Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication after joint arthroplasty, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) are novel diagnostic markers for PJI; however, their diagnostic value remains inconsistent.

Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is well-established in arthroplasty to prevent periprosthetic joint infection. However, the optimal duration and dosing of SAP remain a matter of debate, as evidenced by ongoing discordance between recommendations and clinical practice, reflected in the heterogeneity and imprecision of national and societal guidelines. The evidence currently available regarding the duration of SAP is summarised and discussed, specifically the postoperative repeated administration of antimicrobials within the first 24 h. The evidence available suffers from limitations, specifically deficiencies in outcome assessments in the available randomised controlled trials. Observational studies suggest that a short postoperative prolongation (<24 h) of SAP in arthroplasty may result in superior long-term outcomes compared to a single dose, and that an optimal dosing strategy, which warrants further prospective evaluation, may involve 'stacked dosing' in the early postoperative period, with re-administration every two half-lives when using commonly recommended beta-lactam antibiotics, instead of repetition at usual dosing intervals over 24 h. A stacked approach would also cover recognised indications for repetition, such as major blood loss and increased duration of operation, potentially simplifying prescribing protocols. Pharmacokinetic simulations are provided to illustrate the distinct concentration-time profiles associated with different prophylaxis regimens. Prolonging SAP beyond 24 h is not recommended. This review concludes by providing recommendations for further research, particularly a call to document SAP regimens with sufficient detail (choice of drug, dose regimen, and duration of administration) into established national arthroplasty registries, which should rapidly enable a significantly more nuanced understanding of these critical issues than permitted by the current literature.

Fracture-related infection (FRI) after tibial plateau open reduction and fixation is a common complication that leads to catastrophic sequelae and substantial economic costs, making prevention paramount. To facilitate an appropriate approach, it is useful to classify risk factors based on patient-related factors, injury-related factors, and management-related factors. Patient-related factors like smoking have a great amount of evidence establishing their relation with FRI. Diabetes and obesity might be associated, but evidence is somewhat conflicting. Nevertheless, smoking cessation and a multidisciplinary approach for these pathologies are essential to prevent FRI. Injury-related factors like high-energy fractures and acute compartment syndrome have compelling evidence relating them to FRI and must be acknowledged as inherent factors. While the exposure of the fracture has been associated with infection, open fractures are yet to be confirmed as directly related to FRI in tibial plateau fractures. Likewise, early antibiotic prophylaxis and surgical debridement are mandatory. As for management-related factors, increased surgical time emerges as a strong predictor for FRI. Evidence regarding the number of surgical approaches and plates shows a trend toward an increase in FRI prevalence. With respect to external fixator installation and removal, pin-plate overlapping is yet to be confirmed or ruled out as risk factors.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva and progressive osseous heteroplasia are genetic forms of heterotopic ossification (HO). Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is caused by ACVR1 gene mutations, while progressive osseous heteroplasia is caused by GNAS gene mutations. Nongenetic HO typically occurs after trauma or surgery, with an occurrence rate of 20-60%. It can also be observed in conditions such as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, spinal ligament ossification, ankylosing spondylitis, and skeletal fluorosis. The exact cause of nongenetic HO is not entirely clear. More than 100 types of miRNAs have been identified as being linked to the development of HO. Some miRNAs are promising potential biomarkers for traumatic HO and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. These findings further emphasize the significant role miRNAs play in the pathogenesis and progression of bone disorders. Repeated investigations into the function of a specific miRNA are infrequent and yield inconsistent results, possibly because of variable experimental conditions. It is hypothesized that miRNAs can enhance osteogenesis for the management of fractures and bone defects. However, further research is required to validate this hypothesis.

To identify, synthesise, and critically appraise findings of systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses on hip preservation surgeries for borderline and/or frank dysplasia with or without concomitant femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Conventional repair of rotator cuff tears bears a variable but significant risk of incomplete healing. Biological therapies that accompany surgical rotator cuff repair include platelet-rich plasma, stem cells of different origins, and biological scaffolds. Biological therapies facilitate the regeneration of the correct microarchitecture of the tendon attachment to the bone and reduce failures after surgical rotator cuff repair.

The pathogenesis of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) remains unclear; however, emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial injury plays a significant role. This review aims to elucidate the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in SONFH and explore potential therapeutic targets. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier ScienceDirect, focusing on mitochondrial homeostasis, including mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, and oxidative stress in SONFH. Ultimately, we included and analyzed a total of 16 studies. Glucocorticoids initially promote but later inhibit mitochondrial biogenesis in osteoblasts, leading to excessive ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction. This dysfunction impairs osteoblast survival and bone formation, contributing to SONFH progression. Key proteins such as mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC1α) are potential therapeutic targets for promoting mitochondrial biogenesis and reducing ROS-induced damage. Enhancing mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress in osteoblasts may prevent or slow the progression of SONFH. Future research should focus on developing these strategies.

The association of adipose tissue-derived injectable products with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been promoted for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the potential of this combined approach to treat OA.

To assess whether distal radius fracture (DRF) malunion is associated with greater patient-reported disability.

