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1.
The Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Injury and Objectively Measured Physical Activity Levels: A Critically Appraised Topic.
Barchek, AR, Baez, SE, Hoch, MC, Hoch, JM
Journal of sport rehabilitation. 2020;(2):243-247
Abstract
Clinical Scenario: Physical activity is vital for human health. Musculoskeletal injury may inhibit adults from participating in physical activity, and this amount may be less than adults without a history of musculoskeletal injury. Clinical Question: Do individuals with a history of ankle or knee musculoskeletal injury participate in less objectively measured physical activity compared with healthy controls? Summary of Key Findings: Four studies were included. Two studies concluded patients who have undergone an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) spent less time in moderate to vigorous physical activity levels when compared with healthy controls, but still achieved the daily recommended amount of physical activity. One study determined that participants with CAI took fewer steps per day compared with the control group. The fourth study determined patients with patellofemoral pain were less physically active than healthy controls as they took fewer steps per day and spent less time participating in mild and high activity. Clinical Bottom Line: There is consistent, high quality evidence that demonstrates individuals with a history of ankle or knee musculoskeletal injury participate in less objectively measured physical activity compared with healthy individuals. Strength of Recommendation: Due to nature of study designs of the included articles in this critically appraised topic, we recommend a grade of 3B.
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2.
A randomised pilot equivalence trial to evaluate diamagnetically enhanced transdermal delivery of key ground substance components in comparison to an established transdermal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory formulation in males with prior knee injury.
Vicenzino, B, Lawrenson, P, Khan, A, Stephenson, A, Heales, L, Benson, HAE, Wright, A
PloS one. 2019;(2):e0211999
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This pilot study assessed the efficacy of a knee guard device, which used magnetophoresis to transdermally deliver Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid in a cohort of individuals with prior knee injury. The aim was to determine if the change in physical function and pain with the knee guard device was equivalent to the change produced by an established topical NSAID formulation containing diclofenac sodium 1%. METHODS A randomized, controlled, equivalence trial evaluated outcomes following treatment with the knee guard device or NSAID formulation. The study recruited 114 male participants (aged 40-55 years). Participants were randomly allocated to wear the knee guard device or to use a NSAID gel daily for two weeks. The primary outcomes were the knee injury osteoarthritis function score (KOOS-F) and an aggregated function score (AFS). The lower extremity functional scale (LEFS), pain numerical rating scale (PNRS), global rating of change (GROC) and other KOOS scores were also evaluated. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that there were no significant differences between the interventions for changes in the primary outcomes of AFS and KOOS_F. The 95% confidence interval (-2.89 to 5.15) of the estimated treatment difference for KOOS-F was within the lower (-5.61) and upper (5.61) bounds of the 7% equivalence margin for that measure, The mean value for the AFS was within, but the 95% CI (-3.11 to 7.37) exceeded the 7% equivalence margin (-2.97 to 2.97) for that measure. There was a significant difference in PNRS, which favored the knee guard device. CONCLUSION The knee guard device demonstrated equivalence for the KOOS-F measure but not the AFS measure of function over the two week trial period when compared to a widely available NSAID gel that has been shown to be superior to placebo. The knee guard produced a greater reduction in pain report (p = 0.002) than the NSAID gel. Users of the knee guard device experienced more skin irritation than participants using the NSAID gel. Further research is required to fully evaluate the therapeutic potential of this innovative treatment approach.
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3.
Change-of-Direction Biomechanics: Is What's Best for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention Also Best for Performance?
