Relative difference in muscle strength between patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy controls when tested bilaterally and joint-inclusive: an exploratory cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To improve the goal-directedness of strength exercises for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), physical rehabilitation specialists need to know which muscle-groups are most substantially weakened across the kinetic chain of both lower extremities. The purpose was to improve the knowledge base for strength exercise therapy. The objective was to explore the relative differences in muscle strength in the main directions bilaterally across the hip, knee, and ankle joints between patients with light-to-moderate symptomatic and radiographic KOA and people without knee complaints. METHODS: The design was an exploratory, patient vs. healthy control, and cross-sectional study in primary/secondary care. Twenty-eight patients with mild to moderate KOA (18 females, mean age 61) and 31 matched healthy participants (16 females, mean age 55), participated. Peak strength was tested concentrically or isometrically in all main directions for the hip, knee, and ankle joints bilaterally, and compared between groups. Strength was measured by a Biodex Dynamometer or a Commander II Muscle Tester (Hand-Held Dynamometer). Effect sizes (ES) as Cohen's d were applied to scale and rank the difference in strength measures between the groups. Adjustment for age was performed by analysis of covariance. RESULTS: The most substantial muscle weaknesses were found for ankle eversion and hip external and internal rotation in the involved leg in the KOA-group compared to the control-group (ES [95% CI] -0.73 [-1.26,-0.20], - 0.74 [-1.26,-0.21], -0.71 [-1.24,-0.19], respectively; p < 0.01). Additionally, smaller but still significant moderate muscle weaknesses were indicated in four joint-strength directions: the involved leg's ankle inversion, ankle plantar flexion, and knee extension, as well as the uninvolved leg's ankle dorsal flexion (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference for 17 of 24 tests. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with KOA between 45 and 70 years old, these explorative findings indicate the most substantial weaknesses of the involved leg to be in ankle and hip muscles with main actions in the frontal and transverse plane in the kinetic chain of importance during gait. Slightly less substantial, they also indicate important weakness of the knee extensor muscles. Confirmatory studies are needed to further validate these exploratory findings.

Relative difference among 27 functional measures in patients with knee osteoarthritis: an exploratory cross-sectional case-control study.

BACKGROUND: To raise the effectiveness of interventions, clinicians should evaluate important biopsychosocial aspects of the patient's situation. There is limited knowledge of which factors according to the International Classification of Function, Disability, and Health (ICF) are most deviant between patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and healthy individuals. To assist in measures' selection, we aimed to quantify the differences between patients with KOA and healthy controls on various measures across the ICF dimensions of body function, activity, and participation. METHODS: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional case-control study. In total, 28 patients with mild-to-moderate KOA (mean age 61 years, 64% women) referred by general physicians to a hospital's osteoarthritis-school, and 31 healthy participants (mean age 55 years, 52% women), volunteered. We compared between-group differences on 27 physical and self-reported measures derived from treatment guidelines, trial recommendations, and trial/outcome reviews. Independent t-test, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U test evaluated the significance for continuous parametric, dichotomous, and ordinal data, respectively. For parametric data, effect sizes were calculated as Cohen's d. For non-parametric data, ds were estimated by p-values and sample sizes according to statistical formulas. Finally, all ds were ranked and interpreted after Hopkins' scale. An age-adjusted sensitivity-analysis on parametric data validated those conclusions. RESULTS: Very large differences between patients and controls were found on the Pain numeric rating scale1, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Scale (KOOS, all subscales)2, as well as the Örebro Musculoskeletal psychosocial scale3 (P < 0.0001). Large differences were found on the Timed 10-steps-up-and-down stair climb test4 and Accelerometer registered vigorous-intensity physical activity in daily life5 (P < 0.001). Respectively, these measures clustered on ICF as follows: 1body function, 2all three ICF-dimensions, 3body function and participation, 4activity, and 5participation. LIMITATIONS: The limited sample excluded elderly patients with severe obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Very large differences across all ICF dimensions were indicated for the KOOS and Örebro questionnaires together for patients aged 45-70 with KOA. Clinicians are suggested to use them as means of selecting supplementary measures with appropriate discriminative characteristics and clear links to effective therapy. Confirmative studies are needed to further validate these explorative and partly age-unadjusted conclusions.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury after more than 20 years. II. Concentric and eccentric knee muscle strength.

