Effects of intraoperative or postoperative administration of intravenous iron supplements on hemoglobin recovery in patients with total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of the researchers are as follows: First, to investigate whether intraoperative or postoperative administration of Intravenous (IV) iron supplements in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can contribute to the hemoglobin recovery during the postoperative period (between 4 and 8 weeks after surgery). Second, to examine whether the administration of IV iron supplements during or immediately after TKA in patients undergoing primary TKA can reduce the need for allogenic blood transfusion during hospitalization. METHODS: Articles published between January 1, 1990, and June 30, 2023 were searched in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. The population, intervention, comparison, and outcome of this study are as follows; Population: Patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty; Intervention: Administration of IV iron supplements during or immediately after surgery; Comparison: Non-administration of IV iron supplements; Outcome: Degree of hemoglobin recovery (between 4 and 8 weeks after surgery) and the need for blood transfusion during hospitalization. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the amount of change in hemoglobin between iron supplementation group and non-iron supplementation group. The effect size were -0.44 (95% confidence interval: -0.69 to -0.19, P value < .001) in all patients. This means that the amount of change in hemoglobin were significantly reduced in the iron supplementation group than in the non-iron supplementation group. There was a statistically significant difference for post-operative transfusion rate between 2 groups. The effect size were 0.28 (95% confidence interval: 0.10-0.81, P value = .02) in all patients. This means that the post-operative transfusion rate was significantly less in the iron supplementation group than in the non-iron supplementation group. CONCLUSION: The administration of IV iron supplements during or after TKA surgery increases hemoglobin recovery between 4 and 8 weeks after surgery and reduces the need for allogeneic blood transfusion during hospitalization.

The degree of C-reactive protein elevation after total knee arthroplasty is related to bone and medullary injury rather than soft tissue.

First, we want to find out whether computer-assisted surgery (CAS) for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which does not require opening the femoral medullary canal, results in a lesser C-reactive protein (CRP) level increase postoperatively compared to manual TKA. Second, they seek to examine whether the CRP reduction in CAS TKA and manual TKA follows a similar pattern within the first 2 weeks after surgery. Third, the study aims to compare and analyze the CRP levels in 3 different groups: CRP levels in CAS TKA with surgeons who started TKA surgery by CAS, CRP levels in manual TKA by surgeons with little experience, and CRP levels in skillful manual TKA performed after conducting over 200 cases. The 3 patient groups were as follows. Group 1: Patients who underwent non expertized surgeon CAS TKA (N = 63). Group 2: Patients who underwent manual TKA after surgeon CAS TKA experience (N = 108). Group 3: Patients who underwent manual TKA after surgeon 200 cases or more of either CAS TKA or manual TKA experience (more skillful manual TKA) (N = 66). CRP levels were analyzed using electronic medical records for 3 time points: within 3 months before surgery, 5 days after surgery, and 11 days after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in pre operative CRP values among the 3 groups. At 5 days after surgery, the CRP level were 48.59 ± 32.75 for CAS TKA, 69.82 ± 42.76 for early manual TKA, and 67.73 ± 44.00 for skillful manual TKA, indicating a statistically significant lower CRP level in the CAS TKA group compared to the manual TKA groups (P = .01). At 11 days after surgery, there were no statistically significant differences in CRP level among the 3 groups, with was 12.12 ± 9.74 for CAS TKA, 14.07 ± 13.18 for early manual TKA, and 11.43 ± 11.45 for skillful manual TKA. The degree of CRP elevation after TKA is related to bone and medullary injury rather than soft tissue.

A model study for the classification of high-risk groups for cardiac arrest in general ward patients using simulation techniques.

