Is conservative treatment still defensible in grade III acromioclavicular dislocation? Are there predictive factors of poor outcome?

The optimal treatment of grade III acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation is still controversial. Recent studies recommend surgery at that stage whereas meta-analysis favours conservative management. The objective of the present investigation was to analyse a clinical series of non-operated grade III AC dislocations and to determine their functional status. Thirty-five patients treated conservatively with a grade III acromioclavicular dislocation were retrospectively reviewed. Simple shoulder test, Oxford shoulder and bilateral Constant shoulder score were used for assessment. Various predictive criteria of poor outcome, particularly scapular dyskinesis were taken into account for analysis. Overall mean and median Constant Score of the injured side were 92.9 and 94, whilst the contralateral shoulder values were respectively 94.9 and 95 (mean and median scores). Ten patients had scapular dyskinesis. Laterality, shoulder activity and scapular dyskinesis were not statistically related to worse outcome. Twenty-eight (80%) patients resumed normal activity within six months. All but two patients were subjectively very satisfied or satisfied. Conservative treatment provided satisfactory results whatever the shoulder activity. No risk factors were predictive of a poorer outcome. Conservative management should remain the first option to manage these injuries.

Local complications of massive bone allografts: an appraisal of their prevalence in 128 patients.

Bone allografts were used in our department since twenty-five years to reconstruct segmental bone loss and our data were retrospectively reviewed to assess the complications related to the use of a bone allograft. A consecutive series of 128 patients who received a bone allograft was analyzed. The minimal follow-up was 18 months. Fracture, nonunion, infection and explantation were investigated using a multivariate analysis and logistical regression. Kaplan-Meier survival of the allograft was performed, using allograft removal as the end point. Tumour disease was excluded from this study. Patients were followed up for an average 103 months. Bone tumour occurred in 78% of the patients whereas revision arthroplasty was the cause of implantation in 15% of them. Nonunion was the most prevalent complication, occurring in 35% of the grafts. For nonunion occurrence, the type of reconstruction was found to be a significant variable, the intercalary allograft being the most exposed. Primary bone autografting at the anastomotic site was not significant to prevent nonunion. Fracture of the allograft was the second most frequent complication with a prevalence of 16.4%. The length of the allograft and an osteoarticular allograft were two significant variables in that occurrence. Infection of the allograft was present with a rate of 5.4% of patients. Explantation of failed allografts occurred in 30% of them. The duration of the frozen storage of the allograft and the donor age of the allograft were not significant on any local complication occurrence. Bone allografts are a reliable material but a high rate of local complications must be anticipated.

Analysis of predisposing factors for contamination of bone and tendon allografts.

Bone and tissue allografts are widely used in transplantation. The increasing demand for safe allografts must be met, while minimizing disease transmission. We analysed the incidence and potential risk factors of allograft contamination and the effectiveness of disinfection, by reviewing 22 years of tissue bank activity and 474 donor procurements. We also compared different disinfection procedures used over the 22 years. The overall contamination rate was 10.1%. Risk factors were related to the donor or procurement method. Immediate culture at the tissue recovery site diminished the rate of false positives by reducing later sample manipulation. High-virulence allograft contamination was mainly related to donor factors, while low-virulence contamination was related to procurement methods. Analysis of donor-related risk factors showed no statistical differences for age, sex, or cause of death. An intensive care unit stay was associated with less contamination with high-virulence microbes. Procurement in a setting other than an operating theatre was associated with higher contamination rate. Team experience reduced contamination. Pelvic and tendon allografts were most frequently contaminated. Proper disinfection considerably reduced the contamination rate to 3.6%. We conclude that procurement must be performed under aseptic conditions, with short delays, and by trained personnel. Grafts should be disinfected and packed as soon as possible.

Beware of the commercialization of human cells and tissues: situation in the European Union.

With this analysis we would like to raise some issues that emerge as a result of recent evolutions in the burgeoning field of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based product (HCT/P) transplantation, and this in the light of the current EU regulatory framework. This paper is intended as an open letter addressed to the EU policy makers, who will be charged with the review and revision of the current legislation. We propose some urgent corrections or additions to cope with the rapid advances in biomedical science, an extensive commercialization of HCT/Ps, and the growing expectation of the general public regarding the ethical use of altruistically donated cells and tissues. Without a sound wake-up call, the diverging interests of this newly established 'healthcare' industry and the wellbeing of humanity will likely lead to totally unacceptable situations, like some of which we are reporting here.

