Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

关节镜下可吸收性半月板箭治疗半月板损伤的初步报告

目的关节镜下应用可吸收性半月板箭治疗半月板损伤并评价其近期疗效。方法2002年2～10月,关节镜下采用半月板箭缝合固定12例12侧半月板损伤,男5例,女7例;年龄18～58岁,平均33.2岁。左膝4例,右膝8例。内侧半月板损伤4例,外侧半月板损伤8例;前角损伤2例,体部损伤3例,后角损伤7例。红区损伤10例,红-白区损伤2例。病程3d～5个月,平均2.3个月,其中急性损伤(病程<1个月)9例。关节镜下采用新型全内半月板箭技术固定,共使用25枚半月板箭(平均每例2.1枚)。5例同时施行其它类型手术。结果所有病例术后均无早期并发症发生。全部患者均获得随访,随访时间7～13个月,平均10.2个月。随访时所有患者膝关节稳定,无疼痛、绞锁等症状,6周后关节活动度全面恢复。Lysholm评分由术前的平均(45.6±13.4)分增加到术后平均(82.4±16.3)分,差异有显著性(P< 0.05)。2例分别于术后8个月和9个月出现关节积液,考虑为滑膜炎,经治疗后消失。结论对于半月板损伤,如撕裂类型和部位适当,可选择可吸收性半月板箭治疗。半月板箭技术是一种简便快捷、安全有效的半月板缝合方法。     

Intra-articular arteriovenous malformation of the knee

Two young men with longstanding suprapatellar masses are presented. The initial clinical diagnosis was of a synovial or soft tissue tumour. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the features of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Surgical exploration and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. AVMs, although rare, should be considered as a possible diagnosis of a peri-articular swelling of the knee.     

胫骨髁间嵴增生在膝关节退行性变诊断中的临床价值探讨

本研究分３组，典型膝关节退行性变组（简称退变组）５０例，早期膝关节退行性变组（简称早退组）１５例，对照组３０例。分别测量每组Ｘ线片的内、外侧胫骨髁间嵴角与内、外侧嵴高平台比值。经统计学处理，两指标所测值在退变组与对照组及早退组与对照组之间有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０５），而退变组与早退组之间则无显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。结果表明：胫骨髁间嵴硬化变尖不仅是膝关节退行性变的特征性表现之一，而且是其早期Ｘ线征象。     

Histological comparison of patellar cartilage degeneration between chondromalacia in youth and osteoarthritis in aging

The histological findings of the patellar cartilage were compared between cases of chondromalacia, which occurs predominantly in young persons (22 patients, average age 19.8 years) and cases of osteoarthritis, which is common among the elderly (21 patients, average age 65.4 years). The histological findings of cartilage in the chondromalacia were characterized by increased density and vigorous fibrous metaplasia of chondrocytes. These findings may be considered to represent a reactive change in the chondrocyte. Cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis, by contrast, is regressive and presents a clearly different histological picture from that of chondromalacia patellae. We conclude that chondromalacia does not easily lead to osteoarthritis. On the other hand, the cartilage was characteristically softened, as observed by gross inspection, and showed rarefaction of the cartilage matrix. It should be noted that the change was not observed in aging, but showed a pattern of cartilage degeneration peculiar to young patients with chondromalacia patellae.     

Delayed Reduction of Irreducible Chronic Posterolateral Dislocation of the Knee with Buttonholing of the Medial Femoral Condyle

Abstract Traumatic knee dislocations are relatively rare and almost always respond to closed reduction; however, a small percentage of knee dislocations are irreducible and in these cases open reduction is frequently required. A 65-year-old man with an unreduced posterolateral knee dislocation with laterally dislocated patella was seen 3 weeks after a motor vehicle accident. Medial femoral condyle was found buttonholed through the medial capsule together with the medial collateral ligament and lying in the medial joint space that allowed posterior rotary dislocation of the joint. Both cruciate ligaments and medial meniscus were torn. There was no evidence of any vascular or nerve injury. Reduction was accomplished by removal of the capsuloligamentous structures which were incarcerated in the trochlea and intercondylar notch and by excision of meniscal tear. Following posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft, lateral patellar release, vastus medialis advancement, and gracilis transfer were done.     

细胞因子与骨性关节炎软骨退变的研究现状

骨性关节炎是最常见关节疾患之一,是导致中老年残疾的最常见原因,严重危害着中老年人的生活质量。骨性关节炎的主要病理是软骨的改变,软骨细胞分解和合成活动的平衡有助于维持软骨细胞外基质结构和功能的完整性,而软骨细胞的这种平衡受到细胞因子制约,本文就近年来细胞因子与OA软骨退变之间的研究现状综述。     

Computerised and technical navigation in total knee-arthroplasty

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the precision, concordance, practicability and the early clinical outcome of the use of a computerised navigation system in a comparative study with a group of 100 patients. Two groups of 50 patients each underwent implantation of a bicondylar knee prosthesis either by means of the freehand navigation system or by means of technical instrumentation. We found that the computerised navigation system provided a higher precision than the technically instrumented implantation: 94% of the prostheses implanted with the navigation system have an alignment within a range of -3° to 3° on of the Mikulicz line. Only 46% of the patients operated by means of the technical instrumentation reached this aspired result. Furthermore, the navigation system showed smaller ranges in the deviation of the aspired alignment. The radiological and computer-modeled alignment values differed both pre- and postoperatively, but to a larger extent before surgery. The varus or valgus deviations of the axis were more distinct radiologically under the weight of the patient’s body than in the computer model. The clinical outcome examined by the use of the HSS score after a mean followup of 7 months is good in both groups, and without significant differences. On average, the duration of surgery was 13 minutes longer in the computerised navigation group. We conclude that the benefit of the computerised navigation system is represented by the high improvement of precision. Achieving early clinical results identical to those in the technical instrumentation group, we expect a reduction of aseptic loosening in the computerised navigation group.     

Trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis: a retrospective study comparing arthrodesis to tendon interposition arthroplasty

Abstract Surgical management of trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (OA) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare results of trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis and of tendon interposition arthroplasty. One hundred twenty-six patients suffering from trapeziometacarpal OA underwent surgery between 1996 and 2001. Of these patients, 62 (78 thumbs) treated with joint arthrodesis and 33 (41 thumbs) treated with tendon interposition arthroplasty with abductor pollicis longus (APL) have been evaluated at follow-up and therefore entered this study. Mean age was 53 years, while the mean follow-up was 36 months. Overall results were satisfactory in 84 patients with good pain improvement. Patients treated with arthrodesis showed better functional ability in bi-digital pinch and grip strength. First finger opposition motion, however, was better conserved in patients treated with interposition arthroplasty. Fusions had an 11.5% complication rate (9 thumbs) with nonunions, whereas 14.8% (6 thumbs) of patients treated with interposition arthroplasty developed 1 first metacarpal base collapse, resulting in 1 first ray length reduction. Despite complications, however, patients did not report unsatisfactory results and generally experienced marked pain reduction. This study shows that arthrodesis can be considered the treatment of choice in patients suffering from trapeziometacarpal OA at Eaton stage III or less, whatever the age and when a good pinch strength is needed.