Currently, many hospitals use vital signs-based criteria such as modified early warning score (MEWS) and national early warning score (NEWS) to classify high-risk patients for cardiac arrest, but there are limitations in selecting high-risk patients with a possibility of cardiac arrest. The purpose of this study is to develop a cardiac arrest classification model to identify patients at high risk of cardiac arrest based on the patient family and past history, and blood test results after hospitalization, rather than vital signs. This study used electronic medical record (EMR) data from A university hospital, and patients in the high-risk group for cardiac arrest were defined as those who underwent cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest. Considering the use of the rapid response team of A university hospital, patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU), emergency medicine departments, psychiatric departments, pediatric departments, cardiology departments, and palliative care wards were excluded. This study included 325,534 patients, of which 3291 low-risk and 382 high-risk patients were selected for study. Data were split into training and validation data sets and univariate analysis was performed for 13 candidate risk factors. Then, multivariate analysis was performed using a bivariate logistic regression model, and an optimal model was selected using simulation analysis. In the training data set, it was calculated as sensitivity 75.25%, precision 21.59%, specificity 66.89%, accuracy 67.79%, F1 score 33.56, area under curve (AUC) 71.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 68.9-73.1 P value=<.001). In the validation data set, sensitivity 73.37%, precision 25.81%, specificity 75.03%, accuracy 74.86%, F1 score 38.19, AUC 74.2 (95% CI = 72.1-76.2, P value=<.001) were calculated. A model for classifying the high-risk group of cardiac arrest should be developed from various perspectives. In the future, in order to classify patients with high risk of cardiac arrest, a prospective study on the combined use of the model developed by this study and NEWS or MEWS should be conducted.

The natural course of hemoglobin levels after allogenic blood transfusion in total knee arthroplasty.

We retrospectively investigated the natural course of hemoglobin levels after allogenic blood transfusion in total knee arthroplasty. All patients were treated according to the same clinical pathway, and blood tests were performed on the same day. All blood tests were done on pre-op, immediate post-op, midnight of op day, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 11th day after surgery. Of the total 593 cases, a total of 197 cases (33.2%) were performed within 3 days of surgery. Hemoglobin level was significantly lowest on the 3rd day after surgery and tended to increase afterwards in the non-transfusion group. In the case of blood transfusion on the day of surgery, the hemoglobin level showed an increase on the next day and then showed a minimum value on the fifth day of surgery and then increased. The same pattern was identified when blood transfusion was done on the 1st and 2nd day of surgery. However, when blood transfusion was done on the 3rd day, the hemoglobin level showed a steady increase afterwards. The hemoglobin level of total knee arthroplasty patients with no blood transfusion was the lowest on the 3rd day after surgery and increased afterwards. If blood transfusion was done within 2 days after surgery, the hemoglobin level was the lowest on the 5th day after surgery and increased afterwards. If blood transfusion was done on the 3rd day after surgery, the hemoglobin level increased afterwards.

The effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to oral pharmacological medication in patient with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to find out whether the combined treatment of acupuncture and oral medication is more effective than sole oral medication in reducing pain and improving knee function at the end of treatment and after short-term period (4-6 weeks after treatment). Second, if it is effective, we investigated whether the effect surpasses the minimal clinically important difference. METHODS: Articles published between January 1, 1992, and August 31, 2022, were searched in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. The PICO (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) of this study are as follows: Population: knee osteoarthritis patients; Intervention: acupuncture (non-sham acupuncture) + oral medication (analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); Comparison: oral medication (analgesic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); Outcome: visual analog scale (VAS) or Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index. RESULTS: The combined treatment of oral medication and adjuvant acupuncture showed statistically significant improvement in VAS and WOMAC scores at the end of acupuncture treatment and short-term follow-up time (between 4 and 6 weeks after acupuncture). In addition, the degree of improvement of VAS and WOMAC index showed effects beyond minimal clinically important differences compared to pretreatment at both the end of acupuncture treatment and the short-term follow-up of acupuncture treatment. CONCLUSION: The existing evidence suggests that adjuvant acupuncture may play a role in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. However, physicians should be aware of adverse effects such as hematoma in adjuvant acupuncture treatment.

