We have investigated the effectiveness of the transplantation of bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) with interconnected porous calcium hydroxyapatite (IP-CHA) on early bone repair for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. We studied 22 patients (30 hips) who had osteonecrosis with a minimum follow-up of one year after implantation of BMMNCs. The mean age at surgery was 41 years (18 to 64) and the mean period of follow-up was 29 months (19 to 48). In a control group, cell-free IP-CHA was implanted into a further eight patients (9 hips) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head and the outcomes were compared.

A reduction in the size of the osteonecrotic lesion was observed subsequent to hypertrophy of the bone in the transition zone in the BMMNC group. In three patients in the treatment group progression to extensive collapse was detected. In the control group subtle bone hypertrophy was observed, but severe collapse of the femoral head occurred in six of eight hips.

In this limited study the implantation of BMMNCs and IP-CHA appears to confer benefit in the repair of osteonecrosis and in the prevention of collapse.

This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between intra-operative Flexion Balance (IFB) and post-operative Flexion instability in Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).

Eighty-three knees (4 males and 79 females, average 74 y/o) with primary TKA (Zimmer NexGen LPS flex fixed-bearing) for varus osteoarthritis in our hospital between January 2006 and December 2007, were included in this study. After bone-cutting independently and balancing manually, Extension Balance (EB) and IFB were measured with seesaw type tensor. Post-operative Flexion Balance (PFB) was evaluated as post-operative instability with Kanekasu’s Epicondylar view at the least more than 6 months postoperatively. Varus inclination (lateral joint opening) was indicated as plus. In addition, pre-operative standing FTA (femorotibial angle), the change of FB (CFB=PFB-IFB) and True Correction Angle (TCA=FTA-174-EB), we had defined, were calculated. The TCA was hypothesized to mean the extent of medial soft tissue release. With these data, the correlation between IFB and PFB, CFB and TCA were analyzed. Of these, furthermore, in the well-balanced knees (IFB ≥ ±2°), same analyses were done. Statistical analysis was performed with StatView software.

Each data (n=83) in all subjects was as follows (Mean ± SD, degrees.); EB: 2.74 ±2.74, IFB: 1.61 ±3.67, PFB: 1.73 ±2.66, CFB: 0.01 ±4.25, FTA: 185.3 ±6.7, TCA: 8.65 ±6.52, respectively. Though there was no correlation between IFB and PFB (r=−0.09, p=0.57), CFB was correlated with TCA (r=0.40, p< 0.01).

Each data in the well-balanced knees (n=43) was as follows, EB: 3.09 ±2.71, IFB: 0.70 ±1.30, PFB: 1.22 ±2.52, CFB: 0.57 ±2.3, FTA: 185.5 ±6.5, TCA: 8.42 ±6.09, respectively. There was a correlation between IFB and PFB (r=0.41, p< 0.01), however, FBC was not correlated with TCA (r=−0.26, p=0.10).

Same rectangular balance has been thought to be one the most important factors to obtain the good postoperative stability in TKA. For correcting alignment of lower extremity, medial or posteromedial release are generally needed to perform mainly in extended knee. Even if well-balanced EB was achieved, IFB does not necessarily prove to be well, rather than sparse. This might be because intra-operative balance was not measured under physiological condition, especially after wide posteromedial release. Soft tissues released for balancing would be repaired and shortened over time, so it seems to be natural that intra-operative balance would change. We have reported that EB was correlated with post-operative instability in the previous congress (ISTA 2006). However, it remains unknown as for FB. Our study demonstrated that CFB increased in accordance with the extent of soft tissue release (TCA), and that IFB was correlated with PFB only in the well balanced knees. This means that the measurement of IFB was not useful for predicting PFB in the imbalanced knees. That’s why we should achieve adequate balance & gap during operation and should recognize that FB was influenced by various factors, not only soft tissues but also rotation and inclination of components. In the future, how to measure IFB, including tensor and measurement condition, should be considered and established to predict knee balancing for good clinical results.

