The effects of amino acid electuary on experimental liver fibrosis in rats with chronic liver injury induced by CCI4 were studied. The results showed that the electuary could prevent the decrease in body weight and food intake, reduce the levels of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activities, elevate contents of total serum protein and serum albumin, normalize the serum ratio of BCAA to AAA and disordered amino acid pattern and suppress degeneration, necrosis and fibrosis of liver tissues in rats with chromc liver injury. These results indicate that the amino acid electuary has beneficial effects in prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) on moderate and severe medial compartmental knee osteoarthritis.Methods:This study retrospectively reviewed patients treated with medial open wedge HTO between January 2017 and January 2019. All cases were followed up for more than 2 years. There were 28 patients with severe osteoarthritis, including 11 males and 17 females, aged 56.36±5.06 years. There were 32 patients with moderate osteoarthritis, including 12 males and 20 females, aged 54.16±6.3 years. Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading, hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), weight bearing line (WBL) ratio, joint line convergence angle (JLCA), medial joint space (MJS), posterior tibial slope (PTS), medial meniscus extrusion (MME) and medial meniscus extrusion ratio (MMER) were evaluated on radiographs before and 2 years after surgery. The International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) of the cartilage of medial femoral condyle (MFC) and medial tibial condyle (MTC) were evaluated under arthroscopy. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) and the degree of medial collateral ligament (MCL) pseudo-relaxation. Predictors of MCL pseudo-relaxation were screened by binary logistic regression analysis.Results:K-L grading, HKA, WBL ratio and MJS improved in both groups after surgery, with no statistical significance between groups ( P>0.05). The postoperative JLCA was improved, whereas MME and MMER were not. And the severe group was higher than the moderate group before and after surgery ( P<0.05). Cartilage of MFC: in the severe group, 2 cases of ICRS 3 grade, 26 of 4 grade improved to 11 of 2 grade, 12 of 3 grade, 5 of 4 grade; in the moderate group, 12 cases of ICRS 2 grade, 18 of 3 grade, 2 of 4 grade improved to 30 of 2 grade, 2 of 3 grade. Cartilage of MTC: in the severe group, 2 cases of ICRS 3 grade, 26 of 4 grade improved to 17 of 2 grade, 8 of 3 grade, 3 of 4 grade; in the moderate group, 11 of 2 grade, 8 of 3 grade, 3 of 4 grade improved to 27 of 2 grade, 5 of 3 grade. The postoperative WOMAC score of the severe group improved from 50.71±8.07 to 3.86±1.84, while in the moderate group it improved from 44.09±6.63 to 3.34±2.24. The postoperative VAS score of the severe group decreased from 7.14±1.21 to 3.34±2.24, whereas it decreased from 6.38±1.24 to 0.44±0.62 in the moderate group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the postoperative groups ( P>0.05). In the severe group, the degree of pseudo-relaxation of the MCL improved from preoperative 25 of I degree, 3 of II degree to postoperative 28 of 0 degree at the 0° position, and from 25 of I degree, 3 of II degree to 24 of 0 degree, 4 of I degree at 30° position ( P<0.05). In the moderate group, the degree of pseudo-relaxation of the MCL improved from preoperative 31 of 0 degree, 1 of I degree to postoperative 32 of 0 degree at the 0° position, and from 28 of 0 degree, 4 of I degree to 32 of 0 degree at the 30° position ( P<0.05). JLCA ( OR=0.08, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.948, P=0.045), MME ( OR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.100, 1.32, P=0.082) and MMER ( OR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.422, 1.030, P=0.067) were independent predictors of MCL pseudo-relaxation (the difference was statistically significant at P<0.10). Conclusion:Medial open wedge HTO has significant short-term clinical effect on the treatment of moderate and severe medial compartmental knee osteoarthritis, which can effectively relieve pain symptoms, improve joint function, and restore medial knee stability. Preoperative large JLCA, MME and MMER indicate pseudo-relaxation of the MCL.