The long-term consequences on knee muscle strength some decades after rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are not established. The aims of our study were to examine peak torque more than 20 years after ACL injury and to compare their knee muscle strength to that of healthy controls. We tested 70 individuals with unilateral ACL injury 23 ± 2 years after injury, whereof 33 (21 men) were treated with physiotherapy in combination with ACL reconstruction (ACLR ) and 37 (23 men) with physiotherapy alone (ACLPT ). These were compared with 33 age- and gender-matched controls (21 men). A Kin-Com(®) dynamometer (90°/s) was used to measure peak torque in knee flexion and extension in both concentric and eccentric contractions. Knee extension peak torque, concentric and eccentric, was ∼10% lower for the injured leg compared with the non-injured leg for both ACLR (P < 0.001; P < 0.001) and ACLPT (P = 0.007; P = 0.002). The ACLPT group also showed reduced eccentric knee flexion torque of the injured leg (P = 0.008). The strength of the non-injured leg in both ACL groups was equal to that of controls. No difference was seen for those with no-or-low degree of knee osteoarthritis compared to those with moderate-to-high degree of osteoarthritis. ACL injury may lead to a persistent reduction of peak torque in the injured leg, which needs to be considered across the lifespan.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury after more than 20 years: I. Physical activity level and knee function.

Little is known about physical activity level and knee function including jump capacity and fear of movement/reinjury more than 20 years after injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Seventy persons with unilateral ACL injury participated (23 ± 2 years post-injury): 33 treated with physiotherapy in combination with surgical reconstruction (ACLR ), and 37 treated with physiotherapy alone (ACLPT ). These were compared with 33 age- and gender-matched controls. Assessment included knee-specific and general physical activity level [Tegner activity scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)], knee function [Lysholm score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)], jump capacity (one-leg hop, vertical jump, side hops), and fear of movement/reinjury [Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK)]. Outcomes were related to degree of osteoarthritis (OA). ACL-injured had lower Lysholm, KOOS, and Tegner scores than controls (P < 0.001), while IPAQ score was similar. ACL-injured demonstrated inferior jump capacity in injured compared with noninjured leg (6-25%, P < 0.001-P = 0.010 in the different jumps), while noninjured leg had equal jump capacity as controls. ACL groups scored 33 ± 7 and 32 ± 7 of 68 on TSK. Lower scores on Lysholm and KOOS symptom were seen for persons with moderate-to-high OA than for no-or-low OA, while there were no differences for physical activity and jump capacity. Regardless of treatment, there are still negative knee-related effects of ACL injury more than 20 years later.

Assessment of horizontal laminar air flow instrument table for additional ultraclean space during surgery.

The area in a vertical ultraclean laminar air flow (LAF) theatre is usually too small to accommodate all the equipment needed for major surgery. We investigated the addition of an instrument table supplied with fixed ultraclean LAF and placed alongside the existing main LAF unit, to determine its physical and bacteriological effect on the main unit. In phase 1, with two investigators but without a patient, smoke tests showed no intrusion of air from the table into the main unit and particle counts did not show any adverse effect on the main LAF unit. In phase 2, during patients undergoing two total knee replacements, the LAF table and a table without LAF were placed alongside the main LAF unit. The tables were subjected to the activity of an extra operating room (OR) nurse working from inside the main LAF vigorously simulating handling of instruments. During this activity, the >5µm particle counts were 275/m(3) at the instrument table with LAF and 8550/m(3) at the table without LAF (P<0.0001). Also, without the OR nurse activity, the particle counts, just inside the main unit and adjacent to the LAF table, were significantly reduced (P<0.03-0.003). Sedimentation plates on the LAF table and in the main unit registered 22 and 25cfu/m(2)/h respectively compared with 45cfu/m(2)/h at the instrument table without LAF. In conclusion, the results from the smoke tests, particle counts and bacteriological evaluation showed that the additional instrument table supplied with LAF is efficient and can be safely used as an extension additional to a main OR LAF unit.

A trabecular metal tibial component in total knee replacement in patients younger than 60 years: a two-year radiostereophotogrammetric analysis.

We compared the performance of uncemented trabecular metal tibial components in total knee replacement with that of cemented tibial components in patients younger than 60 years over two years using radiostereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA). A total of 22 consecutive patients (mean age 53 years, 33 to 59, 26 knees) received an uncemented NexGen trabecular metal cruciate-retaining monobloc tibial component and 19 (mean 53 years, 44 to 59, 21 knees) a cemented NexGen Option cruciate-retaining modular tibial component. All the trabecular metal components migrated during the initial three months and then stabilised. The exception was external rotation, which did not stabilise until 12 months. Unlike conventional metal-backed implants which displayed a tilting migration comprising subsidence and lift-off from the tibial tray, most of the trabecular metal components showed subsidence only, probably due to the elasticity of the implant. This pattern of subsidence is regarded as being beneficial for uncemented fixation.

