Vol 29, No 4 (2023)

Background. It is known that the outcomes of patients treatment with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are significantly influenced by the state of the patient’s body, the nature of the pathogen, the state of tissues in the area of the infectious focus and the treatment tactics. However, topographic and anatomical features of the blood supply to the knee and hip joints, as well as the volume of soft tissues, can affect the spectrum of pathogens, manifestations of the infectious process and, as a consequence, the effectiveness of treatment.

The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the somatic status of patients, the etiology of the infectious process and the effectiveness of treatment of PJI depending on its localization.

Methods. A single-center retrospective study was conducted. The cases of 337 patients were studied — 119 patients with knee and 218 patients with hip PJI who underwent treatment with a two-stage technique during the period from 2007 to 2017. A comparative analysis of the PJI pathogens structure and concomitant pathology between patients with hip and knee PJI was carried out. The frequency of infection relief in the groups following the first stage was counted.

Results. Recurrence was diagnosed four times more frequently in patients with hip PJI compared to knee PJI. Risk factors for recurrence were gram-negative pathogens, microbial associations, and fistulous forms of the infectious process. Localization of the infectious process in the hip area was associated with a statistically significant greater volume of blood loss during the prolonged debridement surgery.

Conclusion. Recurrences of PJI occur more frequently in the hip area compared to the knee joint. Further analysis of critical factors in recurrence development is necessary for potential intervention.

Background. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is one of the most common causes of pain syndrome and limited mobility in the hip joint among young and middle-aged individuals.

The aims of this study: 1) To evaluate the impact of the type of hip joint deformity in patients with FAI on treatment outcomes; 2) To identify the type of hip joint deformity that is optimal for correction using arthroscopy; 3) To determine the impact of the acetabular structure in conditions of borderline dysplasia on the treatment outcome.

Methods. A retrospective uncontrolled single-center study was conducted, including 121 patients (135 hip joints), among them 49 (40.5%) women and 72 (59.5%) men. Patients were divided into four groups based on the type of deformity. The first group included 33 (24.4%) joints with cam-type FAI, the second group — 72 (53.4%) joints with mixed-type, the third group — 17 (12.6%) joints with dysplasia (LCEA-O<25°) and cam-type deformity of the femoral head-neck junction, and the fourth group — 13 (9.6%) joints with a combination of dysplasia, cam-type deformity, and retroversion of the acetabulum. All patients underwent physical examination and radiographic diagnostics. In patients with borderline dysplasia, the version of the acetabulum was additionally assessed. The iHOT-33 and HOS scales were used to evaluate the preoperative status and postoperative results.

Results. The best treatment outcome was achieved in the first group of patients, which was statistically significantly different from the results in the third group. The treatment outcomes in the second group of patients did not show statistically significant differences from the first group according to the HOS questionnaire, but differed according to the iHOT-33 scale. The treatment outcomes in the fourth group of patients were almost indistinguishable on the iHOT-33 scale from the first group and on the HOS scale from the second group. In the third group, a statistically significant result on the HOS-Sport subscale was achieved in only 30% of patients, while in other groups it was not less than 58%. Other scales showed a slight superiority of treatment results in the first and fourth groups compared to the second and third groups. In the first years after surgery, all groups of patients showed a significant improvement in sports activity, but after 2 years, there was a tendency for a decrease in patients in the second and third groups.

Conclusion. The highest results of arthroscopic treatment were shown by patients in the first group with isolated cam-type deformity, slightly worse were results by patients in the second group (with mixed-type). In patients with borderline dysplasia, the effectiveness of arthroscopy depended on the structure of the anterior wall of the acetabulum. The worst result was observed in patients with borderline dysplasia and insufficiently developed anterior wall of the acetabulum — in that group of patients, it is worth preferring isolated periacetabular osteotomy or in combination with arthroscopy.

