Severe metallosis-related osteolysis as a cause of failure after total knee replacement.

Background: Metallosis is a syndrome of metal-induced synovitis caused by friction between two metal surfaces. In contrast to the hip joint after resurfacing arthroplasty or metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip replacement, metallosis of the knee is extremely rare.

Materials: We describe 4 patients who underwent revision total knee replacement because of disabling pain and implant loosening after a mean time of 21 (range: 13-30) years of knee replacement surgery.

Psychological affection in rheumatoid arthritis patients in relation to disease activity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent symmetric polyarthritis (synovitis). Anxiety and depression are common among patients with RA, compared to the general population and have been associated with increased pain, fatigue, physical disability and health care costs, and an overall reduced health-related quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess the relation between psychological factors (anxiety and depression) and disease activity (and severity) parameters in RA patients.