Rajiv Gandhi

Simple Decompression Versus Anterior Subcutaneous and Submuscular Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

PURPOSEnOptimal surgical management of cubital tunnel syndrome remains uncertain despite the publication of numerous case series, observational studies, systematic reviews, and, in recent years, randomized controlled studies. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare simple decompression to anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve for the treatment of this condition, using comparative trials and randomized controlled trials.nnnMETHODSnComputerized database searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and all relevant surgical archives were performed. Studies involving adults with cubital tunnel syndrome in whom surgical intervention was simple decompression or anterior transposition (subcutaneous or submuscular) were included. Analysis was limited to randomized controlled trials and comparative observational studies. Included studies were assessed for quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias. Odds ratios of clinical improvement comparing simple decompression to anterior transposition (submuscular or subcutaneous) were calculated for each study.nnnRESULTSnTen studies involving a total of 449 simple decompressions, 342 subcutaneous transpositions, and 115 submuscular transpositions were included. There was little evidence of publication bias or statistical study heterogeneity. Odds of improvement with simple decompression versus anterior transposition were 0.751, 95% confidence interval (0.542, 1.040). Subanalyses on the basis of transposition technique (subcutaneous or submuscular) and study quality did not render a statistically significant result.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThis report represents the best cumulative evidence to date examining the surgical management of cubital tunnel syndrome. In this study, we found no statistically significant difference, but rather a trend toward an improved clinical outcome with transposition of the ulnar nerve as opposed to simple decompression. Additional prospective, randomized studies that use reproducible preoperative and postoperative objective measures might add statistical power to this finding.

The Self-Administered Patient Satisfaction Scale for Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Introduction. The objective of this study was to develop a short self-report questionnaire for evaluating patient satisfaction with the outcome of hip and knee replacement surgery. Methods. This scale consists of four items focusing on satisfaction with the extent of pain relief, improvement in ability to perform home or yard work, ability to perform recreational activities, and overall satisfaction with joint replacement. This instrument does not measure satisfaction with process of care. The responses are scored on a Likert scale, with the total score ranging from 25 to 100 per question. The instrument was tested on 1700 patients undergoing primary total hip and total knee replacement surgery, evaluated preoperatively, at 12 weeks, and one year postoperatively. Psychometric testing included internal consistency, measured with Cronbachs alpha, and convergent validity, measured by correlation with changes in measures of health status between the preoperative, 12-week, and one-year evaluations. Results. The internal consistency (reliability) of the scale, measured by the Cronbachs alpha, ranged from 0.86 to 0.92. The scale demonstrated substantial ceiling effects at 1 year. The scale scores correlated modestly with the absolute SF-36 PCS and WOMAC scores (ρ = 0.56–0.63 and also with the WOMAC change scores (ρ = 0.38–0.46) at both 12-week and 1-year followups. Conclusions. This instrument is valid and reliable for measuring patient satisfaction following primary hip and knee arthroplasty and could be further evaluated for use with other musculoskeletal interventions.

The efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review with quantitative synthesis.

PURPOSEnThe purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the available Level I and Level II literature on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a therapeutic intervention in the management of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA).nnnMETHODSnA systematic review of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and www.clinicaltrials.gov was performed to identify all randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies that evaluated the clinical efficacy of PRP versus a control injection for knee OA. A random-effects model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PRP at 24 weeks by use of validated outcome measures (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, visual analog scale for pain, International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form, and overall patient satisfaction).nnnRESULTSnSix Level I and II studies satisfied our inclusion criteria (4 randomized controlled trials and 2 prospective nonrandomized studies). A total of 577 patients were included, with 264 patients (45.8%) in the treatment group (PRP) and 313 patients (54.2%) in the control group (hyaluronic acid [HA] or normal saline solution [NS]). The mean age of patients receiving PRP was 56.1 years (51.5% male patients) compared with 57.1 years (49.5% male patients) for the group receiving HA or NS. Pooled results using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index scale (4 studies) showed that PRP was significantly better than HA or NS injections (mean difference, -18.0 [95% confidence interval, -28.8 to -8.3]; P < .001). Similarly, the International Knee Documentation Committee scores (3 studies) favored PRP as a treatment modality (mean difference, 7.9 [95% confidence interval, 3.7 to 12.1]; P < .001). There was no difference in the pooled results for visual analog scale score or overall patient satisfaction. Adverse events occurred more frequently in patients treated with PRP than in those treated with HA/placebo (8.4% v 3.8%, P = .002).nnnCONCLUSIONSnAs compared with HA or NS injection, multiple sequential intra-articular PRP injections may have beneficial effects in the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate knee OA at approximately 6 months. There appears to be an increased incidence of nonspecific adverse events among patients treated with PRP.nnnLEVEL OF EVIDENCEnLevel II, systematic review of Level I and II studies.

