Arthrokatadysis from post-injection gluteal muscular fibrosis case report

Background Gluteal muscle contracture (GMC) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the contracture of gluteal muscles, iliotibial band (ITB), and related fascia. GMC is much more prevalent in China, which has been proven to be associated with repeated intramuscular injections into the buttocks and the subsequent fibrosis and contracture.Generally, GMC is manifested mild. Here, we reported a severe case with arthrokatadysis. Case presentations A 25-year old man received multiple intramuscular injections of penicillin in the buttock when he was diagnosed with acute tonsillitis at 6 years old. Since then, he was injected penicillin regularly in local hospital because of the repeated acute tonsillitis until he was in high school. When the patient was found by the physical education teacher to be running in a state of external rotation of both feet, he was suggested to go to the hospital for treatment and was initially diagnosed to have GMC. He complained of occasional pain and limited range of motion in the hip joints. X-ray showed a typical arthrokatadysis. After arthroscopic release of GMC, the patient recovered well. Conclusions This is possibly the first reported case of arthrokatadysis that was caused by GMC after repeated intramuscular injections into the buttocks. Although the patient recovered well by arthroscopic surgical release of bilateral gluteus maximus contractures, GMC should be paid more attention and treated as early as possible.

miR-29a is a Potential Protective Factor for Fibrogenesis in Gluteal Muscle Contracture

Circulating miRNAs have been proposed as the effective diagnostic biomarkers for muscular fibrosis-associated diseases. However, circulating biomarkers for early diagnosis of contracture muscles are limited in gluteal muscle contracture (GMC) patients. Here we sought to explore the abnormally expressed miRNAs in plasma and contraction bands of GMC patients. The results showed miR-29a-3p expression in plasma and contraction bands tissue was significantly reduced in GMC patients compared with normal control. Cell viability and levels of proliferation-associated protein cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent-kinase 2 (CDK2) were powerfully inhibited by miR-29a mimics and enhanced by miR-29a inhibitor compared with negative control. Furthermore, miR-29a mimics effectively impeded, while miR-29a inhibitor enhanced the expression of collagen I and collagen III, followed by the secretion of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β3 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in primary human contraction bands (CB) fibroblasts. The miR-29a-3p negatively regulated the expression of TGF-β1 through binding to the 3′ UTR region of SERPINH1 (encoding heat shock protein HSP47), but had no effect on Smad2 activity. The miR-29a-3p was inversely correlated with HSP47 in contraction bands tissue from GMC patients. Collectively, miR-29a was notably depressed and regulated cell viability and fibrosis by directly targeting HSP47 in GMC, which suggest that circulating miR-29a might be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and provides a novel therapeutic target for GMC.

Histology and molecular pathology of iliotibial tract contracture in patients with gluteal muscle contracture

The present study aimed to examine the pathologic changes of the iliotibial tract and discusses its relationship with gluteal muscle contracture. Samples of contractual iliotibial tracts were collected from six patients with contractures of the gluteal muscles and iliotibial tracts during their surgical treatment. Samples of normal iliotibial tracts were collected from six patients receiving surgeries for avascular necrosis of the femoral head who had no contractures of the gluteal muscles and iliotibial tracts. The tissue samples were stained using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichrome, and Sirius Red. The mRNA and protein levels of various tissue repair genes were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. Both the normal and contractual iliotibial tracts consisted of type I and III collagens. The contractual iliotibial tracts had a significantly higher proportion of type III collagen in comparison with the normal iliotibial tracts. The mRNA expression levels and protein levels of tissue repair genes TGFβ 1, bFGF, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in the contractual iliotibial tracts were up-regulated in comparison with that in the normal iliotibial tracts. However, the mRNA expression levels and protein levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP) in the contractual iliotibial tracts were down-regulated in comparison with that in the normal iliotibial tracts. The contractures of both the gluteal muscles and the iliotibial tracts share similar histology and molecular pathology. Our results indicate that iliotibial tract contracture is secondary to the gluteal muscle contracture and is a constant tissue repair process.

Comparison of arthroscopic versus open surgery on external snapping hip caused by gluteal muscle contracture

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of contracture release by arthroscopic versus open surgical approach in patients with external snapping hip (ESH) caused by gluteal muscle contracture (GMC). Methods: Medical records of patients with ESH due to GMC who underwent open surgery (n = 44) or arthroscopic surgery (n = 48) between October 2008 and October 2014 were reviewed. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Operation time, incision length, postoperative pain, postoperative complication rate, and recurrence rate were compared between the 2 groups. Hip adduction, and Harris Hip Scores (HHS) at 1 and 2 years postoperatively were compared between the groups and with preoperative data. Results: Mean operation time did not differ between the 2 groups (p>0.05). The arthroscopic surgery group had smaller incisions (p<0.05), less postoperative pain (p<0.05), lower complication rates (p<0.05) than did the open surgery group. The recurrence rates were similar for the 2 groups (p>0.05). Hip adduction, and HHS 1 year and 2 years postoperatively were significantly better postoperatively than they had been preoperatively for both groups (all p<0.01), and were similar for the 2 groups (all p>0.05). Conclusions: Arthroscopic release of contracture tissue is a safe and effective approach for the treatment of ESH caused by GMC, with the advantages of small scars, less postoperative pain, fewer complications compared with open surgery.