Fox, AS
Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.). 2018;(8):1799-1807
Abstract
Change-of-direction maneuvers (e.g., side-step cutting) are an important aspect of performance in multi-directional sports, but these maneuvers are also associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Despite this, the impact of biomechanics on ACL injury risk and performance is often examined in isolation. The purpose of this review was to examine the alignment between biomechanical recommendations for ACL injury prevention and performance with regard to change-of-direction maneuvers. Several studies linking change-of-direction biomechanics to both ACL injury risk and performance were examined. A degree of overlap was identified between biomechanical strategies that could both reduce ACL injury risk and enhance performance during change-of-direction maneuvers. A fore-foot footfall pattern along with trunk rotation and lateral flexion in the intended cutting direction were identified as biomechanical strategies that could both reduce potentially hazardous knee joint moments and enhance change-of-direction speed. Minimizing knee valgus during change-of-direction maneuvers may also reduce ACL injury risk, with this biomechanical strategy found to have no impact on performance. Certain biomechanical strategies proposed to reduce ACL injury risk were linked to reduced change-of-direction performance. A narrow foot placement and "soft" landings with greater knee flexion were identified as ACL injury prevention strategies that could have a negative impact on performance. The findings of this review emphasize the need to consider both ACL injury risk and performance when examining the biomechanics of change-of-direction maneuvers.
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4.
A one-step treatment for chondral and osteochondral knee defects: clinical results of a biomimetic scaffold implantation at 2 years of follow-up.
Kon, E, Filardo, G, Perdisa, F, Di Martino, A, Busacca, M, Balboni, F, Sessa, A, Marcacci, M
Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine. 2014;(10):2437-44
Abstract
The increasing interest in the role of subchondral bone with regard to articular surface disease led to the development of new bioengineered strategies. Aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and MRI outcome after the implantation of a nanostructured biomimetic three-phasic collagen-hydroxyapatite construct for the treatment of chondral and osteochondral defects of the knee in a large cohort of patients. Seventy-nine patients (63 M, 16 W), affected by grade III-IV femoral condyle or trochlea chondral lesions or osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) were consecutively treated. Mean age was 31.0 ± 11.3 years, mean lesion size was 3.2 ± 2.0 cm(2). Fifty patients underwent previous surgeries, concurrent procedures were necessary in 39 cases. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the IKDC and Tegner scores at 12 and 24 months of follow-up. At follow-up times an MRI was performed and evaluated with the MOCART score. All the scores improved significantly from the baseline. IKDC subjective score showed a further increase between 12 and 24 months of follow-up, and 82.2% of the patients improved their symptoms at the final evaluation. Patients affected by OCDs had better results than those with degenerative lesions. Some abnormal MRI findings were present, even though no correlation was found with the clinical outcome. This one-step biomimetic approach developed to favor osteochondral tissue regeneration is effective in treating knees affected by damages of the articular surface, leading to a significant clinical improvement. However, abnormal MRI findings were present, even if not correlated with the clinical outcome.
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5.
Updating Recommendations for Rehabilitation after ACL Reconstruction: a Review.
Grant, JA
Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine. 2013;(6):501-2
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review recent evidence in order to update previous systematic reviews on methods of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched for the period January 2006 to December 2010, using terms related to ACL, rehabilitation, and randomized controlled trial (RCT). The search was done in triplicate, and the results reconciled (85 studies identified). STUDY SELECTION Relevant studies in English that were peer-reviewed RCTs or prospective comparative studies evaluating methods of ACL rehabilitation were included (n = 29). Evidence was evaluated by all 3 authors using the CONSORT criteria. DATA EXTRACTION The data extracted included number of patients, ACL reconstruction method, randomization method, intervention, length of, and loss to, follow-up, outcomes assessed, bias, and findings. The review included evidence on postoperative bracing, accelerated rehabilitation, home-based rehabilitation, proprioceptive and neuromuscular training, and miscellaneous topics that were investigated by single trials. MAIN RESULTS In 6 studies of postoperative bracing, no study found a clinically significant benefit of bracing or of restricted range of knee motion for pain control, knee laxity, or rehabilitation. Postoperative treatment without the use of a brace was not