Analysis of retrieved STRYDE nails

Aims The aim of this study was to present the first retrieval analysis findings of PRECICE STRYDE intermedullary nails removed from patients, providing useful information in the post-market surveillance of these recently introduced devices. Methods We collected ten nails removed from six patients, together with patient clinical data and plain radiograph imaging. We performed macro- and microscopic analysis of all surfaces and graded the presence of corrosion using validated semiquantitative scoring methods. We determined the elemental composition of surface debris using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and used metrology analysis to characterize the surface adjacent to the extendable junctions. Results All nails were removed at the end of treatment, having achieved their intended lengthening (20 mm to 65 mm) and after regenerate consolidation. All nails had evidence of corrosion localized to the screw holes and the extendable junctions; corrosion was graded as moderate at the junction of one nail and severe at the junctions of five nails. EDS analysis showed surface deposits to be chromium rich. Plain radiographs showed cortical thickening and osteolysis around the junction of six nails, corresponding to the same nails with moderate – severe junction corrosion. Conclusion We found, in fully united bones, evidence of cortical thickening and osteolysis that appeared to be associated with corrosion at the extendable junction; when corrosion was present, cortical thickening was adjacent to this junction. Further work, with greater numbers of retrievals, is required to fully understand this association between corrosion and bony changes, and the influencing surgeon, implant, and patient factors involved. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(8):599–610.

18F-Fluoride PET/CT Imaging of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Conservative Treatment—A Case Report

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious side effect in antiresorptive treatment. Treatment of MRONJ is considered primarily conservative with oral mouth rinses and antibiotics but may demand surgery, depending on the complaints and general condition of the patient, the extent of the necrosis, and the overall prognosis with respect to the underlying disease. A 77 year old female patient with invasive ductal breast cancer and bone metastases was treated with intravenous bisphosphonate (BP) zoledronic acid. During therapy, she developed MRONJ in the mandible with severe pain. Clinical examination revealed confluent exposed bone of the lower left jaw and a fistula at the right molar region. The panoramic radiograph revealed a mandibular osseous involvement with diffuse radiopaque areas between radiolucent areas. For preoperative planning, 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) of the jaw was performed, showing substantially increased 18F-fluoride uptake in regions 38 to 47 of the mandible with a focal gap in region 36 (area of clinically exposed bone). CT revealed medullary sclerosis and cortical thickening with confluent periosteal reaction and focal cortical erosion in the regions 37 to 42, whereas the regions 43 to 47 were only subtly sclerotic without cortical thickening. After systemic antibiotic therapy with sultamicillin following significant symptom and pain relief, 18F-fluoride PET/CT imaging was performed again after 5 months. No changes in either CT and PET were observed in regions 38 to 42, whereas the bony sclerosis was slightly increased in regions 43 to 47 with a slight reduction of 18F-fluoride uptake. 18F-fluoride PET/CT showed no significant changes assessing the extent of MRONJ prior and after systemic antibiotic therapy, providing no evidence that conservative treatment reduced the extent of the MRONJ-affected jawbone. The additional information of 18F-fluoride PET enables to identify the true extent of MRONJ which may be underestimated by CT imaging alone. Patients with MRONJ undergoing conservative treatment could benefit because additional imaging may be avoided as the pre-therapeutic 18F-fluoride PET/CT delivers all information needed for further treatment. Our findings support the recommendation of a surgical approach as long-term antibiotics cannot downsize the extent of MRONJ.

Ultrasound and shear-wave elastography patterns of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-related axillary, supra and subclavicular lymphadenopathy

In this pictorial essay, we illustrate the ultrasound appearance of COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine-related lymph node abnormalities, which can occur at different stations ipsilateral to the site of vaccination, after either first or second vaccine dose and can represent a diagnostic dilemma when encountered in patients with underlying conditions. Typically, they appear as enlarged hypoechoic nodes with loss of fat hilum, increased hilar and cortical vascularization at color-Doppler, but low to intermediate cortical consistence at shear-wave elastography. Asymmetric or diffuse cortical thickening is also frequently encountered. They can be observed in patients without and with clinical symptoms, such as armpit pain, fever and fatigue.

