Objective To investigate the method and the effectiveness of a combination of the arthroscopic debridement and joint irrigation postoperatively for treating gouty arthritis of the knee. Methods Between August 2000 and November 2009, 41 patients with gouty arthritis of the knee were treated by arthroscopic debridement. All patients were males with an average age of 42 years (range, 21-71 years), including 8 incipient cases and 33 relapsed cases. The unilaterial knees wereinvolved in 36 cases, including 22 left knees and 14 right knees, and both in 5 cases. The disease duration ranged from 2 months to 20 years (median, 6 years and 2 months). The extention, flexion, and range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint were (4.88 ± 6.22), (93.95 ± 35.33), and (87.79 ± 35.19)°, respectively, and Lysholm score was 63.2 ± 11.7 preoperatively. The serum uric acid levels were higher than normal value in 32 cases. Twenty-seven cases were definitely diagnosed as gouty arthritis before operation. Arthroscopic debridement was performed in 11 cases, and the arthroscopic debridement with joint irrigation postoperatively in 30 cases. After operation, the anti-gout agents and diet control were given. Results Arthroscope and pathologic examinations confirmed diagnosis of gouty arthritis in 41 patients. Intra-articular hemorrhage occurred in 1 case and was cured after arthroscopic evacuation of hematoma. The other patients achieved heal ing of incision by first intention. All 41 patients were followed up 15-126 months (mean, 50 months) postoperatively. The Lysholm score was 96.8 ± 5.8 at 15 months after operation, showing significant difference when compared with the preoperative value (t= — 13.844, P=0.000). The postoperative extention (1.16 ± 3.91)°, flexion (125.93 ± 18.65)°, and ROM (126.86 ± 16.33)° of the knee joint were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative ones (P lt; 0.05). Thirteen cases (14 knees) recurred postoperatively; but occurrence frequency and the duration were decreased and the symptoms of joint swell ing and pain were improved. Conclusion The arthroscopicdebridement is effective in cleaning up uric acid crystals thoroughly, reducing wounds, and speeding up recovery. If antigout agents and diet control can be used postoperatively, the recurrence of gouty arthritis can be prevented effectively, and the progression can be delayed.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of colchicine combined with etofenamate cream in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis. MethodsA total of 150 patients diagnosed with acute gouty arthritis from June 2013 to July 2014 were equally randomized to receive colchicine alone (group A), colchicine with etofenamate cream (group B) and colchicine with etoricoxib (group C). The assessment on joint pain, tenderness, health quality and clinical efficacy of patients in each group was carried out, and the results were compared before and 7 days after the treatment. ResultsBecause of adverse events, the number of patients who withdrew from group A, B and C was respectively 2, 3 and 7. So the actual number of patients completing the study was 48 for group A, 47 for group B and 43 for group C. The patients' and physicians' assessments of mean change in pain intensity from baseline over days 1-7 were comparable in each group, with no statistical significance between groups (P>0.05). The patients' assessment of response to treatment was the highest in the colchicine with etofenamate cream group, and the differences compared with other two groups were significant (P=0.012 and 0.025, respectively). The physicians' global assessment of response to treatment showed no statistical significance between groups (F=0.021, P=0.908). The joint tenderness was most improved in colchicine with etoricoxib group, and the differences compared with other two groups were significant (P=0.041 and 0.034, respectively). The assessments of health quality were similar between groups. The C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were decreased at study-end in all groups, but statistically significant differences were only found between group A and C (P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse events was the highest in colchicine with etoricoxib group and the difference from other two groups was significant (P<0.05). ConclusionColchicine with etofenamate cream is as effective as colchicine with etoricoxib for treating acute gout and may have a better safety and tolerability profile.
