[Surgical revision for complications after gamma3-nailing osteosynthesis of proximal humeral fractures : Follow-up series of 1500 patients]. / Operative Revisionen bei Komplikationen nach Gamma3-Nagel-Osteosynthese hüftnaher Frakturen : Follow-up-Serie über 1500 Patienten.

BACKGROUND: The γ­nailing system is a widespread intramedullary therapeutic option that has been used for intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures since the late 1980s; however, some reports from the 1990s describing femoral shaft fractures questioned the indications for this system in simple fracture types. Due to increasing numbers of patients treated with this system, the complication rate is continuously falling as confirmed by many recent studies. OBJECTIVE: Between 2008 and 2013 a total of 1500 operations using the γ­nailing system were performed at this traumatology department. The standard 200 mm nail was used in 1290 cases and the extended system available from 340 to 440 mm in 210 cases. The aim of this study was to record the excellent results using the standard γ­nailing system and to confirm the indications of the long intramedullary nailing system (Gamma3®) also for use in complex intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All 1500 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Information on epidemiological data, intraoperative and postoperative complications and patient outcome was retrieved from the digital patient medical history. All available radiographs were assessed by a single traumatologist. RESULTS: The results showed a low complication rate of 5% for surgical complications, mainly caused by cutting out in 34.66%, followed by hematomas in 21.33% and fractures of the nail in 16%. A comparison of the standard and long nailing systems could be carried out, showing a complication rate of 3.64% for the standard system compared to 13.33% for the long γ­nail system. CONCLUSION: The γ­nailing system is a safe treatment option for trochanteric femoral fractures and failure of the implant is associated with high biomechanical forces in unstable fractures. A low complication rate is linked to a thorough surgical technique under consideration of a correct positioning of the implant.

Cartilage repair of the ankle: first results of T2 mapping at 7.0 T after microfracture and matrix associated autologous cartilage transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Both microfracture (MFX) and matrix associated autologous cartilage transplantation (MACT) are currently used to treat cartilage defects of the talus. T2 mapping of the ankle at 7 T has the potential to assess the collagen fibril network organization of the native hyaline cartilage and of the repair tissue (RT). This study provides first results regarding the properties of cartilage RT after MFX (mean follow-up: 113.8 months) and MACT (65.4 months). METHODS: A multi-echo spin-echo sequence was used at 7 T to assess T2 maps in 10 volunteer cases, and in 10 cases after MFX and MACT each. Proton weighted morphological images and clinical data were used to ensure comparable baseline criteria. RESULTS: A significant zonal variation of T2 was found in the volunteers. T2 of the superficial and the deep layer was 39.3 ± 5.9 ms and 21.1 ± 3.1 ms (zonal T2 index calculated by superficial T2/deep T2: 1.87 ± 0.2, P < 0.001). In MFX, T2 of the reference cartilage was 37.4 ± 5.0 ms and 25.3 ± 3.5 ms (1.51 ± 0.3, P < 0.001). In the RT, T2 was 43.4 ± 10.5 ms and 36.3 ± 7.7 ms (1.20 ± 0.2, P = 0.009). In MACT, T2 of the reference cartilage was 39.0 ± 9.1 ms and 27.1 ± 6.6 ms (1.45 ± 0.2, P < 0.001). In the RT, T2 was 44.6 ± 10.4 ms and 38.6 ± 7.3 ms (1.15 ± 0.1, P = 0.003). The zonal RT T2 variation differed significantly from the reference cartilage in both techniques (MFX: P = 0.004, MACT: P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: T2 mapping at 7 T allows for the quantitative assessment of the collagen network organization of the talus. MACT and MFX yielded RT with comparable T2 properties.

Assessment of articular cartilage repair tissue after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation or the microfracture technique in the ankle joint using diffusion-weighted imaging at 3 Tesla.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare patients after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT) and microfracture therapy (MFX) of the talus using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), with morphological and clinical scoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients treated with MACT or MFX (10 per group) were examined using 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 48 ± 21.5 and 59.6 ± 23 months after surgery, respectively. For comparability, patients from each group were matched by age, body mass index, and follow-up. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score served as clinical assessment tool pre- and postoperatively. DWI was obtained using a partially balanced, steady-state gradient echo pulse sequence, as well as the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score, based on a 2D proton density-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence and a 3D isotropic true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequence. Semi-quantitative diffusion quotients were calculated after region of interest analysis of repair tissue (RT) and healthy control cartilage, and compared among both groups. RESULTS: The mean AOFAS score improved significantly (P = 0.001) for both groups (MACT: 48.8 ± 20.4-83.6 ± 9.7; MFX: 44.3 ± 16.5-77.6 ± 13.2). No differences in the AOFAS (P = 0.327) and MOCART (P = 0.720) score were observed between MACT and MFX postoperatively. DWI distinguished between healthy cartilage and cartilage RT in the MFX group (P = 0.016), but not after MACT treatment (P = 0.105). Significant correlations were found between MOCART score and DWI index after MFX (Pearson: -0.648; P = 0.043), and between the diffusivity and longer follow-up interval in MACT group (Pearson: -0.647, P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Whereas conventional scores reveal a similar outcome after MACT or MFX treatment in the ankle joint, DWI was able to distinguish between different RT qualities, as reported histologically for these diverse surgical procedures.

Microfracture in the Ankle: Clinical Results and MRI with T2-Mapping at 3.0 T after 1 to 8 Years.

BACKGROUND: Microfracture (MFX) is frequently used to treat deep cartilage defects in the ankle; however, the data on repair tissue (RT) quality after MFX are very limited at this time. T2-mapping at 3 T has been optimized for the ankle and can be used to noninvasively evaluate cartilage collagen and water content. The aim of this study was to determine if the RT after MFX in the ankle had T2 properties similar to the adjacent reference cartilage (RC). METHODS: Fourteen cases after MFX in the ankle were assessed with morphological MRI and T2-mapping at 3 T. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and a modified Cinicinnati Knee Rating System rating were used to evaluate the clinical outcome. The MRI protocol included a 3-dimensional sequence and a proton-density sequence for morphological evaluation and a multiecho spin echo sequence for T2-mapping. Region of interest analyses were carried out in accordance with the morphological images to ensure complete coverage of the defect site. RESULTS: Both clinical scores demonstrated significant improvement at the time of the MR examination (P < 0.001). RT T2 was 49.3 ± 10.1 (range, 35.7-69.3) milliseconds, and RC T2 was 49.9 ± 8.2 (range, 38.4-63.7) milliseconds (P = 0.838). Relative T2 (rT2) was 1.00 ± 0.20 (range, 0.72-1.36). CONCLUSION: MFX in the ankle can provide RT with T2 properties similar to adjacent cartilage.

Use of a statewide Maternal and Child Health Information Network.

The Maternal and Child Health Information Network (MATCH) contains numerous data elements. The process of converting these data into information is an essential component of comprehensive management information system planning. This process must address not only the end-user mechanics of data retrieval, but also the framework for how data can be used in program administration. Although potential data use contributes to and may in fact drive system design, the reality of integrating computer and data usage into daily activities presents a different set of challenges in system implementation. For both state and local end-users, barriers to system use had to be addressed. In terms of directing system use, it was helpful to provide a format for categorizing data needs. The broad categories of data needs identified for program administration were planning, research, evaluation, management, and collaboration. Numerous initiatives have evolved for each of these categories.