Aims. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of neuropathic pain over one year in a cohort of patients with chronic post-surgical pain at three months following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. Between 2016 and 2019, 363 patients with troublesome pain, defined as a score of ≤ 14 on the Oxford Knee Score pain subscale, three months after TKA from eight UK NHS hospitals, were recruited into the Support and Treatment After Replacement (STAR) clinical trial. Self-reported neuropathic pain and postoperative pain was assessed at three, nine, and 15 months after surgery using the painDETECT and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaires collected by postal survey. Results. Symptoms of neuropathic pain were common among patients reporting chronic pain at three months post-TKA, with half reporting neuropathic pain on painDETECT (191/363; 53%) and 74% (267/359) on DN4. Of those with neuropathic pain at three months, half continued to have symptoms over the next 12 months (148/262; 56%), one-quarter had improved (67/262; 26%), and for one-tenth their neuropathic symptoms fluctuated over time (24/262; 9%). However, a subgroup of participants reported new, late onset neuropathic symptoms (23/262; 9%). Prevalence of neuropathic symptoms was similar between the screening tools when the lower cut-off painDETECT score (≥ 13) was applied. Overall, mean neuropathic pain scores improved between three and 15 months after TKA. Conclusion. Neuropathic pain is common in patients with chronic pain at three months after TKA. Although neuropathic symptoms improved over time, up to half continued to report painful neuropathic symptoms at 15 months after TKA. Postoperative care should include screening, assessment, and treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with early chronic postoperative pain after TKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(6):582–588

Abstract. INTRODUCTION. This study aimed to examine how physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evolved over the first year after total knee replacement (TKR) for patients with and without post-operative chronic knee pain. METHODS. 83 adults participating in the PEP-TALK, a RCT testing the effectiveness of a behaviour change physiotherapy intervention versus usual rehabilitation post-primary TKR, were analysed. UCLA Activity Score and EQ-5D-5L values for participants with and without chronic knee pain (14 points or lower in the Oxford Knee Score Pain Subscale at six months post-TKR) were compared at six and 12 months post-TKR. We evaluated recovery trajectory those with or without chronic pain at these time points. RESULTS. Participants with chronic knee pain, UCLA Activity Score remained unchanged between baseline to six months (mean: 3.8 to 3.8), decreasing at 12 months (mean: 3.0). Those without post-operative chronic knee pain reported a improvement in physical activity from baseline to six months (mean: 4.0 vs 4.9), plateauing at 12 months (mean: 4.9). Participants with chronic knee pain reported lower baseline HRQoL, although both groups improved mean health utility over one year. Of participants who were not defined as being in chronic pain at six months, 8.5% returned to a chronic pain categorisation by 12 months. CONCLUSION. People with chronic knee pain post-TKR report poorer physical activity and HRQoL scores post-operatively. Monitoring outcomes longer than six months may be indicated as those without chronic knee pain initially post-TKR remain at risk of reverting to chronic knee pain 12 months post-TKR

Aims. Single-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) is gaining popularity in treating chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). We have introduced this approach to our clinical practice and sought to evaluate rates of reinfection and re-revision, along with predictors of failure of both single- and two-stage rTKA for chronic PJI. Methods. A retrospective comparative cohort study of all rTKAs for chronic PJI between 1 April 2003 and 31 December 2018 was undertaken using prospective databases. Patients with acute infections were excluded; rTKAs were classified as single-stage, stage 1, or stage 2 of two-stage revision. The primary outcome measure was failure to eradicate or recurrent infection. Variables evaluated for failure by regression analysis included age, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, infecting organisms, and the presence of a sinus. Patient survivorship was also compared between the groups. Results. A total of 292 consecutive first-time rTKAs for chronic PJI were included: 82 single-stage (28.1%); and 210 two-stage (71.9%) revisions. The mean age was 71 years (27 to 90), with 165 females (57.4%), and a mean BMI of 30.9 kg/m. 2. (20 to 53). Significantly more patients with a known infecting organism were in the single-stage group (93.9% vs 80.47%; p = 0.004). The infecting organism was identified preoperatively in 246 cases (84.2%). At a mean follow-up of 6.3 years (2.0 to 17.6), the failure rate was 6.1% in the single-stage, and 12% in the two-stage groups. All failures occurred within four years of treatment. The presence of a sinus was an independent risk factor for failure (odds ratio (OR) 4.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.593 to 15.505; p = 0.006), as well as age > 80 years (OR 5.962; 95% CI 1.156 to 30.73; p = 0.033). The ten-year patient survivorship rate was 72% in the single-stage group compared with 70.5% in the two-stage group. This difference was not significant (p = 0.517). Conclusion. Single-stage rTKA is an effective strategy with a high success rate comparable to two-stage approach in appropriately selected patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(8):1373–1379

