Browsing by Subject "Orthopedics"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    A Two-Stage Approach Integrating Provisional Biomaterial-Mediated Stabilization Followed by a Definitive Treatment for Managing Volumetric Muscle Loss Injuries
    (MDPI, 2024-06-06) Clark, Andrew R.; Kulwatno, Jonathan; Kanovka, Sergey S.; Klarmann, George J.; Hernandez, Claudia E.; Natoli, Roman M.; McKinley, Todd O.; Potter, Benjamin K.; Dearth, Christopher L.; Goldman, Stephen M.; Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine
    Treatment of volumetric muscle loss (VML) faces challenges due to its unique pathobiology and lower priority in severe musculoskeletal injury management. Consequently, a need exists for multi-stage VML treatment strategies to accommodate delayed interventions owing to comorbidity management or prolonged casualty care in combat settings. To this end, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used at concentrations of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% to generate provisional muscle void fillers (MVFs) of varying stiffness values (1.125 kPa, 3.700 kPa, and 7.699 kPa) to stabilize VML injuries as part of a two-stage approach. These were implanted into a rat model for a duration of 4 weeks, then explanted and either left untreated (control) or treated through minced muscle grafting (MMG). Additional benchmarks included acute MMG and unrepaired groups. At the MVF explant, the 7.5% PVA group exhibited superior neuromuscular function compared to the 5% and 10% PVA groups, the least fibrosis, and the largest median myofiber size among all groups at the 12-week endpoint. Despite the 7.5% PVA’s superiority amongst the two-stage treatment groups, neuromuscular function was neither improved nor impaired relative to acute treatment benchmarks. This suggests that the future success of a two-stage VML treatment strategy will necessitate a more effective definitive intervention.
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    Antiremodeling Agents Influence Osteoblast Activity Differently in Modeling and Remodeling Sites of Canine Rib
    (Calcified Tissue International, 2006-10-10) Allen, Matthew R.; Follet, Helene; Khurana, M.; Sato, M.; Burr, David B.; Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, IU School of Medicine
    Antiremodeling agents reduce bone loss in part through direct actions on osteoclasts. Their effects on osteoblasts and bone formation activity are less clear and may differ at sites undergoing modeling vs. remodeling. Skeletally mature intact beagles, 1–2 years old at the start of the study, were treated daily with clinically relevant doses of alendronate (0.10 or 0.20 mg/kg), risedronate (0.05 or 0.10 mg/kg), raloxifene (0.50 mg/kg), or vehicle (1 mL/kg). Dynamic bone formation parameters were histologically assessed on periosteal, endocortical/trabecular, and intracortical bone envelopes of the rib. Raloxifene significantly increased periosteal surface mineral apposition rate (MAR), a measure of osteoblast activity, compared to all other treatments (+108 to +175%, P < 0.02), while having no significant effect on MAR at either the endocortical/trabecular or intracortical envelope. Alendronate (both 0.10 and 0.20 doses) and risedronate (only the 0.10 dose) significantly (P ≤ 0.05) suppressed MAR on the endocortical/trabecular envelope, while none of the bisphosphonate doses significantly altered MAR at either the periosteal or intracortical envelopes compared to vehicle. Based on these results, we conclude that (1) at clinically relevant doses the two classes of antiremodeling agents, bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators, exert differential effects on osteoblast activity in the canine rib and (2) this effect depends on whether modeling or remodeling is the predominant mechanism of bone formation.
