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Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and... Jun 2024The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature regarding the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) using... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature regarding the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) using autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC), while also discussing the mid-long term functional outcomes, complications, and surgical failure rate.
METHODS
We searched Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies on OLT treated with AMIC with an average follow-up of at least 2 years. Publication information, patient data, functional scores, surgical failure rate, and complications were extracted.
RESULTS
A total of 15 studies were screened and included, with 12 case series selected for meta-analysis and 3 non-randomized controlled studies chosen for descriptive analysis. The improvements in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot, and Tegner scores at the last follow-up were (SMD = - 2.825, 95% CI - 3.343 to - 2.306, P < 0.001), (SMD = 2.73, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.86, P < 0.001), (SMD = 0.85, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.2, P < 0.001) respectively compared to preoperative values. The surgery failure rate was 11% (95% CI 8-15%), with a total of 12 patients experiencing complications.
CONCLUSION
The use of AMIC demonstrates a positive impact on pain management, functional improvement, and mobility enhancement in patients with OLT. It is worth noting that the choice of stent for AMIC, patient age, and OLT size can influence the ultimate clinical outcomes. This study provides evidences supporting the safety and efficacy of AMIC as a viable treatment option in real-world medical practice.
Topics: Humans; Talus; Chondrogenesis; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome; Time Factors; Cartilage, Articular
PubMed: 38915104
DOI: 10.1186/s13018-024-04864-z -
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage May 2024To assess the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for chronic knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis (OA).
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for chronic knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis (OA).
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central to September 2023 for trials that (1) enrolled patients with chronic pain associated with knee OA, and (2) randomized them to MSC therapy vs. placebo or usual care. We performed random-effects meta-analysis and used Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation to assess the certainty of evidence.
RESULTS
We included 16 trials (807 participants). At 3-6 months, MSC therapy probably results in little to no difference in pain relief (weighted mean difference [WMD] -0.74 cm on a 10 cm visual analog scale [VAS], 95% confidence interval [95%CI] -1.16 to -0.33; minimally important difference [MID] 1.5 cm) or physical functioning (WMD 2.23 points on 100-point 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) physical functioning subscale, 95%CI -0.97 to 5.43; MID 10-points; both moderate certainty). At 12 months, injection of MSCs probably results in little to no difference in pain (WMD -0.73 cm on a 10 cm VAS, 95%CI -1.69 to 0.24; moderate certainty) and may improve physical functioning (WMD 19.36 points on 100-point SF-36 PF subscale, 95%CI -0.19 to 38.9; low certainty). MSC therapy may increase risk of any adverse events (risk ratio [RR] 2.67, 95%CI 1.19 to 5.99; low certainty) and pain and swelling of the knee joint (RR 1.58, 95%CI 1.04 to 2.38; low certainty).
CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular injection of MSCs for chronic knee pain associated with OA probably provides little to no improvement in pain or physical function.
PubMed: 38777213
DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.04.021 -
Cells Apr 2024The aim of this study was to review the current literature regarding the effects of intra-articularly applied, fat-derived orthobiologics (FDO) in the treatment of...
The aim of this study was to review the current literature regarding the effects of intra-articularly applied, fat-derived orthobiologics (FDO) in the treatment of primary knee osteoarthritis over a mid-term follow-up period. A systematic literature search was conducted on the online databases of Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library. Studies investigating intra-articularly applied FDO with a minimum number of 10 knee osteoarthritis patients, a follow-up period of at least 2 years, and at least 1 reported functional parameter (pain level or Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) were included. Exclusion criteria encompassed focal chondral defects and techniques including additional arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation. In 28 of 29 studies, FDO showed a subjective improvement in symptoms (pain and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) up to a maximum follow-up of 7.2 years. Radiographic cartilage regeneration up to 3 years postoperatively, as well as macroscopic cartilage regeneration investigated via second-look arthroscopy, may corroborate the favorable clinical findings in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The methodological heterogeneity in FDO treatments leads to variations in cell composition and represents a limitation in the current state of knowledge. However, this systematic review suggests that FDO injection leads to beneficial mid-term results including symptom reduction and preservation of the affected joint in knee osteoarthritis patients.
