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Body size has an impact on all biological functions and analyzing how body size impacts functional traits such as locomotion is critical. Body size does not only vary across species but also during ontogeny. Indeed, juvenile animals are often at a competitive disadvantage due to their smaller absolute size. Consequently, understanding size- and age-related changes in the locomotor system is critical for our understanding of adult phenotypes. Here, we address this question by exploring growth of the hind limb muscles in two species of closely related baboons that differ in their ecology, the olive baboon, Papio Anubis, the Guinea baboon, and Papio papio. To do so, we dissected 40 P. anubis and 10 P. papio and measured the mass and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) of the hind limb muscles. Our results showed no sexual differences in size- or age-related growth patterns, but did show differences between species. Whereas the scaling of muscle mass and PCSA was largely isometric in P. anubis, allometric scaling was more common in P. papio. Despite these differences between species, the knee extensors and external rotators at the knee scaled with positive allometry in both species highlighting their important role during adult locomotion. Although life-history data for P. papio are scarce, we suggest that differences between species may be associated with differences in adult body size and age of locomotor independence between species., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.)

The jaw system in mammals is complex and different muscle morphotypes have been documented. Pigs are an interesting group of animals as they are omnivorous and have a bunodont crushing dentition. Moreover, they have interacted with humans for over 10,000 years and grow nearly two orders of magnitude in size. Despite being a model system for studies on cranial form and function, data on the growth of the jaw adductor muscles are scant. Moreover, whether captivity impacts the growth and architecture of the jaw adductors remains unknown. Based on dissection data of the jaw adductors of 45 animals ranging from less than 1 kg to almost 100 kg, we show that muscle masses, muscle fiber lengths, and cross-sectional areas scale as predicted for geometrically similar systems or with slight negative allometry. Only the fiber length of the lateral pterygoid muscle grew with slight positive allometry. Animals raised in captivity in stalls or in an enclosure were overall very similar to wild animals. However, some muscles were larger in captive animals. Interestingly, variation in bite force in captive animals was well predicted by the variation in the size of the superficial masseter muscle relative to the overall jaw adductor mass., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Morphology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a locally aggressive bone tumor that represents about 4-5% of all primary bone tumors. It is characterized by aggressive growth, possible recurrence after surgical treatment and, in rare cases, metastasis. Surgical management is the primary treatment and may include intralesional curettage with adjuvants or, in rare cases, wide resection. In recent years the monoclonal antibody denosumab has been introduced as a potential (neo-)adjuvant systemic treatment option for patients with borderline resectable or unresectable lesions. Currently several studies reported that the use of denosumab prior to curettage possibly increase the risk of local recurrence., Methods: In this retrospective study we reviewed 115 cases of GCT with a mean follow-up of 65.6 (24-404) months who underwent a surgical treatment with or without preoperative denosumab therapy in our institution. Potential risk factors for LR and complications were analyzed., Results: The study includes 47 male (40.9%) and 68 female (59.1%) patients with a mean age of 33.9 (10-77) years and a mean follow-up of 65.6 (24-404) months. Denosumab was used in 33 (28.7%) cases, in 14 cases (12.2%) in a neoadjuvant setting and in 17 cases preoperatively before re-curettage (14.8%) after LR. In 105 cases (91.3%) an intralesional curettage was performed. The overall LR rate was 47.8% (55 cases). Patients who underwent intralesional curettage and bone cement augmentation without neoadjuvant denosumab treatment had LR in 42.2% (38/90) of the cases. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant denosumab treatment prior to curettage had LR in 28.6% (4/14). Re-recurrence was frequent in patients with neoadjuvant denosumab treatment who had LR after initial curettage (50%, 8/16). After wide resection and endoprosthetic replacement one case (20%) of local recurrence was detectable (1/5 cases)., Conclusions: GCTB recurs frequently after intralesional curettage and cement augmentation. While denosumab is a potential (neo-)adjuvant treatment option that might be used for lesions that are difficult to resect, surgeons should be aware that LR is still frequent., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Background: Reactive arthritis following infection with chlamydia is a rare but important differential diagnosis in atraumatic joint swelling. A delayed diagnosis often leads to prolonged periods of absence from physical activity. This can have serious consequences, especially for the career of competitive athletes., Objectives: Recommendation for the clinical management of postinfectious reactive arthritis for rapid diagnosis and targeted treatment in the symptomatic clinical course., Materials and Methods: Review of the literature on the topics "chlamydia", "reactive arthritis", "postinfectious arthritis" and "sexually acquired reactive arthritis", including presentation of two clinical cases of postinfectious reactive arthritis after chlamydia infection from competitive sports., Results and Conclusion: Reactive arthritis following chlamydia infection in competitive athletes is a rare entity. However, it can be accompanied by far-reaching individual consequences, especially with regard to possible downtime in sports. Long-term consequences such as chronic joint damage in maintained synovitis must also be considered. In order to make a diagnosis, a specific anamnesis and the direct detection of the pathogen in the specimen of synovial fluid by polymerase chain reaction is essential. This allows a reliable diagnosis to be made with immediate initiation of therapy. However, a prolonged course of the disease cannot be excluded even if therapy is started in due time.

