DOES PREOPERATIVE TIBIAL TUBEROSITY – TROCHLEAR GROOVE DISTANCE EFFECT ON POSTOPERATIVE PATELLAR INSTABILITY IN THE PATIENTS WITH KNEE ARTHROPLASTY DUE TO MEDIUM-ADVANCED KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Objectives: Determining tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance range as measured before the operation in the patients to whom total knee prosthesis will be applied due to mid to advanced level of osteoarthritic and seeing the post-operative variations in tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance and evaluating whether it has any impact on the patellofemoral instability that might develop after the operation.46 knees planned to be applied total knee prosthesis due to mid-advanced level of osteoarthritic were examined. Methods: In the preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance images MRI routinely taken, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was measured. Later it was examined whether there was correlation between these preoperative and postoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groove measurements and the data recorded before operation. Results: Preoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was found to be 8.83±3.54, postoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groovedistance was found to be 8.30±3.89 and preoperative-postoperative tibial tubercle-trochlear groove variation was found to be 0,52±3,64 (p=0,337). In the patients whose alignment was 10 degrees or less, Pre-Op tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was measured as 8.74±3.18 and in the patients whose alignment was more than 10 degrees, it was measured as 8.89±3,83 ( p=0.888). In the patients whose alignment was 10 degrees or less, Post-Op tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was measured as 8.00±2.85 and in the patients whose alignment was more than 10 degrees, it was measured as 8.52±4.52 (p=0.661). In the patients whose alignment was 10 degrees or less, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance variation was measured as 0.74± 3.25 and in the patients whose alignment was more than 10 degrees, it was measured as 0.37± 3.95 (p=0.741). Conclusion: As a result, although tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was observed with a great variation in the osteoarthritic knees at stage 3-4, it was nonetheless measured within normal limits and Post-Op variation was not meaningful. Since this is the first study in the literature on the measurement of tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance in the total knee prosthesis applications, we hope that it would shed some light on similar studies to be conducted in the future

ZOLEDRONIC ACID ADMINISTRATION ENHANCES FRACTURE HEALING IN THE OSTEOPOROTIC FRACTURES IN OVARIECTOMIZED RABBITS

Objectives: To evaluate the radiological, histological and mechanical effects on osteoporotic fracture healing of single-dose zoledronic acid (ZA) applied to an animal model with an experimentally created osteoporotic bone fracture. Methods: A total of 14 adult, female New Zealand rabbits, aged 5-6 months were used in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD) values were calculated from bone densitometry measurements and recorded. Bilateral ovariectomy was then applied to all the rabbits. At 10 weeks after ovariectomy, bone densitometry was again performed on all the animals and the BMD values were compared. Osteoporosis was accepted as having developed in animals determined with a reduction of 28% in BMD values. After the placement of a K-wire intramedullarly in the femurs of the rabbits, a closed fracture was created with the standard method. The animals were then randomly separated into 2 groups as the zoledronic acid group (ZAG) and the control group (CG). An infusion of 0.1mg/kg ZA was administered to the ZAG animals from the ear vein. With visualisation of bone union rabbits were sacrificed by decapitation. Radiological, mechanical and histological assesments were then applied. Results: In the histological evaluation, the mean histological score was determined as 5.00 in the ZAG and 3.00 in the CG. The difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). In the radiological evaluation, the mean score was 7.00 in the ZAG and 6.25 in the CG. Even though higher points were obtained by the ZAG in the inter-observer evaluations, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p=0.073). In the mechanical evaluation, the elasticity collapse in negative proportion to rigidity was measured as 2.91 mm in the ZAG and 3.96mm in the CG (p=0.686). The rigidity data of the ZAG were higher in the mechanical tests but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p=0.086). Conclusion: As the results of the study showed that the ZAG had higher values than those of the CG in all the histological, mechanical and radiological evaluations, the application of a single dose of ZA can be considered to increase the healing of osteoporotic fractures

A COMPARISON OF ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA CASES OPERATED ON DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH DIFFERENT PERIODS: A SINGLE CENTRE STUDY

Introduction: To compare orthopaedic trauma cases treated surgically in our clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey with surgically-treated trauma cases in previous periods, and to discuss these in the light of literature. Materials and Methods: Patient data of 3 different periods were compared. Group 1 included cases in the time period 11 March - 30 May, when the hospital was operating as a pandemic hospital for the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Group 2 included cases from the equivalent time period the year before the pandemic, thought to have similar patient characteristics, and Group 3 covered the time period immediately before 11 March when COVID-19 was known in the world but there had not been any cases diagnosed in Turkey. Operations were performed in our clinic because of orthopaedic trauma to 186 patients in Group 1, to 262 patients in Group 2, and to 261 patients in Group 3. Results: A decrease of 29% was observed in trauma cases during the pandemic. In Group 1, 62 of 186 patients were aged >65 years, and 43 of these (69%) had a hip fracture. In Group 2, 33 (58%) patients aged >65 years underwent surgery for hip fracture and in Group 3, 60 (75%) patients. The time from hospital admission to surgery was mean 3.76±3.55 days in Group 1, 3.18±3.08 days in Group 2, and 2.68±2.33 days in Group 3 (p=0.017). The number of cases of attempted suicides was 6, 3, 3, respectively in the three groups (p=0.184). 30-day mortality was determined in 5, 3, and 4 cases, respectively (p=0.460). Conclusions: A decrease in the number of trauma cases was observed during the pandemic. However, there was no such decrease in hip fractures in elderly patients despite the quarantine of those aged >65 years. The workforce of the clinic was divided up during the pandemic for the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 cases and thus there was no reduction in the workload of orthopedists as trauma surgery continued at the rate of 71%. Therefore, it can be considered very important to apply strict regulations which will decrease the risk of the spread of infection, and implement a multidisciplinary work flow for the more rapid discharge of trauma patients

