This study aims to analyze the changes in epidemiology and the postoperative outcomes in patients with hip fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to non-pandemic period. According to the date of declaration of “mandatory social distance”, we separated patients into 2 groups over a 1-year period: Period A and period B. We assessed the overall time to surgery, delay in surgery (> 24 hours, > 36 hours, and > 48 hours), reason of delay, length of hospital stay, type of surgery, and postoperative complications. The number of operated hip fractures and other trauma decreased in period B compared with period A by 17%, and 23%, respectively. The number of patients with delay in surgery by > 24 hours and > 36 hours was significantly higher in period B compared to that in period A (P = 0.035, P = 0.012, respectively). However, no significant difference in the number of delay in surgery > 48 hours and mean overall time to surgery between the 2 groups was observed (P = 0.856, P = 0.399, respectively). There was no difference in the duration of hospital stay, type of surgery, and postoperative complications between periods A and B. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the decrease in hip fractures was relatively fewer compared to the decrease in orthopedic trauma. Although hip fracture surgeries were delayed for over 24 hours and 36 hours, there was no increase in delay for over 48 hours and postoperative complications.

Study Design: This study adopted a prospective study design to evaluate the sagittal parameters of the spine and pelvis in young adults using the EOS imaging system.Purpose: This study was designed to analyze spinopelvic sagittal alignment measurement values obtained using the EOS imaging system in asymptomatic young adults.Overview of Literature: Sagittal alignment of the spine and pelvis is important in diagnosing and treating spinal diseases. We usually take sagittal images using whole-spine standing lateral radiography. Recently, the EOS imaging system, which uses a low-dose radiation in a weight-bearing state, was developed. So, we studied the sagittal parameters of the spine and pelvis in young adults by using the EOS imaging system.Methods: We recruited young adults aged 20–30 years and explained the EOS imaging system. They voluntarily participated in the study. We took full-body standing orthogonal anteroposterior and lateral images using the EOS imaging system (EOS imaging, Paris, France). Then, we measured the pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1/T12 kyphosis, and L1/S1 lordosis. We analyzed each parameter using Student t-test, paired t-test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.Results: Ninety-two patients were enrolled in the study. The average PI and SS were 47.18° and 36.03°, respectively. Moreover, PT and SVA were 11.17° and -10.15 mm, respectively. T1/T12 kyphosis was 37.37°, while L1/S1 lordosis was 46.64°. All parameters were enough for normal distribution. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed a meaningful correlation between PI and SS and PI and PT (R>0.6, p<0.05).Conclusions: Measuring spinal and pelvic sagittal values is important. Sagittal parameters could help decide how to operate patients with spinal diseases. We attempted to obtain sagittal values using the EOS imaging system. These parameters could help preoperatively estimate the lumbar lordosis restoration and could also be used as guidelines for spinopelvic sagittal balance.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been linked with the severity of various diseases. To date, there is no study on the relationship between PM exposure and tendon healing. Open Achilles tenotomy of 20 rats was performed. The animals were divided into two groups according to exposure to PM: a PM group and a non-PM group. After 6 weeks of PM exposure, the harvest and investigations of lungs, blood samples, and Achilles tendons were performed. Compared to the non-PM group, the white blood cell count and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in the PM group were significantly higher. The Achilles tendons in PM group showed significantly increased inflammatory outcomes. A TEM analysis showed reduced collagen fibrils in the PM group. A biomechanical analysis demonstrated that the load to failure value was lower in the PM group. An upregulation of the gene encoding cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was detected in the PM group by an integrated analysis of DNA methylation and RNA sequencing data, as confirmed via a Western blot analysis showing significantly elevated levels of phosphorylated CREB. In summary, PM exposure caused a deleterious effect on tendon healing. The molecular data indicate that the action mechanism of PM may be associated with upregulated CREB signaling.

Unintended rotation of the distal tibia occurs during medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO). Computed tomography (CT) is the standard method of measuring lower limb alignment; however, the new low-dose EOS system allows three-dimensional limb modeling with automated measurements of lower limb alignment. This study investigated the differences between the changes in lower limb alignment profiles obtained using the EOS system and CT in patients who underwent MOWHTO. We investigated whether any factors contributed to the degree of deformation. Thirty patients were prospectively enrolled between October 2019 and February 2023. Changes in femoral and tibial torsion, femorotibial rotation, and posterior tibial slope were measured using pre- and post-MOWHTO CT and EOS images. We found no significant difference in pre- and postoperative tibial torsion or posterior tibial slope between CT and EOS. No variables showed a significant correlation with changes in the tibial torsion or posterior tibial slope. This study confirmed the possibility that the EOS system could replace CT in measuring changes in several parameters pre- and postoperatively. Furthermore, we confirmed that the distal tibia tended to be internally rotated after MOWHTO; however, we found no significantly related parameters related to deformation caused by MOWHTO.

Kim TG, et al. Clin Orthop Surg. 2024 Feb;16:e8. https://doi.org/10.4055/cios23312