Aims. Paediatric fractures are highly prevalent and are most often treated with plaster. The application and removal of plaster is often an anxiety-inducing experience for children. Decreasing the anxiety level may improve the patients’ satisfaction and the quality of healthcare. Virtual reality (VR) has proven to effectively distract children and reduce their anxiety in other clinical settings, and it seems to have a similar effect during plaster treatment. This study aims to further investigate the effect of VR on the anxiety level of children with fractures who undergo plaster removal or replacement in the plaster room. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 255 patients were included, aged five to 17 years, who needed plaster treatment for a fracture of the upper or lower limb. Randomization was stratified for age (five to 11 and 12 to 17 years). The intervention group was distracted with VR goggles and headphones during the plaster treatment, whereas the control group received standard care. As the primary outcome, the post-procedural level of anxiety was measured with the Child Fear Scale (CFS). Secondary outcomes included the children’s anxiety reduction (difference between CFS after and CFS before plaster procedure), numerical rating scale (NRS) pain, NRS satisfaction of the children and accompanying parents/guardians, and the children’s heart rates during the procedure. An independent-samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test (depending on the data distribution) were used to analyze the data. Results. The post-procedural CFS was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the intervention group (proportion of children with no anxiety = 78.6%) than in the control group (56.8%). The anxiety reduction, NRS pain and satisfaction scores, and heart rates showed no significant differences between the control group and the intervention group. Subanalyses showed an increased effect of VR on anxiety levels in young patients, females, upper limb fractures, and those who had had previous plaster treatment. Conclusion. VR effectively reduces the anxiety levels of children in the plaster room, especially in young girls. No statistically significant effects were seen regarding pain, heart rate, or satisfaction scores. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(7):728–734

Aims. It is not clear which type of casting provides the best initial treatment in adults with a distal radial fracture. Given that between 32% and 64% of adequately reduced fractures redisplace during immobilization in a cast, preventing redisplacement and a disabling malunion or secondary surgery is an aim of treatment. In this study, we investigated whether circumferential casting leads to fewer fracture redisplacements and better one-year outcomes compared to plaster splinting. Methods. In a pragmatic, open-label, multicentre, two-period cluster-randomized superiority trial, we compared these two types of casting. Recruitment took place in ten hospitals. Eligible patients aged ≥ 18 years with a displaced distal radial fracture, which was acceptably aligned after closed reduction, were included. The primary outcome measure was the rate of redisplacement within five weeks of immobilization. Secondary outcomes were the rate of complaints relating to the cast, clinical outcomes at three months, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) (using the numerical rating scale (NRS), the abbreviated version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH), and Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) scores), and adverse events such as the development of compartment syndrome during one year of follow-up. We used multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression for the analysis of the primary outcome measure. Results. The study included 420 patients. There was no significant difference between the rate of redisplacement of the fracture between the groups: 47% (n = 88) for those treated with a plaster splint and 49% (n = 90) for those treated with a circumferential cast (odds ratio 1.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65 to 1.70); p = 0.854). Patients treated in a plaster splint reported significantly more pain than those treated with a circumferential cast, during the first week of treatment (estimated mean NRS 4.7 (95% CI 4.3 to 5.1) vs 4.1 (95% CI 3.7 to 4.4); p = 0.014). The rate of complaints relating to the cast, clinical outcomes and PROMs did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05). Compartment syndrome did not occur. Conclusion. Circumferential casting did not result in a significantly different rate of redisplacement of the fracture compared with the use of a plaster splint. There were comparable outcomes in both groups. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(7):696–704

Aims. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of patients who were revised using a custom-made triflange acetabular component (CTAC) for component loosening and pelvic discontinuity (PD) after previous total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods. Data were extracted from a single centre prospective database of patients with PD who were treated with a CTAC. Patients were included if they had a follow-up of two years. The Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), modified Oxford Hip Score (mOHS), EurQol EuroQoL five-dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) utility, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), including visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, were gathered at baseline, and at one- and two-year follow-up. Reasons for revision, and radiological and clinical complications were registered. Trends over time are described and tested for significance and clinical relevance. Results. A total of 18 females with 22 CTACs who had a mean age of 73.5 years (SD 7.7) were included. A significant improvement was found in HOOS (p < 0.0001), mOHS (p < 0.0001), EQ-5D-3L utility (p = 0.003), EQ-5D-3L NRS (p = 0.013), VAS pain rest (p = 0.008), and VAS pain activity (p < 0.0001) between baseline and final follow-up. Minimal clinically important improvement in mOHS and the HOOS Physical Function Short Form (HOOS-PS) was observed in 16 patients (73%) and 14 patients (64%), respectively. Definite healing of the PD was observed in 19 hips (86%). Complications included six cases with broken screws (27%), four cases (18%) with bony fractures, and one case (4.5%) with sciatic nerve paresthesia. One patient with concurrent bilateral PD had revision surgery due to recurrent dislocations. No revision surgery was performed for screw failure or implant breakage. Conclusion. CTAC in patients with THA acetabular loosening and PD can result in stable constructs and significant improvement in functioning and health-related quality of life at two years' follow-up. Further follow-up is necessary to determine the mid- to long-term outcome. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(2):53–61

