Comparison of pre- and post-implantation of Indonesian-made plates in fracture patients: Functional, radiological, biomechanical and chemical analyses.

Bone implants are important in the recovery of fractures and degenerative diseases. Although many implants have been marketed, study on Indonesian-made plates is still limited. The aim of this study was to assess the patients' functional and radiological improvements and biomechanical and chemical changes of Indonesian-made plates used in long bone fractures. retrospective study was conducted at Semen Gresik Hospital, Gresik, Indonesia. This study included adult patients with long bone fractures who had surgeries with Indonesian plates. Functional improvement (assessed using disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) or lower extremity functional scale (LEFS)) and radiological data (assessed using radiographic union score (RUS)) were assessed in week 4 and month 6, 12, and 15 after surgery. Biomechanical changes (hardness and roughness test) and chemical analysis were assessed after 15 months of use. The normality of the data was tested with Shapiro-Wilk while data analysis was conducted using paired Student t-test or Friedman test as appropriate with type of data. Our data indicated that the DASH and LEFS functional scores had significant improvement over the follow-ups indicating functional recovery. RUS scores also improved over time, indicating a good healing process. Hardness tests on post-surgery implants showed a decrease in hardness of 7.3% and an increase of 3.3% in roughness. Chemical analysis showed a reduction in chemical levels in the implant of 7.8%, indicating durability and minimal toxicity. This study highlights that Indonesian implants have been proven safe to use in fractures. Further examinations with a larger sample and a longer duration of monitoring are recommended for stronger validity.

[Design and application of a device for radiographic projection of the tibio-astragalangeal mortise]. / Diseño y aplicación de dispositivo para proyección radiográfica de la mortaja tibio-astragalina.

INTRODUCTION: ligamentous injuries of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis resulting in its opening are common occurrences in traumatology; however, their diagnosis poses a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. The tibioastragaloid mortise radiograph view is the most commonly used method for diagnosing this type of injury, but its reliability is compromised due to variations in ankle positioning during the study, which often depend on the operator. OBJECTIVE: to demonstrate that the designed device achieves a correct and consistent radiographic image of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis in the mortise view. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we present a prospective, longitudinal, observational study. We designed a polypropylene device that maintains the ankle at 90 degrees of dorsiflexion and 15 degrees of internal rotation. The device was used to take mortise view radiographs of healthy ankles, and corresponding measurements were taken to assess the syndesmosis. RESULTS: we evaluated a total of 46 radiographs of healthy ankles, with a predominance of left ankles. The obtained measurements were as follows: anterior tibiofibular distance (ATFD) ranged from 3 to 6 mm, posterior tibiofibular distance (PTFD) ranged from 1 to 3 mm, tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) ranged from 2 to 3 mm, and a Merle D'Aubigne ratio of 2:1 was observed in all ankles. When comparing the measurements obtained with those established by Harper and Keller, no statistically significant difference was found (2 < 5). CONCLUSION: with the use of the designed device, we achieved a correct and consistent radiographic image of the mortise and the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.

INTRODUCCIÓN: las lesiones ligamentarias de la sindesmosis tibioperonea distal que ocasionan apertura de la misma son muy frecuentes en traumatología; sin embargo, su diagnóstico es un reto para el cirujano ortopedista. La radiografía de la mortaja tibioastragalina es el método más utilizado para el diagnóstico de este tipo de lesiones, pero es poco confiable ya que la posición del tobillo durante el estudio suele variar dependiendo del operador. OBJETIVO: demostrar que con el uso del dispositivo diseñado se logra una imagen radiográfica correcta y constante de la sindesmosis tibioperonea distal en la proyección de la mortaja. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio prospectivo, longitudinal y observacional. Diseñamos un dispositivo de polipropileno que mantiene el tobillo a 90 grados de dorsiflexión y rotación interna de 15 grados. Aplicamos el dispositivo para tomar radiografías de la mortaja en tobillos sanos y les realizamos las mediciones correspondientes para valorar la sindesmosis. RESULTADOS: valoramos un total de 46 radiografías de tobillos sanos, con un predominio de tobillos izquierdos. Las mediciones conseguidas fueron las siguientes: espacio tibioperoneo (ETP) de 3 a 6 mm, la superposición tibioperonea (STP) de 1 a 3 mm, espacio astrágalo-tibial medial (EATM) de 2 a 3 mm y una relación de Merle D'Aubigne de 2:1 en todos los tobillos. Al comparar las mediciones obtenidas con las establecidas por Harper y Keller, no se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (2 < 5). CONCLUSIÓN: con el uso del dispositivo diseñado, obtuvimos una correcta y constante imagen radiográfica de la mortaja y la sindesmosis tibioperonea distal.

