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Biomedical subjects

Tishya A L Wren

Publications and source records attributed to Tishya A L Wren.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Timing of peak bone mass: discrepancies between CT and DXA.

CONTEXT: The time of life in which peak bone mass in the axial skeleton is attained has been the subject of considerable controversy, with estimates ranging from the time of sexual and skeletal maturity to the fifth decade of life. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine whether dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and computed tomography (CT) values for bone mass and bone density (BD) in the axial skeleton increase after sexual and skeletal maturity. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: Measurements of vertebral bone mineral density and bone mineral content (BMC) by DXA and vertebral BD and BMC by CT were obtained in 50 sexually and skeletally mature white females at baseline and 3 yr later. CT BMC values were calculated through analysis of vertebral volume in relation to density (BMC = vertebral volume x BD). RESULTS: Although neither CT BD nor BMC measures changed with time, DXA bone mineral density and BMC values were significantly higher at follow-up (P < 0.0001). Despite strong correlations between DXA and CT bone measures, DXA yielded greater changes in bone values in 47 of 50 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Bone acquisition in the lumbar spine as measured by CT reaches its peak by sexual and skeletal maturity. In contrast, bone values by DXA continue to increase after puberty and cessation of longitudinal growth. Increases in DXA measures are likely a reflection of inhomogeneous changes in soft tissues around the spine or of disproportionate increases in the posterior elements of the vertebrae rather than of changes within the vertebral body.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Fat mass is not beneficial to bone in adolescents and young adults.

CONTEXT: Although muscle mass is beneficial to bone, studies on the effect of fat mass on bone have yielded conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relations between lean and fat mass and bone structure. DESIGN: This study was cross-sectional. SETTING: The study was conducted in a general community. SUBJECTS: Subjects included 300 healthy sexually mature adolescents and young adults (150 males and 150 females) between the ages of 13 and 21 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We investigated the relation between dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures of total body fat and lean mass and bone values obtained with DXA (legs and lumbar spine bone mineral density and bone mineral content) and computed tomography (CT) (cross-sectional and cortical bone areas of the femurs and cross-sectional area and cancellous bone density of the vertebrae). RESULTS: Simple and multiple linear regression analyses showed significant positive relations between DXA lean mass and all CT and DXA measures of bone in the axial and appendicular skeletons (all P < 0.005). In contrast, whereas Pearson correlations between DXA measures of fat mass and bone parameters were generally positive, multiple regression analyses showed that fat mass, after accounting for lean mass, trunk height/leg length, had a negative, or no, correlation with CT and DXA values for bone. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide compelling evidence that, despite increased mechanical loading and independent of lean mass, adipose tissue is not beneficial to bone structure.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Assessing bone mass in children and adolescents.

Growing awareness that osteoporosis may have its antecedents in childhood has led to increasing interest in assessing bone mass in children and adolescents. Several noninvasive imaging techniques are currently available to measure properties of the growing skeleton, including bone mass, density, cross-sectional area, and microarchitecture. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most widely used technique, but it has several major limitations associated with its dependence on two-dimensional projections. Quantitative CT and peripheral quantitative CT allow three-dimensional imaging but are more costly and have higher radiation exposure. Quantitative ultrasound is simple and inexpensive but can measure bone "quality" only at a single peripheral site. MRI techniques for measuring bone are still under development and not yet ready for clinical use. For all of these techniques, clinical interpretation of the bone measures obtained remains a significant challenge. Further research is needed to relate these measures to osteoporosis in the elderly and to short-term and long-term fracture risk.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Low-level, high-frequency mechanical signals enhance musculoskeletal development of young women with low BMD.

