Body Mass Index Affects Proximal Femoral but Not Acetabular Morphology in Adolescents Without Hip Pathology

Effects of joint loading on the development of capital femoral epiphysis morphology

INTRODUCTION

The deleterious influence of increased mechanical forces on capital femoral epiphysis development is well established; however, the growth of the physis in the absence of such forces remains unclear. The hips of non-ambulatory cerebral palsy (CP) patients provide a weight-restricted (partial weightbearing) model which can elucidate the influence of decreased mechanical forces on the development of physis morphology, including features related to development of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Here we used 3D image analysis to compare the physis morphology of children with non-ambulatory CP, as a model for abnormal hip loading, with age-matched native hips.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CT images of 98 non-ambulatory CP hips (8-15 years) and 80 age-matched native control hips were used to measure height, width, and length of the tubercle, depth, width, and length of the metaphyseal fossa, and cupping height across different epiphyseal regions. The impact of age on morphology was assessed using Pearson correlations. Mixed linear model was used to compare the quantified morphological features between partial weightbearing hips and full weightbearing controls.

RESULTS

In partial weightbearing hips, tubercle height and length along with fossa depth and length significantly decreased with age, while peripheral cupping height increased with age (r > 0.2, P < 0.04). Compared to normally loaded (full weightbearing) hips and across all age groups, partially weightbearing hips' epiphyseal tubercle height and length were smaller (P < .05), metaphyseal fossa depth was larger (P < .01), and posterior, inferior, and anterior peripheral cupping heights were smaller (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Smaller epiphyseal tubercle and peripheral cupping with greater metaphyseal fossa size in partial weightbearing hips suggests that the growing capital femoral epiphysis requires mechanical stimulus to adequately develop epiphyseal stabilizers. Deposit low prevalence and relevance of SCFE in CP, these findings highlight both the role of normal joint loading in proper physis development and how chronic abnormal loading may contribute to various pathomorphological changes of the proximal femur (i.e., capital femoral epiphysis).

Effects of obesity on talar micro- and macro-morphology

The addition of information regarding obesity status to the forensic anthropological biological profile could significantly contribute to the identification of human skeletal remains since over 40% of the U.S. adult population is currently obese. This study examines the differences in talar shape and trabecular bone structure between obese and non-obese individuals. A sample of 20 obese and 20 non-obese divided evenly by sex was selected from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection. Tali were imaged using x-ray computed tomography (voxel size: 28-38.7 μm). Image stacks were processed to produce binary images as well as trabecular thickness and spacing maps. Landmark-based geometric morphometric analyses were conducted to quantify shape variation. Shape coordinates were used to locate 100 geometrically homologous volumes of interest within each talus. Bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular spacing were extracted at each volume of interest. Within each sex, a one-way ANCOVA was used to determine if significant differences exist between obese and non-obese individuals in trabecular bone after controlling for age. The size of the talus as well as subtle aspects of shape were found to distinguish the sexes. The results further indicate that bone volume fraction significantly differs between obese and non-obese males. In females, bone volume fraction is correlated with age but does not differ between obese and non-obese. The study demonstrates that bone microstructure is a promising approach to estimating body mass or body mass index category but age effects diminish the potential for the talus to be used alone.

Smaller epiphyseal tubercle in hips with slipped capital femoral epiphysis compared to the uninvolved contralateral hip

Recent investigations suggest that physeal morphologic features have a major role in the capital femoral epiphysis stability and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) pathology, with a smaller epiphyseal tubercle and larger peripheral cupping of the femoral epiphysis being present in hips with progressive SCFE compared to healthy controls. Yet, little is known on the causal versus remodeling nature of these associations. This study aimed to use preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with unilateral SCFE to perform a comparison of the morphology of the epiphyseal tubercle, metaphyseal fossa, and peripheral cupping in hips with SCFE versus the contralateral uninvolved hips. Preoperative MRIs from 22 unilateral SCFE patients were used to quantify the morphological features of the epiphyseal tubercle (height, width, and length), metaphyseal fossa (depth, width, and length), and peripheral cupping height in three dimension. The quantified anatomical features were compared between hips with SCFE and the contralateral uninvolved side across the whole cohort and within SCFE severity subgroups using paired t-test. We found significantly smaller epiphyseal tubercle heights (p < 0.001) across all severities of SCFE when compared to their uninvolved contralateral side. There was a marginally smaller metaphyseal fossa length (p = 0.05) in SCFE hips compared to their contralateral uninvolved hips, with mild SCFE hips specifically having smaller fossa and epiphyseal lengths (p < 0.05) than their contralateral uninvolved side. There were no side-to-side differences in any other features of the epiphyseal tubercle, metaphyseal fossa and peripheral cupping across all severities (p > 0.05). These findings suggest a potential causal role of epiphyseal tubercle in SCFE pathogenesis.

