BACKGROUND: Due to the presence of numerous problems in osteoarthritis, e.g., the presence of one or more chronic diseases, reduced self-esteem and reduced ability to cope, patients must undertake readaptation activities. In such circumstances, resources that are necessary for optimal adaptation become of particular importance. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of behavioral resources, namely self-efficacy and optimism, on quality of life perception in early-old-age patients with knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS: An anonymous survey was conducted using recognized research tools: the Index of Severity for Knee Disease, Life Orientation Test, General Self-Efficacy Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life BEFF. The study involved 300 people aged between 60 and 75 years old, including 150 patients diagnosed with gonarthrosis and 150 people without diagnosed joint and muscular diseases of the lower limbs. Non-parametric tests (e.g., Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman\'s correlation coefficient) were used for the statistical analysis of the results, assuming a significance level of p < 0.05.
RESULTS: The level of the examined personal resources was significantly lower in the group of people with gonarthrosis (p < 0.001), among whom low self-efficacy and a tendency toward pessimism prevailed. The results in terms of the level of lower limb joints impairment among the respondents correlated significantly and negatively with self-efficacy (r = -0.239; p = 0.003) and dispositional optimism (r = -0.318; p < 0.001). A higher level of the studied psychosocial resources led to a more favorable assessment of quality of life (p < 0.001) and own health (p < 0.001). In addition, a higher sense of self-competence was associated with better quality of life in the psychological (p = 0.044), social (p < 0.001) and environmental (p < 0.001) domains, while a tendency toward optimism was associated with higher quality of life perception in the social domain (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: It would seem to be reasonable to introduce a routine diagnosis, assessing the level of personal capabilities of elderly people with knee osteoarthritis, which may have a beneficial effect on their perception of their quality of life and their own health.

We aimed to investigate the effects of delivering 3 gait retraining interventions (toe-in, toe-out, and placebo gait) on proxy measures of medial knee load (early- and late-stance peak knee adduction moment [KAM], KAM impulse, and varus thrust) in people with knee osteoarthritis, using a hybrid model of face-to-face and telehealth-delivered sessions over 5 months. This was an originally planned 3-arm randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. However, during the 2021 COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown in Sydney, Australia, the study became a pilot randomized controlled trial with the remainder of interventions delivered via telehealth. Nine individuals with symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis were allocated to receive either a toe-in, toe-out, or posture re-education (placebo) gait retraining intervention. Primary outcomes of early- and late-stance peak KAM, KAM impulse, and varus thrust were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Eight participants returned for their follow-up gait assessment. Participants in both active intervention groups (toe-in and toe-out) achieved foot progression angle changes at follow-up. Overall, knee biomechanics in the placebo group did not change at follow-up. It is possible to achieve biomechanical changes in individuals with medial knee osteoarthritis when delivering gait retraining interventions via a hybrid model of face-to-face and telehealth.

