decreased with reduced spatial frequency (p < 0.001). Notably, the low-dose Br76 matched the CNR of the full-dose Br84 (p > 0.999) and superseded Br98 (p < 0.001) in all tissues. Based on the reported results, a photon-counting detector CT arthrography of the ankle with an ultra-high-resolution collimation offers stellar image quality and tissue assessability, improving the evaluation of miniscule anatomical structures. While bone depiction was superior in combination with an ultra-sharp convolution kernel, soft tissue evaluation benefited from employing a lower spatial frequency.

The Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) as a Standard Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) in Coxa Profunda and Protrusio Acetabuli? A Radiographic Analysis of 188 Cases.

INTRODUCTION: The direct anterior approach (DAA) represents a well-recognized soft tissue sparing technique for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The feasibility and suitability of the DAA in cases of complex acetabular deformities, namely coxa profunda (CP) and protrusio acetabuli (PA), remain to be determined. METHODS: A total of 188 cases of CP (100 cases) and PA (88 cases) hips undergoing primary THA via the DAA were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical and radiographic parameters were evaluated and potential complications were assessed. Finally, successful implantation was defined if surgical and radiographic parameters were well within established values of non-complex primary THA. RESULTS: In 159 hips, the medial border of the acetabular component was transferred laterally to the ilioischial line, corresponding to a fully treated acetabular protrusion. In 23 (12.23%) cases, mild, and in 5 (2.66%) cases, moderate residual acetabular protrusion remained after THA. Postoperatively, 11.40% (PA group) and 9.00% (CP group) had a leg length discrepancy (LLD) greater than 10 mm. The mean operative time was significantly less than 60 min. A linear relationship between the BMI and operative time was observed, with an additional 0.9 min of operative time per BMI unit. Overall, complications were rare and did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the DAA is a suitable approach for primary THA in patients with coxa profunda and acetabular protrusion if performed by experienced surgeons familiar with the DAA. Obese patients with acetabular protrusion may pose a significant limitation to the DAA and caution should be advised in cases of obesity.

Comparative in vitro treatment of mesenchymal stromal cells with GDF-5 and R57A induces chondrogenic differentiation while limiting chondrogenic hypertrophy.

PURPOSE: Hypertrophic cartilage is an important characteristic of osteoarthritis and can often be found in patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Although the exact pathomechanism remains poorly understood, hypertrophic de-differentiation of chondrocytes also poses a major challenge in the cell-based repair of hyaline cartilage using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). While different members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) family have been shown to promote chondrogenesis in MSCs, the transition into a hypertrophic phenotype remains a problem. To further examine this topic we compared the effects of the transcription growth and differentiation factor 5 (GDF-5) and the mutant R57A on in vitro chondrogenesis in MSCs. METHODS: Bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) were placed in pellet culture and in-cubated in chondrogenic differentiation medium containing R57A, GDF-5 and TGF-ß1 for 21 days. Chondrogenesis was examined histologically, immunohistochemically, through biochemical assays and by RT-qPCR regarding the expression of chondrogenic marker genes. RESULTS: Treatment of BMSCs with R57A led to a dose dependent induction of chondrogenesis in BMSCs. Biochemical assays also showed an elevated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and expression of chondrogenic marker genes in corresponding pellets. While treatment with R57A led to superior chondrogenic differentiation compared to treatment with the GDF-5 wild type and similar levels compared to incubation with TGF-ß1, levels of chondrogenic hypertrophy were lower after induction with R57A and the GDF-5 wild type. CONCLUSIONS: R57A is a stronger inducer of chondrogenesis in BMSCs than the GDF-5 wild type while leading to lower levels of chondrogenic hypertrophy in comparison with TGF-ß1.

Trends in Computer-Assisted Surgery for Total Knee Arthroplasty in Germany: An Analysis Based on the Operative Procedure Classification System between 2010 to 2021.

