The effects of alendronate on the suppression of bone resorption and the promotion of cartilage formation in the human mosaicplasty donor site: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that early alendronate administration accelerated bone formation and improved the quality of repaired cartilage in the donor site in rabbits. To investigate whether alendronate administration has effects in humans similar to those observed in rabbits. METHODS: The study cohort included 35 patients over the age of 12-years old who underwent mosaicplasty without osteoporotic therapy from March 2011 to October 2012. The donor sites were medial or lateral in the patellofemoral joint. Placebo (P) or Bonalon containing 35 mg of alendronate (A) was administered orally every week for 8 weeks. The cohort comprised 15 male and 20 female, including 14 right and 21 left knees. The mean age at the time of surgery was 57.1 years. Bone formation was examined using computer tomography and lateral knee radiography, and cartilage formation was examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), second-look assessment, and intraoperative acoustic evaluation. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association knee score and visual analog scale (VAS). Bone and cartilage formation in the donor site and clinical outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after mosaicplasty. RESULTS: The ratio of TRAP-5b in group A was significantly smaller than that in group P at 2 and 8 weeks after mosaicplasty. The extent of bone formation in the donor sites in group A was significantly greater than that in group P at 3 and 6 months after mosaicplasty. Cartilage formation did not differ significantly between the two groups as determined by MRI, macroscopic assessment, and intraoperative acoustic evaluation. Clinical outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups, and no negative clinical outcomes were observed. CONCLUSION: Early alendronate administration accelerated bone formation but not cartilage formation in the mosaicplasty donor site in humans.

The Efficacy and Safety of Highly-Bioavailable Curcumin for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: A 6-Month Open-Labeled Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: We previously developed a surface-controlled water-dispersible form of curcumin that we called Theracurmin®. The area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) of Theracurmin in humans was 27-fold higher than that of curcumin powder. Previously, we reported on the anti-inflammatory effects of Theracurmin for knee osteoarthritis. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: We determined the clinical effects of orally administered Theracurmin in patients with knee osteoarthritis over a 6-month period. STUDY DESIGN: Open prospective study. METHODS: Fifty patients Kellgren-Lawrence grade II, III, or IV knee osteoarthritis who were above 40 years old were enrolled in this clinical study. Theracurmin containing 180 mg/day of curcumin was administered orally every day for 6 months. To monitor for adverse events, blood biochemistry analyses were performed before and after 6 months of each intervention. The patients' knee symptoms were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months based on the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure, the knee pain visual analog scale, and the knee scoring system of the Japanese Orthopedic Association. RESULTS: Five cases dropped out during the study, but no cases dropped out because of major problems. No major side effects were observed with Theracurmin treatment, including the blood biochemistry analysis results. The effective group included 34 cases (75.6%), while the not-effective group included 11 cases. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the safety and good efficacy of Theracurmin for various types of knee osteoarthritis. Theracurmin shows great potential for the treatment of human knee osteoarthritis.

Surgical Technique and Clinical Outcomes of Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation for Large Osteonecrotic Lesions of the Femoral Condyle With Residual Normal Cartilage: The Eyeglass Technique.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) is usually performed for a defect that is <400 mm2 because of the limitations of autografts. PURPOSE: To present the surgical technique and clinical outcomes of OAT using the eyeglass technique for large osteonecrotic lesions of the femoral condyle (LOFs) (>400 mm2) with residual normal cartilage. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Cases (group 1) included 15 patients (18 knees) who underwent OAT using the eyeglass technique for LOFs with residual normal cartilage, while controls (group 2) included 11 patients (11 knees) who underwent OAT using the standard technique for small osteonecrotic lesions of the femoral condyle (≤400 mm2). Clinical outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up (group 1, 56 months; group 2, 48 months) according to the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective grade, the IKDC subjective score, and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. RESULTS: The mean lesion size was 685 mm2 in group 1 and 230 mm2 in group 2. Patients in group 1 had postoperative scores equivalent to those in group 2. The postoperative IKDC subjective scores in group 1 (mean, 86.9) and group 2 (mean, 87.0) showed no significant difference at the final follow-up (P = .653). For postoperative IKDC objective grades, 83.3% of group 1 and 81.8% of group 2 were graded as "nearly normal" or better, and no significant intergroup difference was found for the IKDC objective grade (P = .989). Also, no significant intergroup difference was found for the postoperative JOA score (group 1, 93.9; group 2, 81.4; P = .480). Nine second-look arthroscopic procedures were performed in group 1 compared with 4 in group 2, and all patients had plugs that were graded as "nearly normal" or better by the International Cartilage Repair Society classification system. CONCLUSION: The postoperative results of patients who underwent OAT using the eyeglass technique for large osteonecrotic lesions (>400 mm2) were equivalent to the results of patients who underwent OAT using the standard technique for small osteonecrotic lesions (≤400 mm2).

