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Purpose: Although some symptoms that often occur with hip joint osteoarthritis (OA) may be involved in the appearance of gait disturbance, the main cause has not been identified. We hypothesised that the abnormalities in gait trajectory of patients with hip joint OA are mainly caused by limited range of motion of the hip joint or the presence of leg-length discrepancy, or both. To investigate this hypothesis, we examined whether the abnormal gait trajectory in patients with hip joint OA can be reproduced in healthy individuals by asking them to wear a hip orthosis and shoe orthotic (insole). Methods: We recruited 2 groups of participants: patients with hip joint OA (OA group, 38 patients) and healthy individuals who imitated patients with OA of the hip joint by wearing a hip orthosis or shoe orthotic (10-mm or 20-mm insole) or both (simulated OA group, 6 individuals). For gait analysis, we used a portable, wearable gait analyser with inertial sensors to evaluate 3-dimensional (3D) changes in gait trajectory. Results: In the OA group, the patterns of gait trajectories that were drawn on the 3 planes (coronal, sagittal, and horizontal planes) could be roughly divided into 3 types. The gait trajectories that were drawn when wearing a hip orthosis in the simulated OA group were very similar to 1 of the 3 patterns of gait trajectory that occurs in the OA group. Conclusions: We were able to reproduce the abnormal gait trajectory that is observed in ⅓ of patients with hip OA in healthy individuals, so we propose that an extreme reduction in hip joint ROM is 1 of the causes of abnormal gait pattern in patients with OA of the hip joint. A difference in leg length of 20 mm alone has little effect on gait trajectory.

To reduce the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, governments in many countries adopted a social isolation strategy. However, social isolation may adversely affect people's health, e.g., by decreasing the muscle function of lower limbs. We recruited 118 patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 87 patients with moderate to severe hip joint osteoarthritis (OA) and measured hip muscle strength, hip joint pain, and walking ability from before to one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, hip flexion (straight leg raise, SLR) strength decreased in 13.1% of patients in the post-THA group and 25.6% in the severe-OA group; in the severe-OA group, the decrease in SLR strength was mainly in patients aged 65 years and older. In addition, pain increased to mild or moderate and walkable distance decreased in more patients in the severe-OA group.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES As individuals with blood types A, B and AB have approximately 25% higher levels of vWF than those with type O, the risk of developing venous thrombotic events has been investigated in a number of clinical studies, but whether individuals with type O blood experience increased bleeding remains to be clarified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an association of ABO blood group with intraoperative bleeding and postoperative total bleeding in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS We prospectively recruited 84 women who were undergoing total hip arthroplasty. The differences between blood groups in mean age, body weight, preoperative and postoperative Hct levels, and postoperative/preoperative Hct ratio, intraoperative bleeding volume (IBV), and total bleeding volume (TBV) were evaluated. RESULTS Twenty-six patients had type A blood, 17 had type B, 9 had type AB, and 30 had type O. There were no significant differences in mean age, body weight or operating time between the different ABO blood groups. While there was no significant difference in these Hct levels or IBV among the different blood groups, there was a significant difference in TBV between type O and type AB, and between type O and non-type O. CONCLUSION Our study in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty suggests that patients in blood group O tend to have large amounts of bleeding.

When children around 2-year-old show leg bowing without lower-limb radiographic abnormalities for rickets, the leg bowing is classified as “physiologic” genu varum without conducting a blood test. However, it has recently been suggested that toddlers who are diagnosed with physiologic genu varum may in fact have some form of bone metabolic disorder. In this 1:2 case–control study, blood samples were obtained from 33 toddlers with genu varum without radiographic abnormalities for rickets and 66 age- and gender-matched healthy children. Serum alkaline phosphatase (sALP), intact parathyroid hormone (siPTH), 25-hydroxy vitamin D [s25(OH)D], calcium (sCa), and inorganic phosphate (sP) were measured. s25(OH)D of the subjects with genu varum (24.8 ng/ml) were significantly lower than those of the control (33.6 ng/ml) (p

