Abstract: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of the study was to ascertain what proportion of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) complain of restricted knee joint motion, and to investigate options for improvement of this situation. MATERIAL Our evaluation included a group of 796 patients treated with TKA at our department in the period from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2004. In all cases, a condylar implant with preservation of the posterior cruciate ligaments was used. METHODS In addition to medical history, the range of motion, knee joint malalignment and radiological findings were assessed before surgery. After THA, the type of implant and complications, if any, were recorded, and improvement in joint motion was followed up. Based on the results of Kim et al., flexion contracture equal to or higher than 15 degrees and/or flexion less than 75 degrees were made the criteria of stiffness after THA. Patients with restricted THA motion who had aseptic or septic implant loosening were not included. RESULTS Of the 796 evaluated patients, 32 (4.14 %) showed restricted motion after total knee arthroplasty, as assessed by the established criteria. In 16 patients, stiffness defined by these criteria had existed before surgery, and three patients showed an excessive production of adhesions and heterotopic ossifications. In three patients, the implantation procedure resulted in an elevated level of the original joint line and subsequent development of patella infera and increased tension of the posterior cruciate ligament. Four patients declined physical therapy and, in six, the main cause of stiffness could not be found. Seventeen patients did not require surgical therapy for restricted motion; TKA provided significant pain relief and they considered the range of motion achieved to be sufficient. One patient underwent redress 3 months after surgery, but with no success. Repeated releases of adhesions, replacement of a polyethylene liner and revision surgery of the extensor knee structures were performed in 15 patients. In these, the average value of knee flexion increased by 17 degrees only and, in the patients suffering from excessive adhesion production, this value remained almost unchanged. Revision TKA was carried out in four patients, in whom knee joint flexion increased on average by 35 degrees to achieve an average flexion of 83 degrees. DISCUSSION Restricted motion after TKA has been reported to range from 1.3 % to 12.0 %, but consistent criteria have not been set up. In our study it was 4.14 %. In agreement with the literature data, one of the reasons was pre-operative restricted motion, which was recorded in 16 of 32 patients. Similarly, also in our patients, biological predisposition to excessive production of fibrocartilage associated with adhesions in all knee joint compartments was the major therapeutic problem. Intra-operative fractures, ligament tears requiring post-operative fixation and unremoved dorsal osteophytes lead to the restriction of knee joint motion. By inadequate resection of articular surface, the original joint line may be at a higher level; this results in an increased tension of the posterior cruciate ligament and patella infera development, both influencing knee flexion. In our study, three patients were affected. Knee joint stiffness can also develop in patients declining physical therapy or in whom this is not correctly performed, often for insufficient analgesia. In contrast to the data reported in the literature, 17 of 32 patients in this study had no need for surgical treatment of restricted knee joint motion. Redress under general anesthesia was not effective. For markedly restricted motion of the knee joint, reimplantation can be recommended or, in less severe cases, an intervention on adjacent soft tissues. CONCLUSIONS Restricted motion of the knee joint after TKA is difficult to treat and, therefore, prevention is recommended. This should include thorough conservative treatment of gonarthrosis, early indication for surgery, prevention of elevation in the joint line and consistent rehabilitation with appropriate analgesia. For severe stiffness of the knee joint, as evaluated by the criteria of Kim et al., revision arthroplasty can be recommended. Key words: total knee arthroplasty, restrictted motion, revision surgery.

