The impact of post-traumatic stress on the clinical outcome in a cohort of patients with knee osteoarthritis and knee arthroplasty: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders and commonly occurs in older adults, predominantly female populations. Both populations have intimate links with trauma-related stress. Therefore, we intended to evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which arises from KOA and determine its effects on the postoperative results in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: The patients who fulfilled the diagnosis of KOA from February 2018 to October 2020 were interviewed. Patients were interviewed by a senior psychiatrist about evaluating their overall experience during their most difficult or stressful situations. KOA patients who underwent TKA were further analyzed to investigate whether PTSD influences the postoperative results. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index were used to assess PTS symptoms and clinical outcomes after TKA, respectively. RESULTS: 212 KOA patients completed this study with a mean follow-up of 16.7 months (7-36 months). The mean age was 62.5 ± 12.3 years, and 53.3% (113/212) were women. 64.6% of the sample (137/212) underwent TKA to relieve the symptoms of KOA. Patients with either PTS or PTSD tended to be younger (P < 0.05), female (P < 0.05) and undergo TKA (P < 0.05) than their counterparts. WOMAC-pain (P < 0.05), WOMAC-stiffness (P < 0.05), and WOMAC-physical function (P < 0.05) both before TKA and 6 months after TKA in the PTSD group is significantly higher compared to their counterparts. Logistic regression analysis showed that a history of OA-inducing trauma (adjusted OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.7-2.3, P = 0.003), posttraumatic KOA (adjusted OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.4-2.0, P < 0.001), and invasive treatment (adjusted OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.7-2.3, P = 0.032), were significantly associated with PTSD in KOA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with KOA, especially those undergoing TKA, are associated with PTS symptoms and PTSD, indicating the need to evaluate it and offer care for them.

A new radiological parameter as a predictor of dysphagia based on oro-pharyngeal stenosis in a cohort of pediatric patients undergoing mal-reduced C1-2 pedicle screw fixation.

PURPOSE: C1 pedicle screw technique showed further advantages since it avoids the negative results from the sacrificed range of motion of the atlantooccipital joint compared to the occipitocervical fusion. However, some intractable complications are unavoidable. In the pediatric population, dysphagia after the atlantoaxial fixation can be accidentally serious. We aimed to determine the incidence of dysphagia in the pediatric population's cohort and its radiological predictor. METHODS: Between January 2010 and August 2018, this retrospective study included 42 pediatric patients with atlantoaxial dislocation due to trauma. They were followed up with an average duration of 8 years (range 5-18 years). Twenty-seven were males and 15 females with a mean age of 8.2 years (range 5-15 years) when undergoing operations. Patients were classified according to the presence of postoperative dysphagia according to the Bazaz dysphagia grading scale. The measurements, including pre- and postoperative CVT/NSL, O-C2, and C2-C7 sagittal angles, were performed. RESULTS: 26.2% of the patients (11/42) experienced postoperative dysphagia. A significant difference in the postoperative CVT/NSL (115.2 ± 13.2 vs.134.8 ± 17.3, P = 0.002), ΔCVT/NSL (7.0 ± 11.2 vs. 20.3 ± 10.5, P = 0.001), ΔO-C2 (- 3.2 ± 5.8 vs. 2.1 ± 5.1, P = 0.026), postoperative nPAS (9.4 ± 3.7 vs. 12.6 ± 4.2, P = 0.031) and ΔPAS (- 1.5 ± 4.1 vs. 2.0 ± 3.5, P = 0.010) between dysphagia group and non-dysphagia group were found. Adjustment for age, gender, and BMI, the multivariate logistic analysis showed that ΔCVT/NSL < 8.35° (OR = 5.23; 95% CI 4.97-5.50; P = 0.001) and ΔO-C2 (OR = 3.34; 95% CI 3.17-3.51; P = 0.001) remained associated with the occurrence of the swallowing problems. CONCLUSION: In comparison with ΔO-C2, ΔCVT/NSL might better predict postoperative dysphagia in children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: Diagnostic: individual cross-sectional studies with consistently applied reference standard and blinding.

Hand grip strength as a predictor of recovery from low back pain in the pregnant women-a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem during pregnancy with an estimated prevalence ranging from 30% to 78%. The symptoms usually disappear gradually after delivery, but some women may have persistent problems even later in their lives. The definite mechanism behind LBP during pregnancy remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether hand grip strength (HGS), which is a straightforward and reliable indicator of overall muscle strength, is associated with unrecovered LBP after delivery. METHODS: 257 pregnant women who registered at obstetrics units in two tertiary hospitals from January 2016 to June 2017 and meanwhile suffered the LBP during pregnancy were included. They were grouped based on whether they recovered from LBP after delivery (recovery was defined as a pain rating of ≤3). The variables such as age, HGS, and education level were recorded and examined for the risk analysis of unrecovered LBP. Also, the Pearson correlation between HGS levels and pain intensities was investigated. RESULTS: LBP without recovery at two years after delivery was reported among 22.7% of the subjects. Women with increasing age, low HGS (<25 kg), LBP in a previous pregnancy, back pain, sick leave, and a large amount of physical demand (all p < 0.05), were more likely to report LBP without recovery. Besides, there was a significant correlation between HGS values and the intensities of LBP (r = -0.525; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Low HGS has the highest OR value (adjusted OR = 9.12, P < 0.001) among these factors. The present findings may be used to design and encourage a specific stabilization exercise regime to build well stability of the lumbar spinal column and thus alleviating the LBP.

