Surgical management of chronic Achilles tendon rupture: evidence-based guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures (CATR) often require surgical intervention to restore function. Despite numerous treatment modalities available, the optimal management strategy remains controversial given the limited high-quality evidence available. This article aims to provide evidence-based guidelines for the surgical management of CATR through a comprehensive systematic review of the available data. The consensus reached by synthesizing the findings will assist clinicians in making informed decisions and improving patient outcomes. METHODS: A group of 9 foot surgeons in three continents was consulted to gather their expertise on guidelines regarding the surgical management of CATR. Following the proposal of 9 clinical topics, a thorough and comprehensive search of relevant literature published since 1980 was conducted for each topic using electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library, to identify relevant studies published until 1 October 2023. All authors collaborated in drafting, discussing, and finalizing the recommendations and statements. The recommendations were then categorized into two grades: grade a (strong) and grade b (weak), following the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) concept. Additionally, feedback from 21 external specialists, who were independent from the authors, was taken into account to further refine and finalize the clinical guidelines. RESULTS: Nine statements and guidelines were completed regarding surgical indications, surgical strategies, and postoperative rehabilitation protocol. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the systematic review, this guideline provides recommendations for the surgical management of CATR. We are confident that this guideline will serve as a valuable resource for physicians when making decisions regarding the surgical treatment of patients with CATR.

Changes in proteins related to early nerve repair in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.

Peripheral nerves have a limited capacity for self-repair and those that are severely damaged or have significant defects are challenging to repair. Investigating the pathophysiology of peripheral nerve repair is important for the clinical treatment of peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. In this study, rat models of right sciatic nerve injury were established by a clamping method. Protein chip assay was performed to quantify the levels of neurotrophic, inflammation-related, chemotaxis-related and cell generation-related factors in the sciatic nerve within 7 days after injury. The results revealed that the expression levels of neurotrophic factors (ciliary neurotrophic factor) and inflammation-related factors (intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, interferon γ, interleukin-1α, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, prolactin R, receptor of advanced glycation end products and tumor necrosis factor-α), chemotaxis-related factors (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, L-selectin and platelet-derived growth factor-AA) and cell generation-related factors (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) followed different trajectories. These findings will help clarify the pathophysiology of sciatic nerve injury repair and develop clinical treatments of peripheral nerve injury. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital of China (approval No. 2015-50) on December 9, 2015.

Intraoperative single administration of neutrophil peptide 1 accelerates the early functional recovery of peripheral nerves after crush injury.

Neutrophil peptide 1 belongs to a family of peptides involved in innate immunity. Continuous intramuscular injection of neutrophil peptide 1 can promote the regeneration of peripheral nerves, but clinical application in this manner is not convenient. To this end, the effects of a single intraoperative administration of neutrophil peptide 1 on peripheral nerve regeneration were experimentally observed. A rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury was established using the clamp method. After model establishment, a normal saline group and a neutrophil peptide 1 group were injected with a single dose of normal saline or 10 µg/mL neutrophil peptide 1, respectively. A sham group, without sciatic nerve crush was also prepared as a control. Sciatic nerve function tests, neuroelectrophysiological tests, and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the nerve conduction velocity, sciatic functional index, and tibialis anterior muscle fiber cross-sectional area were better in the neutrophil peptide 1 group than in the normal saline group at 4 weeks after surgery. At 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, there were no differences in the wet weight of the tibialis anterior muscle between the neutrophil peptide 1 and saline groups. Histological staining of the sciatic nerve showed no significant differences in the number of myelinated nerve fibers or the axon cross-sectional area between the neutrophil peptide 1 and normal saline groups. The above data confirmed that a single dose of neutrophil peptide 1 during surgery can promote the recovery of neurological function 4 weeks after sciatic nerve injury. All the experiments were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Peking University People's Hospital, China (approval No. 2015-50) on December 9, 2015.

