Hombro/shoulder: mirar el hombro como los delfines

Ultrasound-guided Interventional Procedures around the Shoulder.

Messina C, Banfi G, Orlandi D, Lacelli F, Serafini G, Mauri G, Secchi F, Silvestri E, Sconfienza LM.

Br J Radiol. 2015 Aug 27

Abstract

Ultrasound is an established modality for shoulder evaluation, being accurate, low-cost and radiation-free. Different pathologic conditions can be diagnosed using ultrasound and treated using ultrasound guidance, such as degenerative, traumatic or inflammatory diseases. 

Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis is the most common finding on ultrasound evaluation for painful shoulder. Therapeutic injections of corticosteroids are helpful to reduce inflammation and pain. Calcific tendinopathy of rotator cuff affects up to 20% of painful shoulders. Ultrasound-guided treatment may be performed with both single- and double-needle approach. Calcific enthesopathy, a peculiar form of degenerative tendinopathy, is a common and mostly asymptomatic ultrasound finding; dry-needling has been proposed in symptomatic patients. An alternative is represented by autologous platelet-rich plasma injections. Intra-articular injections of the shoulder can be performed in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and degenerative diseases, respectively with corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid. Steroid injections around the long head of the biceps brachii tendon are indicated in patients with biceps tendinopathy, reducing pain and humeral tenderness. The most common indication for acromion-clavicular joint injection is degenerative osteoarthritis, with ultrasound representing a useful tool in localizing the joint space and properly injecting various types of drugs (steroids, lidocaine or hyaluronic acid). Suprascapular nerve block is an approved treatment for chronic shoulder pain non-responsive to conventional treatments as well as those patients candidate for shoulder arthroscopy. 

This review provides an overview of these different ultrasonography guided procedures that can be performed around the shoulder.

General: injerto óseo abundante en el aspirado de médula ósea

Qualitative and quantitative differences between bone graft obtained from the medullary canal (with a Reamer/Irrigator/Aspirator) and the iliac crest of the same patient.
Sagi HC, Young ML, Gerstenfeld L, Einhorn TA, Tornetta P
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2012 Dec 5; 94(23):2128-35.

BACKGROUND

Donor site morbidity and limited volume remain primary drawbacks of using bone graft from the iliac crest and an impetus for finding other sources of autologous bone-graft material. The Synthes Reamer/Irrigator/Aspirator (RIA) has been found to have value as an autologous bone-graft harvesting device. The purpose of this study was to compare the cellular and biochemical characteristics of bone grafts obtained with use of the RIA and from the iliac crest of the same patient.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed on a consecutive series of ten skeletally mature patients presenting for repair of nonunited tibial or femoral fractures. Graft material was harvested from both the iliac crest (in the standard fashion) and the medullary canal of the femur or tibia (with use of the RIA) of each patient. Portions of each autologous graft sample were assessed histologically and by genomewide transcriptional profiling for biochemical markers known to be expressed during fracture-healing.

RESULTS

Principal-component analysis comparing the messenger RNA expression profiles in the RIA and iliac crest samples showed that the expression profile at each harvest site was unique and independent of patient, age, sex, or any identified comorbidity. Transcriptional analysis showed that the RIA samples had greater levels of expression of genes associated with vascular, skeletal, and hematopoietic tissues. Additionally, stem cell markers and growth factors that act early in the osteogenic cascade were more abundant in the RIA samples compared with the iliac crest samples.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to directly compare the histological and molecular profiles of bone grafts from reaming debris and the iliac crest of the same patient. The debris generated during intramedullary reaming, harvested with use of the RIA technique, and the bone graft harvested from the iliac crest possessed a similar transcriptional profile for genes known to act in the early stages of bone repair and formation. This suggests that reaming debris may be a viable alternative to iliac crest bone graft when autologous cancellous graft is needed.

Cadera / Hip: cada milímetro cuenta

Restoration of the Hip Center During THA Performed for Protrusio Acetabuli Is Associated With Better Implant Survival
Yaser M. K. Baghdadi MD, A. Noelle Larson MD, Rafael J. Sierra MD
Clin Orthop Relat Res (2013) 471:3251–3259
DOI 10.1007/s11999-013-3072-x

Abstract

Background
Acetabular protrusio is an uncommon finding in hip arthritis. Several reconstructive approaches have been used; however the best approach remains undefined. Questions/purposes Our purposes in this study were to (1) describe the THA survivorship for protrusio as a function of the acetabular component, (2) evaluate survi- vorship of the cup as a function of restoration of radiographic hip mechanics and offset, and (3) report the long-term clinical results.

Methods
One hundred twenty-seven patients (162 hips) undergoing primary THA with acetabular protrusio were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of the patients at surgery was 66 ± 13 years, and the mean followup was 10 ± 6 years (range, 2–25 years).The cup fixation was uncemented in 107 (83 with bone graft) and cemented in 55 hips (14 with bone graft). Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were reviewed for restoration of hip mechanics and offset.

Results
The THA survival from aseptic cup revision at 15 years was 89% (95% CI, 75%–96%) for uncemented compared with 85% (95% CI, 68%–94%) for cemented cups. The risk of aseptic cup revision significantly increased by 24% (hazards ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02–1.5) for every 1 mm medial or lateral distance away from the native hip center of rotation to the prosthetic head center. Harris hip scores were improved by mean of 27 ± 20 points (n = 123) with a higher postoperative score for uncemented bone grafted compared with solely cemented cups (81 ± 16 versus 71 ± 20 points).

Conclusions
Restoring hip center of rotation using an uncemented cup with or without bone graft was associated with increased durability in our series. There was a 24% increase in the risk of aseptic cup revision for every 1 mm medial or lateral distance away from the native hip center to the prosthetic head center.

Level of Evidence
Level III, therapeutic study

Pelvis: menos complicado el injerto autólogo extraído mediante RIA

Complications following autologous bone graft harvesting from the iliac crest and using the RIA [Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator]: a systematic review.

Dimitriou RMataliotakis GIAngoules AGKanakaris NKGiannoudis PV

Injury 2011 Sep.:S3-15.

Abstract

Bone grafting is a commonly performed surgical procedure to augment bone regeneration in a variety of cases in orthopaedic and maxillofacial surgery. Autologous bone graft remains to be the 'gold standard' and the iliac crest to be the most common harvesting site. The intramedullary canal of long bones represents another potential site for large volume of autologous bone graft harvesting and is recently being used as an alternative donor site. However, harvesting of autologous bone graft is associated with morbidity and a number of complications. The aim of this systematic review was to collect and summarise the existing data on reported complications after harvesting autologous bone from the iliac crest (anterior and posterior) and the long bone intramedullary canal using the RIA device.

We searched the PubMed Medline and Ovid Medline databases, from January 1990 to October 2010, to retrieve all relevant articles. A total of 92 articles (6682 patients) were included in the analysis.

Overall, the complication rate following RIA was 6% (14 complications in 233 patients) and 19.37% after iliac crest bone graft harvesting (1249 complications in 6449 patients). The rate of each of the reported complications was assessed and, when the donor site was properly documented, comparison within the anterior and posterior iliac crest donor sites was performed. Although the difference of the overall morbidity rates between the two harvesting sites was not statistically significant (p=0.71); the rates of certain complications were found to significantly differ when anterior or posterior iliac crest was used. The rates of infection (p=0.016), haematoma formation (p=0.002), fracture (p=0.017), and hyperthrophic scar (p=0.017) were significantly higher when the donor site was the anterior iliac crest compared to the posterior iliac crest; whereas the rates of chronic donor site pain (p=0.004) and sensory disturbances (p=0.003) were significantly lower.

