Tendon disorders are frequent and are responsible for substantial morbidity both in sports and in the workplace. Tendinopathy, as opposed to tendinitis or tendinosis, is the best generic descriptive term for the clinical conditions in and around tendons arising from overuse. Tendinopathy is a difficult problem requiring lengthy management, and patients often respond poorly to treatment. Preexisting degeneration has been implicated as a risk factor for acute tendon rupture. Several physical modalities have been developed to treat tendinopathy. There is limited and mixed high-level evidence to support the, albeit common, clinical use of these modalities. Further research and scientific evaluation are required before biological solutions become realistic options.

http://health120years.com/cn/pdf/hd_tendonopathy_tendinosis_healing_repair.pdf

Tendon injury and tendinopathy: healing and repair.

Entheses (insertion sites, osteotendinous junctions, osteoligamentous junctions) are sites of stress concentration at the region where tendons and ligaments attach to bone. Consequently, they are commonly subject to overuse injuries (enthesopathies) that are well documented in a number of sports. In this review, we focus on the structure-function correlations of entheses on both the hard and the soft tissue sides of the junction. Particular attention is paid to mechanical factors that influence form and function and thus to exploring the relationship between entheses and exercise. The molecular parameters indicative of adaptation to mechanical stress are evaluated, and the basis on which entheses are classified is explained. The application of the 'enthesis organ' concept (a collection of tissues adjacent to the enthesis itself, which jointly serve the common function of stress dissipation) to understanding enthesopathies is considered and novel roles of adipose tissue at entheses are reviewed. A distinction is made between different locations of fat at entheses, and possible functions include space-filling and proprioception. The basic anchorage role of entheses is considered in detail and comparisons are explored between entheses and other biological 'anchorage' sites. The ability of entheses for self-repair is emphasized and a range of enthesopathies common in sport are reviewed (e.g. tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, jumper's knee, plantar fasciitis and Achilles insertional tendinopathies). Attention is drawn to the degenerative, rather than inflammatory, nature of most enthesopathies in sport. The biomechanical factors contributing to the development of enthesopathies are reviewed and the importance of considering the muscle-tendon-bone unit as a whole is recognized. Bony spur formation is assessed in relation to other changes at entheses which parallel those in osteoarthritic synovial joints.

/pdf/where-tendons-and-ligaments-meet-bone-attachment-sites-4zlr6uv4nh.pdf

Where tendons and ligaments meet bone: attachment sites (‘entheses’) in relation to exercise and/or mechanical load

The etiology of osteonecrosis of the hip may have a genetic basis. The interaction between certain risk factors and a genetic predisposition may determine whether this disease will develop in a particular individual.The rationale for use of joint-sparing procedures in the treatment of this disease i

Nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head: ten years later.

The sources of shockwave generation include electrohydraulic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric principles. Electrohydraulic shockwaves are high-energy acoustic waves generated under water explosion with high voltage electrode. Shockwave in urology (lithotripsy) is primarily used to disintegrate urolithiasis, whereas shockwave in orthopedics (orthotripsy) is not used to disintegrate tissues, rather to induce tissue repair and regeneration. The application of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in musculoskeletal disorders has been around for more than a decade and is primarily used in the treatment of sports related over-use tendinopathies such as proximal plantar fasciitis of the heel, lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, calcific or non-calcific tendonitis of the shoulder and patellar tendinopathy etc. The success rate ranged from 65% to 91%, and the complications were low and negligible. ESWT is also utilized in the treatment of non-union of long bone fracture, avascular necrosis of femoral head, chronic diabetic and non-diabetic ulcers and ischemic heart disease. The vast majority of the published papers showed positive and beneficial effects. FDA (USA) first approved ESWT for the treatment of proximal plantar fasciitis in 2000 and lateral epicondylitis in 2002. ESWT is a novel non-invasive therapeutic modality without surgery or surgical risks, and the clinical application of ESWT steadily increases over the years. This article reviews the current status of ESWT in musculoskeletal disorders.

/pdf/extracorporeal-shockwave-therapy-in-musculoskeletal-4atujxco70.pdf

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy in musculoskeletal disorders

BackgroundFew randomized controlled trials compare different methods of management in chronic tendinopathy of the main body of tendo Achillis.PurposeTo compare the effectiveness of 3 management strategies—group 1, eccentric loading; group 2, repetitive low-energy shock-wave therapy (SWT); and group 3, wait and see—in patients with chronic tendinopathy of the main body of tendo Achillis.Study DesignRandomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.MethodsSeventy-five patients with a chronic recalcitrant (>6 months) noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy were enrolled in a randomized controlled study. All patients had received unsuccessful management for >3 months, including at least (1) peritendinous local injections, (2) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and (3) physiotherapy. A computerized random-number generator was used to draw up an allocation schedule. Analysis was on intention-to-treat basis.ResultsAt 4 months from baseline, the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment (VISA)-A score increased in ...

/pdf/eccentric-loading-shock-wave-treatment-or-a-wait-and-see-1086qh19tu.pdf

Eccentric Loading, Shock-Wave Treatment, or a Wait-and-See Policy for Tendinopathy of the Main Body of Tendo Achillis A Randomized Controlled Trial

http://dlweb01.tzuchi.com.tw/DL/AcdActive/content/research/document/tjc/chen/shockwave%20induced%20neovascularization%20at%20tendon%20bone%20junction---2003%20JOR.pdf

Shock wave therapy induces neovascularization at the tendon-bone junction. A study in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Distal femoral varus osteotomy is a procedure that is performed for the treatment of lateralcompartment osteoarthritis of the knee as well as for correction of the associated valgus deformity. However, its role remains controversial and its efficacy in the treatment of associated patellofemoral arthritis has not been well studied. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the outcome after distal femoral osteotomy performed for the treatment of painful genu valgum and to assess the influence of patellofemoral arthritis on the results.

