Name: augmented reality navigation-guided core decompression for osteonecrosis of femoral head
Uploaded: 2022-04-12T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Augmented Reality Navigation-Guided Core Decompression for Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head at JoVE.com

This work was supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation(7202183), National Natural Science Foundation of China(81972107), and Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission(D171100003217001).

This study was approved by the ethics committee of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital (approval number: 2021-12-K04). All of the following steps were performed according to standardized procedures to avoid injury to the patients and the surgeons. Informed patient consent was obtained for this study. The surgeon must be skilled in conventional core decompression procedures to ensure that the surgery can be performed in a traditional way in case of inaccurate navigation or other unexpected situations.
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<ol>
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E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Core+decompression+and+nonvascularized+bone+grafting+for+the+treatment+of+early+stage+osteonecrosis+of+the+femoral+head.">Core decompression and nonvascularized bone grafting for the treatment of early stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head.</a> Instructional Course Lectures. 56, 213-220 (2007).</li><li>Wang, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patient-specific+core+decompression+surgery+for+early-stage+ischemic+necrosis+of+the+femoral+head.">Patient-specific core decompression surgery for early-stage ischemic necrosis of the femoral head.</a> PLoS One. 12 (5), 0175366 (2017).</li><li>Hoffmann, M. F., Khoriaty, J. D., Sietsema, D. L., Jones, C. 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R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Augmented+reality-assisted+spine+surgery:+an+early+experience+demonstrating+safety+and+accuracy+with+218+screws.">Augmented reality-assisted spine surgery: an early experience demonstrating safety and accuracy with 218 screws.</a> Global Spine Journal. , (2022).</li><li>Weiss, H. R., Nan, X., Potts, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Is+there+an+indication+for+surgery+in+patients+with+spinal+deformities?+-+A+critical+appraisal.">Is there an indication for surgery in patients with spinal deformities? - A critical appraisal.</a> The South African Journal of Physiotherapy. 77 (2), 1569 (2021).</li><li>Boontanapibul, K., Amanatullah, D. F., Huddleston, J. I., Maloney, W. J., Goodman, S. 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Although THA has developed rapidly in recent years and become an effective ultimate method for ONFH, hip preservation therapy still plays an important role in treating early-stage ONFH18,19. CD is a basic and effective hip preservation surgery, which can release hip pain and delay the development of femoral head collapse20. The puncture positioning of the focal necrosis is the crucial procedure of CD, as it determines the success or failur...

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common disabling disease occurring in young adults1. Clinically, it is necessary to determine the staging of ONFH based on X-ray, CT, and MRI to decide the treatment strategy (Figure 1). For early-stage ONFH, hip preservation therapy is usually adopted2. Core decompression (CD) surgery is one of the most frequently used hip preservation methods for ONFH. Certain curative effects of core decompression with or without bone grafting in treating early-stage ONFH have been reported, which can avoid or delay subsequent total hip arthroplasty (THA) for a long time3,4,5. However, the success rate of CD with or without bone grafting was reported differently among previous studies, from 64% to 95%6,7,8,9. The surgical technique, especially the accuracy of drilling position, is important for the success of hip preservation10. Due to the blindness of the puncture and positioning procedure, the traditional techniques of CD have several problems, such as more fluoroscopy time, repeated puncture using Kirschner wire, and injury of normal bone tissue11,12.
In recent years, the augmented reality (AR)-assisted method has been introduced in orthopedic surgery13. The AR technique can visually show the anatomy of the surgical field, guide the surgeons in planning the operating procedure, and consequently reduce the difficulty of the operation. The applications of the AR technique in pedicle screw implantation and joint arthroplasty surgery have been reported earlier14,15,16,17. In this study, we aim to apply the AR technique to the CD procedure and verify its safety, accuracy, and feasibility in clinical practice.
System hardware components 
The main components of the AR-based navigation surgical system include the following: (1) A depth camera (Figure 2A) installed directly above the surgical area; the video is shot from this and sent back to the workstation for registration and cooperation with the imaging data. (2) A puncture device (Figure 2B) and a non-invasive body surface marking frame (Figure 2C), both with passive infrared reflectors. A special reflective coating of marking balls (Figure 3) can be captured by infrared equipment to achieve accurate tracking of surgical equipment in the surgical area. (3) An infrared positioning device (Figure 2D) is responsible for tracking markers in the surgical area, matching the body surface marking frame and puncture device with high accuracy (Figure 4). (4) The host system (Figure 2E) is a 64-bit workstation, installed with the independently developed AR-assisted orthopedic surgery system. Augmented reality display of hip joint and femoral head puncture operation can be completed with its assistance.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>AR-assisted Orthopedic Surgery System</td>
			<td>Self development</td>
			<td>None</td>
			<td>An operating software that implements AR for orthopedic surgery</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Depth camera</td>
			<td>Stereolabs</td>
			<td>ZED depth camera(ZED mini)</td>
			<td>shoot video and sent back to the workstation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Image processing software</td>
			<td>Adobe Systems Incorporated</td>
			<td>Adobe Photoshop CS6</td>
			<td>Image processing software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Infrared positioning device</td>
			<td>Northern Digital Inc.</td>
			<td>NDI Polaris Spectra optical tracking device</td>
			<td>Tracking markers in the surgical area.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Puncture device</td>
			<td>Stryker</td>
			<td>Stryker System 7 Cordless driver and Sabo</td>
			<td>Insert kirschner wire into the necrotic area.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

