Closing patellar tendon defects after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: absence of any benefit

The most common graft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery involves using the central one-third of the patellar tendon. Knowledge concerning the postoperative disability after harvesting the patellar tendon is, however, limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact patellar tendon suture and bone grafting of the patellar bone defect might have in terms of functional outcome and patellofemoral pain after harvesting the bone-tendon-bone graft, compared with leaving the harvested site non-sutured and non-grafted. Sixty patients, scheduled for arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction, were randomly allocated to two groups. In group I, suture of the patellar tendon and bone grafting of the patellar defect were performed. In group II, the tendon gap and the patellar defect were left open. Preoperatively, there was no significant difference between the groups when comparing objective knee stability, as measured with a KT-1000 laxity meter, Lysholm score, Tegner activity level, IKDC score, or patellofemoral pain score. Both groups had a significantly improved Lysholm score at the 2-year follow-up, without any difference between them. Tegner's activity level was significantly lower at follow-up, compared with the pre-injury level in both groups. The patellofemoral pain score improved significantly after the reconstruction, without any difference between the groups. Ultrasonography did not reveal any difference between the groups in terms of healing of the tendon gap. This study revealed no differences in donor site morbidity, functional outcome, patellofemoral pain score or knee joint stability between the two treatment groups. The conclusion is that suture of the patellar tendon and bone grafting of the patellar defect do not improve the functional results or reduce donor site morbidity after arthroscopically assisted ACL. Received: 17 December 1996 Accepted: 30 July 1997     

Prevention of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after total hip replacement. Comparison of low-molecular-weight heparin and unfractionated heparin

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, the efficacy and safety of a low-molecular-weight heparin were compared with those of unfractionated sodium heparin (standard heparin) in 136 patients who had elective total hip replacement. The patients received subcutaneous injection of either 5000 international units of low-molecular-weight heparin once daily or 5000 international units of standard heparin three times a day. Treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin began twelve hours before the operation, and treatment with standard heparin began two hours preoperatively; both regimens were continued for ten days. Twelve days postoperatively, bilateral ascending phlebography was performed in 122 patients, sixty-three in the treatment group that received low-molecular-weight heparin and fifty-nine in the treatment group that received standard heparin. Pulmonary scintigraphy was performed in 127 patients. Deep-vein thrombosis was diagnosed in forty-four patients: nineteen (30 per cent) of the sixty-three who received low-molecular-weight heparin and twenty-five (42 per cent) of the fifty-nine who received standard heparin. All but four patients, two from each treatment group, were asymptomatic. The difference in the total rate of thrombosis in the two groups was not significant (p = 0.189). However, thrombosis occurred in the thigh in only six (10 per cent) of the patients who received low-molecular-weight heparin but in eighteen (31 per cent) of those who received standard heparin, a significant difference (p = 0.011). Pulmonary embolism was detected in twenty-seven patients: eight (12.3 per cent) of those who received low-molecular-weight heparin and nineteen (30.6 per cent) of those who received standard heparin. Only three patients had clinical signs of embolism. Pulmonary embolism was significantly more frequent in the group that received standard heparin (p = 0.016). Total loss of blood and the total amount of blood that was transfused were significantly reduced in the patients who received low-molecular-weight heparin compared with those who received standard heparin. Prophylaxis was not discontinued because of hemorrhage in any patient. The efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparin was superior to that of standard heparin in the prevention of femoral thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, although the over-all incidence of deep-vein thrombosis was not statistically different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Provoked Repetitive Healing of Mature Bone Tissue Following Irradiation a Quantitative Investigation

A titanium implant, the bone harvest chamber (BHC), was used to investigate the regenerative capacity of mature bone after irradiation. One BHC was inserted in each proximal tibial metaphysis of a rabbit. One of these implant sites was irradiated (⁶⁰Co single dose) to either 15 or 25 Gy while the other served as control. Newly formed bone grew through a canal that penetrated the implant. This newly formed bone was harvested from the implant every three weeks following irradiation and then quantified by microradiography and computer-assisted densitometry. In this way a ratio between bone formed on the irradiated side in comparison with the control could be established. An immediate depression in bone formation compared with the non-irradiated controls, was seen at both dose levels. A recovery in bone regenerative capacity was seen at 15 weeks after 15 Gy while the decrease in bone formation remained constant after 25 Gy during the 30 week follow-up period.     

