Aims

This case series aims to describe the clinical consequences of juxta-physeal sub-acute osteomyelitis in children, specifically growth and limb deformity.

The Omnifit-HA femoral component has shown excellent results in early and mid-term industry sponsored multi-center clinical trials. To validate these results, an independent cohort of patients was followed prospectively for an average of ten years.

The senior author performed 103 consecutiveuncemented primary total hip arthroplasties in 89 patients from July 1991 to December 1996. The components implanted were the Omnifit-HA femoral stem and the Omnifit PSL porous coated acetabular shell. The cohort, with a