The Relationship Between Arthroplasty Surgeons' Experience Level and Optimal Cable Tensioning in the Fixation of Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, our aim was to examine the relationship between the arthroplasty surgeons' experience level and their aptitude to adjust the cable tension to the value recommended by the manufacturer when asked to provide fixation with cables in artificial bones that underwent extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A custom-made cable tensioning device with a microvoltmeter was used to measure the tension values in Newtons (N). An ETO was performed on 4 artificial femur bones. Surgeons at various levels of experience attending the IXth National Arthroplasty Congress were asked to fix the osteotomized fragment using 1.7-mm cables and the tensioning device. The participants' demographic and experience data were investigated and recorded. The surgeons with different level of experience repeated the tensioning test 3 times and the average of these measurements were recorded. RESULTS: In 19 (35.2%) of the 54 participants, the force applied to the cable was found to be greater than the 490.33 N (50 kg) value recommended by the manufacturer. No statistically significant difference was determined between the surgeon's years of experience, the number of cases, and the number of cables used and the tension applied over the recommended maximum value (P = .475, P = .312, and P = .691, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: No significant relationship was found between the arthroplasty surgeon's level of experience and the adjustment of the cable with the correct tension level. For this reason, we believe that the use of tensioning devices with calibrated tension gauges by orthopedic surgeons would help in reducing the number of complications that may occur due to the cable.

Knotless anchors offer better prevention of meniscal excursion than knotted anchors: An experimental study of the bovine knee.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the biomechanical importance of the meniscal root ligament, several surgical techniques have been defined in order to treat meniscal root tear. Different application techniques have different levels of difficulty. We aimed to find a stronger and simpler repair technique. METHODS: Sixteen bovine knee joints were prepared. The posterior root of the medial meniscus was dissected and repaired with one of two different techniques. The knees in group 1 ("knotted group") were repaired with the knotted suture anchor technique, and the knees in group 2 ("knotless group") were repaired using the knotless suture anchor technique. The strength of the repairs was tested biomechanically. RESULTS: Cyclic loading tests were done. On the 0-20 N one-cycle test, the knotted anchor group's equivalent stiffness average was 5.28 N/mm, and the knotless anchor group's equivalent stiffness average was 5.48 N/mm. The 5-20 N two-cycle test results were 8.29 N/mm for the knotted group and 8.66 N/mm for the knotless group. On the 5-20 N 100-cycle test, the equivalent stiffness averages were 8.59 N/mm for the knotted group and 10.18 N/mm for the knotless group. Elongation was 5.83 mm for the knotted group and 4.86 mm for the knotless group. After performing load-to-failure tests, the failure forces were recorded as 237.83 N for the knotted group and 204.90 N for the knotless group. The failure test elongation values were 26.83 mm for the knotted group and 18.70 mm for the knotless group. The failure energies were 3.87 J for the knotted group and 1.83 J for the knotless group. Except for elongation until failure (p=0.009), there were no significant differences between the two groups tested (p>0.05). The average elongation was significantly less in group 2, showing that the knotless anchor had an advantage, with less meniscal excursion compared to the sutured anchor. CONCLUSION: Knotless anchors have a mechanical advantage over knotted anchors for preventing meniscal excursion. When thought together with technical simplicity during arthroscopic surgery, knotless anchors could be used safely for the fixation of the meniscal root ligament.

3D printed poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds modified with hydroxyapatite and poly(propylene fumarate) and their effects on the healing of rabbit femur defects.

A large variety of approaches have been used to treat large and irregular shaped bone defects with less than optimal success due to material or design issues. In recent years patient specific constructs prepared by additive manufacturing provided a solution to the need for shaping implants to fit irregular defects in the surgery theater. In this study, cylindrical disks of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were printed by fused deposition modeling and modified with nanohydroxyapatite (HAp) and poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) to create a mechanically strong implant with well-defined pore size and porosity, controllable surface hydrophilicity (with PPF) and osteoconductivity (with HAp). Cytotoxicity, irritation and inflammation tests demonstrated that the scaffolds were biocompatible. PCL/HAp and PCL/HAp/PPF scaffolds were implanted in the femurs of rabbits with and without seeding with rabbit Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSC) and examined after 4 and 8 weeks with micro-CT, mechanically and histologically. BMSC seeded PCL/HAp/PPF scaffolds showed improved tissue regeneration as determined by bone mineral density and micro-CT. Compressive and tension stiffness values (394 and 463 N mm-1) were significantly higher than those of the healthy rabbit femur (316 and 392 N mm-1, respectively) after 8 weeks of implantation. These 3D implants have great potential for patient-specific bone defect treatments.

Impact of fibular torsion and rotation on chronic ankle instability.