Efficacy of skin preparation solutions in patients with total knee replacement: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Surgical site infection following total knee replacement is considered as one of the most severe postoperative complications. The presence of bacteria at the surgical site is the most important risk factor and therefore it is essential to prevent infection through appropriate preoperative skin preparation. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence and type of native bacteria on the incision site and to assess which skin preparation is most effective to sterilize those native bacteria. METHODS: Scrub-and-paint 2 step method was used for standard preoperative skin preparation. 150 patients who underwent total knee replacement were grouped into 3 groups- Group 1 (povidone-iodine scrub-and-paint), Group 2 (chlorhexidine gluconate paint after povidone-iodine scrub), and Group 3 (povidone-iodine paint after chlorhexidine gluconate scrub). 150 specimens of post-preparation swabs were obtained and cultured. To analyze the native bacteria at the total knee replacement incision site, 88 additional swaps were performed before skin preparation and cultured. RESULTS: The positive rate of bacterial culture after skin preparation was 5.3% (8/150). Positive rates of the groups were 12% (6/50) in group 1, 2% (1/50) in group, 2 and 2% (1/50) in group 3 and positive rates of bacterial culture after skin preparation in group 2 and group 3 were lower than in group 1 (p = 0.037). Among the 55 patients who had positive bacterial culture prior to skin preparation, 26.7% (4/15) in group 1, 5.6% (1/18) in group 2, and 4.5% (1/22) in group 3 were positive. Group 1 showed 7.64 times higher positive bacterial culture rate after skin preparation than group 3 (p = 0.084). CONCLUSION: During skin preparation prior to total knee replacement surgery, chlorhexidine gluconate paint after povidone-iodine scrub or povidone-iodine paint after chlorhexidine gluconate scrub had a superior effect on sterilizing native bacteria compared to povidone-iodine scrub-and-paint method.

Navigation makes more accurate femur resection compared to conventional total knee arthroplasty in lateral femoral bowing greater than 5º.

There are many disagreements about the merits of navigation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We compared and analyzed the difference in the accuracy of femoral resection according to the degree of lateral femoral bowing in 2 surgical methods (conventional and navigation-assisted TKA). A total of 238 (100 who underwent navigation TKA and 138 who underwent conventional TKA from 2016 to 2021) were included in this study. The surgeon first performed TKA as the main operator in 2016. Most of the TKAs were navigation-assisted between 2016 and 2018, and most of the TKAs were conventional between 2019 and 2021. For more accurate distal femoral cutting in patients with lateral femoral bowing, a preoperative scanogram was used to set up the insertion point of the IM rod in conventional TKA. Femoral lateral bowing was divided into 3 groups based on the angle. Group 1 was divided into groups with negative values, group 2 into mild bowing of 0° to 5°, and group 3 into groups with moderate bowing of ≥ 5°. The postoperative mechanical hip knee ankle angle and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) were aimed to be 0° and 90°. The allowable ranges of these values were set as 0°â€…±â€…3° and 90°â€…±â€…3°, respectively. The distribution of outliers of the mLDFA in the 3 groups divided according to lateral femoral bowing in the navigation-assisted group was not statistically significant difference (P = .59). On the other hand, the distribution of outliers of mLDFA was statistically significant difference in the conventional method group (P = .01). The odds ratio of the outlier occurrence of mLDFA in the conventional method was 2.50, which was statistically significant (P = .03). Also, when the lateral femoral bowing value was moderate; i.e., ≥5°, the odds ratio was 4.20, which was statistically significant (P = .003). In the case of navigation-assisted TKA, the accuracy of femur resection was consistent regardless of the degree of lateral femoral bowing. However, in conventional TKA, the outlier of femur resection increased as lateral femoral bowing increased. Especially, for patients with lateral femoral bowing >5°, navigation-assisted TKA allows for more accurate femur resection compared to conventional TKA.

Integrative medicine in patients with degenerative arthritis of the knee: A pilot randomized control study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to comparatively analyze the effect of integrative medicine treatments (lifestyle change education, use of anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture, manual therapy-type massage) and conventional medical treatments (lifestyle change education and use of anti-inflammatory drugs) on pain control, knee function improvement, and quality of life improvement in patients with degenerative knee arthritis. METHODS: In this study, 30 patients were randomly divided into the control group (n = 15) and the experimental group (n = 15). Both groups were prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and lifestyle change education for 12 weeks. The experimental group underwent acupuncture including electroacupuncture, moxibustion, and manual therapy-type massage 12 times during the first 6 weeks. Evaluations were performed at 3 visits: visit 1 (before treatment), visit 2 (6 weeks after initial treatment), and visit 3 (12 weeks after initial treatment). The effect of each treatment was measured using Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0-10), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities index (WOMAC), and SF-36. RESULTS: From visit 1 to visit 2, the mean value of VAS decreased by 0.72 and 3.17 in the control and experimental groups, respectively. From visit 2 to visit 3, the mean VAS value decreased by 0.25 in the control group but increased by 0.87 in the experimental group. Among the sub-area of SF-36, the physical role restriction area and mental health area showed significant differences between the 2 groups over time (P = .024, P = .006). CONCLUSION: Integrative medicine treatment has superior effects in pain control over conventional medical treatment. In integrative medicine treatment, pain control tends to decrease with time, but still superior over conventional medical treatment up to 6 weeks after treatment (12 weeks after initial treatment).

