Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effect of adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) on osteochondral defects treated by hyaluronic acid (HA)-based scaffold in a rabbit model. Materials and methods: Eighteen white New Zealand rabbits were randomly grouped into the experimental group (n=9) and control group (n=9). In all groups, osteochondral defects were induced on the weight-bearing surfaces of the right femoral medial condyles, and a HA-based scaffold was applied to the defect area with microfractures (MFs). In this study, 1 mL of adipose-derived SVF was injected into the knee joints of the rabbits in the experimental group. For histological and macroscopic evaluation, four rabbits were randomly selected from each group at Week 4, and the remaining rabbits were sacrificed at the end of Week 8. Macroscopic assessments of all samples were performed based on the Brittberg scoring system, and microscopic evaluations were performed based on the O’Driscoll scores. Results: Samples were taken at Weeks 4 and 8. At Week 4, the O’Driscoll scores were significantly higher in the control group than the experimental group (p=0.038), while there was no significant difference in the Brittberg scores between the two groups (p=0.108). At Week 8, the O’Driscoll score and Brittberg scores were statistically higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p=0.008 and p=0.007, respectively). According to the microscopic evaluation, at the end of Week 8, the cartilage thickness was greater in the experimental group, and nearly all of the defect area was filled with hyaline cartilage. Conclusion: Application of adipose-derived SVF with MF-HA-based scaffold was better than MF-HA-based scaffold treatment in improving osteochondral regeneration. Therefore, it can be used in combination with microfracture and scaffold to accelerate cartilage regeneration, particularly in the treatment of secondary osteoarthritis.

Microfracture and scaffold application in the treatment of osteochondral defects is still one of the most frequently used methods in the clinic. The most important step in this treatment method is the stabilization of fibrin clot. Tranexamic acid (TA) is an antifibrinolytic agent commonly used in orthopedic surgery in recent years. This study evaluated the effect of local TA application on healing of experimentally induced osteochondral defects on rabbits. This paper contains an animal in vivo data and histological outcomes on the effect of TA. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were treated unilaterally and cylindrical defects having a width of 4 mm and depth of 5 mm were created in the weight-bearing surfaces of the medial and lateral condyles of the right femur. They were divided into two groups, as group 1 study and group 2 control groups, respectively. One milliliter (ml) of TA was injected into the knee joints of the subjects in group 1. All animals were sacrificed for the extraction of the femur condyles for histologic study at the fourth and eighth weeks after surgery. Histological evaluations were performed by Brittberg and O’Driscoll scores to all samples. Data were organized in a Standard Statistical Package System v.22 software package (SPSS/PC Inc., Chicago, IL.) and reported as mean and median (min-max). Repeated measures ANOVA test was used to compare groups and condyle effects together for each week. p values below 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Samples were taken in the fourth and eighth weeks. The regularity of the surface in group 1 was smoother, and the tissue stability was more robust. Mean Brittberg scores in both weeks were statistically higher in group 1 when compared with group 2. In the microscopic evaluation, it was observed that the regeneration of subchondral and cartilage tissues were more rapid and organized in group 1, and the mean O’ Driscoll scores in both weeks were statistically higher in group 1. Application of TA improves the healing time and tissue stability in osteochondral defects which are implanted a-cellular scaffold after microfracture and should be applicable to humans for the treatment of osteochondral defects.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the contents and readability levels of informative texts about anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on Turkish websites. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, online searches were performed using the Google, Yandex, and Yahoo search engines on 16, 17, and 18 November 2020, respectively. In these three search engines, ‘anterior cruciate ligament’, ‘anterior cruciate ligament surgery’, ‘ACL’, and ‘ACL surgery’ were entered in Turkish. The first 10 pages from each search on the websites were collected. The websites were divided into 3 groups according to their sources. Group 1 was classified as websites prepared by private hospitals or medical centers; group 2, as individual websites of orthopedics and traumatology physicians; and group 3, as non-profit websites providing general health information that does not fall into these two groups. The websites were analyzed based on both the website interface and a specific content scoring guide by two reviewers. The Flesch Kincaid (FK) grade level and the Flesch reading ease (FRE) score were used to determine the readability of information on the websites. Results: Eighty-five unique websites were evaluated. The mean quality score of all the websites was 10.4 ± 4.5 with a maximum score of 25 (range=3–21). No significant difference in quality score was found between the groups. The mean FK grade score of all the websites was 11.2 ± 1.7 (range=7.9–15.3). The mean FRE score of all the websites was 46.8 ± 7.7 (range=24.1–63.7). No statistically significant differences in FK grade and FRE score were found between the groups. Although 59 websites (69%) had a third-party seal indicating the certification of one of the organizations established to provide a standard of health information on the Internet, only 21 websites (25%) were updated in the year before the search. Conclusion: The readability level of the informative texts about the ACL on the Turkish websites was above the educational level in Turkey. In addition, the quality score of the Turkish websites related to ACL was low. The content of the informative texts should be organized while taking into account the patients’ literacy level. Cite this article as: Alper Şahin A, Boz M, Keçeci T, Ünal A, Çıraklı A. Readability and quality levels of websites that contain written information about anterior cruciate ligament injury: A survey of Turkish websites. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2022;56(2):88-93.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the potential effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on tendon healing and to compare the histopathological and biomechanical findings of the healed tendon among the groups. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 36 male New Zealand albino rabbits (age, 3 months: weighing. 2.5 +/- 0.5 kg). Rabbits were randomized into two groups of 18 rabbits each. Partial Achilles tenotomy was performed 1.5 cm proximally from the calcaneal insertion of the tendon in both lower extremities of each rabbit and all groups were repaired primarily. After the operation, saline was injected intramuscularly to the control group and PTX was injected into the PTX group daily. Nine rabbits from each group were euthanized at weeks four and six postoperatively for histopathological (n=4) and hiomechanical (n=5) testing. The histopathological findings were evaluated using the staging method of Curtis and Delee. Biomechanical effects were assessed by tensile testing. Results: In the biomechanical evaluation results, the maximum displacement and maximum breaking force in the PTX group at fourth week were significantly higher than the control group. In the sixth week, the maximum breaking force in the control group was significantly higher than the PTX group. In the hisopathological examination, collagen fiber alignment was more regular and vascularization was more frequent in the PTX group at both fourth and sixth weeks and the difference was significant. Conclusion: Pentoxifylline increased healing and strength in rabbit Achilles tendon by stimulating collagen synthesis, increasing vascularity and reducing inflammation, particularly in the early period both histopathologically and biomechanically. According to our study, PTX may be favorable for the treatment of human Achilles tendon injuries and tendinopathies.

Objective. Sympathetic blocks are used as an adjunct for pain management in the treatment of orthopedic and traumatic conditions. Stellate ganglion (ganglion stellatum) provides sympathetic innervation of the head, neck and cervicothoracic regions, and upper extremities. No study was found in the literature investigating the effects of stellate ganglion block performed in the upper extremity, on blood supply to bone, density, vascularization, and bone metabolism. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block on healing of closed forearm fractures that were induced in rats. Material and Methods. A total of 42 Wistar albino rats weighing between 398 and 510 g were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups with one group treated with stellate ganglion and the other included as the control group. In each 2 groups, a closed forearm fracture was created, confirmed with X‐ray, and then stabilized by splint application. The forearm bones were examined with X‐ray views on the same day and were then decalcified. Results. When histological findings of the fracture region were examined, predominantly cartilage and less woven bone were found in 7 rats, equally distributed cartilage and immature bone in 14 rats, and predominantly imitation bone and less cartilage formation in 21 rats. In the control group, the agreement between the 1st and 2nd orthopedists for the radiological evaluation of bone formation was moderate. Conclusion. The group administered stellate ganglion block showed a more significant fracture healing.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) application in tendon healing by using its immunohistochemical effects on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (NIMP-3), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) expression; and to identify if TNF-alpha, MMP-3, and TOF-beta can be used to monitor and evaluate tendon healing or not in tenotomized rat Achilles tendons. Materials and methods: Twelve male Wistar-Albino rats (age 6-7-month-old; weighing 300-350 g) were used in this retrospective study conducted between November 2016 and May 2017. The rats were divided into two groups with similar weights. The right legs of the rats were determined as the study group (TXA), and the left legs as the control serum physiologic (SP) group. Under anesthesia, bilateral Achilles tenotomy was performed and surgically repaired. 1 mL of TXA was applied locally for the right side and 1 mL of SP was locally applied for the left side. Half of the rats were sacrificed at the third week (right leg-TXA3, left leg-SP3) and the other half at sixth week (right leg-TXA6, left leg-SP6) and tendon samples were taken from the extremities. Immunohistochemical findings of TNF-alpha, MMP-3. and TOF-beta were evaluated on the basis of the frequency and intensity of staining. Results: In TNF-alpha and MMP-3 and TXA groups, there was a significant difference in staining compared to SP groups (p<0.05). Regarding TNF-alpha expression. the total index score in the TXA6 subgroup was higher than the TXA3, SP6, and SP3 subgroups (8, 7, 3, and 4, respectively). Overall scores of TNF-alpha showed that TXA groups had significantly higher scores when compared to SP groups (p<0.05). In addition. total MMP-3 expression scores were significantly higher in TXA groups than in SP groups, respectively; TXA3: 14. TXA6: 11, SP3: 10, and SP6: 9 (p<0.05). However, the degree of staining with TNF-alpha was found to be significantly lower than MMP-3 (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical reactivity was not observed with TGF-beta. Conclusion: Tranexamic acid has positive effect in early period of tendon healing by stimulating the TNF-alpha and MMP-3 expression levels. TNF-alpha and MMP-3 can be used to monitor and evaluate tendon healing.