Articular

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and characterise articular cartilage degeneration in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) using T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We reviewed 35 patients with ONFH (20 males and 15 females, mean age 45.7±12.9 years) without obvious cartilage abnormalities on plain MRI (ONFH group) and 25 healthy volunteers (9 males and 16 females, mean age 42.9±5.8 years) (control group). All patients underwent T2 mapping MRI after ONFH onset...

Articular cartilage tissue has limited self-repair capabilities, with damage frequently progressing to irreversible degeneration. Engineered tissues constructed through bioprinting and embedded with stem cell aggregates offer promising therapeutic alternatives. Aggregates of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) demonstrate enhanced and more rapid chondrogenic differentiation than isolated cells, thus facilitating cartilage repair. However, it remains a key challenge to precisely control biochemical microenvironments to regulate cellular adhesion and cohesion within bioprinted matrices simultaneously...

PURPOSE: This study investigates the impact of elastic improvements to the artificial ankle joint insert on prosthesis biomechanics to reduce the risk of prosthesis loosening in TAR patients. METHODS: CT data of the right ankle was collected from one elderly female volunteer. An original TAR model (Model A) was developed from CT images and the INBONE II implant system. The development of the new inserts adopts an elastic improvement design approach, where different geometric configurations of flexible layers are inserted into the traditional insert...

Giant cell tumours (GCTs) of the proximal tibia are a relatively uncommon lesion among all benign tumours. They can occur at various sites including distal femur, proximal tibia and distal end radius. Various management modalities of GCTs occurring in the knee joint have been described for reconstruction as well as arthrodesis. We present a case of a 19-year-old adolescent patient with GCT of the proximal tibia with cortical breach with the collapse of the medial articular surface of the tibia. The patient reported experiencing knee pain and swelling for a long duration...

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical effect of a single-center retrospective analysis of the contralateral approach with a microscope and tubular retractor system for ipsilateral decompression in patients with lumbar lateral recess stenosis and a narrow spinal canal. METHODS: A total of 25 patients who underwent ipsilateral decompression surgery via a contralateral approach with microscope and tubular retractor system, performed by one surgeon at a single center were retrospectively examined...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related joint disease characterized by progressive heterogeneous changes in articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Osteoclast stimulating factor 1 (OSTF1) is a small intracellular protein involved in bone formation and bone resorption. However, to our best knowledge, its role in OA is still unclear. In this study, an OA rat model was established by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ALCT). OSTF1 was increased in the cartilage tissues of OA patients and OA rats. Next, the role of OSTF1 in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation was explored through loss of function assays...

BACKGROUND: Talar malignant tumor is extremely rare. Currently, there are several alternative management options for talus malignant tumor including below-knee amputation, tibio-calcaneal arthrodesis, and homogenous bone transplant while their shortcomings limited the clinical application. Three-dimensional (3D) printed total talus prosthesis in talus lesion was reported as a useful method to reconstruct talus, however, most researches are case reports and its clinical effect remains unclear...

OBJECTIVE: There are few effective osteoarthritis (OA) therapies. A novel injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (iPAAG) previously demonstrated efficacy and safety up to week 26 in an open-label study of knee OA. Here we report longer-term effectiveness and safety data. METHODS: This multi-centre, open-label study included patients with symptomatic and radiographic knee OA. Primary outcome was WOMAC pain (0-100 scale) at 13 weeks, and patients continued to 26 weeks before entering a further 26-week extension phase...

Osteoarthritis (OA), known as one of the most common types of aseptic inflammation of the musculoskeletal system, is characterized by chronic pain and whole-joint lesions. With cellular and molecular changes including senescence, inflammatory alterations, and subsequent cartilage defects, OA eventually leads to a series of adverse outcomes such as pain and disability. CRISPR-Cas-related technology has been proposed and explored as a gene therapy, offering potential gene-editing tools that are in the spotlight...

Hip-related pain is a common issue in active adults affecting their quality of life, mobility, and overall function, and it can lead to persistent disability. However, diagnosing hip-related pain is challenging due to the many potential sources and causes, including intra-articular and extra-articular pathology, and referred pain from other areas (lumbar or groin related pain). To address this, there is a need for a clinical algorithm based on the best available evidence and expert consensus. This algorithm could guide healthcare professionals in assessing and managing patients with hip-related pain, during the diagnosis, test selection, intervention, monitoring, and promoting collaboration among various healthcare providers...

We describe the case of a 6-year-old female who presented with tender nodules and fixed flexion of her thumbs, diagnosed as bilateral pediatric trigger thumb. Though present since infancy, her condition was not diagnosed in prior clinical visits. Pediatric trigger digit is a clinical diagnosis, often missed if the digit's range of motion is not assessed routinely. Given the duration, pain, and severity of her condition, conservative management was deferred, and she was referred for surgery. An approach to clinical management is discussed...

OBJECTIVE: People who sustain joint injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture often develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). In human patients, ACL injuries are often treated with ACL reconstruction. However, it is still unclear how effective joint restabilization is for reducing the progression of PTOA. The goal of this study was to determine how surgical restabilization of a mouse knee joint following non-invasive ACL injury affects PTOA progression. DESIGN: In this study, 187 mice were subjected to non-invasive ACL injury or no injury...

PURPOSE: To investigate a radiographic sign believed to be indicative of hip instability and acetabular suction seal disruption in the native hip, coined the "windshield wiper" (WSW) sign. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) with the senior author between March 2021 and September 2023. A WSW sign was identified on plain films as a concave or flat osteochondral defect on the anterolateral femoral head extending medial to the head-neck junction with resultant loss of femoral head sphericity in the native hip...

PURPOSES: Fractures of the inferior patellar pole, unlike other patellar fractures, present challenges for traditional surgical fixation methods. This article introduces the clinical technique and outcomes of using Kirschner wire tension band combined with anchor screw cross-stitch fixation for comminuted inferior patellar pole fractures. METHODS: This retrospective case series study included 14 patients with comminuted inferior patellar pole fractures treated at our institution from September 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022...

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to describe a monocentric cohort of young adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), assessing the risk of relapse after transition to adult care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study and collected clinical, serological, and demographic data of young adult patients (18-30 years old) referred to the Transition Clinic of a single Italian centre between January 2020 and March 2023. Patients with systemic-onset JIA were excluded...

BACKGROUND: The dorsal spanning plate (DSP) is a versatile implant suitable for bridging severely comminuted intraarticular distal radius fractures [AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen) 23-C.1-C.3]. It may be used alone or with supplemental fixation such as a volar locking plate (VLP) or fragment-specific fixation (FSF). Outcomes following DSP fixation with additional implants have not been specifically evaluated. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent internal fixation of a distal radius fracture by a single surgeon from 2017 to 2021...

OBJECTIVE: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a multigenic autoinflammatory disease with a severe systemic involvement. Because of the rarity of the disease, most published cohorts are multicentric. The aim of this report is to describe a monocentric cohort of AOSD patients, reporting clinical features and response to therapy in a long follow-up. METHOD: Thirty-eight patients, attending the Clinical Immunology Unit and fulfilling Yamaguchi, Fautrel, or Daghor-Abbaci classification criteria for AOSD, were recruited for this study...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is distinguished by pathological alterations in the synovial membrane, articular cartilage, and subchondral bone, resulting in physical symptoms such as pain, deformity, and impaired mobility. Numerous research studies have validated the effectiveness of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in OA treatment. The periodic mechanical waves generated by LIPUS can mitigate cellular ischemia and hypoxia, induce vibration and collision, produce notable thermal and non-thermal effects, alter cellular metabolism, expedite tissue repair, improve nutrient delivery, and accelerate the healing process of damaged tissues...

Cartilage damage and synovial inflammation are vital pathological changes in osteoarthritis (OA). Biqi Capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine formula used for the clinical treatment of arthritis in China, yields advantages in attenuating OA progression. The drawback here is that the bioactive components and pharmacological mechanisms by which Biqi Capsule exerts its anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects have yet to be fully clarified. For in vivo studies, a papain-induced OA rat model was established to explore the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of Biqi Capsule against OA...

INTRODUCTION: Administration of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into the joint cavity has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) by releasing exosomes and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, the therapeutic effect of these cells is limited by their rapid disappearance after administration. Thus, it is necessary to prolong cell survival in the joint cavity. This study aimed to investigate the potential application of ADSCs adhered to atelocollagen microspheres (AMSs) for cell therapy of knee OA...