All-poly tibial component better than metal-backed: a randomized RSA study.

The quality of the fixation of the tibial component in 21 patients (23 knees) undergoing a cemented total-knee arthroplasty of the Profix design was investigated using radiostereometric analysis during 24 months. The patients were randomized to either an all-polyethylene (AP) or a metal-backed (MB) tibial component. The articulating geometry and the stem design of the implants were identical, as were the operative technique and the postoperative regimen. The results showed no negative consequences as regards fixation using AP tibial components. In all aspects, the AP components displayed magnitudes of migration on par with, or sometimes even lower than their MB counterparts. Five of 11 MB components displayed continuous migration between 1 and 2 years, compared to none of the AP implants, a finding known to be of positive prognostic significance when predicting future aseptic loosening.

No relationship between postoperative changes in bone density at the proximal tibia and the migration of the tibial component 2 years after total knee arthroplasty.

The relationship between changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximal tibia and fixation of the tibial component during 2 years postoperatively was investigated in 28 knees. BMD was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and fixation was determined using radiostereometric analysis. BMD decreased at 3 months and returned to baseline level at 24 months, but with large variations on an individual basis. Most of the prosthetic migration occurred within the initial 3 months. The results show that the bone remodeling that occurs during the 2 years after operation has no relation to the migration of the tibial component. The early migration seems to be related more to local activities at the interface rather than to changes in BMD assessed below the interface. The changes in BMD during 2 years reflect the bone remodeling caused by the normalization of alignment after operation and are not related to the implant fixation.

All-polyethylene versus metal-backed and stemmed tibial components in cemented total knee arthroplasty. A prospective, randomised RSA study.

We studied the quality of fixation of the tibial component using radiostereometric analysis (RSA) in 40 patients who had undergone a cemented Freeman-Samuelson total knee arthroplasty. They were prospectively randomised to either a stemmed metal-backed (MB) or non-stemmed all-polyethylene (AP) tibial component. The articulating geometry of the implants was identical, as was the operative technique and the postoperative regime. The study showed no complications of fixation using AP tibial components, and the migration was the same as that of their metal-backed counterparts. There was no bony collapse or increased subsidence of any part of the tibial component or increased incidence of radiolucent lines in the knees with AP components. Most AP implants were stable between one and two years after surgery, a finding known to be of positive prognostic significance when predicting future aseptic loosening.

The effect of the preoperative bone quality on the fixation of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty.

The relationship between the preoperative level of bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximal tibia and the migration of the tibial component 2 years after total knee arthroplasty was investigated in 28 knees with osteoarthrosis (10 men, 18 women; mean age, 71). Sixteen components were inserted uncemented and 12 were cemented. Mean average BMD measured 10 mm below the joint level was 0.81 g/cm2 (range, 0.15-1.33 g/cm2) and was not influenced by gender, age, weight, or preoperative alignment. Local BMD measured in the medial and lateral condyles was influenced by the preoperative alignment. In knees with uncemented fixation, most of the tibial component migration (ie, subsidence and lift-off) occurred within the first months, and thereafter the implants seemed to stabilize. In the uncemented implants, there was a significant relationship between average BMD and migration (regression analysis with curve-fit estimation). The least migration was seen when average BMD was 0.6 to 1.0 g/cm2. Beyond this range, increased subsidence and lift-off was seen. There was no relationship between BMD and the change in maximum migration between 1 and 2 years postoperatively, however. In knees with cemented fixation, subsidence was initially small but continuously increasing. There were no relationships between BMD and subsidence, lift-off, and maximum migration, indicating that bone-cement can compensate for variations in bone quality, at least in the early period after operation.

Low-conforming all-polyethylene tibial component not inferior to metal-backed component in cemented total knee arthroplasty: prospective, randomized radiostereometric analysis study of the AGC total knee prosthesis.

In a prospective, randomized study of 40 patients, the quality of fixation of cemented metal-backed versus all-polyethylene tibial components of the unconstrained anatomic graduated component total knee arthroplasty design was studied during 2 years using radiostereometric analysis (RSA). The shape, as well as the articulating geometry, of the implants was identical, as was the operative technique and the postoperative regimen. In this study, no negative consequences regarding the quality of fixation using an all-polyethylene tibial component with unconstrained articulating surfaces could be identified. In all aspects, the all-polyethylene tibial components displayed migration on par with, or sometimes lower than, their metal-backed counterparts. The rotations of the all-polyethylene components were equally low as for the metal-backed components, and maximum lift-off was significantly lower than for the metal-backed implants. We could not identify any collapse of the bone at the medial condyle or increased subsidence at the medial part of the tibia or increased rates of radiolucent lines in the knees with all-polyethylene components. All all-polyethylene implants seemed to be stable within the resolution of RSA between 1 and 2 years, a finding known to be of positive prognostic significance regarding future aseptic loosening.