Comparison of argon laser photocoagulation-induced cutaneous inflammation and skin pathergy test in Behcet's disease

Nonspecific increased inflammatory response is an important feature of Behcet's disease (BD). The skin pathergy reaction (SPR) which tests this hyperreactivity in the skin is frequently used as a diagnostic tool. This study aims to investigate the argon laser photocoagulation (ALP)-induced cutaneous inflammation in BD patients and controls and also to compare the results with the skin pathergy test (SPT). The study group consisted of 35 patients with BD and 28 healthy volunteers. The ALP was applied to the left forearms of all cases from 20-cm distance (2,000 mW, 100 A mu m) with exposure times ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 s with 0.1-s increments. Also, a SPT with three prics was performed to both forearms of all cases. The ALP-induced cutaneous inflammation and SPT were evaluated and scored with the same method at 48 h, and the SPR scores of 2+ and above was accepted as positive. Positive results as defined above were found in eight cases (23%) with the ALP and in nine (26%) with the SPT in patients with BD. There was no clear correlation between the ALP and SPT results and also between the exposure time to laser beam and SPR scores. The preliminary results of this study reveal that ALP can induce a skin hyperreactivity similar to the needle prick-induced SPR in patients with BD. We, herein, showed that ALP can induce skin inflammation with its thermal effect and without any inoculation of antigen in BD. This method would help to develop another experimental method to investigate the cutaneous inflammation in BD

THE SUBLETHAL DISRUPTING EFFECTS OF FLUOXETINE-HCI (FLX) ON CATALASE (CAT) ACTIVITY AND MALONDIALDEHYDE (MDA) LEVELS IN ZEBRAFISH, DANIO RERIO

The aim of this study is to investigate sub-lethal disrupting effects of fluoxetine-HCl (FLX) on catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of liver tissue and whole body in zebrafish (Danio rerio). FLX is the active compound of the antidepressant Prozac(TM) and acts as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in humans. Zebrafish are well-characterized model organism especially for the antioxidant enzyme activities for humans. Our study was planned as a model to investigate the effects of daily intake doses of FLX, which adapted from human proportionally to weight, on liver tissue of zebrafish. CAT, MDA and total protein levels were detected using spectrophotometric methods. The six experiment study groups were composed as; 150 ng fluoxetine-HCl exposed to each aquarium tank and five zebrafish were studied at 15 min., 30 min., 60 min., 4 days and 8 days of exposure and the last group was composed as the control group. In our study, it is determined that the activity of CAT increases in two experimental group after exposure FLX (15 min. and 30 min.) in liver tissue. Following one hour FLX treatment, it was observed that CAT activity decreased, whereas after four days treatment it was re-increased. Once for all, following 8 days treatment of FLX, it was observed that CAT activity significantly decreased. Likewise we found that the MDA levels decreases in all experimental groups after exposure FLX in liver tissue definitely. In whole body groups, MDA levels was firstly decreased after exposure FLX but MDA levels was increased subsequently compared to the control group in this study. In conclusion, building on the framework surrounding drug metabolism in fish, it is apparent that the capacity of fish liver to metabolize FLX in vitro is variable

THE SUBLETHAL DISRUPTING EFFECTS OF FLUOXETINE-HCI (FLX) ON CATALASE (CAT) ACTIVITY AND MALONDIALDEHYDE (MDA) LEVELS IN ZEBRAFISH, DANIO RERIO

The aim of this study is to investigate sub-lethal disrupting effects of fluoxetine-HCl (FLX) on catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of liver tissue and whole body in zebrafish (Danio rerio). FLX is the active compound of the antidepressant Prozac(TM) and acts as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in humans. Zebrafish are well-characterized model organism especially for the antioxidant enzyme activities for humans. Our study was planned as a model to investigate the effects of daily intake doses of FLX, which adapted from human proportionally to weight, on liver tissue of zebrafish. CAT, MDA and total protein levels were detected using spectrophotometric methods. The six experiment study groups were composed as; 150 ng fluoxetine-HCl exposed to each aquarium tank and five zebrafish were studied at 15 min., 30 min., 60 min., 4 days and 8 days of exposure and the last group was composed as the control group. In our study, it is determined that the activity of CAT increases in two experimental group after exposure FLX (15 min. and 30 min.) in liver tissue. Following one hour FLX treatment, it was observed that CAT activity decreased, whereas after four days treatment it was re-increased. Once for all, following 8 days treatment of FLX, it was observed that CAT activity significantly decreased. Likewise we found that the MDA levels decreases in all experimental groups after exposure FLX in liver tissue definitely. In whole body groups, MDA levels was firstly decreased after exposure FLX but MDA levels was increased subsequently compared to the control group in this study. In conclusion, building on the framework surrounding drug metabolism in fish, it is apparent that the capacity of fish liver to metabolize FLX in vitro is variable