Sclerotic bone: a sign of bone reaction in patients with medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious adverse reaction associated with antiresorptive drugs such as bisphosphonates and denosumab. When dealing with advanced and/or multiple MRONJ lesions undergoing surgical therapy, the extent of surgery is often a topic of discussion. The aim of this study was to identify the differences in bone density in and around the MRONJ lesion before and after surgical treatment to evaluate the needed surgical extend of the modelling osteotomy. In this retrospective study 26 patients with MRONJ lesions that were surgically treated in our department were observed. Length, width and bone density were measured in panoramic radiograph pre and postoperatively with the Imaging processing software Sidexis and ImageJ (Fiji). The necrotic area, the surrounding sclerotic area as well as the healthy contralateral side were observed. Measurements were performed by two independent observers. Pearson correlation was calculated to determine the interobserver variability. Bone density was significantly reduced in the necrotic bone area compared to the healthy unaffected contralateral reference side. The sclerotic bone area surrounding the necrosis showed increased bone density compared to the contralateral unaffected reference side. The density of the sclerotic bone area was increased in the previously affected MRONJ area in the postoperative panoramic radiograph. The pre and postoperative density showed no significant correlation to healing behaviour. The focus of the modelling osteotomy in surgical treatment of mature MRONJ lesions should be predominantly on the parts that appear necrotic and less dense in the panoramic radiograph as sclerotic areas might be an expression of bone reaction.

Osteonecrosis of the Knee: The Unintended Consequence of Steroid Abuse.

The anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of steroids allow their use in a wide variety of rheumatological diseases, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer therapy, and severe viral infections. Though life-saving or organ-saving, long-term clinical use leads to a vast array of complications. Osteoporosis is the most common orthopedic side effect of steroid abuse, while osteonecrosis is a rare occurrence. The risk of osteonecrosis appears to be dose and duration dependent, but several patient factors also play a major role and usually affect the femoral head followed by the knee joint. The long-term effects of steroids must be explained to all patients on therapy, but this risk is missed in individuals who abuse steroids for recreational or performance-enhancing purposes. We describe a male, aged 29 years, who presented with dull aching bilateral knee pain of 2-years' duration after a long-term steroid abuse for weight and muscle mass gain. Radiological and magnetic resonance imaging studies confirmed osteonecrosis of femoral and tibial condyles and secondary degenerative arthritis of the knee joint. Prompt suspicion, early diagnosis, and intervention in osteonecrosis of knee joints, and termination of steroids may reverse the pathology and prevent progression of disease.

Is There a Correlation between the Radiological and Clinical Outcome after Core Decompression of the Radius for Kienböck Disease?

Background: Despite the good clinical results in the treatment of Kienböck disease with distal radius core decompression, a radiological progression to a certain degree in the long-term follow-up is possible. Is there a negative correlation between the clinical improvement of the patients and the radiological progression? Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the radiological and clinical results of 24 patients (mean age: 38 years; 10 women) treated with core decompression for Kienböck disease. The mean follow-up was 10 years. Results: A radiologic progression in the Lichtman classification was seen in nine patients. The Spearman correlation did not show any correlation between this radiological progression and the clinical outcome. Namely -0.06 between Mayo and Lichtman classification and 0.16 between VAS and Lichtman classification. Conclusions: We found that the clinical outcomes do not deteriorate despite a radiological progression of patients treated with core decompression for Kienböck disease Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic).

Postoperative scaphoid alignment, smoking, and avascular necrosis mostly influence union rate after scaphoid reconstruction: Results from a retrospective single center study involving 370 patients.

