Current state of systematic reviews for platelet-rich plasma use in knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder affecting millions of people. To date, there is no curative treatment for KOA other than joint arthroplasty. However, treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been proposed as a possible therapy, with increasing interest over the last decade. To date, there are no evidence-based guidelines in the use of PRP therapy for KOA, but there are numerous studies and systematic reviews (SRs) evaluating the usage of PRP in KOA. Since SRs are of great importance for clinical decision-making, it is necessary to access their methodological quality before any valid conclusions can be made. This study will evaluate the methodological quality of SRs on PRP therapy for KOA using a validated assessment tool known as AMSTAR 2, "A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews". HYPOTHESIS: It is hypothesized that the methodological quality of SRs will be moderate, whereby most of the SRs will provide an accurate summary of the results but will include more than one critical weakness as defined by the AMSTAR 2 checklist. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to May 2023. Two independent reviewers selected SRs that investigated the use of injection therapies for KOA. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. AMSTAR 2 assessment was completed independently by the same reviewers. Cohen's kappa was calculated to measure interrater reliability. The quality of the studies was rated as "high", "moderate", "low", and "critically low". The overall confidence assessment was tabulated. RESULTS: Forty-one SRs were included in the analysis. The Cohen kappa was 0.88, indicating high interrater reliability. There were no "high" quality SRs identified. Seven SRs (17%) were of "low" quality, while the remainder (34 SRs, 83%) were rated as "critically low". CONCLUSION: The methodological quality of the selected SRs was suboptimal. Clinicians should critically appraise the SRs and interpret their conclusions with caution before making clinical decisions. This study supports future work of high-quality SRs regarding the use of PRP injections for KOA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

The Effect of Leukocyte Concentration on Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: It is hypothesized that leukocyte-poor (LP) platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is preferred over leukocyte-rich (LR) PRP for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were reviewed for all English-language studies comparing LP-PRP or LR-PRP with relevant controls or each other. The follow-up periods were 6 months and 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score between baseline and follow-up. The secondary outcome measures were changes in the WOMAC pain subscale, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score between baseline and follow-up, and the incidence of local adverse reactions. Treatment outcomes were analyzed using the mean difference between treatments for continuous outcomes and the odds ratio for binary outcomes, with 95% credibility intervals. Treatment modalities were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) probabilities. Risk of bias was assessed using the relevant Cochrane tools, RoB 2 (version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tools) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and ROBINS-I (Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies - of Interventions) for prospective comparative studies (PCSs). RESULTS: This network meta-analysis included 23 studies: 20 RCTs and 3 PCSs, with a total of 2,260 patients and a mean follow-up period of 9.9 months. The overall risk-of-bias assessment of the RCTs revealed that 9 studies had low risk, 7 had some concerns, and 4 had high risk. The overall risk-of-bias assessment of the PCSs revealed that 1 study had low risk and 2 had moderate risk. We found no significant (p < 0.05) difference in all outcome measures and local adverse reactions between LP-PRP and LR-PRP. SUCRA rankings revealed that, for all outcome measures, LP-PRP is preferred to LR-PRP across follow-up periods. CONCLUSIONS: Leukocyte concentration of PRP does not play a significant role in patient-reported outcome measures for knee OA. LP-PRP is preferred to LR-PRP according to SUCRA rankings, but this preference may not be important in clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Topical tranexamic acid reduces transfusion rates in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: Topical tranexamic acid (TA) has been reported to be effective in reducing postoperative bleeding and transfusions after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The main objective of this study was to retrospectively assess the effectiveness and safety of topical TA administration in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive cohorts of patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA. We compared the patients who received TA with patients from a similar time frame who did not receive TA. For those who received TA, a topical concentration of 2 g per 30 mL of normal saline was used in each knee. Preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, transfusions, length of stay (LOS) and postoperative complications were recorded for each patient until discharge. Outcome measures were analyzed using independent t test, χ2 test and logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 49 patients in our analysis: 25 who received TA and 24 who did not. There were no statistical differences in demographics between the groups. The rate of transfusion in the TA group was 4% compared with 67% in the non-TA group (p < 0.001). The net hemoglobin loss in the TA group was 4.1 g/dL versus 6.2 g/dL in the non-TA group (p < 0.001). The use of TA was found to be associated with a greater than 99% reduced risk of receiving a transfusion (odds ratio 0.003, 95% confidence interval < 0.001-0.072, p < 0.001). There were no thromboembolic events in patients who received TA, and there was 1 pulmonary embolus in the non-TA group. Postoperative LOS was significantly reduced in the TA group (mean difference 1.1 d, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Topical administration of TA in patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA significantly reduced transfusions, blood loss and postoperative LOS, with no increased risk of thromboembolic events.