Several studies in older patients with femoral neck fracture found that preoperative anemia and malnutrition were associated with higher mortality and poorer physical function. Therefore, we compared nutritional status, Hb level, and renal function in women with femoral neck fracture and women of the same age with osteoarthritis of the hip joint.We enrolled 257 women aged 70 years and older who suffered femoral neck fracture (F group) or who were scheduled to undergo total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the hip joint (OA group). The F and OA groups were further divided into 2 groups on the basis of age, ie, 74 years old and younger (F70 and OA70) and 75 years old and older (F75 and OA75). To assess whether patients had undernutrition, mortality risk, anemia, and renal dysfunction, we assessed Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Hb, and eGFR.We found a significant difference in the mean Hb levels and GNRI scores between the F75 and OA75 and F70 and OA70. Moreover, we found a moderate correlation between Hb level and GNRI score in the F75 and OA75. With respect to the GNRI category, the percentage of patients at moderate or major risk was 42.1% in the F70 group and 57.6% in the F75 group but only 1.9% in the OA70 group and 4.3% in the OA75 group.We found that women with femoral neck fracture had significantly lower Hb levels and lower GNRI scores than women with hip OA in the same age and that anemia and undernutrition were closely linked in women aged 75 and above. Moreover, we found that more than 40% of patients with a femoral neck fracture had a moderate to major risk on the basis of their GNRI scores.

Background: External fixator is an effective treatment option in the comminuted or unstable metacarpal fractures. The new linked-wire type of external fixator (the Ichi-Fixator System) developed for hand and wrist fractures enables fine adjustment of the fixation under fluoroscopic inspection through small screws inside the fixator fitted externally. This technique is designed to reinforce the stability and rigidity of conventional percutaneous Kirchner wire fixation. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the fixator for comminuted or unstable metacarpal fractures through the evaluation of short-term results in ten cases. Methods: Patients were fixated with fixator pins and metal clamps using the Ichi-Fixator System. All patients were then examined for post-operative complications, functional recovery, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Q-DASH) score at the end of the final follow-up consultation. Results: Operative treatment using the Ichi-Fixator System facilitates anatomical reduction and allows immediate full mobilization, producing good outcomes. No infections were observed in all cases, including those at pin insertion sites. There were no implant failure and nonunion. Patients could perform all routine activities with normal grip strength and retained a full range of hand motion without pain. This treatment method with improved postoperative comfort would allow immediate return to work, which would clearly boost patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Ichi-Fixator System is considered to be useful for the treatment of metacarpal fractures, and this will provide a new surgical option for all hand fractures.

BackgroundSural pain is usually the primary complaint for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Hip pain in DVT is very uncommon. Case summaryWe report a rare case of a young woman who complained of left hip pain and fever postpartum, and who was diagnosed with DVT. We first suspected purulent arthritis of the hip joint, and a magnetic resonance image (MRI) and enhanced computed tomography (CT) were performed. The MRI suggested DVT of the left iliac vein and the CT revealed a wide-range thrombus, which spread over the distal renal vein, femoral vein and common iliac vein to the sural vein. Treatment with insertion of a filter into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and use of an anticoagulant dissolved the thrombus.ConclusionDVT must be considered as a possibility whenever pregnant or postpartum women present with a fever of unknown origin or complain of hip pain with lower leg edema.

Purpose: Some studies reported that measuring serum creatine kinase (CK) level is an objective method with which to determine the relative invasiveness of surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in postoperative serum CK levels as a measure of whether the direct anterior approach (DAA) is less invasive than the posterior approach (PA) regarding postoperative rehabilitation. Materials and methods: We prospectively recruited 71 women who were undergoing total hip arthroplasty, 47 were treated by the PA and 24 by the DAA. Serum CK and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured preoperatively and 3 hours and 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days after the operation. Results: The serum CK levels were significantly higher in the DAA group than in the PA group on postoperative days 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14. On postoperative day 4 and 7, the percentage of patients whose serum CK levels were above the normal range was 46.8% and 8.5% in the PA group and 95.2% and 45.5% in the DAA group. Conclusions: CK levels were significantly higher in the 2 weeks after THA by a DAA than after the same procedure by a PA indicating that DAA causes prolonged muscle damage. Although the DAA is considered to be a muscle-sparing approach this may not be the case and DAA may not actually be a minimally-invasive approach.

