Márcia Uchôa de Rezende

Diacerhein versus glucosamine in a rat model of osteoarthritis

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the chondroprotective effect of diacerein and glucosamine regarding degenerative changes and articular stiffness in an experimental model of arthritis. METHODS Twenty rats underwent medial meniscectomy on the right knee. Ten animals were given diacerhein, and 10 were given glucosamine, from day 1 to the third month postoperatively, when all of them were killed. Histological and functional analysis of the knees were performed (measurement of maximum extension). RESULTS All operated knees showed more limited extension values and more degenerative changes as compared to nonoperated contralateral sides. A comparison of the two drugs showed that the degree of articular stiffness was significantly lower with diacerein, although degenerative changes were similar. CONCLUSIONS 1) Prophylactic use of diacerein leads to lower degree of articular stiffness when compared to glucosamine; 2) The prophylactic chondroprotective effects of diacerein and glucosamine are histologically similar.

Conceitos atuais em osteoartrite

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of joint disease, affects mainly the hips, knees, hands and feet, leading to severe disability and loss of quality of life, particularly in the elderly population. Its importance grows every year with the aging of the population, with a large increase in the elderly population compared to younger patients. The progressive understanding of the pathophysiology of OA, the perception that the process is not purely mechanical and / or aging, and clarification of the inflammatory pathways involved led recently to the clinical application of various drugs and other measures. This update aims to expose the current concepts on the pathophysiology and treatment of OA.Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of joint disease, affects mainly the hips, knees, hands and feet, leading to severe disability and loss of quality of life, particularly in the elderly population. Its importance grows every year with the aging of the population, with a large increase in the elderly population compared to younger patients. The progressive understanding of the pathophysiology of OA, the perception that the process is not purely mechanical and / or aging, and clarification of the inflammatory pathways involved led recently to the clinical application of various drugs and other measures. This update aims to expose the current concepts on the pathophysiology and treatment of OA.

AVALIAÇÃO DA EVOLUÇÃO DE LESÕES ASSOCIADAS À LESÃO DO LIGAMENTO CRUZADO ANTERIOR

SUMMARY Purpose: We reviewed 71 patients diagnosed with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on 72 knees. The incidence of associated injuries (meniscal and joint cartilage injuries) were evaluated according to the time elapsed until ACL reconstruction. Study design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Statistical analysis of the relationship between the time elapsed until surgery and the increase of associated lesions. Results: There was no statistically significant difference on the incidence of joint-cartilage and meniscal injuries assessed for the periods within 2-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-24 months and above 24 months. Conclusion: Although a trend towards a higher number of meniscal injuries after 6 months, and of joint-cartilage injuries after 12 months since the primary anterior cruciate ligament injury, such fact showed no statistical significance.

Development of a Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Program Outside North America

Objective To standardize and to develop a fresh osteochondral allograft protocol of procurement, processing and surgical utilization in Brazil. This study describes the steps recommended to make fresh osteochondral allografts a viable treatment option in a country without previous fresh allograft availability. Design The process involves regulatory process modification, developing and establishing procurement, and processing and surgical protocols. Results Legislation: Fresh osteochondral allografts were not feasible in Brazil until 2009 because the law prohibited preservation of fresh grafts at tissue banks. We approved an amendment that made it legal to preserve fresh grafts for 30 days from 2°C to 6°C in tissue banks. Procurement: We changed the protocol of procurement to decrease tissue contamination. All tissues were procured in an operating room. Processing: Processing of the grafts took place within 12 hours of tissue recovery. A serum-free culture media with antibiotics was developed to store the grafts. Surgeries: We have performed 8 fresh osteochondral allografts on 8 knees obtaining grafts from 5 donors. Mean preoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 31.99 ± 13.4, improving to 81.26 ± 14.7 at an average of 24 months’ follow-up. Preoperative Knee Injury and Oseoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) score was 46.8 ± 20.9 and rose to 85.24 ± 13.9 after 24 months. Mean preoperative Merle D’Aubigne-Postel score was 8.75 ± 2.25 rising to 16.1 ± 2.59 at 24 months’ follow-up. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report of fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation in South America. We believe that this experience may be of value for physicians in countries that are trying to establish an osteochondral allograft transplant program.

Prevalence of osteoporosis in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty. Method: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis awaiting primary total arthroplasty of the hip answered WOMAC questionnaire, VAS and questions about habits, osteoporosis and related diseases. Bone mineral densitometry of the lumbar spine and hips and laboratory tests (complete blood count and examination of calcium metabolism) were performed. Weight and height were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI). The evaluated quantitative characteristics were compared between patients with and without osteoporosis using the Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Thirteen men and 16 women with a mean age of 61.5 years old, WOMAC 51.4; EVA 6.4 and BMI 27.6 were evaluated. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 20.7%, and 37.9% had osteopenia. Patients with osteoporosis were older than patients without osteoporosis (p=0.006). The mean bone mineral density of the femoral neck without hip osteoarthritis was lower than the affected side (p=0.007). Thirty-five percent of patients did not know what osteoporosis is. Of these, 30% had osteopenia or osteoporosis. Conclusion: osteoarthritis and osteoporosis may coexist and the population waiting for total hip arthroplasty should be considered at risk for the presence of osteoporosis. Level of Evidence III, Observational Study.