Current literature does not definitely demonstrate the superiority of any particular scaphoid reconstruction method. The primary goal of this retrospective single center study was to evaluate the influence of reconstruction techniques and other factors on the union rate after reconstruction of scaphoid nonunions. In the study, 370 patients with nonunions classified as stable (Mayo 1) or unstable (Mayo 2) depending on carpal alignment were included. Minimal radiological follow-up was 3 months. Bone healing after scaphoid reconstruction was evaluated using computer tomography scans in 294 and radiograms in 76 patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were applied in the analysis. Eight statistically significant factors that influenced the union rate were fixation method, type of previous operations, number of all operations, number of reconstructions, smoking, postoperative pathological lateral intrascaphoid angle (LISA>45°), avascular necrosis (AVN), and stability of nonunion. Smoking and postoperative LISA>45° significantly reduced the probability of bone fusion by approximately 4.4 and 9.5 times, respectively. Patients with reduced vascularity in the nonunion site had a 5.2 times lower chance of bone fusion. Our multivariate logistic regression model can explain 32% of failures after scaphoid reconstruction, including postoperative LISA>45°, patients' present record of smoking, and reduced vascularity in the nonunion site. However, bone graft type does not impact the union rate in general; however, in case of AVN, the tendency toward higher union rates was observed for medial femoral condyle free flaps when compared to other types of graft (non-vascularized and pedicled bone grafts considered as one group, p = 0.09).

Case report: golimumab-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is an uncommon but highly morbid adverse event of certain medical therapies. Although classically induced by bisphosphonates, the recent advent of monoclonal antibodies is contributing to a rise in cases. In this case report, we present a rare case of golimumab-associated medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw and discuss the possible mechanisms of pathogenesis.

Knee Osteonecrosis After SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection.

ABSTRACT: Osteonecrosis after COVID-19 infection is a complex pathology with multifactorial origin. Factors such as infection itself with associated coagulopathy, as well as genetic mechanisms, and medications used for its treatment such as corticosteroids, may also be involved. The variability in the presentation makes diagnosis difficult, which, if done soon, can help delay progression and reduce morbidity and the need for surgery.This report presents a case of knee osteonecrosis in a female patient who did not have previous knee pathology on imaging tests. She was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging months after hospital admission for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, which required high-dose corticosteroid treatment.

Management of Talar Avascular Necrosis with Total Talus.

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus is a difficult pathology to treat. Patient-specific factors such as functional status, comorbidities should be considered. Previous standard care for talar AVN was centered around arthrodesis procedures and loss of motion about the joints of the rearfoot and ankle. With the advent of 3D printed talar implants, patients are afforded an option to maintain ankle joint motion. Literature is limited due to the recent development of total talus replacement (TTR) technology. This article aims to review literature, surgical techniques, and pearls to better help foot and ankle surgeons treat cases of talar AVN.

Core decompression is superior to nonoperative management for humeral head osteonecrosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Much of the literature on osteonecrosis has traditionally focused on the hip, which remains the most common site for this disease. The shoulder and the knee are the second most frequently affected sites (both approximately 10% of the incidence). There are a variety of techniques for managing this disease, and it is important to optimize this for our patients. This review aimed to compare the results of core decompression (CD) vs. nonoperative modalities for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the humeral head, including (1) success rate defined as lack of progression to further procedures (shoulder arthroplasty) and no need for further intervention; (2) clinical results (patient-reported pain and functional scores); and (3) radiological outcomes. METHODS: We queried PubMed and found 15 reports that fit the inclusion criteria for studies concerning the use of CD as well as studies discussing nonoperative treatment for stage I-III osteonecrotic lesions of the shoulder. A total of 9 studies encompassed 291 shoulders that underwent CD analyzed at a mean follow-up of 8.1 years (range, 67 months-12 years), and 6 studies examined 359 shoulders that underwent nonoperative management at a mean follow-up of 8.1 years (range, 35 months-10 years). Outcomes of CD and nonoperative management included success rate, number of shoulders requiring shoulder arthroplasty, and evaluation of several normalized patient-reported outcomes. We also assessed radiographic progression (pre- to postcollapse or further collapse progression). RESULTS: The mean success rate of CD for avoiding further procedures was 76.6% (226 of 291 shoulders) in stage I through stage III. Stage III shoulders avoided shoulder arthroplasty in 63% (27 of 43 shoulders). Nonoperative management resulted in a success rate of 13%, P < .001. In the CD studies, 7 of 9 showed improvements in clinical outcome measurements compared with 1 of 6 of the nonoperative studies. Radiographically, there was less progression in the CD group (39 of 191 shoulders [24.2%]) vs. the nonoperative group (39 of 74 shoulders [52.3%]) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high success rate and positive clinical outcomes reported, CD is an effective method for management, especially when compared with nonoperative treatment methods for stage I-III osteonecrosis of the humeral head. The authors believe that it should be used as treatment to avoid arthroplasty in patients who have osteonecrosis of the humeral head.

