The natural history of alpha angle in the last seventeen centuries.

INTRODUCTION: Hip osteoarthritis is one of the most important and debilitating diseases affecting thousands of people all over the world. On the other hand, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is one of the known important causes of hip osteoarthritis. Cam deformity frequently presents in FAI showing an increased alpha angle. Increased alpha angle has been observed among young patients involved in demanding physical activities such as in sports (40-60%), whereas among the non-athletic population, increased alpha angle was observed in 15-20%. Although femoroacetabular pathology has been described over the recent years, it is not possible to determine when the angle increase actually begins prior to diagnosis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the femoral alpha angle in different human femurs in different civilization eras in West Mediterranean area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Available ancient femurs were selected from the Collection Center belonging to the archeological archives (ancient necropolis) from the fourth, fourteenth and eighteenth centuries. A comparison of the alpha angle was made of the measurements from the different groups accompanied by a sample of present-day femurs from the radiology database of CT scans. Data from 243 femoral bones were collected, 50 of which from the fourth century, 26 from the fourteenth century, 68 from the eighteenth century, and 99 femurs from the 20/twenty-first century. RESULTS: Alpha angles in all historical samples showed pathological values (> 55º) up to a maximum of 11.5% of the cases. Meanwhile, the actual series showed pathological alpha angle in 60.1% of the cases with statistical significant differences. CONCLUSION: The studied femurs of the western Mediterranean region from the fourth, fourteenth and eighteenth centuries showed pathological alpha angles in a smaller proportion than the actual sample. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective studies.

Author Correction: Precision and safety of Multilevel Cervical Transpedicular Screw Fixation with 3D Patient-Specific Guides; A Cadaveric Study.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Radiation Exposure from Fluoroscopy during Hip Arthroscopy.

Objective Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement treatment is a procedure that is not exempted from complications. The most common complications are related to the arthroscopic portals and the traction system. The use of fluoroscopy helps in hip arthroscopy; however, the radiation exposure is a risk that has not yet been studied. Materials and Methods A retrospective study with 100 arthroscopies was performed. Surgical indication in all cases was femoroacetabular impingement. Surgical times and radiation exposure during the procedure had been recorded and reviewed for the present study. Results A mean of 138.20 cGy cm 2 radiation exposures was observed per patient and procedure for a mean time of radiation exposure of 0.36 minutes. These values are much lower than the values described as being at risk by the nuclear security commissions. Conclusions Radiation exposure in a hip arthroscopy due to femoroacetabular impingement is in margins well below the limits at risk for the patient.

Precision and safety of Multilevel Cervical Transpedicular Screw Fixation with 3D Patient-Specific Guides; A Cadaveric Study.

The aim is to design a patient-specific instrument (PSI) for multilevel cervical pedicle screw placement from C2 to C7, as well as verifying reliability and reproducibility. Computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained from 7 cadaveric cervical spines. Using Mimics software, semiautomatic segmentation was performed for each cervical spine, designing a 3D cervical spine bone model in order to plan transpedicular screw fixation. A PSI was designed according to the previously cited with two cannulated chimneys to guide the drill. The guides were 3D printed and surgeries performed at the laboratory. Postoperative scans were obtained to study screw placement. Sixty-eight transpedicular screws were available for study. 61.8% of all screws were within the pedicle or partially breached <4 mm. No differences were observed between cervical levels. None of these screws had neurovascular injury. Of the 27 screws with a grade 3 (screw outside the pedicle; 39.7%), only 2 had perforation of the transverse foramen and none of them would have caused a neural injury. In conclusion, multilevel PSI for cervical pedicle screw is a promising technology that despite showing improvements regarding free-hand technique requires further studies to improve the positioning of the PSI and their accuracy.

Effects of autologous adipose-derived regenerative stem cells administered at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on knee function and graft healing.