UNLABELLED: The potential for brief periods of low-magnitude, high-frequency mechanical signals to enhance the musculoskeletal system was evaluated in young women with low BMD. Twelve months of this noninvasive signal, induced as whole body vibration for at least 2 minutes each day, increased bone and muscle mass in the axial skeleton and lower extremities compared with controls. INTRODUCTION: The incidence of osteoporosis, a disease that manifests in the elderly, may be reduced by increasing peak bone mass in the young. Preliminary data indicate that extremely low-level mechanical signals are anabolic to bone tissue, and their ability to enhance bone and muscle mass in young women was investigated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 12-month trial was conducted in 48 young women (15-20 years) with low BMD and a history of at least one skeletal fracture. One half of the subjects underwent brief (10 minutes requested), daily, low-level whole body vibration (30 Hz, 0.3g); the remaining women served as controls. Quantitative CT performed at baseline and at the end of study was used to establish changes in muscle and bone mass in the weight-bearing skeleton. RESULTS: Using an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, cancellous bone in the lumbar vertebrae and cortical bone in the femoral midshaft of the experimental group increased by 2.1% (p = 0.025) and 3.4% (p < 0.001), respectively, compared with 0.1% (p = 0.74) and 1.1% (p = 0.14), in controls. Increases in cancellous and cortical bone were 2.0% (p = 0.06) and 2.3% (p = 0.04) greater, respectively, in the experimental group compared with controls. Cross-sectional area of paraspinous musculature was 4.9% greater (p = 0.002) in the experimental group versus controls. When a per protocol analysis was considered, gains in both muscle and bone were strongly correlated to a threshold in compliance, where the benefit of the mechanical intervention compared with controls was realized once subjects used the device for at least 2 minute/day (n = 18), as reflected by a 3.9% increase in cancellous bone of the spine (p = 0.007), 2.9% increase in cortical bone of the femur (p = 0.009), and 7.2% increase in musculature of the spine (p = 0.001) compared with controls and low compliers (n = 30). CONCLUSIONS: Short bouts of extremely low-level mechanical signals, several orders of magnitude below that associated with vigorous exercise, increased bone and muscle mass in the weight-bearing skeleton of young adult females with low BMD. Should these musculoskeletal enhancements be preserved through adulthood, this intervention may prove to be a deterrent to osteoporosis in the elderly.

Adolescent↗

Causes of intoeing gait in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Intoeing is a frequent gait problem in children with cerebral palsy. It is essential to determine the cause(s) of intoeing when surgical intervention is being planned. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of various causes of intoeing in children with cerebral palsy and to determine whether the causes differ between children with bilateral and those with unilateral involvement. METHODS: The cause of intoeing gait was examined retrospectively, with use of gait analysis, in 412 children with cerebral palsy (587 involved sides). The causes were evaluated separately for the children with bilateral involvement (diplegia or quadriplegia) and those with hemiplegia. RESULTS: Overall, the most common causes of intoeing were internal hip rotation (322 of 587 sides) and internal tibial torsion (296 of 587 sides). Pes varus contributed to intoeing of thirty-five of the eighty-two involved limbs of the patients with hemiplegia and of forty-two of the 505 limbs of the patients with diplegia or quadriplegia. Multiple causes of intoeing were noted in 215 of the 587 involved limbs, including 176 of the 505 limbs of the patients with bilateral involvement and thirty-nine of the eighty-two involved limbs of the patients with hemiplegia. The most common causes of intoeing in the subjects with bilateral involvement were internal hip rotation (288 of 505), internal tibial torsion (261 of 505), and internal pelvic rotation (ninety-two of 505). The most common causes in the hemiplegic children were internal tibial torsion (thirty-five of eighty-two), pes varus (thirty-five of eighty-two), internal hip rotation (thirty-four of eighty-two), and metatarsus adductus (twenty of eighty-two). CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of children with cerebral palsy have multiple causes of intoeing. Pes varus commonly contributes to intoeing by children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy but rarely contributes to intoeing by those with diplegia or quadriplegia. These findings should be carefully considered prior to surgical correction of the intoeing gait of these patients.

Adolescent↗

Cross-correlation as a method for comparing dynamic electromyography signals during gait.

