Understanding Kinesiophobia: Predictors and Influence on Early Functional Outcomes in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty.

This observational study aimed to identify predictors of kinesiophobia and examine its correlation with early functional outcomes in TKA recipients. On the first and fifth postoperative days (POD1 and POD5), we evaluated pain using the International Pain Outcomes Questionnaire (IPO-Q) and created multidimensional pain composite scores (PCSs). The Total Pain Composite Score (PCStotal) assesses the overall impact of pain, taking into account outcomes of pain intensity, pain-related interference with function, and emotions and side effects. Functional status on POD 5 was determined by the Barthel index, 6 min walking test, and knee range of motion. Kinesiophobia was assessed on POD5 using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Among 75 TKA patients, 27% exhibited kinesiophobia. The final regression model highlighted PCStotal on POD5 (OR = 6.2, CI = 1.9-19.9), PCStotal (OR = 2.1, CI = 1.2-3.8) on POD1, and the intensity of chronic pain before surgery (OR = 1.4, CI = 1.1-2.1) as significant kinesiophobia predictors. On POD5, those with kinesiophobia showed increased dependency, slower gait, and poorer knee extension recovery. This study emphasizes the need to identify and address kinesiophobia in TKA patients for better functional outcomes and recovery. Additionally, it is vital to assess different domains of pain, not just pain intensity, as it can lead to kinesiophobia development.

The Influence of Platelet-Rich Fibrin on the Healing of Bone Defects after Harvesting Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Grafts.

Background and Objectives: A bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) autograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is still considered the gold standard among many orthopedic surgeons, despite anterior knee pain and kneeling pain being associated with bone defects at the harvest site. Bioregenerative products could be used to treat these defects, perhaps improving both the postoperative discomfort and the overall reconstruction. Materials and methods: During a year-long period, 40 patients were enrolled in a pilot study and divided into a study group, in which bone defects were filled with Vivostat® PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), and a standard group, in which bone defects were not filled. The main outcome was a decrease in the height and width of the bone defects, as determined by magnetic resonance imaging on the control exams during the one-year follow-up. The secondary outcomes included an evaluation of kneeling pain, measured with a visual analog scale (VAS), and an evaluation of the subjective knee scores. Results: The application of Vivostat® PRF resulted in a more statistically significant reduction in the width of the defect compared with that of the standard group, especially at 8 and 12 months post operation (p < 0.05). Eight months following the surgery, the study group's anterior knee pain intensity during kneeling was statistically considerably lower than that of the standard group (p < 0.05), and the statistical difference was even more obvious (p < 0.01) at the last follow-up. Each control examination saw a significant decrease in pain intensity in both the groups, with the values at each exam being lower than those from the prior exam (p < 0.01). A comparison of subjective functional test results 12 months post operation with the preoperative ones did not prove a statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusions: The use of Vivostat® PRF reduces kneeling pain and accelerates the narrowing of bone defects after ACLR with a BTB graft, but without confirmation of its influence on the subjective knee score.

Chronic post-surgical pain after knee arthroplasty: a role of peripheral nerve blocks.

Introduction: Peripheral nerve blocks are an efficient method of pain control after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but there is no report of their impact on chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). Methods: This prospective observational study aimed to assess adductor canal block (ACB) and IPACK block (blocks vs. no blocks) on opioid consumption, postoperative pain score, chronic post-surgical pain 2 years after TKA. Results: 166 patients (82 vs. 84) were analyzed. Opioid consumption was less in the group with blocks (9.74 ± 3.87 mg vs. 30.63 ± 11.52 mg) (p < 0.001). CPSP was present in 20.24% of patients in the group without blocks and 6.1% of patients with blocks (p = 0.011). Predictor variables of CPSP included pain before surgery (cut-off of 5.5), pain at rest (cut-off of 2.35), pain during active movement (cut-off: 2.5), and opioid consumption (cut-off: 8 mg). Conclusion: Peripheral nerve blocks provide adequate analgesia, significantly decrease opioid consumption, improve functional outcomes, and reduce CPSP 2 years after surgery.