BACKGROUND: The intercondylar roof line is one of the indicators used during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction to see the relation to the position of the tibial tunnel. The tibial tunnel can be made posteriorly in the anteriorly subluxated tibia. During ACL reconstruction, the tibiofemoral relationship of the opposite or normal knee should be considered. The purpose of this study was to examine the radiographic tibiofemoral relationship of the sagittal plane in a standing position in ACL deficient knees. METHODS: In this study, 64 patients were evaluated for inclusion. Lateral radiographs of the injured and uninjured knee were obtained preoperatively in a standing position. The knee was fully extended with the opposite foot on a step, asking the patients to bear weight fully on one leg. The tibiofemoral relationship was evaluated in the radiographs. RESULTS: The mean value of anterior tibial subluxation was 1.2 mm in the injured side and −1.6 mm in the uninjured side. The tibia was located in a significantly anterior position in the injured knee (p

Introduction: Both hemiarthroplasty (HA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) are widely accepted surgical procedures for hip replacement following displaced femoral neck fractures. However, in cases involving an intact joint line before surgery, the choice between HA and THA remains debatable. This study investigated the prevalence of acetabular cartilage and labral abnormalities in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures. Methods: Thirty-seven patients underwent hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures between April 2020 and February 2021. After excluding 4 patients, 33 patients (6 men and 27 women; mean age = 82.2 [range = 67–98] years) with fractures in 12 left and 21 right hips were included. After femoral head removal during arthroplasty, the acetabulum was macroscopically examined for the presence of cartilage and labral lesions. Acetabular cartilage abnormalities were classified as either overall degeneration or partial damage according to the cartilage damage classification system. Results: Acetabular cartilage abnormalities, including overall degeneration or partial damage, were found in all hips (100%). Out of the 33 hips, overall degeneration, partial damage, and labral abnormalities were detected in 32 (96.9%), 16 (48.4%), and 9 (27.2%) hips, respectively. Discussion: In this study, most elderly patients with femoral neck fractures exhibited acetabular cartilage and labral abnormalities, which were already present at the time of surgery. Therefore, surgeons should carefully examine these abnormalities as they may impact postoperative outcomes such as pain and function.

To assess psychological components after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, we developed a new patient-reported outcome measure, the Japanese anterior cruciate ligament injury questionnaire 25 (JACL-25), and demonstrated that the JACL-25 is valid, reliable, and sufficiently responsive to evaluate psychological factors that are associated with outcomes in individuals with ACL injuries. The purpose of this study was to identify the optimum cutoff score for the JACL-25 that indicates successful clinical outcomes, combining with the graphical data obtained using the KT-2000. We studied 30 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with a patella tendon or hamstring tendon autograft. On the same day of the JACL-25 evaluation, anterior knee laxity tests were performed using the KT-2000 arthrometer. ACL stiffness was calculated on the graphs of the hysteresis, which can be used to measure side-to-side differences in anterior translation. Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) was used to determine the most appropriate cutoff level for the JACL-25 score for the stiffness reduction ratio and anterior–posterior (AP) translation. The average JACL-25 score was 23.8 (standard deviation (SD) 18.4). The average side-to-side displacement difference in AP translation was 2.4 (SD 4.2) mm. The average stiffness reduction ratio was 24.4% (SD 31.8). The smallest AIC values for the cutoff level for the JACL-25 score, the stiffness reduction ratio, and side-to-side differences of the anterior translation were 9, 27%, and 1.1 mm, respectively. We determined the optimal cutoff score for the JACL-25 that identifies successful clinical outcomes.

Background We think that it is necessary to evaluate whether the patient after total hip arthroplasty has achieved age-appropriate locomotor ability by improvement in hip joint function. The 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) have been determined age-specific standard values for the general population. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative hip muscle strength and functional performance at 3 months after THA with preoperative levels, and to compare the outcomes at 3 months after THA with the function of age-matched adults without hip disease. Methods The GLFS-25 scores and muscle strength were investigated before THA and 3 months after surgery in 12 men and 75 women who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Results The mean preoperative and postoperative GLFS-25 score was 55.4 and 19.1, respectively. With regard to the influence of age, the mean scores before and after THA were respectively 52.0 versus 18.2 for patients aged 60–69 years and 61.2 versus 17.3 for those aged 70–79 years in the normal/mild OA group. When female patients from the normal/mild OA group and the implant group classified into levels 4–7 after THA were combined (n = 15), their mean preoperative and postoperative straight leg raising (SLR) strength was 0.56 Nm/kg and 0.75 Nm/kg, respectively. On the other hand, the mean preoperative and postoperative SLR strength was respectively 0.54 Nm/kg and 0.86 Nm/kg for patients classified into levels 1–3 after THA (n = 45). Conclusion Before THA, 90% of the patients who has severe hip disturbance were in need of nursing care (levels 4–7), while the percentage decreased to 30% after surgery. There was a difference of SLR muscle strength between the patients in levels 4–7 and those in levels 1–3 after THA, suggesting that achieving levels 1–3 postoperatively might depend on whether SLR muscle strength shows improvement.

