Periarticular injection and continuous femoral nerve block versus continuous femoral nerve block alone on postoperative opioid consumption and pain control following total knee arthroplasty: Randomized controlled trial

© 2017 Continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) has been used to prevent the breakthrough pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Multimodal drug injection (PMDI) has also been shown to decrease opioid consumption and pain. We investigated whether the use of PMDI further improves analgesic and rehabilitation outcomes when used in conjunction with CFNB. This is a prospective randomized controlled study of 44 patients undergoing primary TKA. The treatment group (n = 23) received a PMDI of combined ropivacaine, epinephrine, ketorolac and morphine, and the controlled group (n = 21) received saline at wound closure. Total opioid consumption, pain scores, knee range of motion (ROM) outcomes, length of stay, and patient satisfaction were measured and compared. The total consumption of morphine is similar between the two groups (52.6 ± 40.6 vs. 41.5 ± 32.9, p = 0.325). The mean morphine consumption of the treatment group was significantly lower than the control at 4 h after surgery (4.2 ± 5.5 vs. 11.3 ± 8.1, p = 0.002) but comparable on POD1, POD2, and POD3. The mean pain scores were significantly higher in the treatment group than the control group at POD2 (at rest: 47.3 ± 29.1 vs. 23.8 ± 20.6, p = 0.004; after PT: 57.7 ± 25.4 vs. 35.2 ± 26.8, p = 0.007) and POD3 (at rest: 30.9 ± 30.3 vs. 14.8 ± 20.9, p = 0.045; after PT: 50.2 ± 30.6 vs. 29.0 ± 32.1, p = 0.035), and not significantly different at 4 h after surgery or at POD1. Mean maximal knee flexion ROM in degrees during active and active assisted mobilization showed no significant difference between the control and the treatment groups on POD2 and POD3. The mean length of stay of the treatment group is significantly longer than the control group (5.1 ± 2.1 vs. 3.8 ± 1.6, p = 0.032). At discharge, no significant difference exists between the two groups for mean patient satisfaction. The addition of PMDI led to a decrease in opioid consumption in the immediate postoperative period but with no significant difference in the total consumption within the first three days postoperatively. This finding provides an opportunity for appropriate preoperative treatment and education for both patients and caregivers

Active flexible concentric ring electrode for non-invasive surface bioelectrical recordings

Bioelectrical surface recordings are usually performed by unipolar or bipolar disc electrodes even though they entail the serious disadvantage of having poor spatial resolution. Concentric ring electrodes give improved spatial resolution, although this type of electrode has so far only been implemented in rigid substrates and as they are not adapted to the curvature of the recording surface may provide discomfort to the patient. Moreover, the signals recorded by these electrodes are usually lower in amplitude than conventional disc electrodes. The aim of this work was thus to develop and test a new modular active sensor made up of concentric ring electrodes printed on a flexible substrate by thick-film technology together with a reusable battery-powered signal-conditioning circuit. Simultaneous ECG recording with both flexible and rigid concentric ring electrodes was carried out on ten healthy volunteers at rest and in motion. The results show that flexible concentric ring electrodes not only present lower skin electrode contact impedance and lower baseline wander than rigid electrodes but are also less sensitive to interference and motion artefacts. We believe these electrodes, which allow bioelectric signals to be acquired non-invasively with better spatial resolution than conventional disc electrodes, to be a step forward in the development of new monitoring systems based on Laplacian potential recordings.This research was supported in part by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Espana (TEC2010-16945) and by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (PAID 2009/10-2298). The proof-reading of this paper was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Prats Boluda, G.; Ye Lin, Y.; García Breijo, E.; Ibáñez Civera, FJ.; Garcia Casado, FJ. (2012). Active flexible concentric ring electrode for non-invasive surface bioelectrical recordings. 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Femoral Revision Arthroplasty for Su Type 3 Supracondylar Periprosthetic Knee Fractures

Periprosthetic distal femoral fractures can present significant reconstructive challenges when associated with poor bone stock, comminution, or component loosening. Revision arthroplasty with stemmed components or distal femoral replacement arthroplasty often becomes necessary. This retrospective study reviewed the results of femoral revision arthroplasty in 16 knees with acute, extreme distal (Su type 3), supracondylar periprosthetic fractures using cemented, midlevel constrained implants. The mean patient age was 71 years and mean follow-up was 5 years. All fractures united with mean Knee Society scores of 86 and 55, at the last follow-up. All patients returned to preinjury activity level. Complications included one valgus malunion with shortening and one reoperation for functional lateral instability. This treatment modality achieved reliable fracture union and return of function. Moreover, the final salvage option of distal femoral arthroplasty is preserved

Barbed sutures in total knee arthroplasty: are these safe, efficacious, and cost-effective?

The use of barbed sutures has become increasingly popular; however, their efficacy and safety continues to be debated. We review the records of 333 primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) to determine the difference in wound closure and total operative time between patients closed with a barbed versus standard sutures. We also evaluated complication rates and cost differences between the two groups. Overall, we saw no significant difference in either wound closure time (31 vs. 30 minutes) or total operative time (115 vs. 114 minutes). No significant differences were observed in the complication rate. Material costs were lower overall in the barbed suture group ($66.78 vs. 82.59). Further studies will be required to determine the role of barbed sutures in TKA

Can Cementing Technique Reduce the Cost of a Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Studies on cost containment of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have generated substantial interest over the past decade. Although multiple studies have evaluated the various intraoperative methods to control cost, no prior study has evaluated the economic impact and the clinical outcome based on amount of bone cement needed for a primary TKA. At a minimum of 3 years follow-up, we observed no difference in implant survivorship or Knee Society scores, but did observe substantial cost savings when one versus two packets of bone cement were used in combination with a hand mixing technique. By eliminating several extra cement mixing products, we achieved an approximately $1,000 cost saving per case with no difference in clinical outcomes at midterm follow-up

Reproducible fixation with a tapered, fluted, modular, titanium stem in revision hip arthroplasty at 8-15 years follow-up

The use of tapered, fluted, modular, distally fixing stems has increased in femoral revision surgery. The goal of this retrospective study was to assess mid-term to long-term outcomes of this implant. Seventy-one hips in 70 patients with a mean age of 69 years were followed for an average of 10 years. Preoperative HHS averaged 50 and improved to 87 postoperatively. Seventy-nine percent hips had Paprosky type 3A or more bone-loss. All stems osseointegrated distally (100%). Two hips subsided \u3e5 mm but achieved secondary stability. Sixty-eight percent hips had evidence of bony reconstitution and 21% demonstrated diaphyseal stress-shielding. One stem fractured near its modular junction and was revised with a mechanical failure rate of 1.4%. Distal fixation and clinical improvement were reproducibly achieved with this stem design. Published by Elsevier Inc