ObjectiveTo investigate the expression changes of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in the peripheral blood of patients with aseptic loosening of the implant after total hip arthroplasty (THA) by comparing with that of patients with femoral neck fracture and to analyze the correlation between RANKL expression and aseptic loosening. MethodsBetween January 2008 and January 2013,the peripheral blood were harvested from 58 patients with aseptic loosening of the implant after THA (trial group) and 63 patients with femoral neck fracture (control group).The 2 groups were well matched,with no significant differences in age and gender (P>0.05).The expressions of the RANKL mRNA and RANKL protein were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.At the same time,the concentration of RANKL was also measured by ELISA. ResultsThe expression of the RANKL mRNA in the trial group was 18.30±1.09,which was significantly higher than that of control group (1.00±0.05)(t=125.390,P=0.000).The relative RANKL protein expression values in trial group and control group were 0.856±0.254 and 0.404±0.102 respectively,showing significant difference (t=13.032,P=0.000).The results of ELISA showed that the concentration of RANKL in trial group [(3.553 5±0.129 7) ng/mL] was significantly higher than that of control group [(1.912 3±0.126 2) ng/mL] (t=18.124,P=0.000). ConclusionThe high RANKL expression in peripheral blood is probably correlated with aseptic loosening of the implant in patients undergoing THA,which possibly is the prognostic factor of aseptic loosening of the implant.
Objective To observe the effect of local injection of vascular endothel ial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF antibody on the wear particle-induced osteolysis in the mouse air pouch model and to investigate the role of VEGF in the process of aseptic loosening of prosthesis. Methods The stem of metal hip prosthesis was obtained from the revision surgery.Metallic wear particles were made by vacuum ball mill ing. Wear particles suspension was prepared into the concentration of 10 mg/mL with PBS. Fifty female Kunming mice (aged 8-10 weeks, weighing about 25 g) were selected. Of 50 mice, 10 were used as the donors of bone graft, the other 40 were equally divided into control group (group A), particle group (group B), VEGF group (group C), and VEGF inhibited group (group D). Air pouches were made on the back of 40 mice by injecting sterile air subcutaneously. At 8th day, a graft of calvaria from the donor mice was implanted in air pouch. In groups B, C, and D, 0.5 mL wear particles suspension was injected into the air pouches, and in group A, 0.5 mL PBS was injected. Once a day at 6th and 7th days during the air pouch preparation and one time every two days after bone implantation, 0.2 mL recombinant human VEGF (rhVEGF) and VEGF antibody (Bevacizumab) were injected into the air pouches in groups C and D, respectively. In group A and group B, 0.2 mL sal ine was injected. Pouch tissues and bone were harvested at 2 weeks after bone implantation for HE staining, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and ELISA analyses. Results All mice survived to the end of experiment. The gross observation showed that there were mild redness, swell ing, and less neovascularization in air pouches in group A. There were obvious redness, swell ing, and more exudative and neovascularization in groups B, C, and D, most obvious in group C, the next in group B, then in group D. The histological and molecular biological analysis showed that inflammatory responses and osteolysis were obvious in group B and the pouch membrane thickness, the cell density, transforming growth factor α, interleukin 1β, and VEGF were significantly higher than those in group A (P lt; 0.05). The inflammatory responses and osteolysis were mostobvious in group C and the above-mentioned indexes were significantly higher than those in group B (P lt; 0.05). There were some inflammatory responses and osteolysis in group D, but the indexes were significantly lower than those in group B (P lt; 0.05) and were significantly higher than those in group A (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion VEGF can promote inflammatory responses and osteolysis in aseptic loosening of prosthesis. VEGF antibody can effectively inhibit wear particle-induced osteolysis.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of acetabular revision using jumbo cementless cups. Methods Between May 1996 and May 2011, 35 patients (35 hips) underwent an acetabular revision with jumbo cementless cups, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 23 females, with an average age of 64.8 years (range, 47-79 years). The time from hip arthroplaty to revision was 1-15 years (mean, 9.7 years). The causes for revision were aseptic loosening in 32 cases, femoral periprosthetic fracture (Vancouver type B3) in 2 cases, and low toxicity infection in 1 case. According to the classification of acetabular bony deficiencies of the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeon (AAOS), 6 cases were classified as type I, 9 cases as type II, and 20 cases as type III; according to the classification proposed by Paprosky, 5 cases were rated as type II A, 9 cases as type II B, 13 cases as type II C, and 8 cases as type III A. The primary hip arthroplasty cups had an outside diameter of 46-52 mm (mean, 49.6 mm), and the revision cups had an outside diameter of 56-68 mm (mean, 60.4 mm). Harris score was used for hip function evaluation, and X-ray films were taken for imaging evaluation. Results Healing of incision by first intention was obtained in all patients; without infection or neurovascular injury. Prosthetic dislocation was observed in 1 case at 20 days after operation, and was cured after expectant treatment. One patient died at 6 years after operation, and the other 34 patients were followed up 2-14 years (mean, 8.4 years). The Harris score was significantly increased from 46.4 ± 13.4 at preoperation to 90.4 ± 3.6 at last follow-up (t=18.76, P=0.00). The distance between acetabular rotation centre and teardrop line was significantly decreased, and the distance between acetabular rotation centre and lateral teardrop was significantly increased when compared with preoperative ones (P lt; 0.05). Only 1 patient received second revision for aseptic loosening after 10 years; no continuous radiolucent line, prosthetic dislocation, and osteolysis was found, and bony ingrowth was shown in the other patients. Conclusion Jumbo cementless cup for acetabular revision can achieve good effectiveness for having the advantages of simple operation, less bone grafts, and good recovery of the acetabular rotation centre.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of establishment of a artificial joint aseptic loosening mouse model by cobalt-chromium particles stimulation.MethodsTwenty-four 8-week-old male severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were divided into experimental group (n=12) and control group (n=12). The titanium nail was inserted into the tibial medullary cavity of mouse in the two groups to simulate artificial joint prosthesis replacement. And the cobalt-chromium particles were injected into the tibial medullary cavity of mouse in experimental group. The survival of the mouse was observed after operation; the position of the titanium nail and the bone mineral density of proximal femur were observed by X-ray film, CT, and Micro-CT bone scanning; and the degree of dissolution of the bone tissue around the tibia was detected by biomechanical test and histological staining.ResultsTwo mice in experimental group died, and the rest of the mice survived until the experiment was completed. Postoperative imaging examination showed that there was no obvious displacement of titanium nails in control group, and there were new callus around the titanium nails. In experimental group, there was obvious osteolysis around the titanium nails. The bone mineral density of the proximal tibia was 91.25%±0.67%, and the maximum shear force at the tibial nail-bone interface was (5.93±0.85) N in experimental group, which were significantly lower than those in control group [102.07%±1.87% and (16.76±3.09) N] (t=5.462, P=0.041; t=3.760, P=0.046). Histological observation showed that a large number of inflammatory cells could be seen around the titanium nails in experimental group, while there was no inflammatory cells, and obvious bone tissue formation was observed in control group.ConclusionThe artificial joint aseptic loosening mouse model can be successfully established by cobalt-chromium particles stimulation.