Most surgical treatment options for metastatic acetabular lesions involve variants of total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, these are technically complex reconstructions performed in very frail patients, and previous reports indicate complications such as dislocation, deep infection, aseptic loosening, and intraoperative death. A 73-year-old man presented to the emergency department at our hospital with right hip pain following a fall. He had undergone nephrectomy for the treatment of right kidney cancer at the age of 68 years. Four years after the nephrectomy, multiple lung metastases, pelvic bone metastases, and right femoral head and neck bone metastases were found. A radiograph of the hip joint showed a pathological proximal femoral fracture with a radiolucent lesion of the acetabulum. THA with acetabular reconstruction using a Kerboull-type (KT) plate through the direct anterior approach (DAA) was performed. After removal of the femoral head, curettage of the metastatic acetabular dome lesion was carefully performed under fluoroscopic guidance. After the KT plate was placed, cementation of the metastatic acetabular dome lesion was performed, and an optimally sized polyethylene liner was fixed with cement. A cemented stem was inserted after confirming the hip joint stability. At the 14-month follow-up, he could walk steadily without any complications and his modified Harris hip score was 100. The DAA conserves soft tissue because it is an intermuscular approach. Accordingly, postoperative recovery is fast and thus associated with a low dislocation rate and effective pain reduction. The acetabulum with metastatic disease was reconstructed using a KT plate for hip joint stability. Bone with metastatic disease that appears adequate at the time of THA may become incompetent after a few years. THA with acetabular reconstruction using a KT plate through the DAA was an effective treatment for metastatic bone disease of the acetabulum combined with pathological proximal femoral neck fracture.

When children around 2 years of age show leg bowing and diseases are ruled out based on radiographic findings without conducting blood tests, they are classified as "physiologic" genu varum. Since whether or not physiologic genu varum is associated with bone metabolism is unclear, this study was conducted to clarify the association between genu varum and bone metabolism in children. Thirty-five pediatric patients with genu varm who visited our out-patient clinic were enrolled. While two of the 35 children had nutritional rickets, showing abnormalities on both blood test (ALP, ≥1000 IU/L; iPTH, >65 pg/mL and 25(OH)D, ≤20 ng/mL) and radiographs (such as cupping, fraying or splaying), five of 35 children showed abnormalities on blood tests but not radiographs. While metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (MDA) correlated with serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (r = -0.35, p = 0.04) and magnesium (r = -0.36, p = 0.04), MDA and femorotibial angle (FTA) correlated with alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.43, p = 0.01 and r = 0.51, p = 0.006, respectively). A ridge regression analysis adjusted for age and body mass index indicated that ALP was associated with MDA and FTA. A logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and BMI indicated that higher ALP influenced an MDA >11°, which indicates the risk for the progression of genu varum (odds ratio 1.002, 95% confidence interval 1.0003-1.003, p = 0.021). The higher ALP (+100 IU), the higher risk of an MDA >11° (odds ratio 1.22). In conclusion, genu varum is associated with the alkaline phosphatase level regardless of the presence of radiographic abnormalities in the growth plate in children.

The surgical treatment of osteonecrosis with collapse of the femoral head is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of rotational acetabular osteotomy by Ninomiya and Tagawa for osteonecrosis of the femoral head in young patients. Rotational acetabular osteotomy was performed in 202 consecutive patients between 1995 and 2003. Among them, rotational acetabular osteotomy with osteonecrosis of the femoral head was performed in 31 patients (42 hips). The mean age at the time of surgery was 31.2 years (range 16–45). The mean duration of follow-up was 16.1 years (range 13.1–21 years). The mean preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association hip score of 56.8 points improved to a mean of 72.4 points at the final follow-up. The 10-year survival rate with conversion to total hip arthroplasty as an end-point was 91.9%, and the 15-year survival rate was 75.5%, the 20-year survival rate was 67.9%. The conversion to total hip arthroplasty was performed in nine hips. The average time to the conversion to total hip arthroplasty was 12.1 years. Even though the necrotized range is wide, if normal cartilage remains on the lateral side of the femoral head, it can be utilized for the weight-bearing region by laterally rotating the acetabulum. Since the outcome was favorable, we believe that this is a valuable treatment option for this disease.

