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Aims

There are concerns regarding nail/medullary canal mismatch and initial stability after cephalomedullary nailing in unstable pertrochanteric fractures. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an additional anteroposterior blocking screw on fixation stability in unstable pertrochanteric fracture models with a nail/medullary canal mismatch after short cephalomedullary nail (CMN) fixation.

Methods

Eight finite element models (FEMs), comprising four different femoral diameters, with and without blocking screws, were constructed, and unstable intertrochanteric fractures fixed with short CMNs were reproduced in all FEMs. Micromotions of distal shaft fragment related to proximal fragment, and stress concentrations at the nail construct were measured.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 100-B, Issue SUPP_6 | Pages 30 - 30
1 Apr 2018
Choi W Oh S Kim J Baek S Kim S Lee Y Hwang D
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Objective

This paper aims to analyze the kinetics of the over-ground wheel-type body weight supporting system (BWS); tendency changes of low extremity joint moment (hip, knee, ankle), 3 axis accelerations of a trunk, cadence and gait velocity as weight bearing level changes.

Method

15 subjects (11 males, 4 females, age:23.63.5, height:170.65.1cm, weight:69.0210.75kg) who had no history of surgery participated. 6 levels (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) of BWS were given to subjects at self-selected gait velocity and kinetic data was calculated using a motion capture system, Vicon® (Vicon, UK).


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 99-B, Issue SUPP_5 | Pages 55 - 55
1 Mar 2017
Nho J Suh Y Park J Lee Y Ha Y Koo K
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Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including pulmonary embolism (PE) resulting from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), remains a well-known serious complication after femoral fractures. The low molecular heparin is widely used to prevent VTE. This study compared the effectiveness of VTE prevention between dalteparin and enoxaparin.

Materials and Methods

From 2013 to 2014, we retrospectively recruited 712 patients who had femoral fractures with operative treatment. All patients receiving VTE chemoprophylaxis with perioperative period using dalateparin in Group 1(N=395) and enoxaparin in Group 2(N=317). The prophylactic dosing was determined using individual product labeling and identified as enoxaparin 40 mg every 12 hours and dalteparin 2500 international unit (IU) once daily, based on clinical practice guidelines. The prophylaxis was started at admission, and maintained during average 8.43.5 days after operation. The outcome including the incidence of clinically significant deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, perioperative bleeding and cost of drugs were evaluated between two groups.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 99-B, Issue SUPP_6 | Pages 113 - 113
1 Mar 2017
Kim C Yoo O Lee Y Lee M
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Introduction

The use of open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) to reduce knee pain by transferring weight-bearing loads to the relatively unaffected lateral compartment in varus knees and to delay the need for a knee replacement by slowing or stopping destruction of the medial joint compartment. To maintain the stability of OWHTO, the most common type of plate was T-Plate as the locking compression plate (LCP) concept. Anterior portion of T-Plate infringe patient's soft tissue resulted in some complications, whereas anatomical L-plate does not. To evaluate the structural stability of the anatomically contoured L-plate in the present study, the effect of weight bearing after osteotomy should be reviewed in the point of the stress of the plate and screws. We hypothesize that its stress path diverge through collateral portion of tibia and the stress level in screws lowered comparing to the result of T-plate presented in existing literature.

Materials and Methods

Based on the postoperative CT data were made from the reconstruction model for finite-element model. The value of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio were 17,000MPa and 0.36 for cortical bone and 300MPa and 0.3 for cancellous bone. The anatomically contoured L-Plate system, the material of all plate systems were surgical Ti-Alloy were homogeneous and linear properties (Young's modulus = 113,000MPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.33). The screw system were the same as the material properties of the anatomically contoured L-Plate system. For finite element analysis, both the bone and screws were contacted as general condition. And the screws and plate were contacted as tie contact(Figure 1). The load conditions were applied to the top of the tibia based physiological (=1400N) and surgical loads (=200N). In this study, the compressive-bending load was applied to the two nodal points corresponding to the centers of each tibial condyle and divided into 60% and 40% to the medial and lateral sides, respectively. The physiological loads applied in the quadrant section on the proximal tibia.(Chu-An Luo, 2013)


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 99-B, Issue SUPP_5 | Pages 105 - 105
1 Mar 2017
Gaudiani M White P Lee Y Budhiparama N Ranawat A Ranawat C
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Introduction

There has not been a comparison of patients and outcomes between two separate countries for any knee prosthesis. This study compares total knee replacement outcomes between an Indonesian and American cohort. We aim to compare the clinical results between two different hospitals in two different countries using post-operative range of motion as the primary clinical result.

