OE JOURNAL
Current Issue
Vol. 14 | Iss. 5 | March 2026 - 38 Studies
Questions This Issue Explores
Does fascia iliaca block with liposomal bupivacaine affect quality of recovery after hip fracture surgery?
Does adding a lateral extra-articular procedure to primary ACL reconstruction affect functional and clinical outcomes?
How does robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty compare with unicompartmental knee arthroplasty?
Does platelet-rich plasma differ from placebo or corticosteroid for knee osteoarthritis?
Does extended oral tranexamic acid affect postoperative pain and range of motion after total knee arthroplasty?
ORIGINAL ANALYSIS
Blades, Body Checks, and Broken Bones: The Unavoidable Cost of Playing in the NHL
Injury is an unavoidable reality in elite sport, and the NHL is no exception. Strains and sprains are common across athletics, while fractures and concussions remain significant risks in professional hockey. Lower-body injuries account for a substantial share of reported cases, with hip and pelvic injuries—particularly labral tears—frequently linked to body checking. Shoulder injuries such as Bankart lesions also contribute to missed games. Although protective equipment like helmets and visors eventually became mandatory, resistance continues around neck guards despite documented fatal incidents. Ultimately, injuries can be reduced through equipment, conditioning, and rule enforcement, but never fully eliminated.
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Robot-Assisted Total vs. Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Twelve randomized controlled trials including 1538 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) undergoing knee arthroplasty were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing robot-assisted knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA or RA-UKA) vs. conventional knee arthroplasty techniques. Pooled outcomes of interest included range of motion (ROM) and pain measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS). The pooled analysis showed no significant difference in ROM or VAS pain scores between robotic and conventional procedures. Overall, the findings suggest that robot-assisted knee arthroplasty provides comparable clinical outcomes to conventional methods, indicating that robotic approaches may be a viable alternative depending on surgical expertise and patient characteristics.
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