The incidence of bone graft harvesting related complications can be reduced further if certain principles are followed depending on the performed harvesting methods; but overall the use of RIA device as harvesting method seems a promising alternative with a low complication rate.

Rodilla / Knee: difícil aloinjerto para la rotura del mecanismo extensor

Extensor mechanism allograft reconstruction for extensor mechanism failure following total knee arthroplasty.

Brown NM, Murray T, Sporer SM, Wetters N, Berger RA, Della Valle CJ.

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Feb 18;97(4):279-83. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.00759.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Extensor mechanism disruption following total knee arthroplasty is a rare but devastating complication. The purpose of this study was to report our experience with extensor mechanism allograft reconstruction for chronic extensor mechanism failure.

METHODS: Fifty consecutive extensor mechanism allograft reconstructions were performed in forty-seven patients with a mean age of 67.6 years who were followed for a mean time of 57.6 months (range, twenty-four to 125 months). The operative technique included the use of a fresh-frozen, correctly sized full extensor mechanism allograft that was tensioned tightly in full extension. Patients were evaluated clinically with use of the Knee Society score, and reconstructions were considered failures if the patient had a score of <60 points or a recurrent extensor lag of >30° or if they required revision or removal of the allograft.

RESULTS: Nineteen reconstructions (38%) were considered failures, including four revised to a second extensor mechanism allograft due to failure of the allograft, five for deep infection, and ten considered clinical failures secondary to a Knee Society score of <60 points or an extensor lag of >30°. The mean Knee Society score improved from 33.9 to 75.9 points (p < 0.0001). The estimated Kaplan-Meier survivorship with failure for any reason as the end point was 56.2% (95% confidence interval, 39.4% to 70.1%) at ten years.

CONCLUSIONS: Extensor mechanism disruption following total knee arthroplasty is a difficult complication to treat, with modest outcomes. Extensor mechanism allograft reconstruction is a reasonable option; however, patients must be informed regarding the substantial risk of complications, and although initial extensor mechanism function may be restored, expectations regarding longer-term outcomes are more guarded.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV

Rodilla / Knee: impresoras 3D para regenerar meniscos

Protein-releasing polymeric scaffolds induce fibrochondrocytic differentiation of endogenous cells for knee meniscus regeneration in sheep
Chang H. Lee, Scott A. Rodeo, Lisa Ann Fortier, Chuanyong Lu, Cevat Erisken, Jeremy J. Mao
Sci Transl Med 10 December 2014: Vol. 6, Issue 266, p. 266-271
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009696

Abstract

Regeneration of complex tissues, such as kidney, liver, and cartilage, continues to be a scientific and translational challenge. Survival of ex vivo cultured, transplanted cells in tissue grafts is among one of the key barriers. Meniscus is a complex tissue consisting of collagen fibers and proteoglycans with gradient phenotypes of fibrocartilage and functions to provide congruence of the knee joint, without which the patient is likely to develop arthritis.

Endogenous stem/progenitor cells regenerated the knee meniscus upon spatially released human connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor–β3 (TGFβ3) from a three-dimensional (3D)–printed biomaterial, enabling functional knee recovery. Sequentially applied CTGF and TGFβ3 were necessary and sufficient to propel mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells, as a heterogeneous population or as single-cell progenies, into fibrochondrocytes that concurrently synthesized procollagens I and IIα. When released from microchannels of 3D-printed, human meniscus scaffolds, CTGF and TGFβ3 induced endogenous stem/progenitor cells to differentiate and synthesize zone-specific type I and II collagens. We then replaced sheep meniscus with anatomically correct, 3D-printed scaffolds that incorporated spatially delivered CTGF and TGFβ3.

Endogenous cells regenerated the meniscus with zone-specific matrix phenotypes: primarily type I collagen in the outer zone, and type II collagen in the inner zone, reminiscent of the native meniscus. Spatiotemporally delivered CTGF and TGFβ3 also restored inhomogeneous mechanical properties in the regenerated sheep meniscus.

Survival and directed differentiation of endogenous cells in a tissue defect may have implications in the regeneration of complex (heterogeneous) tissues and organs.

Cadera / Hip: Menos complicaciones en la PTC bajo anestesia regional

Effects of regional versus general anesthesia on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective propensity-matched cohort study.

Helwani MA, Avidan MS, Ben Abdallah A, Kaiser DJ, Clohisy JC, Hall BL, Kaiser HA

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Feb 4;97(3):186-93

doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.00612.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 

Many orthopaedic surgical procedures can be performed with either regional or general anesthesia. We hypothesized that total hip arthroplasty with regional anesthesia is associated with less postoperative morbidity and mortality than total hip arthroplasty with general anesthesia.

METHODS: 

This retrospective propensity-matched cohort study utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database included patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty from 2007 through 2011. After matching, logistic regression was used to determine the association between the type of anesthesia and deep surgical site infections, hospital length of stay, thirty-day mortality, and cardiovascular and pulmonary complications.

RESULTS: 

Of 12,929 surgical procedures, 5103 (39.5%) were performed with regional anesthesia. The adjusted odds for deep surgical site infections were significantly lower in the regional anesthesia group than in the general anesthesia group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.20 to 0.72; p < 0.01). The hospital length of stay (geometric mean) was decreased by 5% (95% CI = 3% to 7%; p < 0.001) with regional anesthesia, which translates to 0.17 day for each total hip arthroplasty. Regional anesthesia was also associated with a 27% decrease in the odds of prolonged hospitalization (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.68 to 0.89; p < 0.001). The mortality rate was not significantly lower with regional anesthesia (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.43 to 1.42; p > 0.05). The adjusted odds for cardiovascular complications (OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.44 to 0.85) and respiratory complications (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.81) were all lower in the regional anesthesia group.

CONCLUSIONS: 

Compared with general anesthesia, regional anesthesia for total hip arthroplasty was associated with a reduction in deep surgical site infection rates, hospital length of stay, and rates of postoperative cardiovascular and pulmonary complications. These findings could have an important medical and economic impact on health-care practice

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III

Cadera/Hip/Hüfte/Hanche: No sirve la puntuación WOMAC

Can the pre-operative Western Ontario and McMaster score predict patient satisfaction following total hip arthroplasty? 

Rogers, B. A., Alolabi, B., Carrothers, A. D., Kreder, H. J., Jenkinson, R. J.

Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:150–3.

In this study we evaluated whether pre-operative Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis scores can predict satisfaction following total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Prospective data for a cohort of patients undergoing THA from two large academic centres were collected, and pre-operative and one-year post-operative WOMAC scores and a 25-point satisfaction questionnaire were obtained for 446 patients. Satisfaction scores were dichotomised into either improvement or deterioration. Scatter plots and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used to describe the association between pre-operative WOMAC and one-year post-operative WOMAC scores and patient satisfaction. Satisfaction was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis against pre-operative, post-operative and WOMAC scores.

