Pedobarographic evaluation of five commonly used orthoses for the lower extremity.

INTRODUCTION: Orthoses are designed to achieve immobilization or off-loading of certain regions of the foot. Yet, their off-loading capacity for the specific regions has not yet been studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the plantar pressure distribution of five commonly applied orthoses for foot and ankle in a healthy population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five orthoses (postoperative shoe, forefoot relief shoe, short walker boot, high walker boot, and calcaneus fracture orthosis) were compared pedobarographically using insoles on a treadmill to a ready-made running shoe in eleven healthy subjects (median age 29 years). Peak pressure, maximum force, force-time integral, contact time, and contact area were evaluated separately for the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot. RESULTS: The forefoot relief shoe, the short- and high walker boot significantly reduced the peak pressure at the forefoot with no significant differences between these orthoses. None of the five orthoses off-loaded the midfoot, but the calcaneus fracture orthosis and the short walker boot instead increased midfoot load. For the hindfoot, the calcaneus fracture orthosis was the only device to significantly reduce the peak pressure. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the specific off-loading capacities of different orthoses for specific foot regions in a healthy collective. The knowledge of absolute and relative load shifts for the different orthoses is of fundamental interest for targeted clinical decision-making of physicians.

[Transverse distraction osteogenesis : New chances for limb salvage?] / Transverse Kallusdistraktion : Neue Chancen für den Extremitätenerhalt?

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is a technique that can be successfully used to treat leg length discrepancies and to reconstruct long defects of bone. By gradual distraction of the bone fragments by approximately 1 mm per day, hypervascularization and an increased bone healing potential (growth stimulus) occur. So far, DO has almost exclusively been used longitudinally to generate new biologically active bone. Chronic wounds, ulcers and osteitis, especially in the region of the foot, are always a challenge for the treating surgeon, since treatment is tedious, the outcome uncertain and associated with possible loss of the extremity. Transverse distraction osteogenesis (tDO) now uses the growth stimulus of the DO translationally to treat distally located, chronic wounds and thus leads to accelerated wound healing. At the end of the 5­week treatment, the transversely distracted fragment, located far proximal to the chronic wound, is back in its original location. The biological stimulus has a long-lasting effect, longer than the tDO itself. Further investigations into the mechanisms of action and treatment outcomes of tDO are required. If the previous results are confirmed, tDO may become a game changer and enable the limb salvage for a large proportion of findings that previously required amputation.

[Minimally invasive treatment of serial metatarsal fractures by antegrade intramedullary K­wire osteosynthesis]. / Minimal-invasive Versorgung von Metatarsale-Serienfrakturen durch antegrade intramedulläre K­Draht-Osteosynthesen.

Serial fractures of metatarsal bones are rare and usually caused by direct or indirect high-energy trauma; however, in cases of pre-existing diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, they also can occur spontaneously or as insidious fractures. Due to the substantial soft tissue swelling mostly associated with such injuries, minimally invasive osteosynthesis with intramedullary Kirschner-wires (K­wires) is recommended. The antegrade technique for placement of the K­wires is preferred as the technically simpler retrograde procedure has several significant disadvantages. The preferred operative approach is described in detail exemplified by two clinical cases.

[Typical injuries in snowboarding. Possible prevention strategies]. / Typische Verletzungsmuster im Snowboardsport. Mögliche Maßnahmen zur Prävention.

Due to the specific position on a snowboard, crashes often result in snowboard-specific injuries. As snowboarding nowadays represents a mass sport, treatment of injured snowboarders is becoming common clinical practice. Optimal treatment makes knowledge about snowboard-specific injuries and their underlying mechanisms mandatory. The upper extremities are most frequently affected, with the most frequent injury being the distal radius fracture. Because especially beginners are more often injured, prevention strategies seem to be promising. It was demonstrated that wrist-protection guards are able to decrease the risk of suffering a distal radius fracture. Moreover, use of a helmet was also shown to be protective. Against this background, wearing protective gear such as wrist guards and helmets is strongly recommended to decrease injury severity and frequency.

[Bony injuries of the shoulder girdle in snowboarding]. / Schultergelenknahe knöcherne Verletzungen beim Snowboarden.

BACKGROUND: The fracture of the clavicle is the second most common fracture in snowboarding after the distal radius fracture. Nonsurgical treatment is frequently the treatment of first choice. For displaced fractures, surgical treatment is recommended. METHODS: In general, internal fixation can be performed with a plate osteosynthesis or an intramedullary nail. Clinical studies were able to show similar and even slightly better functional results of the intramedullary nail in comparison to plate osteosynthesis. Because of less surgical trauma and better cosmetic results, intramedullary systems are increasingly preferred. RESULTS: Lateral clavicular fractures are more complex regarding surgical treatment due to their potential for concomitant ligamentous injuries. The hooked plate shows good clinical results with the advantage of addressing the fracture as well as the ligament injury in one step. The limitation of mobility during the first few postoperative weeks is the technique's main disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Ligament reconstruction with suture pulley systems as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with a locking plate osteosythesis are increasingly used due to their excellent clinical results with early postoperative mobilization.

A new 3D software for analysis and planning of lower limb and patellofemoral alignment: Reliability and accuracy.