Abstract. Background. Around 5–15% of patients will experience chronic postoperative pain after total knee replacement (TKR) surgery but the source of the pain is unknown. The aim of this study was to assesses patients six months after TKR using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee, pain sensory profiles and assessments of pain catastrophizing thoughts. Methods. Forty-six patients had complete postoperative data and were included. MRI findings were scored according to the MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score (MOAKS) recommendation for Hoffa synovitis, effusion size and bone marrow lesions. Pain sensory profiles included the assessment of pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), temporal summation of pain (TSP) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Pain catastrophizing was assessed using the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS). Clinical pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS, 0–10cm) and groups of moderate-to-severe (VAS>3) and non-to-mild postoperative pain (VAS≤3) were identified. Results. Patients with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain demonstrated higher grades of Hoffa synovitis (P<0.001) and effusion size (P<0.001), lower PPTs (P=0.039), higher TSP (P=0.001) and lower CPM (P=0.014) when compared to patients with non-to-mild postoperative pain. No differences were found in PCS scores. Linear regression models found TSP (P=0.013), PCS (P<0.001), Hoffa synovitis (P=0.036) and effusion size (P=0.003) as independent parameters contributing to the postoperative pain severity. Conclusion. These finding indicate that chronic postoperative after TKR is a combination of joint-related synovitis and effusion in combination with sensitization of central pain mechanisms and pain catastrophizing thoughts

Abstract. Introduction. Total knee replacement (TKR) is a successful operation for many patients, however 15–20% of patients experience chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). Many will experience neuropathic characteristics. We describe the prevalence and patterns of neuropathic pain in a cohort of patients with CPSP three months after TKR. Methodology. Between 2016–2019, 363 patients with troublesome pain, ≤14 on Oxford Knee score pain subscale, at three months after TKR from eight NHS hospitals were recruited into the Support and Treatment After Replacement (STAR) trial. Self-reported neuropathic pain was assessed at three, nine and fifteen months after surgery using painDETECT and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4). Results. At three months post-operative, 53% reported neuropathic pain on painDETECT and 74% on DN4. Half (56%) remained in neuropathic pain over the twelve-month follow-up period, 26% reported improvement, and 9% reported new neuropathic symtpoms or fluctuated in and out of neuropathic pain (9%). Overall mean neuropathic pain scores improved between three and 15 months after TKR. When the painDETECT cut-off score of ≥13(ambiguous/possible) was used, DN4 and painDETECT measures showed similar prevalence rates at each timepoint. Conclusion. Neuropathic pain is common among patients with CPSP at three months after TKR. Although symptoms improved over time, one quarter to one half of our cohort continued to report symptoms at fifteen months. We propose a painDETECT cutoff score of ≥13 be used to identify neuropathic features in the TKR population. Postoperative care should include identification, assessment, and treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with CPSP after TKR

