Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for improving pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Forty-seven patients with knee osteoarthritis (79 knees), of both genders, participated in this randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial. They were randomly allocated to two groups: laser group with 25 patients (41 knees) and placebo group with 22 patients (38 knees). LLLT was performed three times a week, totaling nine sessions, using a AsGa 904 nm laser with mean power of 60 mW and beam area of 0.5 cm2. Nine points were irradiated on the knee, with energy of 3.0 J/point. The placebo group was treated with the same laser device, but with a sealed probe. Evaluations using Lequesne, visual numerical scale (VNS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), goniometry and dynamometry were conducted before the treatment started and after the nine sessions of LLLT. Results: A significant improvement in pain and function was found in all the assessments applied to the laser group. On comparing the laser group with the placebo group, significant differences were found in the VNS-resting and Lequesne evaluations. Conclusion: Treatment with LLLT improves pain and function over the short term in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia is still controversial, and vascularised fibula graft is a reliable method for consolidation, although complications can occur in the donor leg after fibula grafting. This study evaluates 16 patients with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) treated with contralateral fibular graft, with regard to complications in the donor leg, and assesses the influence of distal tibiofibular joint arthrodesis in these complications. All patients with CPT were consecutively submitted to surgical treatment with contralateral fibular graft. The mean follow-up was 94 months, varying from 44 to 162 months. The long-term effects in the donor leg were determined, and 12 cases with distal tibiofibular arthrodesis (group 1) were compared with a group without arthrodesis (group 2). Half of the patients had proximal migration of the lateral malleolus. Eight patients had ankle valgus. Group 1 had an average valgus tilt angle of 5.8°, while group 2 had an average angle of 1.5°. There was no significant difference between the patients with or without distal tibiofibular joint arthrodesis. The patients with a distal fibula remnant smaller than 5 cm had greater valgus tilt angle measurements. Distal tibiofibular arthrodesis was not effective in preventing all the complications in the donor leg; however, it can lessen the severity of the complications. Our results show that a distal fibular remnant greater than 5 cm should be retained to prevent ankle valgus.

Eight patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (amyoplasia type) (11 knees) with knee hyperextension deformity underwent quadricepsplasty and were analyzed during an average follow-up period of 11 years and 2 months. The results were clinically analyzed based on gait pattern, range of movement, and orthotic requirements. Joint congruency was evaluated by radiography according to the Leveuf Pais classification. A satisfactory result was the correction of the deformity, articular congruency, sufficient range of movement, adequate gait pattern and no need for orthosis. A satisfactory outcome occurred in five of the eight patients (eight knees). We considered an unsatisfactory result when any of these conditions occurred. Our experience demonstrated that the quadricepsplasty corrected the hyperextension deformity of the knee joint, improved function, gait pattern, and maintained the muscle power of the quadriceps.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for improving pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Forty-seven patients with knee osteoarthritis (79 knees), of both genders, participated in this randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial. They were randomly allocated to two groups: laser group with 25 patients (41 knees) and placebo group with 22 patients (38 knees). LLLT was performed three times a week, totaling nine sessions, using a AsGa 904 nm laser with mean power of 60 mW and beam area of 0.5 cm 2 . Nine points were irradiated on the knee, with energy of 3.0 J/point. The placebo group was treated with the same laser device, but with a sealed probe. Evaluations using Lequesne, visual numerical scale (VNS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), goniometry and dynamometry were conducted before the treatment started and after the nine sessions of LLLT. Results: A significant improvement in pain and function was found in all the assessments applied to the laser group. On comparing the laser group with the placebo group, significant differences were found in the VNS-resting and Lequesne evaluations. Conclusion: Treatment with LLLT improves pain and function over the short term in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

We evaluated 16 children with congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia treated with contralateral fibular graft, with the aim to report the difficulties and clinical results in the affected limb after consolidation. Sixty-three percent of the children had characteristics of neurofibromatosis. Consolidation was achieved after the main surgery in 37%of patients, and the remainder, after multiple procedures. Consolidation time was longer for male patients. Refracture was observed in six patients and recurrence of the anterior bowing in six; four of these patients were submitted to correction. Four patients presented femur overgrowth. The average shortening of the affected leg was 3.6 cm. The proposed procedure leads to a long treatment course with many reoperations for correction of possible complications.

We concluded that without the usage of the polyamide block under the plate neither the length nor the height changed the maximum strength and the stiffness. With the polyamide block, the maximum strength and the stiffness were significantly higher. The long and high wave-plate with the block showed higher maximum strength while the long and low the highest stiffness.

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