Biomechanics Research Articles

Stability of medially and laterally malpositioned screws: a biomechanical study on cadavers

BACKGROUND CONTEXTPedicle screw instrumentation is widely used in spine surgery. Axial screw misplacement is a common complication. In addition to the recognized neurovascular risks associated with screw misplacement, the biomechanical stability of misplaced screws remains a subject of debate. PURPOSEThe present study investigates whether screw misplacement in the lumbar spine reduces mechanical screw hold. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGCadaveric biomechanical study. METHODSPedicle screw (mis)placement was planned for 12 fresh frozen cadaveric spines between the T12 and the L5 levels. The screws were then implanted into the vertebrae with the help of 3D-printed template guides. Pre- and postinstrumentation computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired for instrumentation planning and quantification of the misplacement. The instrumented vertebrae were potted into CT transparent boxes using Polymethyl methacrylate and mounted on a standardized biomechanical setup for pull-out (PO) testing with uniaxial tensile load. RESULTSThe bone density of all the specimens as per HU was comparable. The predicted pull-out force (POF) for screws medially misplaced by 2 , 4, and 6 mm was respectively 985 N (SD 474), 968 N (SD 476) and 822 N (SD 478). For screws laterally misplaced by 2 , 4, and 6 mm the POF was respectively 605 N (SD 473), 411 N (SD 475), and 334 N (SD 477). Screws that did not perforate the pedicle (control) resisted pull-out forces of 837 N (SD 471). CONCLUSIONSMedial misplacement is associated with increased axial screw hold against static loads compared to correctly placed screws and laterally placed screws. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEIn clinical settings, the reinsertion of medially misplaced screws should primarily aim to prevent neurological complications while the reinsertion of lateral misplaced screws should aim to prevent screw loosening.

Glenoid component cyclical failure decreases with increasing baseplate contact: a biomechanical study

BackgroundGlenoid baseplate loosening remains a common mode of failure in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. One of the key factors to baseplate stability is theorized to be maximization of baseplate backside contact. The purpose of this biomechanical study is to investigate the role of varying degrees of backside bony glenoid support in component stability for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. MethodsTwenty synthetic scapular models were divided into 3 test groups of 5 scapulae with glenoid baseplate contacts of 40%, 60%, and 75%, and one control group with glenoid baseplate contact of 100%. Standardized application of a commercially available glenoid baseplate and glenosphere was performed. The scapulae were mounted on a linear bearing with a humeral component and polyethylene liner which were affixed to a biaxial servohydraulic fatigue testing system. Each specimen was loaded for 10,000 cycles or to failure, about a 55° arc along the glenosphere at a rate of 1 Hz as a 750 N compression load was applied. Failure was defined as fracture of the scapula with implant fixation compromise. Before and after loading, stability of the baseplate was assessed by quantifying the total motion between the model and the baseplate with digital calipers as a ramp load between 0 and 150 N was applied. Two-sample unpaired t-tests were performed with significance set at P < .05. ResultsBaseplate contacts of 40% (1623 ± 227, P = .0001), 60% (3299 ± 1170, P = .0001), and 75% (5615 ± 1587, P = .0077) demonstrated statistically significant decrease in the average number of cycles to failure in all cohorts compared to our control (8641 ± 1070). Cycles taken for initial cracks to progress to failure showed no significant differences; 40% contact (862 ± 452, P = .4751), 60% contact (1651 ± 996, P = .4318), 75% contact (2882 ± 1347, P = .0620), and 100% control (1166 ± 657). Baseplate contacts of 40% (6150.4 ± 444.0, P = .0006), 60% (4647.1 ± 552.3, P = .0072), and 75% (2927.8 ± 918.5, P = .2573) demonstrated increasing micromotion (pre-post cyclical loading) in all cohorts compared to our control (2074.7 ± 1164.6) with statistical significance at 40% and 60%. ConclusionThese biomechanical tests demonstrate that decreasing glenoid baseplate backside contact leads to increased micromotion and fewer cycles to failure. This supports the surgical goal of achieving maximal glenoid baseplate backside contact, suggesting that decreased glenoid baseplate support could contribute to significant loosening.