We evaluated the histological changes before and after fixation in ten knees of ten patients with osteochondritis dissecans who had undergone fixation of the unstable lesions. There were seven males and three females with a mean age of 15 years (11 to 22). The procedure was performed either using bio-absorbable pins only or in combination with an autologous osteochondral plug. A needle biopsy was done at the time of fixation and at the time of a second-look arthroscopy at a mean of 7.8 months (6 to 9) after surgery.

The biopsy specimens at the second-look arthroscopy showed significant improvement in the histological grading score compared with the pre-fixation scores (p < 0.01). In the specimens at the second-look arthroscopy, the extracellular matrix was stained more densely than at the time of fixation, especially in the middle to deep layers of the articular cartilage.

Our findings show that articular cartilage regenerates after fixation of an unstable lesion in osteochondritis dissecans.

We investigated the use of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) proteins as prognostic markers in chondrosarcoma and the relationship of HIF to the biological characteristics of cartilage tumours. The expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2α, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and microvessel density (MVD) were measured immunohistochemically in 29 specimens of cartilage tumour.

There was no HIF-1α and HIF-2α staining in any of the nine benign cartilage tumours. In 20 specimens of chondrosarcoma, the rate of HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression was 40% and 25%, respectively. The tumour size (≥ 8 cm), histological grade (grade 2 and grade 3) surgical margin (marginal and intralesional) and HIF-1α expression (positive) correlated significantly with a shorter disease-free survival. There was a significant association between HIF-1α and the MVD and a strong trend towards a correlation between HIF-1α and the PCNA index or histological grade.

Our findings suggest that HIF-1α protein may be a useful objective marker in the assessment of the prognosis in chondrosarcoma, since it plays an important role in tumour angiogenesis and cell proliferation.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells were aspirated from immature male green fluorescent protein transgenic rats and cultured in a monolayer. Four weeks after the creation of the osteochondral defect, the rats were divided into three groups of 18: the control group, treated with an intra-articular injection of phosphate-buffered saline only; the drilling group, treated with an intra-articular injection of phosphate-buffered saline with a bone marrow-stimulating procedure; and the bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells group, treated with an intra-articular injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells plus a bone marrow-stimulating procedure. The rats were then killed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment and examined.

The histological scores were significantly better in the bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells group than in the control and drilling groups at all time points (p < 0.05). The fluorescence of the green fluorescent protein-positive cells could be observed in specimens four weeks after treatment.

We have investigated the changes in anterior laxity of the knee in response to direct electrical stimulation of eight normal and 45 reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs). In the latter, the mean time from reconstruction was 26.7 months (24 to 32). The ACL was stimulated electrically using a bipolar electrode probe during arthroscopy. Anterior laxity was examined with the knee flexed at 20° under a force of 134 N applied anteriorly to the tibia using the KT-2000 knee arthrometer before, during and after electrical stimulation.

Anterior tibial translation in eight normal and 17 ACL-reconstructed knees was significantly decreased during stimulation, compared with that before stimulation. In 28 knees with reconstruction of the ACL, in 22 of which the grafts were found to have detectable somatosensory evoked potentials during stimulation, anterior tibial translation was not decreased. These findings suggest that the ACL-hamstring reflex arc in normal knees may contribute to the functional stability and that this may not be fully restored after some reconstructions of the ACL.

Introduction. Dysplasia of the hip is the commonest cause of secondary osteoarthritis. One treatment is periacetabular osteotomy such as rotational acetabular osteotomy(RAO). These procedures have generally produced satisfactory mid- and long-term results, but unfavorable results have been reported in a few cases. We evaluated the 10-year results to determine the factors of prognostic importance.

Methods. We studied 91 patients (100 hips) at prearthritis or early stage. The mean age at surgery was 36 years (13 – 58) and mean follow-up period was 11 years (8–16). 81 were women (89 hips) and 10 were men (11 hips). Clinical follow-up was done using the system of Merle d’Aubigne. Radiologically, CE angle, AC angle and head lateralization index (HLI) were measured prior to surgery, 3 months postoperatively and at follow-up. Postoperative joint congruencies were classified into four grades.