Collagen is an extracellular matrix protein present in the skin, tendon, cartilage and bone. Collagen peptides (CP) are produced by the hydrolysis of gelatin (heat-denatured collagen) by proteases and are utilized as a component of nutraceuticals. The current study investigated the effect of CP on the articular cartilage of OA by evaluating the serum levels of biomarkers (CTX-II for type II collagen degradation and CPII for type II collagen synthesis), histopathological changes (Mankin score, based on the toluidine blue staining of proteoglycans), and immunohistochemical staining of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and type II collagen, using a rat experimental osteoarthritis (OA) model. Anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) was performed on the right knee joint to surgically induce OA. Animals were divided into four groups: Control group (Control), sham-operated group (Sham), ACLT group without collagen peptide (ACLT group) and ACLT group with oral administration of CP (CP group). ACLT induced histological damages and significantly increased the Mankin score (P

Rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO), a joint-conserving surgery in which the femoral head coverage by autologous cartilage is improved to achieve joint stability, is one of the most common joint-conserving surgeries for acetabular dysplasia of the hip in adult patients. Favorable outcome of RAO for pre- and initial coxarthrosis has been reported with middle- to long-term observation; however, surgery should be selected for advanced coxarthrosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes and radiological arthritis changes in patients who were treated with RAO and could be followed for 15 years or longer, and to investigate the joint conservation rate by preoperative arthritis stage. The subjects were 156 patients (178 joints) treated with rotational acetabular osteotomy alone between January 1989 and June 2000. Of those, 106 patients (115 joints) were retrospectively investigated. The mean age at the time of surgery was 41.4 years (14–60 years), and the mean duration of follow-up was 20 years and 4 months (15–26 years and 7 months). There were no significant differences in the Harris hip score among the three groups before surgery; however, the score was significantly lower in the advanced than pre/initial coxarthrosis cases at final follow-up. The joint conservation rate with the end point defined as time of total hip arthroplasty was 70.4% at 20 years after surgery. By stage, joint conservation rates were 88.9, 78.9, and 59.3% in pre-, initial, and advanced coxarthrosis cases, respectively, demonstrating a significantly lower rate in the advanced coxarthrosis cases (p = 0.034). The mean time to conversion was 23, 14.5, and 13.7 years in the pre-, initial, and advanced coxarthrosis cases, respectively. The outcome of rotational acetabular osteotomy in most hips with pre- or initial coxarthrosis was satisfactory. Rotational acetabular osteotomy is an effective surgery for treating symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip in selected patients.

Backgroud Femoral offset (FO) and limb length discrepancy (LLD) are important perioperative considerations when performing THA. Decreased FO prevents improvement of gait and muscle recovery and residual LLD has a prominent influence on patient satisfaction with THA, while few studies have investigated the relationship between FO and/or LLD and gait disturbances. We investigated the association between these two factors and hip muscle strength and the results of 3-D gait analysis after THA. Methods We evaluated 92 patients (including 20 patients who underwent gait analysis) in whom total hip arthroplasty was performed for unilateral evere osteoarthritis of the hip joint. FO and LLD were measured on a standard anteroposterior radiograph of the pelvis. Hip muscle strength was evaluated by isometric hip flexion (in the manner of straight leg raising test: SLR) and hip abduction strength. To evaluate 3-D walking trajectory, we used a portable gait analyzer. Results Reduction of global FO by > 5 mm after THA compared to the contralateral hip was associated with hip abductor muscle weakness. On the other hand, LLD ≤ 20 mm had no influence on hip abductor muscle strength and SLR strength. In gait analysis, SLR strength showed a significant difference between the sagittal plane symmetrical and asymmetrical groups. Conclusion Postoperative global FO > 5 mm less than that of the contralateral hip was associated with hip abductor muscle weakness. And, from the results of 3-D gait analysis, SLR weakness may increase gait asymmetry in the sagittal plane.

Motor disorders are caused by orthopedic problems that are mainly related to aging. These disorders can lead to a decline of physical activity and impairment of ADL. When evaluating a patient's motor function after treatment, it is necessary to determine whether or not the level of function is age-appropriate. To investigate the influence of hip joint dysfunction on motor disorders, we determined the JHEQ and GLFS-25 scores and performed muscle strength testing in female patients with hip osteoarthritis.The subjects were 108 women who had received THA, 56 women scheduled for THA, and 64 women on conservative treatment. The JHEQ score (evaluation scale for hip joint function) and GLFS-25 score (evaluation scale for ADL) were determined and muscle strength testing was conducted at a routine outpatient visit.A strong correlation was found between the total JHEQ score and the GLFS-25 score (r = - 0.837). Patients after THA and patients with successful conservative treatment aged 60-79 years showed similar motor function to healthy persons of the same age. There was a significant difference of straight leg raising and abduction strength (both p 0.01) between patients in GLFS-25 levels 1-3 and patients in GLFS-25 levels 4-7.While hip joint dysfunction has a strong influence on overall motor function, the patients after THA and patients with successful conservative treatment showed similar motor function to healthy persons of the same age. And patients with hip osteoarthritis must preserve or increase SLR strength to maintain adequate motor function.