Synergetic effect of freeze-drying and gamma irradiation on the mechanical properties of human cancellous bone.

Freeze-drying and irradiation are common process used by tissue banks to preserve and sterilize bone allografts. Freeze dried irradiated bone is known to be more brittle. Whether bone brittleness is due to irradiation alone, temperature during irradiation or to a synergetic effect of the freeze-drying-irradiation process was not yet assessed. Using a left-right femoral head symmetry model, 822 compression tests were performed to assess the influence of sequences of a 25 kGy irradiation with and without freeze-drying compared to the unprocessed counterpart. Irradiation of frozen bone did not cause any significant reduction in ultimate strength, stiffness and work to failure. The addition of the freeze-drying process before or after irradiation resulted in a mean drop of 35 and 31% in ultimate strength, 14 and 37% in stiffness and 46 and 37% in work to failure. Unlike irradiation at room temperature, irradiation under dry ice of solvent-detergent treated bone seemed to have no detrimental effect on mechanical properties of cancellous bone. Freeze-drying bone without irradiation had no influence on mechanical parameters, but the addition of irradiation to the freeze-drying step or the reverse sequence showed a detrimental effect and supports the idea of a negative synergetic effect of both procedures. These findings may have important implications for bone banking.

Formalin fixation could interfere with the clinical assessment of the tumor-free margin in tumor surgery: magnetic resonance imaging-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The tumor-free margin in bone and soft-tissue cancer is a key factor for subsequent treatment. While flattening and shrinkage of specimens after formalin fixation have been described in breast cancer, there are no data for bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Fixation could interfere with the accuracy of the assessment of the tumor-free margin. METHODS: The influence of formalin fixation was assessed on forelimb specimens in a preclinical porcine model. The specimens were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging before and after formalin fixation. Weight, width and height of the specimen were measured and different consecutive volumes (total, muscles, bones and fatty tissue) were obtained by segmentation. RESULTS: After formalin fixation, the weight increased, total volume and muscle volume slightly increased while bone did not change and fatty tissue decreased. The width of the specimens increased while their height decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Formalin fixation caused slight muscle expansion, fatty tissue shrinkage and flattening of the specimen. These changes could interfere with the assessment of the tumor-free margin in clinical practice.

Histology can be predictive of the clinical course of a primary aneurysmal bone cyst.

INTRODUCTION: Aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign lesion occurring in young patients which frequently recurs after treatment. Biopsy is mandatory for the diagnosis of a putative aneurysmal bone cyst as this lesion can be secondary to another underlying process including a malignant bone tumour. The histopathological features of aneurysmal bone cysts have been examined with the goal of finding relevant criteria for predicting favourable evolution or recurrence of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one biopsies of surgically treated aneurysmal bone cysts, from 21 patients, were analysed. Histomorphometry by two different methods (3,000- and 200-point-counting) and by two observers was performed to quantify the percentage of each tissue type in the cyst (cellular, fibrillar, osteoid). A healing index was developed by calculating a ratio of osteoid and fibrillar material divided by cellular tissue. Biopsies were also examined using two immunostains, cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). RESULTS: The final outcome was healing for 16 aneurysmal bone cysts (healing group) and recurrence for the five others (recurrence group), after a mean follow-up of 4.43 years. The two groups differed significantly in the proportion of their cellular content and their healing index. The ratio of CD68 negative to CD68 positive cells was also significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Biopsy should be considered as a helpful prognostic factor for aneurysmal bone cyst.

Selection of massive bone allografts using shape-matching 3-dimensional registration.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Massive bone allografts are used when surgery causes large segmental defects. Shape-matching is the primary criterion for selection of an allograft. The current selection method, based on 2-dimensional template comparison, is inefficient for 3-dimensional complex bones. We have analyzed a 3-dimensional (3-D) registration method to match the anatomy of the allograft with that of the recipient. METHODS: 3-D CT-based registration was performed to match the shapes of both bones. We used the registration to align the allograft volume onto the recipient's bone. Hemipelvic allograft selection was tested in 10 virtual recipients with a panel of 10 potential allografts, including one from the recipient himself (trap graft). 4 observers were asked to visually inspect the superposition of allograft over the recipient, to classify the allografts into 4 categories according to the matching of anatomic zones, and to select the 3 best matching allografts. The results obtained using the registration method were compared with those from a previous study on the template method. RESULTS: Using the registration method, the observers systematically detected the trap graft. Selections of the 3 best matching allografts performed using registration and template methods were different. Selection of the 3 best matching allografts was improved by the registration method. Finally, reproducibility of the selection was improved when using the registration method. INTERPRETATION: 3-D CT registration provides more useful information than the template method but the final decision lies with the surgeon, who should select the optimal allograft according to his or her own preferences and the needs of the recipient.

