Vol 26, No 2 (2020)

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The development of COVID-19 pandemic is the serious challenge for trauma care systems across the world. Recommendations on general principles of trauma care in the settings of pandemic, medical stuff protection and prevention of the spread of infection based on the data from international centers are presented in the article. Delay of all elective cases, restriction of surgical treatment of fractures with relative indications for surgery are recommended. The segregation of cases into COVID-19 confirmed or suspected and COVID-19 negative patients is important. When possible before the admission to in-patient department the patient shall be tested on COVID-19. When the COVID-19 status of the patient is unclear all possible protection measures shall be used: patient isolation and medical stuff protection. To prevent the spread of infection it is recommended to split the stuff of the traumacenter into 2 or 3 groups. Each of the groups is working during the week with subsequent period of the self-isolation (remote work) for the period of 1-2 weeks (according to the duration of incubation period of the COVID-19). During the surgical treatment the most dangerous stages of the surgery are endotracheal intubation / extubation and also aerosol-generative procedures: electrocoagulation, pulsed wound lavage, drilling, the use of oscillating saw and medullary reaming. The stuff in the OP-theatre has to be accordingly equipped (personal protection equipment). The risk factors for the medical stuff are fatigue from overwork, the absence of real-time training in infection-prevention measures and non-compliance with PPE.

Employment of custom triflange acetabular components (CTAC) is one of the few options for pelvic reconstruction in the patients requiring complex acetabulum revisions with Paprosky 2 C, 3 A and 3 B defects and pelvic ring disruption.

The purpose of the study was to describe the features of planning, surgical technique, and short-term treatment outcomes of the patients with significant acetabular defects, in which the revision hip arthroplasty was performed using the CTAC.

Materials and Methods. A single-center analysis of a series of consecutive patients was performed: 50 complex acetabulum revisions in 47 patients (16 men and 31 women). The average age of the patients was 60±12 years (from 31 to 82; Me 62 years), the average body mass index was 29.7±6.3 kg/m² (18.4 to 46.3; Me 29.0 kg/m).

Results. The mean follow-up was 22±13 months (from 3 to 3.6 years; Me 20 months). The average Harris score increased from 27±7 (from 15 to 39; Me 27) before surgery to 64±16 (from 22 to 90; Me 67) a year after (p<0.001). The level of pain according to VAS before surgery was 7±1 points (from 5 to 9; Me 7), after treatment it decreased to 2±1 points (from 0 to 7; Me 1, p<0.001). In 17 cases out of 50 (34%), there was at least one complication: dislocations — 7 (14%) cases; infection — 3 (6%); loosening — 2 (4%); complications associated with the femoral component — 4 (8%), including 3 intraoperative fractures and 1 postoperative, associated with loosening of the implant; pronounced disturbances of static and locomotor functions — 2 (4%). 12 cases out of 50 (24%) required another surgery, all of which were performed in a year. The Kaplan-Meyer survival rate for the hip implants was 0.71, for the CTAC — 0.87.

Conclusion. Employment of the CTAC for revision hip arthroplasty in the patients with significant acetabulum defects and pelvic ring disruption allows reliable fixation of the endoprosthesis components. The STAC placement technique is more anatomical than use of structural allografts, several augments or sup-cage systems. It allows reconstruction of extensive bone defects, theoretically avoiding the long-term problems with allografts, modular trabecular components, antiprotrusion systems and cup-cage. Although, to prove this, the longer follow-up is needed.

Relevance. The altered hip anatomy makes total hip arthroplasty in patients with hip dysplasia a difficult and non-standard task. The acetabulum is deformed with femoral head in subluxation or dislocation. The most important task of surgery is to restore the anatomical position of the hip center of rotation.

The study purpose — to evaluate the early results of hip arthroplasty with individual augments in the patients with hip dysplasia.

Materials and Methods. Since 2017, nine patients with hip dysplasia have undergone surgery using individually printed augments. All patients were women with average age 51.3±14.5 years (23 to 67). The mean follow-up was 14.3±5.2 months (8 to 20). Patients were evaluated using follow-up X-rays, a visual analogue scale (VAS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC).