Reductions in Bone Mineral Density Are Apparent Early in Children With Prevalent Osteonecrosis Lesions Following Leukemia Therapy.

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a serious complication of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We determined the prevalence of osteonecrotic lesions in our patient population by a one-time multisite magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more than 1 year following leukemia therapy. MRI findings were evaluated in relationship to clinical factors (including longitudinal changes in bone mineral density [BMD]). Eighty-six children enrolled in the Steroid Associated Osteoporosis in the Pediatric Population (STOPP) study were evaluated for ON at 3.1 ± 1.3 years following therapy. Thirty children had a total of 150 confirmed ON lesions (35%). Lumbar spine (LS) BMD Z-scores (mean ± SD) were low at diagnosis and similar between patients with and without ON (-1.09 ± 1.53 versus -1.27 ± 1.25, p = 0.549). LS BMD Z-scores declined from baseline to 12 months in children with ON (-0.31 ± 1.02) but not in those without (0.13 ± 0.82, p = 0.035); the hip BMD Z-scores from baseline to 24 months declined in both groups, but to a greater extent in those with ON (-1.77 ± 1.22) compared to those without (-1.03 ± 1.07, p = 0.045). At the time of the MRI, mean total hip and total body (TB) BMD Z-scores were lower in children with ON (hip -0.98 ± 0.95 versus -0.28 ± 1.06, p = 0.010; TB -1.36 ± 1.10 versus -0.48 ± 1.50, p = 0.018). Pain occurred in 11/30 (37%) with ON versus 20/56 (36%) without, p = 0.841. In multivariable models, older age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-2.13; p = 0.004), and hip BMD Z-score at MRI (OR 2.23; 95% CI, 1.02-4.87; p = 0.046) were independently associated with ON. Overall, one-third of children demonstrated ON after leukemia therapy. Those with ON had greater reductions in spine and hip BMD Z-scores in the first 1 and 2 years of therapy, respectively. Older age and lower hip BMD Z-scores at MRI were significantly associated with prevalent, off-therapy ON. These data assist in identifying children at risk of ON. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Imaging of Müller-Weiss Disease.

Müller-Weiss disease (MWD) is the result of a dysplasia of the tarsal navicular bone. Over the adult years, the dysplastic bone leads to the development of an asymmetric talonavicular arthritis with the talar head shifting laterally and plantarly, thus driving the subtalar joint into varus. From a diagnostic point of view, the condition may be difficult to differentiate from an avascular necrosis or even a stress fracture of the navicular, but fragmentation is the result of a mechanical impairment rather than a biological dysfunction.Standardized weight-bearing radiographs (anteroposterior and lateral views) of both feet are usually enough to diagnose MWD. Other imaging modalities such as multi-detector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in early cases for the differential diagnosis can add additional details on the amount of cartilage affected, bone stock, fragmentation, and associated soft tissue injuries. Failure to identify patients with paradoxical flatfeet varus may lead to an incorrect diagnosis and management. Conservative treatment with the use of rigid insoles is effective in most patients. A calcaneal osteotomy seems to be a satisfactory treatment for patients who fail to respond to conservative measures and a good alternative to the different types of peri-navicular fusions. Weight-bearing radiographs are also useful to identify postoperative changes.

Current management of avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head: a comprehensive literature review.

BACKGROUND: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the metacarpal head is a rare disease that may lead to progressive destruction of the metacarpophalangeal joint and hand function. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology, possible risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment of the rare condition of avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head. METHODS: Articles were searched using the subject words "Dieterich disease","Mauclaire's disease", and "avascular necrosis of metacarpal head" in the PubMed and Scopus databases. Studies were retained for review after meeting the inclusion criteria. Those outcomes relevant to diagnose and assessing AVN of the metacarpal head and those related to curative management were extracted. RESULTS: The literature search revealed 45 studies with 55 patients. Although the aetiology of osteonecrosis has not been clearly delineated, AVN of the metacarpal head most commonly arises from trauma but other risk factors may also be involved. Plain radiographs are often negative and therefore likely to be missed. Early-stage osteonecrosis of the metacarpal head was best assessed using MRI. Given the rarity of this condition, there is no clear consensus on the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head should be considered in the differential diagnosis of painful metacarpophalangeal joints. An early understanding of this unusual disease will provide an optimal clinical outcome, restoring joint activity, and resolving pain. Nonoperative treatment cannot cure all patients. Surgical management is based on the patient and lesion characteristics.