Background The presence/absence of postoperative anemia are presumed to have an impact on early recovery after surgery. This study was performed to compare hip muscle strength and hemoglobin during the perioperative period in 82 patients undergoing THA. Methods Evaluation of presence/absence of anemia was performed by calculating the 10-day postoperative/preoperative Hb ratio. Muscle strength was investigated before and 2 months after surgery. Results Postoperative SLR strength showed a significant difference between the patients whose 10-day postoperative/preoperative Hb ratio was Conclusion We need to consider perioperative strategies to minimize anemia in order to improve patient outcomes.

Background As improvement of gait is an important reason for patients to undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) and they generally tend to evaluate its success based on postoperative walking ability, objective functional evaluation of postoperative gait is important. However, the patient’s normal gait before osteoarthritis is unknown and the changes that will occur postoperatively are unclear. We investigated the change in gait and hip joint muscle strength after THA by using a portable gait rhythmograph (PGR) and muscle strength measuring device. Patient and methods The subjects were 46 women (mean age: 65.9 years) with osteoarthritis of the hip. Gait analysis and muscle strength testing were performed before THA, as well as 3 weeks and 3 months after surgery. We measured the walking speed, step length, and gait trajectory using PGR prospectively. PGR is attached to the patient’s waist and records signals at a sampling rate of 100 Hz. Isometric torque of hip flexion and abduction were measured by using a hand-held dynamometer. Results There was no improvement at 3 weeks postoperatively, but the walking speed, stride length and muscle strength were clearly showed improvement at 3 months postoperatively. The walking trajectory was not normal preoperatively, since the trajectory was not symmetrical and did not intersect in the midline or form a butterfly pattern, and abnormality of the trajectory tended to persist postoperative 3 months despite resolution of hip joint pain after surgery. Conclusion Since postoperative improvement of gait is an important consideration for patients undergoing THA, it seems relevant to evaluate changes in the gait after surgery and three-dimensional analysis with a PGR may be useful for this purpose.

We reported the longitudinal changes in serum chromium levels over a minimum of 7 years postoperatively in five men and 25 women with a mean age of 60.3 years after primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty with a Metasul metal-on-metal articulation. The serum chromium ion level showed little variation (0.6–1.2 μg/L) from 2 to 12 years postoperatively in 16/30 patients after unilateral primary Metasul metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty. On the other hand, the serum chromium level stayed high or showed gradual elevation in 8/30 patients, even though they had well-fixed and well-functioning prostheses.

Despite objectively good results, up to 70 % of individuals may not return to their pre-injury level of sports activity after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. Although psychological responses have been shown to affect outcomes after ACL injury, an appropriate means of measuring their effects, in addition to functional status, has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to develop a patient-reported questionnaire for measuring psychological factors associated with outcomes after ACL injury and to evaluate its reliability, validity, and responsiveness. After item analysis based on the results of two pilot studies and a short relevance assessment, 25 questionnaire items were selected for the Japanese Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Questionnaire 25 (JACL-25) and assessed for validity, reliability, and responsiveness in subjects with ACL injury. The JACL-25 had no floor or ceiling effects and no confounding factors. A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.981 and a Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.983 indicated excellent reliability. Large standardized response means (1.30–1.62) and effect sizes (0.96–1.51) from the preoperative to postoperative period indicated good responsiveness. Construct structures were created, and these items were separated into three domains. Strong correlations between the JACL-25 and the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (r s = −0.86), Lysholm Score (r s = −0.73), and Tegner Activity Scale (r s = −0.65) indicated good concurrent validity of the JACL-25. The present study demonstrated that the JACL-25 was valid, reliable, and responsive enough to evaluate psychological factors associated with outcomes in individuals with ACL injuries. Diagnostic study, Level III.