Materials and Methods

177 Indonesian RPF TKR patients were compared to 84 American patients. Demographics, patient recorded outcomes scores (KSS, PAQ, WOMAC), flexion, and component size were compared between the groups. Standard t-test was used to compare the variables between the two countries and regression analysis adjusting for age, BMI, length of follow-up, sex, preoperative WOMAC and PAQ score, preoperative KSS knee score, preoperative KSS function score, and preoperative UCLA was used to compare outcomes.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 99-B, Issue SUPP_6 | Pages 112 - 112
1 Mar 2017
Jang Y Yoo O Lee Y Lee M Elazab A Choi D
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Background

Open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is an operation involving proper load re-distribution in the treatment for medial uni-compartmental arthritis of the knee joint. Therefore, stable fixation is mandatory for safe healing of this additive type of osteotomy to minimize the risk of non-union and loss of correction. For stability, screws provide optimal support and anchorage of the fixator in the condylar area without risking penetration of either the articulating surface. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the screw insertion angle and orientation with an anatomical plate that is post-contoured to the surface geometry of the proximal tibia after OWHTO.

Methods

From March 2012 to June 2014, 31 uni-planar and 38 bi-planar osteotomies were evaluated. Postoperative computed tomography data obtained after open wedge high tibial osteotomy using a locking plate were used for reconstruction of the 3 dimensional model with Mimics v.16.0 of the proximal tibia and locking plate. Measurement data were compared between 2 groups (gap lesser than or equal to 10 mm (Group 1) and gap greater than 10 mm(Group 2)). These data were also compared between the uniplanar (Group 3) and bi-planar (Group 4) osteotomy groups.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 99-B, Issue SUPP_4 | Pages 35 - 35
1 Feb 2017
Jo W Lee Y Ha Y Koo K Lim Y Kwon S Kim Y
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Background

Although thigh pain is an annoying problem after total hip arthroplasty (THA), little information has been known about its natural course.

Methods

To determine the frequency, time of onset, and duration of thigh pain after cementless THA, we evaluated 240 patients (240 hips) who underwent primary THA because of femoral head osteonecrosis with the use of a single tapered stem.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 6, Issue 1 | Pages 31 - 42
1 Jan 2017
Kang K Koh Y Jung M Nam J Son J Lee Y Kim S Kim S

Objectives

The aim of the current study was to analyse the effects of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) deficiency on forces of the posterolateral corner structure and on tibiofemoral (TF) and patellofemoral (PF) contact force under dynamic-loading conditions.

Methods

A subject-specific knee model was validated using a passive flexion experiment, electromyography data, muscle activation, and previous experimental studies. The simulation was performed on the musculoskeletal models with and without PCL deficiency using a novel force-dependent kinematics method under gait- and squat-loading conditions, followed by probabilistic analysis for material uncertain to be considered.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 98-B, Issue SUPP_8 | Pages 147 - 147
1 May 2016
Lee Y Lee M Choi D Sun D Yoo O
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Introduction

Open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is an operation by the proper load re-distribution in the treatment for medial uni-compartmental arthritis of the knee joint. However, for the proper load re-distribution, stable fixation is mandatory. For the stable fixation, plate should be contoured to the bony surface and screws should be inserted from the central area of the medial side to the hinge area of the lateral side in the proximal fragment because most failures occur at the relatively lesser supported lateral hinge area. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the screw insertion angle and orientation that is inserted to the direction of the lateral hinge with an anatomical plate that is post-contoured with a surface geometry of the proximal tibia after the OWHTO. The hypothesis of this study was that the position and orientation would be different according to the correction degree (median value 10 mm) and surgical technique (uni-planar vs bi-planar).