Abstract. Introduction. Approximately 15–20% of patients report chronic pain three months after total knee replacement (TKR). The STAR care pathway is a clinically important and cost-effective personalised intervention for patients with pain 3 months after TKR. The pathway comprises screening, assesment, onward referral for treatment and follow-up over one year. In a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing the pathway with usual care, the pathway improved pain at 6 and 12 months. This study examined the longer-term clinical and cost-effectiveness of the STAR care pathway. Methodology. STAR trial participants were followed-up at a median of 4 years post-randomisation. Co-primary outcomes were self-reported pain severity and interference in the replaced knee, assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Resource use from electronic hospital records was valued with UK reference costs. Results. Of the 337 participants active at trial completion, 326 had confirmed vital status, and 226 (69%) provided outcome data at a median of 4 years. The between-group difference in mean BPI severity score was −0.42 (95% CI −1.07, 0.23; p=0.20) and for BPI interference was −0.64 (95% CI −1.41, 0.12; p=0.10), favouring the intervention. Multiple imputation analyses led to attenuations of about 0.2 points. Mean hospital admission costs over four years were £2461.49 (95% CI £1354.42, £3568.57) in the intervention arm and £3791.68 (95% CI £2095.12, to £5488.24) in usual care. Conclusion. These data are consistent with sustained benefits from the STAR care pathway at 4 years, albeit attenuated and with wider confidence intervals, in part attributable to attrition after 1 year

Aims. The results of irrigation and debridement with component retention (IDCR) in the treatment of acutely infected total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) have been variable. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome after IDCR when combined with chronic antibiotic suppression. We also evaluated survivorship free from subsequent infection, removal of the components, and death, as well as the risk factors for failure. Patients and Methods. This was a single-centre retrospective review of 134 infected primary TKAs that were treated with IDCR. Infections within four weeks of the procedure were defined as acute postoperative infections, and those occurring more than four weeks after the procedure with symptoms for less than three weeks were defined as acute haematogenous infections. Patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics for four to six weeks, followed by chronic oral antibiotic suppression. Estimates of survival were made using a competing risk analysis. The mean follow-up was five years (2.1 to 13). Results. The infection was an acute postoperative infection in 23 TKAs and an acute haematogenous infection in 111 TKAs. The incidence of subsequent infection was 36% in those with an acute postoperative infection and 33% in those with a haematogenous infection, five years postoperatively (p = 0.40). Age < 60 years increased the risk of subsequent infection (hazard ratio (HR) 2.4; p = 0.009) and removal of the components (HR 2.8; p = 0.007). Infection with a staphylococcal species increased the risk of subsequent infection (HR 3.6; p < 0.001), and removal of the components (HR 3.2; p = 0.002). Musculoskeletal Infection Society host type and local extremity grade, body mass index (BMI), the duration of symptoms, gender, and the presence of a monoblock tibial component had no significant effect on the outcome. Conclusion. In a rigorously defined group of acute periprosthetic infections after TKA treated with IDCR and chronic antibiotic suppression, the infection-free survival at five years was 66%. The greatest risk factor for failure was an infection with a staphylococcal species, followed by age of < 60 years. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1471–76

Aims. The aim of this study was to determine if a three-month course of microorganism-directed oral antibiotics reduces the rate of failure due to further infection following two-stage revision for chronic prosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip and knee. Methods. A total of 185 patients undergoing a two-stage revision in seven different centres were prospectively enrolled. Of these patients, 93 were randomized to receive microorganism-directed oral antibiotics for three months following reimplantation; 88 were randomized to receive no antibiotics, and four were withdrawn before randomization. Of the 181 randomized patients, 28 were lost to follow-up, six died before two years follow-up, and five with culture negative infections were excluded. The remaining 142 patients were followed for a mean of 3.3 years (2.0 to 7.6) with failure due to a further infection as the primary endpoint. Patients who were treated with antibiotics were also assessed for their adherence to the medication regime and for side effects to antibiotics. Results. Nine of 72 patients (12.5%) who received antibiotics failed due to further infection compared with 20 of 70 patients (28.6%) who did not receive antibiotics (p = 0.012). Five patients (6.9%) in the treatment group experienced adverse effects related to the administered antibiotics severe enough to warrant discontinuation. Conclusion. This multicentre randomized controlled trial showed that a three-month course of microorganism-directed, oral antibiotics significantly reduced the rate of failure due to further infection following a two-stage revision of total hip or knee arthroplasty for chronic PJI. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6 Supple A):3–9