Synovial sarcoma in the plantar region: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma (SS), a rare malignant soft tissue tumor whose histological origin is still unknown, often occurs in limbs in young people and is easily misdiagnosed. CASE SUMMARY: We report a 24-year-old man who sought treatment for plantar pain thought to be caused by a foot injury that occurred 4 years prior. Currently, he had been seen at another hospital for a 1-wk history of unexplained pain in the left plantar region and was treated with acupuncture, a kind of therapy of Chinese medicine, which partly relieved the pain. Because of this, the final diagnosis of biphasic SS was made after two subsequent treatments by pathological evaluation after the last operation. SS is rarely seen in the plantar area, and his history of a left plantar injury confused the original diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study shows that pathological and imaging examinations may play a vital role in the early diagnosis and treatment of SS.

A Modified Foot and Ankle Score for Assessing Patient Outcomes After First Metatarsophalangeal Arthrodesis.

First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis is commonly used to treat many end-stage first MTP diseases. The most widely used scale for measuring the clinical outcomes after this procedure, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal scale, has not been adequately validated and does not measure specific foot functions. Another outcome measure, the patient-reported Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) has acceptable construct validity but poor content validity. The FAOS scale has 42 questions, many of which are unrelated to the hallux. We designed a short-form FAOS (sf-FAOS) consisting of 11 questions that are more relevant to first MTP arthrodesis. The sf-FAOS includes a pain subscale and a function subscale, and the score of each subscale ranges from 0 (worst outcome) to 100 (best outcome). Our study has shown that the sf-FAOS scale has acceptable validity, reliability, and responsiveness. In 21 feet (16 patients) with hallux valgus after >1 year of follow-up, the mean sf-FAOS pain score had improved by 44.9 points after surgery (from 51.2 to 96.0; p < .001), and the mean sf-FAOS function score had improved by 22.5 points (from 47.3 to 69.8; p <.001). The improvement in the function score for running and jumping was limited.

Social defeat stress promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis by upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/matrix metalloproteinase signaling in a mouse model of lung carcinoma.

Numerous epidemiological and experimental animal studies have indicated that chronic psychological stress may promote tumor development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which chronic stress promotes tumorigenesis remain to be fully elucidated and animal models have not yet been well established. In the present study, an established mouse model of repeated social defeat stress (RSDS), was generated and used to investigate the effect of stress on tumor growth and metastasis. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to RSDS for 10 days, followed by subcutaneousl inoculation with Lewis lung carcinoma cells for seven days. The tumor weight and volume as well as the number of the lung metastatic nodules were then determined. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serum levels were measured using ELISAs. In addition, expression levels of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) messenger (m)RNA were confirmed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, protein expression levels of phosphorlyated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were examined using western blot analysis. The results showed that RSDS significantly increased the weight and the volume of the primary tumor as well as the number of the lung metastatic nodules. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in the tumor-stress group compared with those of the unstressed tumor mice. In addition, tumors in stressed animals demonstrated markedly enhanced expression of VEGFR-2 and L1CAM mRNA as well as pERK, MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. In conclusion, these results suggested that RSDS contributed to lung cancer progression, angiogenesis and metastasis, which was partially associated with increased VEGF secretion and therefore the activation of the ERK signaling pathway, resulting in the induction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression.

[Surgical treatment of internal fixation failure after clavicular fracture operation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical treatment results of implant failure after clavicular fracture open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). METHODS: Fifteen cases from Jan. 2005 to Jan. 2013 were treated surgically according to fracture classification, time of implant failure and implant type. The fracture union, shoulder function and pain were evaluated postoperatively. RESULTS: All the patients had full follow-up for 5 to 101 months (mean: 43.8 months). All the fractures were united well. The constant scores to assess the shoulder function were 82 to 100 (mean: 93.3 in the fracture side) and were 85 to 100 (mean: 96.7 in the uninjured side); statistically significant difference of the constant scores between the two sides was found (P=0.02). Eight cases did not have shoulder pain in the fracture side, while the other 7 cases had mild pain, The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores to evaluate shoulder pain were 1 to 3 in the fracture side, which were statistically different from those in the uninjured side (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Implant instability causes early implant failure after clavicular fracture ORIF and re-fixation with stable implant is effective. Fracture nonunion leads to late implant failure, and bridging fixation using locking plate associated with bony autograft with iliac crest is a successful method to treat atrophy clavicular nonunion. Surgical treatment can bring good results.