augmented reality navigation-guided core decompression for osteonecrosis of femoral head

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common joint disease in young and middle-aged patients, which seriously burdens their lives and work. For early-stage ONFH, core decompression surgery is a classical and effective hip preservation therapy. In traditional procedures of core decompression with Kirschner wire, there are still many problems such as X-ray exposure, repeated puncture verification, and damage to normal bone tissue. The blindness of the puncture process and the inability to provide real-time visualization are crucial reasons for these problems.
To optimize this procedure, our team developed an intraoperative navigation system on the basis of augmented reality (AR) technology. This surgical system can intuitively display the anatomy of the surgical areas and render preoperative images and virtual needles to intraoperative video in real-time. With the guide of the navigation system, surgeons can accurately insert Kirschner wires into the targeted lesion area and minimize the collateral damage. We conducted 10 cases of core decompression surgery with this system. The efficiency of positioning and fluoroscopy is greatly improved compared to the traditional procedures, and the accuracy of puncture is also guaranteed.

Operation characteristics 
The surgical navigation system was applied in continuative 10 hips of nine patients. The average total positioning time of the surgery was 10.1 min (median 9.5 min, range 8.0-14.0 min). The mean C-ARM fluoroscopies was 5.5 times (median 5.5 times, range 4-8 times). The mean error of puncture accuracy was 1.61 mm (median 1.2 mm, range -5.76-19.73 mm; Table 1). The results show that the positioning time and fluoroscopy times are obviously shortened compared ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Augmented Reality Navigation-Guided Core Decompression for Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head at JoVE.com

Augmented Reality Navigation-Guided Core Decompression for Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head

Augmented reality technology was applied to core decompression for osteonecrosis of the femoral head to realize real-time visualization of this surgical procedure. This method can effectively improve the safety and precision of core decompression.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common joint disease in young and middle-aged patients, which seriously burdens their lives and work. For ...

