Differences In Femoral Length Research Articles

Patient perception of leg length after total hip arthroplasty does not correlate with sagittal lumbar spine stiffness, history of spinal pathology or fusion.

Although spinal pathology or fusion can change patients' posture and pelvic orientation, their correlation with perception of limb length discrepancy (LLD) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is not well understood. We hypothesised that LLD perception after THA would not correlate with a history of spinal pathology, fusion or sagittal lumbar spine stiffness among patients who underwent THA. Four hundred consecutive patients who underwent THA and had a complete set of anteroposterior and lateral EOS® imaging in standing and sitting positions were included in this retrospective case-control study. All patients underwent THA between 2011 and 2020. Sagittal lumbar spine stiffness was measured by changes in lumbar lordosis and sacral slope from the standing to the sitting position (lumbar spine stiffness: standing sacral slope-sitting sacral slope < 10°). Anatomical and functional lower extremity length, change in the centre of hip rotation, coronal and sagittal knee alignment, and hindfoot height were measured. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the correlation between patient perceptions of LLD, and the variables found to be significant in the univariate analysis. There was a substantial difference between the patients with and without LLD perceptions regarding axial pelvic rotation (p = 0.001), knee flexum-recurvatum (p = 0.007) and hindfoot height (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference between patients with and without LLD perceptions regarding differences in femoral length (p = 0.06), history of spine pathology or fusion (p = 0.128) and lumbar spine stiffness (p = 0.955). Our study found no significant correlation between perceptions of LLD after THA and spinal fusion or lumbar spine stiffness. Changes in the position of the centre of hip rotation can affect the functional leg length. Surgeons should consult patients regarding other factors, such as knee alignment or hind-/midfoot pathologies, as well as compensatory mechanisms, such as axial pelvic rotation, that could affect perceptions of LLD.

The Influence of Retrograde Femoral Nail Removal With and Without Interpositional Fat Grafting on Distal Femoral Physeal Behavior: A Sheep Study.

Previous investigations have demonstrated that up to 7% of the distal femoral physis can be violated using a rigid, retrograde nail without growth inhibition or arrest. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the behavior of the distal femoral physis after retrograde femoral nail removal in a sheep model, with and without placement of an interpositional fat graft. Retrograde femoral nails were placed in 8 skeletally immature sheep. Implants were removed at 8 weeks, with the residual defects left open (n=4) or filled with autologous fat graft (n=4). Differences in femoral length between surgical versus contralateral control femurs were measured after an additional 3 (n=4) or 5 months (n=4) before sacrifice, and the physis was evaluated histologically. When compared with control limbs, femoral length was significantly shorter in limbs sacrificed at 3 months (mean: 3.9±1.3mm; range: 2.7 to 5.7mm) compared with limbs at 5 months (mean: 1.0±0.4mm; range: 0.4 to 1.2mm) ( P =0.005). No significant difference in mean shortening was appreciated in limbs without (2.4±1.6mm) versus with fat grafting (2.5±2.3mm) ( P =0.94). Histologic analysis revealed no osteoid formation across the physis in sheep sacrificed at 3 months, whereas there was evidence of early osteoid formation across the physis in sheep at 5 months. All specimens demonstrated evidence of an active physes. Femurs undergoing retrograde implant placement were significantly shorter when compared with control limbs in sheep sacrificed at 3 months, whereas differences were nominal in sheep sacrificed at 5 months after retrograde implant removal, suggesting growth inhibition with nail removal improved with time. Fat grafting across the distal femoral physis did not result in a significant difference in femoral lengths. Histologic evidence at 5 months revealed early development of a bone bridge, emphasizing the importance of follow-up to skeletal maturity in patients treated with retrograde nailing across an open physis. Level IV.

Gender and disease severity determine proximal femoral morphology in developmental dysplasia of the hip.

