Polymorphisms and alterations in gene expression associated with rotator cuff tear and healing following surgical repair: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are a common cause of shoulder disability, yet both conservative and surgical treatment strategies can lead to poor results in some patient populations. Enhanced understanding of the genetic processes associated with RCTs can assist in the development of more effective management options and help predict individual responses to surgical treatment. This systematic review analyzes the current literature on the genetic footprint associated with RCTs and interprets these findings to enhance the current understanding of RCT pathogenesis, potential treatment regimens, and prognostic biomarkers of outcomes after surgical repair. METHODS: A systematic search of the Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science electronic databases was performed. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Emtree index terms were formulated from the concept terms "rotator cuff tear," "genetics," and "human," and synonyms of these concepts were applied to the Web of Science search. Articles were screened against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible studies compared gene expression patterns and genetic polymorphisms between cases (with RCTs) and controls (without RCTs). Quality assessment was performed with studies being rated as high, moderate, or poor quality. A modified best-evidence synthesis was applied, and studies were determined to be of strong, moderate, or limited evidence. RESULTS: The search identified 259 articles. Of these studies, 26 were eligible for review. Two studies were considered poor quality; 15 studies, moderate quality; and 9 studies, high quality. Analysis of these articles found that RCTs were associated with alterations in genes that code for the extracellular matrix, cell apoptosis, immune and inflammatory responses, and growth factor pathways. In particular, there was strong evidence of a significant association between RCTs and the genes MMP3, TNC, and ESRRB. Strong evidence of an association between BMP5 upregulation and successful healing after surgical repair was also found. CONCLUSION: This review provides strong evidence of an genetic association with RCTs. The genotype and gene expression patterns detailed within this review can assist in deciphering the biological mechanisms resulting in RCTs, as well as predicting an individual's response to surgical repair. Future research could investigate whether manipulating these genes-or their associated signaling pathways-could assist in RCT healing and whether genetic biomarkers could be used clinically to predict patient outcomes after surgical repair of RCTs.

Simultaneous (two-surgeon) versus staged bilateral knee arthroplasty: an observational study of intraoperative and post-operative outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The advantages of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (sim-BTKA) remain controversial. This study investigated the effects of two-surgeon sim-BTKA compared to separate admission staged BTKA regarding intraoperative and post-operative outcomes and health service costs. METHODS: Patients underwent sim-BTKA or staged BTKA between 1 November 2008 and 30 June 2016. Data were extracted from a joint replacement registry and medical records. Median regression and chi-squared tests were used for between-group comparisons. RESULTS: Median hospital total length of stay was 5 days less for sim-BTKA (n = 122) than staged BTKA group (n = 46) (7 versus 12; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9, 6.1), and 9 days less for inpatient rehabilitation (17 versus 26; 95% CI 3.7, 14.3). However, 80% of sim-BTKA patients went to inpatient rehabilitation (versus 27% following staged BTKA), so median total length of stay was 9 days less for staged BTKA (13 versus 22; 95% CI -12.8, -5.2). Total anaesthesia time was 135 min less for sim-BTKA (P < 0.001), while staged BTKA required less blood transfusions (P = 0.001). Complication rates were similar, except for superficial infections which were observed twice as often after staged BTKA (30% versus 15%, P = 0.048). Twelve months following sim-BTKA and the first staged total knee arthroplasty, sim-BTKA had better WOMAC pain, stiffness and function scores (P ≤ 0.05). Average inpatient costs (hospital and rehabilitation) were $6388 less for sim-BTKA. CONCLUSION: Sim-BTKA appears to be a comparatively safe alternative to staged BTKA. Sim-BTKA may be superior to staged BTKA due to faster improvements in pain and function and lower healthcare costs. How these results generalize to other health services requires further investigation.