Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

BACKGROUND

Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time.

METHODS

The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain.

RESULTS

319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p < 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 ± 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings.

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing: correlation between clinical and radiological assessment, metal ions and ultrasound findings

PURPOSE

We report the clinical, radiological and wear analysis of 52 consecutive MoM hip resurfacings (performed on 49 younger patients) to a mean follow-up of 9.2 years.

METHODS

Every patient underwent X-ray and clinical evaluation (HHS). Ultrasonography of the hip was performed in all patients in order to identify possible cystic or solid mass in periprosthetic tissue. In case of mass >20 mm, further MRI was performed to better analyse the characteristics of lesion.

RESULTS

Five patients (five hips) had a revision. The overall survival rate was 90.38 %. The average HHS at follow-up examination was 95.5 points. No progressive radiolucent areas and no sclerosis or osteolysis around the implants were found. The US and RMI imaging showed a pseudotumour formation in two patients (correlated with high metal ion levels in blood and urine), both asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

A significant positive correlation between inclination of the acetabular component and serum metal ion levels was found (r = 0.64 and r = 0.62 for cobalt and chromium, respectively).

Long bone nonunions treated with autologous concentrated bone marrow-derived cells combined with dried bone allograft

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays the treatment of long bone nonunion continues to be one of the most complex and debated topics due to the large number of failures. For several years, in the relevant literature three factors have been considered essential in the healing process: growth factors and hormones, osteoprogenitor cells (mesenchymal stem cells), and extracellular matrix. The mechanical stability of the fracture site is considered the fourth element of the "Diamond concept theory." The aim of our study was to evaluate the validity of biological adjuvants of mechanical synthesis allowing a faster healing process of nonunions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We dealt with 19 patients with long bone nonunion. All patients have been treated with concentrated mesenchymal stem cells without bone autologous transplant. We used the Extracell BMC-marrow aspirate protocol of Regen Lab. The radiographic parameters taken into account for the diagnosis of successful healing were the presence of a bridge callus, obliteration of the fracture line and bone cortical continuity. Clinically, the pain was investigated with VAS score (visual analogue scale), where zero means no pain and 10 the worst possible pain.

RESULTS

Radiographic investigation shows complete healing in 78.9 % (15 cases) with an average time to healing of 6.5 months (minimum healing time 80 days) corresponding also in complete remission of clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The use of growth factors and autologous mesenchymal stem cells through the enforcement of system for tissue regeneration is a valid and innovative biotechnology technique for the treatment long bone nonunions.