In this computed tomography (CT) morphological study we describe the way the proximal femoral morphology differs with worsening degrees of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and describe gender differences in patients with DDH. Forty-nine male patients with DDH were matched with 49 females with DDH, using age and the Crowe classification of DDH severity. The femoral length, anteversion, neck-shaft angle, offset, neck length, canal-calcar ratio, canal flare index, lateral center-edge angle, alpha angle, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence were measured for each patient on their pre-operative CT scans, prior to total hip arthroplasty surgery. Femoral anteversion and neck length were 16° and 47 mm, 25°and 36 mm, 26° and 43 mm, and 44° and 36 mm, for Crowe I and III males and Crowe I and III females, respectively. The mean male anteversion was 22° (±14), compared to 30° (±15.5) in females (p = 0.02, Confidence Interval: 1.6-14.9). Gender differences in femoral length, neck length and offset lost significance when height-normalized and no other significant gender differences were found. In conclusion, femoral neck length reduces with increasing DDH severity, whilst anteversion tends to increase. Male patients with DDH have significantly less femoral anteversion, which has important implications for osteotomy and arthroplasty surgery in DDH. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res.

Femoral antecurvation—A 3D CT Analysis of 1232 adult femurs

IntroductionFor optimal treatment of femoral fractures, it is essential to understand the anatomical antecurvation of the human femur. Recent clinical studies have highlighted the problem of distal anterior encroachment or even perforation of the nail tip. The aim of this study was to accurately describe the femoral antecurvation in a large cohort. Another objective was to identify the most important influences on femoral antecurvation, such as age, femur length, gender and ethnicity.MethodsA three dimensional modelling and analytical technology was applied for the analysis of 1,232 femurs. Individual femoral antecurvation was precisely computed to determine whether gender, femur length, age, ethnicity or body mass index influence the radius of curvature (ROC).ResultsThe calculated mean ROC for all femurs was 943 mm. The lowest ROC of 826 mm was found in female Asian femurs. A regression analysis demonstrated that age and femur length could predict the variability of the curvature, with femoral length as most powerful predictor. A matched pair subgroup analysis between Asians and Caucasians could not show any significant differences of ROC values.ConclusionsThe mean radius of the femoral antecurvation may be smaller than previously reported revealing a significant mismatch between the actual individual anatomy and existing implants. In opposite to existing literature, this study suggests, that antecurvation differences between various ethnicities may exclusively be attributed to differences in femoral length and age. The findings of this study may be found helpful in the development of novel designs for intra- and extramedullary implants.

Stature and the Neolithic transition– Skeletal evidence from southern Sweden

Human stature is a variable often used to study health changes in present and past populations. In this study possible differences in stature from the late Mesolithic-Early Bronze Age, based on skeletal data from southern Sweden, are investigated. The sample comprises n=203 femora where maximum lengths were evaluated using non-parametric testing. Sex was assessed primarily using criteria on the pelvis and secondarily through statistical testing of sexual dimorphism. Measurements of the vertical diameter of the femoral head, femoral anterior-posterior and medial-lateral were evaluated using an iterative discriminant analysis. Results confirm a significant difference in femoral length between archaeological culture groups for both sexes. Male femoral lengths evidence a significant increase in the Battle Axe Culture that remained high throughout the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Only a minor increase in male stature associated with the transition to agriculture could be noticed; stature then remained constant until the Pitted Ware Culture. There was no change in female stature following the Neolithic transition. Female stature then increased gradually throughout the Neolithic, but decreased somewhat in the later part of the Late Neolithic-Early Bronze Age. These findings suggest that the transition to agriculture did not affect health in any profound way, and that the high stature in the BAC-Early Bronze Age are dependent on a mix of genetic influx, population increase and good nutrition and health, possibly linked to an intensification and consolidation of the agro-pastoral economy.