Tensile testing in feline ventral abdominal coeliotomy closure with different sizes of polydioxanone suture material: a biomechanical study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the load and type of failure of the sutured ventral abdominal fascia of cats with different sizes of suture material made of polydioxanone (PDX) (2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 USP). A total of 32 samples of the ventral abdominal wall from 16 cadaveric cats were harvested using an hourglass-shaped template. The samples were sectioned longitudinally along the linea alba and then sutured together in a continuous pattern using four different randomly assigned sizes of pdx suture material (2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 USP). A universal testing machine was used for linear distraction of the samples. The tensile strength and type of failure were recorded and analysed. Three types of failure were defined: suture material failure (S), suture line failure (T1) and failure of the abdominal wall further away from the linea alba (T2). The frequency of suture material failure decreased with increasing suture size. Suture size 5-0 failed due to a S failure in 6/8 samples, PDX 4-0 failed in 2/8 samples and PDX 3-0 failed in only 1/8 samples. However, PDX 2-0 failed due to only T1 or T2 failures, with both failures being almost equally represented. No statistically significant differences in the load to failure between PDX 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0 were noted (P >0.05). The risk of suture failure increased with decreasing suture size diameter. PDX 2-0 and 3-0 can be used without reservation for the closure of ventral midline coeliotomy in cats. Although there was no statistically significant difference between PDX 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0, PDX 4-0 showed a higher probability for suture breakage and should be used only after careful consideration of the patient while clinical evaluation is pending. Pdx 5-0 cannot be recommended as a safe suture size for this type of surgical closure.

Effect of Screw Length in Volar Plating for Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures: A Biomechanical Study

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the effect of varying screw lengths on load to failure and retention of the dorsal ulnar corner fragment after fixation of comminuted intra-articular distal radius fractures in a cadaveric model. MethodsTwenty-four fresh frozen cadaveric forearms were subjected to a standardized distal radius osteotomy to mimic an intra-articular fracture pattern. Dual X-ray absorptiometry scans were performed to ensure minimal variability in bone density. All fractures were fixed with a volar locking plate and distal locking screws. Three different lengths of distal locking screws were used in each group of eight specimens to simulate the clinical decision of different distal screw lengths. The screw lengths tested were bicortical, 100% of the width of the bone but unicortical, and 75% of the width of the bone and unicortical. All specimens were preconditioned with cyclic axial loading and then axially loaded using matching acrylic resin molds to clinical failure and fragment displacement as detected by a motion analysis system. Retention or loss of the dorsal ulnar corner fragment during loading was recorded as a binary variable. ResultsBetween the three groups, there were no statistically significant differences in precycling stiffness, postcycling stiffness, load at 2 mm displacement of the dorsal ulnar corner, or force at failure. The group with 75% length screws had a significantly higher loss of reduction of the dorsal ulnar corner (86%) compared with the other groups (0%). ConclusionsVarying screw lengths did not affect the stiffness or overall loads to failure of axially loaded specimens. However, the 75% length screws did not reliably secure the dorsal ulnar corner fragments. Although this did not significantly affect the overall load to failure of the construct, displacement of this fragment may have implications for rotation of the forearm through the distal radioulnar joint. Clinical relevanceSurgeons should consider the utilization of full-length unicortical locking screws to ensure adequate fixation of the dorsal ulnar corner.