We found no relationship between pre-operative WOMAC scores and one-year post-operative WOMAC or satisfaction scores, with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients of 0.16 and –0.05, respectively. The ROC analysis showed areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.54 (pre-operative WOMAC), 0.67 (post-operative WOMAC) and 0.43 ( WOMAC), respectively, for an improvement in satisfaction.

We conclude that the pre-operative WOMAC score does not predict the post-operative WOMAC score or patient satisfaction after THA, and that WOMAC scores can therefore not be used to prioritise patient care.

 

Rodilla/Knne: Van peor las PTR en enfermos con lesiones menos graves

Chronic non-orthopedic conditions more common in patients with less severe degenerative changes that have elected to undergo total knee arthroplasty

Cale A. Jacobs, Christian P. Christensen, Tharun Karthikeyan
J Arthroplasty: Published Online: February 06, 2015

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2015.01.051

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of chronic non-orthopedic conditions that may play a role in an abnormal pain response differ between patients based on the severity of degenerative changes at the time of surgery.

Of 1,020 OA knees that had undergone primary TKA with a minimum 2 year follow-up, we identified 117 (11.5%) that had less severe degenerative changes. The prevalence of dissatisfaction was significantly greater in less severe group compared to those with moderate or severe changes (18.8% vs. 9.3%, p = .003). Chronic non-orthopedic conditions were significantly more prevalent in the less severe group with 41.9% reporting depression/anxiety, 30.8% with fibromyalgia or low back pathology, and 12.8% with a prior traumatic brain injury or stroke.

General: Entrenamiento virtual para hacerlo bien

Fundamental arthroscopic skill differentiation with virtual reality simulation

Rose K, Pedowitz R.

Arthroscopy. 2015 Feb;31(2):299-305
doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2014.08.016

Abstract

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the use and validity of virtual reality modules as part of the educational approach to mastering arthroscopy in a safe environment by assessing the ability to distinguish between experience levels. Additionally, the study aimed to evaluate whether experts have greater ambidexterity than do novices.

METHODS:
Three virtual reality modules (Swemac/Augmented Reality Systems, Linkoping, Sweden) were created to test fundamental arthroscopic skills. Thirty participants-10 experts consisting of faculty, 10 intermediate participants consisting of orthopaedic residents, and 10 novices consisting of medical students-performed each exercise. Steady and Telescope was designed to train centering and image stability. Steady and Probe was designed to train basic triangulation. Track and Moving Target was designed to train coordinated motions of arthroscope and probe. Metrics reflecting speed, accuracy, and efficiency of motion were used to measure construct validity.

RESULTS:
Steady and Probe and Track a Moving Target both exhibited construct validity, with better performance by experts and intermediate participants than by novices (P < .05), whereas Steady and Telescope did not show validity. There was an overall trend toward better ambidexterity as a function of greater surgical experience, with experts consistently more proficient than novices throughout all 3 modules.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study represents a new way to assess basic arthroscopy skills using virtual reality modules developed through task deconstruction. Participants with the most arthroscopic experience performed better and were more consistent than novices on all 3 virtual reality modules. Greater arthroscopic experience correlates with more symmetry of ambidextrous performance. However, further adjustment of the modules may better simulate fundamental arthroscopic skills and discriminate between experience levels.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
Arthroscopy training is a critical element of orthopaedic surgery resident training. Developing techniques to safely and effectively train these skills is critical for patient safety and resident education.

Ciencia/Science: ¡Un glioma de tanto hablar por el móvil!

Mobile phone and cordless phone use and the risk for glioma – Analysis of pooled case-control studies in Sweden, 1997–2003 and 2007–2009

Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg

Pathophysiology

Available online 29 October 2014, doi:10.1016/j.pathophys.2014.10.001

In Press

Abstract

We made a pooled analysis of two case-control studies on malignant brain tumours with patients diagnosed during 1997–2003 and 2007–2009.

They were aged 20–80 years and 18–75 years, respectively, at the time of diagnosis. Only cases with histopathological verification of the tumour were included. Population-based controls, matched on age and gender, were used. Exposures were assessed by questionnaire. The whole reference group was used in the unconditional regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, year of diagnosis, and socio-economic index.

In total, 1498 (89%) cases and 3530 (87%) controls participated. Mobile phone use increased the risk of glioma, OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1–1.6 overall, increasing to OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.7–5.2 in the >25 year latency group. Use of cordless phones increased the risk to OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1–1.7, with highest risk in the >15–20 years latency group yielding OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1–2.5. The OR increased statistically significant both per 100 h of cumulative use, and per year of latency for mobile and cordless phone use. Highest ORs overall were found for ipsilateral mobile or cordless phone use, OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.4–2.2 and OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.3–2.1, respectively.

The highest risk was found for glioma in the temporal lobe. First use of mobile or cordless phone before the age of 20 gave higher OR for glioma than in later age groups.

Keywords

Ipsilateral25 years latencyTime since first exposureGliomaWireless phones

Rodilla/Knee: Ahorrar reinfusión de sangre con tranexámico

Effect of a Single Injection of Tranexamic Acid on Blood Loss after Primary Hybrid TKA

Yoshinori Ishii, Hideo Noguchi, Junko Sato, Chiduru Tsuchiya, Shin-ichi Toyabe

The Knee
Available online 17 January 2015

Background
Control of perioperative blood loss is important in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), especially cementless or hybrid TKA. There is increasing interest in the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) for this purpose; however, studies to date have mainly evaluated the effects of various TXA administration regimens on patients who underwent cemented TKA. We sought to determine (1) whether administration of TXA reduces blood loss after hybrid TKA, and (2) whether an autologous blood reinfusion system is necessary in TKA patients who are treated with TXA.

Methods
Ninety-five patients (100 knees) who underwent hybrid primary TKA (cemented tibia, uncemented femur) were included in this study. The initial 50 knees were treated without TXA and the following 50 were treated with TXA. Intravenous TXA (1000mg) was administered shortly before deflation of the tourniquet. All continuous variables are expressed as median values.

Results
Total volumes of blood lost at postoperative 1day were 590ml and 150ml and autotransfusion of collected blood was performed in 88 % and 16% of patients in the without and with TXA groups, respectively. A median volume of 400ml of collected blood was returned to the patients in the without TXA group, and 0ml to the patients in the with TXA group. The calculated volumes of blood lost were 761ml and 683ml (p=0.2250), respectively.

Conclusions
One intravenous injection of 1000mg TXA may help to control postoperative blood loss and reduce the need for postoperative autologous blood reinfusion after hybrid TKA.

Levels of evidence: Level II. 

Rodilla/Knee: Se supone que deberíamos avanzar

Are outcomes after total knee arthroplasty worsening over time? A time-trends study of activity limitation and pain outcomes

Singh JA, Lewallen DG

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2014.:440.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

To examine whether function and pain outcomes of patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are changing over time.

