Physical Activity After Transient Ischemic Attack or Mild Stroke Is Business as Usual.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Regular, sustained moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is a recommended strategy to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke for people who have had transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke. This study aimed to explore attitudes toward, and experience of engaging in physical activity by adults following a TIA or mild stroke. METHODS: Constructivist grounded theory methodology informed data collection and analysis. Interviews from 33 adults with TIA or mild stroke (mean age 65 [SD 10] years, 48% female, 40% TIA) were collected. RESULTS: Business as usual characterized physical activity engagement post-TIA or mild stroke. Most participants returned to prestroke habits, as either regular exerciser or nonexerciser, with only a small number making changes. Influencing factors for physical activity participation included information, challenges, strategies, and support. Business as usual was associated with a perceived lack of information to suggest a need to change behaviors. Nonexercisers and those who decreased physical activity emphasized challenges to physical activity, while regular exercisers and those who increased physical activity focused on strategies and support that enabled participation despite challenges. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Information about the necessity to engage in recommended physical activity levels requires tailoring to the needs of the people with TIA or mild stroke. Helpful information in combination with support and strategies may guide how to navigate factors preventing engagement and might influence the low level of physical activity prevalent in this population.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1 available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A376).

Campaign best practice in intravenous therapy.

Intravenous therapy is an integral part of nursing care but is associated with a high risk of infection. This article outlines a campaign that aimed to increase awareness of best practice for IV therapy and reduce the risks of healthcare-associated IV infections in hospital and community settings.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy versus delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy after oral morphine sulphate overdose.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy (TLE) is a rare pathology caused by various substances including opioids (notably heroin), immunosuppressants, chemotherapy agents, cocaine, alcohol and carbon monoxide. However, although heroin is metabolised by the body into morphine, there is a striking paucity in cases of primary oral morphine-induced TLE, especially in the adult population. We present the case of a man in his 40s admitted to hospital in respiratory depression with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 after taking an overdose of oral morphine sulphate. Following a complete recovery to baseline, he was then readmitted with an acute deterioration in his neurobehavioural condition. Initial investigations returned normal but MRI showed changes characteristic for TLE.In cases of opioid toxicity such as ours, TLE is difficult to differentiate from delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy, due to their similar clinical presentation, disease progression and radiological manifestation. We explore how clinicians can approach this diagnostic uncertainty.

Participants' Perspective of Engaging in a Gym-Based Health Service Delivered Secondary Stroke Prevention Program after TIA or Mild Stroke.

People who have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke have a high risk of recurrent stroke. Secondary prevention programs providing support for meeting physical activity recommendations may reduce this risk. Most evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of secondary stroke prevention arises from programs developed and tested in research institute settings with limited evidence for the acceptability of programs in 'real world' community settings. This qualitative descriptive study explored perceptions of participation in a secondary stroke prevention program (delivered by a community-based multidisciplinary health service team within a community gym) by adults with TIA or mild stroke. Data gathered via phone-based semi-structured interviews midway through the program, and at the end of the program, were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods. A total of 51 interviews from 30 participants produced two concepts. The first concept, "What it offered me", describes critical elements that shape participants' experience of the program. The second concept, "What I got out of it" describes perceived benefits of program participation. Participants perceived that experiences with peers in a health professional-led group program, held within a community-based gym, supported their goal of changing behaviour. Including these elements during the development of health service strategies to reduce recurrent stroke risk may strengthen program acceptability and subsequent effectiveness.

Leigh syndrome caused by mutations in MTFMT is associated with a better prognosis.

Objectives: Mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA formyltransferase (MTFMT) is required for the initiation of translation and elongation of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Pathogenic variants in MTFMT have been associated with Leigh syndrome (LS) and mitochondrial multiple respiratory chain deficiencies. We sought to elucidate the spectrum of clinical, neuroradiological and molecular genetic findings of patients with bi-allelic pathogenic variants in MTFMT. Methods: Retrospective cohort study combining new cases and previously published cases. Results: Thirty-eight patients with pathogenic variants in MTFMT were identified, including eight new cases. The median age of presentation was 14 months (range: birth to 17 years, interquartile range [IQR] 4.5 years), with developmental delay and motor symptoms being the most frequent initial manifestation. Twenty-nine percent of the patients survived into adulthood. MRI headings in MTFMT pathogenic variants included symmetrical basal ganglia changes (62%), periventricular and subcortical white matter abnormalities (55%), and brainstem lesions (48%). Isolated complex I and combined respiratory chain deficiencies were identified in 31% and 59% of the cases, respectively. Reduction of the mitochondrial complex I and complex IV subunits was identified in the fibroblasts (13/13). Sixteen pathogenic variants were identified, of which c.626C>T was the most common. Seventy-four percent of the patients were alive at their last clinical review (median 6.8 years, range: 14 months to 31 years, IQR 14.5 years). Interpretation: Patients that harbour pathogenic variants in MTFMT have a milder clinical phenotype and disease progression compared to LS caused by other nuclear defects. Fibroblasts may preclude the need for muscle biopsy, to prove causality of any novel variant.

