Anna-Lena Hauser, Alexander Von Glinski, Javier Fernando Noriega Urena, Tobias Lange, Samira Murad, Guido Lewik, Tobias Schulte
{"title":"[Bertolotti syndrome: an often overlooked cause of specific back pain].","authors":"Anna-Lena Hauser, Alexander Von Glinski, Javier Fernando Noriega Urena, Tobias Lange, Samira Murad, Guido Lewik, Tobias Schulte","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04656-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04656-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) are common, with a prevalence of 15-35%, and can be a cause of specific low back pain. The insufficient awareness of this anomaly often leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study explains the anatomical and biomechanical basis of Bertolotti syndrome and discusses diagnostic and therapeutic options.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The SCOPE criteria (Structuring Comparative Outcome Reporting in Epidemiology) were considered to ensure comprehensive and transparent reporting. A systematic search was performed in PubMed using the search terms 'Bertolotti', 'Bertolotti syndrome', and 'Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae' by a single investigator, resulting in the inclusion of 112 studies. Articles that were not available in English or German were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with symptomatic Bertolotti syndrome often suffer from chronic low back pain and radiculopathies. Imaging techniques, particularly X‑rays and MRI, play a key role in diagnosis. Conservative treatments show limited success. Surgical resection of the transverse process (processectomy), especially after positive test infiltrations, leads to significant pain relief, particularly in younger patients without degenerative changes.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Treatment choice depends on individual anatomy and the presence of degenerative changes. While conservative measures are initially recommended, processectomy shows promising results in carefully selected patients. Fusion surgeries should only be considered in cases of instability. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of invasive procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"558-565"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12263462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144051500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marianne Rosenthal, Mark Lenz, Sophie Maria Tengler, Sebastian Sachse, Matthias Walcher, Klaus E Roth, Lena Mohr, Kajetan Klos
{"title":"[Internet resources on plantar fasciitis : German-language analysis of the information content of digital sourcess].","authors":"Marianne Rosenthal, Mark Lenz, Sophie Maria Tengler, Sebastian Sachse, Matthias Walcher, Klaus E Roth, Lena Mohr, Kajetan Klos","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04641-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04641-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Plantar fasciitis belongs to the most common reasons for a consultation in medical institutions. Websites are assisting health education in this field; however, the quality is sometimes questionable.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The quality of websites thematising plantar fasciitis was evaluated in a descriptive survey regarding content, structure, readability and visual aspects. Information of literature added by score results was used to create a website describing foot diseases.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Keywords chosen by Google Ads were searched for in Google, Bing and Yahoo. Search results were analysed according to linguistic scores (EQIP36, 25-Item, Flesch-Kincaid). A third of these score worths were summarized as a total score. An online survey examined three websites with the highest scores. An optimized website was created.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>137 websites and 37 videos were scored. Arithmetic averages amounted to 72 (EQIP36), 15 (25-Item), 43 (Flesch-Kincaid), 59 (total score). Major websites with the best results in 25-Item were prepared by physicians. Websites of encyclopedias reached the best reading level, whereas those of health insurance funds received the highest values in EQIP36 and the total score. Websites with the lowest total score, EQIP36, 25-Item did not mention any sources. Websites including videos created by the medical sector reached a higher total score and reading levels. The outcome of the survey was slightly worse than the results of the score.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A lack of high qualified websites regarding foot pain was identified. This information can help producers of websites for digital patient education to improve the inadequate aspects.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"550-557"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12263471/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143712447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Complication management in hip arthroplasty].","authors":"Michael Clarius, Moritz Innmann","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04668-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00132-025-04668-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":"54 7","pages":"504-505"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144638852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Student assistantships in orthopedic surgery : A strategy to counteract the declining interest in surgical careers.","authors":"Yasmin Youssef, Suzanne Zeidler, Christoph-Eckhard Heyde, Tobias Schöbel","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04645-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04645-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The field of orthopedics and trauma surgery in Germany is facing an increasing shortage of young specialists. Several solutions have already been proposed to attract new residents. This study evaluates the influence of a student job in an orthopedic surgery department on the career