Intramedullary Nailing of Diaphyseal Femur Fractures Secondary to Gunshot Wounds

The purpose of this study was to determine significant factors that may impact the postoperative differences in femoral version (DFV) and differences in femoral length (DFL) between the fixed and uninjured sides after intramedullary nailing (IMN) secondary to gunshot wounds. Retrospective data registry study. Academic level I trauma center. Over a 10-year period, 417 patients underwent IMN of a diaphyseal femur fracture (OTA/AO 32A-C). Of these, 57 patients sustained fractures caused by gunshots and had a postoperative computed tomographic scanogram. DFV and DFL. The effect of the following variables on DFV and DFL were determined through univariate and stepwise multivariate regression analyses: age, sex, body mass index, trauma fellowship-trained versus nontrauma surgeon, daytime versus nighttime surgery, antegrade versus retrograde nail insertion, use of traction, type of operating table, and AO and Winquist classifications. The mean postoperative DFV for all patients was 8.62 degrees (±6.67 degrees). Postoperative DFV greater than 15 degrees was found in 12.3% of all patients. After IMN, no significant differences in DFV were found with increasing complexity of AO/OTA or Winquist fracture classification. None of the aforementioned independent variables were significantly predictive of postoperative DFV in univariate or multivariate analyses. The mean postoperative DFL for all patients was 5.25 mm (±4.36 mm). In a multivariate model, classification as Winquist type 3 or 4 was weakly (adjusted R = 0.075) but significantly predictive of less DFL than categorization as type 1 or 2 (P = 0.027). Although gunshot-associated femur fractures may present surgical challenges for treatment through IMN, acceptable femoral rotation and length are obtainable regardless of the fracture complexity or a variety of demographic and surgically-related variables. Prognostic level II.

RANKL Inhibition: A Novel Strategy to Decrease Femoral Head Deformity After Ischemic Osteonecrosis

A novel therapeutic strategy to decrease the development of femoral head deformity after ischemic osteonecrosis was studied in a large animal model of total head infarction. RANKL inhibition through exogenous osteoprotegerin administration significantly decreased pathologic bone resorption and deformity during repair of the infarcted head. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is a juvenile form of osteonecrosis of the femoral head that can produce permanent femoral head deformity (FHD) and premature osteoarthritis. The development of FHD in LCPD is closely associated with the repair process, characterized by a predominance of bone resorption in its early stage that produces a fragmented appearance and collapse of the femoral head. We present here a novel strategy to preserve the femoral head structure after ischemic osteonecrosis based on inhibition of interaction between RANK and RANKL using exogenous administration of osteoprotegerin (OPG-Fc) in a large animal model of ischemic osteonecrosis. Ischemic osteonecrosis was surgically induced in 18 male piglets by placing a ligature tightly around the right femoral neck to disrupt the blood flow to the right femoral head. Two weeks after the induction of total head infarction, OPG-Fc or saline was administered subcutaneously to nine animals per group for 6 weeks. The contralateral, normal (left) femoral heads from the animals treated with saline served as normal, nondisease controls. All animals were killed at 8 weeks when severe FHD has been previously shown to occur because of the repair process dominated by osteoclastic bone resorption. Radiographic, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical assessments were performed. Radiographic assessment showed significantly better preservation of the femoral head structure in the OPG-Fc group compared with the saline group. Epiphyseal quotient (the ratio of epiphyseal height to diameter) was significantly higher in the OPG-Fc group (0.41 +/- 0.09) compared with the saline group (0.24 +/- 0.08, p < 0.001). Histomorphometric assessment revealed a significant reduction in the number of osteoclasts present in the OPG-Fc group (5.9 +/- 5.3mm(-2)) compared with the saline group (39.6 +/- 13.8 mm(-2), p < 0.001). Trabecular bone volume, number, and separation were significantly better preserved in the OPG-Fc group compared with the saline group (p < 0.001). No significant difference in femoral length was observed between the OPG-Fc and saline groups. Immunostaining revealed the presence of OPG-Fc only within the blood vessels, with no apparent staining of bone matrix or trabecular bone surfaces. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that RANKL inhibition decreases bone resorption and FHD after ischemic osteonecrosis. Because RANKL inhibitors do not bind to bone, their effects on resorption are reversible as the drug is cleared from circulation. The reversible nature of RANKL inhibitors is very appealing for treating pediatric bone diseases such as LCPD, where the resorptive stage of the disease lasts for 1-2 years.

