Although the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is regarded as a golden standard, it often fails to be applied in clinical practice for lack of generalizability. Evidence from either RCTs or non-RCTs is mutually complementary and referred. Different designs are suitable for different stages and can resolve different issues. During evaluation of an intervention, the proper research design should be selected in accordance with the objective, feasibility, and merits and limitations of different design modes.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of the reconstruction of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) with platelet rich plasma (PRP) and 3-strand peroneal longus tendons under arthroscope.MethodsBetween June 2014 and December 2017, 58 patients with PCL rupture were randomly divided into two groups: the trial group (PRP assisted reconstruction of 3-strand peroneal longus tendons) and the control group (4-strand hamstring tendon reconstruction alone), 29 cases in each group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury side, Kellgren-Lawrence grade, time from injury to operation, and preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score between the two groups (P>0.05). Before operation, at 3 months and 12 months after operation, the IKDC score and Lysholm score of the two groups were recorded to evaluate the knee joint function, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was used to evaluate ankle function; KT-2000 examination (knee flexion of 90°, 30 lbs) was used to evaluate the difference of bilateral knee joint posterior relaxation at 12 months after operation, and MRI was used to evaluate ligament reconstruction; CT was used to evaluate the bone tunnel expansion of femur and tibia at 3 months and 12 months after operation.ResultsThe operation was completed successfully in both groups, there was no complication in the donor tendon area. All the incisions healed by first intention. All the patients were followed up for more than 1 year. The follow-up time of the trial group was 13-17 months, with an average of 15.0 months; that of the control group was 15-20 months, with an average of 15.4 months. At 3 and 12 months after operation, there was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score when compared with preoperative score and between the two groups (P>0.05). At 3 and 12 months after operation, the IKDC score and Lysholm score of the two groups were significantly improved, and further improvement was found at 12 months when compared with at 3 months (P<0.05); the scores in the trial group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05). At 12 months after operation, the difference of the posterior relaxation of the bilateral knees in the trial group was less than 5 mm in 27 cases, 6-10 mm in 2 cases; in the control group was less than 5 mm in 20 cases, 6-10 mm in 6 cases, and >10 mm in 3 cases; the difference between the two groups was not significant (Z=0.606, P=0.544). At 12 months after operation, MRI of knee joint showed that all patients had good PCL graft. The MRI score of the trial group was better than that of the control group (t=2.425, P=0.019). CT examination at 3 and 12 months after operation showed that the bone tunnel expansion of femur and tibia in the trial group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionPRP combined with 3-stand peroneal longus tendons can significantly improve the function and stability of knee joint, effectively promote graft remodeling, and promote tendon bone healing, reduce the expansion of bone tunnel. The effectiveness is satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo compare the early effectiveness of arthroscopic suture bridge technique and conventional double tunnel suture technique in the treatment of avulsion fracture of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) insertion.MethodsBetween June 2013 and December 2018, 62 patients with tibial avulsion fracture of PCL insertion that met the criteria were selected and randomly divided into trial group (using arthroscopic suture bridge technique) and control group (using conventional double tunnel suture technique), 31 cases in each group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, injured side, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, Meyers & McKeever classification, Kellgren-Lawrence classification, and preoperative knee range of motion, difference of posterior relaxation of bilateral knee joints, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, and Lysholm score between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time and IKDC score, Lysholm score, knee range of motion, the difference of posterior relaxation of bilateral knee joints (measured by KT-2000 under knee flexion of 90° and 30 lbs) were recorded and compared between the two groups before operation and at 3 and 12 months after operation.ResultsBoth groups successfully completed the operation, and the operation time of the trial group and the control group were (61.81±6.83) minutes and (80.42±4.22) minutes respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (t=12.911, P=0.000). All the incisions healed by first intention, and there was no wound infection and other early postoperative related complications. All patients were followed up 13-18 months (mean, 14.6 months). The fractures in both groups healed at 3 months after operation. No knee pain, limited movement, or other complications occurred. At 3 and 12 months after operation, the IKDC score, Lysholm score, knee range of motion, and the difference of posterior relaxation of bilateral knee joints in both groups were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones, and further improved at 12 months after operation when compared with at 3 months after operation (P<0.05). At each time point after operation, the above indexes and the grade of the difference of posterior relaxation of bilateral knee joints in the trial group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionArthroscopic suture bridge technique in the treatment avulsion fracture of PCL insertion is simple and reliable, which can significantly improve the function and stability of the knee joint and obtain satisfactory early effectiveness.
