Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To verify whether spinal surgery causes relevant changes in the blood clotting process and define which factors have the greatest influence on changes found. Method: This is a not randomized, cross-sectional study, Forty seven patients were evaluated between August 2011 and February 2013, whose clinical, surgical, laboratory and image daata were collected. The data obtained were crossed with the epidemiological data of each patient in a moment prior to and another after surgery searching which variables have been directly influenced. Result: Our analysis showed that the most important changes occurred in patients with BMI classified, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) as out of healthy range. Other smaller correlations were also found. Another important consideration was the tendency to observe hypercoagulability in smoker patients, a fact that is not influenced by spinal procedures. Conclusion: We concluded that spinal surgeries cause few relevant changes in the blood clotting process and that among the factors studied, BMI (when out of the healthy range, according to the WHO classification) showed closer relationship with changes in laboratory coagulation tests. Level of Evidence III, Cross-Sectional Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To assess the presence of tibial bone tunnel enlargement after surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using quadruple graft of the flexor tendons and correlate the functional results in their presence. Methods: The studied lasted six months and included 25 patients, with ages ranging from 18 to 43 years old. Assessment was based on radiographs taken immediately postoperatively and at the third and sixth month of follow up in the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Reconstruction of ligaments was performed with tendon grafts of the semitendinosus and gracilis muscle fixated in the femur with transverse metal screw and in the tibia with interference screws. Patients were evaluated objectively by tests ligament, graded from zero to four crosses and subjectively by the Lysholm method preoperative and after sixth month follow up. Results: Significant increase in the tunnels diameters were observed, 20.56% for radiographs in the anteroposterior view, 26.48% in profile view and 23.22% in computed tomography. Descriptive statistics showed significant improvement in subjective and objective clinical parameters. Conclusions: The bone tunnel enlargement is a phenomenon found in the first months after surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament and it has no implications on clinical outcomes in the short term. Level of Evidence II, Prospective Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the sagittal and frontal alignment and possible postural asymmetries found in patients submitted to total knee stent placement for osteosarcoma. Methods: Twenty two individuals were divided into two groups according to tumor location: femur group (13 patients) and tibia group (nine patients), who were evaluated through postural analysis software (SAPO). Results: No statistically significant difference was found between groups, supporting previous result showing that both groups present the same postural asymmetries. Conclusion: We conclude that both groups have the same postural imbalances, especially the knee of the affected limb that presents hyperextension and center of gravity shifted anteriorly and laterally to the non-affected limb, indicating changes in weight bearing and influencing the gait pattern and balance. Level of Evidence II, Prospective Comparative Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To present a series of 50 consecutive patients with non-metastatic extremity osteosarcoma, and attempt to correlate expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in biopsy tissue to their prognosis regarding overall survival, disease-free survival and local recurrence. Methods: Fifty cases of non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities treated between 1986 and 2006 at Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil, were evaluated regarding expression of the VEGF protein. There were 19 females and 31 males. The mean age was 16 years old (range 5-28 years old) and the mean follow-up was 60.6 months (range 25-167 months). The variables studied were age, gender, anatomic location, type of surgery, surgical margins, tumor size, post chemotherapy necrosis, local recurrence, pulmonary metastasis and death. Results: Thirty-six patients showed VEGF expression on 30% or less cells (low), and the remaining 14 cases had VEGF expression above 30% (high). Among the 36 patients with low VEGF expression, nine developed pulmonary metastasis and four died (11.1%). Among the 14 patients with high VEGF expression, six developed pulmonary metastasis and three died (21.4%). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant correlation between the expression of VEGF and any of the variables studied. Level of Evidence IV, Therapeutic Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To evaluate the consistency of the questionnaires (WOMAC, Lequesne, VAS, SF 36-PCS and SF 36-MCS) when applied in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees (KOA) verifying if age and level of education interfere with the completion of the questionnaires. Method: One hundred and two patients with KOA answered WOMAC, LESQUESNE, VAS and SF-36 questionnaires and provided data correlated with age and education. The internal consistency of the WOMAC questionnaire was verified with Cronbach's alpha. Pearson's correlations between the questionnaires, age and educational level was performed. Results: Mean age was 65 years old. Schooling averaged 7.94 years; WOMAC 47.95; VAS 63.57; Lequesne 12.29; PCS and MCS 31.91 43.68. Cronbach's alpha for WOMAC 0.9. Education did not affect WOMAC response (r=-0.182, p = 0.067) and MCS (r=0.021 / p=0.835), but showed weak but significant correlation with VAS (r=-0.264 / p=0.007), Lequesne (r=0.277, p=0.005) and PCS (r=0.309/ p=0.002). Age showed significant direct correlation only with PCS (r=0.205, p=0.039). Conclusion: The level of education does not interfere with the completion of WOMAC but may interfere with completing VAS, Lequesne and physical component of SF-36. Level of Evidence II, Retrospective Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To investigate the clinical implications as well as biomechanical and histological changes and in bone tissue induced by ovariectomy in 64 rats. Methods: The rats were divided into two groups: bilateral oophorectomy or placebo, and