Purpose Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are stress-related fractures that are speculated to associate with long-term treatment with bisphosphonates for osteoporosis. A history of AFF is a high risk factor for the development of a subsequent AFF in the same location of the contralateral femur, suggesting that a patient's individual anatomical factor(s) are related to the fracture site of AFFs. In this study, we investigated the radiographs of fourteen AFFs (four bilateral fractures among ten patients) treated at six hospitals associated with our university between 2005 and 2010. The fracture site and standing femorotibial angle (FTA), which reflects the mechanical axis of the lower limb, were measured on weight-bearing lower limb radiographs. The fracture site and FTA of patients with typical femoral fractures (TFF) were compared to those of patients with AFFs. The correlations were examined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The fracture locations in the femora were almost the same in the patients with bilateral AFFs. There was a positive correlation between the fracture site and the standing FTA in the patients with AFFs (r = 0.82, 95% confidence interval; 0.49 to 0.94), indicating that the larger the standing FTA (varus alignment), the more distal the site of the fracture in the femur. The FTA of the patients with atypical diaphyseal femoral fracture were significantly larger compared to that of those with not only atypical subtrochanteric fractures but also TFFs. In conclusion, the fracture sites of AFFs are associated with the standing lower limb alignment, while those of TFFs are not.

The long-term treatment with anti-resorptive drugs for osteoporotic patients is suggested to be associated with an increase in atypical femoral fractures (AFFs). However, their incidence, patient characteristics, and risk factors have not been fully elucidated especially in Asian countries. This retrospective observational cohort study found fourteen AFFs in ten patients (four bilateral fractures) among 2,238 hip and femoral shaft fractures treated in our associated hospitals between 2005 and 2010; this incidence (0.63%) was similar to Caucasians. Of the ten patients with AFFs, nine (90%) and six (60%) were using bisphosphonates (BPs) and glucocorticoids (GCs), respectively, compared to 14.3 and 8.6% for patients with typical femoral fractures who were using these agents. As comorbid conditions, five patients had collagen disease (CD) and two had diabetes. A fracture location-, age- and gender-matched (1:3) case-control study revealed that administration of BPs, GCs, and suffering from collagen disease (CD) were significant risk factors for developing AFFs [odds ratios 36.0 (95% confidence intervals 3.8-342.2), 13.0 (2.3-74.1) and 9.0 (1.6-50.3), respectively]. Interestingly, all of the patients with atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures, defined as those within 5 cm of the lesser trochanter, were taking GCs due to CD, and the age of these patients (average of 54.8 years) was significantly younger than those with atypical diaphyseal femoral fractures (average of 77.2 years, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the incidence of AFFs in the Japanese population was similar to that of Caucasians, and taking BPs and GCs and suffering from CD were risk factors for developing AFFs.

We evaluate the clinical and radiological results of cementless total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in patients aged ≥80 years.We compared the clinical and radiological results of 30 cementless THAs done in patients aged ≥80 years (older group) and aged 60-69 years (control group).The Harris Hip score significantly decreased in the older group 1 year after the operation and at the final follow-up observation (p = 0.001), but no joints required revision surgery due to poor initial fixation or early loosening.Cementless THA in the elderly is safe and durable at the time of the follow-up.

Background:The fifth metatarsal bone is a common site of stress fractures in soccer athletes. Although several endocrine risk factors for stress fractures have been proposed, the endocrine risks for fifth metatarsal (5-MT) stress fractures have not been evaluated.Methods:To evaluate the endocrine risks of fifth metatarsal stress fractures, we conducted a cumulative case-control study. The present study included 37 athletes, of which 18 had a history of a zone 2 or zone 3 fifth metatarsal stress fracture and 19 controls. We analyzed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), as well as biochemical markers of bone turnover by univariate or multivariate analyses.Results:Logistic regression analyses adjusted for multiple confounders revealed that insufficient serum 25-OHD levels less than 30 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR], 23.3), higher serum PTH levels (OR, 1.01), or higher serum bone-specific isoform of alkaline phosphatase levels (OR, 1.10) rather than serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b were associated with statistically significantly increased odds of 5-MT stress fractures. A postestimation calculation demonstrated that 25-OHD levels of 10 and 20 ng/mL were associated with 5.1 and 2.9 times greater odds for 5-MT stress fractures, respectively.Conclusion:25-OHD insufficiency was associated with an increased incidence of 5-MT stress fractures. This insight may be useful for intervening to prevent 5-MT stress fractures.Level of Evidence:Level III, case-control study.

