Bone marrow stem cells added to a hydroxyapatite scaffold result in better outcomes after surgical treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures

Barriers and facilitators of weight bearing after hip fracture surgery among older adults. A scoping review

PURPOSE

This scoping review aimed to synthesise the available evidence on barriers and facilitators of weight bearing after hip fracture surgery in older adults.

METHODS

Published (Cochrane Central, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PEDro) and unpublished (Global Health, EThOS, WorldCat dissertation and thesis, ClinicalTrials.gov , OpenAIRE, DART-Europe) evidence was electronically searched from database inception to 29 March 2022. Barriers and facilitators of weight bearing were extracted and synthesised into patient, process (non-surgical), process (surgical), and structure-related barriers/facilitators using a narrative review approach.

RESULTS

In total, 5594 were identified from the primary search strategy, 1314 duplicates were removed, 3769 were excluded on title and abstract screening, and 442 were excluded on full-text screening. In total, 69 studies (all from published literature sources) detailing 47 barriers and/or facilitators of weight bearing were included. Of barriers/facilitators identified, 27 were patient-, 8 non-surgical process-, 8 surgical process-, and 4 structure-related. Patient facilitators included anticoagulant, home discharge, and aid at discharge. Barriers included preoperative dementia and delirium, postoperative delirium, pressure sores, indoor falls, ventilator dependence, haematocrit < 36%, systemic sepsis, and acute renal failure. Non-surgical process facilitators included early surgery, early mobilisation, complete medical co-management, in-hospital rehabilitation, and patient-recorded nurses' notes. Barriers included increased operative time and standardised hip fracture care. Surgical process facilitators favoured intramedullary fixations and arthroplasty over extramedullary fixation. Structure facilitators favoured more recent years and different healthcare systems. Barriers included pre-holiday surgery and admissions in the first quarter of the year.

CONCLUSION

Most patient/surgery-related barriers/facilitators may inform future risk stratification. Future research should examine additional process/structure barriers and facilitators amenable to intervention. Furthermore, patient barriers/facilitators need to be investigated by replicating the studies identified and augmenting them with more specific details on weight bearing outcomes.

99mTc-polyphosphonate labelling - Enhancement of a novel method for the quantification of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro

Bone tissue engineering is a fast-growing field in regenerative medicine. Consequently, there is a high demand for new, fast and reliable methods to track and quantify the osteogenic differentiation of cells. Recently, a novel method was published to non-destructively quantify the hydroxyapatite content of monolayer and 3-dimensional mesenchymal stem cell cultures using the ability of ^99mTechnetium-methylene diphosphonate (MDP), a well-established tracer in clinical nuclear medicine, to bind to newly synthesized hydroxyapatite. In the present study, two other commonly used ^99mTechnetium tracers, 2,3-dicarboxypropane-1,1-diphosphonate (DPD) and hydroxydiphosphonate (HDP), were evaluated to see if they could also be used for the same purpose. Furthermore, we investigated if labelling at various timepoints influenced the effectiveness of the labelling. The results were analysed using one-factor ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc testing. This revealed a highly significant difference between the three osteogenic groups at each timepoint compared to their corresponding negative controls. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the three different tracers (MDP, DPD, HDP) in the osteogenic groups. Therefore all three tracers are of similar value when quantifying the extracellular hydroxylapatite content in osteogenic stem cells cultures.

Grafting of autologous concentrated bone marrow processed using a point-of-care device for patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head: A phase 1 feasibility and safety study

Introduction

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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There are accumulated evidence of concentrated bone marrow grafting for hip osteonecrosis.

•

A “point-of-care device” for concentrated bone marrow (CBM) grafting has been developed.

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This study has confirmed the feasibility and safety of CBM grafting using BioCUE system.

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A further study aiming for the authorization of this procedure should be conducted in the future.

Effect of hydroxyapatite tubes on the lag screw intraoperative insertion torque for the treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures

BACKGROUND

Hydroxyapatite (HA) augments are frequently used in orthopedic surgery. However, the effectiveness of HA augments on the treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of HA tubes affects the intraoperative insertion torque of the lag screw during intertrochanteric femoral fracture surgery.

METHODS

From January 2016 to October 2020, 58 patients with intertrochanteric femoral fractures were included and divided into the HA treatment group (HA group, n = 29) and non-HA treatment group (N group, n = 29). Patients with intertrochanteric femoral fractures were treated using the Gamma3 nail system® with or without two HA tubes. HA tubes were inserted into the femoral head through the lag screw hole before the insertion of the lag screw. The mean and maximum intraoperative insertion torques of the lag screw, bone mineral density (BMD) of the uninjured opposite side femoral neck, and tip apex distance (TAD) of the lag screw on postoperative radiographs were assessed. To assess the loss of reduction after the surgery, we investigated the amounts of telescoping of the lag screw and the changes in the neck shaft angle.

