The Combination of Exercise and Manual Therapy Versus Exercise Alone in Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

A Nurse-Led App-Based Home Exercise Program After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Quasi-Experimental Study

PURPOSE

Reduced activity because of pain is a major health issue associated with total knee arthroplasty. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse-led app-based home exercise program for patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

A nonequivalent control group of pretest-posttest design was used. Data from 45 patients were collected. The control group received individualized face-to-face exercise education, whereas the experimental group received training on the use of app-based home exercise education, including exercise videos and app push notifications to encourage exercise after discharge. Pain, range of motion, exercise self-efficacy, and quality of life were measured at baseline and 3 and 12 weeks after surgery. Nursing care satisfaction was evaluated 12 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

There were significant overall reductions in pain intensity (p = .001), improvements in limited range of motion (p < .001), and increases in exercise self-efficacy (p = .034) and quality of life (p = .033) in the experimental group (n = 22) compared with those in the control group (n = 23). Nursing care satisfaction was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitation nurses can offer app-based home exercise education with push notifications to alleviate pain, enhance range of motion, improve exercise self-efficacy, and increase nursing care satisfaction for patients who have had a knee arthroplasty.

Adverse Events Reported in Trials Assessing Manual Therapy to the Extremities: A Systematic Review

Objective: This review aimed to describe the quality and comprehensiveness of adverse event (AE) reporting in clinical trials incorporating manual therapy (MT) as an intervention for extremity conditions using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT)-Harms extension as the benchmark. The secondary aim was to determine whether the quality of AE reporting improved after the availability of the CONSORT reporting checklist. Design: Systematic review. Methods: A literature search was conducted using multiple databases to identify trials where MT was used to treat extremity conditions. Studies that reported AEs were identified and evaluated using the CONSORT-Harms extension. The frequency of trials reporting study AEs before and after the publication of the updated 2010 CONSORT statement was calculated, along with the categorization of how study AEs were reported. Results: Of the 55,539 studies initially identified, 220 trials met all inclusion criteria. Eighty trials (36.4%) reported AE occurrence. None of the studies that reported AEs adhered to all 10 criteria proposed by the 2010 CONSORT-Harms extension. The most commonly reported criterion was number four, which clarified how AE-related information was collected (30% of trials). The least reported criterion was number six, which describes the participant withdrawals for each arm due to AEs and the experience with the allocated treatment (1.3% of trials). The nomenclature used to describe AEs varied substantially. Fifty-nine of 76 trials (33.3%) were published after the updated CONSORT Harms-checklist was available, compared to 21 of 44 trials (46.7%) published before it was available. Conclusion: Reporting of AEs in trials investigating MT for extremity conditions is poor. Every included trial lacked adherence to all 10 criteria proposed by the CONSORT-Harms Extension. The quality and comprehensiveness of AE reporting did not improve after the most recent CONSORT update recommending AE reporting. Clinicians must obtain informed consent before performing any intervention, including MT, which requires disclosing potential risks, which could be better known with improved tracking, analyzing, and reporting of AEs. The authors recommend improved adherence to best practices for adequately tracking and reporting AEs in future MT trials.

Satisfactory adherence to the Dutch physical therapy guideline for patients with a total knee arthroplasty. A survey study involving 103 specialised physical therapists

OBJECTIVE

To explore and gain more insight into the usual preoperative and postoperative physical therapy (PT) treatment of patients with a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) among Dutch physical therapists experienced with TKA rehabilitation. Secondly, to evaluate physical therapists' adherence to guideline recommendations for postoperative rehabilitation.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, physical therapists working in primary care within a designated Dutch hospital's catchment area were surveyed online. The survey queried PT treatment approaches before surgery, during hospitalisation, and after surgery. All data were analysed descriptively. When both education and all recommended exercise modalities were used postoperatively, therapists were considered fully adherent with the Dutch clinical practice guideline.

