This article reviews the current knowledge of
the intervertebral disc (IVD) and its association with low back
pain (LBP). The normal IVD is a largely avascular and aneural structure
with a high water content, its nutrients mainly diffusing through
the end plates. IVD degeneration occurs when its cells die or become
dysfunctional, notably in an acidic environment. In the process
of degeneration, the IVD becomes dehydrated and vascularised, and
there is an ingrowth of nerves. Although not universally the case,
the altered physiology of the IVD is believed to precede or be associated
with many clinical symptoms or conditions including low back and/or
lower limb pain, paraesthesia, spinal stenosis and disc herniation. New treatment options have been developed in recent years. These
include biological therapies and novel surgical techniques (such
as total disc replacement), although many of these are still in
their experimental phase. Central to developing further methods
of treatment is the need for effective ways in which to assess patients
and measure their
The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in opioid use
after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), to identify predictors
of prolonged use and to compare the rates of opioid use after UKA,
total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). We identified 4205 patients who had undergone UKA between 2007
and 2015 from the Humana Inc. administrative claims database. Post-operative
opioid use for one year post-operatively was assessed using the
rates of monthly repeat prescription. These were then compared between
patients with and without a specific variable of interest and with
those of patients who had undergone TKA and THA.Aims
Materials and Methods
We undertook a multicentre, prospective study of a series of 112 unstable trochanteric fractures in order to evaluate if internal fixation with a sliding screw device combined with augmentation using a calcium phosphate degradable cement (Norian SRS) could improve the clinical, functional and radiological
To compare the early management and mortality of older patients
sustaining major orthopaedic trauma with that of a younger population
with similar injuries. The Trauma Audit Research Network database was reviewed to identify
eligible patients admitted between April 2012 and June 2015. Distribution
and severity of injury, interventions, comorbidity, critical care
episodes and mortality were recorded. The population was divided
into young (64 years or younger) and older (65 years and older) patients.Aims
Patients and Methods
The use of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF)
to stimulate bone growth has been recommended as an alternative to
the surgical treatment of ununited scaphoid fractures, but has never
been examined in acute fractures. We hypothesised that the use of
PEMF in acute scaphoid fractures would accelerate the time to union
by 30% in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre
trial. A total of 53 patients in three different medical centres
with a unilateral undisplaced acute scaphoid fracture were randomly
assigned to receive either treatment with PEMF (n = 24) or a placebo
(n = 29). The clinical and radiological
The Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Registry (SKAR) has recorded knee arthroplasties prospectively in Sweden since 1975. The only
We have prospectively studied the
We systematically reviewed all the evidence published
in the English language on proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ)
replacement, to determine its effectiveness on the function of the
hand and the associated post-operative complications. Original studies were selected if they reported clinical outcome
with a minimum of one year’s follow-up. Quality was assessed using
the Cowley systematic review criteria modified for finger-joint
replacements. Of 319 articles identified, only five were adequately
reported according to our quality criteria; there were no randomised
controlled trials. PIPJ replacements had a substantial effect size
on hand pain of -23.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) -27.3 to -19.1)
and grip strength 1.2 (95% CI -10.7 to 13.1), and a small effect
on range of movement 0.2 (95% CI -0.4 to 0.8). A dorsal approach
was most successful. Post-operative loosening occurred in 10% (95%
CI 3 to 30) of ceramic and 12.5% (95% CI 7 to 21) of pyrocarbon
replacements. Post-operative complications occurred in 27.8% (95%
CI 20 to 37). We conclude that the effectiveness of PIPJ replacement has not
been established. Small observational case studies and short-term
follow-up, together with insufficient reporting of patient data,
functional
To determine whether the findings from a landmark Canadian trial
assessing the optimal management of acute rupture of the Achilles
tendon influenced the practice patterns of orthopaedic surgeons
in Ontario, Canada. Health administrative databases were used to identify Ontario
residents ≥ 18 years of age with an Achilles tendon rupture from
April 2002 to March 2014. The rate of surgical repair (per 100 cases)
was calculated for each calendar quarter. A time-series analysis
was used to determine whether changes in the rate were chronologically
related to the dissemination of results from a landmark trial published
in February 2009. Non-linear spline regression was then used independently
to identify critical time-points of change in the surgical repair
rate to confirm the findings.Aims
Materials and Methods
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a corticosteroid injection for the
treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in patients with and without Raynaud’s
phenomenon. In a prospective study, 139 patients with CTS were treated with a corticosteroid
injection (10 mg triamcinolone acetonide); 34 had Raynaud’s phenomenon and 105
did not (control group). Grip strength, perception of touch with a Semmes-Weinstein
monofilament and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaires (BCTQ) were assessed at
baseline and at six, 12 and 24 weeks after the injection. The Cold Intolerance Severity
Score (CISS) questionnaire was also assessed at baseline and 24 weeks after the
injection.Aims
Patients and Methods
We studied the
Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a
rare benign disease of the synovium of joints and tendon sheaths, which
may be locally aggressive. We present 18 patients with diffuse-type
PVNS of the foot and ankle followed for a mean of 5.1 years (2 to
11.8). There were seven men and 11 women, with a mean age of 42
years (18 to 73). A total of 13 patients underwent open or arthroscopic
synovectomy, without post-operative radiotherapy. One had surgery
at the referring unit before presentation with residual tibiotalar
PVNS. The four patients who were managed non-operatively remain
symptomatically controlled and under clinical and radiological surveillance.
