Conversion of a Surgically Arthrodesed Knee to a Total Knee Arthroplasty-Is it Worth it? A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Conversion of a surgically arthrodesed knee to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an option for a select group of patients who are not satisfied with their results. However, there is a paucity of literature on this topic. A systematic review of literature was performed to (1) describe the overall demographic characteristics; (2) evaluate the clinical outcomes; (3) determine the overall rate of complications; and (4) evaluate the overall satisfaction of patients who underwent conversion of an arthrodesed knee to TKA. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was systematically performed to evaluate all studies included in the literature until July 2015. The specific search terms used were "fusion knee" and "arthrodesis knee," which revealed a total of 2206 studies. A review and selection of these abstracts were then performed based on inclusion and/or exclusion criteria; a total of 10 articles were used for final review. RESULTS: There were a total of 98 surgically arthrodesed knees that subsequently underwent TKA. Patients had a mean age of 55 years and were followed up for a mean of 5 years. Using a random effects model, there was an overall complication rate of 47%, an overall revision rate of 25%, and an overall failure rate of 11%. However, most patients were overall satisfied with the procedure. CONCLUSION: Fusion takedown is a challenging procedure that should only be performed by experienced surgeons after extensive discussion with the patients. The clinical outcomes are good with overall patient satisfaction, but complication rates are high including risk of repeat fusion or amputation.

Current Concepts in Sports-Related Concussion.

Traumatic brain injury, specifically concussion, is prevalent in contact sports. In the United States (US) each year, 170 million adults participate in physical recreational activities, and 38 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that in this group ~1.6 to 3.8 million concussions occur annually. Recent class-action lawsuits in the US filed by professional athletes against their respective leagues allege negligence in protecting them from concussions, and this has contributed to the attention received in the popular media. In response, concussion-related publications have increased exponentially during the past several years. Recent studies have challenged earlier assumptions that the effects of concussion are transient. Stronger links between concussion and neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease-like conditions, depression, and heightened risk for suicide are being elucidated. In this article, we explore the current knowledge on concussion, including pathophysiology, management, and long-term effects. We conclude that more evidence-based results regarding guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and return to play (RTP) are needed and should be the focus of future investigations. Attributing the etiology of certain neurodegenerative conditions to a history of concussion has been suggested in the current literature, but additional quantitative data regarding the pathophysiology and causality are needed as well. Bioengineers can have an important role in measuring the dynamic forces encountered during head impacts and their effects on the brain. These results can be effective in designing better helmets as well as improved playing surfaces to reduce the impact of such injuries. At this time, we believe that groups of people with heightened risk for concussion should be followed closely during longer periods of time and compared to matched controls. Such long-term studies are urgently needed to develop appropriate guidelines for safety and protect our young and adult athletes in the future.