Time to reconsider post arthroscopic osteonecrosis of the knee: a systematic review.

The etiology of post-arthroscopic osteonecrosis of the knee (PAONK) is still unknown. The aims of this systematic review were to analyze the main characteristics of patients who developed osteonecrosis after arthroscopy. We considered for inclusion in the review case reports, case series, retrospective and prospective clinical trial, that involved patients who developed osteonecrosis of the knee within 1 year of arthroscopy for meniscal lesion or anterior cruciate ligament rupture with or without chondropathy. In all cases, there was a pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging that excluded the presence of osteonecrosis. We used the MINORS criteria to estimate the risk of bias. A total of 13 studies that involved 125 patients were included in the review. Only 14 out of 55 patients performed the pre-operative MRI after the "window period", which we considered 6 weeks between the onset of symptoms and positive MRI findings. A diagnosis of PAONK was made for 55 patients within 1 year of surgery. Of these, 29% was treated conservatively, while 71% repeated surgery. Osteonecrosis after knee arthroscopy is a reality and surgeon shouldn't underestimate the persistence or re-emergence of symptoms after arthroscopy. It may be due to subchondral insufficiency fractures in osteopenic bone, without evidence of necrosis. However, there are not elements enough to differentiate clinical and radiological characteristics of PAONK from SPONK. Terminology should be simplified, distinguishing subchondral insufficiency fractures of the knee as a precursor of primary osteonecrosis of the knee.

Incidental osteonecrosis in the distal left femur in a case of beta-thalassemia with COVID-19: Role of [99mTc]Tc-MDP whole-body bone scan.

Secondary anemia in hemoglobinopathies like thalassemia can cause expansion of the bone marrow cavities because of compensatory marrow hyperplasia. This case demonstrates spontaneous osteonecrosis of the distal left femur in a patient with ß-thalassemia that may be secondary to ischemic infarction secondary to occlusion of the microvasculature within the expanded cancellous bone. This subject was referred to Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital because of fever, cough, and bone pain. In the CT scan she had scattered peripheral CGO in both lungs due to COVID-19 with two paravertebral masses due to extramedullary hematopoiesis. The patient had also generalized bone pain so the physician asked for a whole-body bone scan and incidentally, we found a cold lesion with a rim of increased uptake in the distal left femur that with bone biopsy it was consistent with osteonecrosis. This case illustrates the importance of performing a whole-body bone scan in ß-thalassemia for the management of patients and diagnosis of occult osteonecrosis.

Symptomatic osteonecrosis in French survivors of childhood and adolescent leukemia: a clinical and MRI study of LEA cohort.

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a known complication of acute leukemia (AL) management, affecting 1%-10% of young patients and resulting in long-term morbidity. Widespread access to MRI over the past decade has allowed earlier detection and more accurate assessment. This study investigated clinical and MRI features of the 129 (2.5%) patients with symptomatic ON retrospectively recruited from the French LEA (Leucémies de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, or child and adolescent leukemias) cohort (n = 4,973). We analyzed data concerning ON risk factors, multifocal involvement, severe lesions detected by MRI, and patient quality of life (QoL). ON patients tended to be >10 years old at the time of AL diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]: 22.46; p < 10-6), female (OR: 1.8; p = 0.002), or treated for relapse (OR: 1.81; p = 0.041). They more frequently suffered from other sequelae (p < 10-6). Most necroses involved weight-bearing joints, and they were multifocal in 69% of cases. Double-blinded review of MRIs for 39 patients identified severe lesions in 14, usually in the hips. QoL of adolescents and adults was poor and permanently impacted after onset of ON. In conclusion, age >10 at time of AL diagnosis, female sex, and relapse occurrence were risk factors for multifocal ON; MRI revealed severe ON in a third of the patients considered; and ON was associated with persistently poor QoL affecting multiple domains. Future studies should include prospective data addressing ON management and seek to identify genetic markers for targeted screening enabling early ON detection and treatment.

Diagnostic performance of traditional radiographic indices in detection of carpal collapse in Kienböck's disease.