Comparison of femoral sagittal axis between navigated total knee arthroplasty and conventional total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

To compare femoral sagittal axis between navigated total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and conventional TKA. A total of 136 cases were assigned to group 1 (navigated TKA) and 77 cases were assigned to group 2 (conventional TKA). Specifically, this study targeted patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. Only patients with primary TKA were analyzed. Hip knee ankle angle and lateral femoral bowing were measured using preoperative scanogram. Anterior femoral bowing was measured using preoperative femoral lateral X rays. The presence of anterior femoral notching and the insertion angle of the femoral implant with respect to the anatomical sagittal plane of the distal femur were checked using postoperative lateral knee X rays. Student t-test was used to compare the difference in the position of the sagittal plane of the femoral implant between the navigated TKA group and the conventional TKA group. When comparing the 2 groups, the sagittal axis of the femoral implant was more extended than the anatomical sagittal plane axis of the distal femur in group 1 than in group 2 (P = .01). There was a significant negative correlation between the value of anterior femoral bowing and the degree of flexion to the sagittal plane of the femoral implant in group 1 (correlation coefficient: -0.40, P = .01). The occurrence of anterior femoral notching was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. During navigated TKA, imageless navigation does not consider the anatomical variation of the femoral shaft. Therefore, surgeons should take into consideration that when performing navigated TKA, a femoral implant could be inserted more extended for the anatomical sagittal axis of the distal femur than for the conventional TKA. Also, surgeon should know that the degree of extension insertion of the femoral implant increases as femoral anterior bowing increases.

Factors affecting the duration of antibiotic use due to surgical site inflammation after complication-free classical total knee arthroplasty.

ABSTRACT: We researched on the factors affecting the duration of antibiotic use due to surgical site inflammation after complication-free classical total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Four hundred and eighty-nine cases who underwent primary TKA performed by 1 surgeon from January 2015 to December 2018 were enrolled. Including the day of operation, first-generation cephalosporin was injected intravenously for 3 days for antimicrobial prophylaxis. At the third postoperative day, we inspected the surgical wound for any signs of inflammation. If there were any signs of redness, pain, heatness, or swelling, which are the cardinal signs of superficial incisional surgical site infection defined by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), additional antibiotics were injected until the symptoms of surgical site inflammation improved. We presumed that the duration of antibiotic use was affected by factors including gender, age, body mass index, whether operating on both legs or one leg, predisposing diabetes mellitus, preoperative glomerular filtration rate, preoperative serum albumin level, prior history of anticoagulant usage including anti-platelet agents, allogenic blood transfusion during admission, and total operative time.Average duration of intravenous antibiotic use in 489 cases was 5.73 ±â€Š4.03 days. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant correlation (P < .01) between operative time and duration of antibiotic use due to surgical site inflammation. In univariate analysis, total operative time and transfusion were factors affecting the duration of antibiotic use due to surgical site inflammation (<6 days or ≥6 days). Multivariate analysis of age, gender, body mass index, staged bilateral TKA, diabetes mellitus, preoperative glomerulus filtration rate, preoperative albumin level, prior history of anticoagulant usage, allogenic blood transfusion during admission, and total operative time revealed that longer operative time was related to higher likelihood of antibiotic use for >6 days during admission.When prophylactic antibiotics are prescribed, surgeons must note that signs of superficial incisional surgical site inflammation after classical complication free TKA may manifest more often in patients with longer operative time.

