Background: We hypothesized that preoperative cryoneurolysis of the superficial genicular nerves in patients with osteoarthritis would decrease postoperative opioid use relative to standard of care (SOC) treatment in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Patients received either cryoneurolysis (intent-to-treat [ITT]: n ¼ 62) or SOC (ITT: n ¼ 62). The cryoneurolysis group received cryoneurolysis of the superficial genicular nerves 3e7 days before surgery plus a similar preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative pain management protocol as the SOC group. The primary end point was cumulative opioid consumption in total daily morphine equivalents from discharge to the 6-week study follow-up assessment. Secondary end points included changes in pain and functional scores. Primary and secondary end points were assessed using ITT and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Results: The primary end point was not met in the ITT analysis (4.8 [cryoneurolysis] vs 6.1 [SOC] mg; P ¼ .0841) but was met in the PP analysis (4.2 vs 5.9 mg; P ¼ .0186) after excluding patients with medication deviations or missing follow-up data. Compared with the SOC group, the cryoneurolysis group had improved functional scores and numerical improvements in pain scores across all follow-up assessments, with significant improvements observed in current pain from baseline to the 72-hour and 2-week follow-up assessments and pain in the past week from baseline to the 12-week follow-up assessment. Conclusion: Findings from the PP analysis suggest that preoperative cryoneurolysis in patients with knee osteoarthritis can reduce opioid consumption and improve functional outcomes after TKA.
Eight vascularized fibula grafts and two vascularized rib grafts were used for the treatment of 10 Boyd's Type II congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. All but one vascularized fibula graft united within 4 months. The two vascularized rib grafts did not unite until receiving a conventional bone graft. Nine spontaneous fractures were seen in four patients; all were subsequently treated successfully with cast or conventional bone graft. Corrective osteotomies were done in two patients. Follow-up averaged 8 years and 5 months (range, 5 years and 1 month to 14 years and 4 months). Average age at end of follow-up was 13 years and 6 months (range, 7 years and 10 months to 20 years and 4 months). After bony union was achieved, shortening of the affected leg averaged 3.8 centimeters, flexion deformity averaged 20 degrees, and valgus deformity averaged 24 degrees. In three patients, whose leg discrepancy averaged 4.9 centimeters, the leg was lengthened at an average patient age of 13 years and 9 months (age range, 11 years and 7 months to 15 years and 2 months). The resulting limb length discrepancy averaged 2.2 centimeters. Vascularized bone grafting is a reliable technique for achieving bony union in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. Residual shortening may be corrected later by limb lengthening.
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