Current clinical interpretation of dynamic electromyography (EMG) data is usually based on qualitative assessments of muscle timing. Cross-correlation may provide a method for objectively comparing the timing and shape of EMG signals. This study used cross-correlation to compare EMG signals from different walking trials, different test sessions, and different individuals in able-bodied adults. Cross-correlation results (R-values) for different walking trials within a single test session were high, averaging > or = 0.90 for all muscles tested (R = 1.0 indicates exact agreement). Cross-correlation values were also high among trials from different test sessions conducted by the same and different examiners (average R > or = 0.78 for all muscles). R-values were much more variable when comparing different subjects (average 0.40-0.81, range 0.00-0.91). R-values were lower for the medial hamstrings and rectus femoris compared with the other muscles tested. These results suggest that cross-correlation may be useful for evaluating changes in an individual patient's muscle activation patterns, such as before and after surgery, but not for comparing EMG patterns among different individuals, such as between patients and normative data. This is especially true for biarticular muscles such as the hamstrings and rectus femoris, which may have variable activation patterns and/or increased sensitivity to electrode placement. Cross-correlation may also be useful for identifying appropriate muscles for transfer, identifying "outlier" trials within a test session, and selecting representative EMG curves for a given patient. The advantages of cross-correlation are that it considers shape of the EMG signal in addition to timing and that the assessments it provides are objective, rather than subjective.

Adult↗

Bone acquisition in healthy children and adolescents: comparisons of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography measures.

The effect that growth has on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone measurements is yet to be fully defined. The purpose of this study was to determine the best method for optimizing pediatric bone measurements using DXA. Height, weight, body mass index, skeletal age, and Tanner stage of sexual development were determined for 64 healthy boys and 60 healthy girls ages 6-17 yr. DXA of the lumbar vertebrae was performed to measure bone mineral content (BMC, grams) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD, grams per square centimeter), and geometric corrections were used to calculate volumetric bone mineral densities (vBMD): vBMD1 = aBMD/ radical(DXA-area) and vBMD2 = aBMD/bone height. Computed tomography (CT) imaging was performed to measure volumetric bone density (vBD) and vertebral volume (Vol) and to calculate CT-BMC = vBD * Vol. Linear regression was used to compare DXA-BMC vs. CT-BMC and CT vBD vs. DXA aBMD, vBMD1, and vBMD2. Multiple regression including the anthropometric and developmental parameters was also performed. DXA and CT BMC were highly correlated (r2= 0.94). However, DXA aBMD correlated more strongly with CT Vol (r2= 0.68) than with CT density (r2= 0.39), and calculation of DXA volumetric densities only slightly improved the density correlations (r2= 0.49 for vBMD1; r2= 0.55 for BMD2). The correlations for density were particularly poor for subjects in Tanner stages 1-3 (r2= 0.02 for aBMD; r2= 0.13 for vBMD1; r2= 0.27 for vBMD2). In contrast, multiple regression accounting for the anthropometric and developmental parameters greatly improved the agreement between the DXA and CT densities (r2= 0.91). These results suggest that DXA BMC is a more accurate and reliable measure than DXA BMD for assessing bone acquisition, particularly for prepubertal children and those in the early stages of sexual development. Use of DXA BMD would be reasonable if adjustments for body size, pubertal status, and skeletal maturity are made, but these additional assessments add significant complexity to the studies.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Bone densitometry in pediatric populations: discrepancies in the diagnosis of osteoporosis by DXA and CT.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that because of errors associated with growth and development, osteoporosis is frequently overdiagnosed in children when using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This study compared bone density values obtained by DXA with those from computed tomography (CT), which is not influenced by body or skeletal size. STUDY DESIGN: Vertebral bone density was measured by using both DXA and CT in 400 children (100 each, healthy and sick boys and girls). Regression analysis was used to compare DXA and CT Z scores, and the agreement between DXA and CT classifications of Z scores below -2.0 was examined. RESULTS: DXA and CT Z scores were moderately related (r2 = 0.55 after accounting for age and anthropometric measures). DXA Z scores predicted CT Z scores below -2.0 with reasonable sensitivity (72%), specificity (85%), and negative predictive value (98%), but positive predictive value was low (24%). Many more subjects were classified as having bone density lower by DXA (76/400) than by CT (25/400), particularly subjects below the 5 th percentile of height and/or weight for age. CONCLUSIONS: The inability of DXA to account for the large variability in skeletal size and body composition in growing children greatly diminishes the accuracy of this projection technique for assessing bone acquisition and diagnosing osteoporosis in pediatric populations.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

How closely do surgeons follow gait analysis recommendations and why?

