Joint Diseases and Related Surgery (JDRS), the official journal of the Turkish Joint Diseases Foundation, is an international, peer-reviewed, immediate open access journal. All published articles in JDRS has been free for everyone, without embargo, since 1990.

Joint Diseases and Related Surgery (JDRS), the official journal of the Turkish Joint Diseases Foundation, is an international, peer-reviewed, immediate open access journal. All published articles in JDRS has been free for everyone, without embargo, since 1990.

Introduction: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common disorder and associated with significant morbidity of the hip joint. Several risk factors have been identified for DDH. The aim of this study is to investigate whether vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) levels differ in children with DDH and whether they have an effect on DDH development. Materials and methods: A total of 40 (17 males, 23 females; 9 right hips, 16 left hips, 15 bilateral hips) children who were treated for developmental dysplasia and 40 (23 males, 17 females) healthy children without any musculoskeletal system and metabolic disorders were included in this study between January and June 2019. Blood samples from the DDH and control groups of children were collected to measure the serum levels of vitamin D, VDR, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The levels of Ca, P, and ALP were analyzed using the automated standard spectrophotometric laboratory method. The levels of vitamin D and VDR in the samples were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: There were no significant differences in the serum levels of Ca, P, ALP, and vitamin D between the DDH and healthy groups (Ca 9.96 ± 0.47 vs. 9.92 ± 0.48 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.721; P 5.3 ± 0.94 vs. 4.82 ± 0.88 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.23; ALP 252.22 ± 170.15 vs. 245.3 ± 130.93 U/L, respectively, p = 0.839). However, serum VDR levels were significantly lower in children in the DDH group (5.77 ± 3.51 ng/mL) than in the healthy control group (9.25 ± 6.43 ng/mL) (p = 0.004). Conclusions: In conclusion, we believe that low VDR levels can affect DDH regardless of the serum levels of Ca, P, ALP, and vitamin D. More comprehensive studies involving parents are needed to understand whether VDR levels mediate genetic transmission in DDH or not.

Objective: Extensive bone defects remain a therapeutic challenge necessitating alternative surgical approaches with better outcomes. Can increase the effectiveness of PRP or EGF treatment in surgical treatment of large bone defects with Masquelet technique?Aim of this study examined potential therapeutic benefits of the Masquelet technique with induced membranes in combination with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) in a rat model of segmental femur defect.Methods: Three groups each consisting of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats were defined as follows: EGF group, PRP group, and control group. A femoral bone defect was created and filled with antibiotic embedded polymethyl methacrylate. Half of the animals in each group were sacrificed at week 6 and the pseudo-membranes formed were analyzed. In the remaining half, the cement was removed and the space was filled with autograft. After another 6 weeks, the structures formed were examined radiologically, histologically, and biochemically.Results: At week 6, both PRP and EGF groups had significantly higher membrane CD31, TGF-beta, and VEGF levels than controls. At week 12, when compared to controls, PRP and EGF groups had significantly higher membrane CD31 levels and the PRP group had significantly higher membrane TGF levels. Regarding bone tissue levels, PRP and EGF groups had significantly higher VEGF levels and the EGF group had significantly higher BMP levels. In addition, PRP and EGF groups had higher radiological scores than controls. However, the two experimental groups did not differ with respect to any parameter tested in this study.Conclusion: Both PRP and EGF seem to be associated with histological, biochemical, and radiological improvements in experimental rat model of Masquelet technique, warranting in further clinical studies.Level of evidence: Level 5

The aim of this study was to examine the potential biomechanical and histological benefits of systemic erythropoietin administration during the healing of Achilles tendon injury in a rat experimental model. Eighty Sprague-Dawley female rats were included in this study. Animals were randomly assigned into two groups with 40 animals in each: erythropoietin group and control group. Then each group was further divided into four subgroups corresponding to four time points with 10 animals in each. A full-thickness cut was made on the Achilles tendon of each animal and then the tendon was sutured with modified Kessler method. Erythropoietin groups received intraperitoneal erythropoietin (500 IU/kg/day) every day at same time throughout the study period, and the control groups received saline in a similar manner. Animals were sacrificed at four time points, and tensile test was performed on each tendon sample to assess maximum load for each sample. In addition, histopathological examination and scoring was done. Both groups had improvement on tensile test (maximum load) over time. However, groups did not differ with regard to maximum load in any of the time points. Similarly, groups did not differ with regard to any of the histopathological scores over time. The findings of this study do not support the benefit of systemic erythropoietin administration in Achilles tendon healing process. Further evidence from larger experimental studies is required to justify any such potential benefit.