The clinical outcomes and the ability to sit straight in the Japanese style following high tibial osteotomy combined with osteochondral autologous transfer for osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle.

BACKGROUND: There have been some reports of high tibial osteotomy combined with osteochondral autograft transfer for osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle of the knee. However, few of them have focused on the deep knee flexion needed to sit straight in the Japanese style. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and the knee flexion of HTO combined with OAT for osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle of the knee, especially the ability to sit straight in the Japanese style. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2012, valgus HTO combined with OAT was performed in 23 patients for stage IV osteonecrosis according to Koshino's radiological classification of the medial femoral condyle. The follow-up period was more than 2 years in all cases. The mean age at the time of the surgery was 65.8 years, and the mean follow-up period was 72.2 months. The function of the knee and the ability to sitting straight in the Japanese style were examined. Twenty-one knees were examined with second-look arthroscopy to assess the recipient and donor sites. RESULTS: The JOA scale and IKDC subjective scores were significantly improved. Twelve patients were able to sit straight in the Japanese style after the surgery, compared to 3 patients who were able to do so before surgery. On second-look arthroscopy of 21 knees, the average ICRS score was 10.5 points. No patient needed additional surgery except for removal of the implants. CONCLUSION: Valgus HTO combined with OAT is one treatment option for osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle with osteoarthritis. In the present study, many of the patients regained good knee function, and 50% of the patients were able to sit straight in the Japanese style after surgery, which is a higher rate than after total knee arthroplasty and unilateral knee arthroplasty.

Osteochondral autograft transplantation for isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) for isolated patellofemoral (PF) osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: OAT was performed in seven patients (six men, one woman; mean age, 61.1years) with isolated PF OA. The mean duration of follow up was 46.9months (range, 24-84months). Clinical outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively according to the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective score and the knee scoring system of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) score was recorded in three cases that underwent second-look arthroscopies postoperatively. For morphological evaluation, the Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) classification and the modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score were used. RESULTS: The mean IKDC and JOA scores were both significantly improved. The percentage of normal and nearly normal on the IKDC score was increased from 28.6% (2/7) to 85.7% (6/7) (P=0.05). The mean JOA score was improved from 80.0 (range, 65.0-85.0) to 95.0 (range, 90.0-100) (P=0.0008). The mean ICRS scores were 10.3 (nearly normal) in the three cases that underwent second-look arthroscopies postoperatively. Regarding KL classification, the grade was unchanged in five cases (two cases in grade 1, three cases in grade 2) and improved in two cases (from grade 3 to 2, from grade 4 to 3). The mean modified MOCART score was 67.9 (range, 60.0-75) at 12-month follow up. There were no complications, and satisfaction was obtained in all cases. The study design was case series: level IV. CONCLUSIONS: All clinical scores improved significantly postoperatively. Osteochondral plugs were transplanted perpendicular to the articular surface to obtain good congruity of the repaired articular surface. In this way, OAT is an effective procedure to prevent progression of isolated PF OA.

Surgical Technique and Clinical Outcomes of Retrograde Osteochondral Autograft Transfer for Osteochondral Lesions of the Tibial Plateau.