Autoimmune Diseases in Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2.

Introduction: Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a rare autosomal dominant multisystemic disease with highly variable clinical presentation. Several case reports and one cohort study suggested a significant association between DM2 and autoimmune diseases (AIDs). Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency and type of AIDs in patients with DM2 from the Serbian DM registry. Patients and Methods: A total of 131 patients with DM2 from 108 families were included, [62.6% women, mean age at DM2 onset 40.4 (with standard deviation 13) years, age at entering the registry 52 (12.8) years, and age at analysis 58.4 (12.8) years]. Data were obtained from Akhenaten, the Serbian registry for DM, and through the hospital electronic data system. Results: Upon entering the registry, 35 (26.7%) of the 131 patients with DM2 had AIDs including Hashimoto thyroiditis (18.1%), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus type 1, systemic lupus, Sjogren's disease, localized scleroderma, psoriasis, celiac disease, Graves's disease, neuromyelitis optica, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. At the time of data analysis, one additional patient developed new AIDs, so eventually, 36 (28.8%) of 125 DM2 survivors had AIDs. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) were found in 14 (10.7%) of 63 tested patients, including 12 without defined corresponding AID (all in low titers, 1:40 to 1:160). Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) were negative in all 50 tested cases. The percentage of women was significantly higher among patients with AIDs (82.9% vs. 55.2%, p <0.01). Conclusion: AIDs were present in as high as 30% of the patients with DM2. Thus, screening for AIDs in DM2 seems reasonable. Presence of AIDs and/or ANAs may lead to under-diagnosis of DM2.

Rifampicin-induced fever during treatment against staphylococcal biofilm in a patient with periprosthetic joint infection.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total knee arthroplasty remains a challenging complication. The treatment options for PJI include different procedures; however, regardless of the strategy, antibiotics are required. The combination of different antibiotics increased the rates of PJI eradication. For almost 3 decades, rifampicin has been used as part of antibiotic therapy for PJI. Drug fever, a febrile response that coincides with the onset of drug administration and disappears after drug discontinuation in the absence of other underlying conditions that could cause fever, is frequently misdiagnosed. We present the case of a 72-year-old man with PJI 6 months after total knee arthroplasty. Two-stage revision surgery was followed by culture-directed antibiotic treatment (ciprofloxacin and rifampicin) against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the periprosthetic tissue. On the fifth day of antibiotic treatment, the patient became febrile and, in the next 5 days, he had an intermittent fever of up to 40°C, although he showed clinical improvement. The patient was normotensive without a maculopapular rash, urticaria or clotting abnormalities. A drug fever was suspected, and rifampicin was discontinued. A re-challenge test was performed, and the fever recurred. Antibiotic treatment with ciprofloxacin was continued and, after 12 months of follow-up, the patient was doing well. Clinicians should be aware that fever could be a clinical presentation of drug fever. If it occurs during an infection, drug fever could necessitate additional diagnostic procedures for further evaluation, inadequate antibiotic therapy and prolonged hospitalisation.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Pathophysiology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women's reproductive period of life. The presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD, one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in the Western world, is increased in women with PCOS. This review aims to present current knowledge in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and treatment of NAFLD in PCOS with an emphasis on the molecular basis of development of NAFLD in PCOS women. Methods: Authors investigated the available data on PCOS and NAFLD by a MEDLINE and Pub Med search during the years 1990-2021 using a combination of keywords such as "PCOS", "NAFLD", "steatohepatitis", "insulin resistance", "hyperandrogenaemia", "inflammation", "adipose tissue", and "obesity". Peer-reviewed articles regarding NAFLD and PCOS were included in this manuscript. Additional articles were identified from the references of relevant papers. Results: PCOS and NAFLD are multifactorial diseases, The development of NAFLD in PCOS women is linked to insulin resistance, hyperandrogenemia, obesity, adipose tissue dysfunction, and inflammation. There is the possible role of the gut microbiome, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endocannabinoid system in the maintenance of NAFLD in PCOS women. Conclusions: There is a need for further investigation about the mechanism of the development of NAFLD in PCOS women. New data about the molecular basis of development of NAFLD in PCOS integrated with epidemiological and clinical information could influence the evolution of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of NAFLD in PCOS.