RESULTS

One hundred and three therapists participated, representing a response rate of 58%. Postoperative PT treatment was applied by all therapists, of which 65 (63.1%) were fully adherent to the guideline. Partial adherence was mainly due to not using the aerobic exercise modality. Furthermore, beyond the modalities recommended in the guideline, a range of PT interventions were used. Preoperative treatment was applied by 73 therapists (70.9%). These 73 indicated that only a median of 20% (IQR 10%-40%) of their patients received preoperative PT.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed satisfactory adherence to guideline recommendations on postoperative management of patients with a TKA among experienced physical therapists. Aerobic exercises were utilised less often or with inappropriate intensity. Correct adherence to guideline recommendations on aerobic exercise training can result in more physically active individuals and important general health benefits.

Exosomes derived from miR-146a-overexpressing fibroblast-like synoviocytes in cartilage degradation and macrophage M1 polarization: a novel protective agent for osteoarthritis?

Introduction

Pathological changes in the articular cartilage (AC) and synovium are major manifestations of osteoarthritis (OA) and are strongly associated with pain and functional limitations. Exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulatory factors in intercellular communication and can influence the progression of OA by participating in the degradation of chondrocytes and the phenotypic transformation in the polarization of synovial macrophages. However, the specific relationships and pathways of action of exosomal miRNAs in the pathological progression of OA in both cartilage and synovium remain unclear.

Methods

This study evaluates the effects of fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS)-derived exosomes (FLS-Exos), influenced by miR-146a, on AC degradation and synovial macrophage polarization. We investigated the targeted relationship between miR-146a and TRAF6, both in vivo and in vitro, along with the involvement of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Results

The expression of miR-146a in the synovial exosomes of OA rats was significantly higher than in healthy rats. In vitro, the upregulation of miR-146a reduced chondrocyte apoptosis, whereas its downregulation had the opposite effect. In vivo, exosomes derived from miR-146a-overexpressing FLSs (miR-146a-FLS-Exos) reduced AC injury and chondrocyte apoptosis in OA. Furthermore, synovial proliferation was reduced, and the polarization of synovial macrophages shifted from M1 to M2. Mechanistically, the expression of TRAF6 was inhibited by targeting miR-146a, thereby modulating the Toll-like receptor 4/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway in the innate immune response.

Discussion

These findings suggest that miR-146a, mediated through FLS-Exos, may alleviate OA progression by modulating cartilage degradation and macrophage polarization, implicating the NF-κB pathway in the innate immune response. These insights highlight the therapeutic potential of miR-146a as a protective agent in OA, underscoring the importance of exosomal miRNAs in the pathogenesis and potential treatment of the disease.

Massage for rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of massage for postoperative rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were systematically searched from inception to May 2024.

STUDY SELECTION

Any randomized controlled trials on the use of massage for postoperative TKA rehabilitation were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

A meta-analysis of outcomes, including postoperative pain, knee range of motion (ROM), postoperative D-dimer levels, and length of hospital stay, was performed. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and the data for each included study were extracted independently by two researchers.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Eleven randomized controlled clinical trials with 940 subjects were included. The results showed that compared with the control group, the massage group experienced more significant pain relief on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after the operation. Moreover, the improvement in knee ROM was more pronounced on postoperative days 7 and 14. In addition, the massage group reported fewer adverse events. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the reduction in postoperative D-dimer levels between the patients and controls. Subgroup analysis revealed that massage shortened the length of hospital stay for postoperative patients in China but not significantly for patients in other regions. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of the studies was large.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased massage treatment was more effective at alleviating pain and improving knee ROM in early post-TKA patients. However, massage did not perform better in reducing D-dimer levels in patients after TKA. Based on the current evidence, massage can be used as an adjunctive treatment for rehabilitation after TKA.

