Effect of Glucosamine for Knee Osteoarthritis

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a double blind, randomized controlled trial design, patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis were recruited into 3 groups, The glucosamine group of 43 patients was treated with glucosamine 550mg capsule and the placebo group of 27 patients with rice powder 250mg and lactose 250mg capsule, three times daily for 12 weeks. The NSAID group of 26 patients was treated with etodolac(lodine(R) 200mg capsule three times daily for 6 weeks. Clinical and radiographic change was evaluated by assessing the Lysholm knee score, pain score, passive range of knee motion, deformity of the knees, Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic scale and width of the tibio- femoral joint space in weight bearing radiography. RESULTS: In the glucosamine group, significant improvement was found in Lysholm knee score since 6 weeks of treatment and in pain score since 9 weeks compared with the placebo group, but not in radiographic indices. In the NSAID group, both Lysholm knee score and pain score were significantly improved than other groups since 3 weeks of treatment. In both glucosamine and NSAID groups, significant improvement was not found in passive range of motion and deformity of the knees. CONCLUSION: The effect of glucosamine was lower and slower than NSAlD in the treatment of the patients with knee osteoarthritis and improvement of Lysholm knee score was expected with long-term use of glucosamine over 6 weeks and pain-relief over 9 weeks.

Postoperative Results and Complications of Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction using Bone-Patellar tendon-Bone Autograft

We reviewed the post-reconstructive results and complications of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconsbuction using the patellar bone-tendon-bone autograft in 91 patients who underwent the index surgery at least one year ago. The changes of Lysholm knee score, limitation of motion, instability of the reconstructed ACL, musc)e strength, presence of anterior knee pain and other complications were evaluated at final fol- low-up(mean, 2.6 year). The results were as follows. 1. The mean Lysholm knee score was 65.5+-15.5 preoperatively and improved to 88.5+-7.4 postoperatively(p<0.05), 2. Of all, nine(9.9%) complained anterior knee pain. 3. Three patients(3.3%) showed limited range of motion. 4. Five(3.5%) showed instability of reconstructed ACL during the followup. Two were caused by trauma. Ln other three, no definite causes were found. 5. In 23 patients, cybex isokinetic thigh muscle strength test was perfornied preoperatively and at post-up. One year. The strength of quadriceps of the operated side at the angular velocity of 60 degrees per second showed mean 41.7% deficit of the normal side at postoperative one year. 6. Other complications were one case of chronic click sound in motion, and one case of the fracture which occurred at the autograft donor site of the proximal tibia.

The Shape and Size Discrepancy between Bone and Prosthesis in Total Knee Arthroplasty / 대한정형외과학회잡지

To determine size and shape discrepancy between the bone of Korean women and the prostheses in total knee arthroplasty, the height(antero-posterior length) and width(medio-lateral length) of the distal femur and the proximal tibia were measured at the bone resection level for 104 knees of 62 female patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty and compared with the same parameters of the total knee prostheses designed by five different companies. On the condition that the height of the prostheses matched with each cases of the bone were optimal, the difference in the width was evaluated, and the criteria of the discrepancy were overhang if the width of the prosthesis was larger than bone, optimal if width of the prosthesis was same or smaller and difference was within 5 mm, and down-size if smaller and difference was over Smm. In femoral prostheses, 34.6% of all were optimal, 13.1%, overhang and 52.3%, down-size. In tibial prosthesis, 54.1% of all were optimal, 13.9%, overhang and 32%, down-size. In conclusion, although further investigation for clinical application is needed, there were discrepancies in size and shape between the femur and tibia of Korean women and total knee prostheses and improvement in design should be considered.

Cybex Evaluation of Muscle Strength Following Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Cybex evaluation of muscle strength was performed on 15 patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament tears following arthroscopic reconstruction using central one-third patella tendon autograft. Cybex testing was done preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Peak torque and total work of the quadriceps and hamstrings at the angular velocity of 60 degree/sec and 180 degree/sec were measured and analyzed. The results were as follows: l. At the angular velocity of 60 degree/sec, the muscle strength of the quadriceps showed 45.4% deficit in peak torque and 50.9% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 48.2% and 49.0% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 40.3% and 37.7% deficit at 6 months, 30.6% and 32.5% deficit at 9 months and 23.4% and 24.7% deficit at 1 year after operation. 2. At the angular velocity of 60 degree/sec, the muscle strenggth of the hamstrings showed 32.3% deficit in peak torque and 42.9% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 39.3% and 42.4% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 27.3% and 32.3% deficit at 6 months, 21.2% and 22.3% deficit at 9 months and 17.9% and 18.4% deficit at 1 year after operation. 3. At the angular velocity of 180 degree/sec, the muscle strength of the quadriceps showed 38.4% deficit in peak torque and 42.0% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 41.1% and 47.54% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 34.4% and 33.7% deficit at 6 months, 28.5% and 28.6% deficit at 9 months and 21.0% and 22.1% at 1 year after operation. 4. At the angular velocity of 180 degree/sec, the muscle strength of the hamstrings showed 26.9% deficit in peak torque and 31.8% deficit in total work compared to the contralateral normal knee preoperatively, 41.2% and 45.2% deficit respectively at 3 months after operation, 32.3% and 36.0% deficit at 6 months, 21.4% and 25.1% deficit at 9 months and 16.1% and 15.7% at 1 year after operation.