The Association of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13 Gene Polymorphisms With Knee Osteoarthritis in the Greek Population.

Introduction Primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial degenerative joint disorder characterized by articular cartilage degradation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been reported to play a vital role in OA pathogenesis, significantly contributing to extracellular matrix (ECM) catabolism. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of MMP-2 -1575G/A (rs243866), MMP-9 836A/G (rs17576), and MMP-13 -77A/G (rs2252070) gene polymorphisms with knee OA in the Greek population.

Multiplex cytokine analysis for the identification of novel potential synovial fluid biomarkers for periprosthetic joint infections.

Introduction: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are a devastating complication of total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty. The use of novel techniques like multiplex cytokine analysis could contribute immensely to the identification of potential novel biomarkers.

Patients And Methods: This is a single-centre study of patients that were treated with revision TKA, THA or hemiarthroplasty.

Intraoperative calprotectin lateral flow immunoassay can assist decision-making between one- and two-stage revision total hip arthroplasty for patients with suspected periprosthetic joint infection.

Aims: Accurate diagnosis of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) presents a significant challenge for hip surgeons. Preoperative diagnosis is not always easy to establish, making the intraoperative decision-making process crucial in deciding between one- and two-stage revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). Calprotectin is a promising point-of-care novel biomarker that has displayed high accuracy in detecting PJI.

Pain management after total hip arthroplasty: comparative study of analgesic efficacy and tolerability between oral tramadol/dexketoprofen and injectable paracetamol + tramadol.

Background: Multimodal analgesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasingly employed to reduce early postoperative pain and promote fast patient discharge. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of tramadol/dexketoprofen (TRAM/DKP, Group A) versus paracetamol + tramadol (PARA+TRAM, Group B) in patients undergoing THA using minimally invasive direct anterior approach (DAA).

Methods: A single-centre, randomised, single-blind, parallel, interventional study conducted in 323 patients undergoing primary THA with DAA was performed.

Acetabular erosion after bipolar hip hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture in elderly patients: a retrospective study.

Background: The choice between total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) to treat displaced femoral neck fractures, particularly among the elderly, is still controversial. Acetabular erosion consists of a late multifactorial process that may happen after hip HA resulting in significant postoperative burden. This study aims to investigate the impact of acetabular erosion progress after hip HA in patients over 70 years old.

Stair Climbing Ability and Identification of the Nine Stairs Ascent and Descent Test Cut-Off Points in Hip Osteoarthritis Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives As the prevalence and incidence of hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) continue to rise, measuring the impact of hip OA severity on a patient's functionality is essential. Stair walking is a particularly relevant task to assess hip OA patients, as difficulty with stair ascent is one of the driving factors in deciding to undergo a total hip arthroplasty. Although stairs tests often arise in post-arthroplasty measures, there is a lack of reported stairs performance time in hip OA patients.

Serum biomarkers for the assessment of muscle damage in various surgical approaches in primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review of comparative studies.

Purpose: Using serum biomarkers, this systematic review assessed soft tissue injury following different total hip arthroplasty surgical approaches. The purposes were to determine if there is any advantage between the standard and minimal invasive approaches, and to compare tissue damage of the respective surgical approaches using biomarkers such as creatine kinase, myoglobin, c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, skeletal troponin and interleukins.

Method: A search in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted in October 2021 with the use of PRISMA guidelines.

Sonication Fluid Isolation of Peptoniphilus asaccharolyticus After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

is a gram-positive anaerobic coccus found on the skin, vagina, and gut, where it acts as an opportunistic pathogen or as part of polymicrobial infections of chronic wounds or diabetic ulcers We present a case of a 68-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a late prosthetic hip arthroplasty infection caused by and isolated from sonication fluid cultures. Despite the fact that evidence is scarce, its role and pathogenicity in more severe infections should not be underestimated.

Total hip arthroplasty through the direct anterior approach in morbidly obese patients.

Aims: There is evidence that morbidly obese patients have more intra- and postoperative complications and poorer outcomes when undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the direct anterior approach (DAA). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of DAA for THA, and compare the complications and outcomes of morbidly obese patients with nonobese patients.

Methods: Morbidly obese patients (n = 86), with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m who underwent DAA THA at our institution between September 2010 and December 2017, were matched to 172 patients with BMI < 30 kg/m.

Direct anterior approach Hardinge in obese and nonobese osteoarthritic patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The increased prevalence of obesity has resulted in orthopedic surgeons being likely to face many patients with a high body mass index (BMI) who warrant total hip arthroplasties (THAs) over the coming years. Studies' findings considered the postoperative clinical, and functional outcomes in these patients are controversial, and selecting the most appropriate surgical approach remains debatable.

Aim: To compare pain-levels, functionality, and quality-of-life in obese and nonobese osteoarthritic patients who have undergone primary total hip arthroplasty through either direct-anterior-approach (DAA) or Hardinge-approach.

Direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty with an orthopedic traction table.