Objective To review the recent advances in treatment of aseptic femoral shaft nonunion. Methods The clinical studies about the treatments of aseptic femoral shaft nonunion in recent years were widely reviewed and analyzed. Results There are several surgical methods for aseptic femoral shaft nonunion. Due to uncertain clinical outcome, dynamization of nail should be carefully selected. The exchange nailing is suitable for the hypertrophic nonunion of the isthmal femoral shaft fracture. The exchange lateral plating is suitable for nonunion with obvious malformation. However, wave plate or dual plate should be chosen when the bone nonuinon is combined with the medial defect. The augmentation plating improves the success rate of nailing for femoral shaft nonunion, but it should be carefully selected for patients with obvious deformity or bone defect. Ilizarov technique is suitable for various bone nonunion, especially with complicated or large segmental bone defects. Induced membrane technique is also an important method for the treatment of bone nonunion with large bone defects. The clinical efficacy of the blocking screw remains to be supported by further evidence. Biological stimulants are mainly used for atrophic nonunion, and the clinical efficacy of them alone are still controversial. Conclusion Due to lack of comparative studies between different surgical methods, the orthopedist should choose the appropriate treatment according to the individual situations of the patient and the types of bone nonunion.
To assess the rel iabil ity of diabetic cutaneous ulcer surface area (DCUSA) measurement usingdigital planimetry method (A) and transparency tracing method (B). Methods Images of diabetic cutaneous ulcers from35 inpatients with diabetic skin ulcers from September 2005 to April 2007 were taken by a digital camera once a week or twice a week over a period of 12 weeks, resulting in 305 photographs; the ulcers were traced on a grid with acetate wound tracings, simultaneously. A total of 305 pairs of DCUSA which were calculated respectively throughout digital camera combined with Image J medical imaging software and transparency tracing with grid sheet by two independent observers sequentially were obtained. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs, one-way random effect model) was used as an indicator of chancecorrected agreement to estimate the relative rel iabil ity for the interobserver data. Multiple l inear regression analysis was also used to measure the relationship of these two methods. Results DCUSA obtained from method A and obtained from method B was (4.84 ± 7.73) cm2 and (5.03 ± 7.89) cm2, respectively; no significant difference was found (P gt; 0.05). ICCs was high (ICCs=0.949 for method B and 0.965 for method A), indicating that the relative rel iabil ity for the interobserver was excellent. The method A were highly correlated with measurements obtained from method B (r = 0.957, P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The digital planimetry method described in this study represents a simple, practical, without any wound damage and contamination, and inexpensive technique to accurately evaluate the areas of diabetic cutaneous ulcers. The photographic technique combined with Image J medical imaging software should be considered for wound measurement.
Objective To observe the human mononuclear cell releasing TNF-α and the activation of Caspase-3 during apoptosis after stimulated by Co2+ and Cr3+, to discuss the mechanism of artificial joint wear production metal ion on aseptic loosening. Methods CoCl2 powder and CrCl3 powder were dissolved by asepsis inject water, preparing solution for10 mg/L and 500 mg/L, respectively. Mononuclear cells were acquired from peripheral blood, 4 × 106/culture dish. According to the difference of culture solution, the cells were divided into 3 groups. Group A: mononuclear cell was culture with normal sal ine as control; group B: mononuclear cell was cultured with CoCl2 solution; group C: mononuclear cell was cultured with CrCl3 solution. The production of TNF-α was assessed by ELISA, the activation of Caspase-3 was measured by colorimetric assay and the apoptotic cell was detected by TUNEL assays at 12, 24 and 48 hours after co-cultured respectively. Results The concentration of TNF-α and the expression of Caspase-3 in groups B and C were higher than those in group A (P lt; 0.05), and reached the peak level at 24, 48 hours, respetively. The TUNEL positive cells were detected in the all groups, nucleus was pyknotic and darker-staining, cell body was crinkle and cell membrane was integrity. There were significant differences in the apoptosis rate between groups B, C and group A (P lt; 0.05). And the activation of Caspase-3 increased and had the positive correlation with the apoptosis rate (r=0.765). Conclusion Co2+ and Cr3+ ions can stimulate human mononuclear cell to release TNF-α and induce human mononuclear cell apoptosis, which result in periprosethetic osteolysis and related to activation of Caspase-3.