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Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between pre‐ and postoperative joint line convergence angle (JLCA) changes and patient‐reported outcome measures related to medial open‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO). Methods: Sixty‐one patients (71 knees) who underwent MOWHTO were examined. Preoperative and 2‐year postoperative radiographic parameters (hip–knee–ankle angle, weight‐bearing line ratio, medial proximal tibial angle and JLCA) were measured, and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) were assessed. Patients were divided into two groups: group D (decreased JLCA compared with preoperative status) included 44 knees with a ΔJLCA < 0° and group I (increased JLCA and no‐change JLCA compared with preoperative status) included 27 knees with a ΔJLCA ≥ 0°. KOOS sub‐scores and the proportion of patients whose improvement exceeded the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) were compared between both groups using Student's t tests, Mann–Whitney U tests and chi‐square tests. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factor that had an influential effect on the postoperative KOOS total. Results: Significant differences in 2‐year postoperative KOOS were observed between the two groups, including total, symptom, pain and activities of daily living scores. Group D had significantly more patients who achieved MCID for both KOOS symptoms and pain scores than group I did. Multivariate analysis indicated that JLCA change and body mass index were significantly associated with the postoperative KOOS total. Conclusion: Patients with decreased JLCA had better 2‐year post‐MOWHTO KOOS and better symptom and pain improvements. Therefore, strategies that reduce JLCA are crucial to improving clinical outcomes, and efforts should be made to improve JLCA in surgical techniques. Level of Evidence: Level Ⅳ, Case series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 49-year-old woman underwent anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a hamstring tendon. Due to knee osteoarthritis progression, total knee arthroplasty was performed 13 years after the surgery. The anteromedial (AM) bundle was composed partly of tendon-like tissue and partly of scar-like tissue. In the tendon-like part of the AM bundle, the collagen fibers were slightly loose and showed a low-frequency crimp structure with an ovoid cell shape. In contrast, the collagen arrangement in the scar-like part was irregular, edematous, and sparsely cell-dense, with an ovoid cell shape. The posterolateral bundles were generally composed of spindle-shaped cells, and the collagen was arranged in tight cohesion and had well-demarcated bundles with normal crimping. Within the tibial tunnel, the graft was mainly connected to the surrounding lamellar bone on the posterior sides, with sparser connections on the anterior and medial/lateral side. The findings of this long-term case provide valuable information to enable understanding of multiple-folded hamstring tendons. Level of evidence V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a new remnant-preserving double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) technique, focused on avoiding remnant damage and preserving continuity of remnants, on graft maturity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 169 patients were divided into three groups: 41 in the preservation group, 70 in the resection group, and 58 in the absent group. In the preservation group, rather than passing the graft through the remnant tissue, the graft was reconstructed such that the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles sandwiched the remnant to avoid damage to the remnant and maintain its continuity. Based on 1-year postoperative MRI, the grafts were divided into three regions: distal, middle, and proximal. The signal/noise quotient (SNQ) of each region of interest was calculated to evaluate the signal intensity of the graft and was compared among the three groups. Additionally, to identify factors influencing graft maturity, a multiple regression analysis was performed with SNQ as the dependent variable and patient demographics, bone morphology, and surgical factors as independent variables. Results: In a three-group comparison of mean SNQs, the distal region was 3.3 ± 3.4, 8.9 ± 8.3, and 9.0 ± 8.6 (p < 0.001), the middle region was 5.3 ± 3.7, 10.9 ± 11.1, and 11.3 ± 10.2 (p < 0.001), and the proximal region was 6.8 ± 4.5, 11.1 ± 8.8, and 11.7 ± 10.8 (p = 0.017), in order of the preservation, resection, and absent groups, respectively. That indicated that the remnant-preserving ACLR was more hypointense than ACLR with remnant resection or absent in all three regions. Multiple regression analysis showed that remnant preservation remained the relevant factor affecting SNQ of the graft at the distal and middle levels. Conclusion: The new remnant-preserving anatomic double-bundle ACLR had significantly better graft maturity, measured by SNQ on MRI, than the remnant resection and absent groups. The remnant procedure was the relevant factor affecting graft maturity. Level of evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated major vascular injury risk in distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) via the subvastus approach and examined the relationship between the posterior border of the vastus medialis (VM) and