ObjectiveTo discuss the changes of joint fluid and blood-related indexes in patients with gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and to analyze the clinical significance of these changes. MethodsSeventy-five patients with gouty arthritis and 68 with rheumatoid arthritis treated between January and December 2014 were included in our study. Their joint fluid-related indicators including white blood cell count (WBC), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), glucose (GLU), and uric acid (UA), and their blood indicators including immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), C3 and C4, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-streptolysin O (ASO), and c-reactive protein (CRP) were detected. ResultsFor joint fluid-related indicators, TP and ALB levels were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05), while WBC, GLU, UA, RF and ASO between the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.05); For blood indexes, C4 was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05), but IgG, IgM, IgA, CRP, C3, UA, RF and ASO were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). The detection rate of ASO from the joint fluid was significantly higher than that detected from the blood in both the two groups (P < 0.05), while UA level was not significantly different between the joint fluid and the blood (P > 0.05). In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, RF detection rate was not significantly different between the joint fluid and the blood (P > 0.05), but it was significantly different for patients with gouty arthritis (P < 0.05). The positive rate of ASO in the blood and joint fluid of patients with gouty arthritis was respectively 38.7% and 44.0%, and it was 75.0% and 73.5% for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. UA positive rate in the blood and joint fluid of patients with gouty arthritis was 92.0% and 80.0% respectively, while it was 38.2% and 32.4% for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RF positive rate was 33.3% and 40.0% in the blood and joint fluid of patients with gouty arthritis, while the rate was 86.8% and 91.2% for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. ConclusionThe joint fluid and blood indicators are in change in patients with gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which has a certain clinical value in disease diagnosis and curative effect observation.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics, clinical classification, and treatment of wrist gouty arthritis. Methods The clinical data of 24 patients with wrist gouty arthritis and complete follow-up between April 2011 and August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 21 males and 3 females; the first onset age was 21-72 years, with a median age of 50 years. There were 15 cases of simple wrist joint disease, and 9 cases of other joints (hand, knee, ankle, metatarsophalangeal joint) involvement; 19 cases of wrist joint as the first site. Except for 1 patient with a medical history of 21 years, the time from onset to diagnosis in the remaining 23 patients was 7 days to 9 years, with a median time of 2 months. According to the clinical manifestations, imaging manifestations, lesion range, and intraoperative wrist arthroscopy manifestations of wrist gouty arthritis, they were classified into 5 types from mild to severe. Among the 24 patients, 13 were type Ⅰ, 2 were type ⅡA, 3 were type ⅡB, 2 were type ⅢA, 3 were type Ⅳ, and 1 was type Ⅴ. The time from first onset to diagnosis for type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ patients was (12.7±40.1) months, and for type Ⅲ-Ⅴ patients was (152.0± 88.5) months, the difference was significant (t=−4.355, P=0.001). Thirteen patients with type Ⅰ received conservative treatment (including diet, exercise, lifestyle intervention, and medication), and 11 patients with type Ⅱ-Ⅴ received surgical treatment (including 1 case of arthroscopic synovial membrane and gout crystal clearing, 1 case of ligament repair, 5 cases of lesion debridement/artificial bone grafting and filling, 3 cases of wrist fusion, and 1 case of tophicectomy). Before and after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the improvement of wrist joint pain; and the range of motion of the wrist joint (including palmar flexion, dorsal extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation) was evaluated. ResultsThirteen conservatively treated patients were followed up 10 months to9 years, with an average of 2.2 years. The VAS scores before treatment and at last follow-up were 6.8±0.7 and 2.9±0.9, respectively, and the difference was significant (t=12.309, P=0.000). During follow-up, there was no wrist bone and wrist joint damage; wrist joint range of motion basically reached normal. At last follow-up, the wrist joint palmar flexion, dorsal extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation significantly improved when compared with the values before treatment (P<0.05). Eleven surgically treated patients were followed up 5 months to 9 years, with an average of 4.9 years. The swelling and pain of all patients fully relieved, and the VAS scores were 7.3±0.8 before operation, 2.7±0.6 at 1 month after operation, and 2.5±0.6 at last follow-up, which significantly improved after operation (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between 1 month after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05). Excluded 3 patients who underwent wrist fusion, the other 8 patients had significantly improved wrist joint palmar flexion, dorsal extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation at last follow-up (P<0.05). The patient’s subjective satisfaction with the surgical results reached 100%. Conclusion A missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of wrist gouty arthritis will greatly damage the wrist stability and functions. Early and proper interventions can effectively retard the progress of the disease. For the late-stage cases, a staged surgical protocol is recommended.