CONTEXTE: Selon certains rapports, l'acide tranexamique (AT) topique réduirait efficacement les saignements postopératoires et le recours aux transfusions après une intervention pour prothèse totale du genou. Le principal objectif de cette étude était d'évaluer de manière rétrospective l'efficacité et l'innocuité de l'AT topique chez des patients soumis à une intervention pour prothèse totale des 2 genoux. MÉTHODES: Nous avons procédé à une analyse rétrospective des dossiers de cohortes consécutives de patients soumis à une intervention pour prothèse totale des 2 genoux. Nous avons comparé les patients ayant reçu l'AT aux patients d'une période similaire qui n'ont pas reçu l'AT. Pour ceux qui ont reçu l'AT, la concentration topique de 2 g par 30 mL de solution physiologique a été utilisée dans les 2 genoux. On a enregistré chez chaque patient les taux d'hémoglobine pré- et postopératoires, le nombre de transfusions, la durée du séjour hospitalier et les complications postopératoires jusqu'à leur congé. Les paramètres ont été analysés à l'aide du test t, du test du χ2 et de la régression logistique. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons inclus 49 patients dans notre analyse : 25 ayant reçu l'AT et 24 ne l'ayant pas reçu. Il n'y avait aucune différence statistique entre les groupes pour ce qui est des caractéristiques démographiques. Le taux de transfusions dans le groupe ayant reçu l'AT a été de 4 %, contre 67 % dans le groupe n'ayant pas reçu l'AT (p < 0,001). La baisse nette de l'hémoglobine dans le groupe ayant reçu l'AT a été de 4,1 g/dL, contre 6,2 g/dL dans le groupe n'ayant pas reçu l'AT (p < 0,001). L'utilisation de l'AT a été associée à une réduction de plus de 99 % du risque de transfusion (rapport des cotes 0,003, intervalle de confiance de 95 % < 0,001-0,072, p < 0,001). On n'a noté aucun incident thromboembolique chez les patients ayant reçu l'AT, et une embolie pulmonaire dans le groupe n'ayant pas reçu l'AT. La durée du séjour hospitalier postopératoire a été significativement plus brève dans le groupe ayant reçu l'AT (différence moyenne 1,1 j, p = 0,005). CONCLUSION: L'administration topique d'AT chez des patients soumis à une intervention pour prothèse totale des 2 genoux a significativement réduit le recours aux transfusions et les pertes sanguines et a abrégé les séjours hospitaliers postopératoires, sans accroître le risque d'incidents thromboemboliques.

Periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fractures following knee arthroplasty: a biomechanical comparison of four methods of fixation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical properties of four fixation options for periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fractures. METHODS: Fourth-generation composite femurs were implanted with a posterior-stabilizing femoral component of total knee arthroplasty. All femurs were osteotomized to produce a AO/OTA 33-A3 fracture pattern and four different constructs were tested: (1) non-locking plate; (2) polyaxial locking plate; (3) intramedullary fibular strut allograft with polyaxial locking plate; (4) retrograde intramedullary nail. The composite femurs underwent non-destructive tests to determine construct stiffness in axial and torsional cyclic loading. The final testing consisted of quasi-static axial loading until failure. RESULTS: Under cyclic torsional loading, the retrograde intramedullary nail was less stiff than non-locking plate, polyaxial locking plate and intramedullary fibular strut allograft with polyaxial locking plate (p = 0.046). No differences were detected in cyclic axial loading between the different constructs. During quasi-static axial loading to failure, the intramedullary nail achieved the highest axial stiffness while the non-locking plate showed the lowest (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The intramedullary fibular strut allograft with polyaxial locking plate did not prove to be significantly better to the polyaxial locking plate only in a periprosthetic distal femur fracture model.

Two-stage revision arthroplasty for management of chronic periprosthetic hip and knee infection: techniques, controversies, and outcomes.

