EFFICACY OF TRANEXAMIC ACID IN REDUCING BLOOD LOSS IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

<div><p>ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in total knee arthroplasty by examining the existing literature. Method: This literature review investigated the use of tranexamic acid in knee arthroplasty. The search was performed in the Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Lilacs databases over a 20-year period using the keywords: “knee arthroplasty, tranexamic acid, and efficacy”. Only randomized clinical trials published between 2000 and 2016 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were accepted, and only trials which scored above 3 on the Jadad scale were selected. Results: A total of 7 randomized clinical trials met the inclusion criteria, with a sample of 948 patients. Conclusion: The use of tranexamic acid in total knee arthroplasty (unilateral or bilateral) reduces perioperative and postoperative blood loss more than other available antifibrinolytics. With this reduction in total blood loss and the need for blood transfusions without any increase in side effects, the use of tranexamic acid can be considered safe and effective in controlling bleeding after knee arthroplasties. Level of Evidence II; Systematic review.</p></div

Anatomical variant of the meniscus related to posterior junction: a case report

Abstract Background There are several reports on anatomical differences of the meniscus. However, there are only a few reports on abnormalities in both menisci and anatomical differences in anterior cruciate ligament insertions. Case presentation This is a case report of a 36-year-old Hispanic man presenting symptoms, including knee pain, locking, and effusion, with an anatomical abnormality of the menisci corresponding to the fusion of the posterior horns of the menisci in tandem with the insertion of the posterior meniscus fibers in the anterior cruciate ligament. Conclusions This is the first study describing a meniscus anatomical variant with isolated posterior junction of the posterior horn with an anomalous insertion to the anterior cruciate ligament. The recognition of meniscus variants is important as they can be misinterpreted for more significant pathology on magnetic resonance images

Medial patellofemoral ligament and medial patellotibial ligament reconstruction in children: preliminary results

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament associated with the medial patellotibial ligament in skeletally immature patients. METHOD: This is a case series study in patients with patellar instability with open physis. In total, seven patients were evaluated: four males and three females were operated using the proposed technique. Patients with open physis who had more than two episodes of recurring patellar dislocation were included. No patients underwent additional procedures. The distance from the anterior tibial tuberosity to the trochlea grove (TT-TG) was measured in all patients. On physical examination, the inverted J-sign, the apprehension sign, and the knee range of motion parameters were used in the pre- and post-operative period. In addition, the Kujala and Lysholm scores were applied before and 12 months after surgery. The results were analyzed with the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 11.28 in both genders. Comparing the data of the pre- and post-operative period, the inverted J-sign was present in six patients (85.7%) vs. absent in one (14.3%). The apprehension sign was absent in cases in the postoperative period; the range of motion was 117.85 ± 8.09 vs. 148.57 ± 3.77. The Kujala score was 42.57 ± 8.9 vs. 88.57 ± 5.09 and the Lysholm scores were classified as excellent or good in 28.6% and 71.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The combined reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament combined with the medial patellotibial ligament in skeletally immature patients with predisposing factors, presents satisfactory results without episodes of recurrence or residual subluxation; according to these preliminary results, it should be considered as a treatment option

The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program for soccer players: a systematic review

Abstract Background Soccer is one of the most widely played sports in the world. However, soccer players have an increased risk of lower limb injury. These injuries may be caused by both modifiable and non-modifiable factors, justifying the adoption of an injury prevention program such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program for soccer players. Methodology This meta-analysis was based on the PRISMA 2015 protocol. A search using the keywords “FIFA,” “injury prevention,” and “football” found 183 articles in the PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, and ScienceDirect databases. Of these, 6 studies were selected, all of which were randomized clinical trials. Results The sample consisted of 6,344 players, comprising 3,307 (52%) in the intervention group and 3,037 (48%) in the control group. The FIFA 11+ program reduced injuries in soccer players by 30%, with an estimated relative risk of 0.70 (95% confidence interval, 0.52–0.93, p = 0.01). In the intervention group, 779 (24%) players had injuries, while in the control group, 1,219 (40%) players had injuries. However, this pattern was not homogeneous throughout the studies because of clinical and methodological differences in the samples. This study showed no publication bias. Conclusion The FIFA 11+ warm-up program reduced the risk of injury in soccer players by 30%