Dose escalating safety study of a new oral direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran etexilate, in patients undergoing total hip replacement: BISTRO I.

BACKGROUND: Dabigatran etexilate (BIBR 1048) is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor undergoing evaluation for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following total hip replacement. Following oral administration, dabigatran etexilate is rapidly converted to its active form dabigatran (BIBR 953 ZW). OBJECTIVES: To determine the safe therapeutic range of dabigatran etexilate following total hip replacement. METHODS: In a multicenter, open-label, dose-escalating study, 314 patients received oral doses of dabigatran etexilate (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 mg twice daily or 150 and 300 mg once daily) administered 4-8 h after surgery, for 6-10 days. Dose escalation was based on clinical and pharmacokinetic data. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding. The primary efficacy outcome included venographic deep vein thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic DVT and pulmonary embolism, during the treatment period. RESULTS: No major bleeding event was observed in any group, but two patients at the highest dose (300 mg twice daily) suffered bleeding from multiple sites associated with reduced renal clearance and prolonged pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters. A dose-response was demonstrated for minor bleeding events. Of the 289 treated patients, 225 patients had evaluable venograms. The overall incidence of DVT was 12.4% (28/225 patients). There was no consistent relationship between the dose and incidence of DVT, the highest incidence in any group being 20.8% (5/24 patients). The lowest dose (12.5 mg twice daily) showed a high rate of proximal DVT [12.5% (3/24)] and no increase in PD parameters. Peak and trough plasma concentrations, area under the dabigatran plasma concentration-time curve and PD parameters also increased in proportion with the dose. Higher dabigatran plasma concentrations were associated with lower DVT rates. Approximately 20% of the patients had low plasma concentrations after the first dose suggesting further optimization of the preliminary tablet formulation is required. CONCLUSIONS: Dabigatran etexilate demonstrates an acceptable safety profile, with a therapeutic window above 12.5 mg and below 300 mg twice daily. The low number of VTE events within each treatment group indicates a satisfactory antithrombotic potential, although the study was not powered for an efficacy analysis. Additional studies are ongoing to optimize oral absorption and the efficacy/safety balance.     

Dose-escalation study of rivaroxaban (BAY 59-7939)--an oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor--for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total hip replacement

INTRODUCTION: Rivaroxaban (BAY 59-7939) is a novel, oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor in clinical development for the prevention of thromboembolic disorders. The aim of this study was to demonstrate proof-of-principle for rivaroxaban. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an open-label, dose-escalation study to assess the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban, relative to enoxaparin, for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip replacement surgery. Patients were randomized in a 3:1 ratio to rivaroxaban (2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg twice daily [bid] or 30 mg once daily [od] starting 6-8 h after surgery) or enoxaparin (40 mg od starting the evening before surgery). Therapy continued until mandatory bilateral venography was performed 5-9 days after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 625 patients received therapy, of whom 466 patients were eligible for the per-protocol efficacy analysis. The primary efficacy endpoint - deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) or all-cause mortality - occurred in 22.2%, 23.8%, 20.0%, 10.2%, 17.4%, 15.1% and 16.8% of patients receiving rivaroxaban 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30 mg bid, 30 mg od and enoxaparin, respectively. The dose-response relationship with rivaroxaban for the primary efficacy endpoint was not statistically significant (p=0.0504), although major VTE (proximal DVT, PE and VTE-related death) decreased dose dependently with rivaroxaban (p=0.0108). Major, post-operative bleeding increased dose dependently with rivaroxaban (p=0.0008), occurring in 0-10.8% of patients, compared with 0% in patients receiving enoxaparin. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated proof-of-principle for rivaroxaban for the prevention of VTE after total hip replacement surgery.     