Objective: Direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty (DAA THA) has gained significant popularity in the last decade as it is a muscle-sparing procedure. Modern techniques for DAA THA utilize both a standard operating table and an orthopedic traction table. As the use of an orthopedic traction table shows technical ease and predictability, this article will focus on the use of the orthopedic table or table extension to facilitate DAA THA.

Hemiarthroplasty of the hip using the direct anterior approach.

Objective: Minimally invasive approach in total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures with a hemiarthroplasty.

Indications: Femoral neck fractures of patients without hip osteoarthritis where the acetabulum is still intact.

Contraindications: Lesions and infections of the skin in the approach area; hip osteoarthritis; surgeon's lack of experience with the technique.

Treatment of Schatzker Type II-VI Tibial Plateau Fractures by Means of Syndesmotaxis Using an Ilizarov External Fixator and Postoperative CT Evaluation.

Introduction Tibial plateau fractures are more common in young patients following high-energy trauma. In this study, we aim to evaluate the articular surface reduction quality by means of postoperative computer tomography (CT) in Schatzker type II-VI tibial plateau fractures treated with an Ilizarov frame. Materials and methods This case series study included 45 patients with a mean age of 39.

A rare case of closed degloving injury of the fifth toe.

Empty toe injury is a rare type of closed degloving injury; limited cases have been reported previously, with controversial outcomes. Our case is a 22 year old male who was injured by a trolley bus. The patient presented at our emergency department with extensive swelling of the right foot, deformity of the fifth toe, bruising and intact skin.

Acute Total Hip Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Acetabular Fractures: A Retrospective Study With a Six-Year Follow-Up.

Objectives While open reduction and internal fixation is considered the gold standard for the treatment of acetabular fractures, it is associated with significant complications due to prolonged immobilization for elderly patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes in elderly patients treated with an acute total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and methods This retrospective study included 16 patients (10 women and 6 men) with a mean age of 80.

A Novel Multiplex Based Platform for Osteoarthritis Drug Candidate Evaluation.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by irreversible cartilage degradation with very limited therapeutic interventions. Drug candidates targeted at prototypic players had limited success until now and systems based approaches might be necessary. Consequently, drug evaluation platforms should consider the biological complexity looking beyond well-known contributors of OA.

International Hip Outcome Tool (12-items) as health-related quality-of-life measure in osteoarthritis: validation of Greek version.

Background: The 12-item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT12) is a patient-reported outcome (PRO) designed to evaluate quality of life. We assessed the psychometric properties of the Greek version (iHOT12-Gr) in hip osteoarthritic patients.

Methods: Data from 124 patients aged > 50 years were used for factor analysis.

COMBSecretomics: A pragmatic methodological framework for higher-order drug combination analysis using secretomics.

Multi drug treatments are increasingly used in the clinic to combat complex and co-occurring diseases. However, most drug combination discovery efforts today are mainly focused on anticancer therapy and rarely examine the potential of using more than two drugs simultaneously. Moreover, there is currently no reported methodology for performing second- and higher-order drug combination analysis of secretomic patterns, meaning protein concentration profiles released by the cells.

Association of Polymorphisms in the Promoter Region of NOS2A Gene with Primary Knee Osteoarthritis in the Greek Population.

Introduction A new emerging role of nitric oxide (NO) in the aetiology of osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS), produced by chondrocytes, is the major source of NO in the osteoarthritic cartilage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential association between the -1173C/T (rs9282799), -1026 C/A (rs 2779249) and -954G/C (rs1800482) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter of the iNOS gene (NOS2A) and the incidence of knee OA in Greek population.

Modified Harris Hip Score as patient-reported outcome measure in osteoarthritic patients: psychometric properties of the Greek version.

Introduction: This study explored the psychometric properties of the modified Harris Hip Score-Greek version (mHHS-Gr) as a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure in osteoarthritic hip patients.

Methods: Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and reproducibility were evaluated in 90 patients aged >55 years. Construct validity was tested against Greek versions of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS-Greek) and WOMAC Index (WOMAC-Gr), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 9-stairs-ascend/descend (9S-A/D) tests.

An ex vivo tissue model of cartilage degradation suggests that cartilage state can be determined from secreted key protein patterns.

The pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) involves dysregulation of anabolic and catabolic processes associated with a broad panel of proteins that ultimately lead to cartilage degradation. An increased understanding about these protein interactions with systematic in vitro analyses may give new ideas regarding candidates for treatment of OA related cartilage degradation. Therefore, an ex vivo tissue model of cartilage degradation was established by culturing tissue explants with bacterial collagenase II.

Epineural Sleeve Reconstruction Technique for Median Nerve Complete Transection.

In microsurgical nerve repair, the epineural sleeve technique can be used to bridge short nerve defects and to cover the coaptation site with the epineurium of the nerve stump. The epineurium serves as a mechanical aid to reduce gap size, and increase repair strength, effectively assisting nerve regeneration. This article presents a 32-year-old patient who experienced complete transection of the median nerve at the distal forearm, which was treated with the epineural sleeve graft reconstruction technique.