Predictors of health-related quality of life after total knee arthroplasty: a case-control study.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) improves patients' Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to before surgery. However, based on our knowledge, the improvement in HRQoL after TKA, which depends on various factors, has yet to be investigated compared to healthy people. This study aimed to evaluate the HRQoL of patients compared to healthy people and the factors affecting the HRQoL after TKA. In this matched case-control study (1002 participants), HRQoL in 501 patients who underwent TKA between 2015 and 2022 at Shafa Yahyainan Hospital affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences were compared with 501 healthy controls. HRQoL was evaluated in two parts (before compared to 12 months after TKA and 12 months after TKA compared to the healthy population). The 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate HRQoL 12 months after surgery. The influencing factors on HRQoL were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. No significant difference was observed in the demographic characteristics of the participants in the two groups. The mean overall SF-36 score, 12 months after surgery, significantly improved compared to before surgery (64.21 ± 22.2 vs. 37.55 ± 15.13, p:0.001). The mean total score of SF-36 was statistically similar between the case and control groups (64.21 ± 22.2 VS 72.53 ± 25.3). The multivariate analysis showed that sex, BMI, number of comorbidities, postoperative compliance, and complications were significantly related to the decrease in patients' HRQoL (P < 0.001).TKA can improve the HRQoL except for two subscales of happiness/vitality and physical performance, similar to the healthy population. Female gender, obesity and overweight, comorbidity, bilateral TKA, non-adherence to postoperative physiotherapy, and complications were associated with decreased HRQoL.

Evaluation of the short-term outcomes of anatomic ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft in patients with generalized joint laxity: A retrospective case-control study.

PURPOSE: The outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in patients with generalized joint laxity (GJL) are not clearly understood. In this study, we compared the outcomes of ACLR with quadruple hamstring autograft between GJL and non-GJL patients. METHODS: In a retrospective case-control study, 36 patients with GJL, according to the Beighton and Horan Joint Mobility Index, who underwent ACLR surgery, were included. Forty-four group-matched non-GJL patients were included in the control group. The mean follow-up of the patients was 20.65 ± 6.93 months. The outcomes of ACLR were evaluated by the Lachman test, pivot shift test, anterior tibial translation and KT-1000 side-to-side difference, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scale. RESULTS: The results of the Lachman and pivot shift test were not significantly different between the GJL and non-GJL patients (P = 0.67 and P = 0.27, respectively). The mean anterior tibial translation was 7.06 ± 1.41 mm in the GJL group and 6.11 ± 1.53 mm in the non-GJL group (P = 0.006). The mean KT-1000 side-to-side difference was 2.25 ± 1.31 mm in the case and 2.5 ± 1.44 mm in the control group (P = 0.42). The mean IKDC score of the patients was not significantly different between the GJL and non-GJL groups (66.1 ± 20.6 vs. 69.9 ± 16.1, P = 0.35). ACLR failure occurred in 2 (5.5%) patients of the GJL group and no patients of the control group (P = 0.21). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest ACLR with quadruple hamstring autograft as an adequate treatment for GJL patients, at least in short-term follow-up.

High Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Type I Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Type I diabetes (TΙDM) is a genetic or autoimmune disorder, which may be stimulated by induced immune system components due to the underlying infectious diseases. This study was undertaken to find out any possible association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and TIDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty-two blood samples were taken from individuals who were referred to outpatient clinics in Shiraz city, Southern Iran, during a 6-month period. The age of type I diabetic subjects (n = 91) and the control group (n = 91) was identical, which were less than 30 years. The sera were examined for IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA and correlated with epidemiological factors such as age, sex, and family history of diabetes. RESULTS: Out of 91 diabetic patients, 54 (59.3%) were female and 37 (40.7%) were male. The highest frequency of diabetes belonged to 6-10- and 11-15-year groups (P = 0.17). Toxoplasma infection prevalence in diabetic and control groups was 28.6% and 7.7%, respectively (P = 0.001). A significantly positive family history of diabetes was observed between diabetic patients (31 cases, 34.1%) and the control group (3 cases, 3.3%) (P = 0.01). Interestingly, IgG positivity was seen in 13 cases (41.9%) of patients with positive family history of type I diabetes and 13 cases (21.7%) of subjects with no positive family history of type I diabetes (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Our study showed a higher prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in type I diabetes patients. It is likely that the prevalence of TIDM decreases by increasing hygiene and preventing toxoplasmosis.

The Impact of Depression, Personality, and Mental Health on Outcomes of Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Precise assessment of preoperative mental health and psychological determinants may be useful in identifying patients at risk for poor postoperative outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of psychological status and physical and mental health on the outcome of patients undergoing TKA. METHODS: Fifty-two patients undergoing unilateral TKA were assessed preoperatively with Oxford Happiness Inventory, Eysenck Personality Inventory, 12-item short form health survey (SF-12), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for evaluating depression, personality traits, physical and mental health, and function, respectively. At 1 year after surgery, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and function were assessed using the SF-12 and KOOS. RESULTS: HRQL and function of all personality traits increased significantly after TKA, without significant difference among them. Extroversion and neuroticism did not have significant correlation with subjective well-being, HRQL, and function before and after surgery. Subjective well-being and the baseline physical and mental health scores were correlated strongly and directly with postoperative physical component summary, mental component summary, and KOOS scores and their improvement. Among many factors that significantly affected the outcomes of TKA, the only independent predictor of physical, mental, and functional outcome was depression. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of surgery were not significantly different among diverse personality traits. Patients with less depressive symptoms and higher baseline mental and physical scores had significantly greater improvement in HRQL after surgery. The only independent factor affecting the physical, mental, and functional outcome was depression.

A randomized controlled trial on Aspirin and complex regional pain syndrome after radius fractures.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is often diagnosed in patients who are recovered with surgery or injury. CRPS is usually diagnosed in patients recovering from distal radius fractures. The aim of study was the effects of aspirin in prevention of the complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following a fracture of distal radius. In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 91 patients with unilateral extra-articular distal radius fractures were randomly allocated to receive either placebo (PLA) or 500 mg of aspirin (ASA) daily for 7 days. The effect of aspirin on the occurrence of CRPS was evaluated. The patients were assessed clinically and radiographically in the second, fourth and twelfth weeks by a physician who was unaware of the treatment allocation. Ninety-one patients (ASA, n=44; PLA, n=47) were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of CRPS in all patients was 16.5%. The prevalence of CRPS in the aspirin group was lower (13.6%) than the placebo group (19.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The only significant difference was the lower rate of regional osteoporosis seen in the radiographs of aspirin group. Mean age was significantly higher in the patients with CRPS. Also, comminuted distal radius fractures (A3-type) were significantly more common in the patients with CRPS. Administration of aspirin in patients with a distal radius fracture was associated with a lower incidence of CRPS, but, not statistically significant. Further investigations needs to be done with a larger sample size, longer follow-up period and multi-center design.