Results. There was no a single case of endoprosthesis dislocation, loosening of components, prosthetic infection or revision surgery in the analyzed group of patients. The planned sizes of the acetabular components were equal to the placed in 7 cases (77.8%). In two cases (22.2%), the acetabular components were 2 mm larger because the surgeon wanted a greater degree of press-fit fixation. The restoration of the anatomical position of the acetabular component was noted. Before the surgery, the femoral head was on average 22.7±11.7 mm (10 to 43 mm) higher. After the surgery, the level of the acetabular component was on average only 0.75±2.1 mm (1.7 to 5 mm), p = 0.008. Also, there were a decrease in pain and quality of life improvement by VAS from 6.78±1.39 before surgery to 2.22±1.09 at follow-up (p = 0.007), HHS increase from 30.5±18. 1 to 77.59±14.26 (p = 0.008), and WOMAC decrease from 73.3±14.1 to 18.22±8.2 (p = 0.008).

Conclusion. The individually printed augments have shown high efficacy for restoration of the anatomical center of rotation and good early results in the patients with hip dysplasia undergone hip arthroplasty.

Relevance. The development of minimally invasive surgery has led to the development of new methods for surgical treatment of the spine. Conventional surgical technique, such as vertebrotomy is accompanied by a several number of disadvantages (high blood loss, prolonged hospital stay, long intraoperative time, postoperative neurological deficit). An alternative to improve sagittal balance in the spine is to use custom-made hyperlordotic cages, which can also be used for indirect decompression of neural structures.

The objective is to compare the degree of segmental and total lumbar lordosis using hyperlordotic cages through ALIF and TLIF with posterior instrumentation.

Materials and Methods. A single-center retrospective cohort study using 96 patients treated from 2018 to 2019 about degenerative spinal deformities. Comparison of two groups: group 1 (A) consisted of 30 patients who were held anterior spinal fusion with individual lordotic cages from minimally invasive anterior approach (MISS ALIF) without posterior fixation. Group 2 (B) consisted of 33 patients whom were performed spinal fusion from the posterior approach (TLIF) with Smith-Peterson Osteotomy (SPO) and transpedicular fixation. Measuring segmental and lumbar lordosis, teleradiographs were used in a standing position. For an accurate assessment, the non-commercial available Surgimap software, © Nemaris, was used.

Results. Segmental lordosis were superior to preoperative ones. In the intergroup comparison, the ALIF group showed an excellent increase in the enlarged lordosis segment (L3-L4 in 8 degrees; p = 0.0005, L4-L5 in 7 degrees; p = 0.0002, L5-S1 in 7 degrees; p = 0.0001). When conducting an intergroup comparison of total lumbar lordosis in the preoperative period, there was a statistically significant difference between them (p = 0.0043). At the same time, a greater degree of correction of lordosis is shown in ALIF compared to TLIF group (29,1 in comparison with 22,5; p = 0.00005).

Conclusion. The results of this study confirm that the using of custom-made lordotic cages can significantly increase segmental and total lumbar lordosis for patients with degenerative scoliosis in adults.

The study purpose — to evaluate the clinical results and the condition of bone tunnels after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a semitendinosus tendon graft using cortical fixation and corrugated sutures.

Materials and Methods. The results anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a semitendinosus tendon autograft were analyzed in 57 patients aged 18 to 53 years. The patients of the first group (n = 27) underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a semitendinosus tendon graft using cortical fixation on the femur and tibia in combination with corrugated sutures at the proximal and distal ends of the graft. The patients of the second group (n = 30) underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in a similar way, but without the use of corrugated sutures. Clinical results were assessed using the Lysholm and IKDC scales. The degree of bone tunnels widening was evaluated by CT data in 6 months after the surgery.

Results. In the first group, the degree of postoperative bone tunnels widening was significantly lower (for the femoral tunnel by 18% and tibial — by 17%) compared with the second group (for the femoral tunnel by 30% and tibial — by 31%). Scores by the IKDC 2000 and Lysholm scales were higher in the corrugated sutured group. Although, the treatment outcome was interpreted as equally good for both groups. The time for graft preparation was on average 6 minutes longer in the first group. This slightly increased the duration of the surgery.

Conclusion. The anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a semitendinosus tendon graft using cortical fixation on the femur and tibia in combination with corrugated sutures ensured the tight contact of the tendon inside the bone tunnels without additional implants and reduced the degree of tunnels widening. This is important for a possible re-grafting. The proposed method does not significantly affect the clinical outcomes.

