1. A higher level of amputation is associated with less energy-efficient walking and with lower walking speed. 2. Prosthetic ambulation supported with crutches has significant impact on increasing of energy expenditure and decreasing walking speed. 3. Stump length is shown to have a major impact on PCI and CWS in transfemoral amputees.

Abstract:Objective: This study is analyzing the role and significance of the three diagnostic methods (clinical diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy), in establishing accurate diagnosis in knee injuries. The goal is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of each diagnostic method, using arthroscopy as gold standard.Material and Methods: We examined 70 patients with knee injuries. Clinical diagnosis was established using patient's history and positive clinical tests for meniscal lesions, ACL injury and articular cartilage lesions. All patients underwent MRI on a 1.5 T magnet for MRI diagnosis. This was followed by arthroscopy for making the final diagnosis.Results: We analyzed the results of clinical tests for meniscal, ligamentous and articular cartilage injuries of the patients in both groups. Validity of the clinical tests was compared to the results got from MRI and arthroscopy. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis versus MRI diagnosis for medial(69.6% vs. 68.5%) and lateral (84% vs. 82.6%) meniscal lesions was almost identical. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis compared with the accuracy of MRI diagnosis for ACL injuries was higher (91.3% vs. 81.4%). Accuracy (85.5% vs. 72.8%) of clinical diagnosis versus MRI diagnosis for articular cartilage lesions was better.Conclusion: Affirmation of clinical diagnosis in this study is a result of usage of standard clinical signs and tests which are fundamental in establishing clinical diagnosis of knee injuries. MRI is a diagnostic method which enriches the diagnostic process. Arthroscopy is defined as superior diagnostic method, also a gold standard for comparison of the other two diagnostic methods.

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Introduction: Revision knee arthroplasty is not a routine procedure and almost always it is a technically demanding operation. The paradigm in revision total knee arthroplasty is to achieve correct alignment of the components, maintenance of the joint space and ligament balance by providing a stable bone -implant fusion. Metaphyseal bone loss is a crucial problem in revision total knee arthroplasty. The bone loss is due to primary arthroplasty technical errors and design, or problematic removal of the implants.Aim: The aim of this article is to present our experience on total knee revision surgery using tantalum metal cones as a structural bone graft substitute in total arthroplasty failure with gross metaphyseal bone loss categorized by the AORI classification, performed by a specific surgical technique and evaluated by the Knee Society Score (KSS). Material and methods:From 2013 to 2016 at the University Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery in Skopje 21 patient has been treated with revision total knee arthroplasty. Twelve patients had type 1/type 2 bone defects according to AORI, and nine had type 3 bone defect. We used trabecular metal bone graft in type 3 bone defects. A special emphasis is placed on preoperative planning according to the classification system for ligament and soft tissue damage as well as the AORI classification in order to determine the quantity, location and extent of the bone loss. In our series in patients with type 3 deformities, trabecular metal augments were used. This material resembles the human trabecular bone by its cellular structure and elastic characteristics.Results: Preoperatively, all the patients had Knee Society Score below 60, most of them were housebound, experiencing great pain and disability. After six months 95% were rated excellent, and on one year follow up, 89% were rated good or excellent (KSS score above 82, mean score 81.5), 1 patient was marked as poor with a complication -dislocation of the prosthesis. In the follow up period there was no infection. Conclusion:Our results of revision knee arthroplasty by using the trabecular metal augments with at least a year of follow up are excellent according to the KSS compared to the other studies. The disadvantages of the study are mentioned and the need for further investigation is stressed.

Background: Radiographic examination of extremities in surgical lengthening and/or correction of deformities is of crucial importance for the assessment of new bone formation. The purpose of this study is to confirm the diagnostic value of radiography in precise detection of bone parameters in various lengthening or correction stages in patients treated by limb-lengthening and deformity correction.Patients and Methods: 50 patients were treated by the Ilizarov method of limb lengthening or deformity correction at the University Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic in Skopje, and analysed over the period from 2006 to 2012. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 27 patients with limb-lengthening because of congenital shortening. The second group consisted of 23 patients treated for acquired limb deformities. The results in both groups were received in three stages of new bone formation and were based on the appearance of 3 radiographic parameters at the distraction/compression site.Results: The differences between the presence of all radiographic bone parameters in different stages of new bone formation were statistically signficant in both groups, especially the presence of the cortical margin in the first group (Cochran Q = 34.43, df = 2, p = 0.00000). The comparative analysis between the two groups showed a statistically significant difference in the presence of initial bone elements and cystic formations only in the first stage.Discussion and Conclusions: Almost no statistical significance in the differences between both groups of patients with regard to 3 radiographic parameters in 3 stages of new bone formation, indicates a minor influence of the etiopathogenetic background on the new bone formation in patients treated by gradual lengthening or correction of limb deformities.