Management of full thickness rotator cuff tears in the elderly: a systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of non-surgical and surgical treatment on the clinical and functional outcomes of elderly patients with full thickness rotator cuff tear.

Evaluation of the Multi-Attribute Prioritisation Tool for Total Joint Replacement.

RATIONALE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The demand for arthroplasty is increasing and will continue to rise with an ageing population. Obesity and lengthy waiting time for Total Joint Replacement (TJR) have been associated with poorer outcomes postoperatively. This study aimed to evaluate the Multi-Attribute Prioritisation Tool (MAPT) for TJR patients. The primary objective was to explore if patients prioritised by the MAPT had an improvement in score post-operative. Further to identify any relationship between MAPT score and length of time on the waiting list or obesity. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included 308 patients undergoing total hip (n = 114) or total knee (n = 194) arthroplasty. We examined preoperative and postoperative MAPT scores of patients who had total hip or total knee arthroplasty. After assessing the difference between postoperative and preoperative MAPT scores, patients scores were compared to BMI and waiting time classes. BMI was allocated to less than 30, 30-35, 35-40 and greater than 40. Duration of time on the waiting list was allocated to less than 6 months and greater than 6 months. RESULTS: THA and TKA patients MAPT scores improved from a preoperative score of 71.39-5.26 postoperative and 54.11 to 7.13 respectively. Patients whose MAPT scores placed them in the high priority category had a significant relationship with length of time on the waiting list (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between length of time on the waiting list and improvement scores for low priority and middle priority patients. BMI had minimal effect on patients improvement score postoperative. CONCLUSION: TJR patients prioritised by the MAPT questionnaire do experience pain relief as portrayed by a reduction in postoperative MAPT score. A longer length of time on the waiting list seems to effect the improvement a high priority patient can have postoperative.

Improved clinical outcome measures of knee pain and function with concurrent resolution of subchondral Bone Marrow Edema Lesion and joint effusion in an osteoarthritic patient following Pentosan Polysulphate Sodium treatment: a case report.

BACKGROUND: At present, there are no registered products for the treatment of subchondral Bone Marrow Edema Lesion (BML) and associated knee pain. Patients who do not respond to current anti-inflammatory therapies are left with limited treatment options, and may resort to operative management with Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). We report the use of Pentosan Polysulphate Sodium (PPS) for the treatment of BMLs of the knee. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 70-year-old female with knee osteoarthritis presenting with a high level of knee pain, scoring 8 on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and functional limitation demonstrating a poor Lysholm Knee Score of 37. MRI scans of the knee revealed subchondral BML in the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau. The patient was administered a course of Pentosan Polysulphate Sodium (PPS) intramuscularly twice weekly, for 3 weeks. MRI scans 2 weeks post-treatment showed complete resolution of the bone marrow edema at the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau with concomitant recovery from pain (NRS pain score of 0), and a 43% improvement of the Lysholm Knee Score. In addition, marked reduction in joint effusion was also demonstrated in the MRI scan post PPS therapy. CONCLUSION: The MRI interpretations demonstrate improved clinical outcome measures ensuing therapeutic intervention with PPS, and warranting further investigation into the efficacy of PPS in the treatment of BML associated pain and dysfunction in the osteoarthritic population via randomized controlled trial, or equivalent rigorous methodological technique.