Topics: Humans; Adipose Tissue; Injections, Intra-Articular; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38727286
DOI: 10.3390/cells13090750 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024The damping system ensured by the osteochondral (OC) unit is essential to deploy the forces generated within load-bearing joints during locomotion, allowing furthermore... (Review)
Review
The damping system ensured by the osteochondral (OC) unit is essential to deploy the forces generated within load-bearing joints during locomotion, allowing furthermore low-friction sliding motion between bone segments. The OC unit is a multi-layer structure including articular cartilage, as well as subchondral and trabecular bone. The interplay between the OC tissues is essential in maintaining the joint functionality; altered loading patterns can trigger biological processes that could lead to degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis. Currently, no effective treatments are available to avoid degeneration beyond tissues' recovery capabilities. A thorough comprehension on the mechanical behaviour of the OC unit is essential to (i) soundly elucidate its overall response to intra-articular loads for developing diagnostic tools capable of detecting non-physiological strain levels, (ii) properly evaluate the efficacy of innovative treatments in restoring physiological strain levels, and (iii) optimize regenerative medicine approaches as potential and less-invasive alternatives to arthroplasty when irreversible damage has occurred. Therefore, the leading aim of this review was to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art-up to 2022-about the mechanical behaviour of the OC unit. A systematic search is performed, according to PRISMA standards, by focusing on studies that experimentally assess the human lower-limb joints' OC tissues. A multi-criteria decision-making method is proposed to quantitatively evaluate eligible studies, in order to highlight only the insights retrieved through sound and robust approaches. This review revealed that studies on human lower limbs are focusing on the knee and articular cartilage, while hip and trabecular bone studies are declining, and the ankle and subchondral bone are poorly investigated. Compression and indentation are the most common experimental techniques studying the mechanical behaviour of the OC tissues, with indentation also being able to provide information at the micro- and nanoscales. While a certain comparability among studies was highlighted, none of the identified testing protocols are currently recognised as standard for any of the OC tissues. The fibril-network-reinforced poro-viscoelastic constitutive model has become common for describing the response of the articular cartilage, while the models describing the mechanical behaviour of mineralised tissues are usually simpler (i.e., linear elastic, elasto-plastic). Most advanced studies have tested and modelled multiple tissues of the same OC unit but have done so individually rather than through integrated approaches. Therefore, efforts should be made in simultaneously evaluating the comprehensive response of the OC unit to intra-articular loads and the interplay between the OC tissues. In this regard, a multidisciplinary approach combining complementary techniques, e.g., full-field imaging, mechanical testing, and computational approaches, should be implemented and validated. Furthermore, the next challenge entails transferring this assessment to a non-invasive approach, allowing its application in vivo, in order to increase its diagnostic and prognostic potential.
PubMed: 38612211
DOI: 10.3390/ma17071698 -
Cartilage Mar 2024Retrograde drilling is an established surgical technique to treat osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). It involves non-trans-articular drilling to induce...
BACKGROUND
Retrograde drilling is an established surgical technique to treat osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT). It involves non-trans-articular drilling to induce subchondral bone revascularization and bone formation without damaging the overlying articular cartilage. The present study aimed to elucidate the heterogeneity of clinical studies on retrograde drilling for OLT.
DESIGN
A systematic search of the MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published between January 1996 and August 27, 2022, was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines by two independent reviewers. The included studies were evaluated for their level of evidence (LoE) and quality of evidence (QoE) using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score. Variables reporting surgical and clinical outcomes and complications were evaluated.
RESULTS
Eleven studies with 207 ankles were included (mean follow-up period = 31.1 months). The mean LoE was 3.8 (LoE 3: two studies, LoE 4: nine studies), and the mean QoE was 50.8 (fair: three studies, poor: eight studies). Ten studies used the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, which improved from 57.9 preoperatively to 86.1 postoperatively. The period and protocol of conservative treatment, lesion character, surgical technique, and postoperative protocol were inconsistent or underreported.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review revealed that low LoE and poor QoE, coupled with heterogeneity among the included studies, impede definitive conclusions regarding the effectiveness of this technique. Consequently, well-designed clinical trials are essential to develop standardized clinical guidelines for using retrograde drilling in OLT.