The first case of septic arthritis of the knee caused by Eggerthia catenaformis.

Eggerthia catenaformis has been reported as a human pathogen. We present the first case of the primary knee infection caused by Eggerthia catenaformis in a 23-year-old male patient with a knee infection, after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Eggerthia catenaformis was confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry from synovial fluid. The dental focus was excluded. The isolated bacterial strain showed sensitivity to all of the tested antimicrobials. However, for successful management of knee infection, besides culture-directed antibiotics therapy, arthroscopic debridement and lavage were necessary.

Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage as a cause of severe fetal anemia.

Introduction: Fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) is a transfu-sion of fetal blood into the maternal circulation. A volume of transfused fetal blood required to cause severe, life-threatening fetal anemia, is not clearly defined. Some authors suggest vol-umes of 80 mL and 150 mL as a threshold which defines mas-sive FMH. Therefore, a rate of massive FMH is 1 : 1,000 and 1 : 5,000 births, respectively. Fetal and neonatal anemia is one of the most serious complications of the FMH. Clinical manifesta-tions of FMH are nonspecific, and mostly it presented as re-duced fetal movements and changes in cardiotocography (CTG). The standard for diagnosing FMH is Kleihaurer-Betke test. Case report: A 34-year-old gravida (G) 1, para (P) 1 was hospitalized due to uterine contractions at 39 weeks of gesta-tion. CTG monitoring revealed sinusoidal fetal heart rate and clinical examination showed complete cervical dilatation. Im-mediately after admission, the women delivered vaginally. Ap-gar scores were 1 and 2 at the first and fifth minute, respec-tively. Immediately baby was intubated and mechanical ventila-tion started. Initial analysis revealed pronounced acidosis and severe anemia. The patient received intravenous fluid therapy with sodium-bicarbonate as well as red cell transfusion. With all measures, the condition of the baby improved with normaliza-tion of hemoglobin level and blood pH. Kleihaurer-Betke test revealed the presence of fetal red cells in maternal circulation, equivalent to 531 mL blood loss. The level of maternal fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and elevated alpha fetoprotein also con-firmed the diagnosis of massive FMH. Conclusion: For the successful diagnosis and management of FMH direct commu-nication between the obstetrician and the pediatrician is neces-sary as presented in this report.

Epidural anesthesia can block the negative effects of prostaglandin mediators during prostate surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammation plays a key role in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important inflammation factor found in enlarged prostatic tissue that can be the main cause of inflammatory pain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether epidural anesthesia can block the negative effects of prostaglandin mediators during prostate surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients who underwent open prostatectomy. All patients were randomly allocated to one of two study groups. The first group received general anesthesia and the second group a combination of general and epidural anesthesia. Main outcome measures were plasma concentration of PGE2, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine, before induction of anesthesia and at the time of enucleation. RESULTS: Preoperative serum concentrations of PGE2 were high in both groups. During enucleation, serum concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine increased, followed by a rise of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the group of patients that received only general anesthesia. Serum concentration of PGE2 was at the same level as before induction of anesthesia in both groups. CONCLUSION: Epidural anesthesia blocks transmission of painful stimulus through the spinal cord caused by prostaglandin release and prevents the rise of catecholamines and blood pressure. Open prostatectomy can become a safer procedure performed under a combination of general and epidural anesthesia. Negative intraoperative effects of inflammatory prostate mediators during other techniques for prostate surgery could also be blocked with epidural anesthesia.