choice and skill acquisition of medical students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A single center, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 51 medical students employed as paid student assistants in the Department of Orthopedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery at the University of Leipzig since 2017. A total of 42 participants (response rate: 82.4%) completed an online questionnaire assessing sociodemographic data, career choices and skills acquired during their employment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Half of the participants with completed medical studies chose surgical residencies, with 83.3% of these in orthopedic surgery. The experience as a student assistant was ranked as the second most influential factor for career decisions after the final practical year. Participants reported significant skill acquisition, particularly in practical ward activities (mean Likert scale: 4.40 ± 0.79), operating room skills 3.55 ± 1.14 and understanding clinical processes 3.45 ± 0.86; however, limited impact was observed on scientific motivation (2.29 ± 1.13) and conducting orthopedic-specific examinations (1.98 ± 0.79).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Student assistantships in orthopedic surgery provide substantial practical training and positively influence career decisions, potentially countering the declining interest in surgical fields. These roles represent an effective strategy for junior staff recruitment, offering structured exposure to the surgical profession. Future research should explore broader multicenter implementations to confirm these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"543-549"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12269039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Patellar cartilage repair-current concepts and evidence].","authors":"Roman Karkosch, Alexandra Rahn, Hauke Horstmann","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04651-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04651-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to their unique anatomy and biomechanics, patellar cartilage defects are both common and challenging to manage. In cases of persistent instability or dysplasia, bony and ligamentous procedures are necessary to correct patellar tracking and reduce patellofemoral forces. Only after addressing these underlying issues can cartilage restoration be performed effectively. Currently, a wide array of cartilage repair techniques is available, demonstrating favorable clinical outcomes; however, no single method has emerged as superior. If left untreated, cartilage defects of the patella often progress to functional impairment and pain, culminating in end-stage patellofemoral osteoarthritis.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"444-449"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143994010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Conservative treatment of patellofemoral cartilage lesions and patellofemoral osteoarthritis].","authors":"Armin Runer, Paul Nardelli","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04650-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04650-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The causes of patellofemoral cartilage lesions or joint degeneration are multifactorial. Small, traumatic cartilage lesions can be treated without relevant cartilage regenerative therapies. Surgical treatment is recommended for larger lesions (> 1 cm<sup>2</sup>).</p><p><strong>Conservative therapy: </strong>Conservative therapy is the mainstay of treatment for incipient or advanced patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Consequently, a thorough examination is essential to identify the underlying factors and to establish precise and efficient treatment planning. An individualized, stage-appropriate, and multimodal treatment strategy, supported by comprehensive patient education, is critical for therapeutic success. In the presence of functional or muscular imbalances, physiotherapy and exercise therapy, potentially supplemented by EMG biofeedback training, play a central role. When combined with weight reduction, patellar taping, cryotherapy, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy, these measures form the foundation of any conservative therapeutic approach. In the acute phase, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opioids may be employed for pain relief. If non-injection-based interventions remain ineffective, an injection therapy option may be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"436-443"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144014676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katrin Osmanski-Zenk, Wolfram Mittelmeier, Oliver Melsheimer
{"title":"[Effects of quality assurance in arthroplasty : An evaluation of the development of the semi-annual hospital evaluations of the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD)].","authors":"Katrin Osmanski-Zenk, Wolfram Mittelmeier, Oliver Melsheimer","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04639-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04639-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Quality assurance in arthroplasty is based on established systems such as the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD) and the EndoCert certification system. These systems enable continuous improvement in the quality of care through targeted feedback and audits. After the introduction of the semi-annual EPRD hospital evaluations, detailed analyses and comparisons of their revision rates for hip and knee arthroplasties (THA, TKA) became possible for the hospitals.</p><p><strong>Aim of the study: </strong>The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the standardised revision ratios (SRR) of the EPRD clinics.