subdivided into four subgroups, according to time postoperatively: three, six, nine and 12 months. The weight of the animals at the time of sacrifice was taken into consideration. The biomechanical study was performed on the right tibia, to the maximum load and stiffness coefficient. For the histological study we calculated the trabecular bone of the left tibia. Statistical analysis of body weight and mechanical properties was performed by variance analysis, complemented with Tukey's multiple comparison tests; and trabecular area, the non-parametric variance analysis. Results: Ovariectomy-induced menopause caused an increase in body weight, reduction of diaphyseal bone resistance at six months of hormone deprivation, but this effect is equalized over time by aging; bone stiffness was smaller in the ovariectomized group and reduction of bone mass occurred. Conclusion: The removal of the ovaries produced systemic alterations, characterized by metabolic changes that caused weight gain and changes in bone tissue, associated with alteration of the mechanical profile and reduced bone mass. Level of Evidence I, Clinical Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To analyze statistically results in biomechanical testing of fixation of femoral neck Pauwels type III fractures, on synthetic bone, with dynamic condylar screw (DCS) and control group. Methods: Ten synthetic bones of a national brand were used. Test Group: fixation was performed after osteotomy at 70o tilt using DCS plate with four holes. We analyzed the resistance of this fixation with 5 mm displacement and rotational deviation (Step 1) and with10 mm (Step 2). Control group: the models were tested in their integrity until the femoral neck fracture occurred. Results: The values of the test group in Step 1 showed a mean of 974N and SD = 114N. In Stage 2, we obtained on average 1335N and SD = 98N. The values in the control group were: 1544N, 1110N, 1359N, 1194N, 1437N, respectively. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney test for comparison of the maximum force (N) between the test group and the control, in Step 2, demonstrated that there is no significant difference between the DCS and control plates (p = 0.91). Conclusion: There is no significant difference between the DCS boards and the control group exposed to full resistance. Level of Evidence III, Case Control.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To analyze the influence of steel plates for osteosynthesis on the velocity of ultrasound propagation (VU) through the bone. Methods: The transverse coronal and sagittal velocity of ultrasound propagation underwater were measured on the intact bone and then on assemblies of the same bone with two types of osteosynthesis plates (DCP and semi tubular), fixed onto the dorsal side of the bones. The first arriving signal (FAS) was the ultrasound parameter used, taking the coronal and sagittal diameters as the distances to calculate velocity. Intergroup statistical comparisons were made at significance level of 1% (p<0.01). Results: Velocity was higher on the intact bones than on the bone-plate assemblies and higher for the semitubular than for the compression plates, although differences were not statistically significant for most comparisons (p=0.0132 to 0.9884), indicating that the steel plates do not interfere significantly with ultrasound wave propagation through the bone-plate assemblies. Conclusion: The velocity reduction effect was attributed to the greater reflection coefficient of the steel as compared to that of bone and water. Ultrasonometry can, thus, be used in the evaluation of healing of fractures fixed with steel plates. Experimental Study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To assess the reproducibility of Tronzo and AO/ASIF classifications for transtrochanteric fractures, in order to determine the most appropriate classification for clinical application, and to evaluate the influence of the level of experience of the observers in the agreement between evaluations. Methods: We selected 30 radiographic images of transtrochanteric fractures of the femur, which were presented to two groups of observers, one formed by expert physicians and the other by resident physicians. Results: When evaluated together, Tronzo classification obtained a Kappa value of 0.44. The same classification assessed by the expert group obtained a value of 0.46, while the group of residents' value was 0.44. Evaluating the AO/ASIF classification of the complete pool analysis the value found was 0.42. For the same classification, analyzed by the expert group, obtained a value of 0.41, and by the group of residents, the Kappa value achieved was 0.42. However, when analyzed in its simplified form, the AO/ASIF classification obtained Kappa values of 0.70 (pooled analysis), 0.68 (experts) and 0.72 (residents), considered concurrent. Conclusion: The AO/ASIF simplified classification showed substantial reproducibility and is, therefore, recommended as the most suitable for clinical application. The level of experience of the observers did not influence significantly the agreement between evaluations. Level of Evidence III, Diagnostic Study - Investigating a Diagnostic Test.

Resumo em Inglês:

Objective: To measure and compare tibial torsion values as assessed by goniometry and three-dimensional kinematics. In addition, the impact of each one of these measurements on kinematic and kinetic results for normal gait was determined. Methods: Twenty-three healthy and fully ambulatory patients were assessed, 11 women and 12 men, from 20 to 40 years old. Data were collected at a laboratory for the three-dimensional analysis of movement with 10 cameras and two force plates. Tibial torsion measurements were obtained using goniometry and three-dimensional kinematics based on the Plug-in Gait model. Afterwards, both procedures were compared, and the impact of each result was assessed on the kinematic and kinetic modeling of the knee and ankle. Results: Pearson's linear correlation coefficient (r=0,504) showed a moderate correlation between the three-dimensional kinematics and goniometry, and between the changes in the measurements. Regarding the processed kinematic and kinetic results for every torsion position, no significant differences were noticed among any of the studied variables (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although statistical correlation among tibial torsion angles by goniometry and three-dimensional kinematic were moderate, kinematic and kinetic analysis of the joints did not reveal any significant changes. Level of Evidence I, Diagnostic Studies - Investigating a Diagnostic Test.