Abstract: We reviewed the cases of three patients with an unstable grade-III slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated between 2001 and 2003. Clinical records and imaging studies were reviewed for patient's history, anatomic features of the slip, definitive treatment and clinical outcome. The duration of the follow-up ranged from twenty-four to fourty-eight months.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This study on vascular malformations of the musculoskeletal system in children is concerned with the disease diagnosis and evaluation of treatment results in a group of pediatric patients. MATERIAL: Eighteen children with musculoskeletal vascular malformations, treated at the Department of Orthopedics in Hradec Králové, were assessed. The relevant data were obtained from their medical notes and the children were examined at the outpatient department. METHODS: The initial complaints leading to examination at our department, diagnostic methods used and outcomes of vascular malformation treatment were investigated. Special attention was paid to the results of treatment for unequal leg length. RESULTS: The most frequent initial complaint was a painful, growing, hard tissue mass on either an upper or a lower extremity. In addition to clinical and angiographic diagnostic methods, also Doppler sonography and magnetic resonance imaging were used. Therapy by intervention radiology (selective embolization or sclerotherapy) resulted in reduction of the lesion and subsidence of the signs in 76 % of the patients. In the rest (24 %), the clinical findings did not change. It was necessary to repeat these methods twice to four-times. The best results were achieved by combining intervention radiology and a subsequent excision of the malformation. Of the four patients, only one experienced recurrence after 11 years. Four children were successfully treated for unequal leg length by temporary epiphyseodesis of the proximal tibia which, in one, had to be completed with shortening osteotomy of the proximal femur performed after skeletal maturation. DISCUSSION: There is great inconsistency in the classification of vascular malformations as well as in views on their therapy. The increasing role of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of vascular malformations is apparent, and our results fully support this fact. Intervention radiology techniques still remain the prevailing methods of treatment. In our experience, the best results are achieved by their combination with an excision of the lesion. When unequal leg length is treated, temporary epiphyseodesis is recommended; if this is preceded by treatment of the malformation, the final discrepancy in leg length is smaller. CONCLUSIONS: The correct diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations and their sequelae are based on inter-disciplinary cooperation. The use of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis is recommended. Good results are achieved by a combination of intervention radiology methods with lesion excision. Temporary epiphyseodesis is the method of choice for treatment of unequal leg length.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to demonstrate, by three-phase bone scintigraphy, radionuclide uptake at the site of defects in long bones filled with the non-resorbable bioactive glass-ceramic material BAS-0 at a long follow-up. MATERIAL: Twenty patients, 14 men and 6 women, operated on between 1990 and 2000 for benign bone tumors or tumor-like lesions localized in the femur, tibia or humerus were comprised in the study. Their average age at the time of operation was 14 years (range, 8 to 24). The diagnoses based on histological examination included juvenile bone cysts in 11, aneurysmal bone cyst in five, non-ossifying fibroma in two, and fibrous dysplasia in two patients. The lesions were localized in the femur, humerus and tibia in 11, five and four patients, respectively. The metaphysis was affected in eight and the diaphysis in 12 patients. METHODS: Clinical, radiological and scintigraphic examinations were carried out at 2 to 12 years (7 years on average) after surgery. The clinical evaluation included subjective complaints and objective findings. Radiographs were made in standard projections and the osteo-integration of glass-ceramic material was investigated. Three-phase bone scans were made and the healthy and the affected limbs in each patient were compared by means of an index. Radionuclide uptake was considered normal when the index value was equal to 1.0, mildly increased at an index value of 1.2, moderately increased at 1.2-1.5 and markedly increased at an index value higher than 1.5. RESULTS: The clinical evaluation showed that, in the patients with glass-ceramic filling of metaphyses, six had no subjective complaints and two reported transient pain. In the patients with implants in diaphyses, subjective complaints were recorded in nine and no complaints in three patients. No inflammatory changes in soft tissues were found. No restriction in weightbearing of the limb treated was reported by any of the patients. On radiography, 18 patients were free from any disease residue or recurrence. Two patients had a residual defect. The bioactive glass-ceramic material BAS-0 was completely incorporated in all patients. On three-phase bone scans, radionuclide distribution on the flow phase and soft tissue phase was symmetrical in both limbs of all patients. For the metaphyseal location of implants, the delayed images demonstrated physiological radionuclide distribution in one patient, mildly increased distribution (index up to 1.2) in four, increased uptake (index up to 1.5) in two patients, and highly increased uptake (index above 1.5) in one patient. For the diaphyseal location of implants, the delayed scans demonstrated slightly increased radionuclide distribution in two, markedly increased in two and highly increased uptake in eight patients. DISCUSSION: The tissue during incorporation of a non-resorbable synthetic material is influenced by stress-shielding. This changes local mechanical signals, which has a negative effect on the adjacent bone tissue. Stress accumulating at the interface of a rigid implant and bone tissue may result in pain, and is detected by scintigraphy as an increased nucleotide uptake, particularly in diaphyseal grafts. CONCLUSIONS: This paper presents problems associated with implantation of the non-resorbable bioactive glass-ceramic material BAS-0 in the treatment of diaphyseal defects of long bones. The results show that, for filling of the defects described herein, non-resorbable glass-ceramic materials are not suitable.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of our approach to the spastic hip subluxation and dislocation in children with cerebral palsy. We evaluated 56 hips in our consecutive patients who had been operated on at our department between January 2003 and December 2005. There were done soft-tissue release procedures in 42 hips, osseous reconstructive surgery in 11 hips and osseous palliative surgery in 3 hips. The duration of follow-ups was 1-3 years after surgery. We achieved good result in 15 hips after soft-tissue release, fifteen hips had a fair result, nine a poor result and three a failure. No redislocation was observed after osseous surgery in our patients. Two patients observed no pain after osseous palliative surgery, transient pain in the hip was in one case. In all hips the range of motion (abduction) was increased. The personal hygiene and possibilities of rehabilitation were improved. Childhood is the optimal time to intervene to maximize the function of the patient with cerebral palsy. The musculoskeletal treatment of the child prevents future problems with pain and deformity.