Results. The mean clinical score significantly increased from 14 to 17 and only in 4 cases the mean score decreased. CE angle, AC angle, and HLI significantly improved after surgery. Progression of osteoarthritis was radiologically observed at follow-up in 7 hips. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis predicted the rate of prevention of osteoarthritic progression at 10 years as 93%. Parametric survivorship analysis using the Cox hazards model indicated that postoperative joint congruency is a risk factor for progression of osteoarthritis.

Discussion/Conclusion. Our findings have suggested that RAO is valuable in preventing osteoarthritic progression for at least 10 years. If risk factors can be reduced, a longer operative effect may be expected.

Acetabular dysplasia was produced in 24 immature white rabbits. A rotational acetabular osteotomy was then carried out and radiological and histological studies of the articular cartilage were made.

In the hips which did not undergo osteotomy, radiographs at 26 weeks showed that residual subluxation remained and arthritic changes such as narrowing of the joint space or dislocation were still seen. However, in the operated group there was a remarkable increase in cover, but arthritic changes were not observed. After 24 weeks, the Mankin grading score in the operated group was significantly lower than that in the non-operated group. The latter hips showed an irregular surface of the cartilage, exfoliation and proliferation of synovial tissue. In those undergoing osteotomy, primary cloning of chondrocytes or hypercellularity was seen and at 24 weeks after operation and metaplasia of the cartilage in the fibrous tissue was observed in the boundary between the medial area of the acetabulum and the acetabular fossa.

A total of 108 patients with unilateral instability of the knee, associated with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, was prospectively randomised for arthroscopic single- or double-bundle reconstruction of the ligament using hamstring tendons. The same postoperative rehabilitation protocol was used for all. The patients were followed up for a mean of 32 months (24 to 36). We measured the anterior laxity and joint position sense at different angles of flexion of the knee to determine whether both bundles in the double-bundle reconstruction contributed to the stability of the joint and proprioception.

No significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to anterior laxity measured by the KT-2000 arthrometer with the knee at 20° or 70° flexion nor with regard to proprioception. A notchplasty was required less often in the double- compared with the single-bundle reconstruction.

We did not find any advantage in a double-bundle as opposed to a single-bundle reconstruction in terms of stability or proprioception.

We investigated the clinical outcome of a reconstructive procedure of the medial patellofemoral ligament for the treatment of habitual or recurrent dislocation of the patella in four children (6 knees), with a minimum follow-up of four years. The technique involves transfer of the tendon of semitendinosus to the patella using the posterior one-third of the femoral insertion of the medial collateral ligament as a pulley.

There was no recurrence of dislocation after surgery. The mean Kujala score at follow-up was 96.3 points. Radiological assessment showed that the congruence angle, the tilt angle and the lateral shift radio were restored to normal. The lateral and medial stress shift ratios and the Insall-Salvati ratio remained abnormal.

We conclude that this technique can be recommended for the treatment of habitual or recurrent patellar dislocation in children, although hypermobility and patella alta are not fully corrected.

In 52 patients we compared the accuracy of standard anteroposterior (AP) radiography, mortise radiography and MRI with arthroscopy of the ankle for the diagnosis of a tear of the tibiofibular syndesmosis. In comparison with arthroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 44.1%, 100% and 63.5% for standard AP radiography and 58.3%, 100% and 71.2% for mortise radiography. For MRI they were 100%, 93.1% and 96.2% for a tear of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament and 100%, 100% and 100% for a tear of the posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. Standard AP and mortise radiography did not always provide a correct diagnosis. MRI was useful although there were two-false positive cases. We suggest that arthroscopy of the ankle is indispensable for the accurate diagnosis of a tear of the tibiofibular syndesmosis.

Introduction: Accelerated rehabilitation programs following ACL reconstruction require adequate fixation strength. Staple fixation of grafts outside the tibial tunnel has been shown to have fixation strength comparable to interference screws. The use of bioresorbable polymer implants has potentially significant advantages especially if revision is required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new bioresorbable fixation staple using an ovine model.