METHODS: Thirty patients (thirty knees) were managed with distal femoral varus osteotomy for the treatment of noninflammatory lateralcompartment arthritis of the knee associated with a valgus deformity. Twelve knees had isolated lateral-compartment arthritis, ten had mild-to-moderate degenerative changes in the other two compartments, and eight knees had severe patellofemoral arthritis in addition to lateral-compartment disease. The osteotomy site was fixed with a 90° blade-plate. After a mean duration of follow-up of ninety-nine months, all patients were evaluated with use of the Hospital for Special Surgery knee-rating system and a physical examination.

RESULTS: At the time of the most recent follow-up, twenty-five patients (83%) had a satisfactory result and two had a fair result according to the Hospital for Special Surgery rating system. The remaining three patients had had a conversion to a total knee arthroplasty. With conversion to total knee arthroplasty as the end point, the cumulative ten-year survival rate for all patients was 87% (95% confidence interval, 69% to 100%). Improvement in patellar tracking, which persisted at the time of the latest follow-up, was observed in seven of the eight knees with associated severe patellofemoral arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS: Distal femoral varus osteotomy with blade-plate fixation can be a reliable procedure for the treatment of lateral-compartment osteoarthritis of the knee associated with valgus deformity. The result of the osteotomy does not appear to be affected by the presence of severe patellofemoral arthritis.

Distal Femoral Varus Osteotomy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Summary This prospective study compared the clinical results of single- and doublebundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. There were 35 patients including 19 single- and 16 double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions using hamstring autograft. The average age was 29:4 � 13:6 years versus 28:2 � 10:4 years; and the average follow-up was 41:0 � 13:1 months versus 28:2 � 4:2 months for single- and double-bundle reconstruction, respectively. The indication for surgery was functional disability of the knee due to pain and instability as the result of high-energy PCL injury. The evaluation parameters included functional assessment, ligament laxity, functional score and radiographs of the knee. The results showed no significant difference in functional assessment, ligament laxity, functional score and radiographic changes of the knee between the two techniques. The rate of overall satisfaction with the operation was comparable from patient and surgeon perspectives. Contrary to many recent reports, the results of this study showed that single- and double-bundle PCL reconstruction using hamstring autograft produced comparable clinical results in medium-term follow-up. The difference between singleand double-bundle PCL reconstruction, if any, can be concluded only with long-term results and larger number of patients. 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Arthroscopic single- versus double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions using hamstring autograft

http://dlweb01.tzuchi.com.tw/DL/AcdActive/content/research/document/tjc/chen/shockwave%20show%20dose%20dependent%20ehhancement%20after%20fracture%20of%20femur---2004%20Bone.pdf

Shock wave treatment shows dose-dependent enhancement of bone mass and bone strength after fracture of the femur.

Background: Bone mineral density around the knee is related to the mechanical properties of bone. Alendronate has been shown to be effective for the treatment of osteoporosis and for reducing the rate of osteoporotic fractures. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of alendronate on bone mineral density in the distal part of the femur and proximal part of the tibia after total knee arthroplasty in women.

Methods: Ninety-six women with an average age of seventy years who were undergoing total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the study group received oral alendronate at a dose of 10 mg/day for six months, whereas patients in the control group did not. The bone mineral density in the distal part of the femur and proximal part of the tibia was determined preoperatively and at six and twelve months postoperatively.

Results: In the control group, the bone mineral density showed significant decreases of 13.8% (p < 0.001) and 7.8% (p = 0.003) in the distal part of the femur and of 6.5% (p = 0.002) and 3.6% (p = 0.141) in the proximal part of the tibia at six and twelve months, respectively. In the study group, however, the bone mineral density showed significant increases of 10.0% (p = 0.010) and 1.9% (p = 0.049) in the distal part of the femur and of 9.4% (p < 0.001) and 5.4% (p = 0.032) in the proximal part of the tibia at six and twelve months, respectively. The overall differences in bone mineral density between the study and control groups were significant (p = 0.011 for the proximal part of the tibia, and p = 0.033 for the distal part of the femur).

Conclusions: We found significant postoperative decreases in bone mineral density in the distal part of the femur and proximal part of the tibia in women who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Oral administration of alendronate for six months postoperatively significantly improved the bone mineral density. While the clinical benefits of alendronate after total knee arthroplasty remain unproven and the duration of follow-up in the present study was quite short, the improvement in bone mineral density may have a clinically important effect on prosthetic fixation and the rate of periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level I-1a (randomized controlled trial [significant difference]). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

http://jbjs.org/content/jbjsam/85/11/2121.full.pdf

Chia-Chen Hsu

Papers

Shock wave therapy induces neovascularization at the tendon-bone junction. A study in rabbits.

Distal Femoral Varus Osteotomy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Arthroscopic single- versus double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions using hamstring autograft

Shock wave treatment shows dose-dependent enhancement of bone mass and bone strength after fracture of the femur.

The effect of alendronate on bone mineral density in the distal part of the femur and proximal part of the tibia after total knee arthroplasty.