The Fibular Collateral Ligament Is a More Important Restraint to Varus Laxity Compared to the Anterolateral Complex in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Deficient Knee in a Cadaveric Biomechanical Study

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the influence of the fibular collateral ligament (FCL) and the anterolateral complex (ALC) on varus knee laxity in paired anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient cadaveric knees using varus stress radiographs. MethodsVarus laxity in nine paired (N=18, mean age 73.8 years) human cadaveric knees was assessed using varus stress radiographs with a 12 Nm varus stress applied at 20° of knee flexion. All knees underwent testing in the intact state and following ACL sectioning. One knee of each pair was randomly assigned to undergo FCL sectioning and the contralateral knee was assigned to undergo ALC sectioning (anterolateral ligament [ALL] followed by the Kaplan fibers). ResultsBoth FCL sectioning and ALC (ALL and the Kaplan fibers) sectioning resulted in increased lateral compartment gapping compared to the intact state, 2.44 mm and 1.13 mm, respectively. ALL sectioning with intact Kaplan fibers did not result in increased lateral compartment gapping. Paired knee comparison revealed a significantly greater influence of the FCL than the ALC in restraining lateral compartment gapping under an applied varus stress (p=0.0003). ConclusionsSectioning the FCL resulted in significantly greater lateral compartment gapping under a varus stress than combined sectioning of the ALL and Kaplan fibers in an ACL deficient knee, although both scenarios resulted in significantly increased gapping compared to the intact state. Sectioning of the ALL with intact Kaplan fibers did not result in increased lateral compartment gapping. Clinical RelevanceThe FCL is the most important structure in restraining varus laxity in the ACL deficient knee and the ALC is of secondary importance in restraining varus laxity. In ACL deficient patients with a high-grade pivot shift, mild varus laxity on clinical examination, and an intact FCL on MRI, injury to the anterolateral complex should be considered and may be evaluated with varus stress radiographs. This study validates prior biomechanical studies of FCL deficiency and demonstrates that approximately 1 mm increase in lateral compartment gapping on varus stress radiographs may occur secondary to ALC injury and clinicians should be aware of this when considering treatment for ACL deficient patients with high-grade anterolateral laxity.

Locking plate augmentation of polymethylmethacrylate-filled distal femoral defects: A biomechanical study.

Benign, locally aggressive tumors of the distal femur are typically treated with intralesional curettage and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cementation. However, it is not known whether plate fixation should be added to biomechanically augment these PMMA-filled defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of two competing techniques for reconstruction of a distal femoral defect. For this biomechanical study, we used 12 composite femurs with properties comparable to bone. In nine femurs, identical contained medial distal femoral defects were created using a robotic arm. Group A contained three intact femurs, Group B three femurs with an unfilled defect, Group C three femurs reconstructed with PMMA alone, and Group D three femurs reconstructed with PMMA plus a medial locking plate. Locations of greatest stress concentration were determined by PhotoStress analysis, then three strain gauges were applied to each specimen at these high-stress locations. Specimens were loaded within a physiologic range followed by loading to failure. Outcome measures included construct stiffness, strain along the distal femur, and load at failure. Results showed that stiffness and strain were not significantly different between reconstructive techniques; however, both techniques reduced tensile strain along the popliteal surface by approximately 40% compared to non-reconstructed specimens. All specimens failed at the femoral neck before failing at the distal femur. These findings suggest that plate augmentation of PMMA-filled distal femoral defects like the one in this study offers insignificant biomechanical benefit within physiologic loads and therefore may be unnecessary.

Arthroscopic-Controlled Reduction of Hill-Sachs Lesions: Treatment Option for Off-Track Lesions in Young Patients?

Large Hill-Sachs lesions (HSL) are currently treated via a remplissage procedure. Although the good stabilizing properties of this surgery are apparent, there are some disadvantages in terms of the functional outcome. In the following Technical Note, we present a method of arthroscopic-controlled reduction of HSL for anatomical restoration of the humeral head without functional limitations. For HSL reduction, we place a 1.6-mm K-wire in the central lesion under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic control from posterior to anterior in lateral drilling direction. Then, a 7-mm cannulated drill is used for preparing the reduction canal. Afterward, the HSL is reduced via bone tamp, also under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic control. No bone substitution material is used to fill the canal; only a standard wound closure is performed. Arthroscopic-controlled reduction of impacted humeral head fractures seems to be a possible and relatively easy way to perform an anatomical restoration of HSLs. Because the exact location of HSLs can vary slightly, the exact surgical setting might be slightly different each time. Biomechanical studies already show similar stabilizing properties of this procedure compared with established techniques but without losing external rotation. Further studies need to review the potential rate of humeral head necrosis or secondary loss of reduction.

