J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 3. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00224. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Directed growth modulation is commonly utilized as a surgical treatment for early-onset scoliosis. Growing rods are instrumented on the spine and apply sustained tension on the immature spine for a substantial amount of time, with the clinical goal of accommodating axial expansion of the spine. Despite the use of growing rods in humans, the mechanobiology of the spinal tissues under tensile loading remains relatively unknown. To bridge this knowledge gap, we developed a preclinical mouse model that allows for mechanistic investigations of sustained tension on the spine.

METHODS: Using custom 3D-printed washers and tunable springs, we distracted across the seventh and ninth caudal vertebrae of adolescent and young adult C57BL/6 female mice with forces that were approximately 2 times the body mass of the animal. The springs were replaced weekly to maintain tension for the duration of the experiment. A set of 6-week-old animals were first instrumented for 10 weeks to evaluate the feasibility and tolerability. Subsequently, the 6- and 12-week-old experimental animals were instrumented until they were 20 weeks of age in order to evaluate the effects of tension until adulthood. The spines were monitored using digital radiography and micro-computed tomography (µCT), and the intervertebral discs (IVDs) were evaluated using mechanical testing and compositional assays.

RESULTS: The device was well tolerated and caused no notable complications. The tensile forces lengthened the vertebrae in the 6-week-old animals that were instrumented for 14 weeks and in the 12-week-old animals that were instrumented for 8 weeks. Increased IVD heights were observed in the 6-week-old animals but not in the 12-week-old animals. The porosity of the vertebral end plates increased following instrumentation in all groups but progressively recovered over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Distraction accelerated the lengthening of the vertebrae and the heightening of the IVD, with no observable degeneration or decline in the mechanical performance of the IVDs for these distraction conditions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This model will be useful for investigating how spinal tissues adapt to directed growth modulation with maturation and aging.

PMID:40179155 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00224

Int Orthop. 2025 Apr 3. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06430-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Standard recommendations for fast-track hip arthroplasty suggest using 8-10 mg of dexamethasone to reduce opioid consumption, with potential benefits of higher doses but scarce data on glycaemic control and complications. This study compares the effects of higher doses versus the standard doses on postoperative opioid consumption, and secondarily, numerical pain scale, glycaemic control, hospital length of stay and postoperative complications.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients scheduled for FAST-TRACK primary hip arthroplasty between 2016 and 2021. Propensity score-matched analyses compared the standard dose group (4-8 mg) versus the high-dose group (16-24 mg).

RESULTS: 168 patients were included (56 with 4-8 mg, 112 with 16-24 mg). After one-to-one propensity score matching, 52 patients were included in the standard group and 52 in the high-dose group. After matching, the median [IQR] opioid consumption in the low-dose group was 10 [0-12] and in the high-dose group was 0 [0-10], with a 95% CI of -1 to 0 (p = 0.016). In the matched group, there was a median difference of 8 mg/dL (95% CI, -2 to 7, P < 0.05) in the immediate postoperative glycaemia, of 17 mg/dl (95% CI, -2 to 14, P < 0.05) in glycaemia at 24 h and of -1 day (95% CI, -1 to 0, P < 0.05) in hospital stay. No differences in the numerical pain scale and postoperative complications were found.

CONCLUSION: High-dose dexamethasone slightly increased perioperative glycaemia while reducing opioid consumption and shortening hospital length of stay.

PMID:40178624 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06430-6

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.01087. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The indications for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) are restricted by multiple criteria. The aim of this study was to explore the functional results of UKA in a population of patients outside the classical criteria.

METHODS: This study included a population of 197 patients who underwent UKA for medial osteoarthritis between 2017 and 2020. Two groups of patients were compared: those meeting the classical criteria and those presenting with ≥1 contraindication (e.g., age of ≥75 years, body mass index [BMI] of ≥30 kg/m2, or coronal limb deformity of >8°). The implant that was used was a modern fixed-bearing primary medial UKA component. The minimal follow-up was 3 years. The primary outcome was the functional results, including the Knee Society Score (KSS), and the secondary outcomes were the complication and revision rates.