BACKGROUND: The fibula is known not to involve in transmission of weight but known simply as an ankle stabilizer. However, its main function in stabilizing the ankle remains obscure. Since the fibula has an impact on torsion and rotation of the ankle, its effect on lateral ankle instability should be investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with lateral ankle instability (Group 1) and 19 healthy volunteers (Group 2) were included in the study. The tibiofibular and talofibular relationships were evaluated using MRI images. Fibular torsion and rotation angles were calculated using a new method. Range of motion of the ankle joint was investigated while the knee was at flexion (90°) and extension (0°). The comparisons performed between the 2 groups and independent from the groups were statistically evaluated and, the p value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: A significant difference was found between the two groups for age (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the right and left sides for all measurements in the group 1 and 2 (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in dorsal flexion when the knee is at flexion (90°) and extension (0°) position. There was also a statistically significant difference between the two groups in plantar flexion which was measured while the knee was at extension (0°) position. No statistically significant difference was found between both groups in terms of fibular torsion and rotation. However, independent from the groups when the patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the fibula localized posteriorly or not, in patients with posteriorly localized fibula it was demonstrated that the fibular torsion and rotation was increased significantly. CONCLUSION: We did not detect any relationship between fibular torsion and rotation and ankle instability. However, independent from the groups when the patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether the fibula localized posteriorly or not, we realized that in patients with posteriorly localized fibula, fibular torsion and rotation significantly increased. This finding did not explain the cause of instability. However, it may gain significance with new further studies regarding ankle instability.

Numerical study of the aerodynamic effects of septoplasty and partial lateral turbinectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate, first, the effects of septal deviation and concha bullosa on nasal airflow, and second, the aerodynamic changes induced by septoplasty and partial lateral turbinectomy, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). METHODS: A three-dimensional model of a nasal cavity was generated using paranasal sinus computed tomography images of a cadaver with concha bullosa and septal deviation. Virtual septoplasty and partial lateral turbinectomy were performed on this model to generate a second model representing the postoperative anatomy. Aerodynamics of the nasal cavity in the presence of concha bullosa and septal deviation as well as postoperative changes due to the virtual surgery were analyzed by performing CFD simulations on both models. Inspiratory airflow with a constant flow rate of 500 mL/second was used throughout the analyses. RESULTS: In the preoperative model, the airflow mostly pass through a narrow area close to the base of the nasal cavity. Following the virtual operation, a general drop in the maximum intranasal air speed is observed with a significant increase of the airflow through right middle meatus. While in the preoperative model the greatest reduction in pressure is found to be in the localization of anterior septal deviation on the right side and confined to a very short segment, for the postoperative model, it is observed to be in the nasal valve region in both nasal cavities. Following septoplasty and partial lateral turbinectomy, total nasal resistance is reduced significantly. CONCLUSIONS: CFD simulations promise to make great contributions to understand the airflow characteristics of healthy and pathologic noses. Before surgery, planning for any specific intervention using CFD techniques on the nasal cavity model of the patient may help foreseeing the aerodynamic effects of the operation and might increase the success rate of the surgical treatment.

Dynamic function of the fibula. Gait analysis evaluation of three different parts of the shank after fibulectomy: proximal, middle and distal.

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the dynamic features of fibular movement to gait pattern by analyzing the gait of individuals with three different parts of the fibula resected. Gait analyses revealed that proximal fibula resection impaired knee stability, whereas distal fibula resection disturbed ankle kinematics significantly. Except a mild secondary quadriceps weakness, middle fibula resection did not cause a significant biomechanical disturbance on gait.

Functional evaluation of intraarticular severely comminuted fractures of the calcaneus with gait analysis.

Twenty-one patients (23 feet) treated nonsurgically for severely comminuted intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus were evaluated prospectively with a clinical scoring scale and computerized gait analysis. All patients had Sanders type III and type IV fractures. The treatment protocol consisted of no closed reduction, immobilization in removable splint, physiotherapy after edema subsided, and weightbearing after 8 weeks. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 2 years (mean, 38 months). Clinical results were good in 2 patients, fair in 3 patients, and poor in 16 patients. Gait analysis showed that patients were at high risk of gastrocnemius weakness and ankle and knee instability. These results may be useful for comparison with the results of other methods, such as open reduction and internal fixation, nonsurgical closed reduction, and arthrodesis.

An anatomical study of the meniscofibular ligament.

We examined the anatomical structure of a ligament (ligamentum meniscofibulare) between apex fibulae and lateral meniscus by macroscopic and microscopic dissection and transillumination method in 50 knees of 25 cadavers (5 were fresh). We analyzed the function of this ligament, which runs between the head of the fibulae and lateral meniscus. The existence of a connection between knee joint and proximal tibiofibular joint was demonstrated by injecting colored liquid into the knee joint space and transillumination. The mensicofibular ligament is a capsular ligament originating from the lateral meniscus that is anterior to the popliteal muscle tendon. The meniscofibular ligament, which is attached to fibula with rotatory motion at one end and to the lateral meniscus at the other, is believed to position the lateral meniscus and therefore to play a key role in the knee joint.