Association of preoperative pain in knee and external to knee with postoperative pain outcome after total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Preoperative pain in the symptomatic knee may predict postoperative pain severity in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the effect of preoperative pain external to the knee on postoperative pain is unclear. This study evaluated postoperative pain outcomes in TKA patients according to the presence of preoperative pain in the knee only or in the knee and external to the knee.METHODS: We retrospectively assessed medical records of patients who underwent unilateral TKA. The relationship between reported preoperative pain characteristics and morphine equivalent consumption or numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores on postoperative day (POD) 0–3 was assessed using a multivariable generalized linear model.RESULTS: In total, 3,429 adult patients who underwent their first TKA were included; 2,864 (83.5%) patients preoperatively experienced only knee pain and 565 (16.5%) knee pain with external to knee pain. Preoperative pain in the knee and external to the knee was associated with 5% higher morphine equivalent consumption on POD 0–3 compared to preoperative knee pain only (exponentiated regression coefficient: 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.09; P = 0.004). However, the NRS pain scores on POD 0, 1, 2, and 3 and adjuvant analgesics consumption (acetaminophen and ketorolac) on POD 0–3 were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there was an increase of morphine equivalent consumption during POD 0–3 in patients with preoperative knee pain with external to knee pain than in patients with preoperative only knee pain.

Annual Report on External Quality Assessment in Diagnostic Genetics in Korea (2004) / 임상검사와정도관리

The importance of quality control for dramatically growing genetic tests continues to be emphasized with increasing clinical demands. Diagnostic genetics subcommitee of KSQACP performed two trials for cytogenetic study in 2004. Cytogenetic surveys were performed by 36 laboratories and answered correctly in most laboratories except some problems in karyotype nomenclature, interpretation of FISH test results and the detection of complex cytogenetic abnormalities in hematologic neoplasias. The molecular genetic test surveys included may kinds of tests like M. tuberculosis, HBV, HCV, HPV, leukemias/lymphomas, ApoE genotyping, MTHFR genotyping, BRCA1 & BRCA2, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Huntington disease. Each molecular test for HCV, MTHFR genotyping, BRCA1 & BRCA2 analysis and Huntington disease was the first challenge in 2004. Molecular genetic surveys showed excellent results in most of participants. External quality assessment program for genetic analysis in 2004 was proved to be helpful in continuous education and evaluation of quality improvement.