Minimally invasive treatment of the KobyGard system for plantar fasciitis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Calcodynia is a persistent condition that podiatric surgeons frequently see among their patients, and plantar fasciitis is the main reason for pain. When systematic conservative treatments fail to alleviate these conditions, it requires surgical intervention, mainly plantar fascia release surgery, which used to be an open heel release surgery. This study aimed to investigate whether minimally invasive treatment of the KobyGard system is more safe and effective for plantar fasciitis. METHODS: From May 2009 to May 2012, a total of nine patients, three males and six females with plantar fasciitis, were treated in the Peking University People's Hospital with minimally invasive instruments, the KobyGard system, for the release of plantar fascia. Three patients, experiencing bilateral calcaneodynia, underwent bilateral surgery. One patient had bilateral calcaneodynia with enthesiopathy of Achilles tendon, and underwent Achilles tendon surgery. Preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot scores, Roles and Maudsley scores and SF-36 questionnaires were evaluated. RESULTS: The nine patients were successfully followed up. The average postoperative follow-up time was 13.2 months and it varied from 2.0 months to 21.0 months. Pre- and postoperative average scores of VAS was 9.3 and 1.9 (P < 0.001), respectively. Pre- and postoperative average scores of AOFAS hind foot was 36.0 and 82.0 (P < 0.001), respectively. There was also a statistically significant amelioration in SF-36 scores and the Roles and Maudlesy scores. Eight patients were satisfied with the surgery outcome. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgery treatment of the KobyGard system for plantar fasciitis has the advantages of shorter operation time, ease of operation, and similar satisfaction rates with open surgery, but with smaller surgical incision.

A retrospective study of posterior malleolus fractures.

PURPOSE: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the treatment effect of ankle joint fracture surgery involving the posterior malleolus, and discuss relevant factors influencing the occurrence of traumatic arthritis of the ankle joint. METHODS: A total of 102 cases of ankle joint fractures involving the posterior malleolus in five large-scale skeletal trauma centres in China, from January 2000 to July 2009, were retrospectively analysed in terms of surgical treatment and complete follow-up. Ankle joint mobility, posterior malleolus fragment size, articular surface evenness, Ankle-Hindfoot Scale of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and imaging scale score for arthritis were recorded. The degree of fracture pain during rest, active movement, and weight-bearing walking, and satisfaction with treatment were evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The average AOFAS score was 95.9, excellence rate was 92.2 %, and average VAS scores for degree of fracture pain during rest, active movement, and weight-bearing walking were 0.15, 0.31, and 0.68, respectively. Thirty-six cases showed arthritic manifestations. Ankle joint mobility along all directions on the injured side was lower than that on the unaffected side. There was no obvious difference in treatment effect between the fixed and unfixed posterior malleolus fragment groups for all and for fragment size of < 25 %; between fixing the posterior malleolus fragment from front to back or from back to front; or between elderly patients (≥ 60 years old) and young patients (< 60 years old). There was a distinct difference in the treatment effect between articular surface evenness and unevenness for all and for fragment size of ≥ 25 %. CONCLUSIONS: For all 102 cases of ankle joint fracture involving the posterior malleolus, the treatment effect was satisfactory. Restoration of an even articular surface, especially when fragment size ≥ 25 %, should be attempted during treatment.

