The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a femoral
nerve block and a periarticular infiltration in the management of
early post-operative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A pragmatic, single centre, two arm parallel group, patient blinded,
randomised controlled trial was undertaken. All patients due for
TKA were eligible. Exclusion criteria included contraindications
to the medications involved in the study and patients with a neurological
abnormality of the lower limb. Patients received either a femoral
nerve block with 75 mg of 0.25% levobupivacaine hydrochloride around
the nerve, or periarticular infiltration with 150 mg of 0.25% levobupivacaine
hydrochloride, 10 mg morphine sulphate, 30 mg ketorolac trometamol
and 0.25 mg of adrenaline all diluted with 0.9% saline to make a
volume of 150 ml.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of this study was to assess radiologically the absorption of a poly L-lactide bioabsorbable interference screw used in anterior ligament reconstruction. A case series of ten sequential patients undergoing anterior ligament reconstruction with a four-strand hamstrings technique were assessed with MRI scans at one, two, four, seven and ten years postoperatively. The scans were reported by an independent radiologist, with respect to resorption of the screw and post resorption changes in the bone. Fixation of the graft in ACL surgery is varied from metal interference screw, resorbable screws made of PLLA, and staple fixation. The advantage of resorbable screws allow imaging of the knee postoperatively, and the perceive benefit of screw resorption and replacement with host bone.Purpose
Methods