Materials and Methods

Thirty-one uni-planar and thirty-eight bi-planar osteotomies were evaluated. Postoperative CT data obtained after OWHTO were used for the 3D reconstruction of the proximal tibia. Anterior dimension (L1) and posterior dimension (L2) of the proximal tibia were measured in sagittal plane from tibial spine. Screw insertion points using four holes were even distributed using L1 and L2 value. As screw insertion angle was set from four holes to lateral hinge of the ‘Safe Zone’. Those four angles were measured in the axial and coronal plane. These were compared according to the correction degree and surgical technique.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 98-B, Issue SUPP_1 | Pages 123 - 123
1 Jan 2016
Esposito C Gladnick B Lee Y Lyman S Wright T Mayman DJ Padgett DE
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Introduction

Acetabular component position is considered a major factor affecting the etiology of hip dislocation. The ‘Lewinnek safe zone’ has been the most widely accepted range for component position to avoid hip dislocation, but recent studies suggest that this safe zone is outdated. We used a large prospective institutional registry to ask: 1) is there a ‘safe zone’ for acetabular component position, as measured on an anteroposterior radiograph, within which the risk of hip dislocation is low?, and 2) do other patient and implant factors affect the risk of hip dislocation?

Materials and Methods

From 2007 to 2012, 19,449 patients (22,097 hip procedures) were recorded in an IRB approved prospective total joint replacement registry. All patients who underwent primary THA were prospectively enrolled, of which 9,107 patients consented to participate in the registry. An adverse event survey (80% compliance) was used to identify patients who reported a dislocation event in the six months after hip replacement surgery. Postoperative AP radiographs of hips that dislocated were matched with AP radiographs of stable hips, and acetabular position was measured using Ein Bild Röntgen Analyse software. Dislocators in radiographic zones (± 5°, ± 10°, ± 15° boundaries) were counted for every 1° of anteversion and inclination angles.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 98-B, Issue SUPP_3 | Pages 85 - 85
1 Jan 2016
Suh Y Nho J Park J Lee Y Ha Y Koo K
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Introduction

In comminuted intertrochanteric fractures, various operative options have been introduced. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in clinical and radiologic outcomes among bipolar hemiarthroplasty(BH), compression hip screw(CHS) and proximal femur nail antirotatory(PFNA) in treating comminuted intertrochanteric fractures(AO type, A2(21, 22, 23))

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated total 150 patients(BH:50, CHS:50, PFNA: 50) who were operated due to intertrochanteric fractures from March 2010 to Dec 2012 and were older than 65 years at the time of surgery. We compared these three groups for radiologic and clinical outcomes at 12 months postoperatively, including Harris hip score, ability of ambulation(Koval stage), visual analogue scale and radiologic limb length discrepancy(shortening). Landmark and radiologic length was checked.

–A: postoperative length

–A’: POD 1year

–B: immediate posteopative contralateral length(from hip center to distal tip of lesser trochanter)

–B’: POD 1year contralateral length(from hip center to distal tip of lesser trochanter)

Limb length(shortening) was adjusted considering difference of magnification

= {A × (B’/B)}− A’


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 98-B, Issue SUPP_4 | Pages 155 - 155
1 Jan 2016
Zuiderbaan H Khamaisy S Thein R Nawabi DH Ishmael C Paul S Lee Y Pearle A
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Introduction

Historically, the outcomes of knee replacement were evaluated based on implant longevity, major complications and range of motion. Over the last recent years however, there has been an intensively growth of interest in the patient's perception of functional outcome. However, the currently used patient related outcome (PRO) scores are limited by ceiling effects which limit the possibility to distinguish between good and excellent results post knee arthroplasty. The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) is a new PRO score which is not influenced by ceiling effects, therefore making it the ideal instrument to compare functional outcome between various types of implants. It is based on the thought that the ultimate goal in joint arthroplasty is the ability of a patient to forget their artificial joint in everyday life.

The aim of this study is to compare the FJS between patients who undergo TKA and patients who undergo medial UKA at least 12 months post-operatively. We hypothesized that the UKA which is less extensive surgical procedure will present better FJS than TKA, even 12 month postoperative.

