Search

Background: Biological adjuvants are used after a musculoskeletal injury to improve healing, decrease inflammation, and restore joint homeostasis. Work on 1 such adjuvant, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), has suggested a positive effect when introduced during cartilage repair. However, it remains unknown whether healing osteochondral injuries benefit from serial PRP injections. Purpose: To evaluate the effects of serial PRP injections versus a single PRP injection on reparative cartilaginous tissue, subchondral bone remodeling, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in joint synovium. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 48 New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to receive 1 (1P), 2 (2P), or 3 (3P) PRP injections. Cylindrical full-thickness cartilage defects (2.9 × 2.9 mm) with microdrillings (0.6-mm diameter) were created on the medial condyles of both knees. PRP was injected into the right knee after closure (groups 1P, 2P, and 3P), at 2 weeks after surgery (groups 2P and 3P), and at 4 weeks after surgery (group 3P). The left knees did not receive any PRP injections. A total of 6 rabbits in each group were euthanized at 3, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Cartilage repair tissue was assessed using the Goebel macroscopic and modified International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) histological scoring systems. Subchondral bone remodeling was evaluated by micro–computed tomography analysis (micro-CT). Inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: No significant differences were found for the mean macroscopic score between the PRP groups at 12 weeks (control, 6.1 ± 3.3; group 1P, 3.4 ± 2.7; group 2P, 4.2 ± 2.9; group 3P, 0.7 ± 1.5). All PRP groups had a significantly higher mean modified ICRS histological score compared with the control group, but no significant difference was found among the PRP groups. No significant differences were seen in outcomes for the tested micro-CT parameters or cytokine expression levels. Conclusion: Serial PRP injections conferred no apparent advantage over single injections according to evaluations of the macroscopic and histological appearance of the cartilaginous tissue, subchondral bone healing, and inflammatory cytokine expression levels in the synovium. Clinical Relevance: The use of PRP as a biological adjuvant to bone marrow stimulation for osteochondral lesions has the potential to enhance the quality of regenerative cartilaginous tissue. We recommend only a single PRP injection if the use of PRP is indicated by the operating surgeon as an adjuvant therapy for osteochondral lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aims of this study were to identify the artery feeding the fifth metatarsal and determine how bunionette osteotomy could injure this vessel.Methods: The nutrient artery entering the fifth metatarsal was investigated in 10 adult cadaveric lower limbs by barium injection and enhanced computed tomography.Results: The nutrient artery entered the medial aspect of the fifth metatarsal around the junction of the middle and proximal thirds obliquely from a distal direction (mean angle 36°) in the coronal plane in all cases; in the axial plane, the point of entry and direction of the artery was medial-plantar (mean angle 49°).Conclusions: This report revealed direction and location of the nutrient artery entering the fifth metatarsal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteotomy for hallux valgus interrupts intraosseous blood supply to the first metatarsal, presumably causing non-union, delayed union, or osteonecrosis of the head of the first metatarsal. We investigated the first metatarsal nutrient artery, arising from the first dorsal metatarsal artery, and identified aspects of surgical technique contributing to nutrient artery injury.Methods: Enhanced computed tomography scans of 8 feet of 8 fresh cadavers were assessed. Barium was injected through the external iliac artery; location and direction of the first metatarsal nutrient artery was recorded.Results: Mostly, the nutrient artery entered the first metatarsal at the distal third or junction of the middle and distal thirds obliquely from a proximal direction coronally; entry point and direction varied axially. Saw blade overpenetration alone or with extensive capsular stripping might damage the artery.Conclusions: Location and direction of the first metatarsal nutrient artery was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with conversion disorder (CD) present with weakness or unexplained movement disorder that may evolve from inciting psychological events, but presentation with rigid deformity is rare. Only one case of CD presenting as foot deformity with atraumatic rigid psychogenic equinovarus has been reported previously. Here we describe a rare case of psychogenic equinovarus in a physically healthy 10-year-old boy. He had noticed left equinovarus deformity upon waking abruptly but had no history of preceding trauma and no relevant medical history. Computed