METHODS

The Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry provided data for time-trends in preoperative and 2-year post-operative activity limitation and pain in primary TKA patients from 1993-2005. We used chi-square test and analysis for variance, as appropriate. Multivariable-adjusted analyses were done using logistic regression.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 7,229 patients who underwent primary TKA during 1993-2005, mean age was 68.4 years (standard deviation (SD), 9.8), mean BMI was 31.1 (SD, 6.0) and 55% were women. Crude estimates showed that preoperative moderate-severe overall limitation were seen in 7.3% fewer patients and preoperative moderate-severe pain in 2.7% more patients in 2002-05, compared to 1992-95 (p < 0.001 for both). At 2-years, crude estimates indicated that compared to 1992-95, moderate-severe post-TKA overall limitation was seen in 4.7% more patients and moderate-severe post-TKA pain in 3.6% more patients in 2002-05, both statistically significant (p ≤ 0.018) and clinically meaningful. In multivariable-adjusted analyses that adjusted for age, sex, anxiety, depression, Deyo-Charlson index, body mass index and preoperative pain/limitation, patients had worse outcomes 2-year post-TKA in 2002-2005 compared to 1993-95 with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval (CI); p-value) of 1.34 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.76, p = 0.037) for moderate-severe activity limitation and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.17, 2.75, p = 0.007) for moderate-severe pain.

CONCLUSION

Patient-reported function and pain outcomes after primary TKA have worsened over the study period 1993-95 to 2002-05. This time-trend is independent of changes in preoperative pain/limitation and certain patient characteristics.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4301928/pdf/

Hombro/Shoulder: se gana igual, reparando el manguito a los 50 y a los 70

Comparison of Functional Gains After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Patients Over 70 Years of Age Versus Patients Under 50 Years of Age: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Constantina Moraiti, Pablo Valle, Ali Maqdes, Omar Boughebri, Chourky Dib, Giannis Giakas, B.Sc., Jean Kany, Kamil Elkholti, Jérôme Garret, Denis Katz, Franck Marie Leclère, Philippe Valenti, M.D.correspondenceemail
Received: July 7, 2013; Accepted: August 26, 2014; Published Online: November 11, 2014
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopy and Related Surgery
February 2015Volume 31, Issue 2, Pages 184–190
Purpose
To assess rotator cuff rupture characteristics and evaluate healing and the functional outcome after arthroscopic repair in patients older than 70 years versus patients younger than 50 years.

Methods
We conducted a multicenter, prospective, comparative study of 40 patients younger than 50 years (group A) and 40 patients older than 70 years (group B) treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Patients older than 70 years were operated on only if symptoms persisted after 6 months of conservative treatment, whereas patients younger than 50 years were operated on regardless of any persistent symptoms. Imaging consisted of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and postoperative ultrasound. Preoperative and postoperative function was evaluated with Constant and modified Constant scores. Patient satisfaction was also assessed. The evaluations were performed at least 1 year postoperatively.

Results
No patient was lost to follow-up. The incidence of both supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears was greater in group B. Greater retraction in the frontal plane and greater fatty infiltration were observed in group B. The Constant score was significantly improved in both groups (51 ± 12.32 preoperatively v 77.18 ± 11.02 postoperatively in group A and 48.8 ± 10.97 preoperatively v 74.6 ± 12.02 postoperatively in group B, P < .05). The improvement was similar in both groups. The modified Constant score was also significantly improved in both groups (57.48 ± 18.23 preoperatively v 81.35 ± 19.75 postoperatively in group A and 63.09 ± 14.96 preoperatively v 95.62 ± 17.61 postoperatively in group B, P < .05). The improvement was greater for group B (P < .05). Partial rerupture of the rotator cuff occurred in 2 cases in group A and 5 cases in group B. Complete rerupture was observed in 2 patients in group B. In group A, 29 patients (72.5%) were very satisfied, 8 (20%) were satisfied, and 3 (7.5%) were less satisfied. In group B, 33 patients (82.5%) were very satisfied, 6 (15%) were satisfied, and only 1 (2.5%) was less satisfied.

Conclusions
Rotator cuff tears are characterized by greater retraction in the frontal plane and greater fatty infiltration in patients older than 70 years compared with patients younger than 50 years. After arthroscopic repair, healing is greater for patients younger than 50 years. Functional gain is at least equal between the 2 groups.
Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Rodilla/Knee: en la gonartrosis mejor pinchar, peor el paracetamol

Pharmacologic Interventions for Knee OA

Raveendhara R, Christopher H,  David M, Elizaveta E,  John B,  Timothy E,

Ann Intern Med. 6 January 2015,162(1):46-54

Background: The relative efficacy of available treatments of knee osteoarthritis (OA) must be determined for rational treatment algorithms to be formulated.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of treatments of primary knee OA using a network meta-analysis design, which estimates relative effects of all treatments against each other.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through 15 August 2014, and unpublished data.

Study Selection: Randomized trials of adults with knee OA comparing 2 or more of the following: acetaminophen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, intra-articular (IA) corticosteroids, IA hyaluronic acid, oral placebo, and IA placebo.

Data Extraction: Two reviewers independently abstracted study data and assessed study quality. Standardized mean differences were calculated for pain, function, and stiffness at 3-month follow-up.

Data Synthesis: Network meta-analysis was performed using a Bayesian random-effects model; 137 studies comprising 33 243 participants were identified. For pain, all interventions significantly outperformed oral placebo, with effect sizes from 0.63 (95% credible interval [CrI], 0.39 to 0.88) for the most efficacious treatment (hyaluronic acid) to 0.18 (CrI, 0.04 to 0.33) for the least efficacious treatment (acetaminophen). For function, all interventions except IA corticosteroids were significantly superior to oral placebo. For stiffness, most of the treatments did not significantly differ from one another.

Limitation: Lack of long-term data, inadequate reporting of safety data, possible publication bias, and few head-to-head comparisons.

Conclusion: This method allowed comparison of common treatments of knee OA according to their relative efficacy. Intra-articular treatments were superior to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, possibly because of the integrated IA placebo effect. Small but robust differences were observed between active treatments. All treatments except acetaminophen showed clinically significant improvement from baseline pain. This information, along with the safety profiles and relative costs of included treatments, will be helpful for individualized patient care decisions.

Raquis/Spine: Tras la compresion vertebral el resultado no depende de la ortesis

Comparative Study of the Treatment Outcomes of Osteoporotic Compression Fractures without Neurologic Injury Using a Rigid Brace, a Soft Brace, and No Brace

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial

Ho-Joong Kim, MD; Je-Min Yi, MD; Hyeon-Guk Cho, MD; Bong-Soon Chang, MD; Choon-Ki Lee, MD; Jee Hyoung Kim, MD; Jin S. Yeom, MD

J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2014 Dec 03; 96 (23): 1959 -1966

Abstract

Background:
The efficacy of brace application for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the treatment outcomes in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures with regard to whether the patients had no braces, rigid braces, or soft braces.

Methods:
We randomly assigned sixty patients with acute one-level osteoporotic compression fractures within three days of injury to the no-brace, soft-brace, and rigid-brace groups through 1:1:1 allocation. The primary outcome was the baseline adjusted Oswestry Disability Index score at twelve weeks after compression fracture. The non-inferior margin of the Oswestry Disability Index was set at an average of 10 points.