J-shaped association of operation duration and blood transfusion risk in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Blood transfusion is a common perioperative complication of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that can lead to adverse outcomes, prolonged hospital stays, and increased medical costs. The purpose of our study was to explore the risk factors for blood transfusion and to establish whether operation duration is independently related to blood transfusion risk in patients undergoing primary TKA after adjusting for other covariates.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data from a retrospective cohort study involving patients who underwent primary TKA in Singapore. The patients' baseline data, comorbidity, and surgical characteristics were collected. The independent variable was operation duration and the dependent variable was blood transfusion events. Patients were divided into three groups according to operation durations (90 and 120 min). Univariate logistic regression was used to explore the risk factors associated with blood transfusion after primary TKA. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the independent effect of operation duration on blood transfusion risk after adjusting for other covariates. Additionally, we performed subgroup analyses to identify specific groups, test the robustness of the relationships, and explore whether there were interactions between the different variables. Furthermore, restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to identify the relationship between the two variables.

RESULTS

A total of 2,562 patients were included in the study, of whom 136 (5.61%) had a transfusion event. Operation durations were 95.55 ± 36.93 and 83.86 ± 26.29 min for blood transfused and non-transfused patients, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI, ASA status, Hb level, OSA, CHF, creatinine level > 2 mg/dL, and anaesthesia type were risk factors for blood transfusion. After adjusting for all covariates, multivariate logistic regression models showed that operation duration was positively associated with blood transfusion risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.174-2.933, P = 0.007). Compared to patients with an operation duration of less than 90 min, those with an operation duration of more than 120 min had a 2.141-fold increased risk of blood transfusion (OR = 2.141, 95% CI = 1.035-4.265, P = 0.035). Stratified analysis results showed that the association persisted in patients aged > 50 years, Chinese, BMI > 30 kg/m 2, Hb level > 11 g/dL, ASA status levels 2 and 3, general anaesthesia, and unilateral primary TKA. A non-linear (P-non-linear = 0.30) and J-shaped relationship was identified. The risk of transfusion increased as the operation duration decreased or exceeded the inflection point (73.2 min).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated a non-linear and J-shaped relationship between operation duration and blood transfusion events in patients undergoing primary TKA. Blood transfusion risk was the lowest when the operation duration was 73.2 min. A shorter operation duration implies irregular surgical procedures and incomplete intraoperative haemostasis, leading to increased perioperative blood loss and blood transfusion. These results will be useful for clinical decision-making.

[Tips and tricks of cement removal in the case of revision surgery]

BACKGROUND

In Germany, current revision rates after arthroplasty range between 28-37%. In particular, remaining cement residues are causative for additional revision surgery after periprosthetic joint infection, which is why complete cement removal is of high importance. However, the removal of remaining cement residues often confronts the surgeon with technical challenges. Complication-free and complete cement removal requires extensive preoperative preparation in order to develop the best possible surgical strategy.

TREATMENT

Special instrument sets to facilitate cement removal in revision cases are available from various manufacturers. In addition to endoluminal approaches, access enhancements such as extended osteotomies exist to facilitate complete cement removal. Finally, the surgeon should be able to give the indication for an intraoperative procedural change after a defined time interval.

Analgesic effect of nitrous oxide during manual therapy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Many patients during manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction will experience severe pain, which has a negative impact on their rehabilitation. However, there is rarely an analgesic method for these patients during rehabilitation. Nitrous oxide with rapid analgesic and sedative effects is often used to relieve pain in minor procedures. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not nitrous oxide analgesia decreases pain compared to oxygen during manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction.

METHODS/DESIGN

This single-center, randomized, double-blind and controlled trial will recruit 120 patients. Patients ≥ 18 years old undergoing manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction (1 month post-operative) with acute pain (VAS ≥ 4) are included. The main exclusion criteria included the following: pulmonary embolism, intestinal obstruction, pneumothorax. Patients will be randomly allocated to the intervention group (A) and the control group (B) in a ratio of 1:1. Doctors, therapists, patients, and data collectors are all blind to the study. The manual therapy will be performed by therapists. Nurses who implemented the intervention handed the doctors envelopes containing the patients' codes and allocation of A or B. Group A will receive a pre-prepared nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture plus conventional treatment (no analgesic) given as 30-min treatment sessions, once daily, and group B will receive oxygen plus conventional treatment (no analgesic) under the same conditions. Assessments will be taken 2 min before the intervention (T0), 5 min after the beginning of the intervention (T1), and 5 min after the intervention finished (T2). The primary outcome is pain score. Secondary outcomes include vital signs, side effects, joint range of motion, adjuvant analgesia need, therapist and patient satisfaction, and whether willing to receive the same gas again.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

We expect nitrous oxide inhalation to have a beneficial effect on the pain of patients who receive manual therapy after anterior ligament reconstruction.