We report a retrospective analysis of the results of combined arthroscopically-assisted posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and open reconstruction of the posterolateral corner in 19 patients with chronic (three or more months) symptomatic instability and pain in the knee. All the operations were performed between 1996 and 2003 and all the patients were assessed pre- and post-operatively by physical examination and by applying three different ligament rating scores. All also had weight-bearing radiographs, MR scans and an examination under anaesthesia and arthroscopy pre-operatively. The posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed using an arthroscopically-assisted single anterolateral bundle technique and the posterolateral corner structures were reconstructed using an open Larson type of tenodesis. The mean follow up was 66.8 months (24 to 110). Pre-operatively, all the patients had a grade III posterior sag according to Clancy and demonstrated more than 20° of external rotation compared with the opposite normal knee on the Dial test. Post-operatively, seven patients (37%) had no residual posterior sag, 11 (58%) had a grade I posterior sag and one (5%) had a grade II posterior sag. In five patients (26%) there was persistent minimal posterolateral laxity. The Lysholm score improved from a mean of 41.2 (28 to 53) to 76.5 (57 to 100) (p = 0.0001) and the Tegner score from a mean of 2.6 (1 to 4) to 6.4 (4 to 9) (p = 0.0001). We conclude that while a combined reconstruction of chronic posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner instability improves the function of the knee, it does not restore complete stability

Background

The purpose of this multi-center, randomized clinical trial was to compare static and articulating spacers in the treatment of PJI complicating total knee arthroplasty TKA.

We have shown in a previous study that patients with combined lesions of the anterior cruciate (ACL) and medial collateral ligaments (MCL) had similar anteroposterior (AP) but greater valgus laxity at 30° after reconstruction of the ACL when compared with patients who had undergone reconstruction of an isolated ACL injury. The present study investigated the same cohort of patients after a minimum of three years to evaluate whether the residual valgus laxity led to a poorer clinical outcome.

Each patient had undergone an arthroscopic double-bundle ACL reconstruction using a semitendinosus-gracilis graft. In the combined ACL/MCL injury group, the grade II medial collateral ligament injury was not treated. At follow-up, AP laxity was measured using a KT-2000 arthrometer, while valgus laxity was evaluated with Telos valgus stress radiographs and compared with the uninjured knee. We evaluated clinical outcome scores, muscle girth and time to return to activities for the two groups.

Valgus stress radiographs showed statistically significant greater mean medial joint opening in the reconstructed compared with the uninjured knees (1.7 mm (sd 0.9) versus 0.9 mm (sd 0.7), respectively, p = 0.013), while no statistically significant difference was found between the AP laxity and the other clinical parameters. Our results show that the residual valgus laxity does not affect AP laxity significantly at a minimum follow up of three years, suggesting that no additional surgical procedure is needed for the medial collateral ligament in combined lesions.

The management of failed autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) for the treatment of symptomatic osteochondral defects in the knee represents a major challenge. Patients are young, active and usually unsuitable for prosthetic replacement. This study reports the results in patients who underwent revision cartilage transplantation of their original ACI/MACI graft for clinical or graft-related failure. We assessed 22 patients (12 men and 10 women) with a mean age of 37.4 years (18 to 48) at a mean of 5.4 years (1.3 to 10.9). The mean period between primary and revision grafting was 46.1 months (7 to 89). The mean defect size was 446.6 mm² (150 to 875) and they were located on 11 medial and two lateral femoral condyles, eight patellae and one trochlea.

The mean modified Cincinnati knee score improved from 40.5 (16 to 77) pre-operatively to 64.9 (8 to 94) at their most recent review (p < 0.001). The visual analogue pain score improved from 6.1 (3 to 9) to 4.7 (0 to 10) (p = 0.042). A total of 14 patients (63%) reported an ‘excellent’ (n = 6) or ‘good’ (n = 8) clinical outcome, 5 ‘fair’ and one ‘poor’ outcome. Two patients underwent patellofemoral joint replacement. This study demonstrates that revision cartilage transplantation after primary ACI and MACI can yield acceptable functional results and continue to preserve the joint.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:54–8.