The indication for femoral stem cementation should be made on a patient-specific basis, taking physical activity, femoral geometry, and bone tissue quality into account. Age alone should not be the sole justification for cementation. The Dorr classification can serve as decision support for whether a cemented fixation should be used. Femoral neck fractures should generally be cemented. Familiarize yourself with the applied stem philosophy. Force-closed stems typically have a polished surface that allows for subsidence, especially in the first 2 years postoperatively. Stems following the shape-closed philosophy have rougher surfaces and do not allow subsidence. There are various types of cement that differ in viscosity and can be categorized accordingly. These cement types go through four temperature-dependent phases: mixing phase, waiting phase, working phase, and curing phase. Rough implants should be implanted quickly, using wetter cement. For a polished stem, the cement should be slightly firmer. To avoid complications like bone cement implantation syndrome, it is essential to adhere to the state-of-the-art retrograde cementation technique, which recommends pulsatile lavage and vacuum mixing of the cement. Additionally, cement restrictors and pressurizers are used. A thorough understanding of cementation techniques is crucial to ensure a favorable outcome with a uniformly thick cement mantle that encompasses the entire stem. Incorrect cementing can lead to the premature failure of the endoprosthesis.

Tumors of the foot are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that either affect soft tissues or bone, with a predominance being benign. Mistakes in the diagnosis of neoplastic conditions are common. A correct diagnostic approach supported by radiological and histological examination is mandatory. In this review, we highlight current standards in diagnosis, clinicopathological presentation, and imaging features.

This study employed meta-analysis to evaluate whether the application of intraoperative wound irrigation (IOWI) with povidone-iodine (PI) in spine surgery effectively reduces the incidence of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI).

Mixed reality refers to the integration of virtual reality into the real-world environment. This digital content can be interacted with in real time. The emergence of mixed reality technology has been made possible by the introduction of head-mounted displays, which are being utilized across multiple surgical specialties. In upper extremity surgery, mixed reality has widespread applications in trauma, corrective surgery, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and oncology. Preoperatively, mixed reality allows for complex 3D planning. Intraoperatively, surgeons can access this 3D data in a sterile environment. While in its infant stages, mixed reality is likely to become a powerful tool for intraoperative guidance and navigation. Mixed reality can change the paradigm of communication, as it allows the sharing of visual data from the surgeon's perspective, enabling remote assistance and participation.

Over the past two decades, modern spine surgery has become increasingly intellectualized and minimally invasive. However, whether using robots in spine surgery results in more accurate pedicle screw placement remains a topic of debate. This study aimed to evaluate the certainty and quality of the available evidence on the efficacy of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement.

This review highlights the pivotal role of Kaplan fibers (KFs) in knee stability, particularly in the anterolateral aspect. Studies reveal their complex anatomy with varying attachments to the distal femur, demonstrating a significant impact on knee joint mechanics across different populations. Investigations into the biomechanics of KFs show their crucial role in maintaining rotational stability of the knee, especially during rotational movements. Their synergistic function with other knee structures, like the anterolateral ligament, is emphasized, underscoring their importance in knee integrity and function. MRI emerges as a key tool in detecting KFs, with varying visibility and prevalence of injuries. The review discusses the development of MRI criteria for accurate diagnosis, highlighting the need for further research to refine these criteria and understand the interplay between KF injuries, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, and associated knee pathologies. The review covers various lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) techniques used to address residual laxity and instability following ACL reconstruction. Among them, the modified Lemaire technique, which resembles the anatomical and functional characteristics of distal KFs, shows effectiveness in reducing internal rotation and residual laxity. The review emphasizes the need for further research to understand the healing dynamics of KF injuries and the efficacy of different LET techniques. It suggests that a comprehensive approach, considering both biomechanical and clinical aspects, is crucial for advancing knee joint health and rehabilitation.

Growing interest surrounds the role of human gut microbiome in the development of degenerative pathologies such as osteoarthritis (OA), but microbes have recently been detected also in other sites previously considered to be sterile. Evidence emerged suggesting that even native and osteoarthritic knee joints may host several microbial species possibly involved in the osteoarthritic degeneration. This is the first systematic review critically collecting all the available evidence on the existence and composition of knee intra-articular microbiome.

Different deep-learning models have been employed to aid in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal pathologies. The diagnosis of tendon pathologies could particularly benefit from applying these technologies. The objective of this study is to assess the performance of deep learning models in diagnosing tendon pathologies using various imaging modalities.

The purpose of the present scoping review is to identify sources of heterogeneity in reporting domains that have the potential to improve surgical decision-making in reverse shoulder arthroplasty associated with glenoid bone grafting.

Recurrence of hallux valgus (HV) following corrective surgery is a frequent concern. A recent systematic review estimated recurrence of HV in only 4.9%, which may be an underestimation, as most included studies had short- to mid-term follow-up. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize and critically appraise the literature on the long-term outcomes of shaft osteotomies of the first metatarsal (M1) to treat HV without inflammatory disease or degenerative arthritis, and to assess the long-term HV recurrence rates of studies with a minimum follow-up of 5 years.

Low back pain (LBP) has a significant impact on the general population, especially on military personnel. This study aimed to systematically review the relevant literature to determine the prevalence and risk factors of low back pain among military personnel from different military occupational categories.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the effect of topical vancomycin powder (VP) in surgical site infection (SSI) prevention and adverse events after joint arthroplasty and to provide a specific theoretical basis for clinical treatment.