Our system can improve the success rate and the efficiency in core decompression surgery for femoral head necrosis. It also significantly reduces the intraoperative positioning time and the fluoroscope source. With VR technology, we can utilize the puncture process, reduce the difficulty of the operation, and it cause less additional damage to the patient than traditional surgical results.The system can be extended to other orthopedic surgery involving puncture procedures. It has been used to get percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy procedure. This system is specially designed for the early osteonecrosis of the femoral head, since traditional surgery is not precise enough, and may bring more secondary damage to the patient, such as normal tissue damage or excessive radiation.The protocol should be and the operation carefully observed to understand the principles and the steps of the system, to minimize the risk indication. And the technical points of core decompression of the femoral head will prove helpful for successful excursion. Begin by dividing the planned surgical frontal area into upper and lower levels.This spatial information will be automatically entered into the software system. Allocate every level with 10 matching points and divide it into three equal parts with two parts having three points each, and the remaining part having four points. Ask the assistant to place the noninvasive body surface marking frame according to the points.Once done, click on match. The system's special image for registration will be automatically super imposed on the marking frame. Move the puncture device randomly in the surgical area to detect the matching degree of virtual needle and tracking delay.In the operating room, ask the patient to lie down in a supine position and fix the lower limb of the affected side. Prepare the surgical site with iodine and 75%alcohol. Move the C-arm fluoroscope to the side of the operating table and position the source above the hip joint.Align the source with the depth camera and record the position of the surgical table as position one. In the AR-assisted orthopedic surgery system, click file front x-ray image and select image one. The system will automatically identify the marking frame and superimpose this image to the hip joint in the surgical video.Using the AR display of the x-ray image and based on the real time video, plan the puncture path. Stand on the affected side for performing the procedure, hold the puncture device, and determine the best insertion angle. Mark the insertion point on the skin surface, guided by the virtual Kirschner wire and the x-ray image of the hip joint in the surgical video.Using a Kirschner wire, pierce through the insertion point. Observe the insertion depth and angle in the video, and adjust it timely. When the virtual needle has reached the target area of necrosis, stop the puncture process and retain the screenshot as image two for subsequent puncture accuracy evaluation.After the puncture, pull out the drill, leaving the Kirschner wires in the bone temporarily. Move the operating table to position one for the second fluoroscopy to verify the actual puncture condition of the Kirschner wire. Record the image file.Puncture is successful when the location of the Kirschner wire meets all of the surgeon's requirements. Then, use the Lancet to cut the skin around the needle and separate every level of soft tissue until the subtrochanter bone is exposed to approximately a depth of three centimeters. Drill into the necrotic area along the Kirschner wire with a five millimeter trephine to complete the subsequent operations.After finishing all the procedures, close the skin with three oh silk thread and cover it with sterile dressing. The surgical navigation system was applied in continuative ten hips of nine patients. With an average total positioning time of 10.1 minutes during the surgery, the mean C-arm fluoroscopies were 5.5 times.The mean error of puncture accuracy was 1.61 millimeters. By the hips evaluated, two hips were in ARCO I stage, four hips were in ARCO IIA stage, and four in ARCO IIB stage. The mean preoperative VAS score was six, and the mean postoperative score was 3.75.The average preoperative Harris score was 77.5, and the mean postoperative score was 85.5. No postoperative complications such as infection, hematoma, or nerve damage were found. It is also possible to combine the procedure with CT three dimensional reconstruction technology so that the puncture can be realized from a three dimensional perspective, which is our future work.We provide an innovative idea of combining AI technology and orthopedic surgery. This idea can also be used to improve the precision of other orthopedic operations in the future.

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Research

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Medicine

Integrating Augmented Reality Tools in Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Prognostication and Diagnosis

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a detrimental condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the upper limb in breast cancer patients subjected to axillary surgery and/or radiations. Its etiology is multifactorial and include also tumor-specific pathological features, such as lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and extranodal extension (ENE). To date, no widely employed guidelines for the early diagnosis of BCRL are available. Here, we illustrate a protocol for a digitally assisted BCRL assessment using a 3D laser scanner (3DLS) and a tablet computer. It has been specifically optimized in a discovery cohort of high-risk breast cancer patients. This study provides a proof-of-principle that augmented reality tools, such as 3DLS, can be incorporated into the clinical workup of BCRL to allow for a precise, reproducible, reliable, and cheap diagnosis.

Breast cancer related lymphedema is frequent in breast cancer survivors, but there are not widely employed guidelines for its diagnosis and quantification. Here, we introduce a reliable and cost-effective protocol to define, quantify, and compare upper limb volume in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is a detrimental condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the upper limb in breast cancer patients ...

Combining Augmented Reality and 3D Printing to Display Patient Models on a Smartphone

Augmented reality (AR) has great potential in education, training, and surgical guidance in the medical field. Its combination with three-dimensional (3D) printing (3DP) opens new possibilities in clinical applications. Although these technologies have grown exponentially in recent years, their adoption by physicians is still limited, since they require extensive knowledge of engineering and software development. Therefore, the purpose of this protocol is to describe a step-by-step methodology enabling inexperienced users to create a smartphone app, which combines AR and 3DP for the visualization of anatomical 3D models of patients with a 3D-printed reference marker. The protocol describes how to create 3D virtual models of a patient&rsquo;s anatomy derived from 3D medical images. It then explains how to perform positioning of the 3D models with respect to marker references. Also provided are instructions for how to 3D print the required tools and models. Finally, steps to deploy the app are provided. The protocol is based on free and multi-platform software and can be applied to any medical imaging modality or patient. An alternative approach is described to provide automatic registration between a 3D-printed model created from a patient&rsquo;s anatomy and the projected holograms. As an example, a clinical case of a patient suffering from distal leg sarcoma is provided to illustrate the methodology. It is expected that this protocol will accelerate the adoption of AR and 3DP technologies by medical professionals.

Presented here is a method to design an augmented reality smartphone application for the visualization of anatomical three-dimensional models of patients using a 3D-printed reference marker.

