Association between vitamin D concentrations and knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) and vitamin D deficiency are common health conditions in older people. Whether vitamin D concentration is associated with knee OA is controversial. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between serum concentrations of vitamin D and osteoarthritic knee pain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Vitamin D concentrations were measured with the 25 hydroxyvitamin D test in patients presenting with clinical symptoms of primary knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was graded on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale from anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Patients completed a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) for indicating pain and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Vitamin D concentration was defined as severely deficient (<10 ng/mL), insufficient (10 to 19 ng/mL), or normal (20 to 50 ng/mL). RESULTS: Of 149 patients (133 women), the mean age was 63.6 years. Mean vitamin D concentration was 11.53 ng/mL, and 90% patients were vitamin D deficient. Mean WOMAC score was 57.2, and VAS pain score was 7.5. Kellgren-Lawrence grade was 2 for 10 patients, grade 3 for 61, and grade 4 for 88. Mean BMI was 33.4. Mean values of VAS, WOMAC, and BMI did not differ by vitamin D status. CONCLUSION: Serum vitamin D concentration is not associated with knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

Comparison of Anesthetic Administration According to Method of Hip Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare total hip prosthesis (THP), partial hip prosthesis (PHP), and proximal femoral nail (PFN) patients in terms of the chosen anesthetic method. METHODS: A total of 850 patients who underwent hip surgery were divided into 3 groups according to the operation type: PHP (n=281), PFN (n=393), and THP (n=176). The type of anesthesia administered, interventions during anesthesia, and complications were retrospectively evaluated. The groups were compared in terms of patient age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, chosen anesthetic method, operation duration, colloid use during operation, use of antihypertensive medication, use of vasoconstrictor medication, development of hypotension, blood transfusion administered, development of cardiac arrest, requirements for intensive care after operation, and use of a central catheter. RESULTS: In the THP group, the mean age of patients was significantly lower as compared to the PHP and PFN groups. The duration of operation was lower in the PFN group as compared to the other two groups. In the THP group, general anesthesia was significantly high, while in the PFN group, regional anesthetic administration was high. While colloid use was greater in the PFN group, the blood transfusion rate was higher in the THP group. The use of antihypertensive medication was higher in the THP group as compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: Although all three anesthetic methods could be used in hip surgery, the type of anesthesia should be chosen according to the type of hip surgery considering the duration of operation, age of the patient, and blood lost during the operation.

Osteoid osteoma treated with radiofrequency ablation.

Purpose. Our aim is to evaluate the results of treatment with computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for osteoid osteomas which were localized in a difficult area for operation. Materials and Methods. Glenoid, distal tibia, humerus shaft, proximal humerus, and in third finger of the hand proximal phalanx were involved in one patient. Proximal femur was involved in three patients, distal femur was involved in three patients, and proximal tibia was involved in two patients. 9 males and 4 females were aged 4 to 34 years (mean age: 18.5 years). All patients had pain and were evaluated with X-rays, CT, bone scintigraphy, and MRI. In all patients, RF ablation was performed with local anesthesia. The lesion heated to 90°C for 6 minutes. Results. All of the patients achieved complete pain relief after ablation and were fully weight bearing without any support. In all patients, there was soft tissue edema after the procedure. During follow-up, all patients were free from the pain and there was no sign about the tumor. There was no other complication after the process. Conclusion. CT guided RFA is a minimally invasive, safe, and cost-effective treatment for osteoid osteoma placed in difficult area for surgery.