Comparative Biomechanical Study of Different Screw Fixation Methods For Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus Surgery: A Finite Element Analysis

BackgroundThere are different screw configurations utilised for minimally invasive hallux valgus (HV) deformity despite limited biomechanical data assessing the stability and strength of each construct. We aimed to compare the strength of various screw configurations for minimally invasive HV surgery using finite element analysis (FEA). MethodsA FEA model was developed from a CT of a female with moderate HV deformity. Five screw configurations utilizing one or two bicortical or intramedullary screws were tested. Stress analysis considered osteotomy displacement, maximum and minimum principal stresses, and von Mises stress for both implants and bone for each screw configuration. ResultsFixation with two screws (one bicortical and one intramedullary) demonstrated the lowest values for osteotomy displacement, minimum and maximum total stress, and equivalent von Mises stress on the bone and screws in both loading conditions. ConclusionThe optimal configuration when performing minimally invasive surgery for moderate HV is one bicortical and one intramedullary screw. Level of evidenceLevel III

A comparative cadaveric biomechanical study of bilateral FacetFuse® transfacet pedicle screws versus bilateral or unilateral pedicle screw-rod construct.

Achieving optimal immediate stability is crucial in lumbar fusion surgeries. Traditionally, four pedicle screws have been utilized to provide posterior stability at the L5-S1 level. However, the use of bilateral transfacet pedicle screws (TFPS) as an alternative construct has shown promising results in terms of biomechanical stability. This research paper investigates the biomechanical stability of TFPS with a lag design in comparison to equivalent-sized unilateral or bilateral fully threaded pedicle screw-rod (PSR) constructs at the L5-S1 disc level. The study assesses the immediate stability achieved by these constructs which have clinical implications in achieving lumbar segment fusion. We hypothesized that bilateral TFPS will yield immediate lumbar fixation that is comparable to unilateral or bilateral PSR constructs. Cadaveric biomechanical testing was conducted in vitro to evaluate the stability of posterior fixation using bilateral TFPS (FacetFuse®, LESSpine, Burlington, MA, USA), bilateral and unilateral PSR (PedFuse Return, LESSpine, Burlington, MA, USA) constructs measuring 5.0 mm × 40 mm. A comprehensive analysis of range of motion (ROM) and stability under various loading conditions was performed to a maximum of 7.5 Nm. The constructs were assessed for their ability to provide immediate stability at the L5-S1 disc level. Fourteen specimens were analyzed with an average age of 53.14±10.99 years and comparable bone mineral density. TFPS demonstrated a reduced ROM that was notably lower than that of unilateral PSR in all loading modes and was comparable to bilateral PSR, especially in extension and axial rotation (AR). The unilateral and bilateral PSR groups differed notably in lateral bending (LB) and AR. Bilateral TFPS demonstrated superior immediate stability than unilateral PSR and was an equivalent substitute to bilateral PSR constructs at the L5-S1 disc level. Further clinical investigations are necessary to validate these results and ascertain the long-term outcomes and advantages associated with the use of bilateral TFPS as an alternative construct. Our findings showed that bilateral TFPS could potentially reduce the number of required pedicle screws while achieving comparable stability in lumbar fusion procedures.

Penile compression devices for the treatment of urinary incontinence: current status and future prospects.

Urinary incontinence (UI), especially stress UI, is common after prostatectomy. Penile compression devices (PCDs) may be a safe, tolerable option for conservative management in men who are not candidates for or not interested in surgical intervention for their UI. This article examines the epidemiology of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI), and options for management. All available studies on PCDs are explored, including those on biomechanics, safety, tolerability, and user experience. History, availability of PCDs, and areas for future development are discussed. PCDs are an option for conservative management of PPI. They are recommended for those men without impairment in cognition, dexterity, or sensation. They should be worn for short periods of time and are best used during situations when incontinence might be precipitated. Overall, data suggest they are well tolerated and effective when tested, but large randomized comparative trials and studies of long-term use with relevant patient reported outcome measures are lacking. More studies are needed on commercially available PCDs. Biomechanical studies suggest that there are superior designs and materials both for efficacy and tolerability. With an aging population, and more older men going for prostate surgery, a larger market for these devices is likely.

