No abstract

summary Objective We investigated the relationship between the molecular weight (MW) distribution of hyaluronan (HA) in synovial fluid (SF) and risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Methods HA MW was analyzed for 65 baseline knee SFs. At 3-year follow-up, knees were scored for change in joint space narrowing (JSN), osteophyte (OST) progression, or occurrence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). HA MW distribution was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), and its relationship to OA progression was evaluated using logistic regression. The association between HA MW and self-reported baseline knee pain was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results Knee OA was categorized as non-progressing (OST−/JSN−, 26 knees, 40%), or progressing based on OST (OST+/JSN−, 24 knees, 37%), OST and JSN (OST+/JSN+, 7 knees, 11%) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA, 8 knees, 12%). The MW distribution of HA in baseline SFs was significantly associated with the odds of OA progression, particularly for index knees. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, baseline X-ray grade and pain, each increase of one percentage point in %HA below 1 million significantly increased the odds of JSN (odds ratios (OR) = 1.45, 95% CI 1.02–2.07), TKA or JSN (OR = 1.24, 95%CI 1.01–1.53) and the odds of any progression (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.01–1.32). HA MW distribution significantly correlated with pain. Conclusion These data suggest that the odds of knee OA progression increases as HA MW distribution shifts lower and highlight the value of reporting MW distribution rather than just average MW values for HA.

No abstract

Favorable patient experience and low complication rates have been proposed as essential components of patient-centered medical care. Patients' perception of care is a key performance metric and is used to determine payments to hospitals. It is unclear if there is a correlation between technical quality of care and patient satisfaction. The study authors correlated patient perceptions of care measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores with accepted quality of care indicators. The Hospital Compare database (4605 hospitals) was used to examine complication rates and patient-reported experience for hospitals across the nation in 2011. The majority of the correlations demonstrated an inverse relationship between patient experience and complication rates. This negative correlation suggests that reducing these complications can lead to a better hospital experience. Overall, these results suggest that patient experience is generally correlated with the quality of care provided.

No abstract

No abstract

Objective To establish whether there is an association between TSG-6 activity and osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Design TSG-6 activity was determined in 132 synovial fluids from patients with OA of the knee, using a novel quantitative TSG-6 activity assay. The association between TSG-6 activities at baseline and four distinct disease progression states, determined at three-year follow-up, was analyzed using logistic regression. Results There was a statistically significant relationship between TSG-6 activity at baseline and all OA progression states over a three-year period. Patient knees with TSG-6 activities in the top 10th percentile, compared to the median activity, had an odds ratio (OR) of at least 7.86 (confidence interval (CI) [3.2, 20.5]) for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within three years, and of at least 5.20 (CI [1.8, 13.9]) after adjustment for confounding factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for knee arthroplasty yielded a cut-off point of 13.3 TSG-6 activity units/ml with the following parameters: area under the curve 0.90 (CI [0.804, 0.996]), sensitivity 0.91 (CI [0.59, 0.99]), specificity 0.82 (CI [0.74, 0.88]) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.99 (CI [0.934, 0.994]). Conclusion The TSG-6 activity is a promising independent biomarker for OA progression. Given the high NPV, this assay may be particularly suitable for identifying patients at low risk of rapid disease progression and to assist in the timing of arthroplasty.

Background:Basketball players are at risk for foot injuries, including Jones fractures. It is unknown how this injury affects the future play and performance of athletes.Hypothesis:National Basketball Association (NBA) players who sustain Jones fractures of the base of the fifth metatarsal have high rates of return to play and do not experience a decrease in performance on return to competition when compared with preinjury and with control-matched peers.Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Level of Evidence:Level 5.Methods:Data on 26 elite basketball players with Jones fractures over 19 NBA seasons (1994-1995 to 2012-2013) were obtained from injury reports, press releases, player profiles, and online public databases. Variables included age, body mass index (BMI), player position, experience, and surgical treatment. Individual season statistics pre- and postinjury were collected. Twenty-six controls were identified by matched player position, age, and performance statistics.Results:The mean age at the time of injury was 24.8 years, mean BMI was 24.7 kg/m2, and the mean experience prior to injury was 4.1 NBA seasons. Return to previous level of competition was achieved by 85% of athletes. There was no change in player efficiency rating (PER) when pre- and postinjury performance was compared. When compared with controls, no decline in PER measured performance was identified.Conclusion:The majority of NBA players sustaining a Jones fracture return to their preinjury level of competition. These elite athletes demonstrate no decrease in performance on their return to play.Clinical Relevance:Jones fractures are well-studied injuries in terms of etiology, diagnosis, and management. However, the effect of these injuries on future performance of athletes is unknown. Using the findings of our study, orthopaedic surgeons may be better prepared to counsel and educate elite athletes who sustain a Jones fracture.