Materials and Methods: Forty-eight mature sheep underwent unilateral cranial cruciate ligament (CrCl) reconstruction. The reconstruction comprised a loop of superficial digital flexor tendon (autograft) joined to a prosthetic ligament (LK-15). Femoral fixation was by endobutton. Tibial fixation of the LK-15 was with either a new Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) staple (Zimmer Japan/Gunze Ltd.) or a Cobalt-chrome (CoCr) staple. Biomechanical and histological responses were evaluated at 0, 6, 12 and 24 weeks.

Results: At all times post-reconstruction there were no significant differences between staple types for construct strength or stiffness (p> 0.05). The staple was not the site of reconstruction failure, and there were no adverse tissue reactions, for either staple type. Fibrous tissue was more often found at the interface of the CoCr staple.

Conclusions: The PLLA staple performed biomechanically as well as the metal staple for tibial fixation of cruciate ligament reconstructions. There were no significant observable adverse histological responses over the time intervals examined.

We have determined whether somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were detectable after direct mechanical stimulation of normal, injured and reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) during arthroscopy. We investigated the position sense of the knee before and after reconstruction, and correlated the SEP with instability.

Reproducible SEPs were detected in all 19 normal ACLs and in 36 of 38 ACLs reconstructed during a period of 13 months. Of the 45 injured ACLs, reproducible SEPs were detected in 26. The mean difference in anterior displacement in the SEP-positive group of the injured ACL group was significantly lower than that in the SEP-negative group. In the reconstructed group, the postoperative position sense was significantly better than the preoperative position sense. Our results indicate not only that sensory reinnervation occurs in the reconstructed ACL, but also that the response to mechanical loads can be restored, and is strongly related to improvement in position sense.

We investigated the clinical, arthroscopic and biomechanical outcome of transplanting autologous chondrocytes, cultured in atelocollagen gel, for the treatment of full-thickness defects of cartilage in 28 knees (26 patients) over a minimum period of 25 months. Transplantation eliminated locking of the knee and reduced pain and swelling in all patients. The mean Lysholm score improved significantly. Arthroscopic assessment indicated that 26 knees (93%) had a good or excellent outcome. There were few adverse features, except for marked hypertrophy of the graft in three knees, partial detachment of the periosteum in three and partial ossification of the graft in one. Biomechanical tests revealed that the transplants had acquired a hardness similar to that of the surrounding cartilage. We conclude that transplanting chondrocytes in a newly-formed matrix of atelocollagen gel can promote restoration of the articular cartilage of the knee.

For the purpose of investigating the effect of an insole with a lateral wedge, we studied 30 patients (31 knees) aged from 46 to 78 years with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the knee for at least three years. The 18 knees treated with an insole (group I) were matched by age, gender, obesity index, area of lesion, femorotibial angle, stage, and clinical evaluation with 13 treated conservatively without an insole (group II).

The clinical results, as rated by a knee score, improved significantly more in group I than in group II. Radiologically, the necrotic area and ratio decreased in group I, whereas in group II they increased. In advanced cases, with stage 4 or a femorotibial angle of more than 180°, the use of an insole did not improve the clinical or radiological findings. The insole is a valuable method of conservative treatment for the early stages of osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle.

We examined whether somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were detectable after direct electrical stimulation of injured, reconstructed and normal anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) during arthroscopy under general anaesthesia. We investigated the position sense of the knee before and after reconstruction and the correlation between the SEP and instability.

We found detectable SEPs in all ligaments which had been reconstructed with autogenous semitendinosus and gracilis tendons over the past 18 months as well as in all cases of the normal group. The SEP was detectable in only 15 out of 32 cases in the injured group, although the voltages in the injured group were significantly lower than those of the controls. This was not the case in the reconstructed group. The postoperative position sense in 17 knees improved significantly, but there was no correlation between it and the voltage. The voltage of stable knees was significantly higher than that of the unstable joints. Our findings showed that sensory reinnervation occurred in the reconstructed human ACL and was closely related to the function of the knee.