Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA
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Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc · Jun 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialArthroscopic knee chondroplasty using a bipolar radiofrequency-based device compared to mechanical shaver: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled study.
Both mechanical shavers and radiofrequency-based devices are used to treat symptomatic partial thickness chondral lesions. Controversy exists as to which mode of treatment provides better outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical results after bipolar radiofrequency-based chondroplasty (RFC) to mechanical shaver debridement (MSD). ⋯ At 1 year, RFC patients had significantly better Tegner score (4.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.6, P < 0.001) and KOOS domain scores for pain, symptoms, ADL, QOL, respectively (81.1 +/- 8, vs. 59.4 +/- 12.8; 80.7 +/- 7.5 vs. 59.6 +/- 7.5; 81.5 +/- 6.5 vs. 60.1 +/- 6.9; 80 +/- 10 vs. 61.3 +/- 12.5; P < 0.001) than MSD patients. Significantly fewer RFC patients (2% vs 23%, p = 0.026) reported using NSAIDS for knee pain at 1 year. Patients undergoing radiofrequency-based chondroplasty for ICRS grade III medial femoral condyle chondral lesions in conjunction with partial meniscectomy had significantly better clinical outcomes through 1 year than patients with similar pathology receiving chondral debridement using the mechanical shaver.
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Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc · Jun 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of biophysical stimulation in patients undergoing arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament: prospective, randomized and double blind study.
Pre-clinical studies have shown that treatment by pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) can limit the catabolic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on articular cartilage and favour the anabolic activity of the chondrocytes. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is usually performed by arthroscopic procedure that, even if minimally invasive, may elicit an inflammatory joint reaction detrimental to articular cartilage. In this study the effect of I-ONE PEMFs treatment in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction was investigated. ⋯ The results of this study show that patient's functional recovery occurs earlier in the active group. No side effects were observed and the treatment was well tolerated. The use of I-ONE should always be considered after ACL reconstruction, particularly in professional athletes, to shorten the recovery time, to limit joint inflammatory reaction and its catabolic effects on articular cartilage and ultimately for joint preservation.
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Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc · Jun 2008
Suprascapular nerve block as a method of preemptive pain control in shoulder surgery.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) in shoulder surgery. The study group consisted of 260 patients, which were subjected to shoulder operations. The patients were divided into two equal groups: group I with nerve block compared to a control group II without a nerve block. ⋯ Pre-operatively the mean VAS was comparable between both groups. We documented a significant difference in favour of SSNB from day 1 to day 3 after surgery. No specific complications due to this nerve block procedure were found in any patient post-operatively.