A certain percentage of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated with inflammatory conditions. Osteoarthritis (OA) increases the risk of CTS, and both diseases are common in the general population. Moreover, OA and CTS are often present in the same patients. Since inflammation and fibrosis are found in both conditions, the question is whether circulating inflammatory cytokines and cytokines involved in fibrosis in OA and CTS patients could serve as indicators of coexisting CTS and OA pathology. This investigation was performed on 31 CTS patients, 29 hip OA patients, and 15 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected, and serum levels of TGF-β1, BMP-7, IL-1β, and TNFα were measured using the ELISA method. The statistical analysis was performed to reveal the most significant differences in the serum levels of these cytokines. Statistical significance was set at p-values $\le$0.05. The serum level of TGF-β1 was the highest in CTS patients (16.36 pg/mL) and significantly different compared to OA and healthy control. Analysis of the cytokine serum level in the subdivided group revealed that serum levels of TGF-β1 and BMP-7 were significantly higher in CTS+/OA+ patients as well as BMP-7 in the OA+/CTS+ group. There was no significant difference in serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1β among all groups. This study showed that in the end stage of CTS and OA, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL1-β and TNFα) were not altered, while the serum levels of TGF-β1 and BMP-7 were significantly higher, especially in patients with coexisting OA and CTS. These findings suggest the possible values of TGF-β1 and BMP-7 as a predictive factor for the comorbidity of CTS and OA.

Cilj: Totalna endoproteza (TEP) gležnja ugrađuje se kod uznapredovalog stadija osteoartritisa gležnja s ciljem održavanja bezbolnog, stabilnog i pokretljivog zgloba. Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio analizirati rane funkcionalne...

Objectives: Medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) is a surgical procedure used to treat medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee with varus deformity. The aim of this study was to examine whether a larger correction angle in medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) leads to greater changes in postoperative patellar height (PH) and posterior tibial slope (PTS). Methods: Data from 83 patients who underwent MOWHTO were retrospectively analyzed. Lower limb alignment was evaluated using the hip–knee–ankle angle (HKAA). The PH was assessed using the Insall–Salvati index (ISI), the Blackburne–Peel index (BPI), the Caton–Deschamps index (CDI), the modified Miura–Kawamura index (MKI), and the plateau–patella angle (PPA). The PTS was determined using the Moore–Harvey method. Results: The median correction of HKAA was 8°. A decrease in PH was observed in the majority of cases across all methods, with the highest frequency of postoperative patella infera detected using the MKI. PTS most frequently increased, with a median increase of 3°. A significant association between the magnitude of HKAA correction and patellar height in the overall cohort was observed only for the MKI, whereas in patients with an HKAA correction ≥ 10°, significant associations were found for both the MKI and CDI. No significant association was found between the magnitude of HKAA correction and changes in posterior tibial slope in the overall cohort, while a significant negative correlation was observed in patients with an HKAA correction ≥ 10°. Conclusions: Assessment using the MKI demonstrated greater sensitivity in detecting postoperative PH decrease, particularly in identifying patella infera. The magnitude of HKAA correction was significantly associated with greater changes in PTS and PH in patients with a coronal plane correction of ≥10°.