Gait laboratory recommendations for surgery were compared with actual surgeries performed in 30 consecutive patients. The agreement between the procedures performed and those recommended by the gait laboratory averaged 93.2+/-13.4% overall and 86.0+/-18.3% excluding patients referred by the gait laboratory physician. For 23 patients (77%), the recommended surgeries exactly matched the surgeries ultimately performed. In the other patients, seven procedures that had not been recommended were performed, and seven procedures that had been recommended were not performed. Explanations for the differences included preoperative clinical or radiographic evaluation, intraoperative assessment, changes in function between gait analysis and surgery, and patient/family request.

Adolescent↗

Gastrocnemius and soleus lengths in cerebral palsy equinus gait--differences between children with and without static contracture and effects of gastrocnemius recession.

Equinus gait is one of the most common abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy. Although it is generally assumed that the calf muscles are abnormally short in equinus gait, no studies have been done to confirm that the muscles are short and that this shortness contributes to the equinus. This study used musculoskeletal modeling combined with computerized gait analysis to examine medial gastrocnemius (MGAS), lateral gastrocnemius (LGAS), and soleus (SOL) musculotendinous lengths during equinus gait in children with cerebral palsy. All three muscles were abnormally short during equinus gait whether or not the children had equinus contractures (P < or = 0.005). Children with static contractures had shorter maximum static MGAS and LGAS lengths than children with dynamic equinus (P < or = 0.002). The children with static contractures had ratios of peak dynamic length to maximum static length close to 1.0 for MGAS and LGAS (1.005 +/- 0.015) but lower ratios for SOL (0.984 +/- 0.024). For the children with static contracture, these ratios did not change significantly after gastrocnemius recession (P > or = 0.14) because both static and dynamic lengths increased postoperatively (P < or = 0.04). These results support the current clinical understanding of the role of calf "tightness" in equinus gait, including the appropriateness and effectiveness of gastrocnemius recession for children with equinus contracture.

Ankle Joint↗

Outcome of gastrocnemius recession and tendo-achilles lengthening in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

Preoperative and postoperative gait analysis data were retrospectively studied for 54 children with cerebral palsy who had undergone either gastrocnemius recession (GR) or tendo-achilles lengthening (TAL) as part of multi-level surgery. Decision-making between GR and TAL was based on the Silfverskiöld test. The TAL group had greater equinus preoperatively than the GR group. Both groups showed significant improvement in static and dynamic dorsiflexion and in outcome measured by a modified Physician Rating Scale (PRS) postoperatively. Calf spasticity decreased and push-off power increased after GR. Both GR and TAL are effective in appropriately selected patients. However, a potential for over- and under-correction with both GR and TAL was demonstrated.

