IL-40 is up-regulated in the synovial fluid and cartilage of osteoarthritis patients and contributes to the alteration of chondrocytes phenotype in vitro.

Introduction: IL-40 is a novel cytokine associated with autoimmune connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or Sjögren syndrome. We have previously shown an accumulation of IL-40 in the RA joint and its expression by immune cells and fibroblasts. Therefore, we aimed to assess the role of IL-40 in association with hyaline cartilage and chondrocyte activity.

Transient L5 Nerve Root Palsy Caused by Subfascial Drain After Lumbar Surgery: Case Report and Literature Review.

Case: We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who developed a transient L5 deficit after a posterior L4-L5 interbody fusion. A perfusion computed tomography scan ruled out all described causes of postoperative deficit and showed compression of the right L5 root by the subfascial drain. The deficit spontaneously resolved.

Antitumor Effect of Cabozantinib in Bone Metastatic Models of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The presence of bone metastases in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) negatively affects patients' survival. Data from clinical trials has highlighted a significant benefit of cabozantinib in bone metastatic RCC patients. Here, we evaluated the antitumor effect of cabozantinib in coculture models of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and osteoblasts (OBs) to investigate whether and how its antiproliferative activity is influenced by OBs.

Interleukin-20 is triggered by TLR ligands and associates with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-20 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that may be implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to determine the association between IL-20 and disease activity in patients with RA.

Methods: The levels of serum and synovial fluid IL-20 were measured in patients with RA and OA.

Femorotibial kinematics and load patterns after total knee arthroplasty: An in vitro comparison of posterior-stabilized versus medial-stabilized design.

Background: Femorotibial kinematics and contact patterns vary greatly with different total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs. Therefore, guided motion knee systems were developed to restore natural knee kinematics and make them more predictable. The medial stabilized TKA design is supposed to replicate physiological kinematics more than the posterior-stabilized TKA system.

Microdiscectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: an evaluation of reoperations and long-term outcomes.

Design Retrospective case series. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the reoperation rate after microdiscectomy for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in patients with ≥ 5-year follow-up and identify demographic, perioperative, and outcome-related differences between patients with and without a reoperation. Methods The medical records, operative reports, and office notes of patients who had undergone microdiscectomy at a single institution between March 1994 and December 2007 were reviewed and long-term follow-up was assessed via a telephone questionnaire.

The National Register of Joint Replacements of the Czech Republic.

The National Register of Joint Replacements of the Czech Republic was established as part of the National Health Information System in 2002. The register's administrator is the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, the Czech Society for Orthopaedics and Traumatology acts as its guarantor of scientific quality. The register is financed from governmental sources.

Gender differences in the morphology of the trochlea and the distal femur.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to provide a morphologic description of the distal femur and to determine whether there are any gender differences in the shape that might have an important consequence for the design of a femoral component of a total knee prosthesis.

Methods: Anthropometric data on the distal femur of 200 normal knees were obtained using two-dimensional MRI measurements. In all 18 parameters of the distal femur were measured including the anteroposterior (AP) dimension of femoral condyles, the mediolateral (ML) width of the distal femur at four levels, and the AP dimension and ML width of the trochlea.

Multi-segment foot mobility in a hinged ankle-foot orthosis: the effect of rotation axis position.

Hinged ankle-foot orthoses are prescribed routinely for the treatment of ankle joint deficits, despite the conflicting outcomes and the little evidence on their functional efficacy. In particular, the axis of rotation of the hinge is positioned disregarding the physiological position and orientation. A multi-segment model was utilized to assess in vivo the effect of different positions for this axis on the kinematics of foot joints.

Medial calcar of proximal humeral fracture as landmark in restoration of humeral length in case of hemiarthroplasty.

Purpose: Several methods to restore the appropriate length of the humerus in the case of proximal humeral fractures treated by hemiarthroplasty have been previously published. Our study evaluates the possibility of using the medial calcar of humerus for humeral length reconstruction not based on preoperative planning.

Methods: Preparations of 320 dry humeral bones were used for the purpose of the study.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with LARS™ artificial ligament results at a mean follow-up of eight years.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review patients that underwent ACL reconstruction with the LARS™ ligament in the First Orthopaedic Division of Pisa University during the period between January 2003 and December 2005.