Computer-assisted resection and reconstruction of pelvic tumor sarcoma.

Pelvic sarcoma is associated with a relatively poor prognosis, due to the difficulty in obtaining an adequate surgical margin given the complex pelvic anatomy. Magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography allow valuable surgical resection planning, but intraoperative localization remains hazardous. Surgical navigation systems could be of great benefit in surgical oncology, especially in difficult tumor location; however, no commercial surgical oncology software is currently available. A customized navigation software was developed and used to perform a synovial sarcoma resection and allograft reconstruction. The software permitted preoperative planning with defined target planes and intraoperative navigation with a free-hand saw blade. The allograft was cut according to the same planes. Histological examination revealed tumor-free resection margins. Allograft fitting to the pelvis of the patient was excellent and allowed stable osteosynthesis. We believe this to be the first case of combined computer-assisted tumor resection and reconstruction with an allograft.

An analysis of critical care staff's attitudes to donation in a country with presumed-consent legislation.

CONTEXT: Lack of knowledge and confidence among critical care staff in identifying potential donors and communicating with donor families may explain missed organ and tissue donations. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate attitudes of critical care staff toward donation and their knowledge, involvement, and self-reported skills and confidence levels with donation-related tasks. METHODS: Between January 2004 and May 2006, Donor Action Foundation's Hospital Attitude Survey was used to collect data from staff members in critical care units in our university hospital (study group) and 2 other Belgian university hospitals (control group). In total, 92 physicians, 433 nurses, and 26 other staff members participated. RESULTS: The 2 groups did not differ significantly with regard to donation-related attitudes. The study group had a significantly lower perception of the public's approval of organ donation than did the control group (P < .001). Nurses reported significantly less involvement than did physicians (P < .001) in caring for potential donors, communicating severe brain damage, explaining brain death, requesting donation, and contacting procurement staff. Probably because of previous training, physicians in the study group reported less need for additional training on donation-related issues than did control physicians. However, compared with physicians, nurses in the study group requested significantly more training on a number of donation tasks. Nurses with more than 5 years of critical care experience were consistently more confident with donation-related tasks. CONCLUSION: Support rates for donation are high overall, and previous training is associated with improved attitudes and decreased educational needs. Educational efforts tailor-made for nurses should increase nurses' confidence levels when confronted with potential donors and their next of kin.

Surgical inaccuracy of tumor resection and reconstruction within the pelvis: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osseous pelvic tumors can be resected and reconstructed using massive bone allografts. Geometric accuracy of the conventional surgical procedure has not yet been documented. The aim of this experimental study was mainly to assess accuracy of tumoral resection with a 10-mm surgical margin, and also to evaluate the geometry of the host-graft reconstruction. METHODS: An experimental model on plastic pelvises was designed to simulate tumor resection and reconstruction. 4 experienced surgeons were asked to resect 3 different tumors and to reconstruct pelvises. 24 resections and host-graft junctions were available for evaluation. Resection margins were measured. Several methods were created to evaluate geometric properties of the host-graft junction. RESULTS: The probability of a surgeon obtaining a 10-mm surgical margin with a 5-mm tolerance above or below, was 52% (95% CI: 37-67). Maximal gap, gap volume, and mean gap between host and graft was 3.3 (SD 1.9) mm, 2.7 (SD 2.1) cm3 and 3.2 (SD 2.1) mm, respectively. Correlation between these 3 reconstruction measures and the degree of contact at the host-graft junction was poor. INTERPRETATION: 4 experienced surgeons did not manage to consistently respect a fixed surgical margin under ideal working conditions. The complex 3-dimensional architecture of the pelvis would mainly explain this inaccuracy. Solutions to this might be to increase the surgical margin or to use computer- and robotic-assisted technologies in pelvic tumor resection. Furthermore, our attempt to evaluate geometry of the pelvic reconstruction using simple parameters was not satisfactory. We believe that there is a need to define new standards of evaluation.