Alignment strategies for primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have changed significantly over time with a shift towards a more individualized alignment goal. At the same time, computer-assisted surgery (CAS) has gained interest for intraoperative control and accuracy in implant positioning and limb alignment. Despite the often discussed benefits and drawbacks of robotics and navigation for TKA, the routine use of these new devices on a day-to-day basis remains obscure. Therefore, nationwide hospital billing data based on the Operation Procedure Classification System (OPS) were retrieved from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany for the period from 2010 to 2021. OPS codes for primary total knee arthroplasty (OPS code: 5-822*) were further analyzed regarding the usage of computer navigation (additional OPS code: 5-988) or robotic devices (additional OPS code: 5-987). Gender and age at the time of surgery were also assessed. The results show a total of 2,226,559 primary TKAs were implanted between 2010 and 2021, of which 2,044,914 were performed conventionally (91.84% of all TKAs). A total of 170,276 TKAs were performed using navigation technique (7.65% of all TKAs) and another 11,369 TKAs were performed using robotics (0.51% of all TKAs). For the period from 2018 to 2021, a substantial increase in robot-assisted TKA (R-TKA) was observed, with an average increase rate of 84.74% per year, while the number of navigated TKAs declined (-3.67% per year). Computer-assisted surgery, and particularly robotics for TKA, are seeing growing popularity and stepwise translation into routine clinical use in Germany, with a steep increase rate of more than 80% per year since 2018. Nevertheless, the majority of TKAs are still performed using manual instrumentation, rendering conventional TKA the currently unchanged gold standard.

The AMADEUS score is not a sufficient predictor for functional outcome after high tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: The Area Measurement And Depth Underlying Structures (AMADEUS) classification system has been proposed as a valuable tool for magnetic resonance (MR)-based grading of preoperatively encountered chondral defects of the knee joint. However, the potential relationship of this novel score with clinical data was yet to determine. It was the primary intention of this study to assess the correlative relationship of the AMADEUS with patient reported outcome scores in patients undergoing medial open-wedge high tibial valgus osteotomy (HTO). Furthermore, the arthroscopic ICRS (International Cartilage Repair Society) grade evaluation was tested for correlation with the AMADEUS classification system. METHODS: This retrospective, monocentric study found a total of 70 individuals that were indicated for HTO due to degenerative chondral defects of the medial compartment between 2008 and 2019. A preoperative MR image as well as a pre-osteotomy diagnostic arthroscopy for ICRS grade evaluation was mandatory for all patients. The Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) including its five subscale scores (KOOS-ADL, KOOS-QOL, KOOS-Sports, KOOS-Pain, KOOS-Symptoms) was obtained preoperatively and at a mean follow-up of 41.2 ± 26.3 months. Preoperative chondral defects were evaluated using the AMADEUS classification system and the final AMADEUS scores were correlated with the pre- and postoperative KOOS subscale sores. Furthermore, arthroscopic ICRS defect severity was correlated with the AMADEUS classification system. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between the AMADEUS BME (bone marrow edema) subscore and the KOOS Symptoms subscore at the preoperative visit (r = 0.25, p = 0.04). No statistically significant monotonic association between the AMADEUS total score and the AMADEUS grade with pre- and postoperative KOOS subscale scores were found. Intraoperatively obtained ICRS grade did reveal a moderate correlative relation with the AMADEUS total score and the AMADEUS grade (r = 0.28, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The novel AMADEUS classification system largely lacks correlative capacity with patient reported outcome measures in patients undergoing HTO. The MR tomographic appearance of bone marrow edema is the only parameter predictive of the clinical outcome at the preoperative visit.

Conversion total hip arthroplasty following proximal femur fracture: A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of conversion total hip arthroplasty (cTHA) following reduction and fixation for proximal femur fractures will increase in parallel to the aging population worldwide. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to report the frequency of bacterial detection and the outcome of cTHA at the authors' institution and to analyze preoperative factors that correlate with higher rates of bacterial growth and septic revision. METHODS: 48 patients who had been converted to THA after osteosynthesis of a proximal femur fracture either by a one- or two-stage procedure were included. Septic failure rate and the frequency of bacterial detection at the time of fixation device removal were calculated. The influence of different preoperative factors was examined by the odds ratio. A receiver operating characteristic curve of c-reactive protein (CRP) for detection of bacterial growth at the time of fixation device removal was calculated. RESULTS: 18.8% patients showed positive bacterial cultures, with Staph. epidermidis being the most frequent pathogen (33.3%). Septic failure after cTHA occurred in 4.2%. Fixation with cephalomedullary nails and complications with the internal fixation showed higher odds for bacterial growth at time of cTHA. CRP for predicting bacterial growth had an area under the curve of 0.661. Implant survival was worse when temporary spacers were used. CONCLUSION: Bacterial detection rate at the time of cTHA is high, whereas septic failure rates are low. Isolated evaluation of inflammatory blood markers without other diagnostic modalities for infection is not decisive and does not justify a two-stage approach with implantation of a temporary spacer.