BACKGROUND: The new software, mediCAD® 3D Knee Sport (mediCAD Hectec GmbH, Altdorf/Landshut, Germany), promises to combine automated digital 3D bone model generation, 3D analysis of lower limb geometry including analysis of the patellofemoral joint, and osteotomy planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate its reliability and accuracy. METHODS: In this retrospective multi-observer study, three post-mortem CTs were analysed by three observers at three points in time. Reliability was evaluated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of interobserver agreement. Accuracy was evaluated using the mean deviation D from the mean and the standard deviation SD from D. RESULTS: Ten of 18 alignment parameters showed excellent, two good and three moderate interobserver agreement. Poor agreement was found for the mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, the trochlear sulcus angle and trochlea depth. Mean interobserver ICC of all parameters ranged from 0.32 to 0.99. Fifteen of 18 parameters showed a low mean deviation D from the mean of < 2 mm / 2°. Three parameters related to the patellofemoral joint showed medium or high D (patella tilt, trochlear sulcus angle, patellar ridge angle). These parameters also showed the highest values for the SD of D. The trochlear sulcus angle was found to be the only parameter with high mean deviation (D ≥ 5 mm/5°) with D being 5.67 ± 3.23°. CONCLUSIONS: The current version of the software achieves good interobserver reliability and accuracy with the exception of a few measurement parameters.

Non-resorbing osteoclasts induce migration and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Osteoclast activity has traditionally been regarded as restricted to bone resorption but there is some evidence that also non-resorbing osteoclasts might influence osteoblast activity. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the hypothesis of an anabolic function of non-resorbing osteoclasts by investigating their capability to recruit mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and to provoke their differentiation toward the osteogenic lineage. Bone-marrow-derived human MSC were exposed to conditioned media (CM) derived from non-resorbing osteoclast cultures, which were generated from human peripheral blood monocytes. Osteogenic marker genes (transcription factor Runx2, bone sialoprotein, alkaline phosphatase (AP), and osteopontin) were significantly increased. Osteogenic differentiation (OD) was also proved by von Kossa and AP staining occurred in the same range as in MSC cultures stimulated with osteogenic supplements. Chemotactic responses of MSC were measured with a modified Boyden chamber assay. CM from osteoclast cultures induced a strong migratory response in MSC, which was greatly reduced in the presence of an anti-human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor beta antibody. Correspondingly, significantly increased PDGF-BB concentrations were measured in the CM using a PDGF-BB immunoassay. CM derived from mononuclear cell cultures did not provoke MSC differentiation and had a significantly lower migratory effect on MSC suggesting that the effects were specifically mediated by osteoclasts. In conclusion, it can be suggested that human non-resorbing osteoclasts induce migration and OD of MSC. While effects on MSC migration might be mainly due to PDGF-BB, the factors inducing OD remain to be elucidated.

Outcome after surgical treatment of fragility ankle fractures in a certified orthogeriatric trauma center.

INTRODUCTION: Orthogeriatric ankle fractures seem to play an essential role in terms of quality of life in the elderly. Knowledge of the outcome after orthogeriatric ankle fractures is sparse. The present study investigates the outcome after surgically treated ankle fractures at a certified orthogeriatric trauma center. MATERIAL & METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed investigating the outcome of surgically treated ankle fractures in orthogeriatric patients between 2015-2017. Outcome parameters included but were not limited to the EQ-5D 3 L, Barthel Index, Karlsson Score and the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Housing situation and mobility were evaluated and potential associations to the fracture pattern and the related treatment strategy were investigated. RESULTS: In total, 58 patients were included (age 77.7 ±â€¯6,2 years). The majority were AO-44 B2 fractures (72%). General outcome was related to the Parker score; a Parker Score of 9 prior surgery was independently associated with an improved outcome according to the EQ-5D 3 L and Barthel Index. Patients under 80 years of age also had better results. Place of residence did not significantly change after surgery. Neither different types of implants nor initial use of an external fixator (e.g. open fractures) did influence outcome. A wound healing impairment was found in 10% of our patients whereas the overall unplanned reoperation rate was 7%. Overall complication rate was 20%, one-year mortality was 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgically treated ankle fractures in the elderly which are treated in a certified geriatric fracture center seem to have limited negative effect on their quality of life. We did not observe the otherwise often demonstrated high mortality rates, but still nearly half of the patients demonstrated perioperative complications, which emphasizes the need for optimal perioperative care at an orthogeriatric trauma center. Since there was a reasonable number of patients with wound healing issues this study supports the idea of a staged protocol using external fixation with secondary ORIF.

35 m Vertical Free Fall: How Impact Surface Influences Survival.

We describe the accidental free fall of a 23-year-old construction worker, who fell 13 stories (approximately 35 meters) from a false work landing on a toilet container. On impact he broke through the roof of the container, which attenuated his fall and made his survival possible. The patient sustained a central spleen rupture, liver laceration, subdural hematoma, blunt thoracic trauma with a left-sided hematothorax and right-sided pneumothorax with serial bilateral rib fractures, and an unstable fracture of the 10th thoracic vertebra. Two thoracic drainages were inserted in the emergency department before the patient underwent emergency surgery for the management of his intra-abdominal injuries. On the third day after trauma the unstable fracture of the 10th thoracic vertebra was stabilized with an internal fixator. Following extubation on day 8 after trauma the patient did not show any peripheral neurological deficits but cerebral affection with a general slowdown. After only 21 days, the patient was discharged from the hospital to a rehabilitation center where work specific rehabilitation was started. Although the patient is not suffering from physical afflictions from the injury his daily life abilities are still limited due to cerebral damage.