Bone densitometry in the evaluation of the results obtained with the use of bovine BMP in spine arthrodesis in rabbits

The object of this study is to evaluate the use of the bone densitometry as an evaluation method of the bone increment observed when we used bovine BMP in intertransverse arthrodesis of the rabbits' lumbar spine. Since the discovery of the BMP bone inductive properties, countless experimental models have been proposed. This caused the need of setting up evaluation methods to make possible a better understanding of the found results. Twenty female rabbits from New Zealand, divided in two groups, were submitted to the intertransverse arthrodesis of the lumbar column, segment L5/L6, posterior side. In the first group it was used autologous graft and in the second an association of autologous graft with biocompound (bovine BMP, 1.0 mg and hydroxyapatite, 9.0 mg). The animals were maintained in captivity, isolated and after 15 weeks submitted to the execution of bone densitometry by computerized tomography. 268 bone density measures of the normal bone, 134 measures of the newly formed bone by the association of the isolated autologous graft and 134 measures of the newly formed bone by the association autologous graft and BMP were obtained, what demonstrated a significant bone increment after statistical analysis (p=0.034) of the BMP/HAP group, when compared to the control group. We found this same variation of bone density analyzing the normal bone. The bone densitometry accomplished by the computerized tomography is an alternative method to assess the results when the BMP is used in experimental studies. Further studies should be accomplished for better understanding of the bone density variation found when the measures of the normal bone in the two groups are compared.As BMPs, proteínas indutoras de crescimento ósseo, desde o início de sua utilização, têm sido avaliadas em diferentes modelos experimentais objetivando determinar sua eficácia, sendo necessário o estabelecimento de métodos de avaliação que permitam melhor compreensão dos resultados. OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a utilização da densitometria óssea como método de avaliação do incremento ósseo observado quando da utilização de BMP bovina em artrodeses intertransversas da coluna lombar de coelhos. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados dois grupos de dez coelhos neozelandeses fêmeas, submetidos a artrodese intertransversa da coluna lombar, segmento L5/L6, por via posterior. No primeiro grupo foi utilizado enxerto homólogo e no segundo a associação de enxerto homólogo com biocomposto (BMP bovino, 1,0 mg e hidroxiapatita, 9,0 mg). Os animais foram acompanhados por 15 semanas, isolados em cativeiro e avaliados diariamente por veterinário sob o ponto de vista clínico e neurológico e, posteriormente, submetidos à realização de densitometria óssea por tomografia computadorizada. RESULTADOS: Foram obtidas 268 medidas de densidade óssea do osso normal, 134 medidas do osso neoformado de enxerto homólogo isolado e 134 medidas do osso neoformado pela associação enxerto homólogo e BMP. Esses valores foram submetidos à análise estatística que demonstrou incremento ósseo significativo (p=0,034) do grupo BMP/HAP, quando comparado ao grupo controle. Os valores de densidade óssea do osso normal foram submetidos à mesma análise estatística onde se encontrou resultado semelhante. CONCLUSÃO: A densitometria óssea realizada pela tomografia computadorizada apresenta-se como método alternativo para avaliação de resultados quando utilizado BMP em estudos experimentais. Estudos subseqüentes deverão ser realizados para melhor entendimento da variação de densidade óssea encontrada quando da comparação das medidas do osso normal nos dois grupos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Odontologia de BauruUniversidade São Francisco Serviço de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e TraumatologiaSciEL

Epidemiological comparison between proximal femur fractures in a secondary and a tertiary hospital

Aim: to compare the occurrence of femur fractures treated in a secondary and in a tertiary hospitals.Method: the sample of this study consisted of all patients who had fractures of the proximal femur treated at two hospital services, from 2015 to 2017, and the medical records were evaluated.Results: a greater number of surgeries has been performed at the tertiary hospital, although the secondary hospital patients had the highest number of complications, resulted probably by longer waiting times for the procedure, including surgeries that needed to be scheduled. It is also likely that this fact implied in a longer hospital stay and the need for referral to the Intensive Unit Care in the immediate postoperative period, also observed in secondary hospitals.Conclusion: these results call attention to the need to reformulate the protocols for the care of patients with proximal fracture of the femur, to solve the problems presented here.Objetivo: comparar a ocorrência de fraturas de fêmur proximal atendidas em um hospital secundário e em um terciário.Método: a amostra deste estudo foi composta por todos os pacientes que apresentaram fratura de fêmur proximal atendidos em dois serviços hospitalares, no período de 2015 a 2017, sendo realizada a avaliação dos prontuários.Resultados: embora um maior número de cirurgias tenha sido realizado no hospital terciário, os pacientes atendidos no hospital secundário apresentaram maior número de complicações, provavelmente em decorrência de mais tempo de espera pelo procedimento, incluindo as cirurgias que precisaram ser remarcadas. É provável, também, que esse fato tenha implicado em maior tempo de internação e necessidade de encaminhamento para UTI no período pós-operatório imediato, fenômenos também observados no hospital secundário.Conclusão: estes resultados chamam atenção para a necessidade de reformulação dos protocolos de atendimento a pacientes com fratura proximal de fêmur, visando sanar os problemas aqui apresentados

Comparison of Radiographic Outcomes Assessed via the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial Fractures and Alkaline Phosphatase Levels during the Tibial Healing Process: A Series of Case Reports

Background/Objectives: Tibial diaphysis fractures are common injuries resulting from high-to-low-energy traumas in patients of all age groups, but few reports currently provide complementary parameters for the assessment of bone healing processes in the postoperative period. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the scores from the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial Fractures (RUST) can promote new horizons in this context. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the behavior of ALP and RUST through within-subject comparisons from immediately post-surgery to 49 days after tibial diaphysis fracture repair. Methods: This article included four case studies where patients underwent the same procedures. Adults of both sexes aged 18 to 60 years with tibial fractures requiring surgery were included. After surgical intervention (T1), the patients were followed for 49 days after surgery, returning for follow-up appointments on the 21st (T2) and 49th (T3) days. At the follow-up appointments, new X-ray images were obtained, and blood samples were collected for ALP measurement. Results: Serum ALP levels increased by T2 following tibial reamed intramedullary nailing surgery. While this increase persisted into T3 for two patients, a decline was observed during the same period for the other two patients. Both events are indicative of the bone consolidation process, and RUST scores at the T3 corroborate this perspective for all patients included in this study. Considering that delta ALP (T3-T1 value) was lower in patients who exhibited the highest RUST score, we suggest that a synchronized analysis between ALP and RUST allows medics to diagnose bone consolidation. Conclusions: Therefore, it can be concluded that the analysis of ALP alongside RUST may be complementary for evaluating bone consolidation following tibial reamed intramedullary nailing surgery, but future studies are needed to confirm this assertion