Methods

All patients who underwent medial UKA or TKA were contacted 12 months post-operatively. They were asked to complete the FJS, the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). A priori power analysis was conducted using two-sample t-test. 64 patients in each group were needed to reach 80% power for detecting a 12 point (SD 24) significant difference on the FJS scale with a two-sided significant level of 0.05. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 95-B, Issue SUPP_34 | Pages 452 - 452
1 Dec 2013
Lee Y Nho J Lee K Ha Y Koo K
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Background:

Two-stage reconstruction, reimplantation after removal of an infected prosthesis, has been considered to be the gold standard for treatment of infected hip arthroplasty. However, during the removal of a well-fixed femoral stem, the proximal femur can be damaged and a sequestrum can be formed, which might lead to chronic osteomyelitis and difficulty in reimplantation. We wanted to determine whether infection after hip arthroplasty can be treated without removal of a well-fixed stem.

Materials and Methods:

We treated 19 patients who had an infection after hip replacement, but a well-fixed cementless stem, with 2-stage reconstruction. At the first stage, we removed the acetabular cup, the liner and the head, but not the stem. We then implanted a cup of cement spacer. After control of infection, we reimplanted the acetabular component and head.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 95-B, Issue SUPP_15 | Pages 142 - 142
1 Mar 2013
Chen Y Kurosu S Lee Y Matsumoto H Koizumi Y Chiba A
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Introduction

Metal-on-metal (MOM) hip joints have regained a favor in arthroplasty since they own excellent wear resistance. In this study, wear tests by using a hip joint simulator were conducted with MOM bearings of specified 40 mm femoral heads. The influence of clearance on the wear behavior was investigated. Furthermore, an optimized radial clearance was estimated by lubricant film thickness and contact pressure analysis.

Materials and methods

Co-27Cr-5Mo-0.13N-0.05C (hereafter CCMN) alloy (mass %) was used. The ingots were vacuum induction melted, homogenized and hot forged successively. The microstructure shows equiaxed crystal grains with abundant annealing twins but no carbides.

Two groups of bearings, indicated as cr 1 and cr 2, were designed. The radial clearances for cr 1 and cr 2 were 37.9 and 148.7 μm, respectively. Wear tests were conducted in a hip joint simulator (INSTRON 8870) in Hanks' solution at 37±2°f. The force and 3-axile angle of movement were applied on the articulation according to ISO 14242-1 for 1.5 million cycles (Mc).

The contact pressures on the hip joints were also analyzed by using ABAQUS. The femoral heads were set 40 mm with radial clearances of 0–200 μm. Half models were set up and only the maximum force of 3 kN converted as pressure was applied as boundary condition.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 95-B, Issue SUPP_15 | Pages 146 - 146
1 Mar 2013
Chiba A Kurosu S Koizumi Y Matsumoto H Lee Y
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Rapid manufacturing using laser beam and/or electron beam has been applied to fabrication of artificial hip and knee joints in quite recent years. In the electron beam melting (EBM) method, the high energy electron beam effectively melts the metal powder without creating flaws such as porosities or inclusions of oxide particles during building. Thus it is found that EBM technique for rapid manufacturing of artificial hip and knee joints processes a higher possibility as the next-generation methodology for fabrication of the medical devices such as hip and knee joints. In the present study, we focus on the EBM technique. The microstructures and mechanical properties of Co-29Cr-6Mo alloy with C and N additions, produced by using EBM method, were studied using X-ray diffraction, electron back scatter diffraction, transmission electron microscope (TEM), Vickers hardness tests, and tensile tests, focusing on the influences on the build direction and the various heat treatments after build. It is found that the microstructures for the as built specimens were changed from columnar (Fig. 1a) to eqiaxed grain structure (Fig. 1c) with average grain size of approximately 10–20 μm due to the heat treatment employing the reverse transformation from a lamellar (hcp + Cr2N) phase to an fcc phase. Our results will contribute to the development of biomedical Ni-free Co–Cr–Mo–N-C alloys, produced by EBM method, with refined grain size and good mechanical properties, without requiring any hot workings.

Fig. 1 Inverse pole figure (IPF) maps of microstructure of samples produced by EBM method, taken by EBSD. (a) as-built, (b) after aging treatment, (c) after reverse transformation heat treatment (RT-HT).


