Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived Chondrocytes for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

RESULTS: There were a total of 60 patients who were followed up. Three patients in Group II were removed from the analysis as they underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A notably significant improvement was noticed in the ABMDC group on all scores of VAS and MKSSSF with P < 0.0001. The control group continued to be dissatisfied with the treatment they were taking. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that a single injection of 5 million of ABMDC was efficient in reducing the symptoms, improving the functional score and betterment of QOL.

Genetic influence on circulating vitamin D among Saudi Arabians.

OBJECTIVES:  To examine the effect of most common studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels in Saudi Arabian population.  METHOD: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out between July 2014 and October 2015, at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After informed consent, blood samples from 283 subjects living in the Eastern province were collected for 25-OHD measurement and genetic analysis of SNPs in vitamin D receptor (VDR) [rs2228570 and rs1544410], Cytochrome, P450 family 2 (CYP2R1) [rs10741657 and rs1993116], and Group-specific components (GC) [rs2282679 and rs4588].  RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was found in 87.6% and insufficiency in 7.7%. The percentages of the different alleles of the 6 SNPs tested ranged between 0-62.5%. There was significant difference between the AA, AG, and GG alleles of VDR rs2228570. The carries of GG allele was associated with increased risks of vitamin D insufficiency (p less than 0.002) and deficiency (p less than or equal to 0.005). The CYP2R1 rs10741657 gene showed that AG and GG allele carriers had significant risk of vitamin D deficiency. AG allele (normal versus Insufficiency p less than 0.02 and normal versus deficiency p less than 0.08) and GG allele normal versus deficiency (p less than 0.002) and insufficiency versus deficiency (p less than 0.001). For group-specific components (GC rs4588), there was only significant difference between the normal and deficiency for the AC allele (p less than 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The presence of GG allele of the SNP rs2228570 of VDR gene, SNPs rs4588 of GC gene and CYP2R1 rs10741657 gene was associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Identification of adverse events in orthopaedic practice: a step towards quality care.

Adverse Events (AE's) are unintended injuries or complications resulting in death, disability or prolonged hospital stay, that arise from deficiency in the health care management. The objective of this retrospective study is to assess the incidence of AE's, its impact on patients in terms of morbidity and mortality. All orthopaedic patients admitted to the male orthopaedic ward between 1st August 2010 to 31st July 2011, were included. Any such event that occurred in the index admission or within 30 days of discharge was included in the present study. Identification of AE's was based on the written records in case-sheet and analysis of the computer data. When clarification was required, the issue was discussed with involved physicians and nursing staff and the patient was contacted by telephone. Presence of one or more of the 12 predefined screening criteria constituted the screening process. Fifty three (10.83%) of 489 patients studied during the study period experienced a total of 101 AE's (20.65%). Majority of AE's occurred in trauma patients admitted from the emergency room--35 (66%)--and from the outpatient department (OPD)--30 (56.6%)--. Of the 101 AE's, 74 (73.1%) were estimated to have a high degree of preventability. On assessing the impact on patients, residual morbidity was noted in 1 (1.88%) patient. There was no mortality as a result of AE. AE's occurred due to non-adherence to existing protocols in totality. AE's resulted in increased morbidity of the patients, longer hospital stay, multiple surgeries and economic burden to the hospital. Identifying AE's provides the foundation and driving force for initiative to reduce morbidity. It also helps to evolve specific risk reduction strategies and self auditing and thereby improve quality care of patients.

Are we prepared for orthopedic trauma surgery outside normal working hours? A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective analysis was done to determine whether there is a change in outcomes of trauma patients undergoing intramedullary nailing (IMN) for femur and tibia fracture as an emergency versus elective procedure. METHODS: Data were collected for all patients admitted to male orthopedic wards between 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2009 with femur and tibia fractures that required IMN. The data collected included surgery undertaken on as emergency or elective procedure, duration of surgery, complications encountered, and union status of fracture. RESULTS: There were 431 fractures of the tibia, fibula and femur. Operating time for femur fracture as an emergency procedure was significantly greater than for elective surgery (191±79 versus 155±65 minutes; p≤0.001, confidence interval [CI] -19.54). For tibia fracture, operating times were 167.1±62 versus 69.2±35 minutes (p<0.001, CI <-85.4). Complications of infection, secondary surgery and of union were more common in emergency procedures than elective surgeries. CONCLUSION: This study shows that complications are higher in emergency surgery than elective surgery due to the increase in the duration of surgery. This is attributed to the non-availability of dedicated trained orthopedic nursing staff and theater during emergency procedures. We believe that it is time to develop dedicated orthopedic trauma theaters in hospitals that treat emergency fracture fixations.

