Osteoporotic fracture treatment

Orthopaedic surgeons frequently have to deal with osteoporotic fractures of the distal radius, hip and proximal humerus. Low bone mineral density is not only associated with an increased fracture risk but also with more fracture displacement and reduction loss. The specific problems and main treatment options for these fragility fractures are reviewed.     

Hypertrophic dens resulting in cervical myelopathy: histologic features of the hypertrophic dens

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of a 43-year-old woman who had hypertrophic dens in the developmentally narrow atlas ring that resulted in cervical myelopathy. OBJECTIVES: To present histologic findings of the hypertrophic dens, which was excised en block the transoral approach, and to discuss the pathogenesis of the hypertrophic change of the dens. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Few cases have been reported of cervical myelopathy associated with hypertrophic dens, and there have been no previous reports describing the histologic features of hypertrophic dens. METHODS: Clinical data were reviewed from the patient's chart, and histologic features of the hypertrophic dens were examined in the sagittally cut section. RESULTS: After posterior decompression surgery, cervical myelopathy in the patient subsided. Myelopathy reappeared 4 years after surgery. Imaging studies showed osteoarthritis of the atlantodental joint, hypertrophic dens, and degeneration of the cruciate ligament. In the second surgery, transoral removal of the dens with posterior occipitocervical fusion was performed. Histologic studies showed thickening of the cortical bone of the anterior and cranial parts of the dens. The apical portion, which was the insertion portion of the ala ligaments, showed degenerative changes of tide marks. CONCLUSION: Atlantoaxial instability and enthesopathy were probably the causes of the hypertrophic changes of the dens in this case.     

Osteoporotic fracture and parathyroid hormone

Osteoporosis and age-related bone loss is associated with changes in bone remodeling characterized by decreased bone formation relative to bone resorption, resulting in bone fragility and increased risk of fractures. Stimulating the function of bone-forming osteoblasts, is the preferred pharmacological intervention for osteoporosis. Recombinant parathyroid hormone (PTH), PTH(1-34), is an anabolic agent with proven benefits to bone strength and has been characterized as a potential therapy for skeletal repair. In spite of PTH's clinical use, safety is a major consideration for long-term treatment. Studies have demonstrated that intermittent PTH treatment enhances and accelerates the skeletal repair process via a number of mechanisms. Recent research into the molecular mechanism of PTH action on bone tissue has led to the development of PTH analogs to control osteoporotic fractures. This review summarizes a number of advances made in the field of PTH and bone fracture to combat these injuries in humans and in animal models. The ultimate goal of providing an alternative to PTH, currently the sole anabolic therapy in clinical use, to promote bone formation and improve bone strength in the aging population is yet to be achieved.     

Scaphoid enchondroma revealed by a fracture

Enchondroma is a common bone tumor of hand. It is rarely localized in scaphoid. We report a new case of this tumor revealed by fracture. The diagnosis was suggested by standard radiography and confirmed then by anatomic pathology examination. Enucleation and bone graft with osteosynthesis yielded good result.     

计算机导航及内窥镜下颈前路齿突螺钉固定术

目的探讨计算机导航及内窥镜下实施颈前路齿突螺钉固定术的应用效果.方法 2002年10月至2004年8月,收治6例齿突Ⅱ型骨折患者,男4例,女2例;年龄23～65岁,平均53.2岁.其中3例齿突向前移位,1例向后移位,2例无移位.Frankel D级1例,E级5例.术前行颅骨牵引复位和外固定,在计算机导航及内窥镜下实施颈前路齿突螺钉固定术.根据Vector Vision脊柱导航系统要求,行MR扫描确定导航手术计划,设计三维层面固定路径.通过“C”型臂X线机确认齿突骨折已复位,选择C5水平横切口,安放内窥镜工作通道,在工作通道内置入中空螺钉.结果手术时间50～150min,平均80min;失血量40～90ml,平均75 ml;术后无咽喉部刺激症状.全部6例获得随访,随访时间6～37个月,平均13.5个月.影像学检查显示复位固定及愈合满意,术后Frankel分级皆为E级.结论计算机导航及内窥镜下实施颈前路齿突螺钉内固定具有组织创伤小、对咽喉部刺激轻、接受X线辐射量少的优点.手术操作安全、简便、省时.     