Aims. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between hip shape and mid-term function in Perthes’ disease. It also explored whether the modified three-group Stulberg classification can offer similar prognostic information to the five-group system. Methods. A total of 136 individuals aged 12 years or older who had Perthes’ disease in childhood completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility score (function), Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) (function), EuroQol five-dimension five-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) score (quality of life), and the numeric rating scale for pain (NRS). The Stulberg class of the participants’ hip radiographs were evaluated by three fellowship-trained paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. Hip shape and Stulberg class were compared to PROM scores. Results. A spherical hip was associated with the highest function and quality of life, and lowest pain. Conversely, aspherical hips exhibited the lowest functional scores and highest pain. The association between worsening Stulberg class (i.e. greater deviation from sphericity) and worse outcome persisted after adjustment for age and sex in relation to PROMIS (predicted mean difference -1.77 (95% confidence interval (CI) -2.70 to -0.83)), NAHS (-5.68 (95% CI -8.45 to -2.90)), and NRS (0.61 (95% CI 0.14 to 1.08)), but not EQ-5D-5L (-0.03 (95% CI -0.72 to 0.11)). Conclusion. Patient-reported outcomes identify lower function, quality of life, and higher pain in aspherical hips. The magnitude of symptoms deteriorated with time. Hip sphericity (i.e. the modified three-group classification of spherical, oval, and aspherical) appeared to offer similar levels of detail to the five-group Stulberg classification. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(6):711–716

Endoscopic spine surgery is a promising and minimally invasive technique for the treatment of disc herniation and spinal stenosis. However, the literature on the outcome of interlaminar endoscopic decompression (IED) versus conventional microsurgical technique (CMT) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis is scarce. We analyzed 88 patients (IED: 36/88, 40.9%; CMT: 52/88, 59.1%) presenting with lumbar central spinal stenosis between 2018–2020. Surgery-related (operation time, complications, time to hospital release (THR), ASA score, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), side (unilateral/bilateral), patient-reported (ODI, NRS (leg-, back pain), eQ5D, COMI), and radiological (preoperative dural sack cross-sectional area (DSCA), Shizas score (SC), left (LRH) and right (RRH) lateral recess heights, left (LFA) and right (RFA) facet angle) parameters were extracted. Complication (most often re-stenosis due to hematoma and/or residual sensorimotor deficits) rates were higher in the endoscopic (38.9%) than microsurgical (13.5%) treatment group (p<0.01). Age, THR, SC, CRP, and DSCA revealed significant correlations with 3 weeks and 1 year postoperatively evaluated ODI, COMI, eQ5D, NRS leg, or NRS back values in our cohort. We did not observe significant differences in the endoscopic versus microsurgical group for the patient-reported outcomes. Age, THR, SC, CRP, and DSCA revealed significant correlations with patient-centered outcomes and should be considered in future studies. Endoscopic treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis was similarly successful as the conventional microsurgical approach, although it was associated with higher complication rates in our single-center study experience. This was probably because of the surgeons' lack of experience with this method and the resulting different learning curve compared with the conventional technique

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of patients who were revised using a new generation custom-made triflange acetabular component (CTAC) for component loosening and large acetabular defect (Paprosky 3A and 3B) after previous total hip arthroplasty (THA). New generation CTACs involve the use of patient-specific drill guides and incorporate three-dimensional printed bone models, enhancing precision during surgical implantation. Data were extracted from a single centre prospective database of patients with large acetabular defects who were treated with a new generation CTAC. Patients were included if they had a minimum follow-up of five years. The modified Oxford Hip Score (mOHS), EurQol EuroQoL five-dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) utility, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), including visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, were gathered at baseline, and at two- and five-year follow-up. Reasons for revision, and radiological and clinical complications were registered. Trends over time are described and tested for significance (p<0.05). A total of 49 (70%) of 70 patients with a mean age of 73.5 years (SD 7.7) had a complete follow-up of 5 years. A significant improvement was found in HOOS, mOHS, EQ-5D-3L utility and NRS, VAS pain rest and activity between baseline and final follow-up. Complications included 8 cases with loosening screws, 4 with bony fractures, 4 periprosthetic infections and 2 cases with dislocation. One patient with bilateral pelvic discontinuity had revision surgery due to recurrent dislocations. No revision surgery was performed for screw failure or implant breakage. New generation CTAC in patients with THA acetabular loosening and massive acetabular bone loss (Paprosky 3A and 3B) can result in stable constructs and significant improvement in functioning and health-related quality of life at five years’ follow-up

