Osteology, Volume 2, Issue 4 (December 2022) – 4 articles

Depression constitutes a risk factor for osteoporosis (OP). Increasing physical activity might mitigate this risk, although intensive exercising may lead to opposing effects in depressed patients. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the evidence regarding the influence of exercise on bone health in depressed patients, divided into two sections: (1) Which bone markers are affected by depression? (2) How does exercise affect bone health in patients with depressive symptoms? A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science between August 2020–2022. Studies were included based on predetermined criteria for each sub-question. Regarding sub-question 1, eight studies revealed the following bone markers to be influenced by depression: P1NP, BAP, CTX, OC, RANKL, OPG, DPD, and PYD. Regarding sub-question 2, one study found a correlation between depression and bone health in an exercising population, and other studies detected improvements in bone health (n = 4) and depressive symptoms (n = 4) after exercise interventions. The current review shows the potential of exercise as a treatment form to improve bone health in depressed patients. Future trials are needed to assess the influence of exercise intervention on bone health in depressed patients. Full article

Background: Heterotopic Ossification (HO) of the knee is most commonly formed anteriorly to the distal femoral shaft in the quadriceps expansion. Although the incidence of severe HO with large dimensions affecting the knee and resulting in severe consequences is extremely rare, these cases are extremely difficult to prevent and have severe clinical limitations for the patient. Aim: The purpose of this study was to present and explore HO formation after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). Conclusions: It is crucial to perform a stratification of patients for the risk of HO formation after TKA and to gain a better understanding of the fundamental role of post-operative treatments. In severe HO, surgery should be considered following appropriate investigations and should only be considered when the HO has fully matured. In comparison to Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), HO formation after TKA is less frequent and underexplored. Therefore, further studies are required. This case report can represent a protocol for the treatment of clinically relevant HO in the knee after TKA. Full article

Anterior shoulder instability with Bankart lesion and associated posterior humeral head injury (Hill–Sachs) is common in athletes. Several treatments have been proposed for the management of the Hill–Sachs lesion, from bone grafts or rotation osteotomies to capsulotendinous interposition, such as remplissage. This procedure has been shown to be safe and effective in increasing glenohumeral stability. However, the correct indication concerning the bone defect and its effects in terms of range of motion and function, especially in highly demanding patients, is still debated. This narrative review aims to present the current state-of-the-art of the posterior capsulotenodesis in association with Bankart repair, for treating anterior shoulder instability in competitive athletes. Full article

A vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a pathological condition, which can be caused by osteoporotic degeneration or metastatic disease. It represents a socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems, due to increased pain, long-term morbidity, and disability. Vertebroplasty (VP) is an image-guided, minimally invasive, interventional procedure, in which bone cement is injected via a percutaneous approach into the vertebral soma, to provide structural support and to stabilize the weakened structure. The aim of this narrative review is to describe vertebral column biomechanics, as well as indications, contraindications, and techniques to successfully perform VP for the treatment of VCFs. Methods: We performed a narrative literature review on the main online databases regarding VP, and mainly focused on patient selection, preoperative imaging, procedural steps, complications, and outcomes. Results: The most recent evidence in the literature has shown that VP provides significant and sustained clinical benefits for patients with a VCF, and it is indicated in patients with comorbidities that make prolonged bed rest dangerous, patients with fractures that fail to heal, and as palliation in patients with a painful VCF due to metastatic disease. Conclusions: VP is considered to be a safe and effective treatment option for the treatment of osteoporotic and malignant VCFs that are resistant to adequate medical therapy. Patient selection, preprocedural evaluation, and proper technique execution are the key points to obtain the best outcomes and to minimize complications. Full article