Achilles Tendon↗

Botulinum toxin as an adjunct to serial casting treatment in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Although botulinum toxin A is frequently used to augment serial casting in the treatment of soft-tissue contractures in children with cerebral palsy, its effectiveness for this purpose has not been evaluated. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether botulinum toxin A injection increases the efficacy of serial casting. METHODS: A prospective, randomized trial was undertaken to compare serial casting only with serial casting combined with botulinum toxin A (Botox) injection for the treatment of ankle equinus contractures in twenty-three children with cerebral palsy. Range-of-motion testing, spasticity assessment, and computerized gait analysis were performed as long as twelve months after treatment. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups with regard to the duration of casting required to correct the equinus contracture. Both groups maintained a significant improvement in passive ankle dorsiflexion throughout the follow-up period, although the group managed with casting and Botox had a significant loss of dorsiflexion when the values at six, nine, and twelve months were compared with the value at three months. Peak dorsiflexion during the stance and swing phases was significantly improved in both groups at three months but only in the group managed with casting alone at twelve months. Plantar flexor spasticity was significantly decreased at three months in both groups, but it was significantly decreased at six, nine, and twelve months only in the group managed with casting alone. Spasticity was significantly greater in the group managed with casting and Botox than it was in the group managed with casting only at six, nine, and twelve months. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates the efficacy of serial casting in the treatment of equinus contractures in children with cerebral palsy who are able to walk. Contrary to our hypothesis, the addition of botulinum toxin A to a serial casting regimen led to earlier recurrence of spasticity, contracture, and equinus during gait. The results of the present study suggest that botulinum toxin combined with serial casting for the treatment of fixed contractures will lead to a recurrence of plantar flexor spasticity and equinus contracture by six months in this patient population. While previous research has indicated that the injection of botulinum toxin A is superior to casting for the treatment of dynamic equinus, the present study suggests that serial casting alone is preferable for the treatment of fixed equinus contractures in children with cerebral palsy.

Adolescent↗

A computational model for the adaptation of muscle and tendon length to average muscle length and minimum tendon strain.

This paper hypothesizes that average muscle length and minimum tendon strain govern muscle and tendon length adaptation in all situations. A model has been implemented to test this hypothesis, and simulations have been performed for normal development, bone lengthening, immobilization, and retinacular release experiments in young and adult animals. The simulation results predict that both muscle and tendon lengthen during normal development, with the rate of tendon growth slowing faster than the rate of muscle growth. The results also predict that muscle length increases during bone lengthening in both young and adult animals, while tendon length increases only in young animals. For immobilization in adult animals, the results predict that muscle length increases when the muscle is immobilized in a lengthened position and decreases when the muscle is immobilized in a shortened position with no change in tendon length. For immobilization in young animals, the results predict reduced muscle growth and increased tendon growth regardless of immobilization position. Finally, the simulations predict that retinacular release which increases excursion of the musculotendinous unit leads to increased muscle length with decreased tendon length in young animals and decreased muscle length with no change in tendon length in adult animals. These simulation results are consistent with experimental findings reported in the literature by other investigators. This suggests that average muscle length and minimum tendon strain may represent general principles that govern muscle and tendon length adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Effects of creep and cyclic loading on the mechanical properties and failure of human Achilles tendons.

The Achilles tendon is one of the most frequently injured tendons in humans, and yet the mechanisms underlying its injury are not well understood. This study examines the ex vivo mechanical behavior of excised human Achilles tendons to elucidate the relationships between mechanical loading and Achilles tendon injury. Eighteen tendons underwent creep testing at constant stresses from 35 to 75 MPa. Another 25 tendons underwent sinusoidal cyclic loading at 1 Hz between a minimum stress of 10 MPa and maximum stresses of 30-80 MPa. For the creep specimens, there was no significant relationship between applied stress and time to failure, but time to failure decreased exponentially with increasing initial strain (strain when target stress is first reached) and decreasing failure strain. For the cyclically loaded specimens, secant modulus decreased and cyclic energy dissipation increased over time. Time and cycles to failure decreased exponentially with increasing applied stress, increasing initial strain (peak strain from first loading cycle), and decreasing failure strain. For both creep and cyclic loading, initial strain was the best predictor of time or cycles to failure, supporting the hypothesis that strain is the primary mechanical parameter governing tendon damage accumulation and injury. The cyclically loaded specimens failed faster than would be expected if only time-dependent damage occurred, suggesting that repetitive loading also contributes to Achilles tendon injuries.

Achilles Tendon↗

Predictive value of the Duncan-Ely test in distal rectus femoris transfer.