The natural trends of C-reactive protein after hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture without infection.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to estimate the degree of normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) at 2-weeks and 4-weeks after hip arthroplasty after femoral neck fracture. We also wished to determine whether the degree of CRP normalization differs after total hip arthroplasty (THA) compared to bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BH). We also wanted to analyze the patient factors that may influence CRP normalization.We conducted a retrospective study of 135 patients who had undergone THA (32 cases) or BH (103 cases) for femoral neck fracture by single surgeon from January 2015 to December 2019. We analyzed CRP levels during the preoperative period, the early postoperative period, the 2-week postoperative period, and the 4-week postoperative period.In THA, CRP was normalized in 4 patients (12.5%) and in 15 patients (46.9%) within 2-weeks and 4-weeks after surgery, respectively. In BH, CRP was normalized in 16 patients (15.5%) and in 52 patients (50.5%) within 2-weeks and 4-weeks after surgery, respectively. There were no statistical differences between THA and BH. Compared to women, men were 3.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-13.63) times less likely to have normalized CRP at 2-weeks after surgery (P = .042). Compared to women, men were 3.01 (95% confidence interval, 1.44-6.27) times less likely to have normalized CRP at 4-weeks after surgery (P = .003).Only 50% of patient's CRP level was normalized during 4-week postoperative period. In men, CRP levels were significantly higher than women in whole period. In the case of THA, the CRP level was higher only in early postoperative period compared to BH, and there was no difference since then.

Natural course of hemoglobin level after total knee arthroplasty and the benefit of tranexamic acid injection in the joint.

ABSTRACT: We retrospectively investigated the natural course of hemoglobin (Hb) level after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and identified the benefit of tranexamic acid injection at the operation field for unilateral TKA patients who have not received blood transfusions.There were 115 cases conducted by a surgeon who performed TKA without injecting tranexamic acid and 62 cases by another surgeon with injection. During 2-weeks of hospitalization, Hb level was checked on the day of surgery and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 days after surgery.Regardless of whether whom the operator was and tranexamic acid was injected or not, the same natural course of Hb level after TKA was observed. The lowest value of Hb was shown at postoperative day 3, after which it tended to recover. In repeated measures analysis of variance test, mean difference from preoperative Hb level showed a statistically significant difference between tranexamic acid injected and noninjected groups (P = .01). In post hoc test, the differences from preoperative Hb levels were significantly lower at all measurements in surgeon with injection of tranexamic acid.When deciding whether to transfuse after TKA, it should be noted that the patient tends to show the lowest Hb level on postoperative day 3. Also, the authors emphasize that tranexamic acid injection in the joint at the operation field is an effective method to reduce the loss of Hb after TKA.

Safety of a single intra-articular injection of LBSA0103 hyaluronic acid in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a multicenter, single-arm, prospective, cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: LBSA0103 is a recently developed high-molecular-weight, cross-linked, non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA). The safety of LBSA0103 has been investigated only in a limited number of patients, therefore this prospective study was designed. This study sought to assess the safety including injection-site reactions and adverse drug reactions after a single intra-articular injection of LBSA0103 in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint. METHODS: This study was a multicenter, single-arm, prospective cohort study. After screening, eligible patients with OA of the knee joint (Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-III) were enrolled, received a single intra-articular HA (LBSA0103) injection, and were followed up for two weeks. Any adverse events including injection-site reactions and adverse drug reactions were evaluated by the investigators. RESULTS: A total of 1949 subjects (2976 knee joints) was enrolled, all of whom received a single intra-articular injection of LBSA0103. Injection-site reactions occurred in 5.59% of enrolled subjects (109/1949), and the most frequently reported injection-site reaction was pain (4.87%), followed by swelling (1.03%). Most of the injection-site reactions were transient and resolved within 14 days without additional treatment. The incidence of adverse drug reactions other than injection-site reactions was 0.67% (13/1949). Most adverse events were of mild severity. No serious adverse events related to the study drug were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A single intra-articular injection of LBSA0103 in patients with OA of the knee joint was safe, and no significant safety concerns were observed. As such, LBSA0103 could be safely applied as an intra-articular injection for the management of knee OA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04369261).

Changes of acetabular anteversion according to pelvic tilt on sagittal plane under various acetabular inclinations.

Improper functional orientation of the acetabular cup can result in improper positions when dynamic pelvic positions are not considered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes on acetabular anteversion according to pelvic tilt under various acetabular inclinations. Two artificial pelvic models were selected for this study. Acetabular inclinations on the coronal plane were 25°, 32°, 50°, and 60°. Acetabular anteversion of all components were 15°. Changes of anteversion according to pelvic tilt were measured at angles of 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, and 40°. Computer Navigation, PolyWare 3D pro, CT, and plain radiography were used to measure each angle. The anatomical anteversions against pelvic tilt were calculated using the following formulae: anatomical anteversion (°) = -14.48Χ + 90.18 (inclination angle 25°); anatomical anteversion (°) = -12.26Χ + 80.10 (inclination angle 32°); anatomical anteversion (°) = -7.468Χ + 61.13 (inclination angle 50°); and anatomical anteversion (°) = -5.328Χ + 44.84 (inclination angle 60°) (Χ: pelvic tilt angle). Radiographic anteversion against pelvic tilt were calculated using the following formulae: radiographic anteversion (°) = -9.50Χ + 57.09 (inclination angle 25°); radiographic anteversion (°) = -8.577Χ + 50.89 (inclination angle 32°); radiographic anteversion (°) = -6.794Χ + 45.73 (inclination angle 50°); radiographic anteversion (°) = -5.226Χ + 33.08 (inclination angle 60°). In conclusion, changes in anteversion according to pelvic tilt were lesser at higher degrees of acetabular inclination.