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The study analysed whether poor results in previous evaluations led to an improvement over time. The analysis was based on hospital evaluations from June 2020 and December 2023 for elective THA with cementless stems and standard TKA. Of the 603 clinics with THA responses, 315 were analysed, compared to 360 of the 588 TKA clinics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results show that regular feedback mechanisms can improve the quality of care; 69.2% of clinics were able to maintain or improve the quality of their THA care and 70.6% of clinics were able to maintain or improve their TKA care. No dependence on case volumes was found, which indicates that all EPRD clinics can benefit equally from the feedback.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The hospital evaluations enable precise tracking of results, promote transparency and reveal potential for improvement. In view of new legislation such as the Implant Register Act and the hospital reform, it is essential to further strengthen existing systems such as the EPRD and EndoCert and integrate them even more closely into clinical practice in order to ensure the quality of care in the long term.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"478-485"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12130143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143766172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J Rieger, P Buschner, F Wilken, C Benignus, J Beckmann
{"title":"[Patellofemoral joint replacement: onlay or inlay?]","authors":"J Rieger, P Buschner, F Wilken, C Benignus, J Beckmann","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04652-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04652-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patellofemoral prosthesis procedures are still rarely performed in Germany. However, with strict indications and thorough preoperative preparation, it can be a viable alternative to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). If conservative treatment methods prove ineffective, the question arises not only as to whether the advantages of an isolated joint replacement outweigh those of a total prosthesis, but also regarding patellofemoral joint replacement: should an inlay or an onlay prosthesis be used?</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"450-456"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144044462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Robotics for patellofemoral joint replacement-a step forward in arthroplasty?]","authors":"Mara Hold, Henning Windhagen, Lars-Rene Tuecking","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04653-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04653-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>At 0.2% of all knee replacements implanted in Germany, patellofemoral joint arthroplasty (PFA) account for only a small proportion. However, the potential in the population appears to be significantly greater. In recent years, several robotic-assisted surgical procedures have been developed to increase precision in the implantation of endoprostheses. MAKO® SYSTEM: At present, the Mako® system from Stryker is the only system that can implant an isolated patellofemoral joint replacement robotically. It can be used to analyze and adequately address complex anatomies such as trochlear dysplasia. The system provides support by simulating the positioning of the prosthesis and the exact execution of the plan by aligning the saw or reamer with haptic feedback.</p><p><strong>Study situation: </strong>Studies on robotic-assisted PFA are rare but indicate improved precision with a robotic-assisted procedure. Despite that, an improved clinical and radiological outcome could not be demonstrated in a comparative study.</p><p><strong>Outlook: </strong>A cost-benefit analysis should be discussed here, as should the necessary learning curve. In principle, robotic-assisted implantation of PFA appears to be a promising procedure. However, a superiority of this procedure over conventional methods cannot be postulated at the present time.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"457-465"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144060682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[Why does the patellofemoral cartilage collapse? : A critical analysis of epidemiology, etiology and prevention].","authors":"A Korthaus, M Krause, K H Frosch, Jannik Frings","doi":"10.1007/s00132-025-04649-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00132-025-04649-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cartilage damage in the patellofemoral joint is common and often leads to pain-related restrictions in the patients' subjective activity level. The cause is often multifactorial.</p><p><strong>Etiology: </strong>The most common causes comprise chronic overuse, acute impact trauma, post-traumatic conditions or patellar fractures, while patellar instability with its anatomical risk factors (trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, lateralized tuberosity, genu valgum or torsional deformities) plays a key role. Acute cartilage damage or (osteo-)chondral fractures usually occur in the context of acute patellar dislocation or direct impact trauma. In this regard, early surgical refixation or resection of the (osteo-)chondral fragments is important and can contribute to a delay of further cartilage deterioration. Chronic cartilage damage usually results from a disorder of the patellofemoral kinematics, such as patellar maltracking. (Post-)traumatic conditions such as patellar fractures represent a special entity. Long-term cartilage deterioration and osteoarthritis can also emerge or progress by inadequate surgical procedures.</p><p><strong>Therapy: </strong>Therapeutically, the main focus should always be on correcting biomechanical imbalances, in order to allow for effective cartilage regeneration. The latter can be achieved by several techniques for cartilage regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":74375,"journal":{"name":"Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany)","volume":" ","pages":"425-435"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144043610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}