Role of the extraosseus blood supply in osteoarthritic femoral heads?

Anatomic study on the blood supply to the femoral head following hip resurfacing using the posterior approach

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate femoral head perfusion following cadaveric hip resurfacing using the posterior approach.

METHODS

This cadaveric study involved injecting Higgins India ink into the common iliac arteries and evaluating the distribution of ink in the resurfaced heads using the modified Spalteholz technique. The study consisted of 2 parts. The 1st part involved utilisation of 22 cadaveric hips for establishing the injection and histological technique. The 2nd part of the study included 4 control cadaveric hips and 12 cadaveric hips with posterior approach hip resurfacing. Each specimen was divided into 15 zones (12 head zones and 3 neck zones) to evaluate detailed geographic distribution of dye-containing blood vessels.

RESULTS

All 4 controls had good flow of ink to all head zones and the neck region. In all the resurfaced heads, there was good flow to all the neck zones. 6 resurfaced specimens had no dye flow to any of the head zones. In the remaining 6, dye-stained vessels were seen variably in the anterior and middle zones but were consistently absent in the posterior zones of the head. Zones representing the antero-inferior parts of femoral head had the maximum flow of ink, followed by zones representing middle-inferior parts.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior approach for hip resurfacing arthroplasty results in vascular insult to the femoral head, with posterior zones more affected than the anterior zones. The persistence of the dye in the intraosseous blood vessels of the neck and in anteroinferior head may be a source of revascularisation of the femoral head after posterior approach hip resurfacing.

Five-year follow-up of clinical and radiological outcomes of LP-ESP elastomeric lumbar total disc replacement in active patients

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

The surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease at the lumbar spine may involve fusion. Total disc replacement (TDR) is an alternative treatment to avoid fusion-related adverse events, specifically adjacent segment disease. New generation of elastomeric non-articulating devices has been developed to more effectively replicate the shock absorption and flexural stiffness of native disc.

PURPOSE

To report 5 years clinical and radiographic outcomes, range of motion (ROM), and position of the center of rotation after a viscoelastic lumbar TDR.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study PATIENT SAMPLE: Sixty-one patients OUTCOME MEASURES: The clinical evaluation was based on visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, short form-36 (SF-36) including the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS), and general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ28). The radiological outcomes were ROM and position of the center of rotation at the index and the adjacent levels and the adjacent disc height changes.

METHODS

Our study group included 61 consecutive patients with monosegmental disc replacement. We selected patients who could provide a global lumbar spine mobility analysis (intermediate functional activity according to the Baecke score). Hybrid constructs had been excluded. Only the cases with complete clinical and radiological follow-up at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months were included.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in VAS (3.3±2.5 vs. 6.6±1.7, p<.001), in ODI (20±17.9 vs. 51.2±14.6, p<.001), GHQ28 (52.6±15.5 vs. 64.2±15.6, p<.001), SF-36 PCS (58.8±4.8 vs. 32.4±3.4, p<.001), and SF-36 MCS (60.7±6 vs. 42.3±3.4, p<.001). The mean location centers of the index level and adjacent discs were comparable to those previously published in asymptomatic patients. According to the definition of Zigler and Delamarter, all of our cases remained grade 0 for adjacent level disc height (within 25% of normal).

CONCLUSIONS

This series reports significant improvement in midterm follow-up after TDR, which is consistent with previously published studies but with a lower rate of revision surgery and no adjacent level disease pathologies. The radiographic assessment of the patients demonstrated the quality of functional reconstruction of the lumbar spine after LP-ESP viscoelastic disc replacement.

Use of near-infrared systems for investigations of hemodynamics in human in vivo bone tissue: A systematic review

A range of technologies using near infrared (NIR) light have shown promise at providing real time measurements of hemodynamic markers in bone tissue in vivo, an exciting prospect given existing difficulties in measuring hemodynamics in bone tissue. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the evidence for this potential use of NIR systems, establishing their potential as a research tool in this field. Major electronic databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched using pre-planned search strategies with broad scope for any in vivo use of NIR technologies in human bone tissue. Following identification of studies by title and abstract screening, full text inclusion was determined by double blind assessment using predefined criteria. Full text studies for inclusion were data extracted using a predesigned proforma and quality assessed. Narrative synthesis was appropriate given the wide heterogeneity of included studies. Eighty-eight full text studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 57 addressing laser Doppler flowmetry (56 intra-operatively), 21 near infrared spectroscopy, and 10 photoplethysmography. The heterogeneity of the methodologies included differing hemodynamic markers, measurement protocols, anatomical locations, and research applications, making meaningful direct comparisons impossible. Further, studies were often limited by small sample sizes with potential selection biases, detection biases, and wide variability in results between participants. Despite promising potential in the use of NIR light to interrogate bone circulation, the application of NIR systems in bone requires rigorous assessment of the reproducibility of potential hemodynamic markers and further validation of these markers against alternative physiologically relevant reference standards. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2595-2603, 2018.