DISCUSSION

If this treatment appears beneficial, it could improve patients' satisfaction and quality of life potentially and even be implemented widely in hospital and rehabilitation settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, ChiCTR2200061175 (Version 2.0 June 15, 2022), https://www.chictr.org.cn .

Distal Femur Megaprostheses in Orthopedic Oncology: Evaluation of a Standardized Post-Operative Rehabilitation Protocol

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Megaprostheses are the most used reconstructive approach for patients who have undergone massive resection of their distal femurs due to bone tumors. Although the literature about their outcomes has flourished in recent decades, to date, a consensus on rehabilitative treatment is yet to be established. In this study, we report on our experience with our latest standardized rehabilitation program, evaluating our results in a mid-to-long-term scenario.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the functional results of all our oncologic patients treated between 2016 and 2022 who could follow our standardized post-operative rehabilitative approach, consisting of progressive knee mobilization and early weight-bearing.

RESULTS

Sixteen cases were included in our study. The average duration of the patients' hospitalization was 12.2 days. A standing position was reached on average 4.1 days after surgery, while assisted walking was started 4.5 days after surgery. After a mean post-operative follow-up of 46.7 months, our patients' mean MSTS score was 23.2 (10-30). Our data suggest that the sooner patients could achieve a standing position (R = -0.609; p = 0.012) and start walking (R = -0.623; p = 0.010), the better their final functional outcomes regarding their MSTS scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitation should be considered a pivotal factor in decreeing the success of distal femur megaprosthetic implants in long-surviving oncologic patients. Correct rehabilitation, focused on early mobilization and progressive weight-bearing, is crucial to maximizing the post-operative functional outcomes of these patients.

Patients' Perceptions of Remote Monitoring and App-based Rehabilitation Programs: A Comparison of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Remote monitoring rehabilitation programs are new technologies growing in popularity for patients undergoing lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to assess the patients' perceptions of these technologies.

METHODS

Patients who underwent total hip (THA), knee arthroplasty (TKA), and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) from September 2020 to February 2022 and participated in a clinical study utilizing remote monitoring and an app-based rehabilitation program were given a questionnaire three months postoperatively to assess their perceptions of these technologies. There were 166 patients who completed the survey (42 THA; 106 TKA; 18 UKA).

RESULTS

There were 92% of patients who found the technology easy to use. A majority of patients felt the technologies motivated them. The TKA/UKA patients felt more strongly that these technologies allowed the surgeon to monitor their recovery closely (81.9% v. 65.9%; P=0.009). There were 85% of THA patients and 94.5% of TKA/UKA patients recommended these technologies. The THA patients felt more strongly that digital rehabilitation could completely replace in-person physical therapy compared to TKA/UKA patients (85.4% v. 41.3%; P<0.001). A majority (83%) of patients recommended a combination of inpatient and technology-assisted rehabilitation (THA 90.2%; 84.4% TKA/UKA).

CONCLUSIONS

The THA and TKA/UKA patients found remote monitoring rehabilitation easy to use, increased motivation, and recommend it to other patients undergoing lower extremity arthroplasty. They recommend a combination of technology and in-person rehabilitation postoperatively. The THA patients felt these technologies could replace in-person rehabilitation programs.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Physical Therapy Utilization After Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common orthopaedic procedure, after which many patients benefit from physical therapy (PT). However, such services may not be uniformly accessible and used. To that end, disparities in access to care such as PT after interventions may be a factor for those of varying race/ethnicities.

