Assessment of Medical and Social Risk Factors Before Arthroplasty in Argentina: A Poll of Argentinian Hip and Knee Association (ACARO) Members.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of risk factors is crucial for lowering complication rates and costs of hip and knee arthroplasty. The objective of this study was to assess if members of the Argentinian Hip and Knee Association (ACARO) are influenced by such risk factors when planning surgery. METHODS: In 2022, a survey was distributed as an electronically based questionnaire to 370 members of the ACARO. A descriptive analysis was performed on 166 proper answers (44.9%). RESULTS: There were 68% of the respondents who were specialists in joint arthroplasty and 32% practiced general orthopedics. A large number had large volumes at private hospitals without service/residents and 48.2% had been in practice for more than 15 years. Of the responding surgeons, 99% routinely performed a preoperative reversible risk factors evaluation that considered diabetes, malnutrition, weight, and smoking, and 95% canceled/postponed the surgery for abnormalities. Malnutrition was important for 79% of the polled with blood albumin being used by 69.3%. Fall risk assessment was performed by 60.2% of the surgeons. Only 44% of the surgeons felt free to choose the implant for the arthroplasty, possibly because 69.9% work for a capitated system. Important delays for surgery were reported by 63.9 and 84.3% had waiting lists. 74.7% of the polled noted physical or psychological deterioration during such delays. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors firmly impact on the accessibility to arthroplasty in Argentina. Despite these barriers, the qualitative analysis of this poll let us demonstrate greater awareness of preoperative risk factors, especially diabetes as the most reported comorbidity.

THA conversion rate comparing decompression alone, with autologous bone graft or stem cells in osteonecrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Core decompression (CD) with or without the addition of autologous bone graft (CDBG) is currently the most widely accepted treatment for hip osteonecrosis in stages of pre-collapse. The use of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (CDSC) is emerging as a promising biological alternative. We sought to determine the total hip arthroplasty (THA) conversion rate for patients treated with CD, CDBG or CDSC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2012, 97 cases were evaluated in 72 patients: 47 CD cases, 34 CDGB cases and 16 CDSC cases. The mean age was 39 (20-63) years, 25 bilateral, 19 female and 53 male, 14 Ficat 1 and 83 Ficat 2. Bilateral cases with asymmetric stage and equal treatment were excluded. RESULTS: Conversion rate to THA was 44% for the CD group (21/47) at an average of 77 (24-324) months; 50% for the CDBG group (17/34) at an average of 34 (24-240) months and 50% for the CDSC group (8/16) at an average of 48 (24-72) months (p = 0.619). Log Rank test for survivorship analysis was not significant (p = 0.2011). Immunodeficiency or corticosteroid treatment history was associated with 16/47 of the CD group, 7/34 in the CDBG group and 1/16 in the CDSC group. Trauma was associated with 2/47 of the CD group, 5/34 of the CDBG group and none of the CDSC group. Hazard ratio considering risk factors was not significant (p = 0.252). CONCLUSIONS: In these series of cases including patients with pre-collapse osteonecrosis, we observed non-significant results regarding rate of conversion to THA with CD, CDBG or CDSC at an average of 5.5 years.

Aproximación a la práctica clínica del médico fisiatra y su desarrollo en Chile / Approach to clinical practice for Physiatrists or PM&R physicians and its development in Chile

Introducción: la actividad médica no acaba cuando la enfermedad remite. Así lo han demostrado las personas con COVID-19 grave, que no hablan de recuperación hasta meses después del egreso hospitalario. Bajo esta premisa amerita profundizar en el rol de la Medicina física y Rehabilitación. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó una revisión de la literatura en revistas de habla hispana e inglesa indexadas en bases de datos científicas. Los criterios de búsqueda fueron dirigidos a los objetivos: definir fisiatría y su posición dentro del modelo sanitario, conocer sus áreas de desempeño y la realidad nacional. Resultados: la fisiatría es la especialidad médica que se encarga de optimizar el funcionamiento de las personas mediante técnicas y estrategias de rehabilitación. Una vez establecido el diagnóstico trimodal, el fisiatra propone objetivos que involucren a todo el equipo rehabilitador, previo acuerdo con el paciente y su familia. Se encuadra bajo el modelo biopsicosocial y su espectro de acción comprende toda condición de salud o patología -congénita o adquirida- que genere una disfunción física, cognitiva o emocional, una limitación en la actividad o algún grado de restricción en la participación. A pesar del desarrollo de casi 60 años de la especialidad en Chile, existe desconocimiento en torno a ella y su alcance clínico. Discusión: parece importante contar en Chile con canales y agentes de difusión sobre el papel que juega la fisiatría como un recurso que eficientiza la restitución de las personas; deben promoverse líneas de investigación, desarrollo de subespecialidades y la descentralización de sus atenciones.

Introduction: Medical activity does not end when the disease remits. This has been demonstrated by patients with severe COVID-19, who do not speak of recovery until months after hospital discharge. Under this premise, the role of Physical medicine and rehabilitation deserves to be studied in depth. Materials and Methods: A literature review was conducted in Spanish and English language journals indexed in scientific databases. Search criteria were refined with the following objectives: to define Physiatry and its position within the health model, recognize its areas of performance, and describe the national context. Results: Physiatry is the medical specialty responsible for optimizing the functionality of people through rehabilitation techniques and strategies. Once the trimodal diagnosis is established, the physiatrist proposes objectives that involve the entire rehabilitation team and prior agreement with the patient and family. It is framed under the biopsychosocial model. Its range of action includes any health condition or pathology -congenital or acquired- that generates a physical, cognitive or emotional dysfunction, a limitation in activities, or any degree of restriction in participation. Despite 60 years of development in Chile, there is a lack of knowledge about this specialty and its potential clinical applicability. Discussion: It seems essential to create channels for dissemination of the role played by Physiatry in Chile as a resource that makes people's restitution more efficient, as well as promoting lines of research, development of subspecialties, and decentralization of care