Changes in bone mineral density at the proximal tibia after total knee arthroplasty: a 2-year follow-up of 28 knees using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The change in bone mineral density at the proximal tibia during 2 years after total knee arthroplasty was studied in 28 knees (28 patients: 10 men and 18 women; median age: 71 years) with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Bone mineral density was measured at the proximal tibia at nine regions of interest below the tibial component within 1 week after the operation (baseline); measurements were repeated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. All but one knee was malaligned before the operation, and all but three were corrected to within the normal range of alignment after it. The mean bone mineral density of all nine regions of interest at the proximal tibia temporarily decreased by 13% (p = 0.001) during the initial 3 months, probably due to a general metabolic reaction of the skeleton to the operative trauma combined with the effect of the postoperative immobilization, and then the initial level was regained for as long as 2 years. The overall changes in mean bone mineral density to 2 years were insignificant (p > 0.05); however, a great variation (43.9% decrease to 98.0% increase) was observed on an individual basis. This change over time was significantly associated (R2 = 0.36, p = 0.002) with the level of the baseline bone mineral density, which in turn was partly related (R2 = 0.24, p = 0.009) to the amount of malalignment of the knee before the operation. Knees with high baseline levels (n = 14: 11 with varus and three with valgus alignment) displayed a decrease of 10.0 +/- 14.0% (mean +/- SD, p > 0.05) for as long as 2 years, whereas those with low baseline levels (n = 14: seven with varus and six with valgus alignment and one neutrally aligned) had an increase of 19.1 +/- 38.2% (p = 0.038). In both groups, the mean bone mineral density converged to a level of 0.75-0.95 g/cm2 at 2 years.

Analysis of human serum antibody-carbohydrate interaction using biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to monitor the interaction of alphaGal-antibodies from human blood group O serum with linear blood group B-saccharides, employing Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-HSA immobilised on a sensor chip surface. Strong binding of antibodies, as evident from high relative response values exceeding 200 RU, was observed. The interaction was influenced by the nature of the oligosaccharide that was added to the antibody sample prior to measurement. For example, the addition of either of the linear B-saccharides Galalpha1-3Gal and Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc produced complete inhibition of antibody binding to the sensor surface, whereas the addition of the related but non-specific blood group A saccharide, GalNAcalpha1-3(Fucalpha1-2)Gal, had little effect on binding. The technique was used for the rapid monitoring of the removal of alphaGal-antibodies from human serum by affinity columns, which contained either Galalpha1-3Gal or Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc as ligand. The above carbohydrates are currently evaluated as inhibitors or as affinity ligands, in the prevention of hyperacute rejection during xenotransplantation.

Hydroxyapatite coating versus cemented fixation of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty: prospective randomized comparison of hydroxyapatite-coated and cemented tibial components with 5-year follow-up using radiostereometry.

Fifty-three consecutive patients (57 knees; mean age, 69 years) entered a prospective randomized study to compare the fixation of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated (29 knees) with cemented (28 knees) tibial components in the Tricon II total knee arthroplasty. The quality of the fixation during 5 years postoperatively was evaluated with radiostereometric analysis (RSA). Three HA-coated implants were revised: 2 owing to infection, and 1 owing to early delamination of the coating and clinical loosening. Eight patients (9 knees) died, 1 patient sustained a stroke, and 1 patient refused investigations after 1 year. In the 40 patients (19 HA-coated, 21 cemented) remaining at 5 years, the magnitude of the micromotion between the HA-coated and cemented groups did not differ. The HA-coated implants displayed most of the migration within the initial 3 months then stabilized, whereas the cemented implants showed an initially lower, but over time continuously increasing migration. Between 1 and 2 years, 4 of 24 HA-coated and 10 of 23 cemented implants migrated >0.2 mm and were categorized unstable, which has been shown to have a prognostic value as regards future aseptic loosening. Progressive radiolucent lines developed in 2 cemented knees, which both were categorized unstable. If HA-coated implants can sustain the forces that threaten the fixation in the early period after implantation, a strong and enduring fixation may be obtained.