The advantage of navigation for knee with lateral femoral bowing in total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: We have analyzed the surgical outcomes of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using computer-assisted (CA) navigation in terms of postoperative coronal alignment depending on preoperative lateral femoral bowing. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who have undergone navigated primary TKA from January 2016 through January 2020. Two hundred and ninety-nine cases with lateral femoral bowing of 3° or less were assigned to group 1, 95 cases of lateral femoral bowing between 3° and 5° were assigned to group 2, and 89 cases with lateral femoral bowing of more than 5° were assigned to group 3. The postoperative mechanical hip-knee-ankle (mHKA) angle was measured from scanograms, which were taken 3 months after surgery. The appropriate range of coronal alignment was set as 0 ± 3°. RESULTS: The number of outliers of mHKA occurred was 31 cases (10.4%) in group 1, 17 cases (17.9%) in group 2, and 17 cases (19.1%) in group 3. There was a significant correlation between the degree of lateral femoral bowing and the occurrence rate of mHKA outliers. Multiple variables logistic regression analysis showed occurrence rate of outliers in group 3 to be 2.04 times higher than group 1. After adjusting the patient's age, sex, body mass index, and preoperative HKA deformity, the occurrence rate of outliers in group 3 was still 1.96 times higher than group 1. CONCLUSION: The benefit of CA navigation during TKA in obtaining coronal alignment within 0 ± 3° may be lessened when the preoperative lateral femoral bowing is severely advanced.

C-reactive protein course after classical complication free total knee arthroplasty using navigation.

PURPOSE: The purpose is to estimate the degree of normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after uncomplicated total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using computer navigation. We also wish to determine whether the degree of normalization of CRP at 2 and 4 weeks differs after TKA performed in one knee and after TKA performed sequentially in both knees. We also want to analyze the patient factors that may influence the normalization of CRP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 400 knees who underwent primary computer-navigated TKA for treatment of advanced osteoarthritis: the TKAs were all performed by the same surgeon. We retrospectively analyzed CRP levels during the preoperative period, the early postoperative period (5-7 days), the 2-week postoperative period (12-14 days), and the 4-week postoperative period (25-30 days). We have assumed gender, age, body mass index (BMI), staged bilateral TKA, and preoperative CRP as the potential patient factors associated with CRP normalization. RESULTS: In unilateral TKA, CRP was normalized in 94 cases (34.3%) and in 219 cases (81.4%) within 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively. In second-knee, staged bilateral TKA, CRP was normalized in 46 cases (35.1%) and in 104 cases (79.4%) within 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery, respectively. There were no statistical differences between unilateral TKA and second-knee, staged bilateral TKA during the 2-week postoperative and the 4-week postoperative period. Compared to women, men were 1.99 times less likely to have normalized CRP at 2 weeks after surgery (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: CRP was less likely to normalize during the 2-week postoperative period in men than it is in women, while there was no difference between men and women in the normalization of CRP during the 4-week postoperative period. There were no statistical differences in the course of CRP levels after unilateral TKA and staged bilateral TKA during the 2-week postoperative and the 4-week postoperative period.

Embolization for intractable spontaneous hemarthrosis of the knee joint in the elderly patient: Case report.

