The trapeziometacarpal joint (TMCJ) is the most common hand joint affected by osteoarthritis (OA), and trapezium implant arthroplasty is a potential treatment for recalcitrant OA. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of various trapezium implants as an interventional option for TMCJ OA. Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library databases were searched for relevant studies up to May 2022. Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were adhered to and registered on PROSPERO. The methodological quality was assessed by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute tools for observational studies and the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Subgroup analyses were performed on different replacement implants, the analysis was done via Open Meta-Analyst software and P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

A total of 123 studies comprising 5752 patients were included. Total joint replacement (TJR) implants demonstrate greater significant improvements in visual analogue scale pain scores postoperatively. Interposition with partial trapezial resection implants was associated with the highest grip strength and highest reduction in the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score. Revision rates were highest in TJR (12.3%), and lowest in interposition with partial trapezial resection (6.2%).

Total joint replacement and interposition with partial trapezial resection implants improve pain, grip strength, and DASH scores more than other implant options. Future studies should focus on high-quality randomized clinical trials comparing different implants to accumulate higher quality evidence and more reliable conclusions.

Aims

The extended wait that most patients are now experiencing for hip and knee arthroplasty has raised questions about whether reliance on waiting time as the primary driver for prioritization is ethical, and if other additional factors should be included in determining surgical priority. Our Prioritization of THose aWaiting hip and knee ArthroplastY (PATHWAY) project will explore which perioperative factors are important to consider when prioritizing those on the waiting list for hip and knee arthroplasty, and how these factors should be weighted. The final product will include a weighted benefit score that can be used to aid in surgical prioritization for those awaiting elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty.

Purpose and Background

Strengthening the lumbar extensor musculature is a common recommendation for CLBP. Although reported as effective, variability in response in CLBP populations is not well investigated. This study investigated variability in responsiveness to isolated lumbar extension (ILEX) resistance training in CLBP participants by retrospective analysis of 3 RCTS.

Purpose: Elective total hip and knee replacement surgeries are effective procedures for patients suffering from hip and knee disease. The demand for joint replacements is expected to rise as the life expectancy of Canadians increases; thus putting a heavy burden on healthcare. In an effort to reduce the acute hospital length of stay (LOS) the Alberta Orthopaedic Society, with the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute, three Alberta health regions (Calgary, Capital and David Thompson) and Alberta Health and Wellness created an evidence based new care continuum for hip and knee replacement. The LOS through the new care continuum compared to the current conventional approach was evaluated. In addition patient characteristics that could potentially predict the LOS were evaluated.

Method: The study design was a randomized, controlled trial. Consenting subjects were randomized to receive care through either the new care continuum (intervention) or the existing “current conventional approach” (control). Acute hospital LOS was calculated as the difference between the date and time the patient was admitted to the date and time the patient was discharged. Data was collected on patient characteristics potentially associated with acute hospital LOS.

Results: Intervention patients demonstrated a significantly shorter acute hospital LOS than the control patients, 4.66 and 5.95 days respectively. Further analysis of the data using a generalized linear model indicated that several patient characteristics were associated with a shorter/longer wait for consultation and surgery. Married patients had a statistically significant shorter LOS than single patients (IRR=0.89, p=0.001). Whereas older patients (IRR=1.01, p=< 0.001), patients with increased comorbidity (IRR= 1.03, p=0.001), and patients with an ASA of ≥ 3 (IRR= 1.22, p=< 0.001) resulted in a significantly longer LOS.

Conclusion: This study indicated that an evidence based healthcare continuum for the delivery of hip and knee replacements was successful in significantly reducing acute care LOS. Reducing the LOS using the new care continuum could potentially help alleviate the strain on limited healthcare resources and the savings could be reinvested to increase the numbers of joint replacement performed. Furthermore, an understanding of patient characteristics that influence acute hospital care LOS should be used to model surgical case mixing to further improve efficiencies.

Purpose: Total hip and knee replacements are recognized as effective surgical interventions for severe arthritis. Increasing demand for these services has led to increasing waits for both consultation and surgery. The Alberta Orthopaedic Society, with the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute, the Calgary Health Region, the Capital Health Region, the David Thompson Health Region and Alberta Health and Wellness carried out an analysis and an evidence based redesign of the care continuum for hip and knee replacement surgery in an effort to reduce wait times and improve the quality of service for patients.

Method: The study design was a randomized, controlled trial. Consenting subjects were randomized to receive care through either the new care continuum or the existing “current conventional approach”.

