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.

Background and purpose In the last decade, intramedullary limb lengthening has become a viable alternative to traditional external systems. We retrospectively analyzed the use of an intramedullary motorized nail (Fitbone) in a consecutive series of 32 patients. Patients and methods During the period September 2006 to December 2008, 32 consecutive patients with a median age of 17 (IQR: 15–19) years were treated with a fully implantable, motorized intramedullary lengthening device (Fitbone). The median leg length discrepancy was 35 (IQR: 30–44) mm at the femur (n = 21) and 28 (IQR: 25–30) mm at the tibia (n = 11). Results Leg lengthening was successful in 30 of 32 cases, with no residual relevant discrepancy (± 5 mm). No intraoperative complications were observed. The consolidation index was significantly different (p = 0.04) between femoral lengthening (mean 35 days/cm) and tibial lengthening (mean 48 days/cm) but did not depend on age older/younger than 16 or previous operations at the affected site. 3 pr...

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/17453674.2011.584209

Intramedullary leg lengthening with a motorized nail.

Twenty-five post-traumatic leg length discrepancies combined with axial deviation in 22 patients were treated with the Taylor spatial frame. We retrospectively analysed the accuracy of correction, the complication rate and the clinical outcome including the duration of treatment. The cases were divided into three sub-groups according to the level of the osteotomy. The mean age at operation was 22.7 years; the mean follow-up was 21.1 months. The patients presented uniplanar and multiplanar deformities in combination with leg length discrepancy. Twenty-one of 25 cases showed a frontal plane malalignment preoperatively. Only three of those 21 cases continued to show minimal malalignment postoperatively. The preoperative mechanical axis deviation present in 15 of 17 lower extremities was fully corrected in 13 extremities. The 25 lengthening and correction procedures were associated with a total of 61 difficulties, including 44 problems, seven obstacles and ten complications. In conclusion, the Taylor spatial frame allows accurate results in correction of complex post-traumatic deformities with minimal morbidity.

/pdf/correction-of-post-traumatic-lower-limb-deformities-using-2sa28pvgos.pdf

Correction of post-traumatic lower limb deformities using the Taylor spatial frame.

Introduction Patients with limb-length discrepancies often have concomitant deformity. We describe the outcomes of acute, fixator-assisted deformity correction with gradual lengthening using the retrograde femoral Precice nail (NuVasive). Methods We analyzed a retrospective series of 27 patients in whom an external fixator was combined with a Precice nail to correct angular or rotational deformity and limb-length discrepancy. The fixator was applied temporarily to restore normal alignment. The Precice nail was inserted and locked in place to hold the correction, with gradual restoration of limb length. Results The 27 patients (mean age, 28 years) had a mean follow-up of 13 months. Secondary deformities were mainly valgus (15 patients) and varus (10 patients). Postoperatively, 93% of patients had correction of limb length to within 3 mm of the discrepancy (mean lengthening, 30 mm). Mechanical axis deviation was corrected to within 8 mm of neutral (ie, zero) in 81% of patients. The mechanical lateral distal femoral angle was corrected to a mean of 88° postoperatively. Final Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI)-Paley scores were excellent for 96% of patients. Discussion The use of intramedullary lengthening nails has revolutionized the field of limb lengthening. The results of our study show that a retrograde femoral Precice nail can be used safely and accurately to correct both limb-length discrepancy and deformity with minimal complications. The benefits of using this implant include the ability to maintain knee range of motion during the lengthening process. Rapid bone healing allows a relatively fast return to weight-bearing ambulation. Conclusions The Precice nail was effectively used to correct both limb-length discrepancy and deformity, with excellent overall outcomes. This surgical technique may help avoid the complications that can occur with prolonged postoperative use of an external fixator. Level of evidence Level IV retrospective study.

Simultaneous Acute Femoral Deformity Correction and Gradual Limb Lengthening Using a Retrograde Femoral Nail: Technique and Clinical Results.

We evaluated the morphological features of the newly formed tissue in an experimental model of tibial callotasis lengthening on 24 lambs, aged from 2 to 3 months at the time of operation. A unilateral external fixator prototype Monotube Triax® (Stryker Howmedica Osteonics, New Jersey) was applied to the left tibia. A percutaneous osteotomy was performed in a minimally traumatic manner using a chisel. Lengthening was started 7 days after surgery and was continued to 30 mm. The 24 animals were randomly divided into three groups of 8 animals each: in Group 1, lengthening took place at a rate of 1 mm/day for 30 days; in Group 2, at a rate of 2 mm/day for 15 days; in Group 3, at a rate of 3 mm/day for 10 days. In each group, 4 animals were killed 2 weeks after end of lengthening, and the other 4 animals at 4 weeks after end of lengthening. To assess bony formation in the distraction area, radiographs were taken every 2 weeks from the day of surgery. To study the process of vascularization, we used Spalteholz’s technique. After killing, the tibia of each animal was harvested, and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and Safranin-O. Immunohistochemistry was performed, using specific antibodies to detect collagens I and II, S100 protein, and fibronectin. A combination of intramembranous and endochondral ossification occurred together at the site of distraction. Our study provides a detailed structural characterization of the newly formed tissue in an experimental model of tibial lengthening in sheep and may be useful for further investigations on callotasis.

/pdf/bone-lengthening-osteogenesis-a-combination-of-5fmsder7eg.pdf

Lorenzo Matarazzo

Papers

Changes in knee motion following femoral and tibial lengthening using the Ilizarov apparatus: a cohort study.