Osteoporotic fracture: missed opportunity for intervention

As prior fracture is consistently associated with increased risk of subsequent fracture, subjects with a history of prior fracture represent a high risk group which should be targeted for intervention to reduce future fracture rates. The aim of this study was to investigate whether prior osteoporotic fracture affected treatment patterns among subjects admitted with hip fractures. All hip fracture admissions to two major teaching hospitals of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, over the 12-month period between July 1997 and June 1998 were identified retrospectively from medical records. Patient demographics, frequency and location of prior fractures, and treatment status on admission were recorded. There were a total of 348 atraumatic hip fracture admissions over this 12-month period. Forty five percent of 251 women and 30% of 97 men with an osteoporotic hip fracture had a known prior fracture, including prior hip fracture in 19% of the women and 8% of the men. Among subjects with prior fractures, only18% of women and 7% of men were on any specific anti-osteoporosis therapy. Even among those with a prior hip fracture, only 21% of women and none of the men were taking optimal appropriate therapy. A high proportion of individuals suffering hip fractures had sustained prior "signal" fractures. Although more subjects with prior fracture received treatment than those without prior fracture, total treatment levels were low, and the majority of high-risk subjects did not receive therapy shown to reduce the risk of further fractures.     

Forms of fracture of the dens axis in the application of ventral flexion force

In fracture experiments in 220 cast models of the axis and atlas, an attempt was made to separate two different factors influencing the position of the dens fracture (superior and inferior type): the direction of the force application and the inclination of the dens axis. For this purpose, two extreme forms of dens inclination in the sagittal plane were used, namely a form with a ventrally inclined axis (kyphotic form) and a dorsally oriented axis (lordotic form). The force was applied in ventral flexion in 11 single steps between 10 and 75 degrees. The fracture types occurring under natural conditions could be reproduced with this experimental paradigm. Depending on the direction of the force application, both types of dens fracture occurred in ventral flexing traction alone. Independent of the inclination of the dens axis, this ventral flexion led to an inferior fracture type with a shallow angle, and a superior fraction type with a steep angle. With 75 degrees flexion, no longer the dens fracture, but the Hangman's fracture was the usual fracture type in both dens forms. With fundamental agreement of both dens forms with regard to the direction-dependent genesis of the fracture pattern, the lordotic dens and kyphotic dens displayed differences in the details which are discussed exhaustively. In this connection, the differences in the size of the horizontal thrust component due to the primary form of the dens with the same direction of force application is pointed out. According to the present investigations, a classification of dens fractures should be made more precise by specification of the dens form.     

Osteoporotic vertebral fracture adjacent to a nonsegmented hemivertebra

A combination of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and congenital spinal deformity is theoretically possible, but there have been no reports on this combination in the literature. We describe a rare case of an osteoporotic vertebral fracture adjacent to the nonsegmented hemivertebra. A 60-year-old postmenopausal woman who did not recall any specific trauma presented with severe back pain. She had markedly decreased bone mineral density and significant lumbar kyphoscoliosis with a nonsegmented hemivertebra between L1 and L2 on radiographs of the lumbar spine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a vertebral fracture adjacent to the nonsegmented hemivertebra. Laboratory studies showed increased serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and urinary type I collagen crosslinked N-telopeptide (NTx). A thoracolumbar brace was applied for 3 months. Daily administration of alendronate normalized her serum BAP and urinary NTx levels. MRI scans of the lumbar spine after 6 months also confirmed normalized signal intensities of the fractured vertebra adjacent to the nonsegmented hemivertebra. The vertebral fracture seemed to be induced by spinal malalignment, increased stress on the adjacent level of the fused segment, and its fragility due to osteoporosis.     

手法治疗颈性眩晕

颈性眩晕属中医学之“眩晕”、“项强”、“颈筋急”范畴,是骨伤科临床常见疾病。我科自2000年8月-2005年8月,采用仰头摇正手法治疗颈性眩晕,配合预备手法及善后手法进行疗效观察,现报告如下。1临床资料本组63例,男40例,女23例;年龄25⁶9岁,平均41·6岁。病程5d⁷年,平均2·75个月。诊断标准:①主诉无外伤;②眩晕,变换体位可加重,或伴视物模糊,或伴恶心呕吐;③颈肌紧张,C2-C7颈椎棘突旁无压痛点,寰枢关节周围可扪及异常突起块,伴有压痛;④X线检查颈椎张口位:寰枢关节齿状突偏歪。排除诊断:①内科疾病如高血压、低血压、脑血管意外、美尼尔氏综合征、脑部肿瘤等;②眼科方面疾病;③脊