METHODS

TKAs were abstracted from the 2014 to 2016 Standard Analytic Files PearlDiver data set-a large national health administrative data set containing information on more than 60 million Medicare patients. Occurrences of home or outpatient PT within 90 days after TKA were identified. Patient demographic factors were extracted, including age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, estimated average household income of patient based on zip code (low average household income [<75k/year] or high average household income [>75k/year]), and patient race/ethnicity (White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Black, or Other). Predictive factors for PT utilization were determined and compared with univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Of 23,953 TKA patients identified, PT within 90 days after TKA was used by 18,837 (78.8%). Patients self-identified as White (21,824 [91.1%]), Black (1,250 [5.2%]), Hispanic (268 [1.1%]), Asian (241 [1.0%]), Native American (90 [0.4%]), or "Other" (280 [1.2%]) and were of low household income (19,957 [83.3%]) or high household income (3,994 [16.7%]). When controlling for age, sex, and ECI, PT was less likely to be received by those of low household income (relative to high household income OR 0.79) or by those of defined race/ethnicity (relative to White or Black OR 0.81, Native American OR 0.58, Asian OR 0.50, or Hispanic OR 0.44) ( P < 0.05 for each).

DISCUSSION

In a large Medicare data set, disparities in utilization of PT after TKA were identified based on patient's estimated household income and race/ethnicity. Identification of such factors may help facilitate the expansion of care to meet the needs of all groups adequately.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Image-Free Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Results in Quicker Recovery but Equivalent One-Year Outcomes Compared to Conventional Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Few studies have addressed whether robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) significantly impacts functional outcomes. This study was conducted to determine whether image-free RA-TKA improves function compared to conventional total knee arthroplasty (C-TKA), performed without the utilization of robotics or navigation, using the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) as measures of meaningful clinical improvement.

METHODS

A multicenter propensity score-matched retrospective study was conducted of RA-TKA using an image-free robotic system and C-TKA cases at an average follow-up of 14 months (range, 12 months to 20 months). Consecutive patients who underwent primary unilateral TKA and had a preoperative and postoperative Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR) were included. The primary outcomes were the MCID and PASS for KOOS-JR. 254 RA-TKA and 762 C-TKA patients were included, with no significant differences in sex, age, body mass index, or comorbidities.

RESULTS

Preoperative KOOS-JR scores were similar in the RA-TKA and C-TKA cohorts. Significantly greater improvement in KOOS-JR scores were achieved at 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively with RA-TKA compared to C-TKA. While the mean 1-year postoperative KOOS-JR was significantly higher in the RA-TKA cohort, no significant differences were found in the Delta KOOS-JR scores between the cohorts, when comparing preoperative and 1-year postoperative. No significant differences existed in the rates of MCID or PASS being achieved.

CONCLUSION

Image-free RA-TKA reduces pain and improves early functional recovery compared to C-TKA at 4 to 6 weeks, but functional outcomes at 1 year are equivalent based on the MCID and PASS for KOOS-JR.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Soft Tissue Therapy in the Treatment of Disorders and Postoperative Conditions of the Knee Joint-A Systematic Review

The term "soft tissue therapy" (STT) refers to mechanical methods of treatment involving passive kneading, pressing and stretching of pathologically tense tissues in supporting the process of recovery after surgery or trauma to the musculoskeletal system. The objective of this study was to review current scientific reports evaluating the effectiveness of the use of STT in patients with diseases or after surgical procedures of the knee joint. A systematic search of the popular scientific databases PubMed, Scopus and Embase was performed from inception to 15 October 2021. Eight articles met eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Six papers were related to disorders of the knee joint, while the remaining two studies were related to dysfunctions associated with the conditions after surgical intervention. The findings presented confirmed the effectiveness of STT in orthopaedic patients who showed an increase in lower limb functional parameters. The research has shown that the use of various methods of STT has a significant impact on increasing muscle activity and flexibility as well as increasing the range of motion in the knee joint. The physiotherapeutic methods used had a significant impact on reducing pain and increasing physical function and quality of life. The techniques used reduced the time to descend stairs in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This review summarises the effectiveness of STT as an important form of treatment for orthopaedic patients with various knee joint dysfunctions.