Metastases of soft tissue sarcoma to the liver: A Historical Cohort Study from a Hospital-based Cancer Registry

Background: Hepatic metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma is rare compared to lung metastasis, and the literature is scarce. We examined the risk of hepatic metastasis according to the site of occurrence and histological type. Methods: From a Hospital-based Cancer Registry, 658 patients registered between 2007 and 2017 with soft tissue sarcomas were evaluated. The exclusion criteria were gastrointestinal stromal tumors, tumors of unknown origin, and follow-up periods of less than 1 month. SPSS 25 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The risk of hepatic metastasis was significantly higher in the retroperitoneum (HR, 5.981; 95% CI, 2.793-12.808) and leiomyosarcoma (HR, 4.303; 95% CI, 1.782-10.390). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk of hepatic metastasis as first distant metastasis was high in leiomyosarcoma (HR, 4.546; 95% CI, 2.275-9.086) and retroperitoneal onset (HR, 4.588; 95% CI, 2.280-9.231). The 2-year survival rate after hepatic metastasis was 21.7%. Conclusions: The onset of hepatic metastasis indicates a poor prognosis. However, hepatic metastasis from retroperitoneal sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma may be the first distant metastasis in some cases. For retroperitoneal sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, additional screening for hepatic metastasis such as contrast CT should be considered during staging and follow-up after treatment.ArticleCancer medicine 17(17) : 6159-6165(2020)journal articl

Effect of High Tibial Osteotomy on the Distribution of Subchondral Bone Density Across the Proximal Tibial Articular Surface of the Knee With Medial Compartment Osteoarthritis

Background: The effect of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) on the stress distribution across the knee joint is not completely understood. Subchondral bone density is considered to reflect the pattern of stress distribution across a joint surface. Purpose: To assess the distribution of subchondral bone density across the proximal tibia in nonarthritic knees and in the knees of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) before and after HTO. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively collected radiological and computed tomography data from 16 patients without OA (control group) and 17 patients with OA. Data from the OA group were collected before and 1.5 years after HTO. Subchondral bone density of the proximal tibia was assessed with computed tomography-osteoabsorptiometry. The locations and percentages represented by high-density areas (HDAs) on the articular surface were quantitatively analyzed. Results: The ratio of the HDA of the medial compartment to the total HDA (medial ratio) was significantly higher in the preoperative OA group (mean, 80.1%) than in the control group (61.3%) (P < .001). After HTO, the medial ratio decreased significantly to 75.1% (P = .035 in comparison with preoperative values) and was significantly correlated with the hip-knee-ankle angle in both groups: control (r = -0.551; P = .033) and OA (r = -0.528; P = .043). The change in medial ratio after HTO was significantly correlated with the change in hip-knee-ankle angle (r = 0.587; P = .035). In the medial compartment, the HDA in the most lateral region of 4 subregions increased after HTO, but that in 3 medial subregions decreased. Conclusion: In this exploratory study, HTO shifted the HDA of the medial compartment of the proximal tibial articular surface toward the lateral compartment. In contrast, the HDA of the most lateral region of the medial compartment increased after HTO. This change in subchondral bone density may result from the change in stress distribution

Three-stage total knee arthroplasty combined with deformity correction and leg lengthening using Taylor spatial frames and conversion to internal fixation for severe intra- and extra-articular deformities and hypoplasia in a patient with hemophilic knee arthropathy : A case report

Background: Hemophilic arthropathy is a cause of severe knee deformity, because chronic synovitis due to repeated hemarthrosis affects the area of the epiphyseal plates in juvenile cases. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the standard treatment for end-stage knee arthropathy. However, it is difficult to perform one-stage TKA in patients with severe intra- and extra-articular deformities. Case presentation: We reported a case of hemophilic arthropathy in a 55-year-old male with leg length discrepancy of 4 cm, limited range of knee motion (40 degrees extension and 85 degrees flexion), intra-articular deformity (medial proximal tibial angle: 69 degrees; mechanical lateral distal femoral angle: 79 degrees), extra-articular deformity at the distal femoral metaphyseal (30 degrees valgus and 45 degrees flexion deformity), and varus malalignment (% mechanical axis: 33%). We planned a three-stage TKA. Firstly, we performed gradual correction and lengthening of the distal femur using Taylor spatial flame. Six months after surgery, we performed conversion surgery from external fixation to internal fixation. Finally, we performed TKA with rotating hinged type implant. Two years after surgery, physical examination showed a normal gait, leg length discrepancy of 2 cm (the right leg was shorter), improvement in the range of knee motion (0 degrees extension and 100 degrees flexion). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this presents the first combination of three-stage TKA with correction of femoral deformity and leg lengthening using a Taylor spatial frame and conversion to internal fixation in a patient with hemophilic knee arthropathy and severe intra- and extra-articular deformities