Results:
The baseline adjusted Oswestry Disability Index score at twelve weeks after compression fracture in the no-brace group was not inferior to that in the soft-brace or rigid-brace groups. The mean adjusted Oswestry Disability Index score was 35.95 points (95% confidence interval, 25.42 to 46.47 points) in the no-brace group and 37.83 points (95% confidence interval, 26.77 to 48.90 points) in the soft-brace group, with a difference of −1.88 points (95% confidence interval, −7.02 to 9.38 points) between the groups. Similarly, the mean adjusted Oswestry Disability Index score was 35.95 points (95% confidence interval, 25.42 to 46.47 points) in the no-brace group and 33.54 points (95% confidence interval, 23.79 to 43.29 points) in the rigid-brace group, with a difference of 2.41 points (95% confidence interval, −7.86 to 9.27 points) between the groups. During the follow-up assessment period, there was no significant difference among the groups for the overall Oswestry Disability Index scores (p = 0.260), visual analog scale for pain scores for back pain (p = 0.292), and anterior body compression ratios (p = 0.237). However, the Oswestry Disability Index scores and the visual analog scale scores for back pain significantly improved with time after the fractures (p < 0.001), and the body compression ratios significantly decreased with time in all three groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
The Oswestry Disability Index scores for the treatment of compression fractures without a brace were not inferior to those with soft or rigid braces. Moreover, the improvement in back pain and progression of anterior body compression were similar among the three groups.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I

Rodilla/Knee: Las tendencias en las PTR

Trends in Total Knee Arthroplasty Implant Utilization.
Nguyen LC, Lehil MS, Bozic KJ
J Arthroplasty. 2014 Dec 13. pii: S0883-5403(14)00940-1. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2014.12.009. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

The incidence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has increased alongside our knowledge of knee physiology, kinematics, and technology resulting in an evolution of TKA implants. This study examines the trends in TKA implant utilization. Data was extracted from The Orthopedic Research Network to evaluate trends in level of constraint, fixed vs. mobile bearing, fixation, and type of polyethylene in primary TKAs. In 2012, 88% used cemented femoral and tibial implants, and 96% involved patellar resurfacing. 38% of implants were cruciate retaining, 53% posterior stabilized or condylar stabilized, 3% constrained. 91% were fixed-bearing, 7% mobile-bearing. 52% of tibial inserts were HXLPE. TKA implant trends demonstrate a preference for cemented femoral and tibial components, patellar resurfacing, fixed-bearing constructs, metal-backed tibial components, patellar resurfacing, and increased usage of HXLPE liners.

KEYWORDS:

Hombro/Shoulder: Los desgarros silentes del manguito crecen y dolerán

A prospective evaluation of survivorship of asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears

Keener JD1, Galatz LM1, Teefey SA2, Middleton WD2, Steger-May K3, Stobbs-Cucchi G1, Patton R1, Yamaguchi K1.

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Jan 21;97(2):89-98. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.00099.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this prospective study was to report the long-term risks of rotator cuff tear enlargement and symptom progression associated with degenerative asymptomatic tears.

METHODS:
Subjects with an asymptomatic rotator cuff tear in one shoulder and pain due to rotator cuff disease in the contralateral shoulder enrolled as part of a prospective longitudinal study. Two hundred and twenty-four subjects (118 initial full-thickness tears, fifty-six initial partial-thickness tears, and fifty controls) were followed for a median of 5.1 years. Validated functional shoulder scores were calculated (visual analog pain scale, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES], and simple shoulder test [SST] scores). Subjects were followed annually with shoulder ultrasonography and clinical evaluations.

RESULTS:
Tear enlargement was seen in 49% of the shoulders, and the median time to enlargement was 2.8 years. The occurrence of tear-enlargement events was influenced by the severity of the final tear type, with enlargement of 61% of the full-thickness tears, 44% of the partial-thickness tears, and 14% of the controls (p < 0.05). Subject age and sex were not related to tear enlargement. One hundred subjects (46%) developed new pain. The final tear type was associated with a greater risk of pain development, with the new pain developing in 28% of the controls, 46% of the shoulders with a partial-thickness tear, and 50% of those with a full-thickness tear (p < 0.05). The presence of tear enlargement was associated with the onset of new pain (p < 0.05). Progressive degenerative changes of the supraspinatus muscle were associated with tear enlargement, with supraspinatus muscle degeneration increasing in 4% of the shoulders with a stable tear compared with 30% of the shoulders with tear enlargement (p < 0.05). Nine percent of the shoulders with a stable tear showed increased infraspinatus muscle degeneration compared with 28% of those in which the tear had enlarged (p = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrates the progressive nature of degenerative rotator cuff disease. The risk of tear enlargement and progression of muscle degeneration is greater for shoulders with a full-thickness tear, and tear enlargement is associated with a greater risk of pain development across all tear types.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Prognostic Level II

Hombro/Shoulder: el tendón del supraespinoso más grueso en caso de impingement subacromial

Supraspinatus tendon and subacromial space parameters measured on ultrasonographic imaging in subacromial impingement syndrome

Michener LA1, Subasi Yesilyaprak SS, Seitz AL, Timmons MK, Walsworth MK.

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Feb;23(2):363-9. doi: 10.1007/s00167-013-2542-8. Epub 2013 Jun 5.

Abstract

PURPOSE:
To characterize the supraspinatus tendon thickness, subacromial space, and the relationship between tendon thickness and subacromial space to further elucidate the mechanisms of subacromial impingement syndrome.

METHODS:
In a single-blind cross-sectional study, subjects were recruited with subacromial impingement syndrome (n = 20) and asymptomatic controls (n = 20) matched for age, gender, and hand dominance. Ultrasound images were collected using a 4-12-MHz linear transducer in B-mode of the supraspinatus tendon in the transverse (short axis) and the anterior aspect of the subacromial space outlet. Using image callipers, measurements of tendon thickness were taken at 3 points along the tendon and averaged for a single thickness measure. The subacromial space outlet was measured via the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) defined by the inferior acromion and superior humeral head. The occupation ratio was calculated as the tendon thickness as a percentage of AHD.

RESULTS:
The subacromial impingement syndrome group had a significantly thicker tendon (mean difference = 0.6 mm, p = 0.048) and a greater tendon occupation ratio (mean difference = 7.5 %, p = 0.014) compared to matched controls. There were no AHD group differences.

CONCLUSIONS:
The supraspinatus tendon was thicker and occupied a greater percentage of AHD, supporting an intrinsic mechanism. An extrinsic mechanism of tendon compression is theoretically supported, but future imaging studies need to confirm direct compression with elevation. Treatment to reduce tendon thickness may reduce symptoms, and surgical intervention to increase subacromial space may be considered if tendon compression can be verified.

Rodilla/Knee: Menos muertes tras ptr pero se puede mejorar

45-day mortality after 467,779 knee replacements for osteoarthritis from the National Joint Registry for England and Wales: an observational study.

Hunt LP, Ben-Shlomo Y, Clark EM, Dieppe P, Judge A, MacGregor AJ, Tobias JH, Vernon K, Blom

Lancet. 2014 Oct 18;384(9952):1429-36.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Understanding the risk factors for early death after knee replacement could help to reduce the risk of mortality after this procedure. We assessed secular trends in death within 45 days of knee replacement for osteoarthritis in England and Wales, with the aim of investigating whether any change that we recorded could be explained by alterations in modifiable perioperative factors.

METHODS:
We took data for knee replacements done for osteoarthritis in England and Wales between April 1, 2003, and Dec 31, 2011, from the National Joint Registry for England and Wales. Patient identifiers were used to link these data to the national mortality database and the Hospital Episode Statistics database to obtain details of death, sociodemographics, and comorbidity. We assessed mortality within 45 days by Kaplan-Meier analysis and assessed the role of patient and treatment factors by Cox proportional hazards models.

