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Aim: To test the agreement between a newly developed micro-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis of the subchondral bone and the micro-computed tomography (CT) approach. ----- Methods: Samples obtained from 10 patients with osteoarthritis undergoing total hip arthroplasty were scanned with a 7.0 T micro-MRI. Proton density- weighted images and proton density-weighted images with fat suppression were obtained. The results were validated with a micro-CT device. Micro-MRI and micro-CT scans of the same sample were aligned, and regions of interest were delineated on equal areas of the sample. Bone volume fraction was calculated by using in-house plugins. The agreement between the methods was tested with Bland- Altman analysis. ----- Results: The agreement between the methods was good, with average difference of 2.167%. The differences between the methods were not significant (P=0.272, t test). ----- Conclusion: The novel micro-MRI approach could be used for subchondral bone analysis. With further optimization for clinical MRI machines, the approach can be also used in the diagnostics of hip osteoarthritis.

Aim To analyze clinical and functional effects of intra-articular injection of autologous micro-fragmented lipoaspirate (MLA) in patients with late stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Secondary aims included classifying cell types contributing to the treatment effect, performing detailed MRI-based classification of KOA, and elucidating the predictors for functional outcomes. Methods This prospective, non-randomized study was conducted from June 2016 to February 2018 and enrolled 20 patients with late stage symptomatic KOA (Kellgren Lawrence grade III, n = 4; and IV, n = 16) who received an intra-articular injection of autologous MLA in the index knee joint. At baseline radiological KOA grade and MRI were assessed in order to classify the morphology of KOA changes. Stromal vascular fraction cells obtained from MLA samples were stained with antibodies specific for cell surface markers. Patients were evaluated at baseline and 12-months after treatment with visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Results Three patients (15%) received a total knee replacement and were not followed up completely. Seventeen patients (85%) showed a substantial pattern of KOOS and WOMAC improvement, significant in all accounts. KOOS score improved from 46 to 176% when compared with baseline, WOMAC decreased from 40 to 45%, while VAS rating decreased from 54% to 82% (all P values were

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) represents a morphological abnormality characterized by the incongruity of femoral head and acetabulum. It ranges from mild dysplastic changes to complete dislocation. DDH has been associated with several hereditary and environmental risk factors, which could explain the incidence variability among different countries. Numerous genes may be involved in the disease etiology and progression. However, there are controversies in the literature regarding some of these genes. DDH-induced secondary osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by changes in the macromolecule content of the cartilage and the expression of cartilage degradation markers. In addition, it exhibits a pattern of specific histological changes, with several reported differences between primary and DDH-induced secondary OA. The articular cartilage of patients with DDH shows specific radiological characteristics, including changes visible already in infancy, but also at pre- arthritic stages, early stages of OA, and in fully developed DDH- induced secondary OA. Although DDH has been extensively researched in different disease stages, the etiology of the disorder still remains uncertain. This review focuses on the current knowledge on the histomorphological status of the cartilage and the genetic background of DDH.

Accessory soleus muscle (ASM) is a rare supernumerary anatomical variant that commonly presents as a posteromedial ankle swelling, which may become painful during physical activity. As it may mimic a soft tissue tumor, it is essential to differentiate this condition from ganglion, lipoma, hemangioma, synovioma, and sarcoma. However, ASM may also present with a painful syndrome, characterized by pain and paresthesia of the ankle and foot, mimicking the tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS). Two cases of ASM are presented in this article. The first case had a typical presentation with painful posteromedial ankle swelling. After the initial assessment, the diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ASM was treated by complete resection. The second case presented with pain and paresthesia in the right ankle and foot, but no swelling was noticeable. It was initially misdiagnosed by a rheumatologist and afterward overlooked on an MRI by a musculoskeletal radiology specialist and therefore mistreated by numerous physicians before being referred to our outpatient clinic. After further assessment, the diagnosis has been confirmed, and ASM was treated by complete resection combined with tarsal tunnel decompression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in which ASM caused symptoms but presented without posteromedial swelling. This might be due to a proximally positioned belly of the ASM, followed by a tendinous insertion on the medial side of the calcaneus.