RESULTS

The mean and maximum insertion torques were correlated with BMD in the HA and N groups, respectively. The mean and maximum insertion torques were not correlated with TAD in the HA and N groups, respectively. The mean torque/BMD ratio was significantly higher in the HA group than in the N group (p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in the maximum torque/BMD ratio between HA and N groups (p = 0.06), while the maximum torque/BMD ratio tended to be higher in the HA group than in the N group. The amounts of telescoping of the lag screw in the HA group were significantly lower than that in the N group (p = 0.04), while there were no significant differences in the changes in the neck shaft angle between two groups (p = 0.32).

CONCLUSION

Our results strongly suggest that the use of HA tubes increases the intraoperative lag screw insertion torque/BMD ratio and may improve the lag screw fixation by strengthening the bone/metal thread interface in the treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures.

Use of Osteobiologics for Fracture Management: The When, What, and How

Osteobiologics are defined as a group of natural and synthetic materials used to augment bone healing. The selection of the most appropriate osteobiologic from the growing list of available options can be a challenging task. In selecting a material, surgeons should weigh a variety of considerations, including the indication for their use (the when), the most suitable substance (the what), and the correct mode of application (the how). This summary reviews these considerations and seeks to provide the surgeon with a basis for informed clinical evidence-based decision-making in their choice of a successful option.

The application of Bonelike® Poro as a synthetic bone substitute for the management of critical-sized bone defects - A comparative approach to the autograft technique - A preliminary study

The effective treatment of non-unions and critical-sized defects remains a challenge in the orthopedic field. From a tissue engineering perspective, this issue can be addressed through the application bioactive matrixes to support bone regeneration, such as Bonelike®, as opposed to the widespread autologous grafting technique. An improved formulation of Bonelike® Poro, was assessed as a synthetic bone substitute in an ovine model for critical-sized bone defects. Bone regeneration was assessed after 5 months of recovery through macro and microscopic analysis of the healing features of the defect sites. Both the application of natural bone graft or Bonelike® Poro resulted in bridging of the defects margins. Untreated defect remained as fibrous non-unions at the end of the study period. The characteristics of the newly formed bone and its integration with the host tissue were assessed through histomorphometric and histological analysis, which demonstrated Bonelike® Poro to result in improved healing of the defects. The group treated with synthetic biomaterial presented bone bridges of increased thickness and bone features that more closely resembled the native spongeous and cortical bone. The application of Bonelike® Poro enabled the regeneration of critical-sized lesions and performed comparably to the autograph technique, validating its octeoconductive and osteointegrative potential for clinical application as a therapeutic strategy in human and veterinary orthopedics.

Reporting Standards in Clinical Studies Evaluating Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic review of clinical studies evaluating bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) in the treatment of musculoskeletal pathology to compare levels of reporting with recently published minimum standards.

METHODS

A systematic review of the clinical literature from August 2002 to August 2017 was performed. Human clinical studies published in English and involving the administration of BMAC for musculoskeletal applications were included. Studies evaluating non-concentrated preparations of bone marrow aspirate or preparations of laboratory cultured cells were excluded. Studies evaluating the treatment of dental or maxillofacial conditions were excluded. Similarly, in vitro studies, editorials, letters to the editor, and reviews were excluded. Levels of reporting were compared with previously published minimum standards agreed on through an international Delphi consensus process.

RESULTS

Of 1,580 studies identified on the initial search, 46 satisfied the criteria for inclusion. Considerable deficiencies in reporting of key variables including the details of BMAC preparation and composition were noted. Studies reported information on only 42% (range, 25%-60%) of the variables included within established minimum reporting standards. No study provided adequate information to enable the precise replication of preparation protocols and accurate characterization of the BMAC formulation delivered.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that all existing clinical studies in the literature evaluating BMAC for orthopaedic or sports medicine applications are limited by inadequate reporting of both preparation protocols and composition. Deficient reporting of the variables that may critically influence outcomes precludes interpretation, prevents other researchers from reproducing experimental conditions, and makes comparisons across studies difficult. We encourage the adoption of emerging minimum reporting standards for clinical studies evaluating the use of mesenchymal stem cells in orthopaedics.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level I through IV studies.

