The aim of this study was, to investigate the rate of return to sports (RTS) and physical activity after implantation of PFIA and to identify factors predictive of improved postoperative sporting ability. Methods Sixty-two patients with a mean age of 46 ± 11 years, who underwent implantation of PFIA at the senior authors' institution, were enrolled. They were prospectively evaluated preoperatively and at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively with a mean follow-up of 60 ± 25 months. Clinical outcomes, return to sports and activity, type of sport or activity, subjective satisfaction, and frequency were evaluated by questionnaire. Results The transformed overall Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score improved from 67 ± 16 to 77 ± 19 (p = 0.003), Tegner activity scale results improved from 3 ± 2 points to 4 ± 1 points (p < 0.001), and scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) pain scale decreased from 6 ± 2 points to 3 ± 2 points (p < 0.001). The sports frequency increased from 1 ± 2 sessions to 2 ± 1 sessions per week (p = 0.001). Ninety-four percent of the patients who did not fail could return to the same or higher level of sports, with 74% of the patients reporting an improved ability to perform sports. No preoperative factors could be detected to significantly influence RTS after surgery. Conclusions PFIA is a valid treatment option for the active patient with end-stage isolated patellofemoral OA. Reliable improvements in knee function, pain, and participation in low-impact sports were found. Level of evidence IV.

A serious problem of high-power GaAs/AlGaAs laser diodes is the strong mirror heating, which is caused by the carrier density and the correlated nonradiative surface recombination at the cleaved mirrors. Therefore the top electrode was segmented in three parts and the influence of a separate controllable potential in the mirror region on the temperature has been studied. The local temperature was measured using spatially resolved Raman scattering. A substantial reduction of the mirror temperature is possible by applying a suitable potential to the mirror contacts. This may lead to an improvement in reliability in the case where the high mirror temperature is responsible for the degradation of the laser.

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