The terminal branches of the medial femoral circumflex artery: the arterial supply of the femoral head

This study investigates and defines the topographic anatomy of the medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) terminal branches supplying the femoral head (FH). Gross dissection of 14 fresh-frozen cadaveric hips was undertaken to determine the extra and intracapsular course of the MFCA's terminal branches. A constant branch arising from the transverse MFCA (inferior retinacular artery; IRA) penetrates the capsule at the level of the anteroinferior neck, then courses obliquely within the fibrous prolongation of the capsule wall (inferior retinacula of Weitbrecht), elevated from the neck, to the posteroinferior femoral head-neck junction. This vessel has a mean of five (three to nine) terminal branches, of which the majority penetrate posteriorly. Branches from the ascending MFCA entered the femoral capsular attachment posteriorly, running deep to the synovium, through the neck, and terminating in two branches. The deep MFCA penetrates the posterosuperior femoral capsular. Once intracapsular, it divides into a mean of six (four to nine) terminal branches running deep to the synovium, within the superior retinacula of Weitbrecht of which 80% are posterior. Our study defines the exact anatomical location of the vessels, arising from the MFCA and supplying the FH. The IRA is in an elevated position from the femoral neck and may be protected from injury during fracture of the femoral neck. We present vascular 'danger zones' that may help avoid iatrogenic vascular injury during surgical interventions about the hip.

BLEEDING OF FEMORAL HEAD DURING TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY FOR OSTEOARTHROSIS

Objective: To evaluate the bleeding of the femoral head on hip osteoarthritis in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Methods: One hundred and three hips affected by primary hip osteoarthritis were evaluated. After surgical dislocation, the femoral head was divided into four quadrants, and micro perforations were made in order to observe and assess the presence of bleeding, as early type (EB), late type (LB) or without bleeding (WB). Results: We observed early bleeding (EB) in the upper quadrant in 16 hips (15.5%), late bleeding in 14 hips (13.6%) and no bleeding (WB) in 73 hips (70.9%). The anterior quadrant showed EB in 24 hips (23.3%), LB in 7 hips (6.8%) and WB in 72 hips (69.9%). The lower quadrant presented EB in 40 hips (38.8%), LB 14 hips (13.6%) and WB in 49 hips (47.6%). The posterior quadrant showed EB in 39 hips (37.9%), LB 19 hips (18.4%) and WB in 45 hips (43.7%). Comparing BMI and gender, we found no association between these parameters

(p> 0.05). Conclusions: The inferior and posterior quadrant had the highest bleeding levels, following the path of the medial circumflex artery. Level of Evidence III, Therapeutic Study.

Increased post-operative ischemia in the femoral head found by microdialysis by the posterior surgical approach: a randomized clinical trial comparing surgical approaches in hip resurfacing arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head and femoral neck fracture, which may be caused by a decrease in the perfusion of the bone initiated at surgery. Several studies have demonstrated a decreased blood flow during surgery depending on the choice of surgical approach. We investigated the effect of the surgical approach on the blood flow and metabolism in the femoral head and neck in HRA by Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and microdialysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a randomized clinical trial on 38 patients, allocated to HRA by either the posterior (Post) or the antero-lateral (AntLat) surgical approach. LDF was performed during surgery and microdialysis after surgery to assess the concentration of the following metabolic markers: glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycerol.

RESULTS

At 44-50 h after surgery, the mean lactate/pyruvate (L/P) and lactate/glucose (L/G) ratio was higher in the Post group compared to the AntLat group; L/P 195.3 (SEM 123) in Post and 128.5 (108.0) in AntLat; L/G 16.9 (6.5) in Post and 8.9 (3.7) in AntLat (p L/P = 0.02 and p L/G = 0.03). There was no difference in the LDF measurements (p = 0.74).

INTERPRETATION

HRA in the posterior approach results in increased post-operative ischemia in the femoral head and neck although during surgery, no difference in the blood flow was found. Still, the antero-lateral approach also causes considerable ischemia and other possible explanations, such as damage to the retinacular vessels during surgery or altered microcirculation because of heating from the cementation process, needs to be investigated.

Vascular safe zones in hip arthroscopy

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroscopy is an evolving surgical technique being performed in greater numbers because of advances in skill, improved technology, and increased demand. Identifying vascular safe zones using anatomic and intracapsular landmarks provides a valuable intraoperative guide to reduce the risk of damage to the femoral head blood supply during femoral neck osteoplasty and psoas tendon release.

PURPOSE

This series is presented to identify vascular safe zones for use in hip arthroscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The authors analyzed 76 consecutive contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance scans obtained from patients with diagnosed femoral acetabular impingement. High-resolution 3-dimensional images were reconstructed to visualize the vasculature. The medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) course was traced from the anterior thigh to the femoral head. Specific attention was paid to its proximity to the psoas tendon at the site of release and the retinacular vessel course in relation to the femoral neck using a clock-face orientation.

RESULTS

The MFCA was found inserting on the posterior superior femoral neck from the 10:30 to 12-o'clock position on the femoral neck shaft, just posterior to the lateral synovial fold, and progressed on the femoral neck via an average of 4 retinacular vessels (range, 2-6). Ninety-seven percent of vessels were posterior to the 12-o'clock position. The MFCA passes posteriorly a mean distance of 50% ± 8% between the lesser trochanter and inferior femoral head/acetabular junction, located a mean 15 ± 0.37 mm medial to the medial cortex of the femoral neck. The MFCA was within the middle third zone in 100% of the measurements.

CONCLUSION

The authors defined the following 2 safe zones: the femoral neck osteoplasty safe zone is on the anterior half of the femoral neck; the psoas tendon release safe zone is astride the middle third of the medial hip capsule (bordered by the lesser trochanter and inferior femoral head/acetabular junction).