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Vitamin K for healthy knees

Vitamin K supports bones and cartilage. So researchers wanted to know if low vitamin K was linked to joint damage and osteoarthritis.

The study found that people who had low levels of vitamin K in their blood were about 33 percent more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis.

Also, people with low vitamin K levels were about two times more likely to show signs of damaged cartilage in their knees.

The authors suggested that vitamin K may be important for keeping knees healthy.

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New hip replacement approach offers multiple benefits

It's no fun walking around with an ailing hip; anyone with severe arthritis knows that kind of pain all too well. For years, orthopedic surgeons have been performing total hip replacements when less invasive options don't provide the desired results.

The bottom line for those who have hip pain that significantly interferes with their quality of life is that there's no need to suffer. If non-operative treatments don't provide the long term relief, hip replacement or resurfacing may be the answer.

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Osteoarthritis: new light shed on how painful joint wear and tear develops

The cause of osteoarthritis -- other than known risk factors such as age or earlier injury -- is not yet known. The researchers at the MedUni Vienna have discovered, however, that certain proteins known as lectins, and in particular galectins, have a role to play in the painful wear and tear of the joints.

These new findings, according to the vision of the MedUni Vienna researchers, could lead to galectins in future being used both in the treatment and, as bio-markers, in the disease prediction of osteoarthritis.

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Baby boomers feed need for joint replacements; Docs seeing more patients under age of 65

US baby boomers are fueling a wave of joint replacement surgeries, hoping to use new artificial knees and hips to stay active as they get older.

The 45-64 age group accounted for more than 40 percent of the more than 906,000 total knee or total hip replacement surgeries in 2009, the last year for which figures were available from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Boomers will account for a majority of these joint replacements in 2011, according to projections by Drexel University specialist Steven Kurtz.

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Sports training and ACL reconstruction should focus on unique characteristics of the female knee

Female athletes are three times more likely to suffer from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)ruptures, one of the most common knee injuries, compared to male athletes. The ACL is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur (upper leg bone) to the tibia (lower leg bone). Recent research highlights the unique anatomical differences in the female knee that may contribute to higher injury rates, and should be taken into consideration during reconstructive surgery and sports training, according to a review article in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).

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Vitamin D no help for arthritis in the knee

Adults with osteoarthritis in the knees who take vitamin D supplements did not show an improvement in pain relief or cartilage loss, according to a new study published in JAMA.

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17 Ways to fight osteoporosis

Most people know calcium strengthens bones. But there are more than a dozen other ways to fight osteoporosis, the silent, bone-thinning condition that can lead to fractures, back and neck pain, and a loss of up to 6 inches of height over time.

Taking preventive measures is key, as many people with osteoporosis will get bone fractures before they even know they have the disease.

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Congrats to MacNeal hospital on receiving an

The nonprofit Leapfrog Group has released updated hospital safety scores for U.S. hospitals. Under the system, hospitals are given A, B, C, D or F scores based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. Among the findings:

• Of the 2,618 general hospitals issued a Hospital Safety Score, 790 earned an "A," 678 earned a "B," 1004 earned a "C," 121 earned a "D," and 25 earned an "F."
• 58 percent of hospitals maintained the same grade level as they had in previous scores issued in June, while 34 percent changed by one grade level (higher or lower), and 8 percent moved two grade levels or more
• No one class of hospitals (such as teaching or public hospitals) dominated among those showing the highest safety scores.
• Hospitals with "A" scores included those with multiple national accolades, as well as institutions that serve highly vulnerable, impoverished, or health-challenged populations.

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ORIF prevented need for later THA in acetabular fracture patients

Long-term follow-up showed that open reduction and internal fixation successfully treated displaced acetabular fractures in patients without the need for subsequent total hip arthroplasty, according to this study.

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Study confirms socioeconomic value of hip protectors, joint arthroplasty

Researchers in a recent issue of Orthopedic Research and Review have concluded that medical devices, such as hip protectors and total joint arthroplasty implants, are cost-effective and significantly improve patients’ lives, confirming their socioeconomic value.

“Orthopedic devices such as knee and hip implants or hip protectors have the potential to improve people’s lives. They allow for greater flexibility, faster return to an active, independent lifestyle and reduced risk of future fractures to name but a few benefits,” Yves Verboven, executive director at the European Health Technology Institute for Socio-Economic Research (EHTI), stated in a press release.

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