Variability in the Preparation, Reporting, and Use of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate in Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Orthopaedic Literature

BACKGROUND

Interest in the therapeutic potential of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) has grown exponentially. However, comparisons among studies and their processing methods are challenging because of inconsistent reporting of protocols, as well as poor characterization of the composition of the initial bone marrow aspirate and of the final products delivered. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the level of reporting related to the protocols used for BMAC preparation and the composition of BMAC utilized in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases in published clinical studies.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed by searching PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1980 to 2016. Inclusion criteria were human clinical trials, English language, and manuscripts that reported on the use of BMAC in musculoskeletal conditions.

RESULTS

After a comprehensive review of the 986 identified articles, 46 articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis. No study provided comprehensive reporting that included a clear description of the preparation protocol that could be used by subsequent investigators to repeat the method. Only 14 (30%) of the studies provided quantitative metrics of the composition of the BMAC final product.

CONCLUSIONS

The reporting of BMAC preparation protocols in clinical studies was highly inconsistent and studies did not provide sufficient information to allow the protocol to be reproduced. Moreover, comparison of the efficacy and yield of BMAC products is precluded by deficiencies in the reporting of preparation methods and composition. Future studies should contain standardized and stepwise descriptions of the BMAC preparation protocol, and the composition of the BMAC delivered, to permit validating and rationally optimizing the role of BMAC in musculoskeletal care.

Surgical treatment of neglected hip fracture in children with cerebral palsy: case report and review of the literature

CASE

A clinical case of a 15-year-old cerebral palsy child with a Sandhu type 2 neglected femoral neck fracture is presented. The patient was treated using cannulated screws and cancellous bone graft augmented with mesenchymal stem cells. At 6 months after the surgery complete fracture healing was observed.

CONCLUSION

To early diagnose this fractures, it is mandatory to perform a comprehensive clinical and radiological evaluation including also a second level imaging. The use of cannulated screws with cancellous bone graft and MSCs is a viable treatment option in these patients.

The visible and hidden blood loss of Asia proximal femoral nail anti-rotation and dynamic hip screw in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of elderly high- risk patients: a retrospective comparative study with a minimum 3 years of follow-up

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether PFNA-II (Asia proximal femoral nail anti-rotation) and DHS (dynamic hip screw) carry substantial post-operative hidden blood loss and to compare PFNA-II with DHS in terms of post-operative hidden blood loss in elderly high-risk patients with intertrochanteric femur fractures(IFFs).

Methods

The clinical data from Jan 2005 to Apr 2015 of 186 patients with PFNA-II and 177 patients with DHS were analyzed retrospectively. Indexes including pre- and post-operative blood routine, intra- and post-operative blood loss and blood transfusion situation were analyzed. The situation of perioperative blood loss (visible and hidden) was assessed.

Results

The intra-operative blood loss in the PFNA-II group was 34.7 ± 2.5 ml, the post-operative visible blood loss was 54.7 ± 2.5 ml, and the hidden blood loss was 277.2 ± 7.6 ml. In the DHS group, the intra-operative blood loss was 102.0 ± 7.0 ml, the post-operative visible blood loss was 78.8 ± 4.7 ml, and the hidden blood loss was 139.3 ± 9.6 ml. The intra-operative blood loss and the post-operative visible blood loss in the PFNA-II group were significantly less than in the DHS group (p < 0.01). However, the post-operative hidden blood loss and the total blood loss in the PFNA-II group were larger than in the DHS group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that with PFNA-II and DHS, much post-operative hidden blood loss exists in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly high-risk patients and DHS is more favourable than PFNA-II in terms of post-operative hidden blood loss.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as skeletal therapeutics - an update

Mesenchymal stem cells hold the promise to treat not only several congenital and acquired bone degenerative diseases but also to repair and regenerate morbid bone tissues. Utilizing MSCs, several lines of evidences advocate promising clinical outcomes in skeletal diseases and skeletal tissue repair/regeneration. In this context, both, autologous and allogeneic cell transfer options have been utilized. Studies suggest that MSCs are transplanted either alone by mixing with autogenous plasma/serum or by loading onto repair/induction supportive resorb-able scaffolds. Thus, this review is aimed at highlighting a wide range of pertinent clinical therapeutic options of MSCs in the treatment of skeletal diseases and skeletal tissue regeneration. Additionally, in skeletal disease and regenerative sections, only the early and more recent preclinical evidences are discussed followed by all the pertinent clinical studies. Moreover, germane post transplant therapeutic mechanisms afforded by MSCs have also been conversed. Nonetheless, assertive use of MSCs in the clinic for skeletal disorders and repair is far from a mature therapeutic option, therefore, posed challenges and future directions are also discussed. Importantly, for uniformity at all instances, term MSCs is used throughout the review.