Objective To evaluate the short-term cl inical outcomes of metal-on-metal total hi p resurfacing arthroplasty in treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in young and middle-aged patients and to compare with patients of hip osteoarthritis at the same period. Methods From July 2006 to October 2008, 33 patients (45 hips) with ONFH (ONFH group) and 39 patients (45 hips) with osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis group) were treated with metal-on-metal total hipresurfacing arthroplasty. In ONFH group, there were 18 males (27 hips) and 15 females (18 hips) with an average age of 42.7 years (range 19-58 years), including 22 left hips and 23 right hips. The causes were trauma (4 cases), glucocorticoid (25 cases), drugs (2 cases), alcohol (1 case), and psoriasis (1 case). According to Steinberg classification, there were 10 hips at stage III, 18 hips at stage IV a, 13 hips at stage IV b, and 4 hips at stage IV c. The Harris score was 52.0 ± 4.6. The disease course was 1-12 years. In osteoarthritis group, there were 26 males (30 hips) and 13 females (15 hips) with an average age of 47.1 years (range 42-65 years), including 17 left hips and 28 right hips. The causes were degenerative arthritis (23 cases), trauma (11 cases), and ankylosing spondyl itis (5 cases). The Harris score was 57.0 ± 3.8. The disease course was 3-17 years. There were no significant differences in general data between two groups (P gt; 0.05). Results All incisions achieved heal ing by first intention without compl ications of infection and thrombosis of deep vein of lower extremities. The patients were followed up for 26 months in ONFH group and 28 months in osteoarthritis group. Femoral neck fracture occurred in 1 case of osteoarthritis group after 4 months, who received total hip arthroplasty; no compl ication of prosthesis loosening, dislocation, incision infection, osteonecrosis, and bone absorption occurred in other patients. At last follow-up, the Harris scores were 93.0 ± 5.5 in ONFH group and 94.0 ± 2.4 in osteoarthritis group, showing no significant difference between two groups (P gt; 0.05); but there were significant differences between pre- and post-operation (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion The cl inical short-term outcomes ofmetal-on-metal total hip resurfacing arthroplasty to treat ONFH are satisfactory. It can achieve similar outcomes to that ofosteoarthritis group. More cases and long-term follow-up are needed to investigate long-term cl inical outcomes.
Objective To investigate cl inical therapeutic effect on early stage femoral head necrosis managed with allogeneic cortical bone cage support combining with autologous cancellous bone grafting through core decompression tunnel, and to discuss its effect on preventing femoral head collapse and influence factors. Methods From January 2002 to December2005, 40 patients (42 hips) with femoral head necrosis underwent core decompression and an allogeneic threaded cortical bone supporting cage which was loaded with autologous cancellous bone inside. There were 26 males and 14 females, aging 27-45 years (mean 35.6 years). The disease course was 6-28 months (mean 18.3 months). All the cases underwent X-ray, CT and MRI examination to confirm the diagnosis and necrosis area. Twelve hips were at Ficat stage I, 29 hip at stage II, and 1 hips at stage III. Harris hip score system was used to evaluate the hip function pre- and post-operatively. X-ray films were taken regularly after operation. Results All the wound healed by first intention without any compl ications such as infection, fracture, nerve and vascular injury, and deep vein thrombosis. Thirty-six patients (38 hips) were followed up for 24-58 months with an average of 38 months. All the patients had different degrees of improvement in cl inical symptoms. According to Harris hip score system, the Harris score was 63.1 ± 6.4 before operation and 82.3 ± 16.5 at the last follow-up, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.001). The results were excellent in 24 hips, good in 11 hips, fair in 2 hips and poor in 1 hips. The X-ray films showed femoral head repairing and no advancement of osteonecrosis and collapsing in 23 patients (24 hips) 24 months after operation. Conclusion Allogeneic cortical bone cage support combining with autologous cancellous bone grafting is suitable for managing early stagefemoral head necrosis and its short- and middle-term effect is satisfactory.
Objective To investigate the protective effect of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) on the steroid-induced imbalance between osteogenesis and adipogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods The BMSCs were isolated from the proximal femur bone marrow from 3 patients of femoral neck fracture and were separated, cultured, and purificated by density gradient centrifugation and adherent wall methodin vitro. The third generation BMSCs were divided into 5 groups: group A, BMSCs (1×105 cells/mL); group B, BMSCs (1×105 cells/mL)+10 μmol/L dexamethasone; group C, BMSCs (1×105 cells/mL)+10 μmol/L dexamethasone+5 μmol/L GSH; group D, BMSCs (1×105 cells/mL)+10 μmol/L dexamethasone+10 μmol/L GSH; group E, BMSCs (1×105 cells/mL)+10 μmol/L dexamethasone+50 μmol/L GSH. After cultured for 7 days, the reactive oxygen species expression was detected by flow cytometry; the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase mRNA expressions were determined by RT-PCR; the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding family of proteins (C/EBP), Runx2, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) mRNA expressions were evaluated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. After cultured for 21 days, Oil red O staining was used to observe the adipogenesis differentiation of cells, and the expressions of related proteins were detected by Western blot. Results The reactive oxygen species expression in group B was obviously higher than in the other groups, in group C than in groups A, D, and E, and in groups D, E than in group A, all showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05); but there was no significant difference between groups D and E (P>0.05). The oil red O staining positive cells in group B were obviously more than the other groups, and groups C, D, E, and A decreased sequentially, the absorbance (A) values had significant differences between groups (P<0.05). RT-PCR detection showed that the relative expressions of SOD and Catalase mRNA in group B were significantly lower than those in the other groups, while in group C than in groups A, D, and E (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among groups A, D, and E (P>0.05). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR detection showed that the relative expressions of PPAR-γ and C/EBP mRNA in group B were significantly higher than those in the other groups, while in group C than in groups A, D, and E, and in groups D, E than in group A (P<0.05); but there was no significant difference between groups D and E (P>0.05). The relative expressions of Runx2 and ALP mRNA in group B were significantly lower than those in the other groups, while in group C than in groups A, D, and E, and in groups D, E than in group A (P<0.05); but there was no significant difference between groups D and E (P>0.05). Western blot detection showed that the relative expression of PPAR-γ and C/EBP protein in group B was significantly higher than those in the other groups, and groups C, D, E, and A decreased sequentially, all showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05). The relative expression of Runx2 and ALP protein in group B was significantly lower than those in the other groups, and groups C, D, E, and A increased sequentially, all showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05). Conclusions GSH can inhibit the adipogenesis differentiation and enhance the osteogenic differentiation of human BMSCs by reducing the intracellular reactive oxygen species level; and in a certain range, the higher the concentration of GSH, the more obvious the effect is.