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 94-B, Issue SUPP_XXV | Pages 22 - 22
1 Jun 2012
Chiba A Lee Y Kurosu S Matsumoto H
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Co-Cr-Mo alloys are widely used for biomedical implant materials such as artificial hip and knee joints owing to their excellent corrosion and wear resistance as well as higher strengthening properties. However, the alloys exhibits sever brittle nature under an as-cast condition. It is generally recognized that refinement of the grain size of the metallic materials by means of hot-forging processes is an effective methodology to strengthen the alloy. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is an effective metallurgical process for grain refinement during hot deformation. However, there are few studies on the hot deformation behavior of Co-Cr-Mo alloy, especially grain refinement through DRX. In the present study, DRX and grain refinement during hot deformation of Co-29Cr-6Mo alloy has been investigated under various conditions such as deformation temperature and strain rate.

Although at strain of 5% hot deformed microstructure maintains the original grains, the grain size decreases with increasing the strain and exhibits the average grain size of approximately 2μm at strain of 60%. Ultra fine grained microstructure with the grain size of approximately 0.5 μm was obtained under deformation at a 1323 K at a strain rate of 0.1s-1. The original grains are broken up into different grains due to the new boundary formation not only near the initial boundaries but also in the interior of the grains at large strain. This grain fragmentation without bulging in the course of hot deformation is associated with considerably low stacking fault energy (SFE) of the Co-29Cr-6Mo alloy even at the deformation temperatures.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 92-B, Issue SUPP_I | Pages 74 - 74
1 Mar 2010
Breitbart E Meade S Yeh S Al-Zube L Azad V Lee Y Livingston-Arinzehand T Lin S
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Introduction/Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disease affecting over 21 million Americans resulting in numerous systemic effects, one of which is impaired bone healing. This study was designed to determine the osteoinductive capacity of MSC augmentation in allograft incorporation within a critical size femoral defect model in rats with DM.

Materials/Methods: A 5mm critical size defect was created in the right femur of 40 male DM BB Wistar. Groups: DM/Allograft(All)+DBM and Non-DM/All+DBM: In two groups, the defect was filled with an allograft from a normal non-DM donor rat filled with approximately 0.05mm3 of DBM. DM/All+DBM/MSCs: In the experimental group, the defect was filled with All+DBM, and loaded with 10×106 MSC/mL. Histomorphometry: Animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery, the femurs were processed for undecalcified histomorphometry, and seven areas of interest were measured.

Results: At 4 and 8 weeks the average bone formation within the defect and total bone formation in the DM/All+DBM/MSC group and at 8 weeks the average total bone formation in the Non-DM/All+DBM group was significantly increased compared to the DM/All+DBM group. No significance was found comparing the Non-DM/All+DBM and DM/All+DBM/MSC groups.

Discussion/Conclusions: This study reveals decreased amount of new bone formation in DM animals compared to Non-DM animals, showing the detrimental effects of DM upon allograft incorporation in a critical size defect. MSC augmentation resulted in new bone formation in DM animals similar to Non-DM animals, suggesting a potential role for MSC as an advjuvant during the process of allograft incorporation.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 92-B, Issue SUPP_I | Pages 88 - 88
1 Mar 2010
KIM Y YOO JJ YOON KS KOO K LEE Y KWON YS KIM HJ
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Background: Ceramic-on-ceramic couplings are an attractive alternative bearing surfaces to eliminate or reduce problems related to polyethylene wear debris. Past disappointing experiences with alumina ceramic bearings have led to many improvements in the manufacture and the design of ceramic implants. The purpose of this study was to report the results of contemporary alumina-on-alumina total hip arthroplasties (THAs) with regard to wear, osteolysis, and fracture of the ceramic after a 10-year minimum follow-up.

Methods: We evaluated the results of a series of 66 primary alumina-on-alumina THAs with a metal-backed socket and a cementless stem in 59 patients. All of the patients were 64 years old or younger (mean, 42 years), and a single surgeon performed all of the procedures. They were evaluated clinically and radiographically at the 120 to 126 months follow-up (average, 123 months). During the follow-up, special regards were addressed to wear, periprosthetic osteolysis and ceramic failure.