tomography (CT) images revealed dislocation of the left Chopart joint complex, but clinical examination did not suggest an organic neurologic disorder. On further history taking, he reported that he was under psychological stress because of being required to play baseball against his will. When he was given permission to withdraw from this stressful situation, the equinovarus improved without the need for surgical invention. This report highlights the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of psychogenic equinovarus, so that unnecessary surgery can be avoided. This is the first report of psychogenic equinovarus caused by dislocation of the Chopart joint complex that was confirmed with CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The deep plantar arch is formed by anastomosis of the lateral and deep plantar arteries. Osteotomy of the lesser metatarsals is often used to treat metatarsalgia and forefoot deformity. Although it is known that some blood vessels supplying the lesser metatarsals are prone to damage during osteotomy, there is little information on the distances between the deep plantar arch and the three lesser metatarsals. The aims of this study were to identify the distances between the deep plantar arch and the lesser metatarsals and to determine how osteotomy could damage the arch. Methods: Enhanced computed tomography scans of 20 fresh cadaveric feet (male, n = 10; female, n = 10; mean age 78.6 years at the time of death) were assessed. The specimens were injected with barium via the external iliac artery, and the distance from the deep plantar arch to each lesser metatarsal was measured on axial and sagittal images. Results: The shortest distances from the deep plantar arch to the second, third, and fourth metatarsals in the axial plane were 0.5, 2.2, and 2.8 mm, respectively. The shortest distances from the distal epiphysis to a line passing through the deep plantar arch perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lesser metatarsal in the sagittal plane were 47.0, 45.7, and 46.4 mm, respectively, and those from the tarsometatarsal joint were 23.0, 21.0, and 18.6 mm. The deep plantar arch ran at the level of the middle third, within the proximal portion of this third in 11/20 (55.0%), 7/20 (35.0%), and 5/16 (31.2%) specimens, respectively, and at the level of the proximal third in 9/20 (45.0%), 13/20 (65.0%), and 11/16 (68.8%). Conclusions: Overpenetration into the medial and plantar aspect of the second metatarsal or the proximal and plantar aspect of the fourth metatarsal during shaft or proximal osteotomy could easily damage the deep plantar arch. Shaft or proximal osteotomy approximately 45–47 mm proximal to the distal epiphysis or 18–23 mm distal to the tarsometatarsal joint on the plantar aspect could interrupt blood flow in the deep plantar arch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteotomies of the lesser (second to fourth) metatarsals are often used to correct forefoot deformities. However, certain areas of the lesser metatarsals where arteries may be prone to damage during surgery, and the resulting nonunion and delayed union could cause serious problems. This study sought to identify the nutrient arteries of the lesser metatarsals and to determine how osteotomy could injure these vessels. Methods: Enhanced computed tomography scans of 21 ft (male, n = 10; female, n = 11; mean age 78.6 years at the time of death) were assessed. Twenty-one lower limbs in 21 cadaveric specimens were injected with barium via the external iliac artery, and the points at which the nutrient arteries entered the lesser metatarsals were identified on axial and coronal images. Results: Each nutrient artery entered the lateral or medial plantar aspect of the lesser metatarsal in the middle third (just proximal to the middle point of the metatarsal) or proximal third obliquely from a distal direction. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) distances from the dorsal plane of the second, third, and fourth metatarsals to the point of entry of the nutrient artery in the axial plane were 8.2 ± 1.5, 7.6 ± 1.2, and 7.6 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. The mean ± SD distances from the distal epiphysis to the point of entry of the nutrient artery into the second, third, and fourth metatarsals in the coronal plane were 3.3 ± 1.1, 3.1 ± 1.0, and 2.8 ± 1.2 mm, respectively. The mean ± SD distances from the distal epiphysis to the point of entry of the nutrient artery into the second, third, and fourth metatarsals in the coronal plane were 46.0 ± 5.2, 40.9 ± 2.6, and 39.1 ± 3.7 mm, respectively. The mean ± SD distances from the proximal epiphysis to the entry point of the nutrient artery into the second, third, and fourth metatarsals in the coronal plane were 23.8 ± 4.7, 25.8 ± 4.3, and 25.0 ± 3.2 mm, respectively. Conclusions: Distal metatarsal osteotomies might be safer than shaft or proximal osteotomy to avoid disruption of the nutrient artery, leading to delayed consolidation of the osteotomy and nonunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]