[Three kind of scoring system for proximal humeral fractures in patients with postoperative functional review of evaluation: a multicenter study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ASES, Constant and HSS score systems and their significance on postoperative function of the shoulder. METHODS: Totally 172 cases of proximal humeral fracture of five affiliated hospital from September 2004 to September 2008 were analyzed. All the functional outcome of the involved shoulder were evaluated by ASES, Constant, HSS score and patient self score. The correlations and agreement of three shoulder scales were analyzed with Pearson correlation test and Bland-Altman plot in different age groups and fracture types. RESULTS: (1) The Constant score were lower than other two scores in the same age group and fracture type (F = 13.62 and 4.80, P < 0.05). (2) The correlations between three shoulder scales: ASES and Constant (r = 0.754, P = 0.0003), ASES and HSS (r = 0.755, P = 0.0001), Constant and HSS (r = 0.858, P = 0.0002). The correlations between three shoulder scales and patient self evaluation: ASES (r = 0.602, P = 0.0002), Constant (r = 0.705, P = 0.0001), HSS (r = 0.663, P = 0.0037). The Bland-Altman plot shows three shoulder scales have good agreement. (3)The correlation between Constant score and patient self evaluation decreased in the elder group and severe fracture type. CONCLUSIONS: ASES, Constant, HSS shoulder score systems are all fit to evaluate the functional outcome of the shoulder, they have good correlation and agreement. Constant score in recommended for its high correlation coefficient with patient self evaluation score. However, its age bias must be paid attention in clinical practice. ASES shoulder score can be used in remote follow-up.

Multicenter follow-up study of ankle fracture surgery.

BACKGROUND: Few data on ankle fractures in China from large multicenter epidemiological and clinical studies are available. The aim of this research was to evaluate the epidemiological features and surgical outcomes of ankle fractures by reviewing 235 patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery at five hospitals in China. METHODS: This study included patients who underwent ankle fracture surgery at five Chinese hospitals from January 2000 to July 2009. Age, gender, mechanism of injury, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) fracture type, fracture pattern, length of hospital stay and treatment outcome were recorded. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale, visual analogue scale (VAS), and arthritis scale were used to evaluate outcome. RESULTS: Of 235 patients with ankle fractures, 105 were male with an average age of 37.8 years and 130 were female with an average age of 47.3 years. The average follow-up period was 55.7 months. There were significant differences in the ratios of patients in different age groups between males and females, and in mechanisms of injury among different age groups. There were also significant differences in the length of hospital stay among different fracture types and mechanisms of injury. In healed fractures, the average AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 95.5, with an excellence rate of 99.6%, the average VAS score was 0.17, and the average arthritis score was 0.18. Movement of the injured ankle was significantly different to that of the uninjured ankle. There were no significant differences between AO fracture types, fracture patterns or follow-up periods and AOFAS score, but there were some significant differences between these parameters and ankle joint movements, pain VAS score and arthritis score. CONCLUSIONS: Ankle fractures occur most commonly in middle-aged and young males aged 20 - 39 years and in elderly females aged 50 - 69 years. The most common mechanisms of injury are twisting injuries and falls from a standing height or less. The results of surgical treatment are satisfactory.

[Clinical features analysis of femoral neck fractures in 219 patients].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features of femoral neck fractures and analyze related causes. METHODS: The clinical data of patients with femoral neck fractures from June 2002 to August 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The gender, age, fracture side, fracture type, basic social data, activities before injury, injury causes and treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients (106 male and 113 female) was analyzed. All patients were divided into children group (age < 16 years), adult group (age ranged from 16 to 60 years) and older group (> 60 years). There were 5 patients (2.3%) in the children group, 81 patients (37.0%) in the adult group and 133 patients (60.7%) in the older group. There were 11 patients (5.0%) with Garden I fractures, 32 patients (14.6%) with Garden II fractures, 90 patients (41.1%) with Garden III fractures and 86 patients (39.3%) with Garden IV fractures. Fall damage and traffic injury were the main injury types. Home and public place were the main injury sites. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of femoral neck fracture shows the highest in the old persons. The male patients with femoral neck fractures are more than female patients in children and adult group, while the male patients with femoral neck fractures are less than female patients in older group. The dominant fractures type according to Garden classification is Garden III fractures in children and adult groups, but Garden IV fractures in older group. Fall damage and traffic injury are the main injury types. Home and public place are the main injury sites.