At final follow-up the mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score
was 93.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85 to 100), the mean Toronto
Extremity Salvage Score was 92 (95% CI 82 to 100) and the mean American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons foot and ankle score was 89 (95%
CI 79 to 100). The lesion in the patient with residual PVNS resolved radiologically
without further intervention six years after surgery. Targeted synovectomy
without adjuvant radiotherapy can result in excellent
We present the electromyographic (EMG) results
ten years after open decompression of the median nerve at the wrist
and compare them with the clinical and functional outcomes as judged
by Levine’s Questionnaire. This retrospective study evaluated 115
patients who had undergone carpal tunnel decompression at a mean
of 10.47 years (9.24 to 11.36) previously. A positive EMG diagnosis
was found in 77 patients (67%), including those who were asymptomatic
at ten years. It is necessary to include both clinical and functional results
as well as electromyographic testing in the long-term evaluation
of patients who have undergone carpal tunnel decompression particularly
in those in whom revision surgery is being considered. In doubtful
cases or when there are differing
The
Using general practitioner records and hospital
notes and through direct telephone conversation with patients, we investigated
the accuracy of nine patient-reported complications gathered from
a self-completed questionnaire after elective joint replacement
surgery of the hip and knee. A total of 402 post-discharge complications
were reported after 8546 elective operations that were undertaken
within a three-year period. These were reported by 136 men and 240
women with a mean age of 71.8 years (34 to 93). A total of 319 reported
complications (79.4%; 95% confidence interval 75.4 to 83.3) were
confirmed to be correct. High rates of correct reporting were demonstrated
for infection (94.5%) and the need for further surgery (100%), whereas
the rates of reporting deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism,
myocardial infarction and stroke were lower (75% to 84.2%). Dislocation,
peri-prosthetic fractures and nerve palsy had modest rates of correct
reporting (36% to 57.1%). More patients who had knee surgery delivered
incorrect reports of dislocation (p = 0.001) and DVT (p = 0.013). Despite these variations, it appears that post-operative complications
may form part of a larger patient-reported
Continuous passive motion has been shown to be effective in the conservative treatment of idiopathic club foot. We wished to determine whether its use after operation could improve the results in resistant club feet which required an extensive soft-tissue release. There were 50 feet in the study. Posteromedial lateral release was performed in 39 feet but two were excluded due to early relapse. The mean age at surgery was eight months (5 to 12). Each foot was assigned a Dimeglio club foot score, which was used as a primary
In a retrospective cohort study we compared the
clinical
We have assessed the relative value of various
Introduction. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressively debilitating disease that
affects mostly cartilage, with associated changes in the bone. The
increasing incidence of OA and an ageing population, coupled with
insufficient therapeutic choices, has led to focus on the potential
of stem cells as a novel strategy for cartilage repair. Methods. In this study, we used scaffold-free mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
obtained from bone marrow in an experimental animal model of OA
by direct intra-articular injection. MSCs were isolated from 2.8
kg white New Zealand rabbits. There were ten in the study group
and ten in the control group. OA was induced by unilateral transection
of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint. At 12 weeks
post-operatively, a single dose of 1 million cells suspended in 1 ml
of medium was delivered to the injured knee by direct intra-articular
injection. The control group received 1 ml of medium without cells.
The knees were examined at 16 and 20 weeks following surgery. Repair
was investigated radiologically, grossly and histologically using
haematoxylin and eosin, Safranin-O and toluidine blue staining. Results. Radiological assessment confirmed development of OA changes after
12 weeks. Rabbits receiving MSCs showed a lower degree of cartilage
degeneration, osteophyte formation, and subchondral sclerosis than
the control group at 20 weeks post-operatively. The quality of cartilage
was significantly better in the cell-treated group compared with the
control group after 20 weeks. Conclusions. Bone marrow-derived MSCs could be promising cell sources for
the treatment of OA. Neither stem cell culture nor scaffolds are
absolutely necessary for a favourable