Commercial infant products influence body position and muscle use

The musculoskeletal and motor development of infants is affected by their environment, which varies from being held, lying on a firm flat surface, to seated in various nursery products. Nursery products can alter the body position of infants, particularly the position of the head/neck and trunk, which may inhibit an infant's ability to breathe. With U.S. infants spending an increasing amount of time in seated products, the purpose of this study was to assess muscle activation and body position in four commercial infant products (carrier, bouncer, rocker, and swing) during supine and prone positioning, compared to a firm flat surface. Thirteen healthy infants (age: 4.2 ± 1.4 months; 7 M/6F) were enrolled in this IRB-approved in-vivo biomechanics study. Surface electromyography sensors recorded muscle activity of the erector spinae, cervical paraspinals, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles and retro-reflective markers tracked movements to determine head-neck, trunk, and torso-pelvis flexion/extension in the sagittal plane. While supine, infants exhibited increased head-neck and trunk flexion of up to 21° and 27° above the playmat, respectively, in all seated products. While prone, high abdominal muscle activation compared to the playmat indicates that infants will fatigue faster in seated products. Additionally, the lower muscle activation levels exhibited in younger infants (< 4 months) compared to older infants (≥ 4 months) indicates that younger infants rely on the product design to maintain body position. However, offering infants a variety of environments to move within is important to avoid motor delay, therefore future work should explore how long-term use may impact an infant's development.

Effect of impact kinematic filters on brain strain responses in contact sports.

Impact kinematics are widely employed to investigate mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, they are susceptible to noise and artefacts; thus, require data filtering. Few studies have focused on how data filtering affects brain strain most relevant to TBI. Here, we report that impact-induced brain strains are much less sensitive to data filtering than kinematics based on three filtering methods: CFC180, lowpass 200Hz, and a new method called Head Exposure to Acceleration Database in Sport (HEADSport). Using mouthguard-measured head impacts in elite rugby (N=5694), average Euclidean distances between the three filtered angular velocity profiles and their unfiltered counterparts are used to identify three groups of impacts with large variations: 90-95th, 95-99th, and >99th percentile. From each group, 20 impacts are randomly selected for simulation using the anisotropic Worcester Head Injury Model (WHIM) V1.0. HEADSport and CFC180 are the most and least effective, respectively, in suppressing "unphysical artefacts" shown as sharp spikes with a rather short impulse duration (e.g., <3 ms) in angular velocity. However, maximum principal strain (MPS), especially that in the corpus callosum, is much less sensitive to data filtering compared to kinematic peaks (e.g., reduction of 3% vs. 47% and 90% for peak angular velocity and acceleration with HEADSport for impacts of >99th percentile). These findings confirm that the brain acts as a low-pass filter, itself, to suppress high frequency noise in impact kinematics. Therefore, brain strain can serve as a common metric for TBI biomechanical studies to maximize relevance to the injury, as it is not sensitive to kinematic filters.

Nonspherical humeral arthroplasty increases internal rotation: a biomechanical comparison of the native humeral head to nonspherical and spherical humeral implants

