Influence of varus/valgus positioning of the Nanos® and Metha® short-stemmed prostheses on stress shielding of metaphyseal bone.

The aim of this study was to analyze bone remodeling around the Nanos® (Smith & Nephew) and Metha® (Aesculap AG) implants as a function of varus/valgus stem positioning. In 75 patients with diagnosed coxarthrosis, either Nanos® (n= 51) or Metha® (n= 24) prostheses were implanted. Digital assessment of plain radiographs immediately, 97 days, and 381 days after THA showed no clinically-relevant migration, angulation, or change in offset and center of rotation. The DEXA scans showed significant BMD changes in Gruen zones 1 (-12.8%), 2 (-3.3%), 6 (+6.4%), and 7(-7.8%)(t-test). The pre/postoperative CCD for the Nanos® was 129°/ 135° and for the Metha® 131°/ 127°. Linear regression analysis showed no prediction for BMD by postoperative CCD or stem type. In conclusion, there was no clinically-relevant influence on proximal femur BMD according to varus/valgus implantation of the Nanos® or Metha® prostheses.

[Multimodality therapy concepts for soft tissue sarcomas]. / Multimodale Therapiekonzepte bei Weichteilsarkomen.

Despite the fact that soft tissue sarcomas are representing a rare tumor entity with a low incidence rate of about 2-4 per 100,000 per year, they highly require a multimodality therapeutic approach. Based on a reference pathology a complete surgical resection is the first treatment goal. After accomplished R0 resection the local relapse rate can be further decreased by an adjuvant radiotherapy. For primarily irresectable or only partially respectable tumors a neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with regional hyperthermia should be considered. Patients with metastasized soft tissue sarcomas should receive an anthracyclin-based chemotherapy in a palliative intention. Prognostically more favorable are gastrointestinal stroma tumor, also in advanced stages with metastases, since the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib and sunitinib can induce durable remissions.

Influence of cervical spine stabilization via Stiff Neck on the postural system in healthy patients: compensation or decompensation of the postural system?

Functional and structural disorders of the cervical spine are often regarded as the cause of non-specific vertigo. Pathogenetically, disorders of proprioceptive connections between neck muscles and vestibular cores as well as the proprioceptors in the cervical facette joints are presumed. According to a study by Hülse and Hölzl (HNO 48:295-301, 1), after manual therapeutic intervention in patients with functional disorders of the cervical spine 50% of the probands stated a significant reduction of their vertigo. This was backed up in posturography, which documented an improvement in vestibulospinal reactions. To date, the effects of artificial as well as surgical stabilization of the cervical spine on the balance system have not been explored yet. In a first pilot study, we examined the influence of artificial stabilization of the cervical spine via cervical collar Stiff Neck, manufactured by Ambu/Perfit ACE] on the balance system of 20 healthy probands. For this purpose, a posturography (Balance Master Systems, NeuroCom, Clackamas, OR, USA) was applied to 20 healthy probands (10 males, 10 females) with a mean age of 35 years who had no prior spine pathology. Posturography was analyzed under static and dynamic test situations with and without Stiff Neck cervical collar. The results were compared statistically to the Wilcoxon test. In the static test situation of the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance, a significantly improved standing stability occurred. In none of the dynamic tests did fixation of the cervical spine by Stiff Neck cuff lead to a measurable impairment of the movement coordination. All probands felt subjectively more stable when wearing the Stiff Neck. In healthy probands, a fixation of the cervical spine leads to a stabilization of the postural balance situation. This fixation seems to be helpful in compensating the malfunction of other components of balance information. In a next step, this same model of analysis is applied to patients with cervical instability. Standing stability and movement coordination before and after cervical fusion are being explored.