Augmented reality (AR) has great potential in education, training, and surgical guidance in the medical field. Its combination with three-dimensional (3D) ...

Orthopedic Robot-Assisted Femoral Neck System in the Treatment of Femoral Neck Fracture

Cannulated screw fixation is the main therapy for femoral neck fractures, especially in young patients. The traditional surgical procedure uses C-arm fluoroscopy to place the screw freehand and requires several guide wire adjustments, which increases the operation time and radiation exposure. Repeated drilling can also cause damage to the blood supply and bone quality of the femoral neck, which can be followed by complications such as screw loosening, nonunion, and femoral head necrosis. In order to make fixation more precise and reduce the incidence of complications, our team applied robot-assisted orthopedic surgery for screw placement using the femoral neck system to modify the traditional procedure. This protocol introduces how to import a patient's X-ray information into the system, how to perform screw path planning in software, and how the robotic arm assists in screw placement. Using this method, the surgeons can place the screw successfully the first time, improve the accuracy of the procedure, and avoid radiation exposure. The whole protocol includes the diagnosis of femoral neck fracture; the collection of intraoperative X-ray images; screw path planning in the software; precise placement of the screw under the assistance of the robotic arm by the surgeon; and verification of the implant placement.

This article introduces a method of robot-assisted orthopedic surgery for screw placement during the treatment of femoral neck fracture using the femoral neck system, which allows for more accurate screw placement, improved surgical efficiency, and fewer complications.

Cannulated screw fixation is the main therapy for femoral neck fractures, especially in young patients. The traditional surgical procedure uses C-arm ...

Advanced CAD Imaging for Surgical Margin Analysis in Cancer Care

Enhanced Communication of Tumor Margins Using 3D Scanning and Mapping

After oncologic resection of malignant tumors, specimens are sent to pathology for processing to determine the surgical margin status. These results are communicated in the form of a written pathology report. The current standard-of-care pathology report provides a written description of the specimen and the sites of margin sampling without any visual representation of the resected tissue. The specimen itself is typically destroyed during sectioning and analysis. This often leads to challenging communication between pathologists and surgeons when the final pathology report is confirmed. Furthermore, surgeons and pathologists are the only members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to visualize the resected cancer specimen. We have developed a 3D scanning and specimen mapping protocol to address this unmet need. Computer-aided design (CAD) software is used to annotate the virtual specimen clearly showing sites of inking and margin sampling. This map can be utilized by various members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team.

Author Spotlight: 3D Scanning and Augmented Reality for Enhanced Cancer Surgery Communication

A novel method for 3D scanning and virtual mapping of cancer resections is proposed with the goal of improving communication among the multidisciplinary cancer care team.

After oncologic resection of malignant tumors, specimens are sent to pathology for processing to determine the surgical margin status. These results are ...

Novel PLL-AF Suture Technique for Annulus Fibrosus Repair in Lumbar Endoscopy

A Suture Technique for Ruptured Annulus Fibrosus Following Decompression Under Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy

The suture technique for a ruptured annulus fibrosus (AF) under full-endoscopy remains challenging. Direct suturing of a ruptured annular tear after full decompression has been shown to decrease the recurrence rate of lumbar disc herniation during endoscopic surgery. Traditional suture operations under endoscopy involve only simple suturing of the ruptured AF. Due to the weak and poor quality of the AF tissue around the tear portal, using this area as needle insertion points during suturing may lead to insufficient tension and a low success rate of AF closure. Currently, there is no detailed technical illustration based on video for AF tear suturing under lumbar full-endoscopy. We innovatively propose a method of covering and suturing the AF tear by pulling up the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) under lumbar endoscopy and using three stitches (PLL-AF suture technique). The patient who received the novel suture technique achieved satisfactory results. Six months after the operation, lumbar MRI showed no evidence of recurrence in the outpatient clinic.

Author Spotlight: Development and Application of a Novel Suture Technique for Annular Fibrosus Repair in Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy

This protocol describes an innovative suture technique for ruptured annular fibrosus during percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy.

The suture technique for a ruptured annulus fibrosus (AF) under full-endoscopy remains challenging. Direct suturing of a ruptured annular tear after full ...