Correction osteotomy for bilateral varus knee deformity caused by premature epiphyseal closure induced by hypervitaminosis A: a case report

BackgroundA vitamin A derivative, 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin), has been administered to treat several types of pediatric cancer and has improved survival rates in patients despite being known to induce premature epiphyseal closure. As the number of patients treated by 13-cis-retinoic acid increases, demands for salvage treatment after systemic retinoid therapy are emerging. However, few studies have described the surgical treatment of this disease.Case presentationWe report a case with bilateral varus knee deformity due to premature epiphyseal closure that occurred during treatment with isotretinoin for neuroblastoma. The patient was successfully treated with correction osteotomy using a Taylor spatial frame in the right knee joint and femoral closed wedge osteotomy using a locking plate in left knee joint. Histopathological examination of the growth plate showed polar irregularity of chondrocytes and decreased cartilage matrix without apoptosis. In contrast, arthroscopic findings showed an intact joint surface. No recurrence of varus deformity was evident on follow-up at 1year.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report of correction osteotomy for varus knee deformity due to premature epiphyseal closure that occurred during treatment with isotretinoin

Effect of the Inverted V-Shaped Osteotomy on Patellofemoral Joint and Tibial Morphometry as Compared With the Media Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

Background: Recent studies have reported that medial opening wedge (OW) high tibial osteotomy (HTO) induces patella baja, resulting in degenerative changes in the patellofemoral joint. We have developed an inverted V-shaped (iV) HTO, which is classified as a neutral wedge osteotomy. Hypotheses: The study hypotheses were as follows: (1) patellar height, posterior tibial slope, and tibial length will not change between pre- and postoperative evaluations after iV-HTO; (2) the lateral shift ratio of the patella and the distance between the tibial tubercle and the trochlear groove may be significantly decreased after iV-HTO. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 191 patients (220 knees) who underwent HTO for medial osteoarthritis were enrolled retrospectively in this study: 107 knees underwent OW-HTO and 113 knees underwent iV-HTO. Clinical and radiological evaluations were performed before and at least 3 years after surgery. Results: Postoperatively, the mean Caton-Deschamps ratio was significantly decreased (P < .0001) from 0.95 to 0.79 in the OW group, while there were no significant changes in the iV group. The mean posterior tibial slope was significantly increased (P < .0001) from 8.5 degrees to 10.5 degrees in the OW group, while there were no significant differences in the iV group. Although the entire leg length was significantly increased (P < .0003) in both groups after HTO, there were no significant differences in tibial length between the pre- and postoperative periods in the iV group. Regarding the congruity of the patellofemoral joint, the mean lateral shift ratio did not significantly change in the OW group, whereas it was significantly decreased (P = .0012) from 11.5% to 8.8% in the iV group. The mean tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance was significantly decreased (P < .0001) from 12.8 to 9.7 mm in the iV group, while it was significantly increased in the OW group (P < .0001). Concerning the clinical outcome, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and Lysholm knee scores at final follow-up (OW vs iV: JOA, 91.2 vs 90.1; Lysholm, 92.5 vs 89.0) were significantly increased (P < .0001) as compared with the preoperative values (OW vs iV: JOA, 68.3 vs 66.8; Lysholm, 67.9 vs 61.0). Conclusion: Patellar height, posterior tibial slope, and tibial length did not change after the iV-HTO, while they were significantly changed after the OW-HTO. Although the preoperative degrees of varus knee and patellofemoral osteoarthritis were more severe in the iV group than the OW group, the iV-HTO led to altered patellofemoral joint congruity

Depletion of Gangliosides Enhances Articular Cartilage Repair in Mice

Elucidation of the healing mechanisms in damaged tissues is a critical step for establishing breakthroughs in tissue engineering. Articular cartilage is clinically one of the most successful tissues to be repaired with regenerative medicine because of its homogeneous extracellular matrix and few cell types. However, we only poorly understand cartilage repair mechanisms, and hence, regenerated cartilage remains inferior to the native tissues. Here, we show that glycosylation is an important process for hypertrophic differentiation during articular cartilage repair. GM3, which is a precursor molecule for most gangliosides, was transiently expressed in surrounding damaged tissue, and depletion of GM3 synthase enhanced cartilage repair. Gangliosides also regulated chondrocyte hypertrophy via the Indian hedgehog pathway. These results identify a novel mechanism of cartilage healing through chondrocyte hypertrophy that is regulated by glycosylation. Manipulation of gangliosides and their synthases may have beneficial effects on articular cartilage repair