PURPOSE: To present the surgical technique, clinical outcomes, and poor prognostic factors of arthroscopic retrograde osteochondral autograft transfer of the tibial plateau. METHODS: Twelve patients (6 men, 6 women; mean age, 38.7 years) with tibial plateau osteochondral lesions underwent surgery. The primary diseases were osteonecrosis in 4 cases, cartilage injuries in 6, and postfractures of the tibial plateau in 2. Clinical outcomes were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively according to the International Knee Documentation Committee score and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score. The International Cartilage Repair Society score was recorded in 7 cases who underwent second-look arthroscopies postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors associated with the clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The mean International Knee Documentation Committee and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were both significantly improved from 39.0 (range, 13.0-57.1) to 72.4 (range, 33.3-100) (P = .0022) and from 65.8 (range, 30.0-85.0) to 85.8 (range, 50.0-100) (P = .0022 < .05), respectively. In 2 cases, secondary operations were performed because of knee pain (1 varus osteotomy of the femur and 1 total knee replacement). The mean International Cartilage Repair Society scores were significantly worse in the 2 cases who required a secondary operation (3.5; abnormal) than in the 5 cases who did not (10.6; nearly normal). The secondary operation rate was significantly higher in cases with lesion size ≥400 mm2 than in those <400 mm2 (Fisher's exact test; P = .046). CONCLUSIONS: Most clinical scores improved significantly postoperatively. The results indicate that arthroscopic retrograde osteochondral autograft transfer is an effective procedure to achieve sufficient cartilage congruity for osteochondral lesions of the tibial plateau <400 mm2 in size. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Serial Changes of the Cartilage in Recipient Sites and Their Mirror Sites on Second-Look Imaging After Mosaicplasty.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that the short-term results of mosaicplasty are good, but there have been no reports of the serial cartilage changes in the recipient sites and their mirror sites for mosaicplasty. PURPOSE: To examine the serial changes in cartilage in the recipient sites and their mirror sites using second-look imaging. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A total of 33 patients (37 knees, 40 sites) underwent mosaicplasty and second-look arthroscopy at a single institution over a 7-year period. There were 14 men and 19 women (12 right knees and 25 left knees). The recipient sites were the patella (n = 3), trochlea (n = 7), medial femoral condyle (n = 21), and lateral femoral condyle (n = 9). The mean patient age at surgery was 38.3 years; the mean period from mosaicplasty to second-look arthroscopy was 15.4 months; and the mean follow-up period was 34.9 months (range, 24-65 months). The results of second-look arthroscopy at the recipient site were categorized as cartilage with a smooth surface (group S) and fibrillation or an irregular surface (group I), and results of second-look arthroscopy at the mirror site were categorized as worse (group W), improved (group E), and unchanged (group U). RESULTS: There were 30 sites in group S, 10 sites in group I, 3 sites in group W, 4 sites in group E, and 33 sites in group U. The age at operation was significantly greater in group S than in group I. There was a significant correlation between group S and groups E and U. The clinical outcome was significantly worse in group W when compared with groups E and U. CONCLUSION: If a smooth surface was seen in the recipient site during second-look arthroscopy, the cartilage degeneration in its mirror site did not become worse after mosaicplasty.

Osteochondral autograft transfer for post-traumatic osteochondral defects of the anterolateral surface of the distal tibial plafond.

Post-traumatic osteochondral defects of the distal tibial plafond may be a more common cause of pain and osteoarthritis than previously recognized. However, the literature on the surgical treatment of osteochondral defects of the distal tibial plafond is significantly limited. This case report presents the operative technique and clinical outcome of osteochondral autograft transfer for an osteochondral defect on the anterolateral surface of the distal tibial plafond. A case of transfer of osteochondral autograft plugs to repair the anterolateral surface of the distal tibial plafond and prevent progression of forward displacement of the talus in a 25-year-old man who presented with pain in his right ankle, following a history of trauma.

Cartilage Degeneration and Alignment in Severe Varus Knee Osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cartilage, ligament, and meniscus degeneration and radiographic alignment in severe varus knee osteoarthritis in order to understand the development of varus knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Fifty-three patients (71 knees) with primary varus knee osteoarthritis and who underwent total knee arthroplasty were selected for this study. There were 6 men and 47 women, with 40 right knees and 31 left knees studied; their mean age at operation was 73.5 years. The ligament, meniscus, degeneration of joint cartilage, and radiographic alignments were examined visually. RESULTS: The tibial plateau-tibial shaft angle was larger if the condition of the cartilage in the lateral femoral condyle was worse. The femorotibial angle and tibial plateau-tibial shaft angle were larger if the conditions of the lateral meniscus or the cartilage in the lateral tibial plateau were worse. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, progression of varus knee osteoarthritis may occur in the following manner: medial knee osteoarthritis starts in the central portion of the medial tibial plateau, and accompanied by medial meniscal extrusion and anterior cruciate ligament rupture, cartilage degeneration expands from the anterior to the posterior in the medial tibial plateau. Bone attrition occurs in the medial tibial plateau, and the femoro-tibial angle and tibial plateau-tibial shaft angle increase. Therefore, the lateral intercondylar eminence injures the cartilage of the lateral femoral condyle in the longitudinal fissure type. Thereafter, the cartilage degeneration expands in the whole of the knee joints.