A new and simple method for patellar height measurement: Fibula-condyle-patella angle.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the inter-observer reliability of fibula-condyle-patella angle measurements and to compare it with other measurement techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 01, 2023 and January 31, 2023, a total of 108 patients (20 males, 88 females; mean age: 47.5±12.0 years; range, 18 to 72 years) who underwent X-rays using the fibula-condyle-patella angle, Insall-Salvati, Caton-Deschamps, Blackburne-Pell, and plateau-patella angle (PPA) methods were retrospectively analyzed. Knee lateral radiographs taken in at least 30 degrees of flexion and appropriate rotation were scanned. All measurements were made by two orthopedic surgeons who were blinded to measurement methods. RESULTS: Right knee patellar height measurements were conducted in 56 patients, while left knee patellar heights were assessed in 52 patients. The highest inter-observer concordance was found in the fibula-condyle-patella angle. The second highest concordance was found in the Insall-Salvati. The highest concordance correlation was found with PPA in the measurements of both researchers. CONCLUSION: The fibula-condyle-patella angle is a reliable technique with a good inter-observer reliability for measuring patellar height. We believe that this study will inspire future research to establish comprehensive reference values for clinical applications.

Evaluation of a cadaveric wrist motion simulator using marker-based X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology.

Surgical intervention is a common option for the treatment of wrist joint arthritis and traumatic wrist injury. Whether this surgery is arthrodesis or a motion preserving procedure such as arthroplasty, wrist joint biomechanics are inevitably altered. To evaluate effects of surgery on parameters such as range of motion, efficiency and carpal kinematics, repeatable and controlled motion of cadaveric specimens is required. This study describes the development of a device that enables cadaveric wrist motion to be simulated before and after motion preserving surgery in a highly controlled manner. The simulator achieves joint motion through the application of predetermined displacements to the five major tendons of the wrist, and records tendon forces. A pilot experiment using six wrists aimed to evaluate its accuracy and reproducibility. Biplanar X-ray videoradiography (BPVR) and X-Ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) were used to measure overall wrist angles before and after total wrist arthroplasty. The simulator was able to produce flexion, extension, radioulnar deviation, dart thrower's motion and circumduction within previously reported functional ranges of motion. Pre- and post-surgical wrist angles did not significantly differ. Intra-specimen motion trials were repeatable; root mean square errors between individual trials and average wrist angle and tendon force profiles were below 1° and 2 N respectively. Inter-specimen variation was higher, likely due to anatomical variation and lack of wrist position feedback. In conclusion, combining repeatable intra-specimen cadaveric motion simulation with BPVR and XROMM can be used to determine potential effects of motion preserving surgeries on wrist range of motion and biomechanics.

Clinical, functional and radiographic long-term follow-up (7-12 years) of Birmingham Hip Resurfacing, including metal ions evaluation: a single surgeon series.

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) has been advocated as an attractive therapy for a younger, more demanding patient population with debilitating hip osteoarthritis. Controversies surrounding metal-on-metal (MoM) hip resurfacing have, however, led to a significant decline in the popularity of the HRA. Despite this, substantial evidence supports the use of specific implants in a selected group of patients. This is a continued retrospective analysis of a single surgeon series of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR). Initial medium-term analysis was done in 2011 and published by Van der Bracht et al.13. This analysis includes a long-term follow-up of 7 to 12 years, including functional scoring (HHS, HOOS and UCLA activity score), metal ion evaluation and survival analysis. Failure was defined as revision for any cause. A total of 267 resurfacing procedures with the BHR were included in 247 patients. We had a mean follow-up of 8.3 years. Overall survival at ten years was 94.8%(97.2% for males and 90.1% for females). There was a statistically significant increase in mean HHS score at follow-up (56.03 - IQR 47-65 to 96.07 - IQR 96-100). Elevated metal ions were correlated with a statistically significant increase in the probability of complications. This cohort study further proved that hip resurfacing arthroplasty with the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant provides a good alternative to conventional total hip arthroplasty in young patients. There was a significant increase in functional scores at follow-up. There is further evidence of less favorable outcomes in female patients.