RESULTS: There were 100 patients in the indication group and 97 in the off-indication group. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for height, sex ratio, operated side, or osteoarthritis stage (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the KSS between the 2 groups (p = 0.96). At 3 years of follow-up, the survival rate without revision was 100% in the indication group and 95.38% in the off-indication group (p = 0.57). The rate of complications was 12.9% in the indication group and 8.96% in the off-indication group (p = 0.47).

CONCLUSIONS: UKA for medial osteoarthritis yielded the same functional results for patients presenting with ≥1 theoretical contraindication, including a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2, age of ≥75 years, and coronal limb deformity of >8°, without altering the complication or revision rates at 3 years of follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:40173264 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.01087

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.25.00089. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40173251 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.25.00089

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2;107(7):e31. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.01282. Epub 2025 Apr 2.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40172568 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.01282

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2;107(7):e30. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.01369. Epub 2025 Apr 2.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40172567 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.01369

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2;107(7):e29. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.25.00033. Epub 2025 Apr 2.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40172566 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.25.00033

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2;107(7):e28. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.01171. Epub 2025 Apr 2.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40172565 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.01171

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 2;107(7):771-777. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.00850. Epub 2025 Feb 24.

ABSTRACT

➢ Physiologic changes during pregnancy alter the biomechanics of the spine, including increased ligamentous laxity, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic tilt.➢ Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with a fusion construct with the lowest instrumented vertebra of L3 and below have an increased risk of developing low back pain during pregnancy.➢ There is a low risk of curve progression during pregnancy for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with spinal fusion.➢ Although neuraxial anesthesia is possible in patients who had previously undergone spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, successful placement may require a more experienced provider and more attempts to place the epidural.

PMID:40172564 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.00850

Int Orthop. 2025 Apr 2. doi: 10.1007/s00264-025-06509-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pelvic ring and acetabular fractures pose significant morbidity and mortality risks due to substantial haemorrhage and internal organ injury. Many percutaneous reduction techniques involve manipulating the injured side while stabilizing the uninjured side, often requiring specific or costly equipment. This article presents a technique for creating a pelvic reduction frame using a standard external fixator.

METHOD: We included surgical pelvic ring fractures between 2018 and 2022. Pelvic reduction was achieved using an external fixator (Hoffmann III, Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA). Reduction quality was assessed according to the technique described by Lefaivre et al., based on the following criteria: mean asymmetry (mm), mean deformity index (mm), and mean maximum horizontal or vertical displacement (mm).

RESULTS: 15 patients (10 men, 5 women, mean age 35 years) underwent surgical treatment for pelvic fractures using an external fixator and percutaneous fixation. Mean operative time was 130 min (range, 80-276). Postoperative imaging showed a mean maximum displacement of 5.4 mm and a mean asymmetry of 3.7 mm, with excellent or good reductions in 11 cases.

CONCLUSION: This system uses widely available equipment and enables the benefits of percutaneous techniques, but surgical expertise remains the key to success.

PMID:40172657 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-025-06509-0

SICOT J. 2025;11:22. doi: 10.1051/sicotj/2025016. Epub 2025 Apr 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is the most common congenital musculoskeletal disease of the infantile age. The gold standard for early diagnosis of the disease is the Graf ultrasound method. In our study, we examined the correlation between age of the examined infant and diagnostic errors due to the ultrasound probe tilt effect during examination.

METHODS: Forty-two newborns who underwent ultrasound examination with the Graf method, were included. We categorized the neonates into three age groups (Group#1: 0-1 weeks, Group#2: 3-4 weeks, Group#3: 5-6weeks). Two ultrasound examinations were performed in every group. In the first examination, images were obtained with the probe in vertical position. In the second examination, images were taken with a 10° caudocranial tilt of the probe. Our aim was to measure the α angle in both examination and to mention the possible Type changes according to the Graf classification. The α angle defines the osseous coverage of the femoral head from the acetabulum in the neonatal hip joint.

RESULTS: In many cases, the classification changed from type I to type IIa or D and from type IIa to D, when instead of the vertical acquisition, the ultrasound probe was placed in a 10° caudocranial tilt at the hip joint of the examined infant. At Group#1 of the study we observed 60 Graf classification Type changes (90.91%), while in Group#2 and Group#3 we had 18 (33.33%) and 3 (7.96%) Type changes respectively.