Introduction. Many minimally-invasive approaches have been described in an effort to improve short-term results of total hip arthroplasty (THA), aiming for fast recovery and prevention of dislocation. In our institution, we started to perform THA with SuperPATH approach, including preservation of soft tissue around the hip (James Chow et al. Musculoskelet Med 2011) since July 2014. The purpose of this study is to examine the short-term results of THA using SuperPATH, especially treatment progress of rehabilitation. Materials and methods. We performed a study of 30 patients (30 hips) with osteoarthritis of the hip joint who had a THA with SuperPATH approach. There were 4 men and 26 women with an average age of 71 years, which were followed up for 24 months. Patients were clinically assessed with Merle d'Aubigne score, postoperative hip pain during walking by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS:0–10), complications and treatment progress of rehabilitation in regard to moving and activities of daily living. Implant alignment and stability were radiologically evaluated by annual X-ray and CT acquired two months after surgery. Results. Merle d'Aubigne score was 10.4 (pain:2.9, mobility:4.5 walking ability:3.0) preoperatively and 16.8(pain:5.9, mobility:5.9, walking ability:5.0) at the latest follow-up. NRS showed less than 3 points for more than 50% of the THA patients next day postoperatively. For more than 80%, NRS showed less than 1 point at 7 days after surgery, and most patients acquired the ability of level ground walking for 100 meters independently by 4 days postoperatively, climbing up and down stairs independently by 5 days and wearing/taking off their socks independently by 7 days. There were no dislocation and infection, but intraoperative proximal femoral fracture was found for two cases, which was managed to treat with additional circulating wire intraoperatively. From CT images averaged cup position found to be 39±5 degrees for inclination, and 21±6 degrees for anatomic anteversion, averaged stem anteversion to be 33±9 degrees. No loosening of components was evident. Discussion and Conclusion. Many minimally-invasive approaches have developed, there have been many reports on fast recovery and low incidence of postoperative hip dislocation, however, the risk of complications related to shortage of operative field has been pointed out. In this study, intraoperative proximal femoral fracture occurred for two cases, but the components position seemed excellent and NRS showed less pain postoperatively and most of the patients acquired walking ability in a few days. SuperPATH approach, including pass way from between the Gluteus Medius and the piriformis tendon, can preserve the whole short external rotators and capsule of the hip joint, leading to fast rehabilitation progress. Moreover, this approach may be friendly to the surgeons familiar with the posterior approach because of easily conversion to the conventional posterior approach

The multimodal management of canal stenosis is increasing, and inhibitors of central sensitization are playing a crucial role in central sensitization processes. Pregabalin and gabapentin are antiepileptic drugs that reduce presynaptic excitability. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of pregabalin and gabapentin is effective in the symptomatic management of canal stenosis. A literature search was conducted in four databases. The inclusion criteria were studies that compared pregabalin or gabapentin with a control group in lumbar canal stenosis. Randomized clinical trials and a comparative retrospective cohort study were included. The main clinical endpoints were VAS/NRS, ODI, and RDQ (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire) at 2, 4, 8 weeks, and 3 months, adverse events, and walking distance were also collected. Data were combined using Review Manager 5.4 software. Six studies and 392 patients were included. The mean age was 60.25. No significant differences were observed in VAS at 2, 4, and 8 weeks: (MD: 0.23; 95% CI: −0.63-1.09), (MD: −0.04; 95% CI: −0.64 to −0.57), and (MD: −0.6; 95% CI: −1.22 to 0.02). Significant differences were observed in favor of pregabalin with respect to VAS at three months: (MD: −2.97; 95% CI: −3.43 to −2.51). No significant differences were observed in ODI (MD: −3.47; 95% CI: −7.15 to −0.21). Adverse events were significantly higher in the pregabalin/gabapentin group (OR 5.88, 95%CI 1.28-27.05). Walking distance and RDQ could not be compared, although the results were controversial. Gabapentinoids have not been shown to be superior to other drugs used in the treatment of LSS or to placebo. However, they have shown a higher incidence of adverse effects, improved results in VAS at 3 months, and a slight improvement in ambulation at 4 months in combination with NSAIDs compared to NSAIDs in monotherapy