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Associated With Athletic Activity

BACKGROUND

Little data exist regarding the association of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and sporting activities.

HYPOTHESIS

There is no association between SCFE and sporting activities.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of all SCFE cases at our institution from 2010 through March 2021.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

METHODS

All patients with idiopathic SCFE were reviewed looking for the presence/absence of sporting activities and symptom onset. Also collected were the age, symptom duration, and weight/height of the patient, sex, race, and stable/unstable nature of the SCFE. The severity of the SCFE was measured using the lateral epiphyseal-shaft angle.

RESULTS

There were 193 children (110 boys, 83 girls) with idiopathic SCFEs. The SCFE was stable in 147, unstable in 45, and unknown in 1. The average age was 12.1 ± 1.8 years, average SCFE angle 38° ± 20° and symptom duration 4.0 ± 5.1 months. An association with a sporting activity was present in 64 (33%). The sporting activity was basketball (18), football (11), baseball/softball (10), and others (23). Football, basketball, and soccer predominated in boys, baseball and running sports were equal between boys and girls, and cheerleading/gymnastics/dancing predominated in girls. Differences showed that those involved in sports had a slightly lower body mass index (BMI) (88th percentile vs 95th percentile, P = 0.00). There were no differences between those involved and those not those involved in sporting activities for symptom duration, SCFE severity, sex, race, or stable/unstable SCFE type.

CONCLUSION

Sporting activities are associated with the onset of symptoms in 1 of 3 of patients with SCFE, refuting the null hypothesis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A high level of suspicion for SCFE should be given when any peripubertal athlete presents with hip or knee pain regardless of BMI/obesity status, and appropriate imaging performed.

Co-occurrence of Blount's disease and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: is obesity a factor?

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) and Blount's disease share a similar presenting age in addition to similar symptoms such as limp or knee pain. A little overlap is mentioned about both diseases. We sought to present cases of children having both conditions to discuss the implications of this co-occurrence on diagnosis and management. After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively reviewed records of four children who developed both Blount's disease and LCPD. Patient details and outcomes were analyzed. Radiographs were evaluated for the lateral pillar classification, Stulberg classification, tibial metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle and tibiofemoral angle. Two of the cases were initially diagnosed with Blount's disease and subsequently developed Perthes, one case presented initially with both disorders and the final case had Perthes followed by Blount's. Three children were obese and one was overweight. The common symptom to all patients was an abnormal gait, which was painless in two children and painful in two. Blount's disease required surgery in three children. Radiographs showed Lateral Pillar B, B/C border and C hips, and the final Stulberg was stage II (n = 2) or stage IV (n = 2). Obesity is associated with Blount's disease and LCPD, so obese children can be at an increased risk of developing both disorders. Therefore, a child with Blount's disease who has persistent, recurrent or worsening symptoms such as gait disturbance or thigh or knee pain might benefit from a careful physical exam of the hips to prevent a delayed or even missed LCPD diagnosis.

[Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in adolescents-How to adivse? How to treat?]

Hintergrund

Das Femoroazetabuläre Impingement-Syndrom (FAIS) ist eine relevante Ursache für Leistenschmerzen beim Jugendlichen. Insbesondere sind Sportler betroffen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Arbeit soll einen evidenzbasierten Hintergrund für Beratung und Therapie des FAIS beim Adoleszenten bieten.

Material und Methoden

Anhand der aktuellen Literatur wurde eine Übersicht zu Prävalenz und Pathogenese, Abklärung und Diagnostik sowie therapeutischen Empfehlung des FAIS beim Adoleszenten erarbeitet.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Das FAIS beim Jugendlichen betrifft vor allem sportlich aktive Patienten. Bestimmte Sportarten begünstigen die Entstehung eines FAIS. Cam-Impingement, Pincer-Impingement und kombiniertes FAIS sind die häufigsten Entitäten in dieser Altersgruppe. Die Cam-Morphologie entsteht kurz vor Schluss der proximalen Femurwachstumsfuge. Beim Cam-Impingement muss die Epiphyseolysis capitis femoris (ECF) von der primären Cam-Morphologie unterschieden werden. Die ECF verlangt eine rasche operative Versorgung mit Stabilisierung der Epiphyse, während das primäre Cam-Impingement elektiv abgeklärt werden kann und ein konservativer Behandlungsversuch sinnvoll ist. Schäden an Labrum und Knorpel werden regelhaft beobachtet. Eine systematische radiologische Abklärung mittels Projektionsröntgen und MRT ist obligat, um einen adäquaten Therapieplan zu entwickeln. Bei jugendlichen Patienten mit FAIS sollte immer ein konservativer Therapieversuch erfolgen. Ist dieser nicht erfolgreich, ist die operative Sanierung mit Hüftarthroskopie indiziert. Die postoperativen Ergebnisse zeigen bei Jugendlichen sehr gute Erfolge mit rascher Besserung der Beschwerden, geringen Komplikationen und einer hohen „Return-to-sport“-Rate.

