Implanted biomaterials play a key role in the current success of orthopedic and dental procedures. Pure titanium and its alloys are the most commonly used materials for permanent implants in contact with bone. However, implant-related infections remain among the leading reasons for failure. The most critical pathogenic event in the development of infection on biomaterials is biofilm formation, which starts immediately after bacterial adhesion. In the last decade, numerous studies reported the ability of titanium surface modifications and coatings to minimize bacterial adhesion, inhibit biofilm formation and provide effective bacterial killing to protect implanted biomaterials. In the present review, the different strategies to prevent infection onto titanium surfaces are reported: surface modification and coatings by antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides, inorganic antibacterial metal elements and antibacterial

IV.

Purpose: Various spinal and rib cage parameters measured from complex exams were found to be correlated with preoperative pulmonary function tests (PFT). The aim was to investigate the relationship between preoperative rib cage parameters and PFT using biplanar stereoradiography in patients with severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods:Fifty-four patients, 45 girls and nine boys, aged 13.8 ± 1.2 years, with Lenke 1 or 2 thoracic scoliosis (>50°) requiring surgical correction were prospectively included. All patients underwent preoperative PFT and low-dose biplanar X-rays. The following data were collected: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, residual volume (RV), slow vital capacity (SVC), total lung capacity (TLC), rib cage volume (RCV), maximum rib hump (MRH), maximum width, mean thoracic index, spinal penetration index (SPI), apical vertebral rotation (AVR), main curve Cobb angle (MCCA), T4-T12 kyphosis. The primary outcome was the relationship between rib cage parameters and PFT. The secondary outcome was the relationship between rib cage parameters and spine parameters. Data were analyzed using Spearman's rank test. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to compare PFTs and structural parameters. Significance was set at α = 0.05. Results:The mean MCCA was 68.7 ± 16.7°. RCV was highly correlated with all pulmonary capacities: TLC (r=0.76, p < 0.0001), SVC (r=0.78, p < 0.0001) and FVC (r=0.77, p < 0.0001). RCV had a low correlation with FEV1/FVC (r= -0.34, p=0.014). SPI was not correlated with any pulmonary parameters.Conclusion: Rib cage volume measured by biplanar stereoradiography may represent a prediction tool for PFTs.

4.

Purpose To determine the short-term eect of bracing of adolescent idiopathic scoliotic (AIS) patients on the relationships between spinopelvic parameters related to balance, by comparing their in and out-of-brace geometry and versus healthy subjects.Methods Forty-two AIS patients (Cobb angle 29• ± 12 • , ranging from 16 to 61• ) with a prescription of orthotic treatment were included retrospectively and prospectively. They all underwent biplanar radiography and 3D reconstruction of the spine and pelvis before bracing as well as less than 9 months after bracing. Eighty-three age-matched healthy adolescents were also included as control group and underwent biplanar radiography and 3D reconstruction.Results Sacral slope was higher in AIS than healthy patients (p = 0.005).Bracing induced large changes of pelvic tilt (between -9• and 9 • ), although patients' sagittal spinopelvic alignment tended to remain within the normality corridors dened by the healthy patients. Patients had atter backs compared to healthy subjects and bracing further reduced their spinal curves.The head tended to remain above the pelvis in-brace.Conclusions Analysis of sagittal alignment from head to pelvis showed that bracing further attened the patients' backs and induced large compensating reorientations of the pelvis. Sagittal balance should be included in the planning and evaluation of brace treatment, since it could play a role in its outcome.

In-depth analysis suggests that personalization of spinal functional units mechanical properties could improve the simulation's accuracy, but the model gave good results, thus justifying further research on its clinical application.

Level IV-diagnostic study.

No abstract