Relevance. To compensate the extensive (AORI type III) bone defects, metal cones/ sleeves or massive allografts are used. In the absence of metaepiphyses, structural allografts or megaprostheses are usually used for tumor lesions of the bones. The aim of the study was to show the possibility of replacing extensive type III defects of the femur and tibia, covering the metaphysical and diaphyseal zones, with double tantalum cones.

Materials and Methods. The study included 13 patients undergone revision knee arthroplasty in 2015–2019. During the surgery, the primary fixation of the femoral or tibial component was achieved by the tight fit diaphyseal cone placement. The additional fixation is сarried out by cementing of the metaphyseal cone to the diaphyseal cone and the further osseointegration with the remaining bone of the metadiaphyseal zone. Fixation of the endoprosthesis component to the cones and to the bone is achived by use of the bone cement.

Results. The short-term outcomes of this technique in revision knee arthroplasty were evaluated in all patients. The results were evaluated as good if the primary stable fixation and the correct endoprosthesis components placement were achieved, the limb support ability and the knee function were restored, and there were no complications in the immediate postoperative period. In a year, one patient developed a relapse of infection in the operated knee. The endoprosthesis was removed and followed by knee arthrodesis after sanitation of the infection focus. Functional and radiological results one year after surgery were studied in 4 patients. The average functional scores were: by KSS 81 (good) and by WOMAC — 25 points (also good). On the control radiographs, the position of the components remained correct and stable with osseointegration of the cones in the metaphyseal and diaphyseal areas of the femur and tibia. In the remaining 8 patients, the time after surgery was less than a year. Their follow-up yet continued.

Conclusion. Thus, the tantalum cones technique is a reliable way to reconstruct extended metadiaphyseal defects in revision knee arthroplasty in the short-term prospect. The method can be considered as an alternative to megaprostheses, structural allografts, and individually made cones. But the long-term results of its application are still requiri ng further study.

Relevance. Currently, the stability of various options for the fixation of sacral fractures by the finite element method has not been sufficiently studied.

Purpose — the biomechanical characteristics of two variants of internal fixation of unilateral sacral fractures by various implants and the localization of the line of its fracture with respect to the articular facet of the L5-S1 vertebrae were studied.

Materials and Methods. Using the finite element method, we studied the biomechanical characteristics of two options for fixing a one-sided longitudinal fracture of the sacrum with different localization of the line of its fracture: outside, inside and directly on the joint facet L5-S1. Two fixation options are considered: cannulated sacroiliac screws and a similar option in combination with a bilateral lumbar-pelvic transpedicular system.

Results. The stresses in implants and bone under compression load and torso forward or backward are almost the same in all models. In the model of fixation with a sacroiliac screw of a one-sided longitudinal sacral fracture, the line of which passes through the articular process S1 of the vertebra (Isler II type), the greatest stress in the screws under compression load and bending moment was 619.7 MPa, which exceeds the yield strength of the titanium alloy and can damage the implants. In all models where the transpedicular system additionally acted as fixing structures, a decrease of 42–77% of maximum displacements was noted, by 28–79% of equivalent stresses in implants under all types of loads, while the equivalent stresses in the bone structures did not differ significantly. In models where the transpedicular system was additionally applied, a decrease of 42–77% of maximum displacements was noted, by 28-79% of stresses in implants under all types of loads, while the stresses in the bones did not differ much.

Conclusion. In all cases of localization of the line of unilateral fracture of the sacrum, the use of a transpedicular system in combination with sacroiliac screws is more stable from the point of view of biomechanics. The most unstable is a one-sided longitudinal fracture of the sacrum passing through the facet L5-S1.

Relevance. The creation of porous three-dimensional materials for bone defects compensation and its subsequent regeneration is an important direction of medical materials science. The key issue in the interaction of an implant and bone tissue is the surface properties of the implant.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the physicochemical properties and compatibility of tissues of a living organism and porous implants with calcium phosphate Zn- and Ag-containing formed by microarc oxidation.

Materials and Methods. Implants with various types of porous structure were made by direct laser sintering of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V powders. The calcium phosphate coatings, including Zn- and Ag-containing, were formed on the implants surface by microarc oxidation.