Clavicular tunnel widening after acromioclavicular joint reconstruction: comparison between single and double clavicular tunnel techniques.

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) reconstruction using artificial ligaments is a common surgical treatment for Rockwood grade III or higher injuries. These techniques use bone tunnels in the clavicle and coracoid to insert the Tightrope implants. This multicenter retrospective study compares long term radiographic follow up of clavicular tunnel widening in two groups of patients with high-grade ACJ injury who underwent reconstruction using two different surgical techniques. The first group of 23 patients underwent an arthroscopic single clavicular tunnel ACJ reconstruction. The second group of 23 patiënts underwent an open double clavicular tunnel reconstruction. Inclusion criteria are Rockwood grade III or higher injury and minimum 18 months of follow-up. Exclusion criteria are distal clavicle fracture and additional stabilization techniques. Radiographic results were measured on anteroposterior shoulder radiographs taken at the first and last follow-up. Clavicular tunnel widening is the main outcome measurement. Secondary outcomes are heterotopic ligament calcifications, migration of buttons, tunnel fracture and loss of acromioclavicular reduction. The mean clavicular tunnel widening in the single clavicular tunnel technique is 1.91 mm. In the double clavicular tunnel technique, the widening of the medial tunnel is 2.52 mm and 3.59 mm in the lateral tunnel. The difference in widening between the single tunnel and the lateral tunnel is significant (p=0.003). A very clear observation on all follow-up X-rays was a reorientation of the clavicular tunnels towards the coracoid. The double clavicular tunnel technique has more tunnel widening in both tunnels compared to the single bundle technique.

Analysis on association between sagittal stem alignment and early functional and radiological outcome following primary cementless total hip replacement.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate reconstruction of hip anatomy and biomechanics is mandatory for achieving good clinical outcomes following total hip replacement (THR). Optimal stem alignment is essential to avoid impingement or loosening. This study aimed to evaluate sagittal stem position following cementless THR and its relationship with patient's functional outcome and post-operative radiological parameters. METHOD: We performed analytical observational study with cross-sectional design on 71 hips (67 patients, ranged 18-85 years old) that underwent primary cementless THR in two orthopedic centers in Jakarta, Indonesia. All hips were operated through either anterolateral or posterior approach using either extended/full-coating wedge-tapered stem or proximal-coated wedge-tapered stem. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at follow-up time using mHHS questionnaire, VAS level of thigh pain, and hip ROM. Stem sagittal alignment and other radiological parameters, including combined anteversion and offset, were measured from conventional radiograph. RESULTS: There were no significant differences on mHHS score, VAS level on thigh pain, and ROM between stem alignment groups. Post-operative anteversion and offset of the implant were not affected by the stem sagittal position. All influencing factors have significant effect on sagittal stem alignment. Linear regression test on femur morphology showed 0.69° increase in stem posterior tilt for every 1° increase in the anterior bowing (coeff. = 0.502). CONCLUSION: Stem tilting in sagittal plane did not affect patient's functional outcome or post-operative radiological parameters. In addition, for every degree of increased anterior femoral bowing, 0.69° increase in posterior stem tilting can be expected.

What effect does preoperative flexion contracture have on the component angles in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty?

PURPOSE: The indication for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has been extended to cases with some degree of preoperative knee flexion contracture recently. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of flexion contracture on component angles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five fixed-bearing UKAs using the spacer block technique with preoperative flexion contracture (Group FC) and 35 UKAs using the same technique without preoperative flexion contracture (Group NC) were included. Using radiographs, the coronal femoral component angle, coronal tibial component angle, sagittal femoral component angle, and sagittal tibial component angle were determined. Also, extension and flexion angles of the knee as well as coronal Hip-Knee-Ankle (HKA) angles in long-leg standing radiographs were measured. The data about the thickness of the selected insert were also collected. The above results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The femoral component tended to be placed in a more varus and flexed position in Group FC, while no significant difference was found about the tibial component angles. While there was no significant difference in pre- and postoperative knee flexion angles between the two groups, flexion contracture remained postoperatively in Group FC. Preoperative HKA angle was greater in Group FC while the difference was no longer significant postoperatively. Regarding the thickness of the selected insert, thicker inserts tended to be used in Group FC. CONCLUSIONS: In fixed-bearing UKA with the spacer block technique, the femoral component tended to be placed in a flexed and varus position in the knees with preoperative flexion contracture.

