Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported significant association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs8044769 in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) with osteoarthritis (OA) risk in European populations. However, these findings have not been confirmed in Chinese populations. We systematically genotyped rs8044769 and evaluated the association between the genetic variants and OA risk in a case-controlled study including 196 OA cases and 442 controls in a northern Chinese population. Genotyping was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform.Objectives
Methods
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) and osteoarthritis (OA) are relatively frequent causes of disability amongst the elderly; they constitute serious socioeconomic costs and significantly impair quality of life. Previous studies to date have found that aggrecan variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) contributes both to DDD and OA. However, current data are not consistent across studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate systematically the relationship between aggrecan VNTR, and DDD and/or OA. This study used a highly sensitive search strategy to identify all published studies related to the relationship between aggrecan VNTR and both DDD and OA in multiple databases from January 1996 to December 2016. All identified studies were systematically evaluated using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Cochrane methodology was also applied to the results of this study.Objectives
Methods
Patients seeking cervical spine surgery are thought to be increasing
in age, comorbidities and functional debilitation. The changing
demographics of this population may significantly impact the outcomes
of their care, specifically with regards to complications. In this
study, our goals were to determine the rates of functionally dependent
patients undergoing elective cervical spine procedures and to assess
the effect of functional dependence on 30-day morbidity and mortality
using a large, validated national cohort. A retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons
National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data files from 2006
to 2013 was conducted to identify patients undergoing common cervical
spine procedures. Multivariate logistic regression models were generated
to analyse the independent association of functional dependence
with 30-day outcomes of interest.Aims
Patients and Methods
Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication
of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Different bearing surface materials
have different surface properties and it has been suggested that
the choice of bearing surface may influence the risk of PJI after
THA. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the rate
of PJI between metal-on-polyethylene (MoP), ceramic-on-polyethylene
(CoP), and ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearings. Electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, Web
of Science, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
were searched for comparative randomized and observational studies
that reported the incidence of PJI for different bearing surfaces.
Two investigators independently reviewed studies for eligibility, evaluated
risk of bias, and performed data extraction. Meta-analysis was performed
using the Mantel–Haenzel method and random-effects model in accordance
with methods of the Cochrane group.Aims
Patients and Methods
Many case reports and small studies have suggested that cobalt
ions are a potential cause of cardiac complications, specifically
cardiomyopathy, after metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty
(THA). The impact of metal ions on the incidence of cardiac disease
after MoM THA has not been evaluated in large studies. The aim of
this study was to compare the rate of onset of new cardiac symptoms
in patients who have undergone MoM THA with those who have undergone
metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) THA. Data were extracted from the Standard Analytics Files database
for patients who underwent MoM THA between 2005 and 2012. Bearing
surface was selected using International Classification of Diseases
ninth revision codes. Patients with a minimum five-year follow-up
were selected. An age and gender-matched cohort of patients who underwent
MoP THA served as a comparison group. New diagnoses of cardiac disease
were collected during the follow-up period. Comorbidities and demographics
were identified and routine descriptive statistics were used.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aims of this study were to examine the rate at which the
positioning of the acetabular component, leg length discrepancy
and femoral offset are outside an acceptable range in total hip
arthroplasties (THAs) which either do or do not involve the use
of intra-operative digital imaging. A retrospective case-control study was undertaken with 50 patients
before and 50 patients after the integration of an intra-operative
digital imaging system in THA. The demographics of the two groups
were comparable for body mass index, age, laterality and the indication
for surgery. The digital imaging group had more men than the group without.
Surgical data and radiographic parameters, including the inclination
and anteversion of the acetabular component, leg length discrepancy,
and the difference in femoral offset compared with the contralateral
hip were collected and compared, as well as the incidence of altering
the position of a component based on the intra-operative image.Aims
Patients and Methods
Wound complications are reported in up to 10% hip and knee arthroplasties and there is a proven association between wound complications and deep prosthetic infections. In this randomised controlled trial (RCT) we explore the potential benefits of a portable, single use, incisional negative pressure wound therapy dressing (iNPWTd) on wound exudate, length of stay (LOS), wound complications, dressing changes and cost-effectiveness following total hip and knee arthroplasties. A total of 220 patients undergoing elective primary total hip and knee arthroplasties were recruited into in a non-blinded RCT. For the final analysis there were 102 patients in the study group and 107 in the control group.Objectives
Methods
Hydroxyapatite coatings for uncemented fixation in total knee
arthroplasty can theoretically provide a long-lasting biological
interface with the host bone. The objective of this study was to
test this hypothesis with propriety hydroxyapatite, peri-apatite,
coated tibial components using component migration measured with radiostereometric
analysis over two years as an indicator of long-term fixation. A total of 29 patients at two centres received uncemented PA-coated
tibial components and were followed for two years with radiostereometric
analysis exams to quantify the migration of the component.Aims
Patients and Methods
Patients with flexion instability after total knee arthroplasty
(TKA) often present with a recurrent effusion, which may be a haemarthrosis.
While the radiographic factors contributing to flexion instability
have been elucidated, the clinical diagnosis remains challenging.
Our aim, in this study, was to determine the mean white cell count
and differential profile in pre-operative aspirations of synovial
fluid in a consecutive series of patients undergoing revision TKA
for flexion instability. Between 2000 and 2010, 60 patients undergoing aseptic revision
TKA for flexion instability were identified. The results of the
pre-operative aspiration of synovial fluid were available for 53
patients (88%). These patients were 1:2 matched to 106 patients
who underwent aseptic TKA for indications other than flexion instability.
The mean age of the patients at revision TKA was 65 years (44 to
82) and 55% were women. The mean follow-up was 4.3 years (2 to 10.2).Aims
Patients and Methods
‘Big data’ is a term for data sets that are so
large or complex that traditional data processing applications are
inadequate. Billions of dollars have been spent on attempts to build predictive
tools from large sets of poorly controlled healthcare metadata.
Companies often sell reports at a physician or facility level based
on various flawed data sources, and comparative websites of ‘publicly
reported data’ purport to educate the public. Physicians should
be aware of concerns and pitfalls seen in such data definitions,
data clarity, data relevance, data sources and data cleaning when
evaluating analytic reports from metadata in health care. Cite this article:
Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) allow non-invasive
correction of the spinal deformity in the treatment of early-onset
scoliosis. Conventional growing rod systems (CGRS) need repeated
surgical distractions: these are associated with the effect of the
‘law of diminishing returns’. The primary aim of this study was to quantify this effect in
MCGRs over sequential distractions. A total of 35 patients with a maximum follow-up of 57 months
were included in the study. There were 17 boys and 18 girls with
a mean age of 7.4 years (2 to 14). True Distraction (TD) was determined
by measuring the expansion gap on fluoroscopy. This was compared
with Intended Distraction (ID) and expressed as the ‘T/I’ ratio.
The T/I ratio and the Cobb angle were calculated at several time
points during follow-up.Aims
Patients and Methods
