Experience gained from the implementation of the fracture liaison service in Greece.

Introduction: We present the second implementation of a fracture liaison service (FLS) at a national level in Greece.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective study, organized by the Hellenic Society for the Study of Bone Metabolism, aiming to investigate the tracking and outcome of patients with low-trauma fractures visiting four university orthopedic departments across the country. The primary endpoint was the participation rate of eligible patients with low-trauma fractures in the program within a time frame of 1 year.

Immunoporosis: A New Role for Invariant Natural Killer T (NKT) Cells Through Overexpression of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand (RANKL).

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis affects millions of postmenopausal women worldwide. Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT) are important cells for bone homeostasis. The sim of this study was to investigate the contribution of invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT) in the increased receptor activator of the nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) pool and bone resorption, a characteristic of patients with osteoporosis.

Multiple intravenous tranexamic acid doses in total knee arthroplasty without tourniquet: a randomized controlled study.

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used in the orthopedic field and particularly in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Its efficacy and safety in reducing the blood loss in TKA have been well-documented in the current literature. Little data regarding TKA without tourniquet and TXA exist.

Comparison of Quality of Life Between Men and Women Who Underwent Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Background: Studies describing the efficacy of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (TPED) on shortness of recovery and improvement of postoperative quality of life are limited, especially regarding gender, something that has never been reported before in the literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, in accordance with the sex of the patients, possible differences in the health-related quality of life of those who underwent TPED for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: A total of 76 patients diagnosed and treated with TPED for LDH with 1-year follow-up were selected and divided into 2 groups of equal number depending on sex.

Minimally invasive versus conventional approaches in total knee replacement/arthroplasty: A review of the literature.

Background: Life expectancy lengthening and aging of population resulted in dramatically increase of patients with osteoarthritis. Total knee arthroplasty is widely used as the gold standard in order to relieve pain, correct deformity and restore function. A contemporary and controversial topic, is that of minimally invasive surgery for TKA.

Comparison of quality of life between men and women who underwent Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy for lumbar disc herniation.

Background: Studies describing the efficacy of TPED on shortness of recovery and improvement of postoperative quality of life are limited, especially regarding gender something that has never been reported before in the literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate possible differences of the health-related quality of life in patients who underwent TPED for LDH in accordance with sex.

Methods: Seventy-six patients diagnosed and treated with TPED for LDH with 1 year follow-up were selected and divided into two groups of equal number depending on sex.

Perioperative blood management strategies for patients undergoing total knee replacement: Where do we stand now?

Total knee replacement (TKR) is one of the most common surgeries over the last decade. Patients undergoing TKR are at high risk for postoperative anemia and furthermore for allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT). Complications associated with ABT including chills, rigor, fever, dyspnea, light-headedness should be early recognized in order to lead to a better prognosis.

Simultaneous Periprosthetic Fractures of the Femur and the Acetabulum After Bipolar Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Although periprosthetic fractures of the femur are a recognized complication of total hip arthroplasty, periprosthetic fractures of the acetabulum are rare. Simultaneous periprosthetic fractures of both the acetabulum and the femur have not been reported, to our knowledge. CASE REPORT We report a simultaneous fracture of the acetabulum and the femur in a 68-year-old female patient who had previously sustained a subcapital fracture of the femur, treated with a bipolar uncemented prosthesis.

Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy in Parkinson Disease: Preliminary Results and Short Review of the Literature.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy (TPED) for lumbar disc herniation in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Fifteen patients diagnosed with PD and lumbar disc hernia were recruited to the study. All patients underwent TPED.

Intravenous vs Topical Tranexamic Acid in Total Knee Arthroplasty Without Tourniquet Application: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: Use of tranexamic acid (TXA) is effective and safe in reducing the blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKR) performed using a tourniquet, but, data in TKR performed without tourniquet are limited, and there is no study comparing the topical (T) with intravenous (IV) TXA administration. Our aim was to compare the topical (T) with intravenous (IV) TXA administration in TKR performed without tourniquet.

Material And Methods: A total of 120 patients undergoing unilateral TKR for knee osteoarthritis were included in a prospective randomized study.

Risk assessment instruments for screening bone mineral density in a Mediterranean population.

Aim: To evaluate the power of six osteoporosis-screening instruments in women in a Mediterranean country.

Methods: Data concerning several osteoporosis risk factors were prospectively collected from 1000 postmenopausal women aged 42-87 years who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) screening. Six osteoporosis risk factor screening tools were applied to this sample to evaluate their performance and choose the most appropriate tool for the study population.

Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation in Parkinson's Disease: A Case-Control Study.

Study Design: A case-control study.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (TPED) in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Overview Of Literature: Patients with PD frequently suffer from radiculopathy and low back pain.

A randomized comparative study of topical versus intravenous tranexamic acid administration in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) total knee replacement.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the topical to IV tranexamic acid (TXA) administration of the same dose, given at the same time in patients who underwent TKR using an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) regime.