Results: During the 12 month study, 1570 patients received surgery. The mean wait for an orthopaedic consultation for intervention patients was 106 days compared to 200 days for the control patients. The mean wait for hip or knee surgery for intervention patients was 157 days compared to 408 for the control patients. Further analysis of the data using a generalized linear model utilizing negative binomial regression indicated that several patient characteristics were associated with a shorter/longer wait times. The less the severity of the disease pre-surgery was associated with a longer wait for a consult (IRR=1.01, p=< 0.001). Longer waits for surgery were statistically associated with less disease severity (IRR=1.004, P=0.019), documented delay (due to non-arthritic medical concerns or patient request for delay, IRR=1.61, p=< 0.001), increased comorbidity (IRR=1.03, p=0.015), and smoking (IRR=1.30, p=0.020).

Conclusion: The results of this study confirm that a redesigned joint replacement new care continuum with a standardized primary care referral process to centralized, specialized joint replacement clinics without established backlogs can help reduce wait times in Canada.

Purposes and background of study: We compared the effects of lumbar muscle-strengthening programmes with and without pelvic stabilisation on low back pain (LBP). A dynamometer employing a stabilisation procedure (lumbar extension machine, MedX, Ocala, FL) is effective in improving strength and reducing LBP symptoms (Nelson et al., Orthopedics, 1995, 18,971–981), and researchers have hypothesised that this effectiveness is due to the pelvic stabilisation (Graves et al., Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1994, 75,210–215). However, effects of the dynamometer with and without pelvic stabilisation on LBP have not been compared, so we examined this issue.

Methods and Results: Fifty-seven chronic LBP patients were randomly assigned to a lumbar extension training with pelvic stabilisation group (STAB; n=20), a lumbar extension without pelvic stabilisation group (NO-STAB; n=17) and a control group (n=20). STAB and NO-STAB participants completed one weekly session of dynamic variable resistance exercise (one set of 8–12 repetitions to fatigue) on the lumbar extension machine (with or without pelvic stabilisation) for 12 weeks. Pre- and post-test measures of self-reported LBP (101-point visual analogue scale; pre-test mean of 25), related disability (Oswestry disability index; pre-test mean of 34) and lumbar strength were taken. After the exercise programme, the STAB group increased significantly in lumbar strength at all joint angles, and decreased significantly in visual analogue and Oswestry scores. However, there were no significant changes in these variables in the NO-STAB and control groups.

Conclusion: Isolated lumbar extension exercise is very effective in reducing LBP in chronic patients. However, when the pelvis is not stabilised, otherwise identical exercises appear ineffective in reducing LBP.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and derivatives such as teriparatide (PTH (1–34)) have gained major attention in recent years in treatment of osteoporosis due to their anabolic action on the bone remodelling cycle. These drugs are currently the only available agents being classified as sole anabolic. Interestingly, action of these agents strongly depends on the way they are administered. While these drugs act catabolically when given continuously, they act anabolically when administered in a pulsatile way. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this behaviour. However, so far no agreement as regards detailed underlying biochemical regulation has been made. Parallel to intense experimental research to resolve this problem a few mathematical models have been proposed dealing with this subject. In this paper we propose a novel underlying mechanism for anabolic action of PTH based on mathematical modelling of bone cell population dynamics. Using this model allows us to investigate various hypotheses put forward by bone biologists. Additionally, comparison with other theoretical models proposed in the literature will be made.

Introduction: We describe a new technique of using acetabular suction to improve cementing conditions in acetabular arthroplasty.

Aim: To analyse the effectiveness of a technique of applying suction to the acetabular cavity during cementing as a method of maximising the quality of the bone-cement interface.

Methods: In this study, a series of 100 cemented primary Exeter hip replacements performed by the senior author, using contemporary cementing techniques together with an acetabular suction technique were evaluated for the degree of cement penetration and the quality of the cement-bone interface so created. Radiographs were digitally scanned with high resolution and a CAD program was used to assess quantitatively the cement penetration in each of the Charnley-DeLee zones. The quality of the cement-bone interface was assessed using the grading system as described by Ranawat.

Results: An analysis showed significant cement penetration in each of the Charnley-Delee zones especially in zones 1b, 2a and 2b. The quality of the cement-bone penetration was excellent with most showing a Type I interface (perfect cement-bone interlock with gradual merging of cement into the cancellous bone with no radiolucency or rounding off of the cement front) in all zones.

Conclusions: These results indicated that application of acetabular suction significantly improved the cement penetration on the acetabular side in cemented total hip arthroplasty. We recommend this as a satisfactory method to ensure the best possible conditions for creation of an enduring cement- bone interface.