BackgroundNonspherical humeral head implants more closely resemble native humeral anatomy than spherical components and may better replicate native shoulder range of motion (ROM) and kinematics. The purpose of this study was to compare shoulder ROM and kinematics of a commercially available nonspherical humeral head implant with the native humeral head and a height matched, custom manufactured spherical implant. MethodsSix fresh frozen cadaveric shoulder specimens were used with a custom shoulder testing system. The native shoulder was tested in multiple positions under anatomic muscle loading. Each specimen was tested for ROM and glenohumeral joint kinematics by measuring the humeral head apex and humeral head center (HHC) translation per degree of rotation using a MicroScribe digitizer. Measurements were then repeated after implantation of a spherical and, subsequently, a nonspherical humeral head prothesis. ResultsThe nonspherical implant had significantly more internal rotation (IR) compared to the spherical implant at 0° abduction (10.6 ± 6.2° more IR, P = .004, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −13.3, 34.5), 30° abduction (5.7 ± 2.8°, P = .009, 95% CI: −12.6, 24.0) and 60° abduction (6.8 ± 2.7°, P = .002, 95% CI: −8.3, 22.1) in the scapular plane, and 60° abduction (6.9 ± 2.0°, P = .031, 95% CI: −12, 25.6) in the coronal plane. The nonspherical implant had more IR than the native head at 60° of abduction in the scapular plane (7.0 ± 2.2° P = .002, 95% CI: −10.3, 24.3). The spherical head had less IR than the native head at 0° abduction (7.2 ± 4.8°, P = .031, 95% CI: 32.5, 18.1). There were no differences in humeral head apex translation per degree of rotation noted between the spherical implant or nonspherical implant and the native shoulder. The nonspherical head had less HHC translation than the native shoulder at 30° abduction in the forward flexion plane (P = .007); otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in HHC translation between the native shoulder, the spherical head, and the nonspherical head. There was no significant difference observed between the average difference in anterior-posterior and superior-inferior radius of curvature of the nonspherical implants (2.0 ± 0.7 mm) and the native humeral heads (1.9 ± 1.3 mm) [P = .926]. ConclusionThe results of this biomechanical study suggest that the commercially available nonspherical humeral head has improved IR when compared to a custom, height controlled spherical implant and offers ROM and kinematics similar to the native humeral head in a cadaveric model.

Prediction of prognosis in supramalleolar osteotomy with or without additional fibula osteotomy by approaching a biomechanical study: a finite element analysis.

Supramalleolar osteotomy (SMO) is a representative procedure to restore a malalignment in the varus ankle deformity by shifting the concentrated pressure on the medial ankle joint to the lateral area. Additionally, fibula osteotomy (FO) is selectively selected and performed according to the surgeon's preference. However, it is controversial whether FO is effective in shifting the abnormal pressure from the medial to the lateral area on the ankle joint. Some cadaveric studies have been performed to prove this. However, it is difficult to consistently reconstruct amount of the varus ankle deformities angle in cadavers and to guarantee reliable contact pressure between the ankle joint. Thus, the aim of this study was predicted and quantitatively compared a peak pressure between single SMO and SMO with FO procedure by using a finite element analysis as a powerful biomechanical tool to those limitations of cadaveric study. This study reconstructed total 4 3D foot and ankle models including a normal and pre-op model and 2 post-op models. The pre-op model was modified by assigning 10° varus tilting corresponding to stage 3b in the classification of varus ankle osteoarthritis based on the validated normal model. Also, the post-op models were reconstructed by applying single SMO and SMO with FO, respectively. All of the models were assumed as one-leg standing position and to mimic smooth ankle joint motion. Peak contact pressure change was predicted at the medial ankle joint by using computational simulation. As a result, 2 post-op models showed a remarkably peak pressure reduction by up to 5.5 times on the medial tibiotalar joint. However, a comparison between single SMO and SMO with FO model showed no appreciable differences. In conclusion, this study predicted that single SMO may be as effective as SMO with FO in reducing peak contact pressure on the medial tibiotalar joint in varus ankle osteoarthritis.

Study of Corneal Biomechanics Using Corneal Visualization by Scheimpflug Technology in Corneas with Tomographic Ectasia Susceptibility

Study of Corneal Biomechanics Using Corneal Visualization by Scheimpflug Technology in Corneas with Tomographic Ectasia Susceptibility

Load Changes on a Short-Segment Posterior Instrumentation After Transosseous Disruption of L3 Vertebra - A Biomechanical Human Cadaveric Study.