FINDINGS:
 467,779 primary knee replacements were done to treat osteoarthritis during 9 years. 1183 patients died within 45 days of surgery, with a substantial secular decrease in mortality from 0·37% in 2003 to 0·20% in 2011, even after adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidity. The use of unicompartmental knee replacement was associated with substantially lower mortality than was total knee replacement (hazard ratio [HR] 0·32, 95% CI 0·19–0·54, p<0·0005). Several comorbidities were associated with increased mortality: myocardial infarction (HR 3·46, 95% CI 2·81–4·14, p<0·0005), cerebrovascular disease (3·35, 2·7–4·14, p<0·0005), moderate/severe liver disease (7·2, 3·93–13·21, p<0·0005), and renal disease (2·18, 1·76–2·69, p<0·0005). Modifiable perioperative risk factors, including surgical approach and thromboprophylaxis were not associated with mortality.

INTERPRETATION:
Postoperative mortality after knee replacement has fallen substantially between 2003 and 2011. Efforts to further reduce mortality should concentrate more on older patients, those who are male and those with specific comorbidities, such as myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, liver disease, and renal disease.

FUNDING: National Joint Registry for England and Wales.

Rodilla/Knee: aprovechar que la vascularización de la rótula va en parte por medial

Quantitative assessment of patellar vascularity following bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft harvest for ACL reconstruction.

Jones KJ, Lazaro LE, Taylor SA, Pardee NC, Dyke JP, Hannafin JA, Warren RF, Lorich DG

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Jan 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

PURPOSE: 

Recent anatomic studies have suggested that the dominant arterial supply of the patella enters through the inferior pole. Based upon these findings, we hypothesized that bone-patellar tendon-bone graft harvest can significantly diminish patellar vascularity.

METHODS: 

Nine matched pair cadaveric knee specimens (mean age 47.4 years) were dissected and cannulated. A single knee was selected to undergo routine graft harvest, and the contralateral knee was left intact to serve as a control. Gadolinium was injected, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal enhancement was quantified to determine differences in uptake. Each matched pair was subsequently injected with a urethane polymer compound and dissected to correlate vessel disruption with MRI findings.

RESULTS: 

We identified two predominating patterns of vessel entry. In one pattern, the vessel entered the inferomedial aspect (five o'clock/right, seven o'clock/left) of the patella and was disrupted by graft harvest in 2/9 (22.2 %) pairs. In the second pattern, the vessel entered further medial (four o'clock/right, eight o'clock/left) and was not disrupted (7/9, 78.8 %). The mean decrease in gadolinium uptake following disruption of the predominant vessel measured 56.2 % (range 42.6-69.5 %) compared to an average decrease of 18.3 % (range 7.1-29.1 %) when the dominant arterial supply to the inferior pole remained intact (p < 0.04).

CONCLUSION: 

Medial entry of the predominant vessel precluded vessel disruption. Disruption of the dominant arterial supply can result in a significant decrease in patellar vascularity. Modification of graft harvest techniques and areas of surgical dissection should be explored to minimize vascular insult. Further correlation with clinical studies/outcomes is necessary to determine a potential association between vascular insult and anterior knee pain.

General: Mosaicoplastia en condropatías pequeñas

Systematic Review of Autogenous Osteochondral Transplant Outcomes

T. Sean Lynch M.D.Ronak M. Patel M.D.Anthony Miniaci M.D.

Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery

Available online 21 January 2015, doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2014.11.018

Purpose

The goal of this systematic review was to present the current best evidence for clinical outcomes of osteochondral autograft transplantation to elucidate the efficacy of this procedure.

Methods

PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched (key terms “knee,” “osteochondral autograft transfer,” or “mosaicplasty”) to identify relevant literature between 1950 and 2013 in the English language. This evaluation included studies in pediatric and adult patients with grade 3 or 4 articular cartilage injuries; the studies had a minimum of 25 patients and at least 12 months of follow-up and compared osteochondral autograft transfers/mosiacplasty with another treatment modality. Articles were limited to full-text randomized controlled trials or cohort studies. Main outcomes studied were patient-reported and functional outcome, with secondary outcomes including effect of lesion size, return to sport and sport function, radiographic outcomes, and reoperation rates.

Results

There were a total of 9 studies with 607 patients studied in this systematic review. When osteochondral autologous transfer/mosaicplasty (OATM) was compared with microfracture (MF), patients with OATM had better clinical results, with a higher rate of return to sport and maintenance of their sports function from before surgery. Meanwhile, patients who underwent MF trended toward more reoperations, with deterioration around 4 years after surgery. When compared with autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), clinical outcome improvement was not conclusive; however, at 10-year follow-up, a greater failure rate was found to be present in the OATM group.

Conclusions

Current evidence shows improved clinical outcomes with OATM when compared with preoperative conditions. These patients were able to return to sport as early as 6 months after the procedure. It could be suggested from the data that OATM procedures might be more appropriate for lesions that are smaller than 2 cm2 with the known risk of failure between 2 and 4 years. Further high-quality prospective studies into the management of these articular cartilage injuries are necessary to provide a better framework within which to target intervention.

Level of Evidence

Level II, systematic review of Level I and II studies.

Tobillo/Ankle: Es preferible tratar las fracturas estables con ortesis

The Effects of Shared Decision Making in the Conservative Management of Stable Ankle Fractures
R.H. Hutchinson, J.L. Barrie
Injury; Published Online: January 17, 2015
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2015.01.013

Abstract

Introduction

The majority of ankle fractures seen in clinic are stable, will not displace and do not require plaster casting to achieve union in a good position. Nevertheless, many patients with stable ankle fractures are advised that they need a cast. In this study we counselled patients regarding the different options for conservative management of their stable ankle fracture. We then encouraged them to make an informed decision on which method of treatment they would like to pursue.

Materials & Methods
We analysed eight years of a single consultant's fracture clinic. 163 patients were offered a choice of: a weight bearing below knee cast; a functional ankle brace; or a regime of rest, ice, compression bandage and elevation (“RICE” regime). All patients were advised to mobilise on the injured ankle as their pain allowed.

Results
163 patients were suitable for all 3 treatment options. 82% (133/163) chose an ankle brace, 15% (25/163) opted for a RICE regime and 3% (5/163) chose a below knee cast. Of these only one returned to clinic complaining of increased pain, however after further discussion the patient opted to continue with his RICE regime as planned.

Discussion
A conservative approach to these injuries is now common practice; however there is a wide variation in what type of conservative management is given. Recent studies suggest orthopaedic surgeons are still treating the majority of these injuries with a weight-bearing cast despite risks of stiffness, skin damage and thromboembolism. This study showed when the patient is given opportunity to make an informed choice the vast majority opt not to have a cast. The study suggests management of these injuries should be decided via a two-way conversation between patient and practitioner.

Conclusions
Using a shared decision making approach to these injuries is a useful method of providing patients with the most suitable treatment for their personal treatment goals.

Cadera/Hip: extracto de gambas para curar el cartílago

Arthroscopic Treatment of Hip Chondral Defects With Bone Marrow Stimulation and BST-CarGel
Marc Tey, Jesús Mas, Xavier Pelfort, Joan Carles Monllau
Arthroscopy Techniques, available online 19 January 2015
doi:10.1016/j.eats.2014.10.002

Abstract

Microfracture, the current standard of care for the treatment of non-degenerative chondral lesions in the hip joint, is limited by the poor quality of the filling fibrocartilaginous tissue.