Limb Malalignment and Functional Outcome After Antegrade Versus Retrograde Intramedullary Nailing in Distal Femoral Fractures

Torsional malalignment and mechanical axis deviation (MAD) are worrisome complications after nailing of distal femoral fractures. Variable, sometimes contradictory, reports about these problems have been published. In a retrospective nonrandomized study, 41 patients (mean age, 44.5 years) with distal third femoral fractures that were operatively treated using either antegrade (20 cases) or retrograde (21 cases) intramedullary nailing during a period of 2 years have been reviewed. Goniometric measurement was done using a navigated ultrasound examination whereas functional evaluation and return to sports were assessed using Merle d'Aubigné functional grading system and Tegner and Lysholm activity score. There was no difference in femoral length, torsion, or MAD between patients treated using antegrade nails and those treated with a retrograde nail. There was a greater limitation of knee motion with retrograde nailing and of hip motion with antegrade nailing. The functional grading and activity evaluation showed, however, no difference between both groups. The study cohort showed that no treatment method had proved an advantage over the other regarding limb geometry or the functional outcome. The proper operative indication, intraoperative control, and the surgeon's experience seem to be more important in this regard than the nailing technique.

Skeletal efficacy with parathyroid hormone in rats was not entirely beneficial with long-term treatment.

We report the consequences of prolonged treatment with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) (PTH) in male and ovariectomized female rats with mature skeletons. Intact male and osteopenic, ovariectomized, female F-344 rats were evaluated after 1 year of treatment with 0, 8, or 40 microg/kg/day s.c. PTH. Males and females were about 6 months of age at study initiation; females were ovariectomized (Ovx) for 5 weeks before initiation of PTH treatment. PTH did not affect the survival of either intact males or ovariectomized females. Qualitative histopathology showed expected changes associated with aging in kidneys and proximal tibiae, with no treatment-related anomalies after 1 year of PTH administration. PTH slightly increased the femoral length of ovariectomized females but not that of males. No significant differences in femoral length were observed between sham and Ovx controls. Proximal femora of the males and ovariectomized females given the high dose of 40 microg/kg showed 211 and 186% greater trabecular bone area, 118 and 94% greater cortical thickness, 170 and 189% greater trabecular number, and 321 and 404% greater connectivity (node-to-node struts) compared with respective vehicle controls. Increased trabecular and endocortical surface apposition coincided with a 78 and 70% loss of marrow space for males and females treated with PTH, respectively. Biomechanical strength (ultimate load) of the femoral neck increased by 73 and 76%, respectively, in males and ovariectomized females. Cortical bone analyses of the femoral midshaft showed 105 and 72% increases in bone mineral content, 67 and 55% increases in bone mineral density, and 22 and 10% increases in cross-sectional area for males and ovariectomized females, respectively, with altered shape of femora. Biomechanical analyses of the midshaft showed substantial increases in strength and stiffness but a reduction in ultimate strain, which was likely due to the altered geometry of the midshaft for PTH groups. Aging effects on strength of vertebra and femoral midshaft were reversed by PTH treatment. In summary, the 1-year treatment duration, which represents about 50% of lifetime, did not affect survival and was not associated with any treatment-related anomalies in the kidney or skeleton. PTH reversed the aging process in bones but not kidneys and substantially increased bone mass and strength to well beyond normally attained levels. However, compared with short-term studies reported previously, there seemed to be no advantages to extending PTH treatment to 12 months in rat bones.