In North America, two-stage revision arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for chronic periprosthetic infection of the hip and knee. Controversy exists regarding the diagnosis of persistent infection, cement spacer design, and duration of antibiotic therapy. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein tests have no clear cutoff values for detecting infection before reimplantation of hardware, and aspiration for microbial culture can yield false-negative results. Mobile spacers are as effective as static spacers for eradicating infection, but mobile spacers provide better interim function and may help to make the second stage of surgery technically easier. Some articulating spacer designs have fewer reports of spacer dislocation and fracture than do others. Although prolonged antibiotic therapy has been the standard of care for two-stage procedures, some have suggested that a short course of antibiotics is just as effective. When infection persists despite antibiotic therapy, the second stage of revision arthroplasty should be delayed until the first stage of the procedure is repeated.

Topical tranexamic acid reduces transfusion rates in total hip and knee arthroplasty.

The efficaciousness of topical tranexamic acid use at the end of knee arthroplasty surgery to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements has previously been shown. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the effectiveness of topical tranexamic acid use, comparing 155 patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty surgery in which tranexamic acid was routinely used, to a group of 149 patients from a similar time frame prior to the introduction of tranexamic acid use. The transfusion rate fell from 19.3% to 2.3% for hip arthroplasty patients and from 13.1% to 0% for knee arthroplasty patients; these differences were significant. We also found significant reductions in haemoglobin loss, blood loss and length of stay of 8 g/L, 244 mL and 1.0 days respectively for hip arthroplasties and 15 g/L, 527 mL and 1.2 days respectively for knee arthroplasties following the introduction of tranexamic acid.

PCL reconstruction with the tibial inlay technique following intra-medullary nail fixation of an ipsilateral tibial shaft fracture: a treatment algorithm.

Our case report highlights the complexity of treating multi-ligament knee injuries in the setting of ipsilateral long bone trauma. We describe the use of the tibial inlay technique for PCL reconstruction in the setting of a tibial shaft fracture treated with an intramedullary nail. We also present a comprehensive treatment algorithm for the treatment of ligamentous knee injuries in the setting of long bone trauma.

Phaeohyphomycosis infection leading to flexor tendon rupture: a case report.

A rare previously unreported cause of flexor tendon rupture is described. A 66-year-old man presented with a fully extended left middle finger, accompanied by swelling and purulent drainage. Prior to presentation, he had received a steroid injection for left middle finger stenosing tenosynovitis and subsequently developed culture-proven phaeohyphomycosis fungal infection and secondary enterococcal bacterial infection, requiring pharmacotherapy and incision, drainage, and debridement for abscess formation. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings were consistent with the diagnosis of closed flexor tendon rupture of the left middle finger. Antifungal and antibiotic therapy followed by two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction was performed. Six months postoperatively, full passive range of motion was achieved and the proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints of the left middle finger actively flexed to 125 degrees and 90 degrees, respectively.

Surgical treatment of refractory tibial stress fractures in elite dancers: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of tibial stress fractures in elite dancers is centered on rest and activity modification. Surgical intervention in refractory cases has important implications affecting the dancers' careers. HYPOTHESIS: Refractory tibial stress fractures in dancers can be treated successfully with drilling and bone grafting or intramedullary nailing. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2006, 1757 dancers were evaluated at a dance medicine clinic; 24 dancers (1.4%) had 31 tibial stress fractures. Of that subset, 7 (29.2%) elite dancers with 8 tibial stress fractures were treated operatively with either intramedullary nailing or drilling and bone grafting. Six of the patients were followed up closely until they were able to return to dance. One patient was available only for follow-up phone interview. Data concerning their preoperative treatment regimens, operative procedures, clinical union, radiographic union, and time until return to dance were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the surgical patients at the time of stress fracture was 22.6 years. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before surgical intervention was 25.8 months. Four of the dancers were male and 3 were female. All had failed nonoperative treatment regimens. Five patients (5 tibias) underwent drilling and bone grafting of the lesion, and 2 patients (3 tibias) with completed fractures or multiple refractory stress fractures underwent intramedullary nailing. Clinical union was achieved at a mean of 6 weeks and radiographic union at 5.1 months. Return to full dance activity was at an average of 6.5 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Surgical intervention for tibial stress fractures in dancers who have not responded to nonoperative management allowed for resolution of symptoms and return to dancing with minimal morbidity.