Diagnostic power of ChatGPT 4 in distal radius fracture detection through wrist radiographs.

Distal radius fractures rank among the most prevalent fractures in humans, necessitating accurate radiological imaging and interpretation for optimal diagnosis and treatment. In addition to human radiologists, artificial intelligence systems are increasingly employed for radiological assessments. Since 2023, ChatGPT 4 has offered image analysis capabilities, which can also be used for the analysis of wrist radiographs. This study evaluates the diagnostic power of ChatGPT 4 in identifying distal radius fractures, comparing it with a board-certified radiologist, a hand surgery resident, a medical student, and the well-established AI Gleamer BoneView™. Results demonstrate ChatGPT 4's good diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 0.88, specificity 0.98, diagnostic power (AUC) 0.93), surpassing the medical student (sensitivity 0.98, specificity 0.72, diagnostic power (AUC) 0.85; p = 0.04) significantly. Nevertheless, the diagnostic power of ChatGPT 4 lags behind the hand surgery resident (sensitivity 0.99, specificity 0.98, diagnostic power (AUC) 0.985; p = 0.014) and Gleamer BoneView™(sensitivity 1.00, specificity 0.98, diagnostic power (AUC) 0.99; p = 0.006). This study highlights the utility and potential applications of artificial intelligence in modern medicine, emphasizing ChatGPT 4 as a valuable tool for enhancing diagnostic capabilities in the field of medical imaging.

Do the humeral radiographic changes at 5-year follow-up affect the clinical outcomes of press-fit humeral stems in primary reverse shoulder arthroplasties?

INTRODUCTION: The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the functional outcomes and radiological changes around the press-fit humeral components in two contemporary medialized reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) systems at a minimum of 5-year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2003 and December 2015, 249 consecutive RTSAs were performed at our hospital. Of these, 68 primary uncemented RTSA met our inclusion criteria. The Constant-Murley score (CMS), the modified Constant score, a visual analog scale (VAS) and active shoulder range of motion (ROM) were measured pre- and postoperatively. Radiological assessment was performed by plain radiographs at a minimum of 5 years postoperatively. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 80.2 months, there was no significant difference (p = .59) between the postoperative functional scores and range of motion of the two groups (Delta Xtend and Lima SMR). Radiological data of stress-shielding were observed in 38 patients (55.9%) being slightly more frequent in the Lima SMR group (21 patients) than in the Delta Xtend group (17 patients) (p = .62). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the good functional results are similar between the two uncemented RTSA systems used and that they do not depend on the presence of radiological changes (stress-shielding) in the humeral stem at a minimum 5-year follow-up.

Spinal axial torque assessment after surgical correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a new approach to 3D barycentremetry and mass distribution based on biplanar radiographs.

PURPOSE: Barycentremetry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) allows the distribution of masses and their loading of the spine to be studied. In particular, the axial torque on the spine has been studied in AIS, but not after surgical correction. Spinal axial torque was studied in AIS before and after surgery. METHODS: All AIS (Lenke 1 and 3) who underwent posterior spinal fusion surgery at our center in 2019 were included retrospectively. AIS underwent frontal and sagittal biplanar radiographs in the free-standing position before surgery, 4 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up. Their spine and external envelope were reconstructed with validated methods. Spinal axial torque at the apex and the upper and lower end vertebra was calculated. Finally, the preoperative and postoperative values were compared to a previously published reference corridor for asymptomatic subjects. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included (54 ± 11° Cobb angle, 15 ± 2 years old at surgery). The surgical procedure decreased the Cobb angle by 36° ± 11° and decreased the spinal axial torque at the upper end vertebra by 2.5 N/m (95% CI = [1.9; 3]; p < 0.001), at the apex by 0.6 N/m (95% CI = [0.4; 1]; p = 0.004), at the lower end vertebra by 2 N/m (95% CI = [1.5; 2.8]; p < 0.001). Compared to 95th percentile of torque, which was previously evaluated in asymptomatic subjects, more than 90% of patients had higher values at the upper and lower end vertebrae before surgery. Postoperatively, 62% of patients still had higher torque at the upper end vertebra than asymptomatic subjects, while only 38% patients showed abnormal values at the lower junction. CONCLUSION: Results of this study confirm that AIS patients show abnormally high spinal axial torque, especially at the end vertebrae, and that this parameter is normalized postoperatively for only a small number of patients.