Rivaroxaban for thromboprophylaxis after orthopaedic surgery: pooled analysis of two studies

Rivaroxaban (BAY 59-7939) is an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor in clinical development for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This analysis of pooled results from two phase II studies of rivaroxaban for VTE prevention after major orthopaedic surgery aimed to strengthen the conclusions of the individual studies. One study was conducted in patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR; N = 722), and one in patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR; N = 621). In both studies, patients were randomized, doubleblind, to oral, twice-daily (bid) rivaroxaban beginning after surgery, or subcutaneous enoxaparin (40 mg once daily beginning before THR, and 30 mg bid beginning after TKR). Treatment continued until mandatory bilateral venography was performed 5-9 days after surgery. Total VTE (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and all-cause mortality) occurred in 16.1-24.4% of per-protocol patients receiving rivaroxaban 5-60 mg, and 27.8% receiving enoxaparin (n = 914). There was a flat dose response relationship between rivaroxaban and total VTE (p = 0.39). Major bleeding (safety population, n = 1,317) increased dose-dependently with rivaroxaban (p < 0.001), occurring in 0.9%, 1.3%, 2.1%, 3.9%, and 7.0% of patients receiving rivaroxaban total daily doses of 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg, respectively, versus 1.7% of patients receiving enoxaparin. No routine coagulation monitoring was performed, and there were no significant differences between dose response relationships with rivaroxaban after THR and TKR. Overall, rivaroxaban total daily doses of 5-20 mg had the most favorable balance of efficacy and safety, relative to enoxaparin, for the prevention of VTE after major orthopaedic surgery.     

Bone Cell Viability After Irradiation: An enzyme histochemical study

Adult rabbits were irradiated to one proximal tibial metaphysis while the contralateral tibia served as a control. Each animal was thus its own control. Single doses of 15, 25 and 40 Gy ⁶⁰Co were used. The follow-up time was 11 to 22 weeks after irradiation. A histochemical method, recording diaphorase (NADH₂ and NADPH₂) activity in osteocytes, was employed. This method is regarded as superior to conventional histology. No evidence of osteocyte death was found even after 22 weeks following 40 Gy irradiation. This is interpreted as an indication that the osteocytes, which are end stage cells, are relatively radioresistant.     

The quantification of bone tissue regeneration after electromagnetic stimulation

Summary In this study a titanium implant, the bone harvest chamber (BHC), was used to evaluate the effect of electromagnetic stimulation on osteogenesis. The BHC was inserted with a minimum of surgical trauma in the proximal tibial metaphysis in six adult lop-eared rabbits. Bone anchorage occurred after 4 weeks. After implant incorporation bone tissue was harvested at 3-week intervals with the implant in situ without killing the animal. The regenerated bone tissue was analysed by means of microradiography and densitometry. A test group and a control group each comprised six rabbits. The test group was stimulated with a 72-Hz electromagnetic field. Bone tissue was harvested from each tibia six times during the stimulation time and twice after the stimulation had been turned off. The control group had the same harvest procedure performed from one leg. Results showed that electromagnetic stimulation can maintain constant high osteogenetic activity. After the electromagnetic stimulation was turned off the osteogenetic activity diminished rapidly and osteogenesis was significantly lower than during stimulation.     

Stress views in the comparative assessment of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis

Patients with spondylolytic spondylolisthesis were examined in six different positions to detect segmental instability. The amount of displacement was determined on lateral spot radiographs, taken in recumbent, standing, flexion, extension, axial compression, and traction positions in each patient. An error analysis was also performed. Examination in axial compression-traction was found to be a significantly better method for detection of segmental instability compared with standing-recumbent, or flexion-extension radiographs. In addition, the compression-traction method exhibited a higher sensitivity for identification of instability (73%) than standing-recumbent (33%) or flexion-extension (20%) views. The total error in the determination was small, ±2.5% (95% CL), providing a careful and controlled technique was used.     

Bone repair in implant models: a review with emphasis on the harvest chamber for bone regeneration studies

The vital microscopic chamber is an experimental implant of commercially pure titanium that admits in vivo and in situ observations of bone vascularity and bone remodeling. The bone growth chamber and the bone harvest chamber, in particular, are useful tools for quantifying bone regeneration under the most variable experimental conditions.