BST-CarGel (Piramal Life Sciences, Laval, Quebec, Canada) is a chitosan-based biopolymer that, when mixed with fresh, autologous whole blood and placed over the previously microfractured area, stabilizes the blood clot and enhances marrow-triggered wound-healing repair processes. BST-CarGel has been previously applied in the knee, with statistically significant greater lesion filling and superior repair tissue quality compared with microfracture treatment alone. In this report we describe the application of BST-CarGel for the arthroscopic treatment of hip chondral lesions.

Our preliminary data suggest that our BST-CarGel procedure provides high-quality repair tissue and therefore may be considered a safe, cost-efficient therapeutic choice for the treatment of hip chondral defects.

Rodilla/Knee: Más bien, rotando hacia afuera

Influence of tibial rotation in total knee arthroplasty on knee kinematics and retropatellar pressure: an in vitro study
Arnd Steinbrück, Christian Schröder, Matthias Woiczinski, Tatjana Müller, Peter E Müller, Volkmar Jansson, Andreas Fottner
Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015 Jan 11. [Epub ahead of print]

PURPOSE: Although continuous improvements have been made, there is still a considerable amount of unsatisfied patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A main reason for this high percentage is anterior knee pain, which is supposed to be provoked by post-operative increased retropatellar peak pressure. Since rotational malalignment of the implant is believed to contribute to post-operative pain, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of tibial component rotation on knee kinematics and retropatellar pressure.

METHODS: Eight fresh-frozen knee specimens were tested in a weight-bearing knee rig after fixed-bearing TKA under a loaded squat from 20° to 120° of flexion. To examine tibial components with different rotations, special inlays with 3° internal rotation and 3° external rotation were produced and retropatellar pressure distribution was measured with a pressure-sensitive film. The kinematics of the patella and the femorotibial joint were recorded with an ultrasonic-based motion analysis system.

RESULTS: Retropatellar peak pressure decreased significantly from 3° internal rotation to neutral position and 3° external rotation of the tibial component (8.5 ± 2.3 vs. 8.2 ± 2.4 vs. 7.8 ± 2.5 MPa). Regarding knee kinematics femorotibial rotation and anterior-posterior translation, patella rotation and tilt were altered significantly, but relative changes remained minimal.

CONCLUSION: Changing tibial rotation revealed a high in vitro influence on retropatellar peak pressure. We recommend the rotational alignment of the tibial component to the medial third of the tibial tuberosity or even more externally beyond that point to avoid anterior knee pain after TKA.

Rodilla/Knee: Ojo con la gonartritis séptica posoperatoria

Joint infection after knee arthroscopy: Medicolegal aspects
S. Marmora, T. Farmanb, A. Lortat-Jacobc
Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research (2009) 95, 278—283

Summary

Introduction:
Septic knee arthritis following arthroscopy is a rare but dreaded complication: it might compromise patients’ functional prognosis and engage surgeon’s liability. This study ana- lyzes the context of such infection occurrences, their management as well as their medicolegal consequences.

Patients and methods:
Twenty-two cases of knee septic arthritis following arthroscopy were examined during the medicolegal litigation process and collected for assessment from a medi- cal liability specialised insurer. Half of the patients were manual workers who worked on their knees, and seven knees had a previous surgical history. The procedures performed at arthroscopy included seven ligamentoplasties, nine meniscotomies, three arthroscopic lavages, one arthrol- ysis, one chondroma removal and one plica resection. Seven patients, to some point, received corticosteroids: three preoperative joint injections, three intraoperative injections, and one oral corticotherapy.

Results:
Clinical signs of septic arthritis appeared after a median interval of 8 days (0—37), twice after a hemarthrosis and once after an articular burn. The median delay before treatment initiation was 4.2 days, and in 10 cases this therapeutic delay exceeded 3 days. On average, 3.5 additional procedures (1—9) were required to treat the infection and its residual sequels. Two total knee prostheses were implanted. Only two patients were free of disabling sequellae, and in five patients these sequels affected their livelihood. The medicolegal consequences were a partially permanent disability averaging 5% (0—20), a total temporary work incapacity of 120 days (40—790), a suffering burden averaging 3 out of 7 (0—4,5) points on the scale conventionally used in France. Twelve of these legal claims led to court ordered patient compensation.

Discussion:
Some risk factors of articular infection are known and well-identified. They can be linked to the patient’s condition (addiction to smoking, surgical history, professional activity)
or to medical management (intra-articular corticoid injections, interventions under oral anti- coagulants, inadvertently overheated irrigation fluid). When infection is suspected, it is often the needle-aspirated fluid’s inappropriate handling (such as absence of bacteriological testing or defective waiting time for the results), which delays the diagnostic or therapeutic manage- ment of this complication. All failures of infection diagnosis or treatment heavily contribute to malpractice claims against the surgeon. Early and appropriate management of postoperative infections helps limiting the risk of functional sequellae for the patient and reduces the risk of malpractice litigation for the practitioner.

Level of evidence: Level IV; economic and decision analysis, retrospective study

Hombro/Shoulder: No te contentes con la primera impresión

Identification and treatment of existing copathology in anterior shoulder instability repair.Forsythe B, Frank RM, Ahmed M, Verma NN, Cole BJ, Romeo AA, Provencher MT, Nho SJ
Arthroscopy. 2015 Jan;31(1):154-66. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2014.06.014

Recurrent anterior instability is a common finding after traumatic glenohumeral dislocation in the young, athletic patient population.

A variety of concomitant pathologies may be present in addition to the classic Bankart lesion, including glenoid bone loss; humeral head bone loss; rotator interval pathology; complex/large capsular injuries including humeral avulsions of the glenohumeral ligaments (HAGL lesions), SLAP tears, near circumferential labral tears, and anterior labral periosteal sleeve avulsions (ALPSA lesions); and rotator cuff tears. Normal anatomic variations masquerading as pathology also may be present. Recognition and treatment of these associated pathologies are necessary to improve function and symptoms of pain and to confer anterior shoulder stability.

This review will focus on the history, physical examination findings, imaging findings, and recommended treatment options for common sources of copathology in anterior shoulder instability repair.

Rodilla/Knee: Si el menisco se lesiona, se resentirá el cartílago

Quantitative MRI T2 Relaxation Time Evaluation of Knee Cartilage: Comparison of Meniscus-Intact and -Injured Knees After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
Li H, Chen S, Tao H, Chen S
Am J Sports Med. 2015 Jan 14. pii: 0363546514564151. [Epub ahead of print]


Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Associated meniscal injury is well recognized at anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and it is a known risk factor for osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE:
To evaluate and characterize the postoperative appearance of articular cartilage after different meniscal treatment in ACL-reconstructed knees using T2 relaxation time evaluation on MRI.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3

METHODS:
A total of 62 consecutive patients who under ACL reconstruction were recruited in this study, including 23 patients undergoing partial meniscectomy (MS group), 21 patients undergoing meniscal repair (MR group), and 18 patients with intact menisci (MI group) at time of surgery. Clinical evaluation, including subjective functional scores and physical examination, was performed on the same day as the MRI examination and at follow-up times ranging from 2 to 4.2 years. The MRI multiecho sagittal images were segmented to determine the T2 relaxation time value of each meniscus and articular cartilage plate. Differences in each measurement were compared among groups.