Correctly identifying carpal collapse is important for adequate treatment of Kienböck's disease. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of traditional radiographic indices in detecting carpal collapse to differentiate between Lichtman stages IIIa and IIIb. In 301 patients, carpal height ratio, revised carpal height ratio, Ståhl index and radioscaphoid angle were measured on plain radiographs by two blinded observers. As a reference standard, Lichtman stages were determined by an expert radiologist using CT and MR imaging. The interobserver agreement was excellent. In the differentiation between Lichtman stages IIIa and IIIb, measurements of indices showed moderate to good sensitivity (0.60-0.95) and low specificity (0.09-0.69) using normal cut-off values from the literature, while receiver operating curve analysis revealed poor area under the curve (58-66%). Traditional radiographic indices showed poor diagnostic performance in detecting carpal collapse in Kienböck's disease and did not reach sufficient accuracy in the differentiation between Lichtman stages IIIa and IIIb.Level of evidence: III.

Complete Femoral Osteonecrosis in the Setting of Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: A 76-year-old man was diagnosed with a hematological neoplasm combining myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative characteristics back in July 2021. Five months after the diagnosis, his condition got more severe when the blasts rose up to 14%, so he was started on hypomethylating agent-based therapy. A few weeks later, the patient was hospitalized after developing fever and a pain in the right thigh. To exclude any source of occult infection, an 18 F-FDG PET/CT was performed. FDG PET/CT showed a complete lack of metabolism in the right femur. An MRI and a biopsy confirmed the suspected diagnosis of osteonecrosis.

Process of Hard Palate Osteonecrosis Demonstrated on Serial 18F-FDG PET/CT Scans.

ABSTRACT: Osteonecrosis of the hard palate is rare. Here, we demonstrated the dynamic metabolic and structural changes during the process of osteonecrosis of the hard palate by serial 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in a patient with nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. On the baseline scan, increased FDG uptake in the periphery of the hard palate could be observed. On the following scans after treatment, a focal metabolic defect on the hard palate with no structural changes and with bone sequestration and perforation have been observed successively. Our case indicates that the metabolic defect on 18F-FDG PET/CT may be an early sign of osteonecrosis.

Hip resurfacing for small-sized osteonecrosis: 73 cases at a median 8years' follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Total hip resurfacing arthroplasty (THRA) is an alternative to conventional total hip replacement (THR) in young patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Series have been small, without criteria regarding extent of necrosis, thus vitiating results. We therefore conducted a retrospective assessment of THRA for small necrosis, to determine (1) implant survival, (2) functional scores, and (3) systemic chromium, cobalt and titanium ion concentrations. HYPOTHESIS: The study hypothesis was that the revision rate is low, meeting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criterion of<0.5% revision per year. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A single-center single-surgeon retrospective study included 62 patients, for 73 RTHAs, with a mean age of 45.6years (range: 23-68years) presenting Ficat stage 3 or 4 osteonecrosis of the femoral head with<330° total Kerboul angle (frontal+lateral angles) on simple preoperative X-ray. Study data comprised implant survival and preoperative and last follow-up functional scores (Postel-Merle-d'Aubigné, Oxford-12, Harris, and Devane) and titanium, chromium and cobalt blood concentrations. Necrosis size was assessed on preoperative Kerboul angle. RESULTS: At a median 8years' follow-up (IQR: 5.9-9.3years), implant survival was 98.6% (95% CI: 97.22-99.98%). Only 1 implant was exchanged, for femoral loosening. Three other patients underwent revision surgery: 2 cases of lavage for infection, and 1 muscle hernia repair. Postel-Merle-d'Aubigné, Oxford-12 and Harris functional scores and Devane activity scores were significantly improved at follow-up, by a median +5 (IQR: 5 to 7), -26 (IQR: -29 to -23), +55 (IQR: 49 to 61) and +1 (IQR: 1 to 2), respectively (all p<0.001). Ion concentrations at last follow-up for titanium, chromium and cobalt were respectively 4.0µg/L (range: 3.6-4.1), 1.1µg/L (range: 0.8-1.9) and 1.1µg/L (range: 0.6-1.8). CONCLUSION: THRA is a useful option in the long-term for young patients with osteonecrosis with Kerboul angle<330°. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.