Results. Coatings, deposited in electrolytes of various compositions, were uniformly distributed over the implants mesh structure. The phase composition of Zn-containing coatings, deposited in the acidic electrolyte, was represented by amorphous calcium phosphates. Ag-containing coatings, deposited in the alkaline electrolyte, had an amorphous-crystalline structure, the crystalline phase of which was identified as tricalcium phosphate in the α and β modifications. The samples of extracts of calcium phosphate Zn and Ag-containing coatings were co-cultured with pFb line of the human postnatal fibroblasts for 48 hours at 37°C in 5% CO2 atmosphere. The MTT test revealed a high metabolic activity of the co-cultured fibroblasts in comparison with the fibroblasts of control.

Conclusion. The pFb line of the human postnatal fibroblasts retained their viability for 48 hours of co-culturing with calcium-phosphate Zn- and Ag-containing coatings. The tested product and its components did not negatively affect the cellular respiration. However, further studies are needed to determine the rate of bioresorption and the degree of antibacterial activity of calcium-phosphate Zn- and Ag-containing coatings.

Rationale. The development of 3D printing technology allows the manufacture of individual implants to treat the patients with diseases and consequences of musculoskeletal system injuries. However, the use of additive technologies in the patients with multiple trauma in the acute period is limited. The purpose of study was to demonstrate the possibility of using individual implants for the definitive fixation of the anterior pelvic ring in a patient with multiple trauma.

Patient concerns. A 22-year-old patient was admitted after an injury as a result of a fall from the 5^th floor. The treatment was carried out in accordance with the ATLS protocol. Diagnosis: multiple trauma; closed chest, pelvis and limbs injuries; fracture of the left 2nd to 5th ribs; pelvic bones fracture AO/ OTA: 61-C1.3a; fracture of both bones of the left lower leg AO/OTA: 42-B3b; 2nd degree shock.

Interventions. An emergency external fixation of the pelvis and lower leg bones was performed. An individual implant for pubic bone fixation was made using 3D printing. On the 8th day, the definitive fixation of the pelvic and left lower leg bones was performed. The patient is activated on the 1st day after the surgery.

Outcomes. The early postoperative period was uneventful. The functional result on the Majeed scale in 6 months by remote filling out the questionnaire was 84 points. Lessons. The custom-made implants make it possible the successful fixation of the anterior pelvic ring. The use of 3D printing technologies for the osteosynthesis of pelvic fractures is promising, although requires further study.

Background. Total hip arthroplasty is an effective type of surgery with excellent survival rates of modern implants. From the very beginning of the widespread introduction of total hip arthroplasty, the cement technique of components fixing prevailed. However, many researchers associated the development of osteolysis and the following loosening with the reaction to cement. The subsequent studies clarified the situation regarding the nature of osteolysis, but there remained the problem of insufficient stability of the cemented stems to withstand the penetration of polyethylene wear particles into the distal part of the stem with the development of loosening. An ideal endoprosthesis should ensure the normal hip biomechanics, joint painless functioning and improve the quality of life of the patient without the need for revision. The optimal results of cementless femoral stems functioning depend on the achievement of initial stability, osseointegration and equable transmission of tension onto the femur. There are many factors that influence osseointegration processes and the subsequent behavior of the implant. Understanding these factors is the key to choosing the optimal implant for a particular patient, taking into account the anatomical features of the femur.

The purpose of this article is to discuss upon the literature review the application of cementless femoral components, the possible causes of failure and its prevention from the point of view of the evidence-based practice.

Materials. The search was conducted in the PubMed, eLIBRARY databases and through the Web of Knowledge. Survival rates and prevalence of various implants in the structure of primary arthroplasty were estimated on the basis of annual reports of a number of national registries, as well as the hip arthroplasty registry of the Vreden National Medical Research Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics. Among the factors discussed are the properties of the components material, the form of the implants, surface properties, and the influence of the anatomical features of the femur. Additionally, the most used types of cementless femoral components were assessed.

Conclusion. Cementless femoral components demonstrated the excellent long-term survival and functional results. The currently prevailing type of the prosthesis intimate attachment to the bone is the biological fixation, especially in groups of young patients. Future studies of cementless implants should necessarily take into account the patient’s age, level of activity, type of bone canal, the presence of deformities, and the friction pair used. This will make it possible to draw clearer conclusions in what clinical situation it is advisable to use the femoral components of a particular design.