Clinical Research Directory

Effects of Visual Feedback on Angular Error

With this study is to evaluate knee joint position sense in patients with gonarthrosis under conditions with and without visual input.

The Effects of Intra-articular and Peri-articular Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Injections ın Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided combined intra-articular and peri-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections with intra-articular PRP injections alone in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The study specifically examines the effects of these treatment approaches on pain, physical function, activities of daily living, and structural parameters, including medial collateral ligament (MCL) thickness and distal femoral cartilage thickness. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage erosion, osteophyte formation, and subchondral sclerosis, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional disability. It is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting approximately 300 million individuals. Although the knee is the most frequently involved joint, OA is now recognized as a whole-joint disease, involving not only cartilage degeneration but also pathological changes in subchondral bone, synovium, and surrounding extra-articular structures. Platelet-rich plasma is an autologous concentration of platelets suspended in a small volume of plasma and contains a variety of bioactive growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These factors play a crucial role in promoting cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and tissue repair. In knee OA, PRP has been shown to reduce matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, particularly MMP-13, enhance endogenous hyaluronic acid production, and support chondrogenesis. Although intra-articular PRP injections are widely accepted as a safe and effective treatment and have demonstrated superiority over placebo and hyaluronic acid in long-term follow-up studies, most existing research has focused exclusively on intra-articular applications. Knee OA is a multifactorial condition frequently associated with extra-articular pathologies, including ligament laxity, peri-articular edema, and soft tissue inflammation. Limiting treatment to the intra-articular space alone may therefore overlook these important contributors to pain and functional impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that a combined treatment approach targeting both intra-articular and peri-articular structures may provide superior outcomes in terms of pain reduction and functional improvement. This prospective randomized controlled trial will include 42 patients aged 40-65 years with chronic knee OA classified as Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group receiving conservative treatment only (exercise therapy and lifestyle modifications), a group receiving conservative treatment plus ultrasound-guided intra-articular PRP injections, and a third group receiving conservative treatment plus combined ultrasound-guided intra-articular and peri-articular PRP injections targeting the MCL and pes anserinus regions. Clinical outcomes will be assessed using validated instruments, including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Quality of Life Scale. In addition, ultrasonographic measurements of MCL thickness and distal femoral cartilage thickness will be performed to evaluate structural changes. By investigating the additional value of peri-articular PRP injections, this study aims to contribute to the development of more comprehensive and effective injection protocols for the management of chronic knee osteoarthritis.

Infiltration or Nerve Blocks in Addition to Adductor Canal Block

The aim of this study is to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of this quadruple sensory block compared with the currently recommended procedure (adductor canal block + infiltration).

Evaluation of a New Navigation System in Computer-assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty

Evaluation of a new navigation system in computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty.

"Bimodal vs Unimodal High-Intensity Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis"

This randomized, double-blind clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of high-intensity pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (HI-PEMF) applied either exclusively on the knee joint or bimodally on the knee and quadriceps, in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Both groups will also receive a structured home-based exercise program. The primary outcome is pain reduction, and secondary outcomes include functional performance.

Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy

The main symptom of knee osteoarthritis, which occurs after damage to the joint cartilage with age, is pain, but this symptom often becomes chronic. Current conservative treatments have moderate effects on chronic knee pain and their use is limited due to the risk of side effects. In addition to pain, patients also experience other symptoms. As a result of the osteoarthritis process, prorioception in the knee is impaired with a decrease in mechanoreceptors, resulting in loss of balance and an increase in the risk of falling.

The Impact of Single-shot Adductor Canal Block Versus Continuous Femoral Nerve Block on Rehabilitation After Total Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement (TKR) is considered the most effective and safe method of radical treatment of late stages of knee osteoarthritis. A well-known problem of TKR is a severe postoperative pain syndrome, which is observed in more than 50% of patients. Femoral nerve block (FNB) is the "gold standard" for continuous postoperative analgesia after total knee replacement, as it is effective in reducing the frequency of use of opioid analgetics and reduce the duration of hospitalization. At the same time, the negative effect of this method is the motor blockade of the quadriceps femoris muscle which leads to functional impairment and is associated with an increased risk of falling. Adductor canal block (ACB) provides adequate analgesia comparable to femoral nerve block. Moreover, ACB doesn't affect the motor function of the quadriceps femoris muscle. The possibility of enhanced recovery after total knee replacement is the reason to compare single-shot adductor canal block and continuous femoral nerve block.