PubMed: 38506486
DOI: 10.1177/19476035241239303 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Damage to the articular cartilage resulting in an acute tear can lead to functional changes within the joint and increase the risk of osteoarthritis developing. There is... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Damage to the articular cartilage resulting in an acute tear can lead to functional changes within the joint and increase the risk of osteoarthritis developing. There is limited understanding of the association between occupational risk factors and sustaining an acute articular cartilage tear in the military and other physically demanding occupations. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate original research reporting on occupational risk factors associated with sustaining acute articular cartilage tears.
METHODS
A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis-Protocols was conducted and registered with the Open Science Framework. Key academic databases were searched using terms from the following concepts: risk or cause, paid occupations, and acute articular cartilage tears.
RESULTS
Of an initial 941 studies, 2 studies met the eligibility criteria, both reporting data from military contexts; only one evaluated acute articular cartilage tears in both males and females. One paper focused on articular cartilage injury within the knee and the other within the ankle joint with incidence rates being 0.2 and 0.3 per 1000 person-years, respectively. People in more physically active occupations and individuals with an above-normal body mass index were reported as being at higher risk of sustaining an acute articular cartilage tear.
CONCLUSION
Physically demanding occupations, such as the military, may increase the risk for acute tears of the articular cartilage. However, the findings of this review indicate there is a paucity of research to underpin understanding of the injury mechanisms and occupational risk factors for acute articular cartilage tears.
PubMed: 38470706
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12050595 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024Corticosteroid injections have demonstrated short-term benefits for shoulder pain. This symptomatic treatment method is used in various inflammatory conditions that... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Corticosteroid injections have demonstrated short-term benefits for shoulder pain. This symptomatic treatment method is used in various inflammatory conditions that affect the shoulder joint. Corticosteroid joint injections are not without risks and complications. Adverse effects have been documented, including damage to the articular cartilage, tendon rupture, and attenuation of the subject's immune response. The aim of this study was to examine the timing of preoperative corticosteroid injections on infectious outcomes of shoulder arthroscopies and shoulder arthroplasty.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), the PubMed, Cochrane, and Science Direct databases were systematically reviewed by two independent authors in January 2024. After full-text reading and checking the reference lists, 11 article were included.
RESULTS
Patients who received a shoulder injection within three months prior to undergoing shoulder arthroplasty exhibited a markedly elevated incidence of infection. In addition, a significantly increased risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) at 90 days postoperatively in patients who received CSIs (corticosteroid injections) within 1 month prior to shoulder arthroplasty was found. Different authors consider CSI injections within the 2 weeks prior to shoulder arthroscopy surgery principally associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection.
DISCUSSION
There is still no consensus on the correct timing of preoperative CSIs in both arthroscopic and arthroplasty procedures. The literature does not identify whether the number of preoperative injections could increase the risk of periprosthetic infection. Obesity, sex, and smoking did not have a significant effect on PJIs; alcohol abuse could be considered as a risk factor for PJIs with CSIs. Both in prosthetic surgeries and in arthroscopy procedures, modifiable and unmodifiable factors play secondary roles. The risk of postoperative infection is greater within 3 months, although it is almost comparable at one- and two-year follow-ups.
PubMed: 38470654
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12050543 -
PloS One 2024Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promise for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, potentially enhanced by combining them with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Modified Mesenchymal stem cell, platelet-rich plasma, and hyaluronic acid intervention in early stage osteoarthritis: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of arthroscopic-guided intra-articular approaches.
BACKGROUND
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promise for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment, potentially enhanced by combining them with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyaluronic acid (HA). This study aimed to assess the synergy of MSCs, PRP, and varying HA doses, and determine optimal MSC sources to treat early-stage OA in the perspective of Lysholm score, VAS Score, KSS score, and WOMAC score.
METHOD
Original articles from 2013 to 2023 were screened from four databases, focusing on clinical trials and randomized controlled trials. The Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROB-2) tool evaluated bias, and a PICOS criteria table guided result construction. Revman 5.4 analyzed outcomes such as Lysholm score, VAS score, KSS, WOMAC score, cartilage volume, and defect size using MRI. This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines.