Methods: Twenty-six patients were reviewed with an average follow-up of 95.3 months (7.

Hypermobility of the first metatarsal bone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated by Lapidus procedure.

Background: Foot deformities and related problems of the forefoot are very common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The laxity of the medial cuneometatarsal joint and its synovitis are important factors in the development of forefoot deformity. The impaired joint causes the first metatarsal bone to become unstable in the frontal and sagittal planes.

The effect of steroid-abuse on anatomic reinsertion of ruptured distal biceps brachii tendon.

Introduction: There is an increase in the number of anabolic-steroid (AS)-abusing trainees, who suffer from sports injuries, needing reconstruction surgery. Rupture of the distal biceps brachii tendon is a common injury in this group.

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the effect of AS abuse in the anatomic reconstruction of the ruptured distal biceps brachii tendon along with an immediate range-of-motion postoperative protocol.

Ankle block implemented through two skin punctures.

Background: Recently, peripheral nerve blocks have increasingly been used in orthopedic surgery. The foot block is an alternative for anesthesia in cases of forefoot and midfoot operations. We propose a modification of the block technique due to potential difficulties concerning the tibial nerve.

Isolated talonavicular arthrodesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the foot and tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction.

Background: The foot is often affected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Subtalar joints are involved more frequently than ankle joints. Deformities of subtalar joints often lead to painful flatfoot and valgus deformity of the heel.

Lesser tuberosity is more reliable than bicipital groove when determining orientation of humeral head in primary shoulder arthroplasty.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to provide statistical evaluation of position of bone landmarks of proximal humerus in relation to transepicondylar line and find out which one is the most suitable for setup of the head retroversion in case of humeral head destruction.

Methods: We measured 185 dry humeral preparations (92 left, 93 right). Structures of interest on the proximal humerus were marked with pointers of custom made steel frame.

The knee in full flexion: an anatomical study.

There has been only one limited report dating from 1941 using dissection which has described the tibiofemoral joint between 120 degrees and 160 degrees of flexion despite the relevance of this arc to total knee replacement. We now provide a full description having examined one living and eight cadaver knees using MRI, dissection and previously published cryosections in one knee. In the range of flexion from 120 degrees to 160 degrees the flexion facet centre of the medial femoral condyle moves back 5 mm and rises up on to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.

Polyarticular Form of Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis. Radiation and Surgical Therapy: Long Term Follow-up.

We describe a case of 30-year old male followed-up since the age of 6 for severe type of rare combination of polyarticular form of pigmented villonodular synovitis with hereditary malformation constellation consistent with Noonan-like syndrome. Within 20 years, the patient underwent repeated synovectomies of large joints with temporary effect only. Radiation therapy with the dose of 30 Gy in 15 sessions has been applied for active aggressive synovitis of both knees associated with pain and progressive joint destruction.

SAPHO syndrome - rare case of joint damage treated by knee synovectomy and total hip joint replacement.

This report describes the case of a young male who had been followed-up between the ages of 14-21 years at different health facilities for symptoms initially considered to be caused by tumor, then by chronic osteomyelitis or ankylosing spondylitis and finally diagnosed as the SAPHO syndrome. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the SAPHO syndrome include focal, probably aseptic chronic osteomyelitis, synovitis and formation of hyperostoses. Therapy of the SAPHO syndrome is predominantly conservative.

A new technique for reconstruction of the proximal humerus after three- and four-part fractures.

The results of proximal humeral replacement following trauma are substantially worse than for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The stable reattachment of the lesser and greater tuberosity fragments to the rotator cuff and the restoration of shoulder biomechanics are difficult. In 1992 we developed a prosthesis designed to improve fixation of the tuberosity fragments in comminuted fractures of the proximal humerus.

Sciatic nerve palsy after total hip replacement.

We report a case of sciatic nerve palsy following total hip replacement which has lead to a novel hypothesis to account for this complication.

The use of antibiotic-impregnated cement in infected reconstructions after resection for bone tumours.

We have studied 35 patients with infected reconstructions after segmental resection for bone tumours. Two different regimes of treatment were employed both of which entailed debridement and the use of cement impregnated with antibiotic. In 25 patients gentamicin-PMMA beads were used and in ten an antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer.