To alleviate the poor ergonomics which surgeons suffer during knee arthroscopy, a semi-robotic device with braking mechanism is created for intraoperative assistance. A slitted ball joint assembly is developed to transmit the clamping force to the arthroscope inside. Ball deformation and stress at various angles to the vertical and clamping forces is recorded through Abaqus Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Contact forces between the scope and inner surfaces of the ball is also computed in FEA at different clamping forces. The von Mises stress occurring in the ball joint is under the yield stress limit for polyethylene, and there is noticeable force preventing the scope from sliding along the ball through-hole under clamping. A prototype of this device is constructed for proof-of-concept.

This research evaluated serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration in synovial fluid of healthy horses as a potential marker for use in the diagnosis and monitoring of horses with septic arthritis. The first study evaluated the effect of arthroscopic lavage of healthy joints on concentrations of systemic and synovial SAA; as well as total protein concentration, nucleated cell count and percentage of neutrophils in synovial fluid. The second study, evaluated the effect of repeated through-and-through joint lavage on SAA in systemic blood and SAA, total protein, nucleated cell count and percentage of neutrophils in synovial fluid from healthy joints. In the first study, middle carpal joints of 6 horses were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments 1) arthrocentesis (controls) or 2) arthroscopic lavage. A washout period of 30 days was allowed in between treatments. Synovial fluid and blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. Measurements included SAA in blood and synovial fluid, and total protein, nucleated cell count and percentages of neutrophils in synovial fluid. In the second study, one tarsocrural joint was randomly assigned to receive repeated through-and-through joint lavage at 0, 48 and 96 h in 6 horses. Synovial fluid and blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. Measurements included SAA in blood and synovial fluid, and total protein, nucleated cell count and percentages of neutrophils in synovial fluid. For this study, synovial fluid samples collected at time 0 were considered as control values. After arthroscopic lavage and repeated through-and-through joint lavage, systemic and synovial SAA did not increase from baseline values (except for systemic SAA at 24h after arthroscopic lavage and in controls). Total protein values were significantly increased at all time points after arthroscopic and through-and-through joint lavages (except at 96h on both lavage procedures) but not in controls. With both lavage procedures, nucleated cell count significantly increased from baseline values at all time points (except at 96h after through-and-through joint lavage). Percentage of neutrophils was significantly increased after arthroscopic lavage at all time points and only at 24h in controls; however, the percentages of neutrophils were not significantly increased after repeated through-and-through joint lavage. Synovial SAA was not affected by arthroscopic or repeated through-and-through joint lavage; however, synovial total protein and nucleated cell counts were significantly increased. Synovial SAA may be a valuable inflammatory marker that is not affected by procedures as arthroscopic or repeated through-and-through joint lavage in horses. Further validation of synovial SAA as a marker for evaluating the progression of septic joints while treatment is installed is warranted.

Por meio deste estudo objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade de um novo acesso artroscópico para o recesso palmar da articulação interfalângica distal em eqüinos pela bainha sinovial comum aos tendões flexores digitais, com as finalidades de proporcionar segurança e eficiência durante a artrocentese, permitir visualização efetiva das estruturas anatômicas, além de criar condições para manipulação de instrumentos artroscópicos. Foram utilizadas 20 peças anatômicas, correspondentes aos membros torácicos de 10 eqüinos. Os conjuntos de um a cinco formaram o Grupo I, cujo o acesso cirúrgico foi medial, e os conjuntos seis a 10 formaram o Grupo II, onde o acesso cirúrgico foi lateral. Posteriormente, avaliou-se o procedimento em animais de experimentação com a aplicação da técnica artroscópica proposta em seis articulações interfalângicas distais dos membros torácicos de três eqüinos (GIII), sem enfermidade previamente diagnosticada através de exames físicos e radiográficos. Os procedimentos no Grupo III foram efetuados sob anestesia geral, em decúbito lateral, e todos animais foram observados durante seis semanas. Neste período, além da avaliação dos parâmetros físicos, foram efetuados controles radiográficos contrastados, visando a avaliar a recuperação e o tempo necessário para oclusão da membrana divisória entre a bainha digital e o interior da articulação interfalângica distal. A técnica proposta alcançou os objetivos propostos, oferecendo nova alternativa para o acesso ao recesso palmar da articulação interfalângica distal nos eqüinos / This study was carried out in order to evaluate the viability of a new arthroscopic approach of the palmar recess of the the interphalangeal joint in horses through the synovial sheath that involves the digital flexor tendon. The purposes of the study were to provide safety and efficiency during arthrocentesis, to allow effective visualization of the anatomical structures and provide means for the manipulation of arthroscopic instruments. Initially, 20 anatomic parts corresponding to the forelimbs of 10 horses were used. Sets numbers 1 through 5 formed Group I in wich a medial surgical approach was performed. Sets numbers 6 through 10 formed Group II, in which there was a lateral surgical approach. Later, the procedure in experimental animals was analyzed. This analysis was done using the proposed arthroscopic technique in 6 distal interphalangeal joints of the forelimbs of three horses (GIII). There was no previously disease diagnosed through physical and radiographic exams. The procedures in Group III were done under put general anesthesia in the lateral recumbence position and all the animals were under observation during six weeks. In the post-operative period a physical and contrasted radiographic exams were done to evaluate the recovery as well as the necessary healing time of the membrane between the digital sheath and distal interphalangeal joint. The technique responded positively to its objectives offering a new alternative to the approach of the palmar recess in the distal interphalangical joint in horses

O presente estudo teve por objetivo classificar, em tabelas de pontuação, as lesões articulares encontradas em equinos submetidos à artroscopia e correlacionar os escores com sua evolução após tratamento. Foram analisadas, de forma prospectiva, articulações tibiotársicas e metacarpo/metatarsofalangeanas de equinos de esporte encaminhados ao HOVET-USP. Cada articulação foi pontuada em tabelas de escore relacionadas a anamnese, e exames físico, ultrassonográfico, radiográfico e artroscópico. As pontuações foram somadas, determinando-se um escore por exame para cada articulação. A pontuação das imagens radiográficas e artroscópicas foram realizadas por estudo encoberto de três e quatro avaliadores, respectivamente. O proprietário ou médico veterinário responsável pelo animal respondeu a questionário relacionado à evolução do quadro e este foi correlacionado aos escores alcançados pela articulação, determinando-se o prognóstico para os escores. Foram avaliadas 78 articulações tibiotársicas e 48 metacarpo/metatarsofalangeanas. As pontuações mais frequentes na anamnese(>50%) foram as relacionadas ao início do quadro ou animais encaminhados por achados radiográficos ao exame pré-venda. Ao exame físico mais de 50% das articulações apresentaram claudicação, positividade ao teste de flexão, diminuição do ângulo máximo de flexão articular e aumento de temperatura articular externa. No exame radiográfico as alterações mais frequentes foram o aumento de volume de partes moles (37,4%) a presença de esclerose (40%) e osteólise do osso subcondral (67%), e fragmentos osteocondrais únicos evidentes (47,3%) com medidas abaixo de 5mm (30%). A ultrassonografia demonstrou alterações mais frequentes relacionadas ao líquido sinovial segundo seu aspecto, com predominância de material amorfo (33,1%) e quantidade aumentada em até a metade do volume fisiológico (40%), além da irregularidade do osso subcondral (41,3%). A presença de vasos sanguíneos evidentes (65,8%), do aumento volume e na quantidade das vilosidades da membrana sinovial (50%) e na presença de fibrilação (75,8%), fissuras (54,2%) e erosão superficial (70%) da cartilagem foram as alterações mais encontradas ao exame artroscópico, onde observaram-se, também, os fragmentos osteocondrais únicos (61,7%) e fixados ao local da lesão (86,7%). Os valores médios do escore radiográfico foram maiores (p=0,05) para as lesões palmares/plantares dos boletos (11,33±5,03) e para as articulações tibiotársicas (11,27±4,32) do que para as lesões dorsais dos boletos (9,18±3,5). As lesões nos boletos, dorsais (7,16±4,83) ou palmares/plantares (8,33±5,27) obtiveram médias de escore maiores (p=0,011) ao exame ultrassonográfico do que as tibiotársicas (5,65±3,36) e o inverso aconteceu na artroscopia com a média das tibiotársicas (12,96±6,22) superiores (p<0,001) às dos boletos (8,51±3,61) lesões dorsais ou lesões palmares/plantares (7,26±2,77). Houve concordância entre os avaliadores do exame radiográfico para as articulações tibiotársicas, e boletos com lesão dorsal e palmar/plantar. Mas apenas nas metacarpo/metatarsofalangeanas dorsais e palmares/plantares entre os avaliadores da artroscopia. A regressão logística mostrou que os escores relacionados à anamnese (1,178), exame ultrassonográfico (1,193) e artroscópico (1,213) determinam a chance de insatisfação do proprietário (acurácia de 80%). E sugere a utilização de calculadora para a obtenção da chance de insatisfação do proprietário para novos casos. Assim, concluiu-se que, as tabelas para normatização e pontuação aplicadas possibilitaram a determinação de escores para os exames realizados de forma satisfatória. Permitindo correlaciona-los com a chance de insatisfação frente o resultado atingido após o tratamento. / This study aimed to classify joint damage in horses undergoing arthroscopy, using a scoring matrix, and correlating scores with post-treatment recovery. We prospectively analyzed tibiotarsal and metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joints of athletic horses referred for arthroscopy to the Veterinary Hospital of the University of São Paulo. Each joint was ranked based on anamnesis-related scoring tables, as well as physical, ultrasound, radiographic and arthroscopic examinations. Scores were summarized to determine a ranking for each joint examined. Three and four blind assessors performed scoring of radiographic and arthroscopic images, respectively. The animals owner or responsible veterinarian answered a report related to the disease progression and this was correlated to the joint assessment score, determining a prognosis for joint scores. Seventy-eight tibiotarsal joints and 48 metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal were evaluated. The most common anamnesis scores (> 50%) were related to the onset of symptoms or pre-purchase radiographic findings. During physical examination, over 50% of the joints induced lameness, positive results to flexion tests, reduced joint maximum flexion angles and increased superficial joint temperature. During radiographic examination, frequently noticed alterations were increased volume of soft tissues (37.4%), the presence of sclerosis (40%), osteolysis of the subchondral bone (67%), and evident osteochondral fragments (47.3%) measuring below 5mm (30%). Ultrasonography showed more frequent changes related to synovial fluid according to appearance, with a predominance of amorphous material (33.1%) and increases of up to half in physiological volume (40%) amount, in addition to irregularity of the subchondral bone (41.3 %). Most-found alterations noticed during arthroscopic examination were the presence of apparent blood vessels (65.8%), increased volume and quantity of synovial membrane villi (50%), the presence of cartilage fibrillation (75.8%), fissures (54.2%), cartilage surface erosion (70%), unique (61.7%) and non-displaced osteochondral fragments (86.7%). The mean values of radiographic scores were higher (p = 0.05) for lesions of the fetlock palmar/plantar (11.33 ± 5.03) and tibiotarsal joints (11.27 ± 4.32) than for dorsal fetlock (9.18 ± 3.5). Lesions in the fetlock, dorsal (7.16 ± 4.83) or palmar/plantar (8.33 ± 5.27) had higher mean scores (p = 0.011) during ultrasound examination than the tibiotarsal (5.65 ± 3.36), while the reverse was observed in arthroscopy with the tibiotarsal average higher (12.96 ± 6.22, p <0.001) than fetlock dorsal (8.51 ± 3.61) or palmar/plantar lesions (7.26 ± 2.77). There was general agreement among radiographic examination evaluators for tibiotarsal joints, and dorsal and palmar fetlock lesions. However, arthroscopy evaluators agreed only on metacarpal/metatarsophalangeal, dorsal and palmar/plantar. Logical regression showed that the scores related to anamnesis (1,178), ultrasonography (1,193) and arthroscopy (1,213) correlated to the owners dissatisfaction (80% accuracy), and suggests the use of a score calculator for obtaining the chance of dissatisfied owners for new cases. Thus, it was concluded that, the tables and classifications proposed for anamnesis, physical, radiographic, ultrasonographic and arthroscopic examination enabled a useful score determination allowing correlation between the joint score and owners dissatisfaction with the outcome of arthroscopic treatment of non-infectious joint diseases in horses.

A osteocondrose é uma das principais doenças ortopédicas de desenvolvimento que acomete os equinos, sendo usualmente definida como uma falha no processo de ossificação endocondral. Infelizmente os seus mecanismos não estão bem definidos, mas acredita-se em uma etiologia multifatorial relacionada com predisposição genética, desequilíbrio ou excesso nutricional, fatores endócrinos e forças biomecânicas atuando nas articulações. Uma das formas de manifestação da osteocondrose é a osteocondrite dissecante, quando, após interrupção do processo de ossificação, há um desarranjo das colunas de condrócitos e necrose da camada basal, gerando uma área de fragilidade, onde forças biomecânicas podem resultar na separação de fragmentos cartilaginosos ou osteocondrais. Sua incidência esta relacionada com animais jovens, de crescimento rápido, em articulações predispostas como tibiotársica, metacarpo/metatarsofalangeana e femurotibiopatelar. Normalmente a lesão se desenvolve no primeiro ano de vida, mas os sinais clínicos podem aparecer mais tardiamente ou inclusive passarem despercebidos. Dentro dos sinais clínicos o mais comum é a efusão articular, que pode vir ou não associada à claudicação. O diagnóstico é confirmado através de exame radiográfico, com alterações em locais predispostos para formação de OCD, como crista intermédia da tíbia, cristal troclear lateral do talus, bordo dorsoproximal da primeira falange, bordo plantaromedial da primeira falange e crista troclear lateral do fêmur. Como essas lesões podem acometer mais de um membro locomotor, a articulação contralateral deve ser radiografada ou até mesmo os quatro membros quando se tratar de metacarpo/ metatarsofalangeana. Apesar de existirem diversas formas de tratamento, a maioria dos autores recomenda a retirada cirúrgica via artroscópica, já que esta possui um maior índice de sucesso com melhores resultados funcional e estético. Existem trabalhos divergentes com relação ao prognóstico e momento em que se deve submeter esses animais a cirurgia. Com o objetivo de responder essas dúvidas e apresentar os resultados obtidos com o tratamento cirúrgico a médio e longo prazo este trabalho foi realizado. Nesse estudo foram analisados 75 casos de animais acometidos por OCD, com um total de 106 articulações, tratados cirurgicamente, nos quais a cirurgia ocorreu há um tempo mínimo de 12 meses e máximo de 5 anos. As lesões acometeram principalmente (65%) animais até quatro anos, na fase anterior à doma ou no momento da doma (63%), sendo que a maioria não apresentava sinais clínicos (36%) ou apresentava claudicação associada à efusão articular (33%). A maioria das lesões se localizou na articulação tibiotársica (57%), e nessa articulação o local mais acometido foi a crista intermédia da tíbia (71%). Após o procedimento cirúrgico 72% dos animais não apresentaram sinais clínicos, sendo que a melhora foi mais significativa nos animais de 3 e 4 anos (100%) e pouco se obteve de melhora com relação a claudicação nos animais acima de 6 anos (27%). / Osteochondrosis is a major developmental orthopedic disease affecting horses and is usually defined as a failure in the endochondral ossification process. Unfortunately its mechanisms are not defined but it is believed to be a multifactorial etiology related to a genetic predisposition, nutritional imbalance or excess, endocrine factors and biomechanical forces acting on the joints. Osteochondritis dissecans, one of the presentations of osteochondrosis, occours when after stopping the process of ossification, there is a breakdown of the chondrocytes columns and necrosis of the basal layer, creating an area of weakness, where biomechanical forces when applied can result in the separation of cartilage or osteochondral fragments. Its incidence is related to foals with rapid growth, in predisposed joints as tarsocrural, metacarpal/ metatarsalphalangeal and femorotibiopatellar. Usually the lesion develops in the first year of life, but clinical signs may appear later or even go unnoticed. Within the clinical signs, joint effusion is the most common, which may come or not associated with lameness. The diagnosis is confirmed by radiographic examination including changes in prone locations to OCD formation, as intermediate ridge of the tibia, lateral ridge trochlear of the talus, dorsal proximal edge of the first phalanx, plantar medial edge of the first phalanx and the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur. Because these lesions may involve more than one limb, the contralateral joint should be radiographed or even four limbs in the metacarpal/ metatarsalphalangeal. Although there are various forms of treatment most authors recommend surgical excision arthroscopically as this has a higher success rate with best functional and cosmetic results. There are conflicting studies concerning prognosis and best time to refer the animal for surgery. To answer these questions and present the results obtained with surgical treatment in the medium and long term this work was done. In this study we analyzed 75 cases of horses suffering from OCD, with a total of 106 joints treated surgically, which where the treated took place over a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of five years. OCD affected mainly animals up to 4 years (65%) in the period prior to tame or time-taming (63%), and the majority had no clinical signs (36%) or had lameness associated with joint effusion (33%). Most lesions were located in the tarsocrural joint (57%), in the intermediate ridge of the tibia (71%). After surgery 72% of horses showed no clinical signs, and the improvement was more significant in animals 3 and 4 years (100%) and little improvement of lameness in the animals over six years (27%).

A artroscopia tem função diagnóstica e terapêutica na doença articular. Mesmo com as modalidades de imagem mais modernas, ainda é considerada como padrão ouro no diagnóstico de problemas articulares em equinos. Sabe-se que as características físico-químicas das diferentes soluções de infusão podem determinar alterações estruturais na superfície da cartilagem. Apesar da existência de estudos baseados na busca de um fluido ideal para irrigação durante a artroscopia, com principal foco nas características bioquímicas do líquido, poucos trabalhos testaram características físicas destes fluidos, como a temperatura. Na primeira etapa deste trabalho foram avaliadas 24 articulações de ovinos submetidas à irrigação articular com solução de Ringer com lactato condicionado a quatro diferentes temperaturas (5, 12, 25 e 38 ºC). Para avaliação de cada grupo foram coletadas biopsias comparativas de membrana sinovial e de cartilagem com osso subcondral da articulação femoropatelar visando análise histológica e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente, imediatamente antes do início da infusão do líquido e após uma hora de infusão. Apesar de alterações na ultraestrutura da superfície articular terem sido observadas após lavagem das articulações, nenhuma diferença estatística entre os grupos foi identificada. Na segunda etapa do experimento foram testadas as temperaturas 5, 25 e 38 °C do Ringer com lactato utilizado para irrigação articular durante procedimentos artroscópicos em 12 articulações radiocárpicas de seis equinos. As articulações foram divididas em três grupos de quatro, sendo avaliados, além da membrana sinovial e cartilagem, o líquido sinovial previamente ao início da infusão com fluido condicionado e 12, 24 e 48 horas após o término da irrigação, visando análise comparativa das concentrações de IL-1&beta;, PGE2, TNF-&alpha;, condroitim sulfato (CS) e ácido hialurônico (AH). As alterações da superfície articular dos equinos decorrentes da irrigação também foram independentes da temperatura utilizada. Houve um aumento significativo das concentrações de PGE2 e IL-1&beta; no líquido sinovial às 12 horas em todos os grupos, exceto para IL-1&beta; no grupo de articulações irrigadas com fluido a 38 °C, que não apresentou alteração nas concentrações. A análise de TNF-&alpha; não revelou diferença significativa entre os grupos. As concentrações de CS aumentaram às 24 horas nos três grupos e foi estatisticamente maior no grupo irrigado a 38 °C. Não houve diferença significativa das concentrações de AH no líquido sinovial do grupo de articulações irrigadas a 25 °C, o que não ocorreu nos grupos 5 e 38 °C, havendo diminuição às 24 e 12 horas, respectivamente, retornando aos valores basais na coleta subsequente. As biopsias de membrana sinovial coletadas em ambas as etapas do experimento não demonstraram alteração estrutural ou migração celular que inferissem em resposta inflamatória ao insulto. As alterações da ultraestrutura da superfície da cartilagem estão mais relacionada ao fator mecânico da passagem do líquido que à temperatura de acondicionamento. Apesar de mais análises serem necessárias para definição da melhor temperatura a ser utilizada durante as artroscopias, a detecção de menores concentrações de IL-1&beta; nas articulações de equinos irrigadas com Ringer com lactato a 38 °C sugerem de que essa seja a temperatura menos deletéria para o ambiente articular. / Arthroscopy has a diagnostic and a therapeutic function in joint disease. Even with modern imaging modalities, it is still considered the gold standard for diagnosing equine joint problems. It is known that the physicochemical characteristics of different infusion solutions could influence structural modifications on cartilage surface. A number of studies have described the search for the ideal fluid to be used for irrigation during arthroscopy, focusing on the biochemical characteristics of the various liquids. However, few works have taken temperature into consideration when studying the physical characteristics of these fluids. Therefore, in the first phase of this study four different temperatures of Ringer lactate used for articular irrigation were assessed into four groups of six ovine joints each (5, 12, 25 and 38 ºC). To evaluate each group, comparative synovial membrane and osteochondral samples were collected from the patellofemoral joints for histological analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy, respectively, immediately before and 1 hour after starting fluid infusion. Ultrastructural changes of the joint surfaces after irrigation were observed, but no statistical differences between groups were identified. In the second phase of this study, lactated Ringers solution was assessed at three different temperatures: 5, 25 and 38°C, for irrigation of 12 radiocarpal joints of six horses during arthroscopy. Three groups of four joints were studied to evaluate synovial membrane, cartilage and synovial liquid immediately before and 12, 24 and 48 hours after joint irrigation. These samples were subjected to comparative analysis of IL-1&beta, PGE2, TNF-&alpha, condroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations. Changes of equine joint surfaces were also independent of temperature. There was a significant increase in the PGE2 and IL-1&beta; concentrations in the synovial liquid at 12 hours in all groups except for IL-1&beta; on the joints irrigated with fluid at 38°C, which did not show concentrations changes. There was no statistical difference of TNF-&alpha between groups. CS concentrations had a significant increase at 24 hours in all groups, meanwhile in the 38 °C group this increased was statistically greater. There was no statistical difference for HA concentrations on synovial liquid of the irrigated joints at 25 °C. In the 5 and 38 °C groups there were synovial fluid HA decrease at 24 and 12 hours, respectively, returning to basal values at the subsequent collect. The synovial membrane biopsies collected in the both steps of this study did not show any structural alterations or cellular migration that might interfere in response to inflammatory insult. Ultrastructural changes in articular most superficial zone are more related to mechanic action of fluid lavage than irrigation solutions temperature. Although more tests needs to be done, the lowest concentrations of IL-1&beta; in equine joints irrigated with Ringer lactate at 38 °C give some evidence that this is the less deleterious temperature to articular environment.

Femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) is a bony hip condition that often results in tears to the acetabular labrum. Patients with FAI experience pain, decreased function, and quality of life. FAI and its’ sequela are treated definitively with hip arthroscopy. Hip arthroscopy is being performed with increasing frequency, and while most patients respond favorably, a subset of 10-20% of patients have suboptimal outcomes. Previous research suggests that mental status may be a primary driver in the way patients with FAI respond to and feel pain. Measures of mental status include the presence of mood disorders and psychosocial patient reported outcomes (PROs). Psychosocial constructs that have yet to be examined in patients with FAI include self-efficacy, kinesophobia, and pain catastrophizing. The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) gauges an individual’s confidence, or self-efficacy, in their ability to complete tasks despite their current pain. Previous research has established that a patient’s self-efficacy is an important determinant of long-term success following orthopedic surgery. Kinesophobia, measured via the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), is a measure of movement-related fear. In contrast to self-efficacy, fear of movement has been identified as a predictor of early success following orthopedic surgery. Lastly, pain catastrophizing is a set of maladaptive behaviors including ruminating on pain, feeling helpless to overcome painful situations, and magnifying the circumstances surrounding the painful experience. Catastrophizing behaviors, measured via the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), have been repeatedly linked to increased pain and decreased functionality in a variety of orthopedic populations. To date, the relationship between these psychosocial variables and pain has not been examined in patients with FAI. The primary aim of this dissertation was to evaluate the role of psychosocial factors on pre and postoperative pain in patients with FAI undergoing hip arthroscopy. To accomplish this aim we performed a series of three studies. The first study was a retrospective chart review to determine the prevalence of mental health disorders and compare preoperative clinical presentation between patients with and without mental health disorders. The second was a cross-sectional study designed to determine if any psychosocial variables could predict preoperative hip pain. The final study utilized a longitudinal, cohort design. Patients were tested preoperatively and at 12-weeks postoperative. The primary outcomes measured were self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, pain catastrophizing, and hip pain at rest and during activity measured via a visual analog scale (VAS). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative psychosocial variables on postoperative pain, and to determine if these variables were predictive of persistent postoperative pain three months following hip arthroscopy. Based on the results from these studies we can conclude the following: 1) Mental health disorders are more common in patients with FAI than other orthopedic populations, and self-reported pain and function are worse in this subset of patients, but neither symptom chronicity nor the severity of joint deformity differs; 2) Low self-efficacy is predictive of worse preoperative pain in patients with FAI; and 3) Patients with high preoperative pain catastrophizing or low self-efficacy are more likely to have increased postoperative pain. Low preoperative self-efficacy is predictive of persistent hip pain during activity three months following hip arthroscopy, while low self-efficacy and mental health disorders are predictive of persistent hip pain at rest. Future studies are necessary to develop and implement interventions targeting low self-efficacy and elevated catastrophizing in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy to improve patient outcomes for this high-risk group.

<p>An arthroscope is a diagnostic instrument for visualisation of the interior of a joint. By adding a laser to an arthroscope and feeding the images to a computer, one gets an method to measure the structure of the cartilage covering the joint. This gives an added diagnostic value. The laser will create laser speckles and this report covers the basic theories behind this. The anatomy of the joints, the properties of cartilage and the background on the disease arthritis are also covered, as well as the field of surface topography and image processing.</p><p>Experiments were performed on three different materials - metals of different definite surface roughness, polymerised collagen and bovine articular cartilage.</p><p>The conclusion is that the technique would work, providing that some obstacles could be overcome. The technique itself is very precise and detects nanometric differences in the surface structure, making it extremely interesting for research purposes, such as follow-ups on treatments and studies of arthritis and cartilage repair.</p>

No description available.

An arthroscope is a diagnostic instrument for visualisation of the interior of a joint. By adding a laser to an arthroscope and feeding the images to a computer, one gets an method to measure the structure of the cartilage covering the joint. This gives an added diagnostic value. The laser will create laser speckles and this report covers the basic theories behind this. The anatomy of the joints, the properties of cartilage and the background on the disease arthritis are also covered, as well as the field of surface topography and image processing. Experiments were performed on three different materials - metals of different definite surface roughness, polymerised collagen and bovine articular cartilage. The conclusion is that the technique would work, providing that some obstacles could be overcome. The technique itself is very precise and detects nanometric differences in the surface structure, making it extremely interesting for research purposes, such as follow-ups on treatments and studies of arthritis and cartilage repair.