RESULT
Nine studies met the final inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed a significant improvement in Lysholm score (MD: 17.89; 95% CI: 16.01, 19.77; I2 = 0%, P = 0.56), a notable reduction in VAS score (MD: -2.62; 95% CI: -2.83, -2.41; I2 = 99%, P < 0.00001), elevated KSS (MD: 29.59; 95% CI: 27.66, 31.52; I2 = 95%, P < 0.0001), and reduced WOMAC score (MD: -12.38; 95% CI: -13.75, -11.01; I2 = 99%, P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic guided high-dose subchondral application of primary cultured synovial MSCs in popliteal PRP media with HA effectively regenerates cartilage defects and improves clinical outcomes in early-stage osteoarthritis. Clarification of MSC sources and quantities enhances the understanding of this promising treatment modality.
Topics: Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Viscosupplements; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Injections, Intra-Articular; Platelet-Rich Plasma; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38457479
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295876 -
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery... May 2024The aim of the present review is to systematically analyse the current literature about gender differences in hip or knee cartilage composition and degeneration, to help... (Review)
Review
The aim of the present review is to systematically analyse the current literature about gender differences in hip or knee cartilage composition and degeneration, to help explaining how and why osteoarthritis affects women more often and more severely than men. A systematic review of the literature in English was performed. Eleven studies on 1962 patients (905 females and 787 males) that reported differences on cartilage composition between males and females were included. Nine evaluated the knee, one the hip, and one both. They were heterogeneous in their methods: one conducted histological analyses, and all the others evaluated cartilage characteristics (volume, width, and composition) through magnetic resonance imaging. All authors reported gender differences in both volume and morphology of the cartilage, from infancy to menopause. In fact, a study on 92 healthy children statistically showed significant gender differences in cartilage thickness at all sites, even after adjustment for age, body, and bone size. Gender differences become more evident after menopause, when women have a lower cartilage volume and a higher cartilage loss. Men show significantly higher knee and hip cartilage volumes than women, and women carry a significantly greater risk to develop osteoarthritis. This is in part due to body and bone size, but also depends on qualitative and quantitative differences in the composition of cartilage and its degeneration rate after menopause. Structural changes in cartilage that occur between genders during ageing have significance in the development of osteoarthritis.
Topics: Humans; Cartilage, Articular; Female; Male; Osteoarthritis, Hip; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Sex Factors; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Knee Joint; Hip Joint; Middle Aged; Adult; Aged; Child
PubMed: 38456943
DOI: 10.1007/s00590-024-03871-4 -
Osteoarthritis Imaging Sep 2023Intra-articular corticosteroid injections (IACS) are interventions which provide pain relief in knee osteoarthritis (OA). It remains unclear whether IACS have a...
Longitudinal MRI-defined Cartilage Loss and Radiographic Joint Space Narrowing Following Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Intra-articular corticosteroid injections (IACS) are interventions which provide pain relief in knee osteoarthritis (OA). It remains unclear whether IACS have a deleterious effect on knee cartilage structure.
PURPOSE
To estimate the effect of IACS on cartilage structure in patients with knee OA, using joint space width (JSW) (in radiographic studies), and cartilage thickness (in magnetic resonance imaging).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A literature search was performed to identify randomized control trials and observational studies published from inception to June 15, 2022. Studies were included if patients received IACS for knee OA, with a control arm. Given the different metrics used in reporting continuous variable outcomes among studies, pooled estimates for cartilage thickness change were assessed using standardized mean differences (defined as the difference between the means of the groups divided by a within-group standard deviation) to odds ratio transformation. Sensitivity analyses were conducted based on outcome metric, imaging modality, and number of injections.
RESULTS
Six studies (1437 participants) were identified. The estimated effect of IACS on cartilage structure revealed greater odds of cartilage structure worsening (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.01, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.18,3.44). Sensitivity analyses revealed similar trends, with significant results for singular injections with preference to JSW (OR: 2.44, 95%CI: 1.23,4.82), radiographic outcomes with preference to KL grade (OR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.01,4.10), binary outcomes with preference to KL grade (OR: 2.93, 95%CI: 1.18,7.25) and quantitative measures (Standardized Mean Differences (SMD): -0.34, 95%CI: -0.66, -0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
IACS use may contribute to imaging features of knee cartilage loss. Further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying pathogenesis.
PubMed: 38455990
DOI: 10.1016/j.ostima.2023.100157