RATIONALE: Several case reports about the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty using angiogram have been reported, owing to the probability of bleeding caused by vascular injuries. However, there were only few cases of spontaneous hemarthrosis of the knee joint in the elderly patient that have not undergone total knee arthroplasty that have been previously reported. PATIENTS CONCERNS: An 82-year-old male presented to our outpatient department with acute left knee pain. He had no history of trauma. The patient had under gone several times of therapeutic arthrocentesis for treatment of left knee joint effusion at a local clinic. DIAGNOSIS: Arthroscopic examination was performed at the local clinic and was not able to reveal any focus of intra-articular bleeding. We consulted this case with the department of radiology to angiographically find out abnormalities of the genicular arteries. Angiographs showed hyper vascularity of the superior and inferior lateral genicular artery, and superior medial genicular artery. INTERVENTION: One-step embolization using micro-catheter and 50 to 150 µm gelfoam particles was conducted. The hypervascular findings shown on angiogram were markedly subsided after embolization. OUTCOMES: Until 1 year after embolization, there were no signs of recurrence on outpatient follow-up sessions LESSONS:: Degenerative changes of the genicular arteries may be a cause of spontaneous knee joint hemarthrosis in the elderly patients. Angiographic diagnosis and treatment may be effective for such cases.

Acquisition of coronal alignment according to the degree of varus deformity in total knee arthroplasty using computer-assisted navigation.

PURPOSE: We have analyzed the surgical outcomes of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using computer-assisted navigation that were performed by a single surgeon in terms of postoperative coronal alignment depending on preoperative varus deformity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who have undergone navigated primary TKA from January 2016 through December 2019. Two hundred and fifty-six cases with varus deformity of 10° or less were assigned to group 1, and 216 cases with varus deformity of more than 10° were assigned to group 2. The postoperative mechanical hip-knee-ankle (mHKA) angle was measured from scanograms which were taken preoperatively and 3 months after surgery. The postoperative mHKA angle was targeted to be 0°, and the appropriate range of coronal alignment was set as 0 ± 3°. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation showed a significant correlation with the degree of preoperative varus deformity and with the absolute error of postoperative mHKA (p = 0.01). Among all patients, 64 cases (13.6%) were detected as outliers (mHKA > 0° ± 3°) at 3 months after surgery. Of the 64 cases, 25 cases (9.8%) were affiliated to group 1 and 39 cases (18.1%) were affiliated to group 2. Group 2 showed significantly higher occurrence of outliers than group 1 (p = 0.01). Multiple variables logistic regression analysis, which analyzed the difference in the occurrence rate of outliers (mHKA > 0° ± 3°), showed that the occurrence rate of group 2 was 2.04 times higher than group 1. After adjusting for patient's age, gender, and body mass index, the occurrence rate of outliers in group 2 was 2.01 times higher than group 1. CONCLUSION: The benefit of computer-assisted navigation during TKA in obtaining coronal alignment within 0 ± 3° may be lessened when the preoperative varus deformity is severely advanced.

Advantages of the experience of navigation when starting manual total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate how the accuracy of coronal-plane bone cutting and operative time may be affected by the experience of navigated total knee replacement (TKR) in starters of manual TKR. METHODS: We analyzed 30 cases of navigated TKR performed in the early years (group 1), 30 consecutive cases of navigated TKR performed after experiencing more than 100 cases of navigated TKR (group 2), and the initial 30 consecutive cases of manual TKR (group 3). Postoperative mechanical hip-knee-ankle (mHKA) angle, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) were measured. Bone cutting was aimed at mHKA angle of 0°, mMPTA of 90°, and mLDFA of 90°. We have set the tolerance of absolute value of errors in mHKA angle, mMPTA and mLDFA as 0 ± 3°. Comparative analysis of tourniquet times have been performed. RESULTS: Postoperative absolute error values of mHKA angle, mMPTA, and mLDFA were 2.78 ± 3.53°, 1.06 ± 1.91°, and 1.44 ± 1.90° in group 1; 1.18 ± 1.32°, 1.20 ± 1.49°, and 0.98 ± 1.09° in group 2; and 2.11 ± 2.49°, 1.35 ± 0.62°, and 1.92 ± 2.85° in group 3. Tourniquet times were 67.50 ± 21.50 min in group 1, while group 2 and group 3 showed tourniquet times of 51.87 ± 12.00 and 52.00 ± 15.00 min, respectively. CONCLUSION: In starters of manual TKR, previous experience of performing navigated TKR may help the error values during femoral and tibial bone cutting to fall within the values similar to the median error value of navigated TKR. It may also help to reduce the operative time of manual TKR similar to the operative time of and experienced surgeon with over 100 cases of navigated TKR.