associated with less favorable outcomes. In 5 studies of accelerated strengthening, beginning eccentric quadriceps strengthening and isokinetic hamstring strengthening 2 weeks after ACL surgery improved or accelerated strength gains. Immediately postoperative weight-bearing, range of knee motion from 0° to 90° of flexion, and strengthening with closed-chain exercises were probably all safe. Home-based rehabilitation was evaluated in 2 studies. One study demonstrated that this intervention was at least as successful as a standard accelerated program over the long term. The other study included very low compliance expectations and other methodologic problems that precluded a useful assessment of benefit. Nine trials of neuromuscular strengthening (including perturbation, vibration, and/or balance training by various means) compared with strength, traditional rehabilitation, or placebo found some small short-term benefits to proprioceptive training and no harm from any of the treatments. Vibration training in addition to other strengthening may lead to faster proprioceptive recovery but the benefits to overall functional outcome are less clear. A study of vitamin C and E supplementation found a correlation between higher presurgery vitamin C levels and greater strength at 3 months, but this strength increase was not related to postsurgical vitamin C supplementation. Hyaluronic acid injection at 8 weeks improved ambulation and peak torque more than other doses or placebo, but poor outcomes in the control group raise questions about the quality of the standard rehabilitation program. Running interval training and continuous active motion had unclear effects. Using the uninjured leg for single-leg cycling prevented the usual loss of aerobic fitness in the postoperative period. Preoperative and postoperative video instruction decreased expectations of pain and increased self-efficacy although it made no difference to performance. CONCLUSIONS The review of rehabilitation interventions after ACL reconstruction suggests that both accelerated and home-based rehabilitation, neuromuscular training programs, hyaluronic acid injection, and single (uninjured) leg cycling may be beneficial. Preoperative and postoperative informational videos may be valuable for psychological well-being. Insufficient evidence was found to recommend bracing.
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The role of preconditioning and N-acetylcysteine on oxidative stress resulting from tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion in arthroscopic knee surgery.
Koca, K, Yurttas, Y, Cayci, T, Bilgic, S, Kaldirim, U, Durusu, M, Cekli, Y, Ozkan, H, Hanci, V, Purtuloglu, T, et al
The Journal of trauma. 2011;(3):717-23
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on oxidative stress resulting from tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion (IR) period in arthroscopic knee surgery. METHODS Forty-five patients who had arthroscopic knee surgery for meniscal and chondral lesions and for pathologic medial plica were included in this study. They were assigned to the following treatment groups: control (group C; n=15), IPC (group P; n=15), and NAC (group N; n=15). Subjects in the control group underwent routine surgical procedures. Subjects in the preconditioning group were subjected to temporary ischemia, with tourniquet performed by three compression cycles of 5 minutes followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion just before the application of tourniquet inflation. Subjects in the NAC group received 10 mg/kg NAC dissolved in 100 mL 0.9% normal saline intravenously 30 minutes before tourniquet inflation. An hour before the tourniquet was applied (preischemia) and 2 hours after tourniquet was removed (reperfusion), blood samples (to test for metabolites) were obtained. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS) were measured in all serum samples. Results were compared between preischemia and reperfusion in three groups. RESULTS MDA in the control group was found to be increased significantly compared with preischemia, whereas MDA in IPC and NAC groups did not change insignificantly. SOD and GSH activities in the control group were found to be increased significantly, whereas SOD and GSH activities in IPC and NAC groups did not change significantly after reperfusion. TAC in the control group was found to be decreased and TOS was found to be increased significantly, but TAC and TOS in IPC and NAC groups were not significantly different after reperfusion. Mean serum MDA, TOS, SOD, and GSH-Px levels were lower in group P than group C at reperfusion period (p<0.05). Mean serum SOD levels were lower in group P than group N at reperfusion period (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tourniquet-induced IR period in routine arthroscopic knee surgery resulted in oxidative stress by increasing MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, TOS and decreasing TAC. NAC and IPC had protective effect on occurrence of oxidative stress resulting from IR period by preventing MDA, SOD, GSH-Px, TAC, and TOS changes in routine arthroscopic knee surgery.
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Autologous chondrocyte implantation versus microfracture for knee cartilage injury: a prospective randomized trial, with 2-year follow-up.