Pelvic discontinuity (PD) is a detrimental complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of patients with PD who were revised using a custom-made triflange acetabular component (CTAC). This is a single centre prospective study of patients with PD following THA who were treated with a CTAC. The Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), modified Oxford Hip Score (mOHS), EurQol five-dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) utility, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), including visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, were gathered at baseline, and at one- and two-year follow-up. Clinical and radiological complications, including reasons for revisions were registered. Trends over time are described and tested for significance and clinical relevance. 18 females with 22 CTACs were included with a mean age of 73.5 years (SD 7.7). There were significant improvements between baseline and final follow-up in HOOS (p<0.01), mOHS (p<0.01), EQ-5D-3L utility (p<0.01), EQ-5D-3L NRS (p<0.01), VAS pain rest (p<0.01), and VAS pain activity (p<0.01). A minimal clinically important improvement in mOHS and the HOOS was observed in 16 patients (73%) and 14 patients (64%), respectively. Definite healing of the PD was observed in 19 hips (86%). Complications included six cases with broken screws (27%), four cases (18%) with bony fractures, and one case (4.5%) with sciatic nerve paresthesia. One patient with concurrent bilateral PD had revision surgery due to recurrent dislocations. No revision surgery was performed for screw failure or implant breakage. This is the first prospective assessment in clinical outcome of patients with PD who were treated with a CTAC. We have demonstrated that CTAC in patients with THA acetabular loosening and PD can result in stable constructs with no mechanical failures. Moreover, clinically relevant improvements in health-related quality of life at two years’ follow-up was observed

Introduction. The goal of the current study was to determine if SES affects PROMs in patients treated with THA. Specifically, we sought to determine any potential differences between low and high SES patients in pre-surgical PROMs, post-surgical PROMs, and PROM improvement after surgery while controlling for any potential confounding demographic factors. Methods. Patients were selected from a clinical registry at an urban tertiary academic medical center. All patients undergoing primary THA between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2016 were eligible for this study. During this period, patients were asked to complete the Harris Hip Score (HHS), Euro-QoL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D), 0–10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain, 0–10 NRS Satisfaction (only given postoperatively), the Charnley Classifier, and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Score. To determine SES, patients were matched by zip code to corresponding median household income as reported by the United States Census Bureau. Patients were then dichotomized into low and high SES groups using 2016 median household income of $57,617 USD as a cutoff point. Statistical differences between low and high SES patients were determined for demographic factors, preoperative PROMs, postoperative PROMs, and PROM change. Non-parametric variables were tested with the Mann Whitney U test and categorical variables were tested with the Chi squared test. Multivariate models were created to determine if SES group was independently predictive of achieving a minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) in PROMs (18.0 for HHS, −2.0 for NRS Pain, and 0.92 for UCLA). As potential confounders, we tested body mass index (BMI), preoperative health state from EQ-5D visual analog scale (EQ VAS), age at surgery, preoperative Charnley class, sex, and time between PROMs. Results. 4,580 operations met our basic inclusion criteria, representing a follow-up frequency of 73.5% of 6,235 total captured primary total hip procedures during the study period. There was no difference between the SES groups in any of the demographics. In every preoperative PROM, low SES patients performed significantly worse than high SES patients. Low SES patients also performed significantly worse on HHS, EQ VAS, and UCLA postoperatively. In contrast, there was no difference improvement for any PROM between the preoperative and postoperative intervals of the two groups. Multivariate models demonstrated that SES is not an independent predictor of achieving an MCII in HHS, NRS Pain, or UCLA Activity when controlling for possible confounders. Conclusions. We found that while SES is associated with health status, it does not preclude low SES patients from receiving the benefits of THA. We recommend that value-based reimbursement models adjust for SES when evaluating postoperative PROMs

