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Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to dramatic disruptions to orthopedic services. The purpose of this study is to quantify the reinstatement of elective orthopedic surgeries of our institution in Shanghai, China, and share our first-hand experiences of how this region is managing the post-outbreak period. Methods The number of patients receiving elective orthopedic surgeries was analyzed in the timeframe of 8 months since the start of the pandemic (from January 20 to September 16) and compared with the patients receiving the same treatment during the same period in 2019. And a detailed workflow for handling patients about to receive elective surgeries in the COVID-19 post-outbreak period was described. Results The number of the selective surgeries in the first 3 months only accounted for 31.72% of the same period in 2019 (p = 0.0031), and the ratio reached 97.47% when it came to the last 5 months (p > 0.9999). The selective surgeries even surpassed the pre-epidemic level in months 7 and 8. And the difference of the surgeries was not significant in the whole eight observed months between 2019 and 2020 (p = 0.1526). No health care providers or hospitalized patients in orthopedic departments in Shanghai have been infected nosocomially. Conclusions Elective orthopedic surgeries have been fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic in our institution, and the new normalcy established during the post-outbreak period helped this region co-exist with the impact of the virus well. Trial registration Retrospectively registered, registration number: ChiCTR2000039711 , date of registration: November 6, 2020

Background: Chronic low back pain affects daily activities at home and workplaces and causes a huge economic burden. Current therapeutic options are very limited and the effects of available pharmacological agents are less than satisfactory. While NSAIDs might be effective for the short term and opioids might help with urgent pain relief and improving the life quality, their long-term use is associated with significant side effects and drug misuse or abuse. To seek alternative pharmacological agents for effective treatment, we examined the therapeutic potential of the extracts of Vaccinia variola-inoculated rabbit skin (Analgecine, abbreviated as AGC) in patients with chronic low back pain due to degenerative vertebral disorders. Methods: In this randomized multi-center double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number 2009L01498), we enrolled patients (aged 26–70 years) with chronic low back pain for at least 3 months due to degenerative spinal (vertebral) disorders from 7 medical centers in China, and randomly allocated 459 participants to receive oral AGC or placebo for 28 days to study the efficacy and safety of AGC. Randomization was performed according to a centralized randomization schedule, which was blocked by study sites and generated by an unmasked statistician independent of study conduct and data analysis. Both participants and staff at each study site were masked to treatment assignment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change of the mean pain intensity, based on an 11-point numerical rating scale, between the baseline and the last week of treatment, with the primary efficacy analysis of intention to treat. The ratio between exposed and unexposed groups was designed to be 3:1 in order to increase the likelihood of demonstrating the AGC effect upon repeated measures. Results: 347 patients were assigned to receive AGC (4 units/tablet; 2 tablets twice a day) and 112 patients were to take placebo. Among them, 324 patients taking AGC and 112 receiving placebo completed the assessment. Patients receiving AGC reported significant pain relief at the end of week 2 and 3 compared to those taking placebo, with mean reduction of the pain scores as 1.7 vs. 0.9 at week 2 (p

