Antiresorptive treatment and talar collapse after displaced fractures of the talar neck: a long-term follow-up of 19 patients.

Background and purpose - Displaced fractures of the talar neck are associated with a high risk of structural collapse. In this observational analysis we hypothesized that pharmacological inhibition of osteoclast function might reduce the risk of structural collapse through a reduction in bone resorption during revascularization of the injured bone.Patients and methods - Between 2002 and 2014 we treated 19 patients with displaced fractures of the talar neck with open reduction and internal fixation. Of these, 16 patients were available for final follow-up between January and November 2017 (median 12 years, IQR 7-13). Among these, 6 patients with Hawkins type 3 fractures and 2 patients with Hawkins type 2b fractures received postoperative antiresorptive treatment (7 alendronate, 1 denosumab) for 6 to 12 months. The remaining 8 patients received no antiresorptive treatment. The self-reported foot and ankle score (SEFAS) was available in all patients and 15 patients had undergone computed tomography (CT) at final follow-up, which allowed evaluation of structural collapse of the talar dome and signs of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.Results - The risk for partial collapse of the talar dome was equal in the 2 groups (3 in each group) and post-traumatic arthritis was observed in all patients. The SEFAS in patients with antiresorptive treatment was lower, at 21 points (95% CI 15-26), compared with those without treatment, 29 points (CI 22-35).Interpretation - Following a displaced fracture of the talar neck, we found no effect of antiresorptive therapy on the rate of talar collapse, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and patient-reported outcomes.

Risk preferences and attitudes to surgery in decision making.

Background and purpose - There is increasing evidence that several commonly performed surgical procedures provide little advantage over nonoperative treatment, suggesting that doctors may sometimes be inappropriately optimistic about surgical benefit when suggesting treatment for individual patients. We investigated whether attitudes to risk influenced the choice of operative treatment and nonoperative treatment. Methods - 946 Swedish orthopedic surgeons were invited to participate in an online survey. A radiograph of a 4-fragment proximal humeral fracture was presented together with 5 different patient characteristics, and the surgeons could choose between 3 different operative treatments and 1 nonoperative treatment. This was followed by an economic risk-preference test, and then by an instrument designed to measure 6 attitudes to surgery that are thought to be hazardous. We then investigated if choice of non-operative treatment was associated with risk aversion, and thereafter with the other variables, by regression analysis. Results - 388 surgeons responded. Nonoperative treatment for all cases was suggested by 64 of them. There was no significant association between risk aversion and tendency to avoid surgery. However, there was a statistically significant association between suggesting to operate at least 1 of the cases and a "macho" attitude to surgery or resignation regarding the chances of influencing the outcome of surgery. Choosing nonoperative treatment for all cases was associated with long experience as a surgeon. Interpretation - The discrepancy between available evidence for surgery and clinical practice does not appear to be related to risk preference, but relates to hazardous attitudes. It appears that choosing nonoperative treatment requires experience and a feeling that one can make a difference (i.e. a low score for resignation). There is a need for better awareness of available evidence for surgical indications.

Autologous Bone Graft From the Ipsilateral Distal Femur in Tibial Condyle Fractures.

SUMMARY: Fractures of the proximal tibia often require void filling to support articular fragments in combination with internal fixation. The most common techniques are iliac autograft, allograft, or synthetic bone graft substitutes.The distal femur and its large volume condyles are a source of cancellous bone graft within the surgical site of an open reduction and internal fixation procedure. We have used a minimally invasive technique to harvest bone graft from the distal femur, using a bone graft drill. We performed this investigation to determine whether our technique of using distal femoral autograft to fill bone voids when treating proximal tibial fractures with open reduction and internal fixation is effective and safe. We also sought to determine the degree to which the bone graft incorporates into the tibia during fracture healing, the degree to which the harvest site heals, and the degree of secondary joint line depression.In all 12 patients, the bone graft had sufficient volume to fill the subchondral void in the proximal tibia, all fractures had healed at follow-up, and fracture reduction was maintained in most cases. We found no pain at the harvest site during follow-up, and there were no signs of drill penetration in articular or cortical structures. Drill holes at the harvest site showed sparse amounts of newly formed bone on CT in most of its circumference in all patients.There were no pathological changes in the femoral condyles with relation to the bone grafting procedure, and 5 patients showed radiographic signs of osteoarthritis in one or more joint compartments of the knee. The results showed this technique to provide similar success as reported alternatives without major complications and we continue to use this technique of harvesting distal femoral autograft to supplement open reduction and internal fixation of selected proximal tibial fractures.