Treatment of spondylodiscitis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a comparison of conservative and operative therapy.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To determine relevant clinical presentation and outcome of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with spondylodiscitis as a function of the treatment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: This is the first study comparing the clinical outcome of HIV-positive patients with spondylodiscitis as a function of the treatment. METHODS: We performed a national multicenter retrospective case series comparing operatively versus conservatively treated HIV-positive patients with spondylodiscitis presenting between 1991 and 2007. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included in the study. The average age of the patients at the time of admission was 43.0 years. The sex ratio m:w resulted in 2.3:1. On admission, 50% of the patients were in CDC stage C3. The CD4 T-cell count was determined as being 237.5/microL on average. At the occurrence of spondylodiscitis HIV had been known for a mean 8.5 years. In altogether 75% of the cases a pathogen was found. In 3 cases, mixed infections were present. Half of the patients received surgery. In none of these patients a wound infection or a delay of wound healing could be observed. One patient died during in-patient stay. Eleven of the 19 patients could be followed up a mean 13 months after discharge. In the follow-up period further 3 patients died on an average of 45 months after discharge. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of spondylodiscitis in HIV-positive patients is associated with a low CD4 T-cell count. The probability of mixed infections rises with a CD4 T-cell count <100/microL. The occurrence of spondylodiscitis in HIV-positive patients is accompanied by high mortality. Operative therapy of spondylodiscitis in HIV-positive patients is not associated with an increased surgical complication rate. HIV infection or AIDS should not have an influence on decision-making regarding conservative or operative therapy of spondylodiscitis.

[Spinal surgery in the elderly: does age have an influence on the complication rate?]. / Wirbelsäulenchirurgie bei Patienten in höherem Lebensalter: Sind operative Eingriffe an der alternden Wirbelsäule komplikationsträchtig?

In accordance with the demographic trend, the number of elderly patients with spinal diseases which require surgery will increase continuously. Up to now, age has often been regarded as a contraindication for an elective operation. However, a review of the existing literature, the results of the European spine register "Spine Tango" and our own results show that the rate of complications after minimally invasive spinal surgery is as low in the elderly as it is in the younger population. But the higher the complexity of surgery, the higher the rate of complications with increasing age. However, even elderly (>65 years) and very elderly (>80 years) patients seem to benefit from surgical treatment, independent of the extent of spinal surgery. Because chronic pain leads to physical limitations, an impaired quality of life as well as a declined state of health, and because surgery can significantly improve these factors, even while remaining aware of the operational risks, age itself should not be considered as a contraindication for spinal surgery.

[Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis--is there really an inverse relation?]. / Arthrose und Osteoporose -- Wirklich eine inverse Relation?

OBJECTIVE: Increasing bone mineral density (BMD) has been found in several studies in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, the simultaneous occurrence of osteoporosis (OP) and OA is denied by many clinicians. Because of our clinical impression, however, we suggest that we have to consider a common occurrence. In the present study we have examined the relationship between osteoathritis of the knee or the hip and osteoporosis. METHOD: The BMD of the lumbar spine and the proximal femur of 117 OA patients (82 postmenopausal female patients aged 50-83 and 35 male patients aged 36-86 years) who subsequently required hip or knee replacements, but were otherwise healthy, was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic QDR-2000). The results are given as required by the WHO and the new German guidelines of the DVO. The BMD was measured and categorised in a sex-related manner and the occurrence of disuse osteoporosis on the affected limb was examined. Furthermore, a comparison was made in the level of BMD between the OA of the involved hip or knee. RESULTS: There was a high occurrence of low BMD among the patients. 23.2 % of the women were affected by OP. This reflects the normal distribution of OP in the female population. 20 % of the male patients had occult OP. This is astonishingly high. Osteopenia was measured for 37.1 % of the male patients and 42.7 % of the female patients. Age proved to be a significant factor in the degree of BMD. Neither a disuse osteoporosis, nor a significance in the OA-affected joint to the degree of BMD, could be proven. CONCLUSION: We cannot support the hypotheses that OA prevents OP. Moreover, the occurrence of OP in our study reflected the incidence of OP in the average female and was astonishingly high in the male population; this does not support the hypothesis that the two conditions are mutually exclusive. Also a lower risk of fractures among OA patients cannot be concluded. There is current open discussion whether a known BMD should influence the decision for a cemented or an uncemented prosthesis.