Pedicle Screw Placement Using an Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display in a Porcine Model

This protocol helps assess the accuracy and workflow of an augmented reality (AR) hybrid navigation system using the Magic Leap head-mounted display (HMD) for minimally invasive pedicle screw placement. The cadaveric porcine specimens were placed on a surgical table and draped with sterile covers. The levels of interest were identified using fluoroscopy, and a dynamic reference frame was attached to the spinous process of a vertebra in the region of interest. Cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) was performed, and a 3D rendering was automatically generated, which was used for the subsequent planning of the pedicle screw placements. Each surgeon was fitted with an HMD that was individually eye-calibrated and connected to the spinal navigation system.
Navigated instruments, tracked by the navigation system and displayed in 2D and 3D in the HMD, were used for 33 pedicle cannulations, each with a diameter of 4.5 mm. Postprocedural CBCT scans were assessed by an independent reviewer to measure the technical (deviation from the planned path) and clinical (Gertzbein grade) accuracy of each cannulation. The navigation time for each cannulation was measured. The technical accuracy was 1.0 mm &#177; 0.5 mm at the entry point and 0.8 mm &#177; 0.1 mm at the target. The angular deviation was 1.5&#176; &#177; 0.6&#176;, and the mean insertion time per cannulation was 141 s &#177; 71 s. The clinical accuracy was 100% according to the Gertzbein grading scale (32 grade 0; 1 grade 1). When used for minimally invasive pedicle cannulations in a porcine model, submillimeter technical accuracy and 100% clinical accuracy could be achieved with this protocol.

The augmented reality head-mounted display, Magic Leap, was used in combination with a conventional navigation system to place pedicle screws in a porcine model by adhering to a novel workflow. With a median insertion time of &lt;2.5 min, submillimeter technical accuracy and 100% clinical accuracy were achieved according to Gertzbein.

This protocol helps assess the accuracy and workflow of an augmented reality (AR) hybrid navigation system using the Magic Leap head-mounted display (HMD) ...

Optimized 3D Reconstruction and Motion Mapping for Remote AR-Assisted Surgery

Automatic Surgery in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is in high demand in medical applications. The aim of the paper is to provide automatic surgery using AR for the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). TAVR is the alternate medical procedure for open-heart surgery. TAVR replaces the injured valve with the new one using a catheter. In the existing model, remote guidance is given, while the surgery is not automated based on AR. In this article, we deployed a spatially aligned camera that is connected to a motor for the automation of image capture in the surgical environment. The camera tracks the 2D high-resolution image of the patient's heart along with the catheter testbed. These captured images are uploaded using the mobile app to a remote surgeon who is a cardiology expert. This image is utilized for the 3D reconstruction from 2D image tracking. This is viewed in a HoloLens like an emulator in a laptop. The surgeon can remotely inspect the 3D reconstructed images with additional transformation features such as rotation and scaling. These transformation features are enabled through hand gestures. The surgeon's guidance is transmitted to the surgical environment to automate the process in real-time scenarios. The catheter testbed in the surgical field is controlled by the hand gesture guidance of the remote surgeon. The developed prototype model demonstrates the effectiveness of remote surgical guidance through AR.

Author Spotlight: Revolutionizing Remote Surgery with Augmented Reality and Robotics for Enhanced Precision and Accessibility

This article presents the design and implementation of an automatic surgery module based on augmented reality (AR)- based 3D reconstruction. The system enables remote surgery by allowing surgeons to inspect reconstructed features and replicate surgical hand movements as if they were performing the surgery in close proximity.

Augmented Reality (AR) is in high demand in medical applications. The aim of the paper is to provide automatic surgery using AR for the Transcatheter ...

Relieving Occipital Neuralgia: Nerve and Muscle-Preserving Decompression

Minimally Invasive Surgical Decompression of Occipital Nerves

Occipital neuralgia (ON) stands out as one of the most distressing forms of headache disorders, distinguished by persistent pain at the base of the skull, recurring occipital headaches, and scalp dysesthesia or allodynia. ON is notorious for its unrelenting agony, severely impacting the lives of those afflicted. The incessant pain, often radiating upward from the base of the skull to the scalp, can be profoundly debilitating. Patients frequently endure excruciating occipital headaches, making even routine daily activities a formidable challenge. The added burden of scalp dysesthesia or allodynia, where seemingly innocuous stimuli elicit severe pain, compounds the suffering. This neuralgia primarily arises from the mechanical compression exerted on the occipital nerves along the nuchal line. In this paper, we present a minimally invasive nerve and muscle-preserving technique aimed at relieving this compression on the occipital nerves. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are paramount in providing relief for individuals battling this condition. Nerve blocks with local anesthesia have become a cornerstone of diagnosis, serving as both a confirmation of occipital neuralgia and a potential therapeutic intervention. These procedures offer crucial insights into the source of the pain while offering transient respite. However, the true breakthrough lies in the innovative technique we propose - a procedure that addresses the mechanical compression at the nuchal line, which is a prominent contributing factor to occipital neuralgia. By carefully decompressing the affected occipital nerves while preserving their integrity and surrounding muscle tissue, this minimally invasive approach offers patients a potential path to sustained relief. Remarkably, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, reducing the invasiveness of traditional surgeries and minimizing patient downtime.