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    Efficacy of Novel Bracing for Treating Sciatica and Cadaveric Dissection to Examine Excursion of the Sciatic Nerve
    (2023-07-28) Callahan, Kyle; Dellacqua, Dale
    Background/Objective: Sciatica affects nearly half of all Americans and can often become debilitating, leading to severe pain that can limit performing activities of daily living. Brace application has not been tried for alleviation of pain. In this study, we seek to find if a novel brace can decrease pain and decrease bothersome level of symptoms for those suffering from sciatica. In addition, this study utilizes a cadaveric dissection to understand how the sciatic nerve stretches and tensions upon lower limb manipulation. Methods: Fourteen patients self-reported pain, functionality, and bothersome levels pre- and post-bracing. Excel’s data analysis tool was utilized to run statistical tests. One cadaver (2 lower limbs) was dissected, revealing the sciatic nerve at the hip and knee, while tibial nerve at the ankle. Excursion was measured utilizing a fixed pin and an initial distance, the leg manipulated, and final distance from pin measured. Ultimately, excursion was deemed final distance minus initial distance from the pin. Results: The brace decreases Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, increases Patient Reported Outcomes, and decreases Sciatica Bothersome Indexes. There was a significant difference in VAS pre- versus post-brace values at initial and 7-day post-visit but not at 21- or 42-day post-visit. Sciatic nerve excursion was greatest at the ankle. Discussion/Conclusion Brace use decreases pain levels, increases functionality, and decreases bothersome level of symptoms. The distal nerve moves more upon manipulation and therefore is more prone to tensioning than the proximal nerve. Dissection data illustrates how the brace positions the limb in a way that promotes “detensioning” of the nerve, alleviating sciatica. More cadaver data is needed. Presentation recording available online: https://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/media/c58059kh24
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    MSK PoCUS Training for Rural Clinics
    (2024-04-26) Smeltzer, Kathryn; Tollar, Roarke; Cook, Myanna; Wilcox, James; Ireland, Ellen
    INTRODUCTION: Point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) is a portable diagnostic technology with broad applicability, no radiation, and is less expensive than alternative imaging methods. PoCUS is emerging as high utility technology to expand bedside physical exams for primary care practitioners. Access to medical care in rural areas is an ongoing issue, especially for specialty care. By using PoCUS, rural providers may be able to more completely screen for conditions and determine if patients will need to seek specialty care, such as orthopedic intervention, which is often more time consuming for rural patients. OBJECTIVES: This study is to identify barriers to learning and using point of care ultrasound technology for rural primary care practitioners for expanded examination, including for orthopedic applications. The secondary objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the best practices of expanding rural PoCUS training. METHODS: The team identified six rural primary care practitioners at outpatient clinics around Indiana. Grant funding was used to equip these clinics with portable ultrasound probes with PoCUS-software-equipped iPads. Training consisted of approximately one hour of independent didactic material and two hours of in-person hands-on training with our investigators and students. Initial surveys were collected before and after the in-person training session. After a few months of individual practice, teleguidence training sessions were offered to the participants. Post-training surveys will be collected approximately six months after the initial training session. At this time, the first and second surveys for the six physicians have been analyzed and provide preliminary results. RESULTS: The pre-training survey from the six physicians before the in-person training session found that previous PoCUS experience of these physicians varies greatly, and nearly all of these practitioners have not used ultrasound in their clinic within the last year. This survey also showed unanimously that these physicians make orthopedic diagnoses in their practice but do not feel comfortable using ultrasound in supporting these diagnoses, showing the potential for PoCUS in their clinical practice. The second survey results have shown that even after just two hours of training, the physicians are comfortable with using ultrasound to support their orthopedic diagnoses, to the point that the majority are also somewhat comfortable teaching this material to others. All of the physicians agreed that the independent didactic material supplemented the in-person training, which supports both the quality and platforms provided for this material. The enthusiasm and improved confidence after the training sessions also support the quality of our investigators’ in-person training sessions. Though it was not difficult to recruit physician participants, one of the biggest obstacles this study faced was scheduling the in-person training session. CONCLUSION: Implementation of PoCUS in rural clinics for the evaluation of orthopedic diagnosis was met with enthusiasm and has shown potential for streamlining evaluation at specialty clinics. Major barriers to adopting this technology include finding adequate time for medical practitioners to learn and practice using the equipment and scheduling live, on-going training.
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    Successful Arthrodesis Using a Blended Allograft and Autograft Mixture in Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Case Series
    (Springer Nature, 2024-09-15) Fiechter, Jay; Baumann, Anthony N.; Smith, Micah; Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Achieving successful arthrodesis after lumbar interbody fusion remains a challenge, especially for minimally invasive surgical approaches that limit the amount of local bone autograft. However, using an allograft blend as an autograft extension mixture may hold promise but requires further research. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of an allograft blend added to autograft on the quality of arthrodesis after lumbar interbody fusion in adult patients. Methods: This study is a retrospective case series of adult patients (>21 years old) who underwent lumbar interbody fusion between October 2021 and January 2022, performed by a single spine surgeon. The quality of arthrodesis was assessed via the Bridwell grade (I-IV) for up to six months. The impact of surgical technique, age, sex, or amount of allograft utilized during fusion on Bridwell grade was assessed. Results: Patients (n = 18; 27 levels fused) had a mean age of 58.6 (1.9) years and a mean BMI of 32.8 (1.2) kilograms per meter squared (kg/m²). A mean of 18.0 (standard deviation = 2.4) cubic centimeters (cc) (range: 3.4-50.0 cc) of allograft was used per fused level. A Bridwell grade of I (successful arthrodesis) was achieved at three months in 11.1% (3/27) of fusions and at six months in 85.2% (23/27) of fusions. Four fusions remained at a Bridwell grade of II at six months and subsequently achieved complete arthrodesis at 12 months. No patients received a Bridwell grade of IV (lucency with collapse of graft) at three- or six-month follow-up. There was no difference in Bridwell grade when stratified by surgical technique, age, sex, or amount of allograft used. Conclusion: The allograft and autograft blend utilized in this study resulted in successful arthrodesis at all fused levels after one year, irrespective of surgical technique or other patient factors. Prospective studies with larger sample sizes are needed to corroborate the findings of this small case series.