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of tibiofibular-based reconstruction technique with single femoral tunnel for Fanelli type C posterolateral complex (PLC) injury.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 16 patients with Fanelli type C PLC injury admitted to Tianjin Hospital from July 2016 to July 2019, including 10 males and 6 females, aged 20-61 years [(36.5±13.9)years]. PLC reconstruction was performed by tibiofibular-based technique with single femoral tunnel using gracilis tendon and semi-tendinosus autografts. If the posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments (PCL/ACL) rupture were combined, arthroscopic single bundle reconstruction was performed simultaneously. If the posteromedial corner (PMC) injury was combined, PMC repair or reconstruction surgery was performed simultaneously. Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. When the bone needle and tunnel for PLC were drilled during the operation, the interference of the femoral tunnel through the cruciate ligament was observed under the arthroscope. Before and at 6 and 12 months after operation, the varus stability of the knee joint was evaluated with the difference of lateral joint space width of both knees and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective classification of varus stability of the knee joint; the external rotation stability was evaluated with the difference of external rotation angle of both knees and the IKDC objective classification of external rotation stability of the knee joint. Before, at 6 and 12 months after operation and at the last follow-up, IKDC 2000 subjective score and Lysholm score were compared. The occurrence of complications was observed.Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-36 months [24(15, 33)months]. The operation time was 100-220 minutes [175.0(111.3, 200.0)minutes], with intraoperative blood loss of 30-150 ml [(84.3±36.5)ml]. Intraoperative arthroscopy showed no interference of perforation between PLC and cruciate ligament femoral tunnel. The differences of lateral joint space width of both knees at 6 and 12 months after operation were 0.5(0.2, 1.4)mm and 0.6(0.2, 1.5)mm respectively, which were both significantly improved compared with 12.1(10.8, 12.6)mm before operation ( P<0.05), while there was no significant difference at 6 and 12 months after operation ( P>0.05). The IKDC objective classification of varus stability of the knee joint was grade A in 13 patients, grade B in two and grade C in one at 6 or 12 months after operation, and showed statistical difference from grade D in all the patients before operation ( P<0.01). At 6 and 12 months after operation, the difference of external rotation angle of both knees was -2.0(-3.2, 1.3)° and -1.4(-3.0, 1.7)° respectively, which were significantly improved compared with 16.8(13.9, 18.4)° before operation ( P<0.05), while there was no significant difference at 6 and 12 months after operation ( P>0.05). IKDC objective classification of external rotation stability of the knee joint was grade A in 14 patients, grade B in one and grade C in one at 6 or 12 months after operation, and showed statistical difference from grade C in 14 patients and grade D in 2 before operation ( P<0.01). At 6 and 12 months after operation and at the last follow-up, the IKDC 2000 subjective scores [(76.3±4.7)points, (80.3±4.4)points, (79.9±3.8)points respectively] and the Lysholm scores [(76.1±3.9)points, (81.1±4.3)points, (82.8±3.2)points respectively] were significantly improved compared with those before operation [(48.6±3.7)points and (52.6±2.4)points] ( P<0.05). The IKDC 2000 subjective scores and Lysholm scores were significantly improved at 12 months after operation and at the last follow-up than those at 6 months after operation ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the IKDC 2000 subjective scores and Lysholm scores at 12 months after operation and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were no complications such as wound infection, vascular and nerve injury, joint stiffness or ectopic ossification. Conclusion:For Fanelli type C PLC injury, tibiofibular-based reconstruction technique with single femoral tunnel reduces the interference between the lateral femoral tunnels, significantly improves the varus and external rotation stability and the function of the knee joint, and has few complications and satisfactory short-term clinical efficacy.