Background: With the exception of normal anatomic changes in the medial collateral ligament and radial head, other factors related to carrying angle changes have not been systematically studied. We reviewed patients who underwent open arthrolysis of the elbow, and evaluated if open arthrolysis could change carrying angle. We then identified factors associated with carrying angle changes.Methods: Fifty patients with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up after open arthrolysis were evaluated retrospectively. Preoperative and postoperative carrying angles were compared.Results: The carrying angles of 36 elbows in 36 patients were unchanged after surgery (Group A), while the carrying angles of 14 elbows in 14 patients increased postoperatively (Group B). In Group A, mean postoperative extension and flexion were 7° (range 0-24°) and 125° (range 10-135°) respectively, while mean postoperative pronation and supination were 60° (range 50-80°) and 65° (range 30-85°), respectively. In Group B, mean postoperative extension and flexion were 25° (range 0-40°) and 128° (range 60-138°), while mean postoperative pronation and supination were 65° (range 45-85°) and 60° (range 45-75°), respectively. No significant difference in range of motion and Mayo Elbow Performance Score was observed between the two groups.Conclusions: During open arthrolysis, humeral trochlea debridement and techniques for improving forearm rotation could increase carrying angle. However, this had no impact on elbow functional recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of cryotherapy after elbow arthrolysis on elbow pain, blood loss, analgesic consumption, range of motion, and long-term elbow function. Design: Prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled study. Setting: University hospital. Participants: Patients (N = 59; 27 women, 32 men) who received elbow arthrolysis. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned into a cryotherapy group (n = 31, cryotherapy plus standard care) or a control group (n = 28, standard care). Main Outcome Measures: Elbow pain at rest and in motion were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) on postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 7 and at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Blood loss and analgesic consumption were recorded postoperatively. Elbow range of motion (ROM) was measured before surgery and on POD 1, POD 7, and 3 months after surgery. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was evaluated preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Results: VAS scores were significantly lower in the cryotherapy group during the first 7 PODs, both at rest and in motion (P<.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in VAS scores at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Less sufentanil was consumed by the cryotherapy group than the control group for pain relief (P<.01). No significant differences were found in blood loss, ROM, and MEPS between the 2 groups (P>.05). Conclusions: Cryotherapy is effective in relieving pain and reducing analgesic consumption for patients received elbow arthrolysis. The application of cryotherapy will not affect blood loss, ROM, or elbow function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and advantages of constructing a novel tissue engineering bone, using β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), modified with human bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene (hBMP2) and human vascular endothelial growth factor 165 gene (hVEGF165), through lentiviral transfection. Both genes were successfully co-expressed in the co-transfection group for up to eight weeks confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After seeding MSCs onto the scaffolds, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that MSCs grew and proliferated well in co-transfection group at 7 and 14 days. There was no significant difference among all the groups in hoechst DNA assay for cell proliferation for 14 days after cell seeding (P > 0.05), but the highest alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was observed in the co-transfection group at 14 days after cell seeding (p < 0.01). These results demonstrated that it was advantageous to construct tissue engineering bone using β-TCP combined with MSCs lentivirally co-transfected with BMP2 and VEGF165, providing an innovative way for treating bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a 52-year-old female patient with a 2-year history of local neck pain, decreased cervical spine rotation, progressive numbness and weakness of both arms. Preoperative, dynamic X-rays, computed tomography, three-dimensional computed tomography demonstrated a displaced Os odontoideum with irreducible Subluxation of C1/2. We used a single transoral approach release, reduction using an assistance of skull traction, bone fusion and stabilization in the treatment of Os odontoideum with irreducible alantoaxial dislocation. Postoperative, the patient was free of all symptoms and X-rays taken showed a stable fusion of C1/2 at 6th postoperative month. This technique in the treatment of Os odontoideum with irreducible alantoaxial dislocation is atraumatic and effective. And preoperative dynamic X-rays, computed tomography, three-dimensional computed tomography and MRI scans provided an invaluable aid to select this operative procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of tension on the contractive force of muscle and nerve conduction velocity of the repaired nerve, this study was designed. Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. The left gastrocnemius muscles of the rats were dissected with the neurovascular pedicles intact; the tibial nerves were cut and immediately repaired by epineurial suture. Then the Achilles tendons were isolated and treated accordingly; the Achilles tendon was lengthened by 0.5 cm in lengthened group, shortened by 0.5 cm in shortened group and left alone in normal (control) group. In the 2nd, 4th and 8th weeks after operation, the isometric twitch contractive force of both the right and the left gastrocnemius muscles and the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the tibial nerve were measured. The shortened group showed greater isometric twitch contractive strength of the bilateral gastrocnemius muscles than those in the normal and lengthened groups in all the postoperative periods. The nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in the shortened group showed greater than other groups. A proper high tension of the muscle can increase the contraction of the muscle and may improve the nerve conduction velocity of the repaired nerve.

Unlabelled: Fifteen patients with 26 nonunions of diaphyseal forearm fractures were treated with interlocking intramedullary nails and iliac bone grafts. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the rate of successful healing and complications that developed after using this technique. The mean followup was 31 months (range, 25-38 months). The average length of bone loss after freshening the bone ends was 20 mm (range, 10-30 mm). Radiographic union was achieved in 14 patients (96%). Compared with the uninjured contralateral arm, the mean loss of flexion and extension motion at the wrist was 27 degrees. The mean loss of the arc of motion at the elbow was 18 degrees, and the mean loss of rotation of the forearm was 39 degrees. In seven patients, the amount and location of the maximum radial bow on the injured side were significantly different from those of the contralateral arm. Using the rating system of Anderson et al, two patients (13%) had excellent results, six patients (40%) had satisfactory results, six patients (40%) had unsatisfactory results, and one patient (7%) had a failed result. The mean Disabilities of the Arm and Shoulder Score was 35 points (range, 16-56 points), indicating moderate residual impairment. There were three postoperative complications (an incidence of 12%). Our results showed that interlocking intramedullary nailing of nonunions of the diaphysis of the radius or ulna with an open reaming technique should not be considered an adequate alternative to plate fixation of these injuries., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series no, historical control group).