Methods: Ninety patients were randomized in control group, and IV and topical application groups received 1 g TXA.

Results: Blood loss and transfusion requirements in control group were statistically higher compared to both TXA groups (p < 0.

Temporal and Spatial Expression of TGF-b1 in the Early Phase of Patellar Tendon Healing after Application of Platelet Rich Plasma.

Background: The aim of this study is to find out the spatial and temporal expression of TGF-b1 during the tendon healing, after application of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

Methods: A patellar tendon defect model in rabbits was used for this purpose. 48 skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbits, weighing 3.

Effect of platelet-rich plasma combined with demineralised bone matrix on bone healing in rabbit ulnar defects.

Introduction: This study evaluates the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with xenogeneic demineralised bone matrix (DBM) on bone healing of critical-size ulnar defects (2-2.5 times the ulnar diameter) in New Zealand White rabbits.

Methods: Critical-size defects were created unilaterally in the ulna of 36 rabbits, while keeping the contralateral limb intact.

Physical Improvement and Biological Maturity of Young Athletes (11-12 Years) with Systematic Training.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of systematic training in physical growth and biological maturity in prepubertal males and estimate how this affects the physical growth and skeletal maturity.

Materials And Methods: 177 primary school students of the fifth and sixth grade, from schools in Alexandroupolis, participated voluntarily in our study. Questionnaires were used in order to measure physical activity levels.

Percutaneous repair of the Achilles tendon rupture in athletic population.

Aims: This review was designed in order to study the percutaneous repair of Achilles tendon rupture in athletic population. We present a comprehensive description of clinical, functional outcomes, complications, with emphasis on patients' level, and time of return to sports.

Methods: We proceeded to a systematic search of Medline (PubMED), Cochrane, and Scopus databases using keywords "Achilles Tendon", "Percutaneous Repair", "Percutaneous suturing", "Subcutaneous repair", "Subcutaneous suturing", "Athletes", and "Athletic" to identify articles or abstracts written in English.

The Effect of the Silicone Ring Tourniquet and Standard Pneumatic Tourniquet on the Motor Nerve Conduction, Pain and Grip Strength in Healthy Volunteers.

Background: The pneumatic tourniquet (PT) is routinely used in upper and lower limb operations by most orthopaedic surgeons. The silicone ring tourniquet (SRT) was introduced in clinical practice over the last decade. Clinical as well as comparative studies have been published in volunteers concerning its safety and efficacy.

Carpus translocation into the ipsilateral ulna for distal radius recurrence giant cell tumour: A case report and literature review.

Giant cell tumour is a frequent benign neoplasm. It is characterized by local aggressive behaviour and frequent recurrence. The most common localization is the distal femur followed by proximal tibia (40%).

Persistent post-surgical pain and neuropathic pain after total knee replacement.

Aim: To study the prevalence of persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) and neuropathic pain (NP) after total knee replacement (TKR).

Methods: MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for articles published until December 2014 in English language. Published articles were included if they referred to pain that lasts at least 3 mo after primary TKR for knee osteoarthritis, and measured pain with pain specific instruments.

Constrained Implants in Total Knee Replacement.

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a successful procedure for pain relief and functional restoration in patients with advanced osteoarthritis. The number of TKRs is increasing, and this has led to an increase in revision surgeries. The key to long-term success in both primary and revision TKR is stability, as well as adequate and stable fixation between components and underlying bone.

Small diameter acetabulum and femoral head in total hip arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia of the hip, with no femoral osteotomy.

We present the results of 66 total hip arthroplasties in 62 patients of mean age 46 years (24-74 years), with developmental dysplasia of the hip. In all cases the centre of rotation of the new hip was positioned at the site of the true acetabulum. In all patients cementless press fit acetabular components of small diameter (42-44 mm) were used, articulating exclusively with a 22.

Use of demineralized bone matrix in the extremities.

Autologous bone graft is considered as the gold standard for all indications for bone grafting procedures but the limited availability and complications in donor site resulted in seeking other options like allografts and bone graft substitutes. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is an allograft product with no quantity limitation. It is an osteoconductive material with osteoinductive capabilities, which vary among different products, depending on donor characteristics and differences in processing of the bone.

Vitamin D status in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis in a Mediterranean country.

Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in bone mineralization, remodeling, and maintenance and therefore its deficiency may be implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Vitamin D status was evaluated in patients with knee or hip OA scheduled for joint replacement. The impact of anthropometric parameters such as gender, age, and body mass index on vitamin D levels was also examined.

Use of demineralized bone matrix in spinal fusion.

Spinal fusion remains the gold-standard treatment for several pathological spine conditions. Although, autologous Iliac Crest Bone Grafting is considered the gold-standard graft choice to promote spinal fusion; however, it is associated with significant donor site morbidity and a limited graft quantity. Therefore, several bone graft alternatives have been developed, to augment arthrodesis.