Background. Recovery from COVID-19 does not always proceed without complications, especially in patients who have suffered severe forms of the disease. Most researchers confirm a significant increase in the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) after COVID-19. However, there is no clear opinion on the individual aspects of the development and course of the disease. This is an extremely important issue that allows us to identify the main risk groups for the development of post-COVID-19 osteonecrosis and, consequently, to perform the earliest possible screening of this complication.

Aims of the study: 1) To evaluate the impact of the past COVID-19 on epidemiologic parameters and clinical course of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in patients; 2) to study the causes of its development.

Methods. We have analyzed the data of medical histories of 674 patients diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the femoral head who sought medical care in 2018 and in 2022. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the presumed causes of development of the disease. The first group enrolled 183 patients who underwent COVID-19 and received steroid therapy (ST). The second group included 78 patients who underwent COVID-19 without ST therapy. The third group consisted of 103 patients with ONFH that manifested in 2022 without COVID-19 in the previous medical history. The comparison group was made up of 310 patients who developed ONFH in 2018 before the appearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Results. The sample of patients with COVID-19-associated osteonecrosis differed significantly from patients without COVID-19, in terms of gender, age, time of disease onset, extent of the femoral head damage, and disease progression rate (p<0.001). The level of early ONFH diagnosis was extremely low, not differing from that in the pre-pandemic period.

Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of ONFH, significantly modifying both its epidemiology and clinical picture. Nevertheless, the vigilance of practitioners remains extremely low, which affects the timely diagnosis of the disease.

Background. Rhizarthrosis is most commonly observed in individuals whose work and activities involve heavy use of the wrist. Conservative treatment methods are effective in the early stages of the disease, but in advanced stages, surgical intervention becomes the primary treatment approach. In recent years, resection interposition and resection suspension-interposition arthroplasty techniques for the first carpometacarpal joint have gained popularity. However, there is a lack of comparative studies on the effectiveness of these techniques based on key indicators.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of surgical treatment for stages II–IV rhizarthrosis using resection suspension-interposition arthroplasty and resection interposition arthroplasty of the first carpometacarpal joint.

Methods. This prospective cohort study included 85 patients with stages II–IV rhizarthrosis who underwent surgery between 2017 and 2022. Patients were divided into two groups. In the first group (52 patients), resection suspension-interposition arthroplasty of the first carpometacarpal joint was performed using an original technique. In the second group (33 patients), resection interposition arthroplasty was performed. The effectiveness of surgical treatment was assessed based on the intensity of pain using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS), upper limb function recovery assessed with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scale, measurement of the distance between the base of the first metacarpal bone and the distal pole of the trapezium bone on anteroposterior X-rays, and an increase in grip strength of the affected hand at 12 months postoperatively.

Results. At the 12-month follow-up, the first group showed superior results compared to the second group: a 73% improvement in DASH score (p<0.01); a 76% improvement in VAS (p = 0.000); a 60% increase in cylindrical grip strength (p = 0.010); and a 30% improvement in the measurement of the distance between the base of the first metacarpal bone and the distal pole of the trapezium bone (p<0.01).

Conclusion. Resection suspension-interposition arthroplasty of the first carpometacarpal joint is more effective than resection interposition arthroplasty in terms of pain relief, improvement in function and grip strength of the affected hand, and preservation of the distance between the base of the first metacarpal bone and the distal pole of the trapezium bone.

Background. The rapid advancement of modern surgical methods for treating pelvic bone fractures has underscored the necessity for developing a new terminological framework. This is because the classical anatomical terminology of the pelvis no longer aligns with the demands of the therapeutic process and scientific research in this field. The traditional set of anatomical names and landmarks falls short in providing detailed descriptions of all intricacies of injuries when employing contemporary surgical techniques. The existing terminology system needs to catch up with the level of contemporary pelvic surgery, enabling a comprehensive and understandable characterization of existing pathology and the treatment being administered for all medical professionals.

Purpose of the study was to create names for certain parts of the pelvic bones and their areas that currently lack specific designations and to propose the developed terms for professional discussion.

Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted on X-rays and computer tomography scans of patients with pelvic bone injuries, performed from 2020 to 2022. A list of potential new anatomical terms was compiled through a literature review.

Results. In several cases, we encountered a deficiency of terms in diagnosing pelvic injuries and describing surgical procedures. New terms were developed to denote areas of the pelvis and their injuries, including the pubic bone base, vertical fractures of the pubic bone base, longitudinal fractures of the pubic bone base, incomplete rupture of the pubic symphysis, the base of the ilium, longitudinal fracture of the iliac base, fracture-subluxation and fracture-dislocation of the iliac base, calcar of the iliac bone, calcar spike, and the bone corridor.

Conclusions. The incorporation of new anatomical terms into clinical practice will help enhance the precision of diagnosis and surgical planning in pelvic fractures. Standardizing the terminology will promote uniformity in approaches and knowledge sharing among specialists, ultimately improving the quality of surgical care for patients with pelvic injuries.

Severe comorbidities, like chronic kidney disease, strongly associated with higher risk of complications after total knee arthroplasty. Therefore hemodialysis patients need specific pre-operative as well as peri-operative management, including proper analgesic, antibacterial and thromboembolic pharmacological prophylaxis. Nevertheless the technical issues that surgeon has to solve in achieving proper leg alignment, knee stability and range of motion does not differ from other complex knee primary cases when revision implants and instruments are essential part of surgical requisite.

Background. Treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) poses a great challenge for pediatric orthopedists due to the high risk of complications, the most severe of which are avascular necrosis of the femoral head and recurrent dislocation. In the most severe form of dysplasia, hip dislocation, the surgery is indicated after 18 months of age. However, the issue of determining the exact surgical intervention remains controversial.

The aim of the study was to provide our own midterm treatment outcomes of patients with DDH, who underwent open reduction for DDH through a modified Ganz digastric approach and varus derotational femur osteotomy combined with Dega acetabuloplasty.

Methods. The treatment outcomes of 12 patients with DDH grade III-IV according to the IHDI classification at the age of 1.5 to 3.5 years were analyzed. Thirteen operations were performed: open reduction, derotational varus femur osteotomy combined with Dega acetabuloplasty. In one case, surgery was performed bilaterally in two stages. The average follow-up period was 31.9±4.9 months (from 12 to 66 months). To evaluate the correction performed, a comparative analysis of X-ray images (acetabular index (AI) and femoral neck-shaft angle (FNSA) and Reimers migration index (MI)) was performed before, after surgery and at the last follow-up. The incidence of complications was assessed: recurrent dislocation, avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN), nonunion, infection, and loss of correction. In 8 patients with a follow-up period of more than 2 years, the limb length discrapancy was assessed.

Results. Dega acetabuloplasty allowed to reduce the AI value from 38.62° to 18.76° (p<0.05) after surgery and to 20.61° at the last follow-up. As a result of varus derotational femur osteotomy, a decrease in the FNSA value was noted from 143.62° to 110.53° (p<0.05). AVN was observed in 4 cases in 3 patients (25%) (including the patient who underwent bilateral surgery). At the last follow-up, the FNSA increased to 119.11° in 9 patients without AVN and decreased to 87.75° in patients with AVN. In one patient with AVN, the development of medial dislocation of the femoral head due to progressive varus deformity was noted (up to 41°). No nonunions or infectious complications were observed.

Conclusion. The combination of open reduction, varus derotational femur osteotomy with Dega acetabuloplasty is an effective method for treatment of DDH in toddlers. The small sample size and the absence of a control group do not allow us to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the modified Ganz digastric approach as a measure to prevent the development of avascular necrosis of the femoral head after surgery.

Background. The question of choosing a treatment strategy for full-thickness osteochondral defects of the tarsal bone remains relevant. When choosing a treatment strategy, two key points should be considered: restoring the architecture of the tarsal bone and achieving long-term restoration of cartilage-like coverage in the area of the osteochondral defect.