In multilevel posterior cervical instrumented fusions, extending the fusion across the cervico-thoracic junction at T1 or T2 (CTJ) has been associated with decreased rate of re-operation and pseudarthrosis but with longer surgical time and increased blood loss. The impact on patient reported outcomes (PROs) remains unclear. The primary objective was to determine whether extending the fusion through the CTJ influenced PROs at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Secondary objectives were to compare the number of patients reaching the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) for the PROs and mJOA, operative time duration, intra-operative blood loss (IOBL), length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, adverse events (AEs), re-operation within 12 months of the surgery, and patient satisfaction. This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a multicenter observational cohort study of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. Patients who underwent a posterior instrumented fusion of 4 levels of greater (between C2-T2) between January 2015 and October 2020 with 12 months follow-up were included. PROS (NDI, EQ5D, SF-12 PCS and MCS, NRS arm and neck pain) and mJOA were compared using ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline differences. Patient demographics, comorbidities and surgical details were abstracted. Percentafe of patient reaching MCID for these outcomes was compared using chi-square test. Operative duration, IOBL, AEs, re-operation, discharge disposittion, LOS and satisfaction were compared using chi-square test for categorical variables and independent samples t-tests for continuous variables. A total of 206 patients were included in this study (105 patients not crossing the CTJ and 101 crossing the CTJ). Patients who underwent a construct extending through the CTJ were more likely to be female and had worse baseline EQ5D and NDI scores (p> 0.05). When adjusted for baseline difference, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for the PROs and mJOA at 3 and 12 months. Surgical duration was longer (p 0.05). Satisfaction with the surgery was high in both groups but significantly different at 12 months (80% versus 72%, p= 0.042 for the group not crossing the CTJ and the group crossing the CTJ, respectively). The percentage of patients reaching MCID for the NDI score was 55% in the non-crossing group versus 69% in the group extending through the CTJ (p= 0.06). Up to 12 months after the surgery, there was no statistically significant differences in PROs between posterior construct extended to or not extended to the upper thoracic spine. The adverse event profile did not differ significantly, but longer surgical time and blood loss were associated with construct extending across the CTJ

Background. There is growing evidence for an important role of central sensitization (CS) in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. This accounts for patients with chronic low back pain radiating to the leg (CLBPr) as well. Care as Usual (CaU) in these patients consists of diagnostic segmental nerve root blocks (dSNRB) followed by therapeutic interventions, i.e. a therapeutic segmental nerve root block (tSNRB) or pulsed radiofrequency (pRF). However, it is unknown if these procedures affect the amount of CS in these patients. Aim. The aim of the present study is to determine the alterations in the presentation of CS in CLBPr patients during care as usual. Hypothesis. A decrease in pain measured by NRS correlates with a decrease in CS (signs) in CLBPr patients undergoing SNRBs. Method/design. Case control study in 50 patients with CLBPr, for whom the physician is considering dSNRB and tSNRB or pRF, and 50 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Following care as usual protocol, patients will receive dSNRB and tSNRB or pRF. Healthy control subjects will not undergo any procedure. The study has three to five visits, depending on the number of dSNRBs performed (max. 3). Evaluation. The bedside examination and questionnaires that are part of CaU will be extended with QST and CSI, NRS, PCS and PVAQ. The measurements will take place just before the dSNRBs, the tSNRBs or pRF and a follow-up four weeks after the intervention. Data collection will take 1 year. No conflict of interest. No funding obtained

Dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2 agonist, has been approved for providing sedation in the intensive care unit. Along with sedative properties, it has analgesic activity through its highly selective action on alpha 2 receptors. Recent studies have examined the use of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blocks. Studies showing effectiveness of dexmedetomidine for adductor canal block in knee surgery are small. Also, its effectiveness has not been compared to Epinephrine which is a strong alpha and beta receptor agonist. In a previous study, we showed that motor sparing knee blocks significantly increased the duration of analgesia compared with periarticular knee infiltration using local anesthetic mixture containing Epinephrine following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In this study, we compared two local anesthetic mixtures: one containing Dexmedetomidine and the other Epinephrine for prolongation of motor sparing knee block in primary TKA patients. After local ethics board approval and gaining Notice of Compliance (NOC) from Health Canada for use of Dexmedetomidine perineurally, 70 patients between the ages 18 – 95 of ASA class I to III undergoing unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty were enrolled. Motor sparing knee block − 1) Adductor canal continuous catheter 2) Single shot Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve block 3) Single shot posterior knee infiltration was performed in all patients using 60 ml mixture of 0.5% Ropivacaine, 10 mg Morphine, 30 mg Ketorolac. Patients randomized into the Dexmedetomidine group (D) received, in addition to the mixture, 1mcg/kg Dexmedetomidine and the Epinephrine (E) group received 200mcg in the mixture. The primary outcome was time to first rescue analgesia as a surrogate for duration of analgesia and secondary outcomes were NRS pain scores up to 24 hours and opioid consumption. The time to first rescue analgesia was not significantly different between Epinephrine and dexmedetomidine groups, Mean and SD 18.45 ± 12.98 hours vs 16.63 ± 11.80 hours with a mean difference of 1.82 hours (95% CI −4.54 to 8.18 hours) and p value of 0.57. Pain scores at 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours were comparable between groups. Mean NRS pain scores Epinephrine vs Dexmedetomidine groups were 1.03 vs 0.80 at 4 hours, 1.48 vs 3.03 at 6 hours, 3.97 vs 4.93 at 12 hours, 5.31 vs 6.18 and 6.59 v 6.12 at 24 hours. Opioid consumption was also not statistically significant between both groups at 6, 12 18, 24 hours (p values 0.18, 0.88, 0.09, 0.64 respectively). Dexmedetomidine does not prolong the duration of knee motor sparing blocks when compared to Epinephrine for total knee arthroplasty. Pain scores and opioid consumption was also comparable in both groups. Further studies using higher dose of dexmedetomidine are warranted

