Preliminary evaluation of a robotic apparatus for the analysis of passive glenohumeral joint kinematics

Background: The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body. This is due, in part, to the complex interplay between the glenohumeral (GH) joint and the scapulothoracic (ST) articulation. Currently, our ability to study shoulder kinematics is limited, because existing models isolate the GH joint and rely on manual manipulation to create motion, and have low reproducibility. Similarly, most established techniques track shoulder motion discontinuously with limited accuracy. Methods: To overcome these problems, we have designed a novel system in which the shoulder girdle is studied intact, incorporating both GH and ST motions. In this system, highly reproducible trajectories are created using a robotic actuator to control the intact shoulder girdle. High-speed cameras are employed to track retroreflective bone markers continuously. Results: We evaluated this automated system’s capacity to reproducibly capture GH translation in intact and pathologic shoulder conditions. A pair of shoulders (left and right) were tested during forward elevation at baseline, with a winged scapula, and after creation of a full thickness supraspinatus tear. Discussion The system detected differences in GH translations as small as 0.5 mm between different conditions. For each, three consecutive trials were performed and demonstrated high reproducibility and high precision

Blended learning for teacher professional learning

Lärare behöver professionellt lärande för att skolresultaten ska förbättras. För att det ska göra skillnad för alla elever så behöver alla lärare delta i den. Samtidigt visas en brist på organiserat professionellt lärande för lärare (Skolverket, 2013). Digitaliseringen skapar nya möjligheter. Lärande online kännetecknas av att vara flexibel tids- och rumsmässigt. Något som kan möta det tidsmässiga hinder som skolledare uttrycker (Skolinspektionen, 2015). Forskning, av Means et al. (2009), visar att lärande med blended learning; där undervisning och lärande i det fysiska rummet kombineras med undervisning och lärande online, ger bättre effekt än lärande helt fysiskt respektive helt online. Denna studie har tittat på hur de olika undervisningsmiljöerna i blended learning; fysiskt respektive online, kan tillämpas för att skapa förutsättningar för ett framgångsrikt professionellt lärande. Metoden metasyntes har använts för att sätta samman resultat från olika studier i syfte att skapa en samling vetenskapligt grundade råd; en best practice att luta sig på vid framtida planering. Studien är teoretiskt influerad av ett sociokulturellt perspektiv på lärande. Metasyntesen visar att blended learning kan vara en god form att tillämpa. Det är tydligt att de båda undervisningsmiljöerna; fysiskt och online, är viktiga. Vid de fysiska träffarna vårdas och stärks sociala relationer, medan onlinemiljön erbjuder en betydelsefull tids- och rumsmässig flexibilitet. Förutsättningar för ett framgångsrikt professionellt lärande med blended learning är att strukturella resurser som god IT-miljö och avsatt tid för lärandet finns. Metasyntesen är tänkt som ett stöd för skolledare och andra beslutsfattare inför planering av framtida professionellt lärande för grundskollärare.Teachers need professional learning opportunities to improve school results. To have impact for all students, all teachers need to participate. However, there is currently an acknowledged lack of organized professional learning for teachers (Skolverket, 2013). Technology creates new possibilities. Online learning is known to be flexible in terms of time and space, a feature that can help meet the time-related obstacles that school leaders report (Skolinspektionen, 2015). Research, by Means et al. (2009), shows that blended learning, a method where teaching and learning face-to-face is combined with teaching and learning online, has a better effect then exclusively face-to-face or online approaches. This study has explored how the different teaching environments in a blended learning approach; face-to-face and online, can be used to create successful professional learning opportunities. The method used is research synthesis to combine results from different studies in order to create an overarching account of best practice to draw on during future planning. The study is theoretical influenced by a sociocultural view of learning. The research synthesis shows that blended learning can be a promising approach. It is clear that both the teaching environments; face-to-face and online, are important. It shows that social relationships are particularly strengthened by face-to-face meetings, while online solutions offer increased flexibility in terms of time and space. The results also show that necessary conditions for successful blended learning initiatives include structural resources such as good ICT and allocated time for learning. This research synthesis is intended to support school leaders and policymakers in the planning of future teacher professional learning

Design and manufacture of a novel system to simulate the biomechanics of basic and pitching shoulder motion