Results: During the follow-up period, two patients (two hips) had died with the prosthesis in situ as the result of an unrelated medical condition. The mean Harris hip score was 94 points at the latest follow-up evaluation. All of the prostheses had radiographic evidence of a bone ingrowth. No implant was loosened radiographically and no implant was revised. Ceramic wear was not detectable in the 28 hips where differentiation of the femoral head from the cup was possible on radiographs. Periprosthetic osteolysis was observed in no hip. A fracture of the alumina femoral head and a peripheral chip fracture of the alumina insert occurred in one hip following a major motor vehicle accident. A periprosthetic femoral fracture, which required open reduction and internal fixation with metal cables, had occurred in one hip. This fracture healed without problem.

Conclusion: The results of contemporary alumina-on-alumina THAs with a metal-backed socket and a cementless stem were encouraging after a minimum follow up of 10 years. We believe that these improved alumina-on-alumina bearing implants offer a promising option for younger active patients.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 92-B, Issue SUPP_I | Pages 118 - 119
1 Mar 2010
Lee K Young K Lee Y Kim J Park S Kim D
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Recently with the introduction of operations using various instrument of total ankle arthroplasty, we are showing quite satisfactory short term results on the treatment of resolved pain of ankle joint. However, there have been reports of high probability of complication from total ankle arthroplasty to other arthroplasty applied to other joints. Therefore in order to make the results of ankle arthroplasty superior, it is necessary to reduce these complications. We try to analyze complications that occur often and come up with the best results.

There were 45 cases of 42 patients of HINTEGRA® (Newdeal SA, Lyon, France) model from November 2004 to August 2006. Follow up averaged 33.5 months, the average age of patients was 61.1 years, with 14 males and 28 females. We evaluated the complications and analyzed the causes of failures. There was a total 15 cases of complications; 5 cases of medical impingement syndrome, 3 cases of varus malposition, 2 cases of delayed healing of wound, 1 case of peroneal nerve problem, medial malleolar fracture, postoperative deep infection and gouty arthritis pain and Achilles tendinitis.

Our conclusion is that total ankle arthroplasty had more complication rate than other joint arthroplasty, so we need a more meticulous preoperative and perioperative care.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 91-B, Issue SUPP_III | Pages 455 - 455
1 Sep 2009
Bistolfi A Bracco P Lee Y Crova M Thornhill T Bellare A
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The performance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) used in total joint replacement prosthesis depends on its wear resistance, oxidation resistance and mechanical properties. Several studies have now established that radiation crosslinking by applying a dose of 50–100 kGy gamma or electron beam radiation followed by remelting to quench free radicals fulfils the criterion of high wear resistance as well as oxidation resistance. However, post-irradiation remelting leads to a decrease in several mechanical properties of UHMWPE including fracture toughness and resistance to fatigue crack propagation, which are deemed important for components in joints where they are subjected to high stresses, such as in tibial components.

In this study, we used uniaxial compression and high-pressure crystallization to disentangle UHMWPE, expecting that this would assist in increasing its crystallinity since disentangled polymer chains would be more readily incorporated into crystalline lamellae, thereby increasing overall crystallinity. This could then result in an increase in some mechanical properties of irradiated, remelted UHMWPE since high crystallinity is associated with high modulus and yield stress. Uniaxial compression of irradiated, remelted GUR 1050 UHMWPE at 130C to a compression ratio up to 2.5 followed by remelting to recover crystallographic orientation showed no statistically significant increase in crystallinity (p> 0.05, ANOVA). High-pressure crystallization at 500 MPa and temperatures in a range of 130-220C also did not show statistically significant increase in crystallinity of irradiated, remelted UHMWPE. However high-pressure crystallization at 500MPa pressure and 240C, where crystallization occurs via the hexagonal phase, increased the crystallinity from 46.2% to 56.4% (p< 0.05, ANOVA).

We conclude that high-pressure crystallization via the hexagonal phase is more effective than uniaxial compression followed by strain recovery or high-pressure crystallization via the orthorhombic phase in increasing the crystallinity of irradiated, remelted UHMWPE, with potential to recover some mechanical properties.