PARQVE-Project Arthritis Recovering Quality of Life by Means of Education Short-term Outcome in a Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To evaluate the improvement in pain, function and quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) by means of an educational program. Methods: Two hundred and five patients with knee OA were evenly allocated in four groups. Three groups had two days of lectures on Osteoarthritis (OA). All groups received printed material to read and a video with all the lectures. Groups 1, 2, and 3, had lectures one, two and three months apart respectively. Group 4 received the educational material only. Half of the patients (subgroups A) received a telephone call two months after the final lecture. At enrollment and four months after the final lecture or after receiving the educational material, patients were asked to answer LEQUESNE, WOMAC, VAS, and SF-36 questionnaires, both physical (PCS) and mental (MCS). Results: Age wise all groups were similar. BMI was significantly higher in group 4. In general, all groups improved in pain, function and quality of life with no significant difference between groups for Lequesne, WOMAC, WOMAC pain, and SF36 PCS, or MCS. VAS showed significant difference favoring phone calls (p=0.021). Without telephone calls VAS scores trends (p=0.068) to be less in class attendants than in those that only retrieved the educational material. Conclusions: The educational program improved pain, function and quality of life (both physical and mental). Telephone calls improved pain and classroom programs seem to be superior to educational material alone.

Efeito do Plasma Rico em Plaquetas na apoptose pós-traumática de condrócitos

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the injection of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can reduce impact-induced chondrocyte apoptosis. METHODS: A double-blind experimental study was developed in four knees of two adult rabbits. Each knee was injured after anesthesia. Subsequently, 1ml PRP was injected in the right knees and 1ml of normal saline (NS) in the left knees. The animals were euthanized ten days after the intervention. All cartilage was removed from the 4 knees and prepared for analysis in electron microscopy (EM). RESULTS: Four EM samples were obtained. The PRP-injected knees showed apoptosis rates of 47,62% (50/105) and 48,36% (59/122), respectively. NS-injected knees showed 56.67% (17/30) and 70.40% (88/125) of apoptosis. PRP-injected knees had statistically significant less apoptosis (48.02%) than NS-injected ones, (67.74%, p<0,001) and odds ratio of 0.439 (95% CI=0.287-0.673). CONCLUSION: Immediately post-traumatic intra-articular injection of PRP reduces impact-induced chondrocyte apoptosis in rabbits.

Comparison between Platelet-Rich Plasma and Autologous Iliac Grafts for Tibial Osteotomy

Objective: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has the capacity to improve the bone-healing process. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the occurrence of bone healing and the time taken to achieve this in patients submitted to medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO), comparing platelet-rich plasma with bone marrow aspirate to autologous iliac graft. Design: Twenty-five patients who underwent tibial osteotomy were randomly divided into 2 groups: a control group, which received autologous iliac grafts (14 patients), and a study group, which received a compound of PRP and bone marrow aspirate (11 patients). Results: The bone-healing rates achieved were 100% in the control group and 91% in the study group. There was no difference in the time taken to achieve bone healing between the groups. Conclusions: The use of a combination of PRP and bone marrow aspirate, as a bone substitute, did not demonstrate any advantage over the use of an autologous iliac graft in MOWHTO.

Effect of hyaluronic acid on chondrocyte apoptosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of apoptotic cells in a contusion model of osteoarthritis (OA) and to assess whether intra-articular injection of high doses of hyaluronic acid (HA) immediately after trauma reduces chondrocyte apoptosis. METHODS: Forty knees from adult rabbits were impacted thrice with a 1 kg block released through a 1 meter tall cylinder (29.4 Joules). Subsequently, 2 mL of HA was injected in one knee and 2 mL saline in the contra-lateral knee. Medication were administered twice a week for 30 days, when animals were sacrificed. Specimens were prepared for optical microscopy exam and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase end labeling assay (TUNEL). RESULTS: The apoptosis rate in the contusion model was 68.01% (± 19.73%), a higher rate than previously described. HA significantly reduced the rate of apoptosis to 53.52% (± 18.09) (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Intra-articular HA administration started immediately after trauma reduces impact-induced chondrocyte apoptosis rates in rabbits. Level of Evidence I, Experimental Study.

OBESITY, OSTEARTHRITIS AND CLINICAL TREATMENT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between BMI and pain and function in patients with OA undergoing medical treatment following OARSI recommendations. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients were classified according to their arthritis degree by X-ray and body mass index (BMI). All patients completed the WOMAC, Lequesne, and visual analogue pain scale (VAS) questionnaires at baseline and after six months treatment. All patients were treated with diacerhein and analgesics (according to pain), orthotics (when indicated), and an educational program on osteoarthritis. They were instructed on balanced diet and exercise at least three times a week. RESULTS: There was no significant BMI variation in this study. The higher the initial BMI, the lower the improvement in pain (p = 0.03). Pain did not improve significantly (p = 0.2). Function improved (p <0.001) in inverse ratio to the initial BMI. CONCLUSION: BMI determines how patients will improve pain and function.