Current limitations to the histopathological diagnosis of some frequently encountered bone tumours.

The final diagnosis of a bone tumour comes in many cases like the last piece of a puzzle which requires integration of clinical, imaging and pathological data. However there are situations in which a discrepancy exists between histology and imaging studies and where histology alone cannot be decisive. This paper reviews such situations.

Pelvic reconstruction with a structural pelvic allograft after resection of a malignant bone tumor.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of the pelvic arch after resection of a malignant pelvic tumor remains a major surgical challenge because of the high rate of associated complications. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the functional outcome and complication rate following treatment with a bone allograft to reconstruct the pelvis. METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients underwent excision of a malignant pelvic bone tumor and reconstruction with a pelvic bone allograft. The living patients were followed for a minimum of twenty-four months. There were nineteen primary malignant bone tumors, sixteen of which were high-grade sarcomas, and there were five isolated metastases. Patients were examined clinically and radiographically and were assessed functionally with the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of the index surgery was thirty-four years, and the mean duration of follow-up was forty-one months. Eighteen of the twenty-four resections involved the periacetabular area and were followed by reconstruction either with a hip prosthesis (thirteen) or with an osteochondral allograft alone (five). The six other resections involved the iliac bone. All patients received a massive bone allograft that had been sterilely procured without secondary irradiation. At the time of our last evaluation, eight patients were alive and free of disease. Seven patients had a local recurrence. Neurological deficits were present in six patients, and three had a deep infection. Nonunion of three of the sixteen allografts that could be evaluated was observed. Neither graft fracture nor lysis was observed. Eleven patients underwent surgical revision, with nine of these revisions related to the reconstruction. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score at the time of the latest follow-up was 73% of the maximal possible score. The average score was 82% for the eleven patients with an age of less than twenty years at the time of the index procedure and 65% for the thirteen older patients. Ten patients walked without any assistive device, and five of them had normal function with no or only a slight limp. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic reconstruction after a limb-sparing resection is associated with a high risk of surgical complications and usually should be reserved for patients with a primary bone sarcoma. A pelvic allograft can restore the anatomy and provide good functional results, especially in young patients. Nonunion was the most common allograft-related complication.

Post-traumatic bone loss of the femur treated with segmental bone allograft and bone morphogenetic protein: a case report.

Reconstruction of a major bone loss remains a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Most of the bone defects result from a bone tumour resection whereas a post-traumatic bone loss is more rare due to the numerous options available for bone fixation. However in high-energy trauma, the injury to bone may be so extensive as to justify removal of fragmented bone. A 57-year-old man presented with a severe injury at the thigh after a hunting accident, including a comminuted fracture of the femoral shaft. After thorough debridement, he was left with a large diaphyseal bone defect which was subsequently treated with a structural bone allograft, autogenous graft and rhBMP-7. Bone healing was achieved after several months.

The use of allografts in paediatric orthopaedic surgery.

Autograft harvesting in a growing child sometimes leads to disastrous consequences. Allograft can advantageously replace autograft in the majority of the cases. This overview presents the most frequently used allografts in paediatric orthopaedic surgery and discusses their benefits. Illustrative cases are presented to highlight specific indications.

Are bone autografts still necessary in 2006? A three-year retrospective study of bone grafting.

Autograft is considered as the gold standard in bone grafting. However, the development of tissue banks has allowed for a wider use of bone allografts, with good results. Demineralised Bone Matrix (DBM) and recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (rh-BMP's) were also introduced to replace the time-honoured autograft. Is there currently still a place for bone autograft? The authors reviewed the orthopaedic surgical activity in their institution during the period 2003-2005, and traced all the surgical procedures in which bone grafting was performed. Tracking forms from the tissue bank were reviewed to assess the surgical indications. Between 2003 and 2005, the use of autografts decreased from 1.3% to 0.9% of all surgical interventions, particularly owing to their decreased use in primary fusions, while the use of allografts increased from 10.7% to 12.7%. Indications for allografts covered all fields of orthopaedic surgery, including nonunions. Processed allografts represented 90% of all grafts used. DBM and rh-BMP were used on an exceptional basis. There is currently a trend for surgeons to use allografts as substitutes for autografts, as processing of the allografts increases their safety while preserving most of their biological and mechanical properties. Autografting is now limited to revision operations after failed fusions, and to combined use at the junction with massive allografts. DBM and rh-BMP are still controversial but they might replace autografts, even in their currently remaining indications, if their cost effectiveness and efficiency are established.

Treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts by introduction of demineralized bone and autogenous bone marrow.

BACKGROUND: On the assumption that an aneurysmal bone cyst has an intrinsic potential to heal by ossification, a new, minimally invasive protocol was developed. Demineralized bone powder mixed with bone-marrow aspirate was introduced into the cyst to halt the expansion phase and to allow the cyst to ossify. We hypothesized that, in order to induce bone-healing, cells from the cyst are needed to respond to the inductive material but that curettage or extensive surgery is not necessary. The goals of the present study were to assess cyst-healing and to determine the prevalence of recurrence associated with this new procedure. METHODS: Thirteen biopsy-proven primary aneurysmal bone cysts were entered through a small incision, and a paste of demineralized bone and autologous bone marrow was introduced with an applicator. The study group included three male and ten female patients with a mean age of 16.6 years. The cyst was located in a long bone in six patients, the pelvis in five patients, and the scapular glenoid and the calcaneus in one patient each. Five patients had not received treatment previously, whereas one had had a preoperative embolization and seven had recurrent lesions that had been treated previously. RESULTS: After a mean duration of follow-up of 3.9 years, healing was achieved in eleven patients. CONCLUSIONS: This minimally invasive method is able to promote the self-healing of a primary aneurysmal bone cyst. As no curettage is required, the proposed treatment avoids extensive surgery and blood loss and is convenient for the treatment of poorly accessible lesions such as those occurring in the pelvis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV.

First-time traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in young adults: the position of the arm during immobilisation revisited.

In contrast to the surgical treatment of chronic shoulder instability, there are only scarce publications about the management after a first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation and how to prevent the evolution towards chronic instability. We present here a review of the literature on this subject. Particular attention is paid to recent studies about the position of the arm during immobilisation. According to recent views, it may be preferable to immobilise the arm in external rather than internal rotation, but this has to be confirmed by further clinical studies. The issue of early arthroscopic stabilisation after a first dislocation event in young athletic patients is also discussed.

Scaffold-free Three-dimensional Graft From Autologous Adipose-derived Stem Cells for Large Bone Defect Reconstruction: Clinical Proof of Concept.

Long bone nonunion in the context of congenital pseudarthrosis or carcinologic resection (with intercalary bone allograft implantation) is one of the most challenging pathologies in pediatric orthopedics. Autologous cancellous bone remains the gold standard in this context of long bone nonunion reconstruction, but with several clinical limitations. We then assessed the feasibility and safety of human autologous scaffold-free osteogenic 3-dimensional (3D) graft (derived from autologous adipose-derived stem cells [ASCs]) to cure a bone nonunion in extreme clinical and pathophysiological conditions. Human ASCs (obtained from subcutaneous adipose tissue of 6 patients and expanded up to passage 4) were incubated in osteogenic media and supplemented with demineralized bone matrix to obtain the scaffold-free 3D osteogenic structure as confirmed in vitro by histomorphometry for osteogenesis and mineralization. The 3D "bone-like" structure was finally transplanted for 3 patients with bone tumor and 3 patients with bone pseudarthrosis (2 congenital, 1 acquired) to assess the clinical feasibility, safety, and efficacy. Although minor clones with structural aberrations (aneuploidies, such as tri or tetraploidies or clonal trisomy 7 in 6%-20% of cells) were detected in the undifferentiated ASCs at passage 4, the osteogenic differentiation significantly reduced these clonal anomalies. The final osteogenic product was stable, did not rupture with forceps manipulation, did not induce donor site morbidity, and was easily implanted directly into the bone defect. No acute (<3 mo) side effects, such as impaired wound healing, pain, inflammatory reaction, and infection, or long-term side effects, such as tumor development, were associated with the graft up to 4 years after transplantation. We report for the first time that autologous ASC can be fully differentiated into a 3D osteogenic-like implant without any scaffold. We demonstrated that this engineered tissue can safely promote osteogenesis in extreme conditions of bone nonunions with minor donor site morbidity and no oncological side effects.