A multimodal opioid-sparing pain management following total knee replacement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the pain scores, opioid consumption, and range of motion of the operated knee after total knee replacement (TKR) in the 10-day follow-up period between a traditional opioid-containing pain management protocol and a multimodal opioid-sparing treatment protocol. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, single-center study included 90 patients (24 men and 66 women; mean age 69.7±7.2 years) undergoing TKR for osteoarthritis between October 2019 and October 2020. Patients were randomized into 3 cohorts for comparison: traditional opioid-containing pain management protocol (n=30), multimodal opioid-sparing pain management protocol (n=30), and traditional opioid-containing pain management protocol with additional local infiltration analgesia (LIA). Changes in visual analog scale for pain (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and opioid consumption were compared between groups. RESULTS: A lower mean postoperative VAS score was observed in the opioid-sparing cohort, which was statistically significant at all time points compared with the traditional cohorts. Mean total morphine consumption was significantly lower in the opioid-sparing cohort (2.7±5.8 MMEs) compared to the traditional (14.0±14.8 MMEs) and traditional with LIA cohorts (8.3±9.5 MMEs; p<0.05). The mean degree of flexion of the operated knee of patients was significantly greater in patients in the opioid-sparing group than in the other groups on the postoperative day 3 (opioid-sparing: 87.0±11.2°; traditional: 74.1±11.6°; traditional with LIA: 84.7±8.9°; p<0.05), as well as on day 10 (opioid-sparing: 99.3±10.8°; traditional: 87.3±12.4°; traditional with LIA: 92.5±9.7°; p<0.05). The rate of adverse events after TKR did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that a multimodal opioid-sparing pain protocol after TKR, which includes oral non-opioid medications and periarticular injection with bupivacaine, provides better pain relief and early functional gains with fewer rescue opioids compared to traditional opioid-based protocols (Tab. 4, Fig. 2, Ref. 22).

Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on schistosomiasis among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 20 years, schistosomiasis control has been scaled up. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is the main intervention. We aimed to assess the effect of preventive chemotherapy on schistosomiasis prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, comparing 2000-10 with 2011-14 and 2015-19. METHODS: In this spatiotemporal modelling study, we analysed survey data from school-aged children (aged 5-14 years) in 44 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The data were extracted from the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases database and augmented by 2018 and 2019 survey data obtained from disease control programmes. Bayesian geostatistical models were fitted to Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni survey data. The models included data on climatic predictors obtained from satellites and other open-source environmental databases and socioeconomic predictors obtained from various household surveys. Temporal changes in Schistosoma species prevalence were estimated by a categorical variable with values corresponding to the three time periods (2000-10, 2011-14, and 2015-19) during which preventive chemotherapy interventions were scaled up. FINDINGS: We identified 781 references with relevant geolocated schistosomiasis survey data for 2000-19. There were 19 166 unique survey locations for S haematobium and 23 861 for S mansoni, of which 77% (14 757 locations for S haematobium and 18 372 locations for S mansoni) corresponded to 2011-19. Schistosomiasis prevalence among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa decreased from 23·0% (95% Bayesian credible interval 22·1-24·1) in 2000-10 to 9·6% (9·1-10·2) in 2015-19, an overall reduction of 58·3%. The reduction of S haematobium was 67·9% (64·6-71·1) and that of S mansoni 53·6% (45·2-58·3) when comparing 2000-10 with 2015-19. INTERPRETATION: Our model-based estimates suggest that schistosomiasis prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa has decreased considerably, most likely explained by the scale-up of preventive chemotherapy. There is a need to consolidate gains in the control of schistosomiasis by means of preventive chemotherapy, coupled with other interventions to interrupt disease transmission. FUNDING: European Research Council and WHO.

Effect of Intra-Articular Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Serum Levels of Osteoarthritic Biomarkers in Patients with Unilateral Knee Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of three doses of intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into the osteoarthritic (OA) knee joint on the functional status and on the changes in the levels of specific OA biomarkers in blood serum. METHODS: Forty patients with unilateral primary knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in this single center, prospective clinical trial. For each patient, three intra-articular PRP injections were administered one week apart. Clinical and laboratory assessment was performed before the first PRP injection (baseline), and 3 months after the third PRP application (3-month follow up). Pain in the affected knee joint was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS). Change in clinical status was evaluated with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index Questionnaire (WOMAC). Concentrations of 19 biomarkers (EGF, Eotaxin, FGF-2, GRO, IL-10, IL-1RA, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, PDGF-AB/BB, RANTES, MMP-3, MMP-13, Collagen type 2, BMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TGF beta 1, and COMP) in the serum of studied patients were quantified. RESULTS: At 3-month follow up, there was a significant decrease in the VAS score and significant improvement in the WOMAC score. There was a significant decrease in the levels of Eotaxin, MCP-1, MMP-1, IL-10, EGF, PDGF-AB/BB, TGF- ß1 compared to baseline levels. A significant increase in markers BMP-2, COMP, Collagen type 2 and GRO was found at the same time point. There was no significant change in the concentrations of other biomarkers (FGF-2, IL-1RA, IL-8, IL-10, MMP-3, RANTES, TIMP-1, TIMP-3). CONCLUSIONS: We found an increase in specific pro-anabolic and anti-inflammatory biomarkers with a concomitant decrease in pro-inflammatory biomarkers at 3 months after three intra-articular applications of PRP. Significant improvement in VAS and WOMAC scores was observed. Treatment with PRP may be an effective therapeutic option with anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential in patients with primary knee OA.