Celecoxib does not appear to affect prosthesis fixation in total knee replacement: A randomized study using radiostereometry in 50 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: After joint replacement, a repair process starts at the interface between bone and cement. If this process is disturbed, the prosthesis may never become rigidly fixed to the bone, leading to migration-and with time, loosening. Cox-2 inhibitors are widely used as postoperative analgesics, and have adverse effects on bone healing. This could tamper prosthesis fixation. We investigated whether celecoxib, a selective Cox-2 inhibitor, increases prosthesis migration in total knee replacement (TKR). METHODS: 50 patients were randomized to either placebo or celecoxib treatment, 200 mg twice daily, for 3 weeks after TKR (NexGen; Zimmer). Maximum total point motion (MTPM) of the tibial component was measured after 2 years using radiostereometric analysis (RSA). In addition, range of motion, pain, and, subjective outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: No differences in prosthesis migration, pain scores, range of motion, and subjective outcome were found after 2 years. Confidence intervals were narrow. INTERPRETATION: It is unlikely that Celecoxib increases the risk of loosening, and it may be used safely in conjunction with TKR.

Knee Arthroscopic Surgery in Middle-Aged Patients With Meniscal Symptoms: A 3-Year Follow-up of a Prospective, Randomized Study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for middle-aged patients with knee pain and meniscal lesions has been extensively debated. Most previous studies have revealed only short-term beneficial results of knee arthroscopic surgery. The authors have previously shown a positive benefit of knee arthroscopic surgery and an exercise program after 1 year when compared with an exercise program alone. PURPOSE: To evaluate if knee arthroscopic surgery combined with an exercise program provided an additional long-term benefit after 3 years compared with an exercise program alone in middle-aged patients with meniscal symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: Of 179 eligible patients, aged 45 to 64 years, 150 were randomized to (1) a 3-month exercise program (nonsurgery group) or (2) the same as group 1 plus knee arthroscopic surgery within 4 weeks (surgery group). The primary outcome was the change in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscore of pain between baseline and the 3-year follow-up. Results from the 1-year follow-up have been published previously. RESULTS: Both treatment groups improved significantly in the KOOS pain subscore at 3 years' follow-up in the intention-to-treat and as-treated analyses ( P < .001). The between-group difference for the change in the KOOS pain subscore between baseline and the 3-year follow-up was no longer statistically significant, neither in the intention-to-treat analysis (7.6 points; 95% CI, -0.6 to 15.9; P = .068) nor in the as-treated analysis (5.3 points; 95% CI, -3.1 to 13.8; P = .216). The factorial analysis of the effect of the intervention and age, onset of pain, and mechanical symptoms indicated that older patients improved more, regardless of treatment, and surgery may be more beneficial for patients without mechanical symptoms (as-treated analysis). The effect of the predictive factors on the KOOS pain subscore was uncertain because of the small sample size in the subgroup analyses. CONCLUSION: The benefit of knee arthroscopic surgery, seen at 1 year in middle-aged patients with meniscal symptoms, was diminished at 3 years and was no longer statistically significant. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knee arthroscopic surgery may be beneficial for middle-aged patients with meniscal symptoms in addition to an exercise program. Older age and absence of mechanical symptoms should not be contraindications to surgery. Registration: NCT01288768 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Effects of celecoxib on blood loss, pain, and recovery of function after total knee replacement: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain management after surgery has been used as a sales argument for the use of COX-2 inhibitors, but their potential positive and negative effects have not been fully investigated. We thus conducted a controlled evaluation of the effect of celecoxib on perioperative blood loss, pain relief and consumption of analgesics, range of motion, and subjective outcome in conjunction with total knee replacement (TKR). METHOD: 50 patients were randomized to either placebo or celecoxib (200 mg) preoperatively and then twice daily. Total blood loss was calculated by the Hb balance method, taking the patient's pre- and postoperative hemoglobin and blood volume into account. Pain scores (VAS), range of motion, and subjective outcome (KOOS) were monitored postoperatively and during the first year after surgery. RESULTS: No differences in total, hidden, or drainage blood loss were found between the groups. There were 30% lower pain scores during the first 4 weeks after surgery and lower morphine consumption after surgery in the celecoxib group, while no effect was seen on pain, range of motion, and subjective outcome at the 1 year follow-up. INTERPRETATION: Celecoxib does not increase perioperative blood loss but reduces pain during the postoperative period after TKR. It is not necessary to discontinue celecoxib before surgery. The postoperative use of celecoxib did not increase range of motion or subjective outcome 1 year after TKR.

Parecoxib impairs early metaphyseal bone healing in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Cox2 inhibitors decrease prostaglandin production and therefore influence bone healing especially in unstable long bone models. It is unclear to what extent implant fixation in stable metaphyseal bone is impaired. METHOD: Male rats numbering 30 and female rats numbering 40 received a stainless steel screw in the metaphyseal bone of the proximal tibia. Half of the rats were treated with 6.4 mg/kg BW parecoxib by continuous release from a subcutaneous mini pump during 7 or 14 days. After treatment, the pull out force, stiffness, and pull out energy of the screw were measured. RESULTS: No effect of parecoxib on the pull out force was found for male rats. In female rats the pull out force was decreased by 16% (P = 0.03) after 7 days treatment with parecoxib. This effect had disappeared after 14 days. CONCLUSION: Adverse effects of parecoxib on the early phase healing of metaphyseal bone in female rats are small and were not detectable after 14 days. No effect was seen in male rats, possibly due to a faster metabolic elimination of the drug.