Bone mineral density assessment by DXA in rheumatic patients with end-stage osteoarthritis undergoing total joint arthroplasty

A prospective and consecutive study assessing short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of Chinese domestically manufactured 3D printing trabecular titanium acetabular cup for primary total hip arthroplasty: evaluation of 236 cases

Purpose

We prospectively evaluate the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of the only Chinese domestically produced trabecular titanium acetabular cup(3D ACT™ cup) in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), aiming to provide evidence-based support for its clinical application.

Methods

A total of 236 patients, who underwent primary THA using 3D ACT™ cup in the Department of Joint Surgery at our hospital between January 2017 and June 2019, were included in this study. General patient data, imaging information, functional scores, and complications were collected to evaluate the early clinical efficacy.

Results

All patients were followed up for 33-52 months, with an average of (42.2 ± 9.2) months. At the last follow-up, the preoperative HHS score increased significantly from 43.7 ± 6.8 to 85.6 ± 9.3 points (P < 0.01). Similarly, the preoperative WOMAC scores showed significant improvement from 59.2 ± 5.8 to 13.1 ± 3.5 points (P < 0.01). 92.3% of the patients expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with the clinical outcome. Furthermore, 87.7% of the acetabular cups were positioned within the Lewinnek safe zone, achieving successful reconstruction of the acetabular rotation center. The cup survival rate at the last follow-up was 100%.

Conclusions

The utilization of the only Chinese domestically manufactured 3D printing trabecular titanium acetabular cup in primary THA demonstrated favorable short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. The acetabular cup exhibits excellent initial stability, high survival rate, and favorable osseointegration, leading to a significant enhancement in pain relief and functional improvement. In the future, larger sample sizes and multicenter prospective randomized controlled trials will be required to validate the long-term safety and effectiveness of this 3D ACT™ cup.

Bone Quality Assessment Before Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Role of Densitometry

Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is effective in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis. Radiographic evaluation, standard in THA planning, is sufficient in examining hip anatomy, although it may not precisely assess bone quality. A routinely implemented method in bone quality assessment is densitometry. The technique allows for a measurement of bone mineral density (BMD). Methodology In the study, we included 26 participants who qualified for THA. All the patients were preoperatively examined with radiographs and densitometry of the affected hip. On the preoperative anteroposterior radiograph, we measured the canal-to-calcar isthmus ratio (CC ratio) and the cortical index (CI). Intraoperatively, during the THA procedure, we measured the thickness of the cortical bone and the diameter of the femoral neck in the line of neck resection. Results The examination with Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed that BMD significantly positively correlates with the intraoperatively measured diameter of the femoral neck (r = 0.5, P = 0.009), and with the measured thickness of the cortical bone (r = 0.47, P = 0.015), CI significantly positively correlates with the intraoperatively measured diameter of the femoral neck (r = 0.6, P = 0.001), and with the CC ratio (r = 0.44, P = 0.024), the intraoperatively measured diameter of the femoral neck significantly positively correlates with the intraoperatively measured thickness of the cortical bone (r = 0.59, P = 0.001). All of the other correlations were not statistically significant. Conclusions BMD measurements can be used in THA planning as they positively correlate with intraoperative measurements. The radiological parameters (CC ratio and CI) may not be as precise in bone quality assessment.

Prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in elderly patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a common comorbidity in elderly patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and may increase perioperative complications in orthopedic surgery (e.g., component migration, periprosthetic fractures). As there is no investigation of bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly patients prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Europe, we investigated this issue with a particular focus on a potential treatment gap.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed the BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 109 consecutive elderly patients (age ≥ 70 years) scheduled for TKA. In addition to a detailed assessment of osteoporosis and osteopenia, the influence of clinical risk factors and radiological OA severity on BMD was evaluated using group comparisons and linear regression models. In addition, we analyzed differences in BMD between patients scheduled for TKA vs. total hip arthroplasty (THA).

RESULTS

Of the included 109 patients, 19 patients (17.4%) were diagnosed with osteoporosis and 50 (45.9%) with osteopenia. In the osteoporotic patients, a clinically relevant underdiagnosis concomitant with a serious treatment gap was observed in 95.0% of the patients. Body mass index, OA grade, and glucocorticoid use were identified as independent factors associated with BMD. No differences in BMD were found between the patients scheduled for TKA vs. THA.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the high prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in elderly patients, DXA screening should be recommended for patients ≥ 70 years indicated for TKA.

Exercise-induced modulation of myokine irisin in bone and cartilage tissue—Positive effects on osteoarthritis: A narrative review

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative musculoskeletal disease characterized by pathological changes in joint structures along with the incidence of which increases with age. Exercise is recommended for all clinical treatment guidelines of osteoarthritis, but the exact molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Irisin is a newly discovered myokine released mainly by skeletal muscle in recent years—a biologically active protein capable of being released into the bloodstream as an endocrine factor, the synthesis and secretion of which is specifically induced by exercise-induced muscle contraction. Although the discovery of irisin is relatively recent, its role in affecting bone density and cartilage homeostasis has been reported. Here, we review the production and structural characteristics of irisin and discuss the effects of the different types of exercise involved in the current study on irisin and the role of irisin in anti-aging. In addition, the role of irisin in the regulation of bone mineral density, bone metabolism, and its role in chondrocyte homeostasis and metabolism is reviewed. A series of studies on irisin have provided new insights into the mechanisms of exercise training in improving bone density, resisting cartilage degeneration, and maintaining the overall environmental homeostasis of the joint. These studies further contribute to the understanding of the role of exercise in the fight against osteoarthritis and will provide an important reference and aid in the development of the field of osteoarthritis prevention and treatment.