CONCLUSION: As the age of the examined newborns increases, measurement and classification errors due to the tilt effect are significantly reduced. Clinically, the examination will be even more accurate and the use of an incorrect therapeutic approach due to incorrect classification will be avoided. Finally, the optimal time for conducting an ultrasonographic examination is between the 5th and 6th week of life.

PMID:40168551 | PMC:PMC11961070 | DOI:10.1051/sicotj/2025016

EFORT Open Rev. 2025 Apr 1;10(4):203-212. doi: 10.1530/EOR-2024-0083.

ABSTRACT

Focal cartilage lesions refer to localized damage or defects in the cartilage covering joint surfaces, often resulting from trauma, wear and tear or underlying joint conditions. These lesions can lead to pain, impaired joint function and, if left untreated, may contribute to the development of degenerative joint diseases. Challenges in treatment of focal cartilage lesion are mainly due to limited intrinsic healing capacity, difficulty in early detection of lesions and variability in symptoms make timely intervention tricky. Conservative treatments varies from addressing symptoms using physical therapy, corticosteroid injections and viscosupplementation, to regenerative attempts such as in platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells therapy. These modalities provide a limited duration of improvement and are commonly used to delay more aggressive treatment. Traditional surgery options are mainly summed up by microfractures (MFX) for smaller lesions, osteochondral autograft transfer, osteochondral allograft transfer (OCA) and autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis for moderate-to-large lesions. Cellular approaches encompass autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), which involve targeted transplantation of chondrocytes. Current research is concentrating on cell-based surgical approaches utilizing advanced biomaterials for both scaffold and scaffold-free implants. While gene therapy and tissue engineering approaches aim to optimize chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation for improved quality of the transplanted biomaterial and patient's outcomes.

PMID:40167465 | DOI:10.1530/EOR-2024-0083

EFORT Open Rev. 2025 Apr 1;10(4):172-185. doi: 10.1530/EOR-2024-0088.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated validity and test-retest reliability of inertial measurement units (IMUs) in gait metrics, static balance and functional mobility performance in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS: Spatiotemporal/biomechanical outcomes were meta-analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) or Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for validity and reliability, respectively.

RESULTS: In our systematic review of 56 articles and meta-analysis of 38 articles, the included studies varied in quality from low-to-moderate. During validity analysis, IMU-derived metrics, including walking speed, cadence, step/stride time, step time variability, step/stride length and duration of sit-to-stand (STS) test/timed up, and go test (TUGT) exhibited excellent (ICCs) or good-to-excellent (r values) agreement with gold standards. In terms of reliability, excellent test-retest consistency was found for walking speed, cadence, step/stride time, stance/swing time, step/stride length during gait, individual STS duration, TUGT duration and walking speed during the 6-min walk test.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to consistently high levels of validity and reliability, the present study supported the use of IMUs for measuring gait spatiotemporal outcomes. However, caution was advised when applying spatiotemporal variability and symmetry metrics. In addition, characterized by moderate-to-good validity and reliability, current review provides evidence of a neutral nature regarding the utilization of IMUs for static balance and functional mobility performance.

PMID:40167464 | DOI:10.1530/EOR-2024-0088

EFORT Open Rev. 2025 Apr 1;10(4):193-202. doi: 10.1530/EOR-24-0097. Print 2025 Apr 1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive, systematic review on the relationship and effects of smoking on clinical outcomes after meniscus surgery.

METHODS: The following combination of keywords was entered into the electronic search engines: meniscus, meniscus repairs, meniscectomy, meniscal tear, meniscus excision AND (smoke OR smoking OR nicotine OR tobacco). The year of the study, country, type of study, number of subjects, medial/lateral/both menisci, body mass index, smoking status, mean age, gender, follow-up, type/pattern of injury, surgical implications and clinical outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS: A total of 23 studies published in 2013-2024 were included in the analysis. In ten studies, the meniscus injury was associated with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. In four studies, the effect of smoking on meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) was investigated. The neutral effect of smoking on meniscus surgery was revealed in nine studies, and only one of them focused on isolated meniscus pathology and surgery. The negative effect of smoking on meniscus surgery was shown in ten papers, with four papers focused on isolated meniscus tears and six papers presenting data with concurrent ACL reconstructions.

CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review found that the results regarding the impact of smoking on meniscus repair outcomes were conflicting. Nevertheless, MAT and meniscus repair performed in the presence of concurrent ligamentous injury, both being demanding surgical procedures, require reduction of factors that may contribute to failure. Therefore, cessation of smoking in patients undergoing these procedures is highly advised.

PMID:40167455 | DOI:10.1530/EOR-24-0097

EFORT Open Rev. 2025 Apr 1;10(4):186-192. doi: 10.1530/EOR-2024-0126.

ABSTRACT

Trauma induced by surgery stimulates a neuroendocrine stress response, substantially increasing cortisol levels in the post-surgical setting. This has substantial effects on metabolism, water and electrolyte balance as well as on the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. While there are valid data on cortisol level courses in a variety of specific pathologies, such as septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bacterial meningitis, cardiac arrest, community-acquired pneumonia and influenza, there is a persisting lack of data on the cortisol stress response after musculoskeletal surgery. The present review provides an overview of the current state of research regarding trauma-induced cortisol response after musculoskeletal interventions, including both elective orthopedic surgery and trauma surgery. Trauma induced by musculoskeletal surgery triggers a cortisol response, which varies significantly depending on the type of surgery and its invasiveness. Notably, elective orthopedic procedures demonstrate a smaller range of cortisol levels compared to musculoskeletal trauma and surgery. In the future, high-quality prospective trials need to analyze the factors that may modulate the adequate adrenal response to stress, such as preoperative long-term treatments with glucocorticoids, as well as the potential impact of low cortisol levels and perioperative cortisol substitution therapy on pain management, blood requirements, catecholamine dependency, delirium and mortality after musculoskeletal surgery.

PMID:40167425 | DOI:10.1530/EOR-2024-0126

Injury. 2025 Mar 22:112284. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112284. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40169293 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112284

Injury. 2025 Mar 23;56(6):112293. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112293. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a considerable health burden on adolescents and young adults. This study aims to assess the influence of health compromising behavior, poor perceived health, poor school success, and low family socioeconomic background during adolescence on subsequent TBI in a large cohort of Finnish adolescents with an average 25-year follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline Finnish Adolescent Health and Lifestyle survey data gathered biennially (1981-1997) was linked with the diagnosis of subsequent TBI from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care. A structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the associations between health behavior, poor perceived health, poor school success, and low family socioeconomic background during adolescence on subsequent TBI.

RESULTS: Total of 41 336 persons were included in the analyses. During the follow-up, 1 459 (3.5 %) TBIs occurred. Men were more likely to suffer a TBI. The mean follow-up time was 25.3 years (SD 4.0) and the mean age at the time of TBI was 32.1 years (SD 7.7). Health compromising behavior and not living with both parents in adolescence were associated with the increased risk of TBI. Also, poor perceived health and stress symptoms increased the risk of TBI. Low family socioeconomic status (SES) was only indirectly associated with TBI trough health compromising behavior.

CONCLUSION: The main finding was that health compromising behavior was associated with TBI, and low family SES was associated with TBI through health compromising behavior in later life. Poor perceived health, stress symptoms, and not living with both parents in adolescence increased the risk of TBI, too. Our findings suggest that adolescents who are at risk of drifting into health compromising behavior and report stress symptoms have an increased risk of TBI in later life.

PMID:40168891 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112293

Injury. 2025 Mar 24;56(6):112296. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112296. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Falls are a leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and mobility difficulties. Previous estimates have relied on restricted regional scope and lack a thorough global study. This study, for the first time, examines the evolving trends in the global burden of falls from 1990 to 2021, focusing on geographic variation in disease burden and risk factors, predicting the development of burden of falls. Our aim was to provide information for allocating medical resources, taking health policies into action, and making patient management systems operate better.

METHOD: Data on incident cases, deaths, and DALYs were collected for countries, regions, ages, and sexes worldwide from the Global Burden Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Using R (version 4.3.2), we calculated estimated annual percent changes (EAPCs) for assessing trends in age-standardized rates, visualized risk factors, and predicted the global burden of falls. Joinpoint regression (version 4.9.1.0) was used to identify significant temporal trends and change points.