Aims. The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be challenging as the symptoms are similar to other conditions, and the markers used for diagnosis have limited sensitivity and specificity. Recent research has suggested using blood cell ratios, such as platelet-to-volume ratio (PVR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), to improve diagnostic accuracy. The aim of the study was to further validate the effectiveness of PVR and PLR in diagnosing PJI. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted to assess the accuracy of different marker combinations for diagnosing chronic PJI. A total of 573 patients were included in the study, of which 124 knees and 122 hips had a diagnosis of chronic PJI. Complete blood count and synovial fluid analysis were collected. Recently published blood cell ratio cut-off points were applied to receiver operating characteristic curves for all markers and combinations. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results. The results of the analysis showed that the combination of ESR, CRP, synovial white blood cell count (Syn. WBC), and polymorphonuclear neutrophil percentage (PMN%) with PVR had the highest AUC of 0.99 for knees, with sensitivity of 97.73% and specificity of 100%. Similarly, for hips, this combination had an AUC of 0.98, sensitivity of 96.15%, and specificity of 100.00%. Conclusion. This study supports the use of PVR calculated from readily available complete blood counts, combined with established markers, to improve the accuracy in diagnosing chronic PJI in both total hip and knee arthroplasties. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(11):881–888

Aims. Debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) remains one option for the treatment of acute periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) despite imperfect success rates. Intraosseous (IO) administration of vancomycin results in significantly increased local bone and tissue concentrations compared to systemic antibiotics alone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the addition of a single dose of IO regional antibiotics to our protocol at the time of DAIR would improve outcomes. Methods. A retrospective case series of 35 PJI TKA patients, with a median age of 67 years (interquartile range (IQR) 61 to 75), who underwent DAIR combined with IO vancomycin (500 mg), was performed with minimum 12 months' follow-up. A total of 26 patients with primary implants were treated for acute perioperative or acute haematogenous infections. Additionally, nine patients were treated for chronic infections with components that were considered unresectable. Primary outcome was defined by no reoperations for infection, nor clinical signs or symptoms of PJI. Results. Mean follow-up for acute infection was 16.5 months (12.1 to 24.2) and 15.8 months (12 to 24.8) for chronic infections with unresectable components. Overall non-recurrence rates for acute infection was 92.3% (24/26) but only 44.4% (4/9) for chronic infections with unresectable components. The majority of patients remained on suppressive oral antibiotics. Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) host grade was a significant indicator of failure (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The addition of IO vancomycin at the time of DAIR was shown to be safe with improved results compared to current literature using standard DAIR without IO antibiotic administration. Use of this technique in chronic infections should be applied with caution. While these results are encouraging, this technique requires longer follow-up before widespread adoption. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6 Supple A):185–190

Abstract. Introduction. Total knee replacement (TKR) aims to reduce pain and functional limitations. Despite a good outcome for many, 15–20% patients report chronic pain three months after TKR. The STAR Care Pathway is a clinically important and cost effective treatment to improve pain outcomes over 1 year for people with chronic pain at 3 months after total knee replacement surgery. The care pathway is delivered by specially trained Extended Scope Practitioners (ESPs). There is a gap between research findings and translation into practice. This work shows how the STAR trial findings were implemented into NHS practice at a single centre and the further work required to enable national implementation. Methodology. Trial findings were presented to NHS managers with a business case for an implementation pilot. Trial documentation was adapted for use in usual care using the COM-B model for behaviour change and evidence-based approaches to increase the return of postal questionnaires. Trial sites were contacted to understand their capacity to implement the intervention locally. Results. The STAR care pathway was successfully implemented into NHS practice with a screening response rate of 83%. It is now permanently part of usual care at North Bristol NHS Trust. Trial centres indicated that lack of availability of STAR trained ESPs as a barrier to implementation. The trial manual and training session were adapted for online delivery in partnership with Health Education England. Conclusion. The STAR care pathway has been successfully embedded into NHS care. A toolkit and online clinician training package enables national implementation