Case report. A 34-year-old physically active patient sustained an ankle injury in 2011 and was treated conservatively. In 2020, he complained of pain and reduced activity. Initial assessment scores were: VAS (Visual Analog Scale) — 6 points, AOFAS-AHS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score) — 49 points, FAAM (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure) — 55 points. An MRI revealed an osteochondral defect in the medial part of the tarsal bone dome, measuring 16.4×9.4 mm and with a depth of 20.8 mm. The patient underwent the replacement of the bone defect with an autograft taken from the heel bone, using autologus matrix induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) procedure. After 6 months, a follow-up examination was performed, including ankle arthroscopy and removal of metal fixators. Arthroscopic findings showed that the chondroplasty area was almost identical to intact joint cartilage. One year after chondroplasty, the patient returned to his previous level of physical activity. Assessment scores were: VAS — 1 point, AOFAS-AHS — 94 points, FAAM — 83 points.

Conclusion. The proposed method allows for the restoration of the architecture of the tarsal bone along with the cartilage surface. The use of a bone autograft helps to fill the tarsal bone defect, and covering the autograft with a collagen membrane contributes to the formation of hyaline-like cartilage tissue in the defect area.

Background. Multiapical deformities of the long bones of the lower extremities represent a complex and widely prevalent orthopedic pathology. A numerous of publications address its individual aspects: diagnosis, planning, and correction. However, no single study was found that offers a comprehensive assessment of contemporary views on treating patients with multiapical deformities of long bones.

Aim of the review — to define current concepts and unresolved issues in the analysis, planning, and correction of multiapical deformities of the long bones of the lower limbs based on the scientific literature.

Methods. Electronic databases were utilized for literature search: PubMed/MEDLINE, SAGE Publishing Journals, Embase, eLIBRARY, Google Scholar. Particular attention was paid to studies that provide information on diagnosis, planning, and correction methods for multiapical deformities. A total of 46 publications were included in the review.

Results. In the literature, the terms “multiapical deformity” and “multilevel deformity” are used synonymously. At the same time, the term “multilevel deformity” is used to denote uniapical deformities of different limb segments. The main diagnostic feature of a multiapical deformity is the location of the apex outside the bone. Unlike uniapical deformities, the correction planning of multiapical deformities uses the axis of the intermediate fragment(s). Most authors define it as the mid-diaphyseal line. The correction of multiapical deformities is performed either acute or gradually. Acute correction with internal fixation is undoubtedly more comfortable for the patient. If there are contraindications to it, the deformity correction is performed gradually using Ilizarov hinges or orthopedic hexapods.

Conclusion. The term “multiapical deformity” inherently indicates that the deformed bone has more than one apex, so it should take precedence over the term “multilevel deformity”. The diagnostic feature of the multiapical deformity “localization of the AOD outside the bone” is not absolute and requires clarification. There are challenges in planning the correction using mechanical axes, as well as in determining the axis of the nonlinear (bowing) intermediate fragment(s). The “spring technique” has significant advantages over other variants of using orthopedic hexapods in correcting a multiapical deformity. However, a rationale for the optimal characteristics of springs, their fixation points to supports, and clarification of the computer program’s use method is required. Addressing these issues will enhance the treatment efficiency for patients with multiapical deformities.

Georgii S. Bom was the founder of the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Military Surgery of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. In 2023 the Department celebrated its 90th anniversary. Prof. S. Bom was also one of the founders of the Moscow orthopedic school and specialized in the treatment of pediatric orthopedic diseases, as well as bone and joint tuberculosis. He developed a number of original surgeries, in particular, an intervention for hallux valgus, which was called «Bom’s surgery». He offered a classification of all types of clubfoot, which is still used in orthopedics. Prof. G.S. Bom is the author of several monographs and a large number of scientific articles.

The article is dedicated to the 125^th anniversary of the birth of Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor V.F. Tsel. He was the founder of the school of surgery, traumatology and orthopedics in Arkhangelsk, who made a huge contribution to the formation and development of the northernmost medical institute.