High Potential for Complications After Traumatic Exposure in Patients With a Total Knee Replacement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe cases of traumatic exposure during the early postoperative period in patients with a total knee replacement (TKR) and to report the treatments instituted and complications of this adverse event. METHODS: A retrospective review of postoperative patients with TKR performed at the Universidade de São Paulo from 2001 to 2017 who subsequently were treated at the emergency room due to trauma to the TKR region accompanied by surgical wound dehiscence in deep planes and implant exposure was conducted. The initial treatment, evolution, and complications of each patient were reported. RESULTS: In 16 years, there were 3224 TKRs performed at the study institution. Among this population, 4 (0.1%) patients had trauma dehiscence of the surgical wound during the immediate postoperative period. All patients were women between the ages of 64 and 88 years with comorbidities (eg, diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension). The mean time between the surgery and trauma was 6.7 ± 6.2 days. All patients underwent surgical cleaning, debridement with polyethylene exchange, and primary closure of the surgical wound and received adjuvant treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Of the 4 patients affected, 3 developed an infection, 3 required new surgery after initial cleaning, 2 lost their prostheses, and 1 lost a limb, requiring a transfemoral amputation. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic dehiscence with implant exposure during the initial postoperative period of TKR is an infrequent event (0.1%) with a high potential for complications (75%), which may lead to loss of the prosthesis and even the limb. Measures should be taken to prevent falls and gather reports from several centers to broaden the knowledge of this rare event, identify prognostic factors, and define the best treatment algorithm.

Clinical results of pulsed signal therapy on patellofemoral syndrome with patellar chondropathy.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pulsed signal therapy (PST) on patellofemoral pain syndrome associated with patellar chondropathy. A prospective randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial included 25 patients (41 knees) between 20 and 50 years with pain due to isolated patellofemoral syndrome with chondropathy. PST group received nine 60-min daily sessions of PST treatment. Control group received the same protocol of blinded placebo treatment. The main outcome was change from baseline Kujala score at 3 months. After 3 months, patients in the control group received effective treatment (placebo post-treatment). All patients were then followed, for up to 12 months. Seventeen knees (5 males and 12 females, mean age 36.7 ± 7.9) received placebo and 24 knees (8 males and 16 females, mean age 35.5 ± 8.9) received PST. By the third month, PST group exhibited a mean change from baseline of 9.63 ± 7.5 Kujala points, compared to 0.53 ± 1.8 in the placebo group (P < 0.001). A significant progressive improvement was seen in the PST group between the 3rd and 6th and between the 6th and 12th month (P < 0.016). Patients initially allocated in the control group also improved at 3 months (P < 0.001) and 6 months (P = 0.005) post-effective treatment. In conclusion, PST in patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondropathy was effective compared to placebo at 3 months, showing an important improvement of Kujala score. The improvement was progressive and maintained up to 12 months. PST is safe and should be considered as a non-invasive option for management of this condition. Bioelectromagnetics. 40:83-90, 2019. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.