Role of Autologous Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue in Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common complex musculoskeletal disorder, resulting from the degeneration of the articular cartilage and characterized by joint pain and dysfunction that culminate in progressive articular cartilage loss. We present our experience in the management of hip and knee OA by means of the intra-articular injection of fat micrograft, describing our approach, which was developed from the belief in the powerful reparative effect of autologous fat graft on damaged tissue, as well as its natural lubricating effect on the joints. Inclusion criteria were as follows: men and women, aged 20 to 80 years, that referred articular pain of the hips and/or knees, showing initial-stage degenerative OA.

Three-dimensional analysis of image-free navigation system for total knee arthroplasty.

Malalignment causes abnormal forces that may lead to loosening after knee replacement. Whether a computer-assisted technique can improve the precision of implant positioning guaranteeing good long-term results in total knee arthroplasty, this is a matter of discussion. The authors evaluate the alignment accuracy of 20 primary total knee arthroplasties, performed using an image-free computer navigation systems, with standardized CT protocol and three-dimensional digital model reconstruction.

Trabecular metal patella in total knee arthroplasty with patella bone deficiency.

This study evaluates results following patellar resurfacing using trabecular metal (TM) patella in marked deficiency or weakness of patellar bone that precludes patellar resurfacing with a standard cemented patellar button. Ten consecutive patients undergoing primary (3 cases) or revision (7 cases) total knee arthroplasty with patella augmentation were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 45 months (range 18-65). Nine patients had marked patellar bone deficiency and one had had previous patellectomy.

Vancomycin and meropenem in acrylic cement: elution kinetics of in vitro bactericidal action.

The Authors present a paper with a dual goal: in vitro evaluation of the elution of vancomycin and monitoring of its bactericidal action when the antibiotic is used in acrylic cement. Discs of cement with different concentrations of vancomycin alone or combined with meropenem were prepared. To assess the elution of vancomycin the discs were kept in physiological solution and periodically sampled for five weeks.

Heterotopic ossifications subsequent to knee arthroplasty.

The occurrence of heterotopic ossifications constitutes a rare but possible complication in knee arthroplasty surgery. The authors retrospectively reviewed data for more than 250 patients submitted to knee arthroplasty with the purpose of ascertaining the incidence of the occurrence of heterotopic ossifications after surgery and of understanding any clinical repercussions and possible risk factors. A total of 14 cases of heterotopic ossifications were observed out of 276 knee arthroplasties (4.