Objective: To investigate the clinical outcomes and second-look arthroscopic findings after high tibial osteotomy (HTO) combined with medial meniscus posterior root (MMPR) repair. Methods: Twenty-five patients who underwent HTO combined with MMPR repair were subjected to second-look arthroscopy and retrospectively analyzed. Biplane HTO combined with MMPR repair was performed on these patients. Arthroscopic transtibial pullout repair was employed to repair the MMPR. The relative degree of the medial meniscus extrusion (MME) were measured. Cartilage regeneration and the healing of MMPR were evaluated at the time of second-look arthroscopy. Clinical outcomes were assessed based on Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores and Lysholm scores. Results: The MMPRs were completely healed in 12 cases (48%), partially healed in 9 cases (36%), healed with scarring in 3 cases (12%), and no healed in 1 case (4%). Follow-up duration was 13.04±1.06 months (12-16 months). There were no statistically significant differences in the Kellgren-Lawrence classifications of the cases before and after surgery (χ²=0.786, P=0.675). The relative position of the mechanical axis of the lower extremity through the tibial plateau was 19.88%±6.44% preoperatively and 58.68%±7.71% after operation with significant difference (t=-18.561, P<0.001). The Lysholm scores was increased significantly from 34.76±3.62 points to 82.08±4.35 points after operation (t=-52.717, P<0.001). The HSS scores was increased significantly from 33.52±6.48 points to 81.52±4.79 points after operation (t=-38.685, P<0.001). The degree of MME was changed from 51.12%±13.55% to 50.48%±15.15% without statistical difference (t=0.550, P=0.588) . The comparison between different degrees of healing groups revealed no statistical differences in all variables (P>0.05). The comparison between different degree of cartilage regeneration groups revealed no statistical differences in all variables (P>0.05). Conclusion HTO combined with MMPR repair can effectively improve the lower limb alignment and patients' symptoms with a satisfactory healing rate of MMPR. The effects of post-root repair after a short period is not obvious. The longer-term clinical effects is worthy of further observation.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical features, surgical methods, and prognosis of bucket-handle meniscal tears (BHMTs), and provide guidance for clinical treatment. METHODS: The clinical data of 91 BHMTs patients (91 knees), who met the selection criteria and were admitted between January 2015 and January 2021, was retrospectively analyzed. There were 68 males and 23 females. Age ranged from 16 to 58 years with an average of 34.4 years. The injury was caused by sports in 68 cases, traffic accident in 15 cases, and falls or sprains in 8 cases. There were 49 cases of left knee injury and 42 cases of right knee injury. The time from the onset of symptoms to the admission ranged from 1 day to 13 months (median, 18 days), including >1 month in 35 cases and ≤1 month in 56 cases. Medial BHMTs occurred in 52 cases and lateral BHMTs in 39 cases. There were 36 cases with ACL rupture and 12 cases with discoid meniscus. The knee extension was limited more than 10° in 55 cases. According to the condition of meniscus injury, the meniscus suture with Inside-out combined with All-inside techniques (54 cases) or meniscoplasty (37 cases) under arthroscopy were selected. ACL reconstruction was performed in all patients with ACL rupture with autogenous hamstring tendon. Postoperative complications were observed. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score were used to evaluate knee function, and clinical failure was recorded. RESULTS: Two patients developed intermuscular venous thrombosis, which improved after oral anticoagulant therapy. No vascular injury, postoperative infection, joint stiffness, or other complications occurred in all patients. All patients were followed up 24-95 months, with a median of 64 months. A total of 12 cases (13.19%) failed the operation and were re-operated or given oral anti-inflammatory analgesics and rehabilitation therapy. At last follow-up, IKDC score and Lysholm score of 91 patients significantly increased when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05), while Tegner score significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The above indexes of patients treated with meniscus suture and meniscoplasty were also significantly different from those before operation ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION BHMTs occurs mostly in young men and is one of the important reasons for the limitation of knee extension after trauma. Arthroscopic meniscus suture and meniscoplasty can obtain good effectiveness according to individual conditions of patients. But the latter can better preserve the shape and function of meniscus, and theoretically can obtain better long-term outcomes, which needs to be confirmed by further research with larger sample size.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Meniscus ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Menisci, Tibial/surgery* ; Knee Injuries/diagnosis* ; Rupture ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries/surgery* ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/surgery*