Comparison of Pivotal Medial Polyethylene Versus Ultra-congruent in Total Knee Arthroplasty

The aim of this study is to compare the forgotten joint score for the medial pivot polyethylene and ultra-congruent polyethylene which are used in total prosthetic replacement of the knee

Efficacy Ultrasound-guided Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Treatment

Radiofrequency (RF) application is a treatment method that temporarily blocks pain transmission in the nerve where the application is made, through the heat emitted by radio waves. Genicular nerve ablation with RF has recently become a promising treatment option for the treatment of chronic knee pain. These methods are based on the principle that interfering with the sensory nerve fibers of a painful structure can relieve pain and restore function. Their targets are sensory nerves located on the periosteum before entering the knee joint capsule. The knee joint is innervated by a complex nerve network called genicular nerves, which are articular branches of many nerves such as the femoral, tibial, peroneal, saphenous and obturator nerves. Some of the genicular nerves can be easily localized. The intermedius genicular nerve carries the sensation of subpatellar pain. The intermedius genicular nerve is located under the vastus intermedius muscle, anterior to the distal femoral shaft, just above the bony cortex. Targeting sensory nerves in addition to standard procedures and improving target identification using ultrasound guidance may increase treatment success. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve radiofrequency therapy on pain and knee function by targeting only the traditional 3 genicular nerves and the intermedius genicular nerve in addition to the traditional genicular nerves in advanced gonarthrosis patients with prominent anterior knee pain.

Assessment of Patient Satisfaction After Arthroplasty: A Comparative Study by Implant Type

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the benefit of personalized prostheses compared to conventional prostheses on patient satisfaction 24 months after total knee arthroplasty.

Total Knee Arthroplasty and Augmented Reality-based Navigation System

The purpose of Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is to remove worn cartilage surfaces and replace them with artificial parts of the same shape. TKR can be used in cases of osteoarthritis, inflammatory rheumatism, bone necrosis of the knee or following malformative or traumatic sequelae. Implant alignment is paramount in TKR and the last years have seen a proliferation of alignment techniques following the introduction of computer and robotic-assisted surgery. Among Computer-assisted surgery, the augmented reality-based navigation system can be an option to improve accuracy in orthopaedic surgery. The hypothesis of this study is: the use of augmented reality-based navigation system allows a prosthesis alignment and positioning that is at least as good as with the traditional mechanically aligned technique, and therefore improves knee functional results. This study also aims at assessing the cost-effectiveness of this new technology.

Adipose Tissue and Symptomatic Gonarthrosis

1\. Prevalence of osteoarthritis in France Osteoarthritis (OA) is a very common disease, affecting almost 15% of the population. It is responsible for a significant socio-economic cost in connection with the chronic and disabling pain it causes . Gonarthrosis is the most frequently encountered arthritic localization . In a large 2010 meta-analysis, the main risk factors for developing knee OA were shown to be obesity, previous knee trauma, hand OA, female gender and advanced age. Smoking appeared to have a moderate protective effect . The risk of developing gonarthrosis in obese patients is 2.6 times higher than in the general population. Hypercholesterolemia itself is a risk factor for osteoarthritis, as are increased plasma levels of specific fatty acids and lipoproteins Inflammatory mechanism in osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that plasma levels of C-reactive protein, can be used to estimate individual susceptibility to developing osteoarthritis over a lifetime . In osteoarthritis patients, plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 are abnormally high, which appears to contribute to cartilage loss in these subjects . 3\. Inflammatory mechanism in obesity. Obesity induces systemic and local joint mechanical stresses that increase the risk of developing gonarthrosis in obese or overweight individuals . Beyond the simple mechanical aspect, a body of evidence supports the assertion that obesity is responsible for a systemic inflammatory state, deleterious to joints. 1) Obesity is associated with radiographic and symptomatic osteoarthritis in non-weight-bearing joints, such as the hand In overweight and obese adults, plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are significantly increased . 3)Weight loss in obese subjects with osteoarthritis alleviates joint symptoms through reduced mechanical stress but also through reduced production and response of inflammatory products . 4\. Common inflammatory mechanisms between adipose tissue and obesity. The relationship between adipose tissue and inflammation is complex given the different types of adipose tissue and the action of cells derived from it. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ composed of mature and developing adipocytes, as well as fibroblasts, endothelial cells and a wide range of immune cells, namely adipose tissue macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, T cells and B cells. Adipose tissue is recognized as an endocrine organ that secretes a large number of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin). Communication between adipocytes and immune cells maintains tissue homeostasis. Obesity, however, can upset this balance. Lipid metabolism and joint disorders have been shown to be linked . A high-fat diet may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis . White and brown adipose tissue appear to play a complementary role in the development of osteoarthritis. Increased white adipose tissue in obesity is thought to create a systemic environment of increased inflammation through the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines such as leptin and visfatin, all of which have been associated with osteoarthritis . Locally, white adipocytes in infra patellar adipose tissue are architecturally different in patients without gonarthrosis compared with those with knee osteoarthritis. This difference suggests that adipocyte gene expression is directly influenced by inflammation . In obese individuals, there is elevated IL-6 production in brown adipose tissue . Furthermore, it would appear that brown adipose tissue, unlike white, down-regulates the inflammatory profile of macrophages .