Paget ‘s Disease: Not So Typical for Atypical Femur Fracture

Introduction: Atypical femur fractures (AFF) are reported in patients taking prolonged bisphosphonate therapy, but Paget’s disease (PD) has been rarely reported as a cause of AFF. Case: 71-year-old female with past medical history of right hip osteoarthritis, seizure disorder, hypertension, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis presented with persistent right hip pain. There was no history of trauma or fall. She had otosclerosis with bilateral hearing loss and bilateral stapedectomies. Her medications were primidone, levothyroxine, lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide, and vitamin D. She did not smoke tobacco or drink alcohol. She had elevated serum alkaline phosphatase of 300 U/L (35–104). The X-ray of the skull was negative for any cortical thickening. CT of right femur revealed cortical thickening and coarsening of trabeculae of the proximal right femur consistent with PD and incomplete atypical subtrochanteric proximal fracture. Urine NTx 303 BCE/mM Cr (<89). Bone scan showed uptake in the R proximal femur, L distal tibia, and L3-L4 vertebral bodies suspicious of PD. DXA showed osteopenia. She was given zoledronic acid 5 mg IV. Discussion: PD leads to an increased incidence of fractures particularly of the lower extremities with most fractures transverse in nature. Non-union is not uncommon1. Stress fractures in PD are caused by disorganized bone remodeling due to excessive breakdown and formation of bone. Our patient met the major criteria for AFF as per the ASBMR 2010 task force report but there was no exposure to bisphosphonates2. The ASBMR task force recommended that bisphosphonates should be discontinued in patients with bisphosphonate-associated AFF due to their severely suppressed bone turnover status. On the other hand, the AFF in patients with PD may heal in response to bisphosphonate treatment. References: 1. Singer FR. Bone Quality in Paget’s Disease of Bone. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2016;14(2):39–42. DOI:10.1007/s11914-016-0303-62. Shane E, Burr D, Ebeling PR, Abrahamsen B, Adler RA et.al. Atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures: report of a task force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. J Bone Miner Res. 2010; 25:2267–2294.

Lymphadenopathy after BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine: Preliminary Ultrasound Findings

During a spontaneous and autonomous study, we assessed the ultrasound finding of lymphadenopathy after BNT162b2 Pfizer vaccine. We enrolled 18 patients with 58 lymphadenopathies: in 10 patients, they were in the laterocervical side, while in 8 patients in the axillar site. The largest diameter was 14 mm with a range from 7 to 16 mm (median value = 10 mm). In the same patient, we found different ultrasound nodal findings. A total of 25 nodes showed eccentric cortical thickening with wide echogenic hilum and oval shape. In total, 19 nodes showed asymmetric eccentric cortical thickening with wide echogenic hilum and oval shape. Overall, 10 nodes showed concentric cortical thickening with reduction in the width of the echogenic hilum and oval shape. A total of four nodes showed huge reduction and displacement of the echogenic hilum and round or oval shape. No anomaly was found at the Doppler echocolor study. In conclusion, eccentric cortical thickening with wide echogenic hilum and oval shape, asymmetric eccentric cortical thickening with wide echogenic hilum and oval shape, concentric cortical thickening with reduction in the width of the echogenic hilum and oval shape, and a huge reduction and displacement of the echogenic hilum and round shape are the features that we found in post BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine lymphadenopathies.

Abnormal cortical thickening and thinning in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus

We investigated differences in cortical thickness between idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) patients and healthy controls. We also explored whether a relationship exists between cortical thinning and gait disturbance in INPH patients. Forty-nine INPH patients and 26 healthy controls were imaged with MRI, including 3-dimensional volumetric images, for automated surface-based cortical thickness analysis across the entire brain. Compared with age- and gender-matched healthy controls, unexpectedly, INPH patients showed statistically significant cortical thickening mainly in areas located in the high convexity of the frontal, parietal, and occipital regions. Additionally, cortical thinning mainly in temporal and orbitofrontal regions was observed in the INPH group relative to the control group. The Gait Status Scale (GSS) scores were negatively correlated with cortical thickness in the medial orbital part of the superior frontal gyrus, gyrus rectus, superior temporal gyrus, temporal pole, and insula. A distinctive pattern of cortical thickness changes was found in INPH patients. We cautiously suggest that cortical thickening in INPH can result from reactive gliosis. Further, our results support the hypothesis that cortical thinning in INPH can result from neuronal degeneration. In addition, cortical thinning can play an important role in gait disturbances in INPH patients.

Paget Disease

Chapter 73 discusses Paget disease, which is a progressive bone disease of excessive bone turnover and abnormal, disordered bone remodeling. Paget disease generally affects older patients. Paget disease has an initial active phase with a focal zone of osteolysis and an inactive phase with bone enlargement, trabecular coarsening, and cortical thickening. The diagnosis of Paget disease is usually made with radiographs, though cross-sectional imaging can be useful for early diagnosis in the skull and spine. Rare complications of Paget disease include neural impingement and sarcomatous degeneration. Treatment is provided with medical therapy and surgical treatment of pathologic fracture or prophylactic fixation.