BACKGROUND: population aging is a worldwide demographic phenomenon of the last thirty years. This increase in life expectancy leads to an increase in the incidence of degenerative diseases, mainly gonarthrosis. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 10% of the population over 60 years of age suffers from osteoarthrosis, and 40% of the population over 70 years of age suffers from gonarthrosis, figures that could increase in the next decade. Approximately 80% of people over 65 years of age present radiographic changes with evidence of gonarthrosis, being 10-25% of the reason for medical visits at the first level of care. Treatment with intra-articular platelet rich plasma has proven to be an effective therapeutic alternative.
METHODS: a prospective, quasi-experimental, non-randomized study was carried out to compare the behavior of grade I and II gonarthrosis in 140 patients diagnosed clinically and radiologically. Separated into two groups of patients, the first group treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the second group treated with intra-articular infiltration with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The same was carried out in the Specialties Clinic No. 3 of the Cuauhtémoc Health Jurisdiction, in the orthopedics office during the year 2020. Descriptive statistics were analyzed through the elaboration of a frequency table that allowed us to calculate the mean and standard deviation, and inferential statistics were analyzed through the 2 test.
RESULTS: the age group most affected by gonarthrosis is 60 to 69 years of age with 43.5% of the total number of patients, being the female sex the most affected with 33.5%. Most of the patients had a body mass index that placed them as overweight and obese with 39 and 53% respectively. Pain evolved towards improvement in 92% of patients treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and in 25.7% of patients treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The functional capacity of the knee joint recovered in 97% of the patients treated with PRP and in 35.7% of those treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
CONCLUSIONS: treatment of grade I and II gonarthrosis with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma is more effective than treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
UNASSIGNED: el envejecimiento poblacional es un fenómeno demográfico a nivel mundial de los últimos 30 años. Dicho aumento de la expectativa de vida conlleva a un incremento en la incidencia de enfermedades degenerativas, principalmente de gonartrosis. Según cálculos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), se estima que 10% de la población mayor de 60 años padece de osteoartrosis, 40% de la población mayor de 70 años presenta gonartrosis, cifras que podrían aumentar en la siguiente década. Aproximadamente 80% de las personas mayores de 65 años presentan cambios radiográficos con evidencia de gonartrosis, siendo 10-25% del motivo de visita médica en el primer nivel de atención. El tratamiento con plasma rico en plaquetas intraarticular ha demostrado ser una alternativa terapéutica eficaz.
UNASSIGNED: se realizó un estudio prospectivo, cuasiexperimental, no aleatorizado donde se comparó el comportamiento de la gonartrosis grado I y II en 140 pacientes diagnosticados clínica y radiológicamente. Separados en dos grupos de pacientes: primer grupo tratado con antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINEs) y el segundo grupo tratado con infiltración intraarticular con plasma rico en plaquetas (PRP). El mismo se llevó a cabo en la Clínica de Especialidades No. 3 de la Jurisdicción Sanitaria Cuauhtémoc, en la consulta de ortopedia durante el año 2020. La estadística descriptiva se analizó a partir de la elaboración de una tabla de frecuencias que permitió calcular la media y la desviación estándar, de igual manera la estadística inferencial se analizó a través de la 2.
RESULTS: el grupo de edad más afectado por gonartrosis es el de 60 a 69 años de edad con 43.5% del total de pacientes, siendo el sexo femenino el más afectado con 33.5%. La mayoría de los pacientes presentaron índice de masa corporal que los ubicaba como sobrepeso y obesos con 39 y 53%, respectivamente. El dolor evolucionó hacia una mejoría en 92% de los pacientes tratados con plasma rico en plaquetas y en 25.7% de los pacientes tratados con antiinflamatorios no esteroideos. La capacidad funcional de la articulación de la rodilla se recuperó en 97% de los pacientes tratados con plasma rico en plaquetas y en 35.7% de los tratados con antiinflamatorios no esteroideos.
CONCLUSIONS: el tratamiento de la gonartrosis grado I y II con plasma rico en plaquetas intraarticular es más efectivo que el tratamiento con antiinflamatorios no esteroideos.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis is one of the most common degenerative conditions that causes pain, stiffness, and decreased functionality. The management of knee osteoarthritis necessitates collaboration among specialists from different disciplines, considering the primary clinical manifestations and functional level of the disease. The aim of this study was to highlight the disparities in postoperative outcomes between knee arthroplasty procedures with and without non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The study specifically focuses on the immediate advantages and outcomes observed at the 6-month milestone.
METHODS: This study followed 713 patients who were randomly divided into two groups: a group that did not receive non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (N-NSAIDs) consisting of 394 patients, and a group that received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) comprising 319 patients. The study spanned a duration of 5 years (2018-2022), with patients being followed and evaluated for up to 6 months after the surgery.
RESULTS: It was observed that, from a therapeutic standpoint, the use of injectable treatments decreased. Significantly better differences were recorded in the N-NSAIDs group regarding return to pre-osteoarthritis activities at 6 months and reduced or absent night pain at 3 months (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant improvements were observed in the N-NSAIDs group concerning the ability to resume pre-osteoarthritis activities within 6 months, as well as a reduction or absence of nighttime pain within 3 months.