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disease caused by a disorder of phenylala- nine and tyrosine metabolism, resulting in accumulation and deposition of homogentisic acid (HGA) in the body. This deposition further causes progressive functional disorders in different organ systems, with the locomotor system being the most affected one. A specific triad of symptoms occurs in patients suffering from AKU: 1. at birth, a change of urine color is present when urine is exposed to air, 2. oc- currence of dark pigmentations in connective tissues becomes visible over time, 3. complications of the locomotor, urogenital and cardiovascular systems present gradually. Arthropathia ochronotica occurs in patients suffering from AKU due to precipitation and deposition of HGA in the joint tissue (cartilage, tendons, ligaments, menisci, etc.). The accumulation can be seen as small foci of blue-black pigmentations. HGA deposits in collagen fibers, causing tendons and liga- ments thickening. This causes them to be less resistant to mechanical forces, resulting in frequent rup- tures caused by minimal trauma. Also, the deposition facilitates cartilage degeneration, often requiring an operative treatment. The knees are the most commonly affected joints, while changes can be seen in the spine and other large joints. As there is no specific treatment, alleviation of symptoms is the only treatment option. It has the goal of increasing individual functionality and quality of life. As an option for end-stage treatment, joint replacement surgery proved to be effective. In the future, an enzyme replacement therapy or gene therapy may be developed to treat AKU successfully., Alkaptonurija (AKU) je rijetka autosomno recesivna metabolička bolest uzrokovana poremećajem metabolizma fenilalanina i tirozina, što rezultira nakupljanjem i taloženjem homogentizinske kiseline (HGA) u tijelu. Ovo taloženje uzrokuje progresivne funkcionalne poremećaje u različitim organskim sustavima, pri čemu je najčešće zahvaćen lokomotorni sustav. Specifična trijada simptoma javlja se u bolesnika koji pate od AKU: 1. pri rođenju je vidljiva promjena boje urina kada je urin izložen zraku, 2. pojava tamnih pigmentacija u vezivnom tkivu s vremenom postaje vidljiva, 3. postepeno se razvijaju komplikacije koje zahvaćaju lokomotorni, urogenitalni i kardiovaskularni sustav. Artropatija ohronotica javlja se u bolesnika koji pate od AKU zbog taloženja HGA u zglobnom tkivu (hrskavica, tetive, ligamenti, meniskusi itd.). Akumulacija se može vidjeti kao mala žarišta plavo-crnih pigmentacija. HGA se taloži u kolagenskim vlaknima, uzrokujući zadebljanje tetiva i ligamenata. Zbog toga su ona manje otporna na mehaničke sile, što rezultira čestim puknućima uzrokovanim minimalnom traumom. Također, taloženje ubrzava degeneraciju hrskavice, što dovodi do češće potrebe za operativnim liječenjem. Koljena su najčešće zahvaćena, dok se promjene također mogu vidjeti na kralježnici i drugim velikim zglobovima. Kako ne postoji specifično liječenje, ublažavanje simptoma jedina je opcija liječenja. Cilj mu je povećati individualnu funkcionalnost i kvalitetu života. Kao opcija za završnu fazu liječenja, ugradnja umjetnih zglobova pokazala se sigurnom i učinkovitom. U budućnosti se očekuje razvoj enzimske ili genske terapije za uspješno ciljano liječenje AKU.

The lack of adequate mechanical stimulation and appropriate contact between acetabulum and femoral head results with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). In DDH, hip joint forms normally during the organogenesis, but deforms during the fetal development. Acetabulum remains comparable in width with normal acetabulum, but has increased length and decreased depth, resulting in a poor coverage of the femoral head. In cases of severe hip subluxation and luxation due to DDH, the femoral head articulates with the external side of the iliac bone, forming a neoacetabulum in the position that was genetically predetermined to become bony tissue. A neoacetabulum is therefore formed under intermittent mechanical pressure, but never has the depth of a physiological acetabulum due to different forces at this new location. Over time, the depth of the neoacetabulum increases, and a crest is formed that obstructs reposition of the femoral head into the anatomic acetabulum. We hypothesize that the neoacetabulum on the iliac bone in DDH patients is formed of hyaline cartilage, despite the lack of genetic predisposition for hyaline cartilage formation in this area. We assume that as the femoral head migrates during development in such patients, joint capsular tissue interposes between the external side of the iliac bone and the femoral head, and a cartilaginous metaplasia of the capsule follows. This results in elongation of the acetabular cartilage in the same direction as the femoral head migrated. This assumption is based on the finding that in patients with hip luxation such interposed joint capsule showed signs of cartilaginous transformation. Furthermore, in the inner part of such joint capsules, proteoglycan production was notably higher than that of other non-cartilaginous tissue. Also, high expression of cartilaginous genes, which are usually not expressed in this tissue, was observed. Confirmation of this hypothesis would put a new perspective on the pathogenesis of DDH and could lead to better management or even prevention of this condition.

SUMMARY Anterior section of the hip joint capsule is innervated by femoral nerve and obturator nerve, and posterior section is innervated by the nerve to quadratus femoris muscle and occasionally by the superior gluteal (posterolateral region) and sciatic nerve (posterosuperior region). One of the regional anesthesia options for hip surgery is the fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) that affects nerves important for hip innervation and sensory innervation of the thigh - femoral, obturator and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. FICB can be easily performed and is often a good solution for management of hip fractures in emergency departments. Its use reduces morphine pre-operative requirement for patients with femoral neck fractures and can also be indicated for hip arthroplasty, hip arthroscopy and burn management of the region. Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a block of the posterior abdominal wall performed exclusively under ultrasound guidance, with still unclarified mechanism of action. When considering hip surgery and postoperative management, the anterior QLB has shown to reduce lengthy hospital stay and opioid use, it improves perioperative analgesia in patients undergoing hip and proximal femoral surgery compared to standard intravenous analgesia regimen, provides early and rapid pain relief and allows early ambulation, thus preventing deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolic complications etc. However, some nerve branches responsible for innervation of the hip joint are not affected by QLB, which has to be taken into consideration. QLB has shown potential for use in hip surgery and perioperative pain management, but still needs to be validated as a reliable treatment approach.