Clinical Research Directory

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in Patients Undergoing Primary Elective Arthroplasty

The aim of this observational study is to determine content of rare metals and other elements, along with the levels of selected immunological parameters, in the tissue of the hip or knee joint in the course of degenerative diseases. Determining potential disturbances in the levels or functions of these parameters may in the future contribute to improving treatment - for example, through supplementation of deficient metals or modulation at the immunological level. The main question it aims to answer is: Are selected rare metals, trace elements and other selected immunological parameters lowered in the tissue of the hip or knee joint as well as in serum in the course of osteoarthritis?

Nalbuphine Timing Effects on Hemodynamics and Analgesia in Elderly Patients

In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the use of a tourniquet and controlled hypotension is common. However, ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by the tourniquet and inappropriate controlled hypotension can lead to cardiac and cerebral damage in patients. Consequently, maintaining hemodynamic stability, ensuring adequate cerebral perfusion, and achieving controlled blood pressure during the perioperative period are critical factors influencing patient outcomes. Postoperatively, patients typically experience moderate to severe pain. Severe postoperative pain can result in prolonged hospital stays, increased readmission rates, elevated opioid consumption, and associated nausea and vomiting. Therefore, exploring effective multimodal postoperative pain management strategies is essential. Nalbuphine, an opioid analgesic acting as a full kappa-receptor agonist and a partial mu-receptor antagonist, is considered to provide analgesic efficacy equivalent to morphine while potentially offering advantages in maintaining hemodynamic stability. This study aims to investigate the effects of administering equivalent doses of nalbuphine at different perioperative time points on analgesia and hemodynamics in elderly patients undergoing knee arthroplasty.

Clinical Correlation of TKA Alignment and Native Knee Anatomy

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still considered the treatment of choice for painful osteoarthritis. In the last decades neutral mechanical knee alignment in the coronal plane has been considered the gold standard. However, the optimal TKA alignment is still debated. Today, component rotation measurements on three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images are considered the gold standard for assessing native preoperative alignment and TKA component position. In this study pre-and postoperative radiographic measurements, functional scores, and biomechanical parameters of patients with knee osteoarthritis will be assessed with the aim to investigate the relationship between deviations of TKA alignment from native preoperative alignment and clinical, functional and biomechanical alignment.

VRAS (Velys Robot-Assisted Solution) Operational Excellence Study

The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in process set-up, efficiency, OR team workload, instrument trays and OR financial performance when using the VRAS (Velys Robotic Assisted Solution) of DePuy Synthes compared to conventional TKA.