RESULTS:
No patient had joint-line tenderness or reported pain or clicking on McMurray test or instability. There were also no statistically significant differences in functional scores or medial or lateral meniscus T2 values among the 3 groups (P > .05 for both). There was a significantly higher articular cartilage T2 value in the medial femorotibial articular cartilage for the MS group (P < .01) and the MR group (P < .05) compared with that of the MI group, while there was no significant difference in articular cartilage T2 value between the MS and MR groups (P > .05) in each articular cartilage plate. The medial tibial articular cartilage T2 value had a significant positive correlation with medial meniscus T2 value (r = 0.287; P = .024)

CONCLUSION:
This study demonstrates that knees with meniscectomy or meniscal repair had articular cartilage degeneration at 2 to 4 years postoperatively, with higher articular cartilage T2 relaxation time values compared with the knees with an intact meniscus.

General: por muy mayor que seas, haz ejercicio

Older people's perspectives on participation in physical activity: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature

Franco MR, Tong A, Howard K, Sherrington C, Ferreira PH, Pinto RZ, Ferreira ML
Br J Sports Med. 2015 Jan 13
doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-094015

BACKGROUND:

Physical inactivity accounts for 9% of all deaths worldwide and is among the top 10 risk factors for global disease burden. Nearly half of people aged over 60 years are inactive. Efforts to identify which factors influence physical activity behaviour are needed.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify and synthesise the range of barriers and facilitators to physical activity participation.

METHODS:

Systematic review of qualitative studies on the perspectives of physical activity among people aged 60 years and over. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and AMED were searched. Independent raters assessed comprehensiveness of reporting of included studies. Thematic synthesis was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS:

From 132 studies involving 5987 participants, we identified six major themes: social influences (valuing interaction with peers, social awkwardness, encouragement from others, dependence on professional instruction); physical limitations (pain or discomfort, concerns about falling, comorbidities); competing priorities; access difficulties (environmental barriers, affordability); personal benefits of physical activity (strength, balance and flexibility, self-confidence, independence, improved health and mental well-being); and motivation and beliefs (apathy, irrelevance and inefficacy, maintaining habits).

CONCLUSIONS:

Some older people still believe that physical activity is unnecessary or even potentially harmful. Others recognise the benefits of physical activity, but report a range of barriers to physical activity participation. Strategies to enhance physical activity participation among older people should include (1) raising awareness of the benefits and minimise the perceived risks of physical activity and (2) improving the environmental and financial access to physical activity opportunities.

Rodilla/Knee: Sin diferencias de riesgo de revisión con distintos polietilenos

Is There a Difference in Total Knee Arthroplasty Risk of Revision in Highly Crosslinked versus Conventional Polyethylene?

Paxton EW, Inacio MC, Kurtz S, Love R, Cafri G, Namba RS.

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Jan 8. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 

Highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) was introduced to reduce wear and associated osteolysis in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is limited clinical evidence that HXLPE is more effective than conventional polyethylene (CPE) in TKA.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: 

(1) Do primary TKAs with HXLPE tibial inserts have a lower risk of revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) than TKAs with CPE tibial inserts? (2) In NexGen TKA (Zimmer Inc, Warsaw, IN, USA) bearings, do HXLPE tibial inserts have a lower risk of revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) than CPE tibial inserts? (3) In Press-Fit Condylar TKA (PFC or PFC Sigma; DePuy Inc, Warsaw, IN, USA), do HXLPE tibial inserts have a lower risk of revision (all-cause, aseptic, and septic) than procedures performed with CPE tibial inserts?

METHODS: 

The Kaiser Permanente Total Joint Replacement Registry was used to identify primary TKAs (N = 77,084) performed during the study period (April 2001 to December 2011) with cobalt-chromium alloy on CPE (CoCr-CPE) and CoCr-HXLPE bearings. The registry has 95% voluntary participation and less than 9% were loss to followup during the 10-year study period. A total of 60,841 (79%) had CoCr-CPE bearings, 11,048 (14%) had CoCr-HXLPE bearings, and 5195 (7%) were unknown. Specific knee implant designs (NexGen, Zimmer and PFC-Sigma, DePuy Inc) were also evaluated. These implants represented 41% (31,793) and 49% (37,457), respectively, of the 77,084 TKAs of known implant types registered during that period; implant selection was at the discretion of the attending surgeon. Descriptive statistics and marginal Cox regression models with propensity score adjustments were applied to compare risk of revision for CoCr-CPE versus CoCr-HXLPE TKA bearings.

RESULTS: 

At 5 years followup, cumulative incidence of revision for CoCr-CPE and CoCr-XLPE were 2.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Adjusted risks of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.29; p = 0.620), aseptic (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.77-1.32; p = 0.954), and septic revision (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.81-1.51; p = 0.519) did not differ in patients with CoCr-XLPE bearings compared with CoCr-CPE. Within TKAs with NexGen components, the adjusted risks of all-cause (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.86-1.51; p = 0.354), aseptic (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.79-1.65; p = 0.493), and septic revision (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.76-1.73; p = 518) were similar in patients with CoCr-XLPE compared with those with CoCr-CPE bearings. Finally, within the TKAs with PFC components, the adjusted risks of all-cause (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.49-1.30; p = 0.369), aseptic (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.62-1.14; p = 0.123), and septic revision (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.51-1.85; p = 0.929) were also similar in patients with CoCr-XLPE compared with those with CoCr-CPE bearings.

CONCLUSIONS: 

In this large study, we did not find differences in risk of revision for CoCr-HXLPE compared with CoCr-CPE bearings at 5 years followup. In selecting HXLPE in TKA, clinicians should consider the increased cost and lack of available evidence of performance for greater than 10 years followup. Future studies are necessary to evaluate longitudinal outcomes of CoCr-HXLPE versus conventional TKA bearings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 

Level III, therapeutic study. 

Trauma: menos "sensibilidad" quirúrgica en las fracturas de húmero

Nonoperative treatment of humeral shaft fractures revisited.

Ali E, Griffiths D, Obi N, Tytherleigh-Strong G, Van Rensburg L

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2014 Jul 31.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the union rate of humeral shaft fractures treated nonoperatively and to establish whether a particular fracture type is more likely to go on to nonunion.

METHODS

Radiographs and patient records of 207 humeral shaft fractures occurring during 5 years were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were initially managed nonoperatively and placed in a U-slab on diagnosis in the emergency department; this was converted to a functional humeral brace at 7 to 10 days after injury. Fracture location, morphology and comminution were assessed radiologically. Union was defined as the absence of pain and movement at the fracture site in the presence of radiographic callus formation. Nonunion was defined as no evidence of bone union by 1 year after injury or fractures requiring delayed fixation, defined as operative fixation undertaken more than 6 weeks after injury.

RESULTS

The study included 138 humeral shaft fracture patients; 18 patients (11%) were lost to follow-up, and 24 went on to nonunion, giving an overall union rate of 83%. Of the 24 nonunions, 15 underwent delayed operative fixation at an average of 8.3 months after injury. The union rate for proximal-third fractures was 76% compared with 88% for middle-third fractures and 85% for distal-third fractures. Comminuted fractures (defined as 3+ parts) had a 89% union rate regardless of position.

CONCLUSION

A lower threshold for surgical intervention may be considered in proximal-third, two-part spiral-oblique humeral shaft fractures. Brace therapy can be the optimal treatment regimen, but it is not the only option.