Although many authors have reported the serum concentrations of metal ions in patients who had metal-on-metal coupling prostheses, most of the studies were not longitudinal, and the follow-up periods were short. We evaluated the longitudinal changes of serum chromium levels in 44 patients who had undergone unilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty for a minimum of 7 years postoperatively. Although there was a consistent increase in the mean serum chromium level until 3 years after implantation, there was little difference in the levels from years 3 to 7 postoperatively. Although the serum chromium concentration was low throughout postoperative follow-up for 7 years in about 25% of patients, the serum chromium level stayed high or showed gradual elevation in 16.3% of our patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the postoperative results following THA for ankylosing spondylitis, which is very rare in Japanese. We performed uncemented THA in 31 hips between 1982 and 2007. Patients were followed up for a mean of 12 years. The 10-year survival rate was 100%, and the 15-year survival rate was 63.5%. Revision surgery was performed in 4 hips. Complications developed in 5 cases. Two patients sustained an intraoperative non-displaced fracture at the level of the calcar femorale. Three patients experienced postoperative dislocation. Although the study scale was small because of the very low prevalence (0.0065%) of the disease in Japan, the survival rate was similar to those reported overseas. All revision cases were due to mechanical loosening of the acetabular component of Lord THA, suggesting that the low survival rate was due to the performance of the prosthesis and not the pathology of ankylosing spondylitis.

We report a rare case of late recurrence of a giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone 16 years after curettage and cryosurgery treatment. A 46-year-old man presented with swelling and progressively worsening pain in the lateral aspect of his right distal femur. He had undergone 4 procedures elsewhere to manage a GCT of bone and its recurrence 16 to 23 years previously. He underwent en bloc resection with an adequate wide margin and reconstruction with prosthesis. At the one-year follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

In 19 patients with RA and 20 with OA who underwent autotransfusion with unwashed salvaged blood (USB) after total knee arthroplasty, we performed serial measurement of D-dimer, FgDP, t-PA, and PIC in the plasma and salvaged blood. The PIC level at the completion of salvaged blood transfusion was closely correlated with the volume of USB reinfused in the RA group (p < 0.001). The t-PA level of salvaged blood showed a significant positive correlation with the total volume of postoperative drainage in both the RA and OA groups (p < 0.05). The increase of total postoperative drainage associated with reinfusion of USB is largely caused by an increase of t-PA in the salvaged blood.

In order to reduce the incidence of cut-out, which is one of the serious postoperative complications of trochanteric femoral fractures, we paid special attention to the placement of lag screw in the femoral head. As a result, we devised a new technique that allows insertion of the lag screw at the first attempt into the optimal position on both planes, inferior half on the antero-posterior view and exactly central on the lateral view, without the need for any special devices other than the basic original set, using a trochanteric nail. For this technique, we have evaluated the proximal femoral profile under image intensifier, on the true lateral view projected parallel to the axis of the femoral neck and not on the conventional lateral view (Lauenstein view) with the projection parallel to the axis of the femoral shaft in a coronal plane. With the X-ray beam lying in the same plane with the targeting device including the nail and the guide sleeve, the guide pin is intended to pass through the guide sleeve and the middle of shadow of the proximal end of the targeting device, so that it can be inserted in the optimal position without fail, aligned with the middle axis of the femoral head. The deviation angle between the axes of the lag screw and the femoral head was measured on every postoperative lateral radiograph. The mean deviation angle of 1.6 degrees in the 39 fractures after the introduction of the new insertion technique was compared with 4.8 degrees in the 44 fractures before the introduction, which showed a significant difference between these groups (p

Two cases of closed dislocation of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb are presented. It was impossible to achieve manual reduction in either patient. This rare injury required open reduction with anatomical repositioning of the volar plate in both patients. We fixed the IP joint with a steel wire after reduction in both cases because of slight joint instability. At the latest follow-up, both patients do not have any problems with in daily life.

The natural history of osteonecrosis of the femoral head is generally thought to be one of progressive deterioration if no intervention is undertaken. However, it is unknown whether surgical intervention is beneficial for patients with a small region of osteonecrosis. We observed rapid improvement of MRI findings after rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) was performed in a young patient with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The band-like low signal area on T2-weighted images almost resolved by six months after surgery. He returned to work as an electrician by six months after surgery. Early surgical intervention such as RAO that alters the mechanical force acting on the necrotic region of the femoral head may accelerate the recovery of osteonecrosis and the improvement of symptoms.