Early, specialist vocational rehabilitation to facilitate return to work after traumatic brain injury: the FRESH feasibility RCT.

BACKGROUND: Up to 160,000 people incur traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year in the UK. TBI can have profound effects on many areas of human functioning, including participation in work. There is limited evidence of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation (VR) after injury to promote early return to work (RTW) following TBI. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a definitive, multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of early, specialist VR plus usual care (UC) compared with UC alone on work retention 12 months post TBI. DESIGN: A multicentre, feasibility, parallel-group RCT with a feasibility economic evaluation and an embedded mixed-methods process evaluation. Randomisation was by remote computer-generated allocation. SETTING: Three NHS major trauma centres (MTCs) in England. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with TBI admitted for > 48 hours and working or studying prior to injury. INTERVENTIONS: Early specialist TBI VR delivered by occupational therapists (OTs) in the community using a case co-ordination model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported RTW 12 months post randomisation, mood, functional ability, participation, work self-efficacy, quality of life and work ability. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention rates. Follow-up was by postal questionnaires in two centres and face to face in one centre. Those collecting data were blind to treatment allocation. RESULTS: Out of 102 target participants, 78 were recruited (39 randomised to each arm), representing 39% of those eligible and 5% of those screened. Approximately 2.2 patients were recruited per site per month. Of those, 56% had mild injuries, 18% had moderate injuries and 26% had severe injuries. A total of 32 out of 45 nominated carers were recruited. A total of 52 out of 78 (67%) TBI participants responded at 12 months (UC, n = 23; intervention, n = 29), completing 90% of the work questions; 21 out of 23 (91%) UC respondents and 20 out of 29 (69%) intervention participants returned to work at 12 months. Two participants disengaged from the intervention. Face-to-face follow-up was no more effective than postal follow-up. RTW was most strongly related to social participation and work self-efficacy. It is feasible to assess the cost-effectiveness of VR. Intervention was delivered as intended and valued by participants. Factors likely to affect a definitive trial include deploying experienced OTs, no clear TBI definition or TBI registers, and repatriation of more severe TBI from MTCs, affecting recruitment of those most likely to benefit/least likely to drop out. LIMITATIONS: Target recruitment was not reached, but mechanisms to achieve this in future studies were identified. Retention was lower than expected, particularly in UC, potentially biasing estimates of the 12-month RTW rate. CONCLUSIONS: This study met most feasibility objectives. The intervention was delivered with high fidelity. When objectives were not met, strategies to ensure feasibility of a full trial were identified. Future work should test two-stage recruitment and include resources to recruit from 'spokes'. A broader measure covering work ability, self-efficacy and participation may be a more sensitive outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN38581822. FUNDING: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 33. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Two clinical tests for assessing lateral compartment arthritis.

Two clinical tests, the valgus tap test and the valgus skid test, are described which detect bone contact in the lateral compartment of the knee. They are useful in planning surgical intervention.

Flexion after total knee replacement. A comparison between the Medial Pivot knee and a posterior stabilised implant.

A comparison was made between 261 knees replaced with the Medial Pivot arthroplasty and 288 replaced with the 913 posterior stabilised arthroplasty (PS knee). There was no significant difference in the flexion obtained at 12 months after surgery (111 degrees and 109 degrees , respectively). When the knees were grouped into preoperative flexion ranges, there was no significant difference between the two implants. Those knees with preoperative flexion up to 90 degrees gained most (mean 22.6 degrees and 19 degrees for the PS knee and Medial Pivot, respectively). Knees with a preoperative flexion of 125 degrees or greater lost flexion. Regression analysis of individual knees revealed a small (average 2.9 degrees ), but significant greater loss of flexion at 12 months after surgery in the Medial Pivot group, with increasing preoperative flexion (beta coefficient = 2.923, P = 0.007). Some knees in both groups which had less than average preoperative flexion lost rather than gained flexion. We attributed this to patient factors such as pain, swelling and poor compliance with rehabilitation. Although the Medial Pivot knee may have advantages in terms of contact area and kinematics we found no advantage in terms of postoperative flexion over our posterior stabilised knee.