the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and vein (SFV). Methods: Eighty limbs from 80 patients were evaluated using lower extremity computed tomographic venography. The positional relationship between the VM, SFA, and SFV was evaluated by measuring the angle between each structure and the horizontal reference point (VMA: VM angle, FAA (femoral arterial angle), FVA (femoral venous angle) and the distance between VM and the SFA and SFV (VMAD: VM-arterial distance, VMVD: VM-venous distance) in each axial slice (0/10/20/30/40 mm) proximal to the level of the superior patellar margin. The proximity of the posterior border of the VM and the SFA/SFV as a vertical distance, measured between the slice of the superior border of the patella and the slice where the posterior border of the VM contacted the SFA was evaluated. Single and multiple regression analyses were performed using the vertical distance as the objective variable. Results: As the slice shifted proximally, the VMA significantly increased (24.9 ± 8.5, 36.3 ± 8.8, 47.4 ± 11.8, 59.9 ± 14, 70.3 ± 13.7 degrees, respectively, p < 0.001 between all slices) and moved posteromedially from a medial direction. FAA (94.2 ± 7, 86.9 ± 9.2, 78.4 ± 9.7, 71.4 ± 9.8, 66.6 ± 10.5 degree, respectively, p < 0.001 between all slices) and FVA (100.6 ± 4.9, 98.3 ± 5.9, 93.7 ± 7.5, 88 ± 9.2, 81.1 ± 10.5 degrees, respectively, p < 0.001 between all slices) decreased and moved from a posterolateral to a posteromedial direction, while VMAD (35.4 ± 7.8, 24.1 ± 7.3, 14.3 ± 6, 8.4 ± 7, 6.2 ± 6.3 mm, respectively, p < 0.001 between all slices) and VMVD significantly decreased (42.7 ± 7.3, 32 ± 7.4, 22.4 ± 6.8, 14.5 ± 10.6, 8.7 ± 7.1 mm, respectively, p < 0.001 between all slices). The average vertical distance was 36 ± 9.3 mm (range 18.6–61.5 mm). The body height and the patellar length significantly affected the vertical distance. Conclusion: The posterior border of the VM shifted posteromedially from distal to proximal and contacted the SFA at an average of 36 mm from the suprapatellar border. Surgeons should be aware of the risk of major vascular injury during exposure and osteotomy. Level of evidence: Case series, Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a new remnant preservation technique with a focus on remnant continuity on postoperative femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement after anatomical double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).Methods: A total of 150 knees were divided into three groups: Preservation Group (Group P: 49 knees), wherein the remnant continuity remained after tunnel creation; Resection Group (Group R: 47 knees), wherein the remaining remnant was resected, and Absent Group (Group A: 54 knees), wherein the remnant had no femoral attachment before tunnel creation. In Group P, the remnant maintained continuity, and the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles were positioned anterior and posterior to the remnant, respectively. Computed tomographic scans were performed at 1 week and 1 year after surgery, and the cross-sectional area of each tunnel aperture was measured. Tunnel enlargement was compared among the three groups by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Bonferroni test. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for tunnel enlargement in demographic and radiographic data.Result: For femoral AM tunnels, the tunnel enlargement of Group P was significantly smaller than Groups R and A (p < 0.001), femoral PL (p < 0.001 vs. R and A), tibial AM (p < 0.001 vs. R, 0.002 vs. A), and tibial PL (p < 0.001 vs. R, 0.002 vs. A). There was no significant difference between Groups R and A. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that remnant preservation was a significant factor in reducing tunnel enlargement in the femoral AM, femoral PL, tibial AM, and tibial PL.Conclusion: The new remnant-preserving anatomical double-bundle ACLR, which preserves the continuity of the remnant, prevented all bone tunnel enlargement at 1 year postoperatively.Level Of Evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk of medial tibial cortical perforation in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) due to peg positions on the tibial tray of the Persona Partial Knee (PPK). Methods: Preoperative CT images of 60 patients and 60 osteoarthritic knees (30 male and 30 female patients) were used. A tibial multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) image was reconstructed in preoperative planning software, and the implant was placed in a virtual osteotomy plane. In addition to PPK, Zimmer Unicompartmental Knee (ZUK) and TRIBRID (TBD) were used for evaluation. The horizontal distances from the medial tibial cortex to the anterior and posterior pegs (APCD/PPCD, respectively) were measured under neutral, 3-degree varus, 3-degree valgus and 2 mm distal positions. The differences between implants under the same positions and between positions using the same implants were compared. The percentage of total cases with APCD/PPCD of less than 3 mm and the perforation risk rate were calculated. Results: The APCD of PPK was significantly shorter at all positions except for the varus position of TBD. The PPCD of PPK was significantly shorter at all positions compared to ZUK and TBD. There were no cases with an APCD of less than 3 mm. Except for varus positions, the perforation risk rate of PPCD was significantly higher for PPK than the