Radiologic, clinical, and functional evaluation of children with displaced T-condylar fractures treated by closed reduction and percutaneous fixation using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score.

PURPOSE: T-condylar (T-C) fractures of the distal humerus are rare in children. There is no accepted treatment for such an injury, and there is a lack of reports evaluating the outcome of T-C fractures treated by closed reduction and percutaneous fixation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire and screw (CRPKS) fixation in patients with type II and III T-C fractures according to the Toniolo-Wilkins classification modified by Canavese et al. (TWC classification). METHODS: The clinical data of 12 consecutive patients (8 males, 4 females) who were younger than 14 years of age and who had a T-C fracture that was managed by CRPKS were retrospectively evaluated. Fractures were classified according to the TWC classification. The baseline information of the patients, carrying angle (CA) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) were used to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes; related complications were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of injury was 11.6 ± 1.8 years (range, 8-14). The time from injury to surgical treatment was 1.5 ± 1.0 days (range, 0-3), and the mean follow-up duration was 33.7 ± 12.3 months (range, 18-61). Surgery lasted 45.7 ± 7.6 min on average (range, 35-58). All fractures healed in 4.9 ± 1.0 weeks on average (range, 4-7). At the last follow-up visit, the CA was 12.6° ± 5.8° on the injured side and 13.8° ± 1.8° on the uninjured side (p=0.432). The MEPS was 100 (95, 100) on the injured side and 100 (100, 100) on the uninjured side (p=0.194). Three complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: Good functional and radiological outcomes can be expected in pediatric patients with type II and III T-C fractures treated by CRPKS. The technique is relatively simple to perform and has a lower rate of complications.

Informe de caso: tuberculosis peritoneal en una mujer de 26 años simulando cáncer de ovario / Case report: peritoneal tuberculosis in a 26-year-old woman simulating ovarian cancer

Introducción: La tuberculosis peritoneal es una enfermedad reemergente, de evolución insidiosa y arduo diagnós- tico. La afectación peritoneal tiene una baja incidencia, afectando por igual ambos sexos figurando entre edades de 35 a 45 años. El alto índice de sospecha debe ser un factor importante en el diagnóstico precoz, para que una vez establecido, se pueda iniciar el tratamiento y disminuir las tasas de morbimortalidad. Descripción del caso clínico: Paciente de 26 años, con clínica inespecífica; dolor abdominal, ascitis y fiebre. Fue ingresada por servicio de medicina interna para abordaje etiológico de ascitis, posteriormente fue abordada como sospecha de cáncer de ovario, se presentó al servicio de cirugía quienes determinaron practicarle laparotomía y cuya biopsia intraoperatoria reporto hallazgos su- gestivos de tuberculosis peritoneal. Conclusión: La tuberculosis peritoneal es una enfermedad poco frecuente, las manifestaciones clínicas pueden sugerir la presencia de una enfermedad tumoral; la sospecha clínica es baja y en muchas ocasiones el diagnóstico es incidenta...(AU)

Compressive Sensing of Medical Images Based on HSV Color Space.