Patellar instability-can the TT-TG distance be measured clinically?

The horizontal distance between the tibial tubercle and the centre of the groove (TT-TG) is an important determinant in the treatment of patellar instability. We set out investigate whether it could be measured in the outpatient setting using a length of string lined up between a proximal reference point, the centre of the patello-femoral groove and the tibial tubercle. The technique was employed in 24 knees of patients awaiting patellar realignment and the results compared with linked MRI slices through the trochlear and tibial tubercle. With the knee at 90 degrees of flexion, the centre of the trochlear groove lines up with tibial tubercle in patients with both objective and potential instability, making visual inspection of the knee in this position unhelpful in deciding whether to transfer the tibial tubercle. In the extended knee, the technique failed to detect the large TT-TG distance demonstrated on the MRI in the objectively unstable group. Visual inspection of the leg is unreliable in assessment of the position of the tibial tubercle relative to the trochlear groove. The knee should be scanned before a decision is taken to transfer the tibial tubercle medially.

Accuracy of patellar resection in total knee replacement. A study using the medial pivot knee.

A series of 80 patellae were randomly allocated to osteotomy by sawing or milling while implanting the medial pivot knee. Three landmarks were used to control the plane of the cut in the coronal plane. The lateral edge of the patellar tendon distally, and both medial and lateral edges of the quadriceps tendon proximally. A line drawn across the widest points if the patella (the patellar horizon) was used to analyse the slope of the cut (P angle) and the orientation of the patella relative to the trochlear groove both pre- and post-operatively (PF angle) on 45 degrees skyline views. No patellae were under resected. The mean thickness of the remnant was 16 mm (range 14-19). There was no difference between sawing and milling, but the former was technically preferable. No patellae were found to be subluxed. The mean P angle was 2 degrees (S.D. 3.2). The maximum P angle was 10 degrees , but in no cases did obliquity of cut with under resection of the medial patellar facet lead to lateral tilt of the patellar horizon. The mean post-operative PF angle was 2.3 degrees (S.D. 2.6). The majority of patellae retained a similar orientation to the patellar groove post-operatively. In three patients, the patella tilted laterally with respect to the groove. One resulted from under resection of the lateral patellar facet and two in which the slope of the cut was good, probably resulted from an error in femoral rotation. In all 80 knees, the patellar dome remained in full contact with the groove. Use of three fixed landmarks provides consistent patellar resection in terms of depth and slope. Errors in slope of up to 10 degrees do not cause patellar tilt but may lead to medial overload due to increasing thickness of the patella. Errors in femoral sizing and rotation are more potent causes of lateral tilt and overload.

The effect of aprotinin on blood loss in bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Twenty-five patients undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty were given aprotinin (1-2 million units) in doses adjusted for weight, infused at the end of the first arthroplasty. Blood management was compared with our previous series of 68 patients who were not treated with aprotinin. Blood drained and re-transfused in the first 6 h was significantly less in the aprotinin group (323 ml, S.D. 320) than the untreated group (1033 ml, S.D. 539, p<0.0005). The total blood drained was also less in the aprotinin group (713 ml compared to 1613 ml, p<0.0005) but this was accounted for soley by the difference in early blood loss. The use of other blood products was less in the aprotinin group (360 ml, S.D. 357 compared to 827 ml, S.D. 434, p<0.0005). The mean postoperative haemoglobin on the day following surgery was similar at around 10 g. There were no complications or adverse reactions to the use of aprotinin. We conclude that aprotinin significantly reduces early blood loss after bilateral knee arthroplasty. In our hands, we have found it to be safe. Further work is required to determine whether postoperative use may further reduce the need for blood transfusion.

Accuracy of implantation of components in the Oxford knee using the minimally invasive approach.

