Prior to undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), surgeons are often confronted with patients with numerous questions regarding the procedure and the recovery process. Due to limited staff resources and mounting individual workload, increased efficiency, e.g., using artificial intelligence (AI), is of increasing interest. We comprehensively evaluated ChatGPT's orthopedic responses using the DISCERN instrument. Three independent orthopedic surgeons rated the responses across various criteria. We found consistently high scores, predominantly exceeding a score of three out of five in almost all categories, indicative of the quality and accuracy of the information provided. Notably, the AI demonstrated proficiency in conveying precise and reliable information on orthopedic topics. However, a notable observation pertains to the generation of non-existing references for certain claims. This study underscores the significance of critically evaluating references provided by ChatGPT and emphasizes the necessity of cross-referencing information from established sources. Overall, the findings contribute valuable insights into the performance of ChatGPT in delivering accurate orthopedic information for patients in clinical use while shedding light on areas warranting further refinement. Future iterations of natural language processing systems may be able to replace, in part or in entirety, the preoperative interactions, thereby optimizing the efficiency, accessibility, and standardization of patient communication.

During the COVID-19 pandemic interventions, such as contact restrictions, lockdowns and postponement of elective surgeries were taken to ease the burden on the healthcare system. Among the population, these interventions led to changes in recreational behavior as well as personal transportation.

This paper examines the epidemiological data of tibial plateau fractures (TPF) before and during the pandemic and to what extent pandemic control measures had an impact.

In this retrospective monocentric study of a German level 1 trauma center, the intra-articular tibial plateau fractures of the years 2019 and 2020 were compared regarding incidence, demographics, cause of the accident, and treatment strategy. Fracture classification was according to Schatzker, AO/OTA, and Moore.

Incidence showed a decrease of -8.5% as well as a shift in the age incidence curves. There was a decrease in incidence during lockdown periods but also an increase in late summer 2020 compared to 2019. Tripping accidents (+12.4%) and bicycle accidents (+6.6%) increased in the pandemic year, whereas motorized traffic accidents (-7%) and skiing accidents (-10%) decreased. In terms of fracture morphology, 2020 showed an increase in impression fractures and a decrease in complex fractures. The number of surgically treated patients decreased by 7.3%.

The 12 months of pandemic resulted in only a slight incidence decrease of intra-articular tibial plateau fractures. The pandemic control measures showed effects within the calendar year and led directly and indirectly to a change in incidence, cause of the accident, fracture entities and care strategy.

The study sought to understand the self-management strategies used by patients during the postponement of their total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure, as well as the associations between the length of waiting time, pain, and physical frailty and function. The study focused on individuals aged 50 years and above, as they are known to be more vulnerable to the negative impacts of delayed elective surgery and rehabilitation. This study hypothesizes that delayed TKR due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will bear negative effect in self-management, pain, and physical frailty and function in older adults.

To investigate the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on self-management, pain, and physical function in older adults awaiting TKA in Malaysia.

This cross-sectional study has the data of participants, who matched the criteria and scheduled for TKA for the first time, extracted from the TKA registry in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz. Data on pain status, and self-management, physical frailty, and instrumental activities daily living were also collected. Multiple linear regression analysis with a significant level of 0.05 was used to identify the association between waiting time and pain on physical frailty and functional performance.

Out of 180 had deferred TKA, 50% of them aged 50 years old and above, 80% were women with ethnic distribution Malay (66%), Chinese (22%), Indian (10%), and others (2%) respectively. Ninety-two percent of the participants took medication to manage their pain during the waiting time, while 10% used herbs and traditional supplements, and 68% did exercises as part of their osteoarthritis (OA) self-management. Thirty-six participants were found to have physical frailty (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls questionnaire score > 4) which accounted for 72%. Increased pain was associated with physical frailty with odds ratio, odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.46 (1.04-2.05). This association remained significant even after the adjustment according to age and self-management.

While deferring TKA during a pandemic is unavoidable, patient monitoring for OA treatment during the waiting period is important in reducing physical frailty, ensuring the older patients' independence.

Despite its scarcity, fungal periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is of great clinical relevance as diagnosis and treatment are highly challenging. Previous analyses focused on the treatment rather than the role of the causative fungal agent on clinical outcome. This is the largest study of its kind to evaluate Candida strain-dependent differences in patients with fungal PJI.

We retrospectively analyzed 29 patients who underwent surgical intervention due to Candida hip or knee PJI in our department from 2010 to 2018. PJI was defined according to IDSA, recurrent PJI according to modified Delphi consensus criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, chi-square test with Yates correction, and log rank test.

Besides age and affected joint, no significant differences were found between Candida albicans and non-albicans PJI patients (75.83 versus 64.11 years, p = 0.012; 12 hip versus two knee cases, p = 0.013). Most patients received two- (27.59%) or three-stage exchange surgery (41.38%). There was a statistical trend towards an increase in surgery needed in non-albicans Candida PJI (2.92 versus 2.12; p = 0.103). After initial Candida PJI treatment, functional prosthesis implantation was achieved in 72.41% of all patients. At last follow-up, infection-free survival was at 26.79% in Candida albicans versus 72.00% in non-albicans PJI (p = 0.046).

In this study, we found infection-free survival rates to be significantly decreased in patients with albicans compared to non-albicans Candida PJI. While age and affected joint might play a confounding role, we speculate the causative pathogen to play a decisive role in disease progression.