Recently, compressive sensing (CS) schemes have been studied as a new compression modality that exploits the sensing matrix in the measurement scheme and the reconstruction scheme to recover the compressed signal. In addition, CS is exploited in medical imaging (MI) to support efficient sampling, compression, transmission, and storage of a large amount of MI. Although CS of MI has been extensively investigated, the effect of color space in CS of MI has not yet been studied in the literature. To fulfill these requirements, this article proposes a novel CS of MI based on hue-saturation value (HSV), using spread spectrum Fourier sampling (SSFS) and sparsity averaging with reweighted analysis (SARA). An HSV loop that performs SSFS is proposed to obtain a compressed signal. Next, HSV-SARA is proposed to reconstruct MI from the compressed signal. A set of color MIs is investigated, such as colonoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and eye, and wireless capsule endoscopy images. Experiments were performed to show the superiority of HSV-SARA over benchmark methods in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), structural similarity (SSIM) index, and measurement rate (MR). The experiments showed that a color MI, with a resolution of 256×256 pixels, could be compressed by the proposed CS at MR of 0.1, and could be improved in terms of SNR being 15.17% and SSIM being 2.53%. The proposed HSV-SARA can be a solution for color medical image compression and sampling to improve the image acquisition of medical devices.

Radiographic findings in the coxofemoral joint of Australian Cattle Dogs / Achados radiográficos em articulação coxofemoral de cães da raça Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Cattle Dogs (ACD) are medium-sized animals widely used in fieldwork for managing cattle and sheep. There needs to be more information about the conditions these dogs can develop despite being well-characterized animals since the beginning of the 20th century. Hip dysplasia (HD) is a developmental abnormality between the femoral head and the acetabular fossa, which can be debilitating. However, the available literature has no studies on the prevalence of this condition in dogs of this breed. This study aimed to evaluate radiographs of ACD qualitatively and quantitatively. For this purpose, 49 dogs considered healthy without clinical signs of HD were radiographically assessed, and the animals were classified as dysplastic (D) and non-dysplastic (ND). A frequency of 46.9% of dysplastic dogs was observed, with males being more affected. The cortical index (CI) and angle of inclination (AI) could not differentiate D from ND animals; only the Norberg angle (NA) was effective in this differentiation. No correlation was observed between AI, CI, and AN.(AU)

Os cães da raça Autralian Cattle Dog (ACD) são animais de porte médio, muito utilizados no trabalho de campo para manejo de gado e ovelha. Apesar de serem animais bem caracterizados desde o início do século XX, há poucas informações sobre afecções que esses cães podem desenvolver. A displasia coxofemoral (DCF) é uma anormalidade do desenvolvimento entre a cabeça do fêmur e a fossa acetabular podendo ser debilitante. Contudo, não há estudos, na literatura disponível, sobre a prevalência desta afecção em cães dessa raça. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar qualitativamente e quantitativamente radiografias de cães da raça ACD. Para tanto, foram avaliados radiograficamente 49 cães considerados hígidos e sem sinais clínicos de DCF. Os animais foram classificados em displásicos (D) e não displásicos (ND). Observou-se a frequência de 46,9% de cães displásicos, sendo os machos mais acometidos. O índice cortical (IC) e o ângulo de inclinação (AI) não foram capazes de diferenciar os animais D dos ND, apenas o ângulo de Norberg (AN) foi eficaz nessa diferenciação. Não houve correlação entre AI, IC e AN.(AU)

Artritis reumatoide de la columna cervical: aspectos clave para el cirujano ortopédico / Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine: key aspects for the orthopedic surgeon

La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad inflamatoria autoinmune crónica que afecta con frecuencia a la columna cervical. El diagnóstico clínico de la afección cervical puede ser difícil; por lo tanto, se recomienda la evaluación radiográfica sistemática de todos los pacientes. El tratamiento oportuno de estas lesiones es importante para preservar la independencia, la función neurológica, e, incluso, la vida de los pacientes. Este artículo es una revisión actualizada de todos los aspectos de la artritis reumatoide de la columna cervical relevantes para el cirujano ortopédico.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that frequently affects the cervical spine. The clinical diagnosis can be difficult; therefore, a systematic radiographic evaluation of all patients is recommended. The timely treatment of these lesions is important to preserve the self-reliance, the neurological function, and even the lives of the patients. The present article is an update of all the aspects pertaining to cervical spine rheumatoid arthritis that are relevant to the orthopedic surgeon.

