Aims

Biofilm infections are among the most challenging complications in orthopaedics, as bacteria within the biofilms are protected from the host immune system and many antibiotics. Halicin exhibits broad-spectrum activity against many planktonic bacteria, and previous studies have demonstrated that halicin is also effective against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms grown on polystyrene or polypropylene substrates. However, the effectiveness of many antibiotics can be substantially altered depending on which orthopaedically relevant substrates the biofilms grow. This study, therefore, evaluated the activity of halicin against less mature and more mature S. aureus biofilms grown on titanium alloy, cobalt-chrome, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), devitalized muscle, or devitalized bone.

SL-PLUS MIA stem (Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG) is a modified implant of Zweymuller type SL-PLUS standard stem (Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG). We constructed finite element (FE) models and analysed equivalent stresses in the femur. In addition, we measured bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) after THA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the equivalent stress and to compare the results of the FE analyses with changes in BMD after THA. Twenty-one patients (18 women and 3 men) who underwent primary cementless THA with SL-PLUS MIA or SL-PLUS formed the basis of this study. Eleven patients received SL-PLUS MIA and ten patients received SL-PLUS. Zones were defined according to Gruen's system (zones 1∼7). Computed-tomography (CT) images of the femur were taken before and at 1 week after THA. FE models of the femur and prosthesis were obtained from CT data by Mechanical Finder (Research Center of Computational Mechanics Inc., Tokyo, Japan), software that creates FE models showing individual bone shape and density distribution. Equivalent stresses were analysed in zones 1 to 7 and compared to the DEXA data. FE studies revealed that there was no significant difference in equivalent stress between SL-PLUS MIA and SL-PLUS. BMD was maintained after THA in zones 3, 4, and 5, whereas BMD decreased in zones 2, 6, and 7. In zone 1, BMD decreased in SL-PLUS MIA stem group by 14%, while BMD was maintained in SL-PLUS standard stem.

The pathology of the posterior acetabular legion in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome, so called “contre-coup region”, is still unclear. ¹⁸F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging modality, which reflects the osteoblast activity. Recent technological advances in PET combined with computed tomography (CT) imaging allowed us to obtain detailed 3-dimensional (3D) morphological information. We evaluated the abnormal uptake of ¹⁸F-fluoride PET/CT on posterior acetabular lesion in FAI syndrome cases. We enrolled forty-one hips from 41 patients who were diagnosed as FAI syndrome and were performed ¹⁸F-fluoride PET/CT between October 2014 and October 2016. In each hip, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max) on the posterior acetabular was measured. The cases were divided into 4 groups; cam-type (11 cases), pincer-type (7), combined-type (11), dysplastic developmental hip (DDH) with cam morphology (12). The average SUV_max of the pincer-type was significantly smaller than that of the other 3 groups (p < .05). The percentage of the cases with SUV_max ≥ 6 was 81.8% in cam-type, 28.6% in pincer-type, 90.9% in combined-type, 91.7% in DDH with cam morphology. Furthermore, the average degree of α angle of the cases of SUV_max ≥ 6 was significantly higher than that of the cases of SUV_max < 6 (p = .005). Although actual biomechanical mechanism in contre-coup region is still controversial, this result indicated that the cam morphology related to the posterior acetabular lesion with accelerated bone metabolism.

In this study, we evaluated the labrum tear using radial sequence 3D Multiple Echo Recombined Gradient Echo (MERGE) MRI without arthrography based on modified Czerny's classification, comparing with actual arthroscopic findings. A total of 61 hips including 27 hips of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), 19 hips of borderline development dysplasia of the hip (BDDH) and 15 hips of early stage osteoarthritis (OA) were enrolled this retrospective study. MRI findings evaluated in each three regions of interest; anterior region, anterolateral region, and lateral region. The cases with severe degeneration that is not concordant with any original Czerny's classification is defined as stage4. We compared MRI findings with arthroscopic findings and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio in terms of the existence of labrum tear. MRI findings revealed labrum tear more frequently in anterolateral than lateral (p<0.001). Especially in FAI group, labrum tear was more frequently observed by MRI in anterolateral than lateral (p=0.006). In comparison with MRI findings and arthroscopic findings, the sensitivity was 97%, specificity was 79% and likelihood ratio was 4.59 as average of all regions in terms of the existence of labrum tear. In each region, sensitivity and specificity was 97% and 50% in anterior, 97% and 100% specificity in anterolateral, 94% and 81% in lateral, respectively. Thus, MERGE MRI revealed excellent sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of labrum tear, especially in anterolateral region. The cases with severely degenerated labrum were classified as newly defined stage 4, which was recognized frequently in OA cases.

Infection is one of the most serious complications of orthopedic surgery, particularly in implant-related procedures. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for identified bacteria is an important factor for successful antibiotic treatment. We investigated the MIC of antibiotics in Staphylococcus species from orthopedic infections, comparing with isolates from respiratory medicine. Staphylococcus species isolated in our laboratory from January 2013 to July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The MIC of vancomycin (VCM), arbekacin (ABK), teicoplanin (TEIC), linezolid (LZD), and rifampicin (RFP) was reviewed. Differences in the MIC of each antibiotic in orthopedic and respiratory samples were determined. A total of 259 isolates were evaluated (89 orthopedic, 170 respiratory). Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified species (58%). In comparison with orthopedic samples, the number of isolates with a VCM MIC <0.5 μg/ml in methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was significantly higher in respiratory isolates, while a MIC of 2 μg/ml was significantly lower (P = 0.0078). The proportion of isolates with a VCM MIC of 2 μg/ml in methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) was significantly higher in orthopedic isolates than that seen in respiratory isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; P < 0.001). When comparing MRCNS and other orthopedic Staphylococci, the rate of RFP MIC >2 μg/ml in MRCNS isolates was significantly higher (P = 0.0058). The MIC of VCM in Staphylococcus species from orthopedic infection was higher than that of respiratory samples, particularly in MRCNS from implant-related samples. MRCNS showed a significantly higher rate of resistance for RFP versus other orthopedic isolates.