The role of surgeon volume on patient outcome in total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review of the literature

BackgroundA number of factors have been identified as influencing total knee arthroplasty outcomes, including patient factors such as gender and medical comorbidity, technical factors such as alignment of the prosthesis, and provider factors such as hospital and surgeon procedure volumes. Recently, strategies aimed at optimizing provider factors have been proposed, including regionalization of total joint arthroplasty to higher volume centers, and adoption of volume standards. To contribute to the discussions concerning the optimization of provider factors and proposals to regionalize total knee arthroplasty practices, we undertook a systematic review to investigate the association between surgeon volume and primary total knee arthroplasty outcomes.MethodsWe performed a systematic review examining the association between surgeon volume and primary knee arthroplasty outcomes. To be included in the review, the study population had to include patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty. Studies had to report on the association between surgeon volume and primary total knee arthroplasty outcomes, including perioperative mortality and morbidity, patient-reported outcomes, or total knee arthroplasty implant survivorship. There were no restrictions placed on study design or language.ResultsStudies were variable in defining surgeon volume (‘low’: <3 to <52 total knee arthroplasty per year; ‘high’: >5 to >70 total knee arthroplasty per year). Mortality rate, survivorship and thromboembolic events were not found to be associated with surgeon volume. We found a significant association between low surgeon volume and higher rate of infection (0.26% - 2.8% higher), procedure time (165 min versus 135 min), longer length of stay (0.4 - 2.13 days longer), transfusion rate (13% versus 4%), and worse patient reported outcomes.ConclusionsFindings suggest a trend towards better outcomes for higher volume surgeons, but results must be interpreted with caution.

Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes Comparing Mobile Bearing and Fixed Bearing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Mobile bearing (MB) knee replacements were designed with the goal of increased conformity and decreased bearing wear. We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing outcomes of MB and fixed bearing (FB) total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We identified 14 studies reporting our primary outcome of Knee Society Scores (KSS). We also pooled data for post-operative range of motion (ROM) and Hospital for Special Surgery scores (HSS). The standard difference in mean outcome scores for KSS and HSS demonstrated no difference between groups (P = .902, and P = .426 respectively). Similarly, the pooled data for ROM showed no difference between groups (P = .265). The results of this study found no significant differences between clinical outcomes of MB and FB TKA.

Advanced Age, Obesity and Continuous Femoral Nerve Blockade are Independent Risk Factors for Inpatient Falls After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

We asked whether femoral nerve blockade (FNB) was an independent risk factor for inpatient post-operative falls after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Data on 2197 primary TKAs were collected from our institution between 2003 and 2010. Patient demographics, type and duration of blocks were considered predictors of falls in a logistic regression model. Among 60 (2.7%) falls, the odds ratio was 1.04 (1.0-1.07; p=0.008) for each 1 year of increased age above the mean (66 years), 2.4 (1.3-4.5; p=0.005) for BMI >30 kg/m(2) and 4.4 (1.04-18.2; p=0.04) for continuous FNB. Single-shot FNB did not increase risk. No fall resulted in operative morbidity. The use of continuous FNB should be cautioned, especially in patients with other risk factors such as obesity and advanced age.

TNFα modulates protein degradation pathways in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts

IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and destructive disease of the joint. The synovial lining consists of two main types of cells: synovial fibroblasts and macrophages. The macrophage-derived cytokine TNFα stimulates RA synovial fibroblasts to proliferate and produce growth factors, chemokines, proteinases and adhesion molecules, making them key players in the RA disease process. If proteins are not correctly folded, cellular stress occurs that can be relieved in part by increased degradation of the aberrant proteins by the proteasome or autophagy. We hypothesized that the activity of the protein degradation pathways would be increased in response to TNFα stimulation in RA synovial fibroblasts compared with control fibroblasts.MethodsEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers were examined in synovial fibroblasts by immunoblotting and PCR. Use of the autophagy and proteasome protein degradation pathways in response to TNFα stimulation was determined using a combination of experiments involving chemical inhibition of the autophagy or proteasome pathways followed by immunoblotting for the autophagy marker LC3, measurement of proteasome activity and long-lived protein degradation, and determination of cellular viability.ResultsRA synovial fibroblasts are under acute ER stress, and the stress is increased in the presence of TNFα. Autophagy is the main pathway used to relieve the ER stress in unstimulated fibroblasts, and both autophagy and the proteasome are more active in RA synovial fibroblasts compared with control fibroblasts. In response to TNFα, the autophagy pathway but not the proteasome is consistently stimulated, yet there is an increased dependence on the proteasome for cell viability. If autophagy is blocked in the presence of TNFα, an increase in proteasome activity occurs in RA synovial fibroblasts but not in control cells.ConclusionsTNFα stimulation of synovial fibroblasts results in increased expression of ER stress markers. Survival of synovial fibroblasts is dependent on continuous removal of proteins by both the lysosome/autophagy and ubiquitin/proteasome protein degradation pathways. Both pathways are more active in RA synovial fibroblasts compared with control fibroblasts. These results may provide a better understanding of the mechanism of TNFα on prolonging the survival of synovial fibroblasts in RA tissue.

The synovial fluid adiponectin-leptin ratio predicts pain with knee osteoarthritis

The relationship between adipokines, such as leptin and adiponectin, and cartilage degeneration is being increasingly recognized. We asked what the relationship is between these hormones and patient-reported knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain. We collected demographic data, Short Form McGill Pain scores, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores, and synovial fluid (SF) samples from 60 consecutive patients with severe knee OA at the time of joint replacement surgery. SF samples were analyzed for leptin and adiponectin using specific ELISA. Non-parametric correlations and linear regression modeling were used to identify the relationship between the adipokines and pain levels. The correlations between the individual adipokines and the pain scales were low to moderate and consistently less than that for the corresponding adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio. Linear regression modeling showed that the A/L ratio was a significant predictor of a greater level of pain on the MPQ-SF (pu2009=u20090.03) but not the WOMAC pain scale (pu2009=u20090.77). A greater A/L ratio was associated with less pain with severe knee OA and this metabolic pathway may represent a target for novel therapeutics.

A matched-cohort population study of reoperation after meniscal repair with and without concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Evidence for the success of a meniscal repair performed alone versus combined with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is equivocal. No large-scale comparative studies exist regarding this issue. Hypothesis: In the general population, meniscal repair in a presumed stable knee has the same rate of reoperation as meniscal repair performed with ACLR. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All meniscal repairs performed with ACLR in Ontario, Canada, between July 2003 and March 2008 in patients aged 15 to 60 years were identified using administrative billing, diagnostics, and procedural coding. This cohort was matched 1:1 for sex, age, and calendar year of surgery with a cohort of patients who underwent meniscal repair alone. The McNemar test of matched pairs was used to compare reoperation rates (debridement or repair) within 2 years of the index procedure. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential risk factors for reoperation among unmatched patient (socioeconomic status surrogate, comorbidity) and provider (surgeon volume, academic hospital status) factors. Results: Of 1332 patients who underwent meniscal repair and ACLR, 1239 (93%) were matched with patients who underwent meniscal repair alone. The rate of meniscal reoperation was 9.7% in the combined cohort compared with 16.7% in the repair alone cohort (P < .0001). In the regression analysis, only ACLR was protective against meniscal reoperation (odds ratio, 0.57; P < .0001). Surgeon volume of meniscal repair did not influence outcome. Conclusion: A meniscal repair performed in conjunction with ACLR carries a 7% absolute and 42% relative risk reduction of reoperation after 2 years compared with isolated meniscal repair.

Complications after minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty as compared with traditional incision techniques: a meta-analysis

The primary objective of our meta-analysis was to compare the incidence of complications between minimally invasive surgery and standard total knee arthroplasty (TKA) approaches. We reviewed randomized controlled trials comparing minimally invasive TKA to standard TKA. After testing for publication bias and heterogeneity, the data were aggregated by random effects modeling. Our primary outcome was the number of complications. Our secondary outcomes were alignment outliers, Knee Society Function scores, and Knee Society Knee scores. The combined odds ratios for complications for the minimally invasive surgery group and alignment outliers were 1.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.47; P < .05) and 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.34-1.82; P = .58), respectively. The standard difference in means for Knee Society scores was no different between groups. Minimally invasive knee surgery should be approached with caution.