Objective During the COVID-19 pandemic, the surgical treatment of orthopedic diseases for elective surgical planning was suspended. This study aimed to evaluate patients\' experiences with gonarthrosis regarding the postponement of non-urgent orthopedic surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods This phenomenological qualitative study was carried out with patients diagnosed with grade 3 or 4 gonarthrosis in the orthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinic of a hospital in western Turkey between February 2021 and March 2021. Interviews with patients were conducted face-to-face using the semi-structured interview guide focusing on patients\' feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Each participant was interviewed once. Data collection was halted based on the saturation of data. Data from semi-structured interviews with patients were analyzed using Colaizzi\'s content analysis method. Results The analysis of the study data yielded three themes: \"lack of knowledge\", \"desperation\" and \"lack of opportunity to cure the gonarthrosis disease\". Four sub-themes were identified under these three categories. While \"not knowing what to do\" and \"unconscious drug use\" were the sub-themes of the theme of lack of knowledge, \"hopelessness\" and \"economic difficulties\" were the sub-themes of the theme of desperation. Conclusion It was determined that patients were helpless due to difficulties accessing health services for other diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. They experienced severe fear because it was unclear how long this process would continue.

UNASSIGNED: Falls are a severe cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients, and gonarthrosis causes a tendency to fall. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a widely used successful surgical procedure for end-stage gonarthrosis.
UNASSIGNED: To investigate whether there is a difference in the frequency of falls, balance and fall risk, and clinical and radiological results in patients with end-stage gonarthrosis with and without TKA.
UNASSIGNED: This was a single-center, retrospective, case-control study with age- and gender-matched groups. A total of 100 patients over 60 years of age, with end-stage gonarthrosis and who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Fall risk was analyzed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), TUG tests, and the ITAKI Fall Risk Test. Knee varus angles were measured using standing long-leg radiographs, and radiological gonarthrosis grading was performed. Pain levels and quality of life were assessed using the VAS and WOMAC. Each patient\'s knee extensor muscle strength and range of motion were measured.
UNASSIGNED: WOMAC, ITAKI, TUG test, and VAS scores were significantly higher in the control group than in the TKA group. BBS scores were significantly lower in the control group. Although the number of falls was high in the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
UNASSIGNED: The results of this study showed that total knee arthroplasty provided statistically significant improvement in the clinical, radiological, and fall risk results of the patients. Although there was a decrease in the frequency of falls compared to the control group, it was statistically insignificant. In addition, in our study, it was evaluated that the most important risk factor for falling was advanced age.

Gonarthrosis and diabetes mellitus are two diseases that are increasingly being linked. The aim of this study was to quantify serum levels of Gal-3, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (including their ratios and correlations), and participant\'s condition (pain, stiffness, functional limitations) in gonarthrosis patients with and without diabetes mellitus.
A between-subject, cross-sectional experimental design was adopted. Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-10, Gal-3, and WOMAC score were measured.
Gonarthrosis patients with diabetes mellitus had significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IFN-γ, and Gal-3 compared to gonarthrosis patients without diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, IL-10/TNF-α, IL-10/IL-6, IL-10/IL-12, Gal-3/TNF-α, Gal-3/IL-6, and Gal-3/IL-12 (p = 0.001) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in gonarthrosis with diabetes mellitus. Moderate-large correlation (p < 0.05) was detected between the serum values of Gal-3 and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-12 (r = 0.575), IL-10 (r = 0.535), TNF-α (r = 0.306), and IL-23 (r = 0.323). WOMAC index was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in gonarthrosis patients without diabetes mellitus compared to gonarthrosis patients with diabetes mellitus.
Correlation between Gal-3 and proinflammatory cytokines and its dominance over proinflammatory cytokines implicate the potential role of Gal-3 in preventing cartilage destruction.