There is no optimal treatment for osteochondral defects of the talus after failed primary surgical treatment. To treat these patients, a 15-mm diameter metal implant was developed for the medial talar dome. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the metal implantation technique for osteochondral lesions of the medial talar dome. This is a prospective case series. The inclusion criteria were the combination of a large OCD (ϕ >12 mm) of the medial talar dome, persistent complaints >1 year after treatment, and clinically relevant pain levels. The exclusion criteria were: age <18 years, OCD size >20 mm, ankle osteoarthritis grade 2 or 3, concomitant ankle pathology, and diabetes. The primary outcome measure was the Numeric Rating Scale pain (NRS) rest, walking, running, and stair climbing. Secondary outcome measures were: Foot Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score, and clinical and radiographic complications. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to calculate p-values. Between October 2007 and March 2009 10 patients were included. The median follow-up was 2 years (range, 2–3 years). On preoperative CT scanning, the median lesion size was 15 (range, 12–20) × 11 (range, 8–14) mm. The NRS rest improved from a median of 3 (0–7) preoperatively to 0.5 (0–2) at final follow-up (p = 0.017), NRS walking from 6.5 (4–8) to 1 (0–4) (p = 0.005), NRS running from 9 (6–10) to 3 (0–10) (p = 0.024), and NRS stair climbing from 6 (4–8) to 1 (0–7) (p = 0.012). The FAOS improved significantly on four of five subscales. The AOFAS improved from a median of 70 (47–75) before surgery to 89 (69–100) at final follow-up (p = 0.008). There were three temporary complications: hyposensibility about the scar in two and a superficial wound infection in one. There were no radiographic complications

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) disturbs patellar blood flow, an unintended accompaniment to TKA that may be a cause for postoperative anterior knee pain. We compared patellar blood flow before and after medial parapatellar arthrotomy to pre- and postoperative anterior knee pain scores to ascertain whether disrupted patellar blood flow correlates with anterior knee pain following TKA. Blood flow measurements were performed at full extension and at 30°, 60°, 90° and 110° of flexion prior to and after medial arthrotomy in 50 patients (21 male, 29 female; mean age 73.1±8.6 years) undergoing TKA. Anterior knee pain was assessed using the pain intensity numeric rating scale. A significant decrease in blood flow was detected at 60°, 90°, and 110° of flexion (p values: 0.00314,< 0.0001,< 0.0001 respectively). The medial arthrotomy did not have a statistically significant influence on patellar blood flow in the Students’ t-test (margin of significance p& #61603;0.05) Nineteen patients exhibited an average 14% (range 1%–54%) increase in patellar blood perfusion at knee flexions of 90° and 110° after medial arthrotomy (p value: 0.32) Prior to TKA, 16 of the 50 patients (32%) complained of anterior knee pain (average NRS 7.12, range 5–10). At 6-month follow up, 4 of the 16 patients (25%) complained of moderate anterior pain (average NRS 5.7, range 5–6), while 8 of 16 (50%) patients reported discomfort (average NRS 3.5, range 2–4) around the patella. No statistically significant correlation was found between intraoperative findings on patellar blood flow and the presence of anterior knee pain