Aims. In the last decade, perioperative advancements have expanded the use of outpatient primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite this, there remains limited data on expedited discharge after revision TKA. This study compared 30-day readmissions and reoperations in patients undergoing revision TKA with a hospital stay greater or less than 24 hours. The authors hypothesized that expedited discharge in select patients would not be associated with increased 30-day readmissions and reoperations. Methods. Aseptic revision TKAs in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were reviewed from 2013 to 2020. TKAs were stratified by length of hospital stay (greater or less than 24 hours). Patient demographic details, medical comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, operating time, components revised, 30-day readmissions, and reoperations were compared. Multivariate analysis evaluated predictors of discharge prior to 24 hours, 30-day readmission, and reoperation. Results. Of 21,610 aseptic revision TKAs evaluated, 530 were discharged within 24 hours. Short-stay patients were younger (63.1 years (49 to 78) vs 65.1 years (18 to 94)), with lower BMI (32.3 kg/m. 2. (17 to 47) vs 33.6 kg/m. 2. (19 to 54) and lower ASA grades. Diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and cancer were all associated with a hospital stay over 24 hours. Single component revisions (56.8% (n = 301) vs 32.4% (n = 6,823)), and shorter mean operating time (89.7 minutes (25 to 275) vs 130.2 minutes (30 to 517)) were associated with accelerated discharge. Accelerated discharge was not associated with 30-day readmission and reoperation. Conclusion. Accelerated discharge after revision TKA did not increase short-term complications, readmissions, or reoperations. Further efforts to decrease hospital stays in this setting should be evaluated. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(12):1323–1328

Aims. Patient dissatisfaction following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with manual jig-based instruments has been reported to be as high as 30%. Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) has been increasingly used in an effort to improve patient outcomes, however there is a paucity of literature examining patient satisfaction after RA-TKA. This study aims to identify the incidence of patients who were not satisfied following RA-TKA and to determine factors associated with higher levels of dissatisfaction. Methods. This was a retrospective review of 674 patients who underwent primary TKA between October 2016 and September 2020 with a minimum two-year follow-up. A five-point Likert satisfaction score was used to place patients into two groups: Group A were those who were very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, or neutral (Likert score 1 to 3) and Group B were those who were satisfied or very satisfied (Likert score 4 to 5). Patient demographic data, as well as preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcome measures, were compared between groups. Results. Overall, 45 patients (6.7%) were in Group A and 629 (93.3%) were in Group B. Group A (vs Group B) had a higher proportion of male sex (p = 0.008), preoperative chronic opioid use (p < 0.001), preoperative psychotropic medication use (p = 0.01), prior anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (p < 0.001), and preoperative symptomatic lumbar spine disease (p = 0.004). Group A was also younger (p = 0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed preoperative opioid use (p = 0.012), prior ACL reconstruction (p = 0.038), male sex (p = 0.006), and preoperative psychotropic medication use (p = 0.001) as independent predictive factors of patient dissatisfaction. Conclusion. The use of RA-TKA demonstrated a high rate of patient satisfaction (629 of 674, 93.3%). Demographics for patients not satisfied following RA-TKA included: male sex, chronic opioid use, chronic psychotropic medication use, and prior ACL reconstruction. Patients in these groups should be identified preoperatively and educated on realistic expectations given their comorbid conditions. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(9):758–765