BACKGROUND: In 2019, Germany had the highest rate of hip replacement surgery and the fourth highest rate of knee replacement surgery among more than 30 OECD countries. The age-standardised rates were estimated at 174 hip joint and 137 knee joint replacements per 100,000 population. Against this background, the contrast between financial incentives for surgery and missing incentives for non-surgical treatment options is repeatedly discussed. Quality indicators (QIs) can serve to measure and transparently present the quality of evidence-based care. Comparing results in the form of audit and feedback has been shown to improve e.g. guideline-compliant ambulatory care. Existing QIs targeting the care of gon- and coxarthrosis mainly focus on discharge management after joint replacement surgery and/or require additional data collection. Therefore, as part of the MobilE-ARTH project, a set of QIs for ambulatory care prior to joint replacement surgery calculable based on routine data is being developed. The present study\'s aim is to evaluate the impact of this QI set in terms of providing feedback on the quality of care.
METHODS: The MobilE-ARTH project comprises (Phase 1) developing a QI set following the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, (Phase 2) implementing the QIs in established physician networks of a German statutory health insurance (SHI) within a prospective, non-blinded, cluster-randomised pilot study, and (Phase 3) evaluating the QI set\'s effectiveness. The physicians in the intervention networks will (a) receive feedback reports providing information about the routine data-based QIs of their gon- and/or coxarthrosis patients and aggregated results for their network, and (b) be invited to two voluntary, facilitated network meetings. In these network meetings, the physicians can use the information provided on the feedback reports to discuss multiprofessional care pathways for patients with gon- and/or coxarthrosis. Selected indicators of the QI set will serve as primary and secondary outcome measures. Routine data will be analysed within multi-level models using an intention-to-treat approach.
CONCLUSIONS: Feedback reports help maintaining clinical standards and closing the gap between evidence and medical practice, thus enabling an overall improvement in health care. Providing physicians with QI-based information on quality of care promotes identifying strengths and weaknesses in medical treatments.
BACKGROUND: German Clinical Trials Register, number DRKS00027516 , Registered 25th January 2022 - Prospectively registered.

BACKGROUND: Short-wave diathermy (SWD) is an electrotherapeutic modality used in the conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Electromagnetic radiation delivered in continuous (cSWD) or pulse (pSWD) mode provides a deep heating effect on tissues. There is no consensus on outcomes of treatment with cSWD versus pSWD in KOA. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cSWD versus pSWD on pain, functionality and walking distance in KOA.
METHODS: 34 female patients aged 49-65 with KOA were randomized into two groups. A total of 27 patients completed the study. One group (n=11) was treated with cSWD, the other (n=16) with pSWD for three weeks. Patients were assessed before, after and at one month post therapy. Outcome measures included visual analogue scale (VAS) for knee pain, Western Ontario and Mcmaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and a six-minute walking test (6MWT).
RESULTS: Based on the minimal clinically important improvement (MCII), there was a reduction in VAS and WOMAC scores in both cSWD and pSWD groups post treatment (-37.3mm, 31.2mm respectively for VAS and 26%, 23% respectively for WOMAC) and at one month post treatment. There was no difference in pre and post treatment VAS for pain, WOMAC or 6MWT scores between the two groups. There was a small post treatment effect size on between- group 6MWT scores (Cohen\'s d: 0.238).
CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment options appear to be efficacious in reducing pain and improving functionality in KOA. There was no between-group difference. A larger study must be conducted to consolidate these findings.

UNASSIGNED: In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to exercise treatment in the knee osteoarthritis (OA).
UNASSIGNED: A total of 100 patients (9 males, 76 females; mean age 54.8±8.5 years; range, 40 to 70 years) with Stage II-III bilateral knee OA enrolled to the study and randomized into two groups between January 2015 and June 2015. Group 1 performed exercise and received OMT and Group 2 performed exercise alone. We assessed the clinical parameters with Western Ontario MacMaster Questionnaire (WOMAC) pain score, WOMAC joint stiffness score, WOMAC physical function score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and 50-m walking time. All patients were assessed at the beginning of the study, just after the treatment, and four weeks after the treatment.
UNASSIGNED: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of physical examination and clinical assessment parameters before treatment. Functional improvement (p<0.05) and pain relief (p<0.05) were significantly higher in the exercise + OMT group.
UNASSIGNED: Based on our study results, OMT is a particular treatment used by osteopathic physicians to complement conventional treatment of OA of the knee. In addition to the conservative treatment, OMT can be used.