Stability assessment of a moderately conforming all-polyethylene tibial component in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective RSA study with 2 years of follow-up of the Kinemax Plus design.

The magnitude and pattern of the migration of an all-polyethylene tibial component with moderately conforming articular surfaces in total knee arthroplasty was analyzed in 20 patients > or =60 years during a 2-year follow-up using radiostereometry (RSA). Most of the migration occurred during the initial 4 months, whereafter the migration diminished, reaching a mean maximum migration of 0.75 mm at 2 years. Similar patterns were found for rotation of the implant. Maximum subsidence at 2 years was 0.7 mm and was most commonly located at the posteromedial part of the tibial component. These results indicate that an all-polyethylene tibial component with moderately conforming articular geometry and with a thickness of 10-12 mm demonstrated migration patterns compatible with a favorable prognosis in regard to future aseptic loosening.

Inferior performance of Boneloc bone cement in total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized study comparing Boneloc with Palacos using radiostereometry (RSA) in 19 patients.

We compared Boneloc bone cement with conventional cement (Palacos) in fixating the tibial component during 2-5 years in 19 patients with gonarthrosis undergoing total knee arthroplasty in a prospective randomized study. Boneloc displayed significantly larger migration, subsidence and lift-off than Palacos. The difference was identifiable already within 3 months postoperatively, but became significant at 12 months. In the Boneloc group, all components showed subsidence of the posterior part and lift-off of the anterior part of the tibial component, whereas in the Palacos group, the locations of subsidence and lift-off were evenly distributed about the edge of the implant. At 5 years, both Boneloc knees so far investigated were clinical failures with high migration rates. We conclude that, even in total knee arthroplasty, there is a substantial risk that Boneloc leads to inferior clinical results, but later than in hip replacements.

A new device combining laser Doppler perfusion imaging and digital photography.

We describe a new method for acquisition and analysis of skin perfusion images acquired by laser Doppler scanning and digital photographs of the area scanned. Photographs are obtained with a commercial digital still video camera. A commercial software package is used to handle the perfusion image file and the digital photo. We describe software developed to assess blood flow distribution in detail in relation to the visual appearance of the skin, palpatory findings and other clinical signs. Possible clinical applications of the method described by case reports are post-operative evaluation of vascularized grafts and monitoring of treatment of chronic skin ulcers.

Femoral component migration in total knee arthroplasty: randomized study comparing cemented and uncemented fixation of the Miller-Galante I design.

The Miller-Galante I knee replacement was inserted in 25 women and three men (33 knees) with osteoarthrosis. All patients received a TiAlV femoral component with a commercially pure titanium fiber-mesh undersurface. Cemented or cementless fixation was used based on a randomization protocol. Micromotions of the femoral components were recorded with roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis during the first 2 postoperative years. The magnitude of migration did not differ between cemented and uncemented fixation. The number of nonmigrating prostheses decreased from 21 (12 cemented and nine uncemented) at 3 months to six (three cemented and three uncemented) at 24 months. In both groups, the magnitude of prosthetic tilting about the longitudinal axis (internal-external rotation) was as large as that about the transverse axis (flexion-extension). Rotation into extension was as common as rotation into flexion. The largest translations were recorded at either of the posterior condyles. In 10 uncemented components, radiolucent lines were seen at the distal interface postoperatively. Proximal migration of the femoral component was recorded in these knees, and the width of the lines decreased or the lines disappeared totally at 24 months. After 2 years, lines were noted around four cemented and four uncemented replacements, mainly anteriorly or distally. All of these prostheses migrated. One prosthesis, revised because of malalignment, displayed pronounced migration after an initial period of stability. Bone ingrowth was observed anteriorly and anterodistally despite the presence of motions of 1 mm or more.

Increased metal release from cemented femoral components made of titanium alloy. 19 hip prostheses followed with radiostereometry (RSA).

In 19 patients the concentrations of metal were measured in serum, urine and joint fluid 2 years after implantation of uncemented commercially pure titanium acetabular cups and cemented or uncemented femoral components made of titanium alloy. A ceramic against the polyethylene articulation was used. The fixation of the components was followed with radiostereometry (RSA). Samples from 12 patients scheduled for hip or knee prostheses and without any metallic implant were used as controls. High levels of titanium were found in cemented hips and when large acetabular cups had been inserted. Increased aluminum levels were also noted in the cemented hips. Vanadium was not detected in any of the samples. Micromotions were detected in most of the implants, but the magnitude of these movements could not be used to predict the release of metal into the synovial fluid.