What is the impact on work of osteoporotic fractures in active patients? A retrospective fracture-liaison-service study-Optiwork 1.

PURPOSE: Osteoporotic fractures have economic consequences and can alter the quality of life. Nevertheless, the direct impact on work has been infrequently reported. Our objective was to estimate the proportion of working patients resuming paid employment within the 3 months following an osteoporotic fracture, and to assess the consequences on their productivity and quality of life. METHODS: Patients aged between 45 and 64, screened by the Fracture Liaison Service of Hospital Paris Saint Joseph for a fragility fracture occurring between January 2017 and December 2018, and being paid employees at the time of the fracture, were included retrospectively. Medical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Self-reporting questionnaires concerning work activity and quality of life before and after the fracture were sent by post. RESULTS: Overall, 121 patients were included, with a mean age of 55.8; 82.6% of patients were female. Fracture of the lower extremity of the radius was the most frequent (38.2%), followed by the upper extremity of the humerus (23.1%). After the index fracture, 82.6% of the patients went back to work, including 76.0% within 3 months following the fracture. The median time to return to work was 2.2 months. Moreover, 19.8% of patients required adaptations of their current work. CONCLUSION: Osteoporotic fractures have a direct impact on work activity, causing work stoppages. Productivity at work and quality of life were also impacted. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Intraarticular glucocorticoid injections in rapidly destructive hip osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an intraarticular glucocorticoid injection followed, when possible, by weight-bearing elimination using two crutches reduces the need for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with rapidly destructive hip osteoarthritis (RDHOA). METHODS: A longitudinal retrospective study was conducted in patients admitted for RDHOA, defined as loss of more than 50% of the joint space at the narrowest point between two evaluations 1 year apart. A glucocorticoid injection was performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Patients stayed in bed for the next 24 h then used crutches for 4-6 weeks. Follow-up was at least 6 months. The efficacy criterion was absence of THA. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (22 women) were enrolled between 1993 and 2000. Mean age was 62 years, mean body mass index was 26 kg/m(2), mean Lequesne index was 11, and mean joint space width was 1.3 mm. Narrowing was superolateral in 19 of the 28 patients. Cortivazol was injected in seven patients, betamethasone in four, and triamcinolone hexacetonide in 17. Weight-bearing elimination for at least 4 weeks was achieved in 15 patients. THA was performed in 27 patients, including 20 who underwent the procedure within the year after the glucocorticoid injection. CONCLUSION: Intraarticular glucocorticoid injection with or without elimination of weight-bearing does not reduce the need for THA in patients with RDHOA.

Use of infliximab to treat psoriatic arthritis in HIV-positive patients.

Psoriatic arthritis in HIV-positive patients is not only severe, but also raises specific treatment challenges, as immunosuppressant and immunomodulating agents may adversely affect both the course of the HIV infection and the risk of opportunistic infections. TNFalpha antagonists have not been evaluated in patients with HIV infection, which is therefore considered to contraindicate their use. Two HIV-positive patients with psoriatic arthritis unresponsive to methotrexate alone were treated with infliximab (5 and 2 mg/kg, respectively), methotrexate, and antiretroviral drugs. Dramatic improvements in the skin and joint manifestations occurred in both patients. Tolerance was good, after follow-ups of 24 and 50 months, respectively. No opportunistic infections occurred. Viral load remained well controlled and CD4+T-cell counts stable, although both patients required adjustments in their antiretroviral regimens based on close monitoring of these two parameters. HIV infection classically contraindicates the use of TNFalpha antagonists to treat refractory inflammatory joint disease. However, exceptions to this rule can be made in carefully selected patients who have exhausted all other treatment options for their joint disease and who respond well to antiretroviral therapy. Potential long-term effects such as opportunistic infections, malignancies, and loss of HIV control need to be evaluated.