Radiofrequency ablation prior to total knee arthroplasty does not improve post-surgical pain or recovery: a double-blinded, multi-center, randomized clinical trial.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) targeting the genicular nerves is an effective treatment for knee pain due to osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two RFA interventions delivered preoperatively on early postoperative pain management and subjective outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: One hundred forty-three participants were enrolled in this double blinded, sham-controlled prospective randomized trial.

Cooled radiofrequency ablation of genicular nerves provides 24-Month durability in the management of osteoarthritic knee pain: Outcomes from a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial.

Objective: To assess long-term outcomes of cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) of genicular nerves for chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A prospective, observational extension of a randomized, controlled trial was conducted on adults randomized to CRFA. Subjects were part of a 12-month clinical trial comparing CRFA of genicular nerves to a single hyaluronic injection for treatment of chronic OA knee pain, who then agreed to visits at 18- and 24-months post CRFA and had not undergone another knee procedure since.

Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation Compared with a Single Injection of Hyaluronic Acid for Chronic Knee Pain: A Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial Demonstrating Greater Efficacy and Equivalent Safety for Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a painful and sometimes debilitating disease that often affects patients for years. Current treatments include short-lasting and often repetitive nonsurgical options, followed by surgical intervention for appropriate candidates. Cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of pain related to knee osteoarthritis.

Cooled radiofrequency ablation provides extended clinical utility in the management of knee osteoarthritis: 12-month results from a prospective, multi-center, randomized, cross-over trial comparing cooled radiofrequency ablation to a single hyaluronic acid injection.

Background: Safe and effective non-surgical treatments are an important part of the knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment algorithm. Cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injections are two commonly used modalities to manage symptoms associated with knee OA.

Methods: A prospective 1:1 randomized study was conducted in 177 patients comparing CRFA to HA injection with follow-ups at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Response of Chondrocytes to Local Mechanical Injury in an Ex Vivo Model.

Background: Our goal was to set up an ex vivo culture system to assess whether cartilage wounding (partial-thickness defects) can induce morphological changes in neighboring chondrocytes and whether these cells can translocate to the surface of the defect.

Methods: Two-millimeter partial-depth defects were created in human osteochondral explants followed by culture for up to 4 weeks. Frozen sections of defects and defect-free regions were labeled using immunofluorescence for a plasma membrane protein, CD44, and actin with TRITC-phalloidin.

Postoperative gait velocity and mean knee flexion in stance of ambulatory children with spastic diplegia four years or more after multilevel surgery.

Factors associated with longer-term outcomes of multilevel orthopaedic surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using a multivariate approach were evaluated using a retrospective pretest-posttest design. The population included 20 ambulatory children with spastic diplegia who had undergone multilevel orthopaedic surgery with a minimum of 4-year interval between a preoperative and a postoperative gait assessment. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with postoperative velocity and mean knee flexion in stance.

A 10-year comparison of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with hamstring tendon and patellar tendon autograft: a controlled, prospective trial.

Background: There are no controlled, prospective studies comparing the 10-year outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using patellar tendon (PT) and 4-strand hamstring tendon (HT) autografts.

Hypothesis: Comparable results are possible with HT and PT autografts.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

A modified judet approach to the scapula.

Operative treatment of scapula fractures is uncommon, but is indicated for significantly displaced fractures or intra-articular fractures. This modified Judet approach for exposure of scapula fractures combines several important goals: 1) exposure of all bony elements of the scapula which have adequate bone stock for internal fixation; 2) minimal trauma to the rotator cuff musculature; and 3) protection of the major neurologic structures (suprascapular nerve superiorly and axillary nerve laterally). The main advantage of the exposure is limiting muscular dissection, which can potentially improve rehabilitation and limit morbidity of the operation.

Hip arthroplasty after extracapsular hip fracture: a matched pair cohort analysis.

Eighteen patients with a prior intertrochanteric or basicervical hip fracture had a total or bipolar hip arthroplasty. The clinical and radiographic results of these patients were compared to a control group of patients (matched for age, gender, associated diagnoses, and length of follow-up) who had a primary total hip arthroplasty. There was a significant increase in intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and number of units of blood transfused in the fracture group compared to the primary arthroplasty group.

Strain behavior of the distal achilles tendon: implications for insertional achilles tendinopathy.

Background: The changes associated with Achilles insertional tendinopathy (AIT) are seen in the anterior portion of the Achilles tendon near its calcaneal insertion. Strain behavior of this portion of the tendon was evaluated.

Hypothesis: The highest strains are in the anterior portion of the tendon.