[Retrospective study of therapy of periprosthetic femoral supracondylar fractures after total knee arthroplasty with open reduction and less invasive stabilization system (LISS) internal fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical results of therapy of periprosthetic femoral supracondylar fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using less invasive stabilization system (LISS). METHODS: Eight cases of periprosthetic femoral supracondylar fractures after TKA were treated with ORIF using distal femoral LISS in our department. They had full follow-up for 3 to 39 months. Their knee functions were evaluated through radiological and clinical checkups and functional evaluations by HSS (The Hospital for Special Surgery) scoring system and Lysholm Questionnaire. RESULTS: None of the fractured patients had any infection or internal-fixation failure. The average knee motion range was 0-94°. There was no statistic difference of the femorotibial angle between pre- and postoperation. At the end of the last follow-up, the average HSS score was 79.38 and Lysholm score 80.25. All the average scores were good and excellent. CONCLUSION: ORIF with LISS is a one of the valuable treatments for periprosthetic femoral supracondylar fractures after TKA.

[The prospective study project of 62 cases spinal cord injury].

OBJECTIVE: To rudiment analyze the different intervention factors affecting the spinal cord injury functional recovery initially through prospective study project. METHODS: Designed prospective study project without clinical treatment intervention and admitted 62 spinal cord injury cases into observation group from Dec 2006 to Dec 2007. The internalized standard included acute spinal cord injury within 1 week, aged from 18 to 65 years old without sexuality difference and diagnosed as type A injury: total spinal cord injury or type B injury: non-total spinal cord injury (without movement function below the injury plane) according to clinical physical examination and combined MRI or CT examination. All the 62 cases were followed up. The spinal cord function were estimated at the time of arriving hospital, 1, 3, 6 months after injury during the following up time according to the American Spine Injury Association standard (Revised at 2000) and functional independence measure (FIM) score. The intervention factors affecting the spinal cord injury functional recovery were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 62 cases, male 60 cases and female 2 cases, aged from 18 to 41 years old, mean age 24 years old, 29 cases can be classified into type A injury and 33 cases can be classified into type B injury. There was no significant difference (Index including sense ASIA, motor ASIA and FIM) between operation group and non-operation group, namely conservatively composite treatment at all observation point in all type A injury cases (P > 0.05). There was significant difference (Index including sense ASIA, motor ASIA and FIM) between operation group and non-operation group at all observation point in all type B injury cases (P < 0.05); And there was significant difference (Index including sense ASIA, motor ASIA and FIM) between operated in 8 hours (< or = 8 h) group and beyond 8 hours (> 8 h) group at all observation point in all type B operated cases (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Operation and operation time were of no significant value for type A injury (total spinal cord injury), but considering the nursing convenience and the need for spinal stabilities, operation decompression and internal fixation can be chosen; Operation decompression should be performed as soon as quickly for type B injury (non-total spinal cord injury) in order to get better functional recovery.

[Comparative study of distal radial fractures in the elderly treated with locking and non-locking plates].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical difference of locking and non-locking plates in the treatment of distal radial fractures in the elderly. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with an average age of 68 years were included. The mean follow-up was 30 months. Five cases were traffic related injury, and others were simple falls. Fractures were classified according to AO classification system: 9 cases of A3, 4 cases of B, 11 cases of C1, 18 cases of C2, 7 cases of C3. Patients were grouped as locking group (29 cases) and non-locking group (20 cases). RESULTS: Significant difference was not found between the two groups in active range of motion, Gartland and Werley score, radiological measurements and score. CONCLUSION: Locking and non-locking plates have the same clinical outcome in the treatment of distal radial fractures in the elderly.