After a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), ensuring rehabilitation is continued at home is essential for a successful recovery. The aim of this randomized clinical trial (NCT04155957) was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of an interactive telerehabilitation system (ReHub®) to guide and provide feedback during exercise in the postoperative period of a fast-track TKA program. Fifty-two patients who underwent TKA were randomized to intervention (N = 26) or control (N = 26). Upon discharge, they followed a 4-week plan of 5 daily exercises and up to 10 physiotherapy home visits. The intervention group performed exercises with ReHub® autonomously, control did not use any auxiliary device. Data were collected 1) on the day of discharge, 2) after 2 weeks and 3) after 4 weeks. Telerehabilitation patients showed higher adherence to exercise (p = 0.002) and greater quadriceps strength (p = 0.028). No significant differences between groups were found in other outcomes. Only 1 adverse event was linked to ReHub®. Patients gave the platform high System Usability Scale scores (83/100). Interactive telerehabilitation with ReHub® during a post-TKA exercise program is effective, safe, and well-received by patients. It provides real-time performance feedback and ensures communication. Quadriceps strength and adherence to the exercise plan are improved with ReHub®.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTelerehabilitation platforms can be introduced into fast-track total knee arthroplasty protocols to monitor home-based exercise programmes without compromising efficacy and safety.Telerehabilitation and remote patient monitoring contribute to obtaining high levels of adherence to exercise plans, which is a current challenge faced by rehabilitation professionals.Real-time biofeedback on exercise performance facilitates correct exercise performance and motivates the patient.This technology allows professionals to monitor and adjust the patient's therapy remotely and avoid unnecessary travel.
15 June 2021 in Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
: Background: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is an intervention that can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis. Early start of rehabilitation and its continuation at home once the patient is discharged are key factors for the success of the process. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a home-based telerehabilitation solution (ReHub) on improving functional capacity and clinical outcomes for patients who underwent TKA. Methods/design: The study is a randomized, open-label with blinded outcome assessor, parallel assignment clinical trial with a sample size of 52 patients that is conducted according to the SPIRIT recommendations. After the TKA intervention, the patients are randomly allocated to the control group or the experimental group with a 1:1 ratio. Both groups follow a Fast Track recovery protocol which includes discharge after 2–3 days from surgery, a daily plan of 5 exercises for autonomous rehabilitation and domiciliary visits by a physiotherapist starting approximately 2 weeks after surgery. The experimental group uses the sensor-based telerehabilitation system ReHub to perform the exercises. The primary outcome measure is the range of motion of the knee. Secondary outcomes include physical performance, quality of life, pain intensity, muscle strength, treatment adherence and satisfaction with the ReHub system. The outcomes assessment is performed at hospital discharge (baseline), at stitch removal (2 weeks after baseline) and 2 weeks after stitch removal (4 weeks after baseline). The study conforms to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the hospital’s ethics committee. Discussion: The study will address an important gap in the evidence base by reporting the effectiveness of an affordable and low-cost home-based telerehabilitation solution in patients who underwent TKA. Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by the hospital’s ethics committee (“Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica del HCB”, reg. HCB/2019/0571). The trial was registred at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04155957). The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals as well as national and international conferences. Trial registration: NCT04155957 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Highlights:
Water polo players’ shoulders are exposed to repeated overhead and throwing motions as well as direct and indirect traumas. Shoulder injuries account for over half of all injuries sustained by water polo players. This is a monocentric descriptive epidemiological study on the clinical and radiological presentation of a consecutive series of water polo players from January 2002 to September 2022. All patients underwent clinical and physical examinations and an MRI arthrogram. A total of 92 water polo players were included in this study. Fifty-three patients (57.6%) reported at least one previous shoulder instability episode; 100% of patients in this group were diagnosed with a capsulolabral complex lesion, and 88.7% of these players complained of subjective symptoms of shoulder instability (RR: 4.4). A total of 39 out of 92 patients (42.4%) did not report previous shoulder dislocation episodes; the mean age at presentation in this group was significantly higher than the mean age of the patients who experienced previous instability episodes (p < 0.01), and the throwing arm was affected in 79.5% of patients (RR = 1.41).
Aims: The aim of this study was to report long-term clinical outcomes of a modern convertible metal-backed glenoid (MBG) in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).Methods: After a minimum of 15 years, a previously studied cohort of 35 patients who received a modern convertible MBG during the period 1996 to 2005 was contacted for clinical and radiological follow-up. At last follow-up, patients were evaluated radiologically and clinically according to the Constant Score, Simple Shoulder Test, and visual analogue scale for pain. Complications and revisions were recorded, and survival analysis was performed.Results: At the last follow-up, 20 patients were contacted. Of these, 15 patients had experienced at least one complication, and ten underwent revision surgery. The mean time to revision was 13.8 years (7 to 20). Cuff failure was the most common complication. Conversion to reverse shoulder arthroplasty, while maintaining the baseplate, was possible in five cases, with good results. In patients in whom the baseplate was removed, revision was performed significantly later (18.4 vs 11.1 years; p = 0.016). The general revision-free survival was 73% (95% CI 49.5 to 87.3) at 15 years and 38% (95% CI 11.8% to 64.3%) at 20 years, while MBG revision-free survival was 96.0% (95% CI 74.8% to 99.4%) at 15 years and 54% (95% CI 16.2% to 80.8%) at 20 years. Clinical scores showed a negative trend over time, although not statistically significant. Radiologically, polyethylene wear was observed in all cases and was complete in 12 out of 19 cases, and five glenoids were ‘at risk’ for loosening.Conclusion: At long-term follow-up, convertible MBG-TSA revealed a high rate of complications and revision surgery, mainly due to soft-tissue failure and polyethylene wear occurring with time. Prompt conversion to RSA maintaining the baseplate provided good results and a low complication rate. Radiological follow-up at about ten years is strictly recommended and, if metal-to-metal contact is observed, conversion to RSA is advisable. These results emphasize the need for continued research into improving TSA outcomes, especially in cases of MBG usage.Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(1):82–92.
Background: This study aims to investigate the impact of shoulder surgery on professional gymnasts through a case series, analyzing the mechanisms of injury and the shoulder lesion patterns, and reporting the clinical outcomes and return to sport. Methods: Twenty-nine surgically treated shoulders in twenty-seven professional gymnasts were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified based on predominant symptoms and anatomical lesions in painful or unstable shoulders. Demographic and injury data, pathological findings, surgical procedure information, and data on time and level of return to sport were collected. Results: The average age of participants was 20.2 ± 3.8 years. Acute traumatic onset was reported in 51.8% of cases. Shoulders were categorized as painful in 13 cases and unstable in 16 cases. The most common pathologies were capsulolabral injuries (72%), biceps injuries (48%), and rotator cuff injuries (40%). All of the athletes returned to training within an average of 7.3 months, while the return to competition rate was 56%, achieved in an average of 10.3 months. The sport-specific subjective shoulder value was 84.8% ± 16.6%. Half of the patients who stopped competition reported reasons related to symptom persistence, while the other half reported personal reasons. No significant difference in the return to sport was reported in the cases of painful or unstable shoulder. Conclusions: Professional gymnasts requiring shoulder surgery commonly present multiple and complex lesions. Returning to training was possible in all cases; however, the possibility of persisting symptoms and other personal factors which may compromise the return to competition should be discussed with the athlete to give them insights into the possible outcomes.