Normative Values for Capital Femoral Epiphyseal Extension of the Developing Hip Based on Age, Sex, and Oxford Bone Age

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence suggests that increasing capital femoral epiphyseal extension may be an adaptive response that underlies the development of most cam morphology, whereas slipped capital femoral epiphysis is associated with its deficiency. However, there is an absence of rigorous data on the normal development of epiphyseal extension in the hip joint in modern adolescents. The aim of this study was to establish normative values for anterior and superior epiphyseal extension in a normal adolescent control population.

METHODS

A total of 210 pediatric subjects (420 hips) between the ages of 8 and 17 years old at the time of presentation who received pelvic radiographs were retrospectively reviewed. Basic demographic data were collected. All subjects with underlying hip pathology were excluded. Epiphyseal extension ratio (EER) was measured, defined as the ratio of extension of the capital femoral epiphysis down the femoral neck relative to the diameter of the femoral head. Superior EER was measured on the anterioposterior view and anterior EER on the frog-leg lateral view bilaterally. Skeletal maturity was graded based on Oxford bone age (OBA) at the proximal femur.

RESULTS

The superior EER increased from 0.63±0.05 at age 8 to 0.80±0.05 at age 17. The anterior EER similarly increased from 0.56±0.06 at age 8 to 0.74±0.05 at age 17. The superior and anterior EERs increased with age in a linear fashion for males (r=0.80 and 0.75, respectively) and females (r=0.67 and 0.65) through physeal closure. When subjects were standardized by the OBA stage of the femoral head, females and males showed no statistical difference at OBA stages 6, 7 or 8.

CONCLUSIONS

Superior and anterior EER increased throughout adolescent development until physeal closure. When controlling for skeletal maturity, there were no significant differences between sexes. This normative data may help guide future management and research of slipped capital femoral epiphysis and cam morphology.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, Diagnostic.

Increased body mass index percentile is associated with decreased epiphyseal tubercle size in asymptomatic children and adolescents with healthy hips

PURPOSE

To investigate whether body mass index (BMI) percentile impacts the morphology of the capital femoral epiphysis in children and adolescents without hip disorders.

METHODS

We assessed 68 subjects with healthy hips who underwent a pelvic CT for evaluation of appendicitis. There were 32 male patients (47%) and the mean age was 11.6 years (sd 2.3). The BMI (k/m²) was calculated for sex- and age-related percentiles according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. CT images were segmented, and the epiphysis and metaphysis were reformatted using 3D software. We measured the epiphyseal tubercle (height, width and length), the metaphyseal fossa (depth, width and length) and the peripheral cupping of the epiphysis. All measurements were normalized to the diameter of the epiphysis. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess the correlations between the variables measured and BMI percentile adjusted for age.

RESULTS

Following adjustment to age, increased BMI correlated to decreased tubercle height (r =-0.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.53 to -0.11; p = 0.005), decreased tubercle length (r = -0.32; 95%CI -0.52 to -0.09; p = 0.008) and decreased tubercle width (r = -0.3; 95% CI -0.5 to -0.07; p = 0.01). There was no correlation between BMI and metaphyseal fossa and epiphyseal cupping measurements.

CONCLUSION

The association between increased BMI percentile and decreased epiphyseal tubercle size, without changes of the metaphyseal fossa and peripheral cupping suggests another morphological change of the femur that may be associated with decreased growth plate resistance to shear stress. Further study is necessary to investigate whether the epiphyseal tubercle size plays a role in the pathogenesis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in obese children and adolescents.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Effect of hesperetin on systemic inflammation and hepatic injury after blunt chest trauma in rats

We investigated the protective effect of hesperetin on hepatic damage after blunt chest trauma in rats using histological and biochemical methods. We used 18 adult male rats in three groups of six: control, chest trauma and chest trauma + hesperetin. Chest trauma was caused by dropping a metal cylinder onto the right hemithorax. Hesperetin, 100 mg/kg, was administered orally for 7 days. At the end of the seventh day, liver tissue samples were obtained. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), alanine aminotransferase (AST), aspartate transferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activities were measured in blood samples taken from the heart. The general structure of liver tissue was investigated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Nuclear factor kappa beta (Nf-κβ) expression in liver tissue was determined by the indirect immunohistochemical method. Apoptosis was determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Decreased TNF-α, AST and ALT enzyme activity, fewer histopathological changes and lower Nf-kB expression were observed in the hesperetin treated group compared to the chest trauma group. We also found reduced hepatic apoptosis in the chest trauma + hesperetin group compared to the chest trauma group. Hesperetine inhibits liver damage by reducing proinflammatory cytokines and by suppressing Nf-κβ activity in a blunt chest trauma model in rats.