Mid-term efficacy of Dynesys dynamic internal fixation in the treatment of grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To investigate the mid-term efficacy of Dynesys internal fixation and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in the treatment of grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods:From June 2014 to June 2016, 68 cases, in which 35 males and 33 females aged from 44-74 (55.3±7.5), of grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis treated using Dynesys internal fixation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 cases of L 3, 52 cases of L 4 and 8 cases of L 5 with an average visual analogue scale (VAS) of 4.5±2.1. At the same time, 72 patients were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). There were 37 males and 35 females aged from 46-76 (56.8±7.2), with 9 cases of L 3, 53 cases of L 4 and 10 cases of L 5. The VAS of this group was 4.4±2.3. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume and complications were compared between the two groups. Range of motion (ROM), disc height of stable segment and upper adjacent segment, adjacent segment degeneration between the two groups were evaluated. ASD, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were also compared between the two groups. Results:The patients in both groups were followed up. The follow-up time of Dynesys group was 50-74 months, average 64.2±18.3 months, and the follow-up time of PLIF group was 55-79 months, average 65.2±15.5 months. The operation time [(120.5±21.0) min vs. (132.5±27.0) min, t=2.924, P=0.004], intraoperative bleeding [(312.5±80.7) ml vs. (352.5±84.5) ml, t=2.861, P=0.005] and postoperative drainage [(120.3±45.8) ml vs. (140.2±50.2) ml; t=2.446, P=0.016] in Dynesys group were significantly better than those in PLIF group. The differences were statistically significant. There was no significant difference in postoperative ROM of stable segment, ROM of upper segment, disc height of stable segment and adjacent segment between the two groups before operation. At 5 years postoperatively, there was statistically significant difference between the stable segment ROM (4.3°±1.6° vs. 0; t=22.809; P<0.001) and the upper segment ROM (10.5°±2.1° vs. 12.8°±2.2°; t=6.329, P<0.001). At 5 years postoperatively, ODI scores of the two groups were (11.25%±8.12%, 16.53%±9.23%), and JOA scores were (22.60±2.20, 19.01±2.34), which were significantly improved compared with those before surgery, with statistically significant differences (ODI: t=3.585, P<0.001; JOA: t=9.340, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of symptomatic ASD between the two groups (8.8% vs. 16.7%, χ2=1.284, P=0.257) , but there was significant difference in the incidence of X-ray ASD between the two groups (2.9% vs. 13.9%, χ2=4.043, P=0.044) . Conclusion:Compared with PLIF, Dynesys internal fixation for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is a minimally invasive, safe and effective surgical method to retard ASD; Compared with PLIF, adjacent segment degeneration can be reduced using Dynesys internal fixation.

New Classification and Its Value Evaluation for Atlantoaxial Dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the TOI classification system (the Traction reduction type [T type], Operation reduction type [O type], and Irreducible type [I type] classification system) and to determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the TOI classification system. METHODS: Based on the characteristics of atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD), AAD was divided into Traction reduction type (T type), Operation reduction type (O type), and Irreducible type (I type). The analysis of interobserver and intraobserver agreements was done using kappa statistics. From July 2016 to January 2019, 213 AAD patients were retrospectively studied at four hospitals. Plain radiographs including extension and flexion views and three-dimensional CT images were obtained. Twenty independent observers, including eight experienced spine specialists and 12 orthopaedic fellows from four different residency training hospitals, completed the survey. RESULTS: The classification of the TOI system was based on etiology, the course of the disease, flexion-extension X-rays, three-dimensional CT reconstruction, and curative effects of skull traction. Flexion-extension X-rays demonstrating a successful reduction of the dislocated atlantoaxial joint and three-dimensional CT images showing osseous fusion of atlantoaxial facet joints and cervical traction reveal characteristics of T-type. Furthermore, this type can be divided into two subtypes, T1 and T2, according to the etiology and course of the disease. Unsatisfactorily reduction after 1-2 weeks of strict cervical traction, no reduction shown on flexion-extension X-rays, and no destruction or boneless fusion of atlantoaxial facet joints demonstrated in three-dimensional CT images are characteristics of type O. Atlantoaxial facet joint showing bone fusion or failure of reduction after cervical traction or three-dimensional CT images showing failure of surgical release are characteristics of type I. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the TOI classification system were moderate (κ = 0.543) and substantial (κ = 0.658), respectively. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the treatment choice were moderate (κ = 0.568) and substantial (κ = 0.675), respectively. There were no significant differences in the interobserver and intraobserver reliability between experienced spine specialists and fellows for all κ-values (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The TOI classification system had satisfactory reliability and, therefore, can be applied clinically and used by less experienced surgeons. We believe TOI can help surgeons choose appropriate treatment strategies.