Frailty has been shown to be a risk predictor for peri-operative adverse events (AEs) in patients undergoing various type of spine surgery. However, its relationship with Patient Related Outcome Measures (PROMS) remains unknown. The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of frailty on PROMS in patients undergoing surgery for thoraco-lumbar degenerative conditions. The secondary objective was to determine the association between frailty and baseline PROMS. This is a retrospective study of a prospective cohort of patients >55 years old who underwent surgery between 2012 and 2018. Patient data and PROMS (EQ-5D, SF-12, ODI, back and leg pain NRS) were extracted from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network registry for a single academic centre. Frailty was retrospectively calculated using the modified frailty index (mFI) and patient were classified as frail, pre-frail and non-frail. Patient characteristics and outcomes were analyzed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables and Chi square or Fisher's exact test for proportions. A generalized estimating equations (GEEs) regression model was used to assess the association between patients' baseline frailty status and PROMs measures at three and 12 months. 293 patients were included with a mean age of 67 ± 7 years. Twenty-two percent of the patients (n= 65) were frail, 59 % (n=172) were pre-frail and 19% (n=56) were non-frail. At baseline, the three groups had similar PROMS, except for the PCS which was worse in the frail group (mean difference [95% CI], −4.9 [−8.6;-1.1], p= 0.0083). The improvement in the EQ-5D, PCS, MCS, ODI, back and leg pain NRS scores was not significantly different between the three groups (p> 0.05). The was no difference in the evolution of the PROMS at three and 12 months between the three groups (p> 0.05). Although frailty is a known predictor of AEs, it does not predict worse PROMS after spine surgery in that population. At baseline, non-frail, pre-frail and frail patients have similar PROMS

Objectives. To define Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) thresholds for the Oxford hip score (OHS) and Oxford knee score (OKS) at mid-term follow-up. Methods. In a prospective multicentre cohort study, OHS and OKS were collected at a mean follow-up of three years (1.5 to 6.0), combined with a numeric rating scale (NRS) for satisfaction and an external validation question assessing the patient’s willingness to undergo surgery again. A total of 550 patients underwent total hip replacement (THR) and 367 underwent total knee replacement (TKR). Results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves identified a PASS threshold of 42 for the OHS after THR and 37 for the OKS after TKR. THR patients with an OHS ≥ 42 and TKR patients with an OKS ≥ 37 had a higher NRS for satisfaction and a greater likelihood of being willing to undergo surgery again. Conclusions. PASS thresholds appear larger at mid-term follow-up than at six months after surgery. With- out external validation, we would advise against using these PASS thresholds as absolute thresholds in defining whether or not a patient has attained an acceptable symptom state after THR or TKR. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:7–13

Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is defined as adjacent segment kyphosis >10° between the upper instrumented vertebrae and the vertebrae 2 levels above following scoliosis surgery. There are few studies investigating the predictors and clinical sequelae involved with this relatively common complication. Our purpose was to determine the radiographic predictors of post-op PJK and to examine the association between PJK and pain/HRQOL following surgery for AIS. The Post-Operative Recovery after Scoliosis Correction: Home Experience (PORSCHE) study was a prospective multicenter cohort of AIS patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Pre-op and minimum 2 year f/u scoliosis and sagittal spinopelvic parameters (thoracic kyphosis–TK, lordosis–LL, pelvic tilt-PT, sacral slope-SS, pelvic incidence-PI) were measured and compared to numeric rating scale for pain (NRS) score, SRS-30 HRQOL and to the presence or absence of PJK (proximal junctional angle >100). Continuous and categorical variables were assessed using logistic regression and binomial variables were compared to binomial outcomes using chi-square. 163 (137 females) patients from 8 Canadian centers met inclusion criteria. At final f/u, PJK was present in 27 patients (17%). Pre-op means for PJK vs No PJK: Age 14.1 vs 14.7yr; females 85 vs 86%; scoliosis 57±22 vs 62±15deg; TK 28±18 vs 19±16deg ∗, LL 62±11 vs 60±12deg, PT 8±12 vs 10±10deg, SS 39±8 vs 41±9deg, PI 47±14 vs 52±13deg, SVA −9±30 vs −7±31mm. Final f/u for PJK vs No PJK: Scoliosis 20±11 vs 18±8deg, final TK 26±12 vs 19±10deg∗, LL 60±11 vs 57±12deg, PT 9±12 vs 12±13deg, SS 39±9 vs 41±9deg, PI 48±17 vs 52±14deg, SVA −23±26 vs −9±32mm∗. Significant findings: Pre-op kyphosis >40deg has an odds ratio (OR) of 4.41 (1.50–12.92) for developing PJK∗. The presence of PJK was not associated with any significant differences in NRS or SRS-30. ∗denotes p<0.05. This prospective multicenter cohort of AIS patients demonstrated a 17% risk of developing PJK. Pre-op thoracic kyphosis >40deg was associated with the development of PJK; however, the presence of PJK was not associated with increased pain or decreased HRQOL

Diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC) works through the “pain-inhibits-pain” principle in which an additional painful (conditioned) stimulus can suppress the initial experienced pain through the descending and inhibiting pathways. Painful stimulation produced less pain inhibition in patients with knee osteoarthritis patients (KOA) than in controls, suggesting an impaired DNIC function and a loss of endogenous pain modulation. Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely used to treat acute pain associated with KOA, but the available evidence of its benefit on chronification of acute pain is scarce. This is a single-arm clinical study aims to evaluate the effect of EA on the chronification of pain associated with KOA and provide a profile of various cytokines underlying the pathogenesis of KOA. Participants are recruited through hospital-based recruitment and advertisements, diagnosis was based upon the criteria formulated by the American College of Rheumatology. Each participant was administered with EA (2 mA < current < 5 mA) at the ipsilateral EX-LE5, ST35, ST34 and SP10 for two weeks (once a day, 30 minutes per session, in 5 sessions per week). Visual Analog Scale (VAS), DNIC function, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Emotional Scale (ES) and Present Pain Intensity (PPI) are evaluated before treatment and after 5 to 10 sessions of treatment. Cytokines including GRO, TNF-α, VEGF, IP-10, IL-1β, IL-17, IL-8, MCP-1 and IL-10 levels in plasma were measured using a Human Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel on MAGPIX instrument before and after two weeks of treatment. A total of 39 patients with KOA were enrolled in our study (age: 63.46±9.89 years; height: 1.63±0.07 m; BMI: 22.83±2.89), all of them completed the trial. After 5 sessions of EA treatment, a significant decrease of VAS, WOMAC scores, NRS, ES and PPI was detected, but no significant difference in DNIC was observed. After two weeks' treatment, all clinical parameters (VAS, DNIC, WOMAC, NRS, ES, PPI) reduced significantly when compared with baseline; GRO, IL-17A, IL-1b, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-a, VEGF levels in plasma reduced significantly while IL-10 and IP-10 concentrations were elevated. This study appeared to provide evidence that EA was effective in improving chronic pain associated with KOA through repairing the impaired DNIC function and down-regulation of OA detrimental cytokines. A randomized controlled prospective study with large sample size is required to clarify the effect of EA in reversing the chronification of pain in KOA

Acute pain is one of the most common symptoms shared among patients who have suffered from an orthopedic trauma such as an isolated upper limb fracture (IULF). Development of interventions with limited side effects aiming to prevent the installation of chronic pain is critical as persistent pain is associated with an increased risk of opioid dependence, medical complications, staggering financial burdens and diminished quality of life. Theta burst stimulation (TBS), a non-invasive magnetic brain stimulation technique with minimal side effects, has shown promising results in patients experiencing various types of chronic pain conditions as it precisely targets brain regions involved in pain processing. Surprisingly, its impact on acute pain has never been investigated. This study aims to assess longitudinal effects of a 10-day continuous TBS (cTBS) protocol applied in the acute phase of an IULF on key functional outcomes. Patients with an IULF aged between 18 to 60 years old were recruited within 7 days post-accident at a Level I Trauma Center. Exclusion criteria included a history of brain injury, neurological disorders, musculoskeletal complications, and open fractures. In order to assess longitudinal changes, questionnaires measuring intensity and characteristics of pain (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS; McGill Pain Questionnaire, MPQ) as well as functional disability (DASH) were completed by all patients at three time points, namely prior to the start of the TBS program as well as 72 hours and 3 months post-intervention. Patients were randomly attributed to the active TBS protocol (active group) or to the placebo protocol (sham group). The stimulation site for each participant corresponded to the contralateral motor cortex of the injured arm. Fifty patients were recruited (female: 24; age: 40.38 years old), of which 25 were in the active group and 25 were in the sham group. Both groups were equivalent based on age, sex, type of injury, and surgical procedures (p>0.05). The intervention protocol was introduced on average 6.18 days post-accident. In comparison to the sham group, the active group showed a significant decrease in pain intensity (NRS) at 72h (F=6.02; p=0.02) and 3-month (F=6.37; p=0.02) post-intervention. No group difference was found early-on (72h post) in regard to pain characteristics (MPQ; F=3.90; p=0.06) and functional disabilities (DASH; F=0.48; p= 0.49). At three-month post-intervention, the active group showed statistically significant improvement on the MPQ (F=5.02; p=0.04) and the DASH (F=5.88; p=0.02) compared to the placebo group. No complications related to the treatment were reported. Results from this study show that patients who underwent active cTBS reported less pain and better functional states shortly after the end of the TBS protocol compared to sham patients and treatment effects were maintained at three months post-intervention. Given that acute pain intensity is an excellent predictor of chronic pain development, this safe technique available in numerous centers in Canada may help prevent chronic pain development when administered during the acute post-injury phase. Future studies should continue to investigate mechanisms involved to optimize this technique among the orthopedic trauma population and to reduce opioid consumption