Ergül, EE; Ekinci, B; Hayme, S

Ergül, Emine Esra; Melikoğlu, Meltem Alkan

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the risk of falling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to the healthy individuals and to identify the factors affecting the risk of falls. Patients and methods: Between December 2015 and August 2016, a total of 100 consecutive patients with RA (16 males, 84 females; mean age: 49.5±11.1 years; range, 21 to 65 years) and 50 healthy controls (11 males, 39 females; mean age: 34.3±12.7 years; range, 19 to 63 years) were included in this prospective study. The fall risk was evaluated using the Tetrax Portable Balance System. The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), RA disease activity (Disease Activity Score 28 [DAS28], Clinical Disease Activity Index [CDAI], and Simple Disease Activity Index [SDAI]), and Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) were applied to all participants. Results: The fall risk scores and the FES-I scores were significantly higher in the patients with RA than the control group (p<0.001, p<0.001). A positive significant correlation was found between the Tetrax values of the patients and age, and the scores of the HAQ-DI, FES, DAS28, DAS28-C-reactive protein, CDAI and SDAI. Conclusion: Our study results showed higher fall risk scores in patients with RA than healthy individuals an objective computerized technique, and this higher fall risk appeared to be affected by older age, disease activity, and disability.

Yapıcı, Furkan; Gür, Volkan; Sarı, İlker Fatih; Köksal, Alper; Yurten, Hakan; Üçpunar, Hanifi; Çamurcu, Yalkın

Objectives: This study aims to compare the clinical results of patients rehabilitated with or without a rehabilitative knee brace (RKB) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Patients and methods: This retrospective, comparative study was conducted at between January 2013 and December 2017. A total of 119 patients (112 males, 7 females; mean age: 32.0±8.6 years; range, 18 to 45 years) with acute ACL ruptures treated with arthroscopic ACL reconstruction and rehabilitated with (n=56) or without RKB (n=63) participated in the study. The minimum follow-up time was 24 months. The ACL quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, and Tegner Activity Level Scale were used for the evaluation of the QoL, knee function, and activity level, respectively. The time to return to sports was recorded. The side-to-side difference in the anterior translation of the tibia was measured using a KT-1000 arthrometer. Results: The mean follow-up time was 38.4±9.1 (range, 24 to 56) months. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between groups. Regarding QoL, knee function, and activity level, no significant difference was observed between patients who used RKB and those who did not use it at the postoperative 12th month (p=0.95, p=0.56, p=0.98, respectively) and the latest follow-up (p=0.21, p=0.73, p=0.99, respectively). The mean time to return to sports (nearly 11 months for both groups) and side-to-side difference in the anterior tibial translation at the latest follow-up was also similar between groups (p=0.15 and p=0.15, respectively). There was no graft rupture during the follow-up in both groups. The complication rates were 7.9% and 7.1% for no brace and brace groups, respectively, without a statistically significant difference (p=0.87). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, there was no significant difference between the rehabilitative brace and no brace groups in clinical outcomes after ACL reconstruction.

Issın, Ahmet; Öner, Ali; Koçkara, Nizamettin; Özcan, Seçkin

Objectives: This study aims to find the shortest needed time interval between two consecutive anteroposterior (AP) knee X-rays of the same patient to determine the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by a trained eye. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, 2,145 AP knee X-rays of 848 primary KOA patients (331 males, 517 females; mean age 65±9 years; range, 50 to 92 years) followed-up between January 2014 and December 2017 were used. Randomly generated 1,280 pairs of knee X-rays were shown to 14 orthopedic surgeons working in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, and then the physicians were asked to select the second X-ray of the same arthritis knee. The physicians completed the test twice. The patient's age, gender, time interval between two radiographs and the responses of the physicians were recorded. Results: Our results showed that if the time interval between the two radiographs was six months or more, the correct estimation rates increased gradually. When the time interval was 36 months and more, the ratio reached 92%. The sensitivity and specificity rate of the method was 81%, while the positive predictive value was 86%. However, interestingly, age or gender did not have any effect on this result. Conclusion: In our study, X-rays taken in less than six months apart could not give additional information about the radiographic progression of KOA. To discern between the progression of KOA, we recommend that there be a 12 to 18-month interval between consecutive X-rays. The data of our study can be used for a routine algorithm to be developed for the evaluation of KOA patients.