Rheumatology
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In rehabilitation, treatment is individually tailored to each patient's goals. Individualized instruments allow patients to choose domains that they consider important, which may make them particularly appropriate as evaluative tools in this setting. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the patient generated index (PGI) in patients with rheumatic diseases participating in inpatient rehabilitation or self-management programmes. ⋯ The results support the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the Norwegian version of the PGI in patients with rheumatic diseases and its application as an outcome measure in rehabilitation or self-management programmes. Further research is needed to improve completion rates for the PGI.
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To study comorbidity correlates of moderate to severe pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ This study identified medical and psychological comorbidity risk factors for moderate to severe pain after primary and revision TKA. This information can be used to provide realistic outcome expectations for patients before undergoing primary or revision TKA.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I with neridronate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is a severely disabling pain syndrome for which no definite treatment has been established. The aim of this multi-centre, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was to test the efficacy of the amino-bisphosphonate neridronate in patients with CRP-I. ⋯ In patients with acute CRPS-I, four i.v. infusions of neridronate 100 mg are associated with clinically relevant and persistent benefits. These results provide conclusive evidence that the use of bisphosphonates, at appropriate doses, is the treatment of choice for CRPS-I.
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Optimal care in RA includes early use of DMARDs to prevent joint damage and hopefully decrease the need for costly surgical interventions. Our objective was to determine whether a reduced rate of orthopaedic surgery was evident for persons with RA who saw a rheumatologist early in the disease course. ⋯ Persons with RA who consult a rheumatologist later in the disease course have a worse outcome in terms of eventual requirement for orthopaedic surgery.