Fifty-six patients who underwent 94 distal rectus femoris transfers and pre- and postoperative gait analyses were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups based on pre- and postoperative Duncan-Ely tests. Group A (34 limbs) had positive tests both before and after surgery. Group B (46 limbs) had positive tests before surgery and negative tests after surgery. Group C (13 limbs) had negative tests both before and after surgery. One limb had a negative test before surgery and a positive test after surgery and was not included in any group. Knee arc increased significantly in both groups with positive preoperative Duncan-Ely tests (groups A and B), but not in the group with negative preoperative tests (group C). The timing of peak knee flexion in swing improved in all groups, but the change was smaller and not statistically significant in the group with negative preoperative tests (group C). The findings of the current study indicate that the Duncan-Ely test may be a helpful predictor of outcome in children for whom distal rectus femoris transfer is being considered. Caution should be exercised when patients have weak quadriceps and a negative Duncan-Ely test before surgery, particularly when concurrent calf lengthening procedures are planned.

Adolescent↗

Changes in pelvic rotation after soft tissue and bony surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

The authors performed a retrospective review of pelvic rotation in 59 children with cerebral palsy who underwent lower extremity surgery and pre- and postoperative gait analysis. Two groups were studied: a femoral derotation osteotomy (FDRO) group and a soft tissue surgery only (no FDRO) group. Both groups exhibited abnormal pelvic rotation preoperatively and normalization of this abnormal pelvic rotation postoperatively. Though the mean change in pelvic rotation was small (3.3 degrees +/- 6.0 degrees), some patients demonstrated postoperative changes as large as 21 degrees. Variability in pelvic rotation was greater in the no FDRO group than in the FDRO group. Improvement in pelvic rotation occurred both in children with unilateral (hemiplegic) involvement and in those with bilateral (diplegic or quadriplegic) involvement. Surgeons planning lower extremity surgery in children with cerebral palsy should expect improvement in abnormal pelvic rotation in both hemiplegic and diplegic patients, whether or not bony surgery is planned in addition to soft tissue surgery.

Cerebral Palsy↗

Prevalence of specific gait abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy: influence of cerebral palsy subtype, age, and previous surgery.

The authors retrospectively reviewed a series of 492 consecutive cerebral palsy patients undergoing computerized motion analysis. The prevalence of 14 specific gait abnormalities was evaluated and compared based on involvement (hemiplegia, diplegia, or quadriplegia), age, and history of previous surgery (lower extremity orthopaedic surgery or rhizotomy). Stiff knee in swing, equinus, and intoeing were all seen in more than 50% of the subjects in each of the hemiplegic, diplegic, and quadriplegic groups. Increased hip flexion and crouch were also present in more than 50% of the subjects in the diplegic and quadriplegic groups, and hip adduction occurred in more than 50% of the quadriplegic subjects. The likelihood of having stiff knee in swing, out-toeing, calcaneus deformity, and crouch increased with prior surgery. The likelihood of having rotational malalignment of the leg (internal hip rotation with out-toeing), calcaneus, out-toeing, varus and valgus foot deformities, and hip internal rotation increased with age. These findings provide important information for counseling ambulatory children with cerebral palsy and their families.

Adolescent↗

Reliability and validity of visual assessments of gait using a modified physician rating scale for crouch and foot contact.

This study evaluates the visual assessment of gait using portions of the Physicians' Rating Scale (PRS). Thirty children with pathologic gait were evaluated "live" and using full- and slow-speed video. Interobserver reliability (weighted kappa) was 0.57 to 0.74 for foot contact, 0.69 to 0.71 for crouch, 0.30 to 0.40 for hip flexion, 0.57 to 0.65 for knee flexion, and 0.42 to 0.52 for dorsiflexion in stance. Intraobserver reliability (comparing the three conditions) was 0.50 to 0.78 for foot contact, 0.71 to 0.80 for crouch, 0.26 to 0.44 for hip flexion, 0.60 to 0.86 for knee flexion, and 0.39 to 0.61 for dorsiflexion. Observers were correct only 12% to 32% of the time when reporting less than 0 degrees of dorsiflexion and 0% to 29% of the time when reporting more than 20 degrees of hip flexion due to overestimation of hip flexion and underestimation of ankle dorsiflexion. These errors could lead some clinicians to presume the presence of contractures that do not actually exist. Visual assessment using the PRS does not appear to accurately measure what it is most commonly used to assess: ankle position in stance.

Adolescent↗