Estudio radiológico simple de quiste óseo simple y aneurismático: diagnóstico diferencial / Plain radiologic assessment of unicameral and aneurysmal bone cyst: differential diagnosis

OBJETIVO Dar a conocer nuestra experiencia en el diagnóstico diferencial de los quistes óseos simple y aneurismático mediante estudio radiológico simple. MATERIALES Y METODOS Se incluyeron pacientes menores de 20 años con radiografía de quiste óseo simple o aneurismático histológicamente confirmado pertenecientes al Registro Nacional de Tumores Óseos. Las radiografías fueron analizadas por dos radiólogos experimentados. Se compararon las variables demográficas de los pacientes, y las variables clínicas y radiológicas de ambos quistes. RESULTADOS Un total de 97 pacientes cumplieron los criterios de inclusión (65% presentaba quistes óseos simples y 35%, aneurismáticos). No se observaron diferencias en cuanto a la edad, al hueso comprometido, al tamaño de la lesión, a la expansión ósea, ni al adelgazamiento cortical. El género, la forma de presentación, la presencia de interrupción de la cortical, y la localización de la lesión en los ejes longitudinal y transversal del hueso son parámetros que podrían ser útiles en el diagnóstico diferencial de ambos quistes. DISCUSIÓN Los quistes óseos simple y aneurismático son lesiones benignas frecuentes que, de acuerdo con la literatura, serían difíciles de diferenciar únicamente con radiografía simple. La resonancia magnética permite una mejor caracterización anatómica, y aporta sensibilidad y especificidad al diagnóstico. Sin embargo, debe ser precedida por la radiografía simple, y su disponibilidad es limitada. CONCLUSIÓN Aun en centros con disponibilidad de resonancia magnética, la radiografía simple sigue siendo el estudio inicial de elección en el diagnóstico de tumores óseos. Ciertas características demográficas y radiográficas permiten orientar el diagnóstico diferencial inicial entre el quiste óseo simple y el aneurismático

OBJETIVE To describe our experience in the differential diagnosis of unicameral and aneurysmal bone cysts using plain radiography. PATIENCES AND METHODS We included patients under 20 years of age with radiographs of histologically-confirmed unicameral or aneurysmal bone cysts found on the Chilean National Bone-Tumor Registry. The radiographs were evaluated by two experienced radiologists. We compared the demographic variables of the patients, and the clinical and radiological variables of both tumors.. RESULTADOS A total of 97 patients met the inclusion criteria, 65% of whom had simple bone cysts, and 35%, aneurysmal bone cysts. No differences were found regarding age, the bone affected, the size of the lesion, bone expansion, nor cortical thinning. Gender, clinical presentation, cortical interruption, and location of the lesion on the longitudinal and transverse bone axes are parameters that could be used in the differential diagnosis of both cysts. DISCUSSION According to the literature, unicameral and aneurysmal bone cysts are frequent benign lesions that are difficult to differentiate merely through plain radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging enables a better anatomical characterization and provides sensitivity and specificity to the diagnosis. However, its availability is limited, and it should be preceded by plain radiography. CONCLUSION Plain radiography is still the initial imaging study of choice in patients with clinical suspicion of bone tumor, even in those centers where magnetic resonance imaging is available. Certain demographic and radiological characteristics guide physicians in the differential diagnosis of unicameral and aneurysmal bone cysts.

Radiographic evaluation of congruency of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in hallux valgus.

BACKGROUND: Congruency of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint is extremely important for the selection of surgical methods and prognosis, while radiographic evaluation methods are relatively lacking. The purpose of this article was to explore radiographic indicators for evaluating congruency of the first MTP joint. METHODS: We selected patients with hallux valgus who had a weightbearing X-ray in the outpatient system and measured their hallux valgus angle (HVA). In total, 183 cases of 245 feet with HVA greater than 15° were selected. The distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), metatarsophalangeal joint angle (MTPJA), congruency index (CI) and tibial sesamoid position (TSP) were measured and statistically analysed. RESULTS: The higher the degree of hallux valgus was, the higher the proportion of incongruency of the first MTP joint. Significant differences were found in the DMAA, MTPJA and CI between the congruency and incongruency groups of patients with moderate-to-severe hallux valgus (P < 0.05). The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for DMAA was 0.554 (P > 0.05). However, the MTPJA and CI were 0.906 and 0.884, the sensitivity values reached 0.791 and 0.949, the specificity values were 0.862 and 0.644, and the critical values were 10.67 and 0.765, respectively. The correlation test indicated that in the congruency group, the DMAA and HVA were positively correlated, but the MTPJA, CI and HVA had low correlation coefficients. The DMAA and HVA were not correlated in the incongruency group; however, the MTPJA and HVA were significantly positively correlated, and the CI and HVA showed a negative correlation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MTPJA and CI are indicators that can be used to quantitatively evaluate the congruency of the first MTP joint, taking 10° and 0.765 as the demarcation points, respectively. Clinically, congruency of the MTP joint should be considered when choosing surgical methods for different degrees of hallux valgus, and the MTPJA and CI can be used as quantitative evaluation indicators. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