Author Spotlight: Minimally Invasive Relief for Occipital Neuralgia at the Nuchal Line

The manuscript presents a minimally invasive nerve and muscle-sparing surgical protocol to decompress occipital nerves aiming to improve occipital neuralgia.

Occipital neuralgia (ON) stands out as one of the most distressing forms of headache disorders, distinguished by persistent pain at the base of the skull, ...

Decompression for Treating Occipital Neuralgia by Preserving Nerve Integrity

To begin, prepare the infiltration mixture for nerve blocking and transfer it into a five-milliliter syringe with a 30-gauge needle. Ask how the patient is feeling. After positioning the patient, identify the pit between the lateral edge of the proximal trapezius and the medial edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle insertion below the nuchal line, and palpate the occipital artery passage above the nuchal line.Using a 10-megahertz doppler, confirm the occipital neurovascular bundle position below the nuchal line. As the patient is seated upright, palpitate to identify the most tender point within the area. Prior to injecting, perform gentle aspiration with the syringe to prevent intravascular injection.Mark the incision site with a two to three-centimeter oblique line across the tender area. With a surgical shaver, shave the marked area and one centimeter around it. Then, using a sterile cloth, drape the instrumentation table with laminar flow.After administering local anesthesia to the patient, using a No.15 surgical blade, make an oblique, beveled incision measuring 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters. Utilizing a scalpel, incise the superficial layer of the nuchal line and dissect with the dissection scissors to expose the greater occipital nerve, occipital artery, and lymph nodes. Using dissection scissors, create the space following the greater occipital nerve meticulously along all points of possible compression, and perform proximal release of the inferior fascia of the trapezius muscle, semispinalis muscle fascia, and distal nuchal line fibers.Employing Hudson surgical forceps, carefully reposition or remove the occipital artery and lymph nodes in contact with the nerves. Then, gently disengage the adventitial and periarterial tissues abundant in afferent and efferent autonomic nervous system fibers. Using a 30-gauge needle, spray 1%lidocaine with epinephrine directly on the nerve branches to block them.Ask the patient to move the head and talk to confirm complete decompression. Finally, using 5-0 nylon sutures, close the incision with single stitches. Apply moisture-permeable spray dressing and sterile gauze on the site, and tape it carefully.Ask how the patient is feeling after the procedure. After surgical decompression, chronic pain days experienced by the patients decreased 5.8 times and the pain crisis days per month decreased 5.1 times. Background pain intensity decreased 5.2 times in patients after the surgery, and pain intensity peaks during crises decreased 4.2 times.

Elastic Tape Rat Model of Steroid-Induced Femoral Head Osteonecrosis Enhancement

Tension-Free Weight-Bearing Model of Steroid-Induced Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head in Rats

Unlike humans, rats are animals that walk on all fours, while humans are bipedal animals that stand, and the hips are subjected to tremendous pressure when walking and standing. In rat steroid-induced femoral head necrosis models, the biomechanical characteristics of the human hip under higher pressure often need to be simulated. Some scholars try to emulate the state of human hip pressure by making rats bear a certain weight, but fixing the weight-bearing object on the rat is tough. Rats can easily break free of immobilization, and sticking the weight on the rats with adhesive tape will cause the rats to suffocate or die from intestinal obstruction. Our research group used elastic therapeutic tape to perform tension-free immobilization of weight-bearing objects in rats so that the rats could breathe freely and not break away from the immobilization under weight-bearing conditions. Compared to the usual steroid-induced femoral head necrosis rat model, we found that this weight-bearing intervention can aggravate the progression of femoral head necrosis in rats.

Author Spotlight: Developing a Rat Model for Weight-Bearing Intervention to Investigate Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

The protocol shows building a simple and cost-effective rat weight-bearing training model for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head using elastic therapeutic tape.

Unlike humans, rats are animals that walk on all fours, while humans are bipedal animals that stand, and the hips are subjected to tremendous pressure ...