Vitamin D Receptor Expression Is Significantly Decreased in Bone Metastases Compared to Matched Primary Breast Cancer Tumours.

There is ample evidence today that vitamin D signalling via the vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a pivotal role in cancer growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to analyse VDR expression of primary breast cancer and corresponding bone metastases tissue samples. Collectively, 15 sample pairs and 11 samples of patients that did not develop metastases were analysed histologically for VDR expression (n = 41). Overall, VDR expression was significantly lower in bone metastases compared to primary tumour samples (p < .0001). Downregulation of the VDR in breast cancer cells may define a critical turning point in oncogenesis that accelerates cancer cell dissemination and metastases.

Can the MRI based AMADEUS score accurately assess pre-surgery chondral defect severity according to the ICRS arthroscopic classification system?

PURPOSE: The AMADEUS (Area Measurement And DEpth and Underlying Structures) scoring and grading system has been proposed for the MRI based evaluation of untreated focal chondral defects around the knee. The clinical practicability, its correlation with arthroscopically assessed grading systems (ICRS - International Cartilage Repair Society) and thereby its clinical value in terms of decision making and guiding prognosis was yet to determine. METHODS: From 2008 to 2019 a total of 89 individuals were indicated for high tibial valgus osteotomy (HTO) due to tibial varus deformity and concomitant chondral defects of the medial compartment of the knee. All patients received a preoperative MRI (1.5 Tesla or 3.0 Tesla) and pre-osteotomy diagnostic arthroscopy. Chondral defects of the medial compartment were scored and graded with the MRI based AMADEUS by three independent raters and compared to arthroscopic defect grading by the ICRS system. Interrater and intrarater reliability as well as correlation analysis with the ICRS classification system were assessed. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients for the various subscores of the AMADEUS showed an overall good to excellent interrater agreement (min: 0.26, max: 0.80). Intrarater agreement turned out to be substantially inferior (min: 0.08, max: 0.53). Spearman correlation revealed an overall moderate correlative association of the AMADEUS subscores with the ICRS classification system, apart from the defect area subscore. Sensitivity of the AMADEUS to accurately identify defect severity according to the ICRS was 0.7 (0.69 for 3.0 Tesla MRI, 0.67 for 1.5 Tesla MRI). The mean AMADEUS grade was 2.60 ± 0.81 and the mean ICRS score 2.90 ± 0.63. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the AMADEUS with all its subscores shows moderate correlation with the arthroscopic chondral grading system according to ICRS. This suggests that chondral defect grading by means of the MRI based AMADEUS is well capable of influencing and guiding treatment decisions. Interrater reliability shows overall good agreement.

Total hip arthroplasty in geriatric patients - a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: As advanced age often leads to accumulating comorbidities, geriatric patients are endangered by serious events during total hip arthroplasty. This study was conducted to explore whether or not the benefit in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was comparable to younger patients. METHODS: At a single academic center, 100 patients meeting the following inclusion criteria were retrospectively recruited: (1) primary arthritis of the hip leading to THA; (2) age 80 years or older at the time of surgery; (3) follow up of at least 12 months. For comparison, two further groups were recruited in the same manner, differing only in the age criterion: 100 patients aged 60-69 and 100 patients aged 70-79 at the time of hip replacement. The primary outcome was compared using the WOMAC and the EQ-5D score. The secondary outcome was determined by rates of orthopedic and non-orthopedic complications. Intragroup comparisons of the PROMS were performed by the non-parametric Wilcoxon test for paired samples. For intergroup comparisons of the PROMS, the Kruskal-Wallis-test was performed. Concerning categorial data, intergroup comparisons were performed by the Chi-Square test. The level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Concerning the WOMAC score, neither the absolute values at 12 months after THA (p = 0.176) nor the amount of change relative to the values before surgery (p = 0.308) differed significantly between the 3 groups. Concerning the EQ-5D index the absolute values at 12 months after THA differed significantly (p = 0.008). Rates of orthopedic complications did not differ significantly (p = 0.631). Rates of non-orthopedic complications increased significantly with rising age (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to younger patients, geriatric patients after THA have an equal improvement in hip-specific and general HRQoL. While rates of orthopedic complications are comparable too, non-orthopedic complications occur more frequently.

