This is a prospective cohort study involving patients who were followed for 2 years after total knee replacement (TKR) to determine changes in lumbar spine and knee symptoms. Purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine the percentage of patients undergoing bilateral TKR who present with coexisting lumbar spine problems and determine if TKR relieves lumbar spine symptoms. Overview of Literature: No studies quantify the percentage of TKR patients who experience relief of lumbar spine symptoms after TKR surgery. Methods: The study included 200 patients (164 females, 36 males) undergoing primary TKR. Follow-up was performed at 4 weeks, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Lumbar spine and knee symptom improvements were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Oxford Knee Score, respectively. Results: All 200 patients undergoing bilateral TKR presented with radiographic lumbar spine degenerative pathology; 60% (n=120) of the patients presented with moderate to severe clinical symptoms of lumbar spondylosis, including 54% (n=108) with degenerative lumbar spondylosis and lumbar canal stenosis and 6% (n=12) with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Of the 120 patients who presented with lumbar spine problems, 90% (n=108) reported improvement in their symptoms; the ODI score improved from 42.5%±4.1% preoperative score to 15.6%±2.3% postoperative score (p-value<0.001). Of the 12 patients with no improvement, 10 patients underwent percutaneous procedures for their lumbar spine pathology with good results, one patient underwent surgery, and one declined any intervention. Conclusions: A significant number of patients (60%) undergoing bilateral TKR also present with symptomatic lumbar spine problems. Patients with mild to moderate lumbar spine degenerative symptoms and no associated severe radiating pain on activity are more likely to experience relief of their symptoms post-TKR.
Adult orthodontics is recently gaining popularity due to its importance in esthetics, oral and general health. However, none of the currently available alumina or zirconia based ceramic orthodontic brackets meet the esthetic demands of adult patients. Inherent hexagonal lattice structure and associated birefringence limits the visible light transmission in polycrystalline alumina and make them appear white and non transparent. Hence focus of the present study was to assess the feasibility of using magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel; a member of the transparent ceramic family for esthetic orthodontic brackets. Transparent spinel specimens were developed from commercially available white spinel powder through colloidal shaping followed by pressureless sintering and hot isostatic pressing at optimum conditions of temperature and pressure. Samples were characterized for chemical composition, phases, density, hardness, flexural strength, fracture toughness and optical transmission. Biocompatibility was evaluated with in-vitro cell line experiments for cytotoxicity, apoptosis and genotoxicity. Results showed that transparent spinel samples had requisite physico-chemical, mechanical, optical and excellent biocompatibility for fabricating orthodontic brackets. Transparent spinel developed through this method demonstrated its possibility as a prospective biomaterial for developing esthetic orthodontic brackets.
Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. Satisfactory perioperative analgesia is essential for a good and predictable surgical outcome. Effective postoperative pain control is a major challenge to the treating surgeon and his team. Old age and multiple comorbidities restrict the choice of analgesics one can offer. Transdermal buprenorphine (TDB), widely used in chronic pain management, has been rarely studied in acute postoperative setting. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of a TDB patch to conventional analgesics after knee arthroplasty surgery. Methods: A prospective randomized study was conducted with 200 patients aged 60-75 years undergoing TKA surgery under neuraxial anesthesia. All patients received periarticular local anesthetic infiltration and epidural/femoral nerve block infusion for 72 hours postoperatively. Group A received the TDB patch 5 mcg applied at the end of surgery. Group B received a combination of paracetamol and tramadol. All patients received intravenous diclofenac as rescue analgesia. Pain scores at rest, on movement, and side effects, if any, were compared over 7 days using the numerical rating scale score. Results: Pain scores at rest and on movement were significantly lower in group A (P values .008 and .01). Rescue analgesia requirement was also significantly less in this group. Only one patient had clinically significant respiratory depression, and 3 patients had local erythema.
Conclusion:Our data shows that the TDB patch is more efficacious in reducing postoperative pain after TKA surgery and can be safely used with fewer systemic side effects when compared to conventional analgesics.
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