Van Assche, D, Staes, F, Van Caspel, D, Vanlauwe, J, Bellemans, J, Saris, DB, Luyten, FP
Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA. 2010;(4):486-95
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the functional performance over a 2-year period following autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in an open knee procedure compared to microfracture. Objective functional outcome was studied as secondary analysis in a subgroup of patients, in a randomized clinical trial, with concealed allocation and independent evaluators. Sixty-seven patients with local cartilage defect, with a mean size of 2.4 cm(2) (SD 1.5) of the femoral condyle of the knee were included. Thirty-three patients underwent the microfracture and 34 the ACI procedure. An identical rehabilitation protocol was implemented for both groups. Active knee flexion and extension range, anterior laxity, knee extension strength (concentric at 60 degrees/s) and single leg hop performance (single hop, crossover triple hop and 6 m timed hop test) were evaluated pre-surgery and at 6, 9,12 and 24 months post-surgery. We calculated the symmetry index for individual and four performance tests pooled. Mixed linear model analyses were used with confidence interval set at 95%. The change over 2 years for the pooled performance-based tests was comparable between the two treatment arms. At 2 years, 70% (38/54) of all patients returned to >85% symmetry in overall functional performance. A decrease in functional performance at 6 months following ACI resulted in slower recovery at 9 and 12 months compared to microfracture. Rehabilitation following both cartilage repair procedures is a lengthy process. At 2 years after surgery, ACI patients have similar overall functional outcome compared to microfracture patients.
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8.
How effective is a saline arthrogram for wounds around the knee?
Tornetta, P, Boes, MT, Schepsis, AA, Foster, TE, Bhandari, M, Garcia, E
Clinical orthopaedics and related research. 2008;(2):432-5
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Traumatic arthrotomies may predispose patients to subsequent septic arthritis and therefore are regarded as serious injuries requiring emergent treatment. The saline arthrogram is a commonly used test to determine if a patient has a traumatic arthrotomy. We determined the sensitivity of the saline arthrogram to identify known intraarticular wounds in 78 patients (80 knees) undergoing elective arthroscopic procedures. There were 66 infrapatellar and 14 suprapatellar incisions. The average length of the incision was 7.5 mm. Intraarticular position was confirmed with a blunt probe. A saline arthrogram then was performed using 60 mL normal saline. The known arthrotomy (operative wound) was observed during the injection for evidence of saline leakage (positive static test). If no leakage was observed, the knee was brought through a range of motion with continued observation for leakage from the arthrotomy (positive dynamic test). Twenty-two of 80 knees had a positive test without passive range of motion of the knee (static sensitivity, 36%). Eight additional knees had a positive test with subsequent passive motion (dynamic sensitivity, 43%). Our data suggest a saline arthrogram has low sensitivity for detecting known small traumatic arthrotomy wounds of the knee. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level I, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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Comparison of the morphine-sparing effects of diclofenac sodium and ketorolac tromethamine after major orthopedic surgery.
Alexander, R, El-Moalem, HE, Gan, TJ
Journal of clinical anesthesia. 2002;(3):187-92
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of diclofenac sodium with ketorolac tromethamine in reducing postoperative morphine use after major orthopedic surgery. DESIGN Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. SETTING Major teaching institution. PATIENTS 102 ASA physical status II patients undergoing hip and knee replacement with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS Before induction of anesthesia, patients were randomly allocated to receive intravenously either diclofenac sodium 75 mg (Group D), ketorolac tromethamine 60 mg (Group K), or placebo (Group P). Patient-controlled analgesia was supplied postoperatively using morphine. MEASUREMENTS Visual analog scale (VAS), verbal pain score (VPS), sedation score, frequency of opioid side effects, and morphine consumption were recorded every 4 hours. MAIN RESULTS There was a highly significant downward trend for VAS, VPS, and sedation scores over time, p = 0.001. The mean VAS and VPS scores were significantly lower in Groups D and K compared with Group P at time 0, p = 0.009 and 8 hours, p = 0.026. The mean (SD) 24-hour morphine requirements were 36.3 mg (16.9), 47.2 mg (34.9), and 51.6 mg (22.2) for Groups D, K, and P, respectively, p = 0.032. Fewer patients suffered from postoperative nausea and vomiting in the treatment groups (Groups D and K) compared with Group P (9, 8, and 19, respectively), p < 0.05. Fewer patients also suffered from pruritus in Groups D and K compared with Group P (3, 4, and 11, respectively), p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative administration of intravenous diclofenac 75 mg or ketorolac 60 mg significantly reduces morphine requirements and associated side effects after major orthopedic surgery.