Biomechanical Cadaveric Study. Following the successful use of a novel implantable sensor (Monitor) in evaluating the progression of fracture healing in long bones and posterolateral fusion of the spine based on implant load monitoring, the aim of this study was to investigate its potential to assess healing of transosseous fractures of a lumbar vertebra stabilized with a pedicle-screw-rod construct. Six human cadaveric spines were instrumented with pedicle screws and rods spanning L3 vertebra. The spine was loaded in Flexion-Extension (FE), Lateral-Bending (LB) and Axial-Rotation (AR) with an intact L3 vertebra and after its transosseous disruption, creating an AO B1 type fracture. The implant load was measured on the one rod using the Monitor and on the contralateral rod by strain gauges to validate the Monitor's measurements. In parallel, the range of motion (ROM) was assessed. ROM increased significantly in all directions in the fractured model (P ≤ 0.049). The Monitor measured a significant increase in implant load in FE (P = 0.002) and LB (P = 0.045), however, not in AR. The strain gauge - aligned with the rod axis and glued onto its posterior side - detected an increased implant load not only in FE (P = 0.001) and LB (P = 0.016) but also in AR (P = 0.047). After a complete transosseous disruption of L3 vertebra, the implant load on the rods was considerably higher vs the state with an intact vertebral body. Innovative implantable sensors could monitor those changes, allowing assessment of the healing progression based on quantifiable data.

Relationship between foot and ankle tendinopathies and dyslipidemia: a literature review

Objectives: Dyslipidemia is a multifactorial condition related to genetic factors, dietary patterns, sedentary habits, and socioeconomic conditions. Foot and ankle tendinopathies are a common problem in orthopedic consultations and can represent up to 30%, highlighting some risk factors, such as metabolic disorders. Methods: This study is an integrative review of the literature addressing the correlation between foot and ankle tendinopathy and dyslipidemia. The keywords used were: “tendinopathy,” “foot and ankle,” and “dyslipidemia,” with the operators “AND” and “OR” for the search. The following inclusion criteria were established: case reports, cohort studies, case and control studies, clinical trials, and biomechanical studies published between 2013 and 2024, indexed in the following databases: Pubmed (Medline), Scielo, Lilacs, and Scopus, published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.Results: Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the correlation between tendinopathies and dyslipidemia, although there is still no absolute clarity; it was shown that the Achilles tendon is the main tendon affected in the foot and ankle, especially by xanthomas, which lead to an increase in the area size, causing pain, edema, difficulty in movement and changes in gait. Conclusion: It is believed that females with dyslipidemia, elderly patients, and individuals with a body mass index below 18.5kg/m2 are more prone to tendinopathies. Level of evidence II; Diagnostic studies.

Biomechanical Effects of Titanium Alloy Based Single versus Dual Cage Fusion Devices

Degenerative disc disease is an increasing problematic complication following lumbar fusion surgeries. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a well-established surgical method for spine stability following intervertebral disc removal. The position and number of titanium cages in PLIF are remain contingent on individual surgeon experience. Thus, a systemic investigation of the efficacy of titanium single mega cage versus two cages in treating degenerative lumbar spinal diseases is imperative. A biomechanical study was aimed to compare the stability achieved in PLIF through interbody reconstruction using a single mega cage (32 mm) Vs. a dual cage (22 mm). Normal intact finite element model of L3–L4 was developed based on computed tomography images from a healthy 27-year-old male volunteer. The study tested the intact model (Model A) and its surgically operated counterparts using four PLIF implantation methods: single transverse cage (Model B), single transverse cage with bone graft (Model C), dual transverse cage (Model D), and dual transverse cage with bone graft (Model E). Combined loads simulating physiological motions—flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending —were applied across all loading directions. The assessment includes all model range of motion (ROM), micromotion between the cage and endplate, and stress on the cage and internal fixation system (screw and rod). The ROM between Models B, C, D and E were consistently reduced by over 71% compared to intact Model A under all motion scenarios. Model D exhibited the highest peak stress of 115 MPa on the cage during flexion, surpassing Model C and E (Flexion) by fourfold. Model E demonstrated the lowest cage stress (20 MPa) during extension, outperforming the other models. Notably, Model E exhibited minimal endplate stress (2 MPa), cage stress (21 MPa), micromotion (13 µm) during extension, and screw-rod stress (56 MPa) during flexion, making it superior to other implantation methods. In the context of PLIF, Model E showed enhanced biomechanical stability, reducing ROM, stress on the endplates, cage, screw-rod system and micromotion. Alternatively, Model C may be a viable alternative in standard PLIF, especially in cases with limited intervertebral space, providing efficient clinical outcomes with shorter operative times and reduced costs and ease of implantation. Also, this computational study provides valuable understandings into optimizing cage implantation strategies for improved outcomes during PLIF.