Acetabular Retroversion and Decreased Posterior Coverage Are Associated With Sports-related Posterior Hip Dislocation in Adolescents

BACKGROUND

Leverage of the femoral head against the acetabular rim may lead to posterior hip dislocation during sports activities in hips with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) deformity. Abnormal concavity of the femoral head and neck junction has been well described in association with posterior hip dislocation. However, acetabular morphology variations are not fully understood.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The purpose of this study was to compare the acetabular morphology in terms of acetabular version and coverage of the femoral head in adolescents who sustained a posterior hip dislocation during sports and recreational activities with a control group of patients without a history of hip disease matched by age and sex.

METHODS

In this case-control study, we identified 27 adolescents with posterior hip dislocation sustained during sports or recreational activities who underwent a CT scan of the hips (study group) and matched them to patients without a history of hip disease being evaluated with CT for possible appendicitis (control group). Between 2001 and 2017, we treated 71 adolescents (aged 10-19 years old) for posterior hip dislocations. During the period in question, we obtained CT scans or MR images after closed reduction of a posterior hip dislocation. One patient was excluded because of a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Twenty-one patients who were in motor vehicle-related accidents were also excluded. Twelve patients were excluded because MRI was obtained instead of CT. Finally, three patients with no imaging after reduction and seven patients with inadequate CT reformatting were excluded. Twenty-seven patients (38%) had CT scans of suitable quality for analysis, and these 27 patients constituted the study group. We compared those hips with 27 age- and sex-matched adolescents who had CT scans for appendicitis and who had no history of hip pain or symptoms (control group). One orthopaedic surgeon and one pediatric musculoskeletal radiologist, not invoved in the care of the patients included in the study, measured the lateral center-edge angle, acetabular index, acetabular depth/width ratio, acetabular anteversion angle (10 mm from the dome and at the level of the center of the femoral heads), and the anterior and posterior sector angles in the dislocated hip; the contralateral uninvolved hip of the patients with hip dislocations; and both hips in the matched control patients. Both the study and control groups had 25 (93%) males with a mean age of 13 (± 1.7) years. Inter- and intrarater reliability of measurements was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). There was excellent reliability (ICC > 0.90) for the acetabular anteversion angle measured at the center of the femoral head, the acetabular version 10 mm from the dome, and the posterior acetabular sector angle.

RESULTS

The mean acetabular anteversion angle (± SD) was lower in the study group at 10 mm from the acetabular dome (-0.4° ± 9° versus 4° ± 4°; mean difference -5°; 95% confidence interval [CI], -9 to -0.3; p = 0.015) and at the center of the femoral heads (10° ± 5° versus 14° ± 4°; mean difference -3°; 95% CI, -6 to -0.9; p = 0.003). A higher proportion of acetabula was severely retroverted in the study group (14 of 27 [52%]; 95% CI, 33%-71% versus four of 27 [15%]; 95% CI, 1%-28%; p = 0.006). The mean posterior acetabular sector angle was lower in the study group (82° ± 8° versus 90° ± 6°; mean difference -8°; 95% CI, -11 to -4; p < 0.001), whereas no difference was found for the anterior acetabular sector angle (65° ± 6° versus 65° ± 7°; mean difference 0.3°; 95% CI, -3 to 4; p = 0.944). There was no difference for the lateral center-edge angle (27° ± 6° versus 26° ± 5°; p = 0.299), acetabular index (5° ± 3° versus 6 ± 4°; p = 0.761), or acetabular depth/width ration (305 ± 30 versus 304 ± 31; p = 0.944) between groups. Acetabular anteversion angle at the center of the femoral heads (11° ± 4° versus 14° ± 4°; p = 0.006) and the posterior acetabular sector angle (86° ± 7 ° versus 91° ± 6°; p = 0.007) were lower in the contralateral uninvolved hips compared with control hips.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased acetabular anteversion angle and posterior acetabular coverage of the femoral head were associated with posterior dislocation of the hip in adolescents with sports-related injury even in the absence of a high-energy mechanism. Further studies are necessary to clarify whether a causative effect exists between acetabular and femoral morphology and the dislocation of the hip in patients with sports-related injuries.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, prognostic study.