Abstract: The authors present the case of a severe unstable slip of the proximal femoral epiphysis in a 14-year-old boy. A serious metabolic disorder diagnosed in the boy led to postponement of necessary surgical intervention. The primary development of necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis during the 6 months following the slip is reported here. A good outcome was eventually achieved by three-plane valgus, flexion and derotational osteotomy of the femur at second-stage surgery. The authors emphasize the prognostic importance of stability assessment in the displaced epiphysis.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term results of using the bioactive, glass-ceramic material BAS-0 for bone tissue replacement after removal of juvenile bone cysts by curettage. MATERIAL: Between 1990 and 2000, BAS-0 material was used to fill the cavity after removal of a juvenile bone cyst in 21 patients, 15 males and 6 females, with an average age of 15 years (range 4 to 44 years). Surgical treatment was indicated only in juvenile bone cysts meeting the following criteria: 1) subjective complaints, i. e., pain at activity; 2) X-ray findings of either a) thinning cortical layer with a potential for pathological fracture, particularly in the proximal femur, b) recurrent pathological fractures without apparent healing of the cyst or c) increase in cyst size by 25% within 6 months. In all patients, the diagnosis of a juvenile bone cyst was confirmed by histological examination. Cyst localization was as follows: eight in the humerus, eight in the femur, two in the fibula and one in the ulna, iliac bone and tibia each. METHODS: After careful curettage of a soft tissue lining from the inner surface of the cystic cavity, the space was filled completely with 2- to 4-mm BAS-0 granules in 15 patients; in the rest granules were applied in a mixture with cancellous bone graft, which was either autologous or allogenic. The former was implanted in one patient, the latter, taken from either the mother or father, was used in four and one patients, respectively. All patients were clinically and radiologically examined during the follow-up period of 3 to 12 years, with an average of 7 years. The clinical evaluation was based on subjective complaints, and on the state of soft tissues in the region of lesion, range of motion in the adjacent joints and the loading capacity of the limb treated. Radiological evaluation was based on standard X-ray images assessed according to the classification system of Neer. RESULTS: The clinical examination showed that 10 patients were free from subjective complaints, one patient had rest pain, three patients experienced pain when using the limb, four patients reported mild and intermittent pain, two patients were in pain when the whether changed and one patient complained of pain during pregnancy. Objectively, no inflammatory changes of soft tissues were found. Both passive and active motion of the adjacent joints was possible in the full range and the treated limb retained its complete function in all patients. X-ray examination showed excellent results, i. e., no residuum or cysts recurrence, in 16 patients. A residual lesion was present in one patient and cyst recurrence was recorded in four patients. DISCUSSION: The currently used methods of treatment include corticoid instillation in the cyst, injection of autologous bone marrow, multiple drilling and drainage of the cyst and removal of the cyst with subsequent filling of the cavity with bone graft. In our patients, the bioactive, glass-ceramic material BAS-0 was used to replace either autogenous or allogenic bone grafts. Complete healing of the cyst was achieved in 76% of our patients, which is the result comparable with the literature data. CONCLUSIONS: Although the therapy of juvenile bone cysts has changed from extensive surgical procedures to less invasive techniques, the curettage of a cyst with subsequent filling of the residual cavity still remains the method of choice in selected patients. Instead of autogenous cancellous bone grafts or allogenic grafts predominantly used for this procedure, the bioactive, glass-ceramic material BAS-0 can be recommended, particularly when the cavity to be filled is located in the metaphysis of a long bone, i. e., in the region subject to great compression.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The presentation of our results of surgical treatment of the hip joints affected by multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, using the Steel technique of triple osteotomy of the innominate bone in children. MATERIAL: Twelve hip joints in 11 patients were treated by the Steel technique of triple osteotomy of the innominate bone at our department in the period from 2000 to 2001. However, the evaluation involved only children who also had multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, i.e., two boys and one girl. One of the boys had bilateral surgery with 6.5 months between the operations. The average age at the time of operation was 7.5 years, with a range of 6.5 to 8.5 years. The indication for the Steel osteotomy included severe conditions characterized by flattening and fragmentation of the proximal femoral epiphysis that was insufficiently covered by a dysplastic acetabulum. METHODS: The