The 3-triangle method preserves the posterior tibial slope during high tibial valgus osteotomy: first preliminary data using a mathematical model.

PURPOSE: Despite much improved preoperative planning techniques accurate intraoperative assessment of the high tibial valgus osteotomy (HTO) remains challenging and often results in coronal over- and under-corrections as well as unintended changes of the posterior tibial slope. Noyes et al. reported a novel method for accurate intraoperative coronal and sagittal alignment correction based on a three-dimensional mathematical model. This is the first study examining preliminary data via the proposed Noyes approach for accurate intraoperative coronal and sagittal alignment correction during HTO. METHODS: From 2016 to 2020 a total of 24 patients (27 knees) underwent HTO applying the proposed Noyes method (Noyes-Group). Radiographic data was analyzed retrospectively and matched to patients that underwent HTO using the conventional method, i.e., gradual medial opening using a bone spreader under fluoroscopic control (Conventional-Group). All operative procedures were performed by an experienced surgeon at a single orthopaedic university center. RESULTS: From the preoperative to the postoperative visit no statistically significant changes of the posterior tibial slope were noted in the Noyes-Group compared to a significant increase in the Conventional-Group (p = 0.01). Regarding the axial alignment no significant differences between both groups were observed pre- and postoperatively. The number of over- and under-corrections did not differ significantly between both groups. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation of the postoperative medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) with the position of the weightbearing line on the tibial plateau. CONCLUSION: The 3-triangle method by Noyes seems to be a promising approach for preservation of the posterior tibial slope during HTO.

Impaired regenerative capacity and senescence-associated secretory phenotype in mesenchymal stromal cells from samples of patients with aseptic joint arthroplasty loosening.

Aseptic loosening of total hip and knee joint replacements is the most common indication for revision surgery after primary hip and knee arthroplasty. Research suggests that exposure and uptake of wear by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and macrophages results in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and local osteolysis, but also impaired cell viability and regenerative capacity of MSC. Therefore, this in vitro study compared the regenerative and differentiation capacity of MSC derived from patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (MSCprim) to MSC derived from patients undergoing revision surgery after aseptic loosening of total hip and knee joint implants (MSCrev). Regenerative capacity was examined by measuring the cumulative population doubling (CPD) in addition to the number of passages until cells stopped proliferating. Osteogenesis and adipogenesis in monolayer cultures were assessed using histological stainings. Furthermore, RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the relative expression of osteogenic and adipogenic marker genes as well as the expression of markers for a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). MSCrev possessed a limited regenerative capacity in comparison to MSCprim. Interestingly, MSCrev also showed an impaired osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity compared to MSCprim and displayed a SASP early after isolation. Whether this is the cause or the consequence of the aseptic loosening of total joint implants remains unclear. Future research should focus on the identification of specific cell markers on MSCprim, which may influence complication rates such as aseptic loosening of total joint arthroplasty to further individualize and optimize total joint arthroplasty.

Diagnosis of Chronic Infection at Total Hip Arthroplasty Revision Is a Question of Definition.

PURPOSE: Contradicting definitions of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are in use. Joint aspiration is performed before total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision. This study investigated the influence of PJI definition on PJI prevalence at THA revision. Test quality of prerevision aspiration was evaluated for the different PJI definitions. METHODS: 256 THA revisions were retrospectively classified to be infected or not infected. Classification was performed according to the 4 different definitions proposed by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the International Consensus Meeting (ICM), and the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS). Only chronic PJIs were included. RESULTS: PJI prevalence at revision significantly correlated with the applied PJI definition (p = 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.093). PJI prevalence was 20.7% for the MSIS, 25.4% for the ICM, 28.1% for the IDSA, and 32.0% for the EBJIS definition. For synovial fluid white blood cell count, the best ROC-AUC for predicting PJI was 0.953 in combination with the MSIS definition. CONCLUSION: PJI definition significantly influences the rate of diagnosed PJIs at THA revision. Synovial fluid white blood cell count is a reliable means to rule out PJI. In cases with a borderline high synovial white blood cell count before THA revision as the only sign of chronic PJI, an extended diagnostic work-up should be considered.