Medication burden of Saudi Arabian women receiving antiresorptive therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osteoporosis is common in the Saudi Arabian population, and its successful treatment requires full compliance. Patients who require antiresorptive therapy, such as oral bisphosphonates, may suffer from other diseases requiring medications, which increases the medication burden and ends up in drug noncompliance on the part of patients, making them vulnerable to osteoporosis-related fractures. We decided to undertake this study to analyze the concomitant medications that osteoporotic patients are receiving at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar. METHODS: Osteoporotic patients receiving antiresorptive therapy (ART) at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, were identified through the database of the QuadraMed Patient Care system and cross-checked with the radiology database of the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and pharmacy drug-dispensing system between January 2009 and December 2009. Concomitant medication is defined as the use of other drugs for ≥30 days with oral bisphosphonates, calcium, and vitamin D. Medication burdens are defined as mild (≤1 concomitant medication), moderate (≥2 and ≤4 medications), and severe (≥5 medications). The demographic data, such as age, sex, and diagnosis, were collected from the medical records. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: During the study period, 516 patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis, and 473 were on ART while the rest were using anabolic Teriperatide. Sixty-eight (14.4%) of the patients, with an average age of 50.15 ± 2.4 years, were on one medication besides ART, vitamin D, and elemental calcium; 129 (27.3%) of the patients, with an average age of 51.6 ± 9.7 years, were taking 3.32 medications, and 276 (58.3%) of the patients, with a mean age of 62.1 ± 10.7 years, were on 8.02 concomitant medications. The most common concomitant medications in use were cardiac, endocrine, systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics, in that order. This study suggests that the majority of Saudi women who are osteoporotic and undergoing oral bisphosphonate therapy have a concomitant medication burden of ≥5 other medications. For full compliance with the therapy, the patients' medication burden should be considered prior to selecting the treatment route.

Efficacy of EZStep in the management of plantar fasciitis: a prospective, randomized study.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Despite extensive efforts foot surgeons continue to debate the best modality of treatment. Analgesics, shoe inserts, stretching exercises, steroid injection, night splints, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy have proved effective in one group but fail in others. This study evaluated the efficacy of EZStep, a new foot brace for the management of plantar fasciitis. A total of 198 patients were randomized in 2 groups; group 1 (study group) received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 4-6 weeks) and EZStep whereas group 2 (control group) received either NSAID and physiotherapy alone (2A) or NSAID, physiotherapy, and local steroid injection (2B). None of the patients received over-the-counter insoles or strapping of plantar arch to avoid any bias in randomization. Evaluations included measurement of weight and height, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ). After 8 weeks, patients were reevaluated, and assessment for the VAS and SFMPQ with treatment outcome was performed. Patients with VAS scores ≤3 were considered as excellent, ≥4 as good, and ≥7 as poor. The posttreatment evaluation showed that VAS scores were in the range from 2.97 ± 1.06 to 7.64 ± 2.9 (2A), P = .001, 95% confidence interval (CI) <-4.104; for 2B P = .001, CI <-2.44, and SFMPQ was 21.7 ± 4.5 and 69.2 ± 5.8 (group 2A; P = .001, 95% CI <-46.44). Compared with group 2B the SFMPQ was 66.5 ± 4.3 (P = .001, 95% CI <-30.720). In group 1 as per VAS, 86 (73.5%) were evaluated as excellent, 15 (12.8%) as good, and 16 (13.6%) as poor. Our study shows that the regular use of EZStep with short course of NSAIDs (4-6 weeks) was effective in ameliorating symptoms in more than 85% of patients suffering from plantar fasciitis.