clinical evaluation was based on a classification system according to Merle d'Aubigné and Postel. Assessment was made on X-ray films before and after surgery. The follow-up was 17 to 29 months with an average of 2 years. RESULTS: The average Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score for the operated-on hips was 17.5 points. The maximum attainable value is 18 points; therefore all hips showed excellent clinical outcomes. Radiological examination showed an improvement in Wiberg's center-edge (CE) angle, i.e., from 15 degrees preoperatively to 44 degrees postoperatively (range, 10 to 25 and 41 to 48 degrees, respectively). The surgical treatment resulted in an average increase in the CE angle by 29 degrees, with the range between 21 and 33 degrees according to correction extent. DISCUSSION: A comparison of our results with those of other authors was not possible since no literature data were available on the Steel osteotomy in patients with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. In our opinion these children constitute a specific category of patients with this disorder but the size of our group was too small to draw conclusions with a more general validity. CONCLUSIONS: The Steel triple osteotomy of the innominate bone permits correction of abnormal anatomical conditions of hip joints in severe multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. The nature of this disorder, however, requires a long-term follow-up of the patients treated.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to present our experience with two-stage reimplantation in the management of the infected hip arthroplasty. Between January 1993 and December 2001 the replacement of the total hip arthroplasty in two stages was performed in 18 patients. There were 7 male and 11 female patients and the average age was 62 years. The mean follow-up after revision was 3.5 years. The mean postoperative Harris Hip Score averaged 78 (50-96) points. None of 18 patients had a recurrence of the infection. Two-stage reconstruction of the infected hip is preferred to one-stage exchange arthroplasty at our department because of higher rate of eradication of the infection.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of traction in achieving closed reduction of a dislocated hip. We evaluated 38 hips in 29 consecutive patients who had been treated at our department between January 1999 and December 2001. There were 26 girls and 3 boys and the average age was 8 weeks. The minimal duration of follow-ups was 12 months after closed reduction. We achieved 32 concentricaly reduced hips, the barriers to the concentric reduction were demonstrated by arthrography in 5 hips an 1 hip redislocated after removal of the spica cast. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head developed in no conservatively treated hip. The traction reduction method is preferred at our department because of high rate of success without damaging the femoral head.

Abstract: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The authors present their philosophy of the surgical treatment of metatarsus primus varus by oblique basal closed osteotomy of 1st metatarsal, evaluate and generalize the results achieved also with regard to the age of patients. MATERIAL: The evaluation covers a group of patients operated on for the mentioned static defect since 1995 with a minimal interval of 12 months after the surgery. From this general group a subgroup has been subsequently singled out of children and adolescents up to the age of 18. The general group included 24 patients in which 31 surgeries were performed. The subgroup of children and adolescents comprised 10 patients in which the surgery was performed in 12 feet. METHODS: Monitored in both group was age, sex, osteotomy laterality, the presence of distal operation. Post-operative monitoring focussed on the following data: the time interval after the operation, subjective satisfaction, range of motion of Ist metatarsophalangeal joint, the incidence of complications. Evaluation covered post-operative correction of individual angles and the shortening of Ist metatarsal by comparison of pre- and post-operative radiograph. RESULTS: Evaluated in the whole group were 22 patients, in the group of children and adolescents 8 patients, with average time interval of 3 years after the operation. On the basis of the surgery average correction of intermetatarsal angle by 10.5 degrees was achieved in both groups, average correction of valgosity by 18 degrees in the basic group and by 10 degrees in the group of adolescents. DISCUSSION: The results are evaluated globally on the basis of specialized literature. The authors present their philosophy of the solution of the issues of metatarsus primus varus as a static defect by different surgical techniques, formulate a clear strategy of the use of distal surgery and discuss its efficiency in relation to the patient's age. CONCLUSION: Oblique basal closed osteotomy of Ist metatarsal within a comprehensive solution of the static defect of hallux valgus is recommended to the broad orthopaedic public as a surgery which in view of the authors can bring good results in children and adolescents. In adults they recommend to indicate this surgery in the mentioned cases in combination with a distal operation.