Objectives Cadaveric models of the shoulder evaluate discrete motion segments using the glenohumeral joint in isolation over a defined trajectory. The aim of this study was to design, manufacture and validate a robotic system to accurately create three-dimensional movement of the upper body and capture it using high-speed motion cameras. Methods In particular, we intended to use the robotic system to simulate the normal throwing motion in an intact cadaver. The robotic system consists of a lower frame (to move the torso) and an upper frame (to move an arm) using seven actuators. The actuators accurately reproduced planned trajectories. The marker setup used for motion capture was able to determine the six degrees of freedom of all involved joints during the planned motion of the end effector. Results The testing system demonstrated high precision and accuracy based on the expected versus observed displacements of individual axes. The maximum coefficient of variation for displacement of unloaded axes was less than 0.5% for all axes. The expected and observed actual displacements had a high level of correlation with coefficients of determination of 1.0 for all axes. Conclusions Given that this system can accurately simulate and track simple and complex motion, there is a new opportunity to study kinematics of the shoulder under normal and pathological conditions in a cadaveric shoulder model.</br

Subsequent Surgery After Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Rates and Risk Factors From a Multicenter Cohort

BACKGROUND: While revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) can be performed to restore knee stability and improve patient activity levels, outcomes after this surgery are reported to be inferior to those after primary ACLR. Further reoperations after revision ACLR can have an even more profound effect on patient satisfaction and outcomes. However, there is a current lack of information regarding the rate and risk factors for subsequent surgery after revision ACLR. PURPOSE: To report the rate of reoperations, procedures performed, and risk factors for a reoperation 2 years after revision ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 1205 patients who underwent revision ACLR were enrolled in the Multicenter ACL Revision Study (MARS) between 2006 and 2011, composing the prospective cohort. Two-year questionnaire follow-up was obtained for 989 patients (82%), while telephone follow-up was obtained for 1112 patients (92%). If a patient reported having undergone subsequent surgery, operative reports detailing the subsequent procedure(s) were obtained and categorized. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for a reoperation. RESULTS: Of the 1112 patients included in the analysis, 122 patients (11%) underwent a total of 172 subsequent procedures on the ipsilateral knee at 2-year follow-up. Of the reoperations, 27% were meniscal procedures (69% meniscectomy, 26% repair), 19% were subsequent revision ACLR, 17% were cartilage procedures (61% chondroplasty, 17% microfracture, 13% mosaicplasty), 11% were hardware removal, and 9% were procedures for arthrofibrosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients aged <20 years had twice the odds of patients aged 20 to 29 years to undergo a reoperation. The use of an allograft at the time of revision ACLR (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P = .007) was a significant predictor for reoperations at 2 years, while staged revision (bone grafting of tunnels before revision ACLR) (OR, 1.93; P = .052) did not reach significance. Patients with grade 4 cartilage damage seen during revision ACLR were 78% less likely to undergo subsequent operations within 2 years. Sex, body mass index, smoking history, Marx activity score, technique for femoral tunnel placement, and meniscal tearing or meniscal treatment at the time of revision ACLR showed no significant effect on the reoperation rate. CONCLUSION: There was a significant reoperation rate after revision ACLR at 2 years (11%), with meniscal procedures most commonly involved. Independent risk factors for subsequent surgery on the ipsilateral knee included age <20 years and the use of allograft tissue at the time of revision ACLR

Technical note: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in the presence of an intramedullary femoral nail using anteromedial drilling