Screened postoperative X-rays of 224 Oxford knees implanted through the minimally invasive approach were analysed using 16 criteria. The technique was as recommended by the Oxford Group except that the femoral intramedullary rod was used only as a guide to flexion/extension of the femoral component. All femoral components were within the recommended range for varus/valgus and mediolateral position. Eighteen femoral components were either too flexed or extended, but by a maximum of only 10 degrees . Tibial components were inserted in slight varus (mean 1.8 degrees , S.D. 8.8, range 10 to -10). All were within the range for posterior slope in spite of difficulty in establishing objective landmarks. Tibial coverage was imprecise with the phase 3 implants which were short and broad relative to the cut surface. In 36% of knees the tibial tray was implanted too anterior resulting in posterior under hang. There have been no clinical signs to indicate tipping of the meniscus in deep flexion. The depth of cement penetration under the keel was excessive in three cases, resulting from porotic bone rather than technical error in the depth of the cut. There has been one case of femoral component loosening following a fall and no tibial loosening in spite of imprecise alignment of some components.

Can the epicondylar axis be defined accurately in total knee arthroplasty?

As part of a study on rotational alignment of the femoral component in knee replacement, the surgical epicondylar axis was identified in 74 knees and marked with pins. An alternative technique was employed to achieve rotational alignment and in each case the distance between the pins and the cut surface of the posterior condyles was measured. The alignment of the femoral component was measured postoperatively by axial CT scans of the distal femur, allowing an assessment to be made of what would have been achieved if the epicondylar pins had been used for guidance. Only 75% of knees would have been within 3 degrees of the true epicondylar axis using the epicondyles to control rotation. The error range was large (range 6 degrees ER to 11 degrees IR). Our conclusion is that even in experienced hands clinical estimation of the epicondylar axis is inaccurate and should not be relied upon as the sole determinant of femoral rotation.

Achieving ligament stability and correct rotational alignment of the femur in knee arthroplasty: a study using the Medial Pivot knee.

In a series of 90 Medial Pivot arthroplasties rotational alignment of the femur was achieved by provisionally reconstructing the lateral side of the joint and tensioning the medial side with feeler gauges. Axial CT scans were employed to measure the rotational alignment relative to surgical epicondylar axis. In valgus knees the cutting block was externally rotated to adjust for posterolateral bone loss. The mean rotational alignment of the femur was 0.6 degrees of external rotation (S.D. 1.3, range 3 degrees of ER to 4 degrees of IR). The mean laxity of the medial ligament was 1 mm in flexion (SD 1, range 0-5 mm) and 0.5 mm in flexion (S.D. 0.5, range 0-2 mm) In those knees in which the medial ligament had been released the CT alignment was perfect, but when internally rotated against the hip 3-4 mm of gapping was noted. In valgus knees the mean rotation of the femoral component was 0.8 degrees of internal rotation (S.D. 1.5, range 1 degrees of IR to 4 degrees of ER). In spite of externally rotating the cutting block there was still a tendency to internally rotate the femur in some knees. This simple technique achieves the two goals of ligament stability and correct rotational alignment in a high proportion of cases. It may be applicable to any instrument system which employs posterior referencing.

The influence of the tibial sagittal cut on component position in the Oxford knee.

The alignment of the components of the Oxford knee replacement were analysed before and after modification of technique for performing the sagittal cut. In the 126 knees prior to the change, there was wide variation in the apparent femoral rotation on screened X-rays centred on the tibial component. In the 40 knees after the change, the variability was markedly reduced (traditional technique, mean femoral rotation 7.86 degrees, range -5 degrees to 30 degrees, compared with 3.18 degrees, range 0 degrees to 15 degrees in the modified group, p=0.0001.). We conclude that the apparent rotation of the femur is largely due to variation in position of the sagittal cut. The mean meniscal displacement was not reduced in the modified group but the range was smaller in that no menisci were displaced more than 3.5 mm from the tibial upright compared with 15% in the traditional group. Menisci which were displaced tended to rotate. The mean rotation and range were greater in the unmodified group (5.92 degrees ER range, 20 degrees ER to 25 degrees IR, traditional group, compared with 0.39 degrees ER, range 10 degrees ER to 12.5 degrees IR in the modified group, p=0.001). A simple technique for controlling the direction of the sagittal cut using intra articular landmarks gives reproducible results. The apparent femoral rotation on screened views in extension is reduced as is the range of meniscal displacement and rotation. Application of this technique may be helpful in lateral resurfacing where soft tissue support is less likely to resist meniscal dislocation.