Aims. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process involving multiple cytokine pathways, leading to articular cartilage degeneration. Intra-articular therapies using pharmaceutical or autologous anti-inflammatory factors offer potential non-surgical treatment options. Autologous protein solution (APS) is one such product that uses the patient’s blood to produce a concentrate of cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This study evaluated the effect of a specific APS intra-articular injection (nSTRIDE) on patient-reported outcome measures compared to saline in moderate knee OA. Methods. A parallel, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial was conducted, where patients with unilateral moderate knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) received either nSTRIDE or saline (placebo) injection to their symptomatic knee. The primary outcome was the difference in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score at 12 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes included WOMAC component scores, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at all follow-up timepoints (three, six, and 12 months). Results. A total of 40 patients were analyzed (21 nSTRIDE; 19 saline) in the study. No significant difference was found between nSTRIDE and saline groups for WOMAC total score at 12 months (mean difference -10.4 (95% CI -24.4 to 3.6; p = 0.141). There were no significant differences in WOMAC or KOOS scores across all timepoints. VAS scores favoured the saline group for both rest and worst pain scales at 12 months post-injection (mean difference (worst) 12 months 21.5 (95% CI 6.2 to 36.8; p = 0.008); mean difference (rest) 12 months 17.8 (95% CI 2.2 to 33.4; p = 0.026)). There were no adverse events recorded in either study group. Conclusion. Our study demonstrates no significant differences between nSTRIDE and saline groups in KOOS and WOMAC scores over time. Notably, APS injection resulted in significantly worse pain symptoms at 12 months compared to saline injection. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(9):907–915

Aims. Social determinants of health (SDOHs) may contribute to the total cost of care (TCOC) for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between demographic data, health status, and SDOHs on 30-day length of stay (LOS) and TCOC after this procedure. Methods. Patients who underwent TKA between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 were identified. A total of 234 patients with complete SDOH data were included. Data were drawn from the Chesapeake Regional Information System, the Centers for Disease Control social vulnerability index (SVI), the US Department of Agriculture, and institutional electronic medical records. The SVI identifies areas vulnerable to catastrophic events with four themed scores: socioeconomic status; household composition and disability; minority status and language; and housing and transportation. Food deserts were defined as neighbourhoods located one or ten miles from a grocery store in urban and rural areas, respectively. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine associations with LOS and costs after controlling for various demographic parameters. Results. Divorced status was significantly associated with an increased LOS (p = 0.043). Comorbidities significantly associated with an increased LOS included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma and congestive heart failure (p = 0.043 and p = 0.001, respectively). Communities with a higher density of tobacco stores were significantly associated with an increased LOS (p = 0.017). Comorbidities significantly associated with an increased TCOC included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.004), dementia (p = 0.048), and heart failure (p = 0.007). Increased TCOCs were significantly associated with patients who lived in food deserts (p = 0.001) and in areas with an increased density of tobacco stores (p = 0.023). Conclusion. Divorced marital status was significantly associated with an increased LOS following TKA. Living in food deserts and in communities with more tobacco stores were significant risk factors for increased LOS and TCOC. Food access and ease of acquiring tobacco may both prove to be prognostic of outcome after TKA and an opportunity for intervention. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6 Supple A):113–118

Abstract. Introduction. There is a need to develop approaches to reduce chronic pain after total knee replacement. There is an established link between disturbed sleep and pain. We tested the feasibility of a trial evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a pre-operative sleep assessment and complex intervention package for improving long-term pain after TKR. Methodology. REST was a feasibility multi-centre randomised controlled trial with embedded qualitative study and health economics. Participants completed baseline measures and were randomised to usual care or the intervention, a tailored sleep assessment and behavioural intervention package delivered by an extended scope practitioner three months pre-operatively with a follow-up call up at four-weeks. Patient reported outcomes were assessed at baseline, one-week pre-surgery, and 3-months post-surgery. Results. 57 patients were randomised and 20 had surgery within the study timelines. All patients allocated the intervention attended an appointment and most engaged with treatment. The intervention group reported improvements in sleep (Sleep Conditions Indicator) and neuropathic pain (painDETECT) scores. Participants found the sleep treatments and study processes to be acceptable. The mean cost of the intervention was estimated at £134.45 per patient. Conclusion. The feasibility study has shown that patient recruitment is feasible, engagement with and adherence to the intervention is high, and the intervention is acceptable to patients and clinicians. Preliminary findings show that the intervention group had improved sleep quality and had reduced levels of pre-operative neuropathic pain. This study has demonstrated that a full RCT is feasible and identified areas for improvement to optimize the trial design