PURPOSE: To compare the healing and clinical outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction between patients with or without intraoperative administration of adipose-derived regenerative stem cells (ADRC). METHODS: Between 2013 and 2014, the outcomes of 20 soccer players undergoing ACL reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft infiltrated with ADRC at the end of the procedure were compared to a historical, matched cohort of 19 soccer players undergoing the same procedure without ADRC. Outcomes were obtained at baseline, and 6 and 12 months postop for IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee), Lysholm, and Lequesne, and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months postop for VAS (visual analogue scale) for pain and graft maturation to evaluate the ligamentization process (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based). RESULTS: Both groups significantly improved the IKDC (p < 0.001 in both groups), Lysholm (p < 0.001 in both groups), Lequesne index (p < 0.001 in both groups), VAS for pain (p = 0.002 for the ADRC and p < 0.001 for the control group), and MRI scores (p < 0.001 in both groups) in the 12 months postop compared to baseline scores. However, there were no significant differences in the improvement of the outcomes between groups across time (p > 0.05). All patients returned to sports after surgery, but 8 (40%) patients in the ADRC and 13 (68.4%) patients in the control group had lower Tegner activity score at 12 months postop. CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving ADRC at the time of ACL reconstruction significantly improved knee function and healing/maturation of the graft at 12 months. However, this improvement was not statistically significant compared to a control group undergoing ACL reconstruction alone.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of patellar tendon graft remodelling after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with or without platelet-rich plasma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the stages of patellar tendon graft remodelling using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with or without platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. METHODS: 98 patients aged 18 to 65 years with complete rupture of the ACL were randomised to undergo reconstruction with the autologous patellar tendon grafts with or without PRP injection. For the PRP group, 8 ml of PRP was obtained in the surgery room and was percutaneously injected into the suprapatellar joint after portal suture. MRI was obtained at months 4, 6, and 12. Remodelling stages of the grafts were classified as hypointense, mildly hyperintense, moderately hyperintense, severely hyperintense, and diffusely hyperintense by a radiologist blinded to treatment allocation. RESULTS: More patients in the PRP group than controls attained higher stages of remodelling at month 4 (p=0.003), month 6 (p=0.0001), and month 12 (p=0.354). CONCLUSION: PRP enabled faster remodelling of patellar tendon grafts.

Intratendinous gouty tophus mimics patellar tendonitis in an athlete.

We describe the imaging and pathologic features of a case of intratendinous patellar gouty tophus incidentally discovered in a patient with knee pain. The possibility of intratendinous gouty tophus must be kept in mind by sports physicians, especially in the management of patellar tendinopathy in athletes. It may be associated with other injuries, such as enthesopathies or partial tendon tears.

Treatment of fractures of the tibial tuberosity in adolescent soccer players.

Fractures of the tibial tuberosity are uncommon injuries that mainly occur in 14 to 16 year-old adolescents involved in sports activities. The mechanism of injury is related to jumping while practicing sports. This retrospective study presents the outcome of fractures of the tibial tuberosity in a series of 18 adolescent soccer players treated with the same surgical technique in one center. The hypothesis was that our surgical technique with two parallel screws, one proximal and one distal to the physis, avoids physis injury and has no repercussions on growth. The average age was 14.7 years. All patients were male. The fractures included 4 type IIA, 3 type IIB, 6 type IIIA, and 5 type IIIB (Ogden classification). All patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation consisting of screw placement parallel to the joint surface, sparing the tibial physis. There were no complications in any case, and all patients were able to resume their previous sports activities. The technique used appeared to be safe. Screws were removed in 8 patients owing to local discomfort. All patients achieved the same competition level as before the injury.

Retromammary fluid collection as a late complication of breast implants: magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Imaging examinations, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play an important role in the diagnosis of breast implant complications. Two cases of retroprosthetic serous-like fluid collection, an unusual late complication that has not been described previously in the literature, are presented. It is important for radiologists to know the MRI findings of this complication, which suggest the correct diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary additional procedures.

Vena innominada anómala y arco aórtico derecho, una asociación infrecuente que debe conocerse / Abnormal innominate vein and right aortic arch, an uncommon association that should be taken into account

Se presenta un caso de vena innominada anómala asociada a arco aórtico derecho y arteria subclavia izquierda aberrante, hallazgo casual a raíz del estudio radiológico de un varón de ocho años de edad por sospecha de tuberculosis.Se revisan las diferentes teorías etiológicas, los signos radiológicos y la trascendencia diagnóstica de esta infrecuente anomalía venosa, así como su relación con otras anomalías cardiovasculares (AU)