Artificial intelligence-based classification of bone tumors in the proximal femur on plain radiographs: System development and validation.

PURPOSE: Early detection and classification of bone tumors in the proximal femur is crucial for their successful treatment. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to classify bone tumors in the proximal femur on plain radiographs. METHODS: Standard anteroposterior hip radiographs were obtained from a single tertiary referral center. A total of 538 femoral images were set for the AI model training, including 94 with malignant, 120 with benign, and 324 without tumors. The image data were pre-processed to be optimized for training of the deep learning model. The state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms were applied to pre-processed images to perform three-label classification (benign, malignant, or no tumor) on each femur. The performance of the CNN model was verified using fivefold cross-validation and was compared against that of four human doctors. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of the best performing CNN model for the three-label classification was 0.953 (95% confidence interval, 0.926-0.980). The diagnostic accuracy of the model (0.853) was significantly higher than that of the four doctors (0.794) (P = 0.001) and also that of each doctor individually (0.811, 0.796, 0.757, and 0.814, respectively) (P<0.05). The mean sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1 score of the CNN models were 0.822, 0.912, 0.829, and 0.822, respectively, whereas the mean values of four doctors were 0.751, 0.889, 0.762, and 0.797, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The AI-based model demonstrated high performance in classifying the presence of bone tumors in the proximal femur on plain radiographs. Our findings suggest that AI-based technology can potentially reduce the misdiagnosis of doctors who are not specialists in musculoskeletal oncology.

Analysis of critical report notification from musculoskeletal radiology in a tertiary academic medical institution with a regional trauma center.

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze the prevalence, causes, and clinical settings of 4-year critical radiologic reports (CRRs) notified from the musculoskeletal section of the radiology department. Then, we investigated the communication outcomes. METHODS: This study was approved by our institutional review board. We retrospectively included 175 musculoskeletal CRRs from our database between January 2017 and December 2020. The CRRs were analyzed by two musculoskeletal radiologists, who categorized the CRRs by clinical setting (emergency department(ED) patient, outpatient, and inpatient), body part, type of image modality, reason for CRR, incidental lesion, and clinical outcome. The clinical outcome was retrieved from the electronic medical records. RESULTS: The 175 musculoskeletal CRRs accounted for 5.4% of the CRRs (n = 3217) available in the study period. Most CRRs (94.9%, 166/175) corresponded to the musculoskeletal system, while the remaining ones (5.1%, 9/175) corresponded to the non-musculoskeletal system. In addition, the spine, extremities, and thoracic cage accounted for 52.6%, 40.6%, and 1.7% of the musculoskeletal CRRs, respectively. Moreover, most patients presented to the ED (50.3%, 88/175), followed by inpatients (30.9%, 54/175), and outpatients (18.9%, 33/175). The CRR reasons included missed fracture (54.3%), suspected malignancy (16%), clinical emergency (10.3%), unexpected infection/inflammation (11.4%), and others (8%). Furthermore, 11 (6.3%) incidental lesions were not related to the primary imaging purpose. Referring clinicians actively acknowledged 80% of the CRRs. The loss to follow-up action was the highest in the ED patients (35.2%, 31/88; p < 0.001), being significantly higher than that in outpatients (6.1%, 2/33) and inpatients (3.7%, 2/54). CONCLUSION: Missed fractures were the most common cause of musculoskeletal CRRs. ED showed prevalence in musculoskeletal CRRs and reflected the highest loss to follow-up action. ED physicians should pay more attention to CRRs to enhance patient care.