Failure rate of isolated medial meniscus repair in the stable knee: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present meta-analysis aims to determine the outcomes and failure rates for medial meniscus repairs in patients with stable knees. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus with the terms '(medial meniscus OR medial meniscal) AND (repair)'. The search strategy was based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Meta-Analyses) protocol and included 93 articles assessed for eligibility. The search criteria were limited to studies reporting outcomes and failure rates. The exclusion criteria included languages other than English, biomechanical studies, letters to editors, non-full text, review articles, meta-analyses and case reports. In total, 10 studies with 595 patients were included. Degenerative tears or studies reporting meniscus repair outcomes on root repairs, revision or primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, discoid menisci or ramp lesions were excluded. All studies included revision surgery and/or clinical symptoms as failure definitions. The overall medial meniscal repair failure rate was 26% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [15%-37%]. The mean time to failure from isolated medial meniscus repair surgery was 27.7 months with 95% CI [18.5-36.9 months]. The postoperative Lysholm and IKDC scores were reported in three articles. At the final follow-up, the mean postoperative Lysholm and IKDC scores were 92.3 with 95% CI [84.5-100] and 88.6 with 95% CI [83.5-93.8], respectively. The current meta-analysis revealed an overall failure rate of 26% in the case of medial meniscus repair in a stable knee. For these reasons, the patient should be aware of the substantial risk of revision surgery (one out of four cases). Medial meniscus repair in a stable knee yielded good clinical results. II.

Crossing the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Biomechanical Investigation of C7 vs T1 Caudal Selection's Effect on Adjacent Segment Motion in Posterior Cervical Fusion.

Biomechanical Study. This study aims to evaluate the biomechanical adjacent segment effects of multi-level posterior cervical fusion constructs that terminate at C7 compared to those that terminate at T1 in cadaveric specimens. The cervicothoracic junction poses unique challenges for spine surgeons. Deciding to terminate multi-level posterior cervical fusion constructs at C7 or extend them across the cervicothoracic junction remains a controversial issue. Six cadaveric specimens underwent biomechanical testing in the intact state and after instrumentation with constructs from C3 and terminating at either C7 or T1. Range of motion (ROM) was assessed in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation globally and at cranial and caudal adjacent segments. There was a significant decrease in overall flexion/extension by both C7 (-35.5°, P=0.002) and T1 (-39.8°, P=0.002) instrumentation compared to the intact spine. T1 instrumentation had significantly lower (-4.3°, P=0.008) flexion/extension ROM compared to C7 instrumentation. There were significant decreases in axial rotation by both C7 (-31.4°, P=0.009) and T1 (-36.8°, P=0.009) instrumentation compared to the intact spine, but no significant differences were observed between the two. There were also significant decreases in lateral bending by both C7 (-27.9°, P=0.022) and T1 (-33.7°, P=0.022) instrumentation compared to the intact spine, but no significant differences were observed between the two. No significant differences were observed in ROM at cranial or caudal adjacent segments between constructs terminating at C7 and those extending to T1. This biomechanical investigation demonstrates that constructs that cross the cervicothoracic junction experience less overall spinal motion in flexion-extension compared to those that terminate at C7. However, contrary to prior studies there is no difference in cranial and caudal adjacent segment motion. Surgeons should make clinical decisions regarding the caudal extent of fusion in multi-level posterior cervical fusions without major concerns about adjacent segment motion.