RESULTS: In 2021, 548.8 million people were affected by falls. There were 215 million incidence, 43.8 million DALYs, and 800,000 deaths caused by falls. The incidence rate of falls increases with age, and sex inequalities exist. Compared with 1990, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), death rate (ASDR), and DALY rate (ASDALYsR) declined despite an increase in absolute numbers. The ASDR and ASDALYsR of falls are expected to decline in the future, whereas the ASIR is expected to rise. The fall burden varied significantly according to region and its sociodemographic index (SDI). Both ASIR (R = 0.510, p < 0.001) and ASDALYsR (R = 0.2762, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with SDI. In contrast, ASDR (R=-0.536, p < 0.001) showed a consistently negative association with SDI. Low bone mineral density, occupational injuries, alcohol use, and smoking emerged as the top factors associated with fall-related DALYs and deaths.

CONCLUSIONS: The overall burden of falls declined between 1990 and 2021, but the future incidence is expected to increase. The global burden of falls remains unchanged and shows significant regional and sex-based differences. Effective prevention and strategies against risk factors are imperative for reducing the future burden.

PMID:40168890 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112296

Injury. 2025 Mar 26;56(6):112287. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112287. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The ear is one of the most technically difficult areas to reconstruct following traumatic injury. Utilizing the largest national multicenter patient sample to date, this study seeks to provide a critical overview of the epidemiology of traumatic ear injuries.

METHODS: The NEISS database was searched from 2003-2022 to identify patients with related traumatic ear injuries. Three age groups were examined: geriatric (65+), adult (18-64), and pediatric (2-17). Variables including race, sex, incident location, commercial products involved, and emergency department disposition were evaluated between the groups utilizing two-proportion z-tests with Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS: 25,285 patients who sustained ear injuries were identified from the NEISS database. The top five types of ear injuries were laceration, contusion, puncture, hematoma, and burn. Geriatric patients experienced a significantly higher frequency of ear lacerations (82.5 % vs 68.6 %, p < 0.001) relative to non-geriatric adults, while children had a significantly greater frequency of hematomas (3.7 % vs 2.8 %, p = 0.001), and contusions (18.0 % vs 16.0 %, p = 0.006). The top five products involved for ear injuries were tables, first aid equipment, bed/bedframe, jewelry, and chairs. Geriatric adults had a significantly higher frequency of ear injuries from bed frames relative to non-geriatric adults (20.0 % vs 3.2 %, p < 0.001) and were over five times more likely to be admitted to the hospital..

CONCLUSIONS: This study offers novel insights into the epidemiology of traumatic ear injuries in the U.S especially across different age demographics. The greater prevalence of ear injuries from tables, first aid equipment, and with sporting activities among children highlights needs for childproofing homes and providing greater patient education and regulation on ear safety. The increased fragility of tissue and greater prevalence of fall injuries among geriatric patients demonstrates need for ongoing physical therapy and fall risk measures to be implemented. Collectively, the results help inform public health strategies to prevent such injuries as well as provide invaluable clinical context for reconstructive surgeons.

PMID:40168889 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2025.112287

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2025 Apr 1. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.24.01007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition predisposing children to fracture pseudarthroses. MEK inhibitors are U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved or are under study for the treatment of malignant pathologies associated with NF1. However, their potential to treat pseudarthrosis is largely unknown.

METHODS: Primary cells cultured from control bone or fracture pseudarthroses from children with NF1 were treated with vehicle or with the MEK inhibitors trametinib or selumetinib. Gene expression was evaluated with use of transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq), and the activation of the downstream signaling pathway was evaluated with use of western blotting. Results were replicated in an independent cohort of patient fracture pseudarthrosis-derived primary cells.

RESULTS: Pseudarthrosis samples were reproducibly associated with the reduced expression of gene signatures implicated in osteoblast differentiation, skeletal development, and the formation of the extracellular matrix. The expression of these gene signatures was significantly rescued following treatment with MEK inhibitors and concomitant reduced MEK/ERK (MAPK) pathway activation.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified molecular signatures associated with fracture pseudarthrosis that were rescued with MEK inhibitor treatment.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: MEK inhibitors may promote the healing of fracture pseudarthroses in children with NF1.

PMID:40168468 | DOI:10.2106/JBJS.24.01007