Facilitating return to work through early specialist health-based interventions (FRESH): protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Over one million people sustain traumatic brain injury each year in the UK and more than 10 % of these are moderate or severe injuries, resulting in cognitive and psychological problems that affect the ability to work. Returning to work is a primary rehabilitation goal but fewer than half of traumatic brain injury survivors achieve this. Work is a recognised health service outcome, yet UK service provision varies widely and there is little robust evidence to inform rehabilitation practice. A single-centre cohort comparison suggested better work outcomes may be achieved through early occupational therapy targeted at job retention. This study aims to determine whether this intervention can be delivered in three new trauma centres and to conduct a feasibility, randomised controlled trial to determine whether its effects and cost effectiveness can be measured to inform a definitive trial. METHODS/DESIGN: Mixed methods study, including feasibility randomised controlled trial, embedded qualitative studies and feasibility economic evaluation will recruit 102 people with traumatic brain injury and their nominated carers from three English UK National Health Service (NHS) trauma centres. Participants will be randomised to receive either usual NHS rehabilitation or usual rehabilitation plus early specialist traumatic brain injury vocational rehabilitation delivered by an occupational therapist. The primary objective is to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial; secondary objectives include measurement of protocol integrity (inclusion/exclusion criteria, intervention adherence, reasons for non-adherence) recruitment rate, the proportion of eligible patients recruited, reasons for non-recruitment, spectrum of TBI severity, proportion of and reasons for loss to follow-up, completeness of data collection, gains in face-to-face Vs postal data collection and the most appropriate methods of measuring primary outcomes (return to work, retention) to determine the sample size for a larger trial. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility randomised controlled trial of a vocational rehabilitation health intervention specific to traumatic brain injury. The results will inform the design of a definitive trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered ISRCTN Number 38581822.

Unicondylar arthroplasty of the knee--cheap at half the price?

Between June 1999 and October 2002 we performed 355 total knee replacements (75 bilateral cases) and 135 medial unicondylar arthroplasties (27 bilateral cases). The cases were not randomised with the result that those undergoing total knee replacement had more severe disease though not enough to account for the differences observed. The total knees were in hospital 4 days longer than the unicondylar knees (8.2 days compared with 4.1 days). Bilateral cases stayed on average 1 day longer than unilateral cases. Unicondylar knees did not require blood transfusion and none were given outpatient physiotherapy. The average saving for a unilateral unicondylar knee compared with a total knee was pound 1435 in the NHS sector and pound 2386 (30%) in the private sector. For bilateral cases the savings were pound 2287 and pound 3615 (29%), respectively. The biggest saving was between bilateral unicondylar knees and two unilateral total knees being pound 3480 in the NHS and pound 6578 (42%) in the private sector. Such differences almost certainly apply to different systems of delivering healthcare in other countries.

Patellar subsidence in heavy patients undergoing bilateral knee arthroplasty.

A retrospective review of 40 patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement was undertaken to investigate the link between patient body weight and patellar subsidence. Of the 40 patients, three (five knees) had collapse or fracture of the patellar bone and four (five knees) had developed radiolucent lines around the patellar implant. None of these patients were symptomatic and their Knee Society and Oxford functional scores were satisfactory. All of the seven patients had body weights significantly greater than the average for the series.

Varus/valgus alignment of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty.

The varus/valgus alignment of the tibial components of 350 total knee arthroplasties was assessed radiologically. All the tibial components were implanted using an extramedullary guide under the supervision of the senior author. Of components, 96.3% were implanted within 2 degrees of the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tibia. In order to validate our X-ray assessment, a subgroup of 40 knees was re-assessed using a CT scanogram. Analysis of this subgroup showed a close correlation between the results using the two different methods (mean difference 0.88 degrees, S.D. 0.75). We believe that with anticipated future advances in robotic and computer assisted surgery it is important to set the benchmark for what can be achieved with current technology.

Suction technique to improve cement penetration under the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty.

Improving the longevity and reliability of cemented total knee arthroplasty remains an important part of orthopaedic research. This paper examines the recently described method of preparation of the cancellous surface of the tibia using suction cannulae in the proximal tibia and stem recess during pulsatile lavage and component fixation. The technique provides a surface clear of debris, fat, blood and marrow, and prevents backflow of blood. A retrospective analysis of post-operative radiographs shows significant improvement in the penetration of cement into the tibial plateau, and improved cement profile towards the periphery. Techniques of stem cementation are also compared, and it is recommended that for this particular design implant, cement should be applied into the cut stem recess in the tibia rather than to the stem of the implant itself. This technique of preparation of the cut surface of the tibia is a simple and, to-date, complication-free method of reliably providing satisfactory cement penetration during total knee arthroplasty.