other two implants. Conclusion: The posterior pegs of the PPK are located more medially than the other two implants, which may result in perforation of the medial tibial cortex during implantation. Surgeons should consider the risk involved in the type of implant used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) employing xeno-free materials not containing fetal calf serum (FCS) and porcine trypsin was investigated for the regenerative medicine of cartilage using MSCs. Four sequential subcultivations of MSCs using a medium containing 10% FCS and recombinant trypsin (TrypLESelect™) resulted in cell growth comparable to that with porcine trypsin. There was no apparent difference in the cell growth and morphology between two kinds of MSC stored in liquid nitrogen using 10% FCS plus DMSO or serum-free TC protector™. MSCs were isolated from human bone marrow cells, stored in liquid nitrogen, and sequentially subcultivated four times employing conventional materials that included FCS, porcine trypsin, and DMSO, or xeno-free materials that included serum-free medium (MesenCult-XF™), TC protector™ and TrypLESelect™. Cells in the culture using the xeno-free materials maintained typical fibroblast-like morphology and grew more rapidly than the cells in the culture using the conventional materials, while the cell surface markers of MSCs (CD90 and CD166) were well maintained in both cultures. Chondrogenic pellet cultures were carried out using these subcultivated cells and a medium containing TGFβ3 and IGF1. The pellet culture using cells grown with the xeno-free materials showed an apparently higher gene expression of aggrecan, a chondrocyte marker, than the pellet culture using cells grown with the conventional materials. Consequently, MSCs that are isolated, stored, and grown using the xeno-free materials including the serum-free medium (MesenCult-XF™), TC protector™, and recombinant trypsin (TrypLESelect™) might be applicable for regenerative medicine of cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Accurate placement of separate anteromedial and posterolateral bundle bone tunnels is crucial for anatomic, double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, identifying the anatomic footprint at which to make the tibial and femoral bone tunnels is not a straightforward procedure. To overcome this problem, we used a CT-based navigation technique with a registration procedure based on fiducial markers (FMs). Methods: Preoperatively, 10 FM points were placed on skin around knee joint and scanned with CT. Imaging data of the knee were recorded on the computer system for preoperative registration and surgical planning. Intraoperatively, with a reference frame fixed to the distal medial aspect of femur and tibia, paired-point matching registration was performed with the use of points marked on skin through FM center holes. During tibial tunnel guide wire placement, tibial aiming guide with tracking device fed back the position of tip and direction of the guide wire on the three-dimensional (3D) tibia bone surface image and multiple image planes in real time. For the femoral side, the navigation pointer was placed at the footprint center with visual guidance of 3D image of lateral wall sagittal view on navigation monitor and marked with navigation awl. Results: The average registration accuracy of 22 consecutive patients was 0.7 ± 0.2 mm and 0.6 ± 0.2 mm for femoral and tibial bone, respectively. Most of the bone tunnel positions evaluated with 3D-CT image were confirmed to be accurately placed in reference to the preoperative plan. There was no damage to femoral condyle cartilage and no other complication. Conclusion: This new CT-based computer navigation system opens the possibility for surgeons to plan bone tunnel positioning preoperatively and control it during technically demanding anatomic double-bundle ACL reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate effects of heat on the bone-inducing activity of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2. rhBMP-2 samples were heated at 50, 70, 90, or 100 degrees C for 15 min, or 1, 2, 4, or 8 h, or autoclaved at 120 degrees C for 15 min. The bone-inducing activity of the rhBMP-2 before and after heating was assayed in in vivo and in vitro systems. For the in vivo assay, 5 microg rhBMP-2 samples were impregnated into porous collagen disks (6 mm in diameter, 1 mm thickness), freeze dried, and implanted into the back muscles of ddY mice. Three weeks later, the implant was harvested from the host and examined for ectopic new bone tissue by radiography. The new bone mass was quantified by single-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The in vitro activity of the rhBMP-2 was assayed by adding the BMP sample at a concentration of 100 ng/ml to cultures of MC3T3-E1 cells. After 48 h, the alkaline phosphatase activity was measured. After heating at 50 degrees or 70 degrees C, no significant reduction in bone-inducing activity was noted in either in vivo or in vitro assay systems unless the protein was exposed to sustained heat at 70 degrees C for 8 h, based on in vitro assay data. However, heating above 90 degrees C and for longer periods led to a decrease in the biological activity of the rhBMP-2 in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. rhBMP-2 was rendered inactive when exposed to temperatures at or in excess of 120 degrees C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]