ObjectiveTo review the literature on quality of life among patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and assess the impact of various associated factors.Methodsthis was a systematic review of the literature in the Medline, Embase, Lilacs and SciELO databases, using the terms: TKA (total knee arthroplasty); TKR (total knee replacement); quality of life; and outcomes. There were no restrictions regarding study design.Results31 articles addressing this topic using various quality-of-life evaluation protocols were selected. SF-36/SF-12, WOMAC and Oxford were the ones most frequently used. The studies made it possible to define that TKA is capable of making an overall improvement in patients’ quality of life. Pain and function are among the most important predictors of improvement in quality of life, even when function remains inferior to that of healthy patients.ConclusionThe factors associated negatively were obesity, advanced age, comorbidities, persistence of pain after the procedure and a lengthy wait for surgery.

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is an emerging complication in HIV infected patients. It has been suggested that the increased incidence of AVN in this population may be caused by an increased prevalence of predisposing factors for osteonecrosis, including protease inhibitors, hyperlipidemia, corticosteroid use, alcohol and intravenous drug abuse. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors for avascular necrosis developing in the femoral head of HIV infected individuals. This study consisted of meta-analysis of the secondary data extracted from current literature. The selected articles allowed two study groups to be drawn up for comparison. Group 1 comprised 324 individuals infected by the HIV virus, who did not present femoral head AVN. Group 2 comprised 32 HIV positive patients, who presented femoral head AVN. The parameters used for analysis were as follows: age, gender, sexual preference, use of intravenous drugs, time of diagnosis, CD4+ cell count, use of antiretroviral agents and duration, serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides. The present study found a statistically significant association between hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, sexual preference and intravenous drug abuse. The authors concluded that femoral head osteonecrosis is associated with hyperlipidemia (hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia) and intravenous drug abuse. This study supports the hypothesis that protease inhibitors play a role in the development of osteonecrosis through a tendency to cause hyperlipidemia.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia (SCA); to investigate the possible correlation between mean annual hemoglobin level and total sleep time with SpO 2 < 90%, as well as between mean annual hemoglobin level and total sleep time with SpO 2 < 80%; and to investigate the possible correlation between apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and painful crisis. Methods: The study involved 85 patients with SCA. The patients completed a questionnaire, were submitted to polysomnography and underwent clinical evaluation (by a pediatrician and an otolaryngologist). An AHI > 1 was considered indicative of a diagnosis of OSAS. Results: The prevalence of OSAS was 10.6%. We found a negative correlation between mean annual hemoglobin level and total sleep time with SpO 2 < 90% (r = −0.343; p = 0.002), as well as between mean annual hemoglobin level and total sleep time with SpO 2 < 80% (r = −0.270; p = 0.016). There was no association between AHI and painful crisis. Conclusions: The prevalence of OSAS in this population was high (10.6%). Therefore, it is important to identify signs of OSAS as soon as possible and to determine the mean annual hemoglobin level because of the inverse correlation between that level and the total sleep time with SpO 2 < 90% or < 80%.Keywords: Prevalence; Sleep apnea, obstructive; Anemia, sickle cell; Polysomnography; Sleep apnea syndromes. ResumoObjetivo: Estimar a prevalência da síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) em crianças e adolescentes com anemia falciforme (AF) e investigar a possível correlação entre hemoglobina anual média e tempo total de sono com SpO 2 < 90% e tempo total de sono com SpO 2 < 80%, assim como investigar a possível correlação entre o índice de apneia-hipopneia (IAH) e episódios de crise álgica. Métodos: Participaram 85 pacientes com AF, que responderam a um questionário, foram avaliados por um pediatra e um otorrinolaringologista, e submetidos a estudo polissonográfico. O diagnóstico de SAOS foi definido como IAH > 1. Resultados: A prevalência da SAOS foi 10,6%. Observou-se uma correlação negativa entre hemoglobina anual média e tempo total de sono com SpO 2 < 90% (r = −0,343; p = 0,002) e tempo total de sono com SpO 2 < 80% (r = −0,270; p = 0,016). Não foi observada associação entre IAH e episódios de crise álgica. Conclusões: A prevalência da SAOS nesta população foi alta (10,6%). Portanto, é importante identificar precocemente os sinais de SAOS e avaliar hemoglobina anual média, devido à correlação inversa entre essa e o tempo total de sono com SpO 2 < 90% ou < 80%.

Objective:To verify the impact of avascular necrosis of the femoral head on the quality of life of children and adolescents with Perthes disease and sickle cell disease.Methods:A comparative study including 24 children between eight and 18 years old with avascular necrosis of the femoral head secondary to Perthes disease and sickle cell disease (Group with Necrosis) and 24 children considered asymptomatic (Group without Necrosis). Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected and the PedsQL 4.0 and the Charnley score for hip dysfunction were applied.Results:There was no difference in the overall score and in any domain when comparing the Perthes group (global = 73.1) and the sickle cell disease group (global = 65.9). When comparing the groups with necrosis and without necrosis, the Perthes group had a lower overall score only for the Physical Functioning domain (87.5 versus 68.5); sickle cell disease group had a lower overall score (64.9 versus 79.4) and in the Physical Functioning (68.5 versus 87.5) and School Functioning (62.9 versus 73.7) domains.Conclusion:Avascular necrosis of the femoral head produces lower quality of life scores both in the global evaluation and in the domains Physical Functioning and School Functioning. Necrosis, bilateral lesion, and hip function were found to be associated with the loss of quality of life. Level of Evidence III, Sectional comparative study.