Background-Postoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an important diagnostic parameter for systemic inflammation and reflects surgical trauma. While trends and normal trajectories after total knee (TKA) or hip arthroplasty (THA) are established, there is no reference standard for shoulder arthroplasty (SA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to research CRP trends and influencing factors following SA. Methods-This retrospective study analyzed postoperative serum CRP levels and trajectories in 280 patients following SA. Influence of prosthesis design, sex, operating time, BMI, and humeral augmentation with bone cement were analyzed using descriptive statistics and (non-) parametric testing. Results-There is a CRP trend with a peak on day two or three, with a subsequent decrease until day seven. Reverse and stemmed prostheses show a statistically higher CRP peak than stemless prostheses or hemiarthroplasties (HA). There was no influence of gender, body mass index (BMI), operating time, or bone cement. Conclusion-The presented findings may contribute to a better understanding of the postoperative CRP course after SA. The results of this retrospective study should be validated by a prospective study design in the future.

The lack of bone morphological markers associated with the human control of wild animals has prevented the documentation of incipient animal domestication in archaeology. Here, we assess whether direct environmental changes (i.e. mobility reduction) could immediately affect ontogenetic changes in long bone structure, providing a skeletal marker of early domestication. We relied on a wild boar experimental model, analysing 24 wild-born specimens raised in captivity from 6 months to 2 years old. The shaft cortical thickness of their humerus was measured using a 3D morphometric mapping approach and compared with 23 free-ranging wild boars and 22 pigs from different breeds, taking into account sex, mass and muscle force differences. In wild boars we found that captivity induced an increase in cortical bone volume and muscle force, and a topographic change of cortical thickness associated with muscular expression along a phenotypic trajectory that differed from the divergence induced by selective breeding. These results provide an experimental proof of concept that changes in locomotor behaviour and selective breeding might be inferred from long bones morphology in the fossil and archaeological record. These trends need to be explored in the archaeological record and further studies are required to explore the developmental changes behind these plastic responses.

Background: Surgical disciplines are fighting with a critical and escalating shortage of recruits. Potential young professionals belong to the Generation Y, a generation that is constantly challenging senior consultants and human resources departments. The aim of this study was the analysis of various measures of personnel acquisition with respect to motivating factors of young medical students., Material and Methods: A survey was carried out among students of the first and ninth semesters of a medical faculty on individual motivating factors, aspiration for medical specialist training and professional experience gained in surgery., Results: Results from 179 out of 269 medical students were available for analysis (66.5% response rate). The interest in a specialist training in surgery was high in the first semester of medical school (21%) but dropped noticeably up to the ninth semester (13%, p = 0.23). Medical students in the ninth semester, who favored professional advancement and appreciation over flexible working hours showed a significantly higher interest in a specialist training in surgery (p = 0.022). Surgical experience gained was valued with an average grade of 2+ (1 = best, 6 = worst)., Conclusion: The high fundamental interest in a surgical residency during the beginning of medical studies is a competitive advantage of surgical disciplines; however, the diverse recruiting efforts are mainly aimed at later stages of studies. Timely hands-on courses in the core working area of surgery, the operating theatre, have proven to be particularly successful for the long-term acquisition and retention of junior doctors.

Background: Due to the increasing numbers of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures being carried out, the frequency of major acetabular defects is also rising. A combination of an anti-protrusio cage and a dual mobility cup has been used in our department since 2007 in order to reduce the dislocation rate associated with complex defects. Although both implants have an important place in endoprosthetics, there are as yet limited data on the dislocation and complication rates with this combination., Methods: This retrospective study included all patients in whom a Burch-Schneider cage and a dual mobility cup were implanted in our department between 2007 and 2014 and who had a minimum follow-up period of 24 months., Results: The study included 79 patients with a mean follow-up period of 5.3 years. The implant survival rate was 85% at 65 months. Postoperative dislocation occurred in two cases (2.1%), with the first dislocation taking place within the first 3 weeks in both of these patients., Conclusions: The present study shows a promising dislocation rate with a combination of an anti-protrusio cage and a dual mobility cup. Particularly in the medium-term follow-up, no further dislocations occurred in the study. A maximum cup inclination of 45° in revision cases was associated with a lower dislocation rate in this group of patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.