Objective To explore the technique of arthroscopic treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the hip and to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods Between July 2009 and June 2011, 15 patients with synovial chondromatosis of the hip underwent arthroscopic synovectomy and removal of loose bodier. Of 15 patients, 11 were male and 4 were female, aged from 21 to 45 years with an average of 33.1 years. The location was the left side in 6 cases and the right side in 9 cases. The disease duration was 12-43 months (mean, 23 months) Pain and functional motion limitation were the main clinical symptoms. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 5.8 ± 1.1; the range of motion (ROM) of the hip was (149.8 ± 27.5)°; the Harris hip score was 54.5 ± 13.3. Results All incisions healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up 6 months to 2 years (mean, 17.4 months). At last follow-up, the VAS score was 2.0 ± 1.2; the ROM of the hip was (258.3 ± 35.4)°; the Harris hip score was 93.0 ± 18.7; and the above indexes were significantly improved when compared with preoperative values (P lt; 0.05). No recurrence was found on postoperative MRI. Conclusion Arthroscopic treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the hip has the advantages of minimal invasion, quick recovery, and best recovery of hip function and ROM.
Objective To review the details of the current effortsto reconstruct or replace the meniscus.Methods Three kinds of proceduresof reconstructing or replacing the meniscus were analyzed and evaluated by an extensive review of the latest literatures concerned. Results Three kinds of techniques were established to reconstruct the meniscus clinically, i.e., the allograft of the meniscus, meniscal reconstruction with the autotendon, and the meniscus scaffold. There were still a few defects in the meniscal replacement, and so the curative techniques would still be investigated. Conclusion Many efforts have been made to reconstruct the meniscus after its injury or its resection so as to prevent degeneration of the knee joint. The meniscal replacement has been employed for many years, but it has not worked so well. The establishment of an ideal replacement of the meniscus requires further studies. Therefore, reconstruction of the meniscus function is still a challenging problem to the surgeons concerned.
Objective To evaluate the primary cl inical results of double-bundle anterior cruciate l igament reconstruction (ACLR) with semitendinosus allografts. Methods From March 2006 to October 2006, 33 patients underwent double-bundle ACLR with semitendinosus allografts. The complete followed-up data of 31 patients was analyzed retrospectively. There were 24 males and 7 females aged 18-35 years old (average 25 years old). The injury was caused by sports accidents in 23cases and traffic accidents in 8 cases, involving the left knee in 18 cases and the right knee in 13 cases. Anterior cruciate l igament rupture were confirmed by MRI and arthroscopy in all the patients, without lateral collateral l igaments injuries and posterior cruciate l igament injuries. The time from injury to operation was 1-43 months (average 11 months). The knee was fixed at 0° position after operation for 2 weeks and got knee joint rehabil itation exercises gradually. Results The incision of 2 patients showed effusion 4 and 7 days after operation, respectively, and healed after symptomatic treatment. The incision of 29 patients healed by first intention. There were no compl ications such as stiffness of knee joint, neurovascular injuries and joint infections. All the patients were followed up for 24-29 months (average 26 months). MRI displayed the anterior cruciate l igament grafts presented with good connection and signal similar to the normal 2 years after operation. There was significant difference between the preoperational value and the final follow-up value in terms of bilateral knee joint difference of prior laxity, Lachman test, and pivot shift test (P lt; 0.05 ). The circumference difference between the injured and the normal was (11.6 ± 7.9) mm before operation and (5.0 ± 3.1) mm at the final follow-up (P lt; 0.05). The Tegner score, Lysholm score, and International Knee Documentation Committee score was 3.83 ± 1.15, 64.38 ± 6.81, and 41.42 ± 6.30, respectively, before operation, and 6.29 ± 0.64, 94.45 ± 3.03, and 95.72 ± 3.10, respectively, at the final follow-up. There was a significant difference between before and after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The primary cl inical results of double-bundle ACLR with semitendinosus allografts are satisfactory and the allogeneic semitendinosus are good grafts for double-bundle ACLR.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of preserving tibial residual fibers on the expressions of ligament remodeling related genes in rabbit anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction model. MethodsSixty healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control group (group A, n=6) , sham-operation group (group B, n=18) , non tibial remnant preserved group (group C, n=18) , and tibial remnant preserved group (group D, n=18) . At 2, 6, and 12 weeks after operation, the ligament tissue was harvested to detect the mRNA expressions of collagen type 1A1(COL1A1) , collagen type 3A1(COL3A1) , transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), growth-associated protein 43(GAP-43) , and neurotrophin 3(NT-3) by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. ResultsAt each time point, there was no significant difference in the mRNA expressions of COL1A1, COL3A1, VEGF, and NT-3 between group A and group B (P>0.05) . In group D, the mRNA expressions of COL1A1, COL3A1, TGF-β1, and GAP-43 significantly increased when compared with those of group C at 6 weeks after operation (P＜0.05) ; an increased level of VEGF mRNA was also detected in the group D at 12 weeks after operation (P＜0.05) ; and an increased level of NT-3 mRNA was also observed in group D at 2 and 12 weeks after operation (P＜0.05) . ConclusionThere is a time-dependent manner of angiogenesis-promoting, repair-related, and nerve-related gene expressions after ACL reconstruction with preserving tibial residual fibers during the process of ligamentization. Furthermore, the remnant preservation in ACL reconstruction can promote the expressions of related genes in some time points.
Objective To make a comparison for the change of maximum tensile intensity and stiffness of a whole implant that is placed into bone tunnel with various lengths tendon, by using beagle dog’s autogenous flexor tendons to reconstruct anterior cruciate l igament (ACL). Methods Sixty male beagle dogs were included in the experiment (weighting 13-16 kg). Three dogs were used for intact flexor tendon of both knees (normal control group), 3 dogs for the intact ACL andfemur-graft-tibia complex (auto control group) and 54 dogs (108 knees) for models of reconstructed ACL (6 experimentalgroups according to different lengths of tendon: 5, 9, 13, 17, 21 and 25 mm in the bone tunnel). The tensile intensity and stiffness were measured after 45, 90 and 180 days separately after operation. Results In the normal control group, the maximum tensile intensity of the intact flexor tendon was (564.15 ± 36.18) N, the stiffness was (59.89 ± 4.28) N/ mm. In the auto control group, the maximum tensile intensity of the intact ACL was (684.75 ± 48.10) N, the stiffness was (74.34 ± 6.99) N/ mm, all ruptured through the intra-articular portion of the graft. The maximum tensile intensity of femur-graft-tibia complex in the auto control group was (301.92 ± 15.04) N, the stiffness was (31.35 ± 1.97) N/mm. After 45 days of operation, all failure occurred at the tibial or femoral insertion site. After 90 days of operation, 24 of the breakpoints were scattered in tendon-bone junction, 12 (3 in 17 mm group, 5 in 21 mm group, 4 in 25 mm group) ruptured through the intra-articular portion. After 180 days of the operation, all breakpoints were distributed inside joint of the implant. The maximum tensile intensity and the stiffness were ber in 17, 21 and 25 mm groups than in 5, 9 and 13 mm groups after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Tendon with 17 mm length, which will be implanted into bone tunnel, is an appl icable index, in reconstruction of ACL by autogenous tendons.