AIM To describe an approach to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using autologous hamstring by drilling via the anteromedial portal in the presence of an intramedullary (IM) femoral nail. METHODS Once preoperative imagining has characterized the proposed location of the femoral tunnel preparations are made to remove all of the hardware (locking bolts and IM nail). A diagnostic arthroscopy is performed in the usual fashion addressing all intra-articular pathology. The ACL remnant and lateral wall soft tissues are removed from the intercondylar, to provide adequate visualization of the ACL footprint. Femoral tunnel placement is performed using a transportal ACL guide with desired offset and the knee flexed to 2.09 rad. The Beath pin is placed through the guide starting at the ACL’s anatomic footprint using arthroscopic visualization and/or fluoroscopic guidance. If resistance is met while placing the Beath pin, the arthroscopy should be discontinued and the obstructing hardware should be removed under fluoroscopic guidance. When the Beath pin is successfully placed through the lateral femur, it is overdrilled with a 4.5 mm Endobutton drill. If the Endobutton drill is obstructed, the obstructing hardware should be removed under fluoroscopic guidance. In this case, the obstruction is more likely during Endobutton drilling due to its larger diameter and increased rigidity compared to the Beath pin. The femoral tunnel is then drilled using a best approximation of the graft’s outer diameter. We recommend at least 7 mm diameter to minimize the risk of graft failure. Autologous hamstring grafts are generally between 6.8 and 8.6 mm in diameter. After reaming, the knee is flexed to 1.57 rad, the arthroscope placed through the anteromedial portal to confirm the femoral tunnel position, referencing the posterior wall and lateral cortex. For a quadrupled hamstring graft, the gracilis and semitendinosus tendons are then harvested in the standard fashion. The tendons are whip stitched, quadrupled and shaped to match the diameter of the prepared femoral tunnel. If the diameter of the patient’s autologous hamstring graft is insufficient to fill the prepared femoral tunnel, the autograft may be supplemented with an allograft. The remainder of the reconstruction is performed according to surgeon preference. RESULTS The presence of retained hardware presents a challenge for surgeons treating patients with knee instability. In cruciate ligament reconstruction, distal femoral and proximal tibial implants hardware may confound tunnel placement, making removal of hardware necessary, unless techniques are adopted to allow for anatomic placement of the graft. CONCLUSION This report demonstrates how the femoral tunnel can be created using the anteromedial portal instead of a transtibial approach for reconstruction of the ACL

Rehabilitation following meniscal repair: a systematic review

Objective: To review existing biomechanical and clinical evidence regarding postoperative weight-bearing and range of motion restrictions for patients following meniscal repair surgery. Methods and data sources Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline, we searched MEDLINE using following search strategy: ((((“Weight-Bearing/physiology”[Mesh]) OR “Range of Motion, Articular”[Mesh]) OR “Rehabilitation”[Mesh])) AND (“Menisci, Tibial”[Mesh]). Additional articles were derived from previous reviews. Eligible studies were published in English and reported a rehabilitation protocol following meniscal repair on human. We summarised rehabilitation protocols and patients’ outcome among original studies. Results: Seventeen clinical studies were included in this systematic review. There was wide variation in rehabilitation protocols among clinical studies. Biomechanical evidence from small cadaveric studies suggests that higher degrees of knee flexion and weight-bearing may be safe following meniscal repair and may not compromise the repair. An accelerated protocol with immediate weight-bearing at tolerance and early motion to non-weight-bearing with immobilising up to 6 weeks postoperatively is reported. Accelerated rehabilitation protocols are not associated with higher failure rates following meniscal repair. Conclusions: There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal postoperative protocol following meniscal repair. Small clinical studies support rehabilitation protocols that allow early motion. Additional studies are needed to better clarify the interplay between tear type, repair method and optimal rehabilitation protocol

Successive tendon injury in an in vivo rat overload model induces early damage and acute healing responses

Introduction: Tendinopathy is a degenerative condition resulting from tendons experiencing abnormal levels of multi-scale damage over time, impairing their ability to repair. However, the damage markers associated with the initiation of tendinopathy are poorly understood, as the disease is largely characterized by end-stage clinical phenotypes. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the acute tendon responses to successive fatigue bouts of tendon overload using an in vivo passive ankle dorsiflexion system.Methods: Sprague Dawley female rats underwent fatigue overloading to their Achilles tendons for 1, 2, or 3 loading bouts, with two days of rest in between each bout. Mechanical, structural, and biological assays were performed on tendon samples to evaluate the innate acute healing response to overload injuries.Results: Here, we show that fatigue overloading significantly reduces in vivo functional and mechanical properties, with reductions in hysteresis, peak stress, and loading and unloading moduli. Multi-scale structural damage on cellular, fibril, and fiber levels demonstrated accumulated micro-damage that may have induced a reparative response to successive loading bouts. The acute healing response resulted in alterations in matrix turnover and early inflammatory upregulations associated with matrix remodeling and acute responses to injuries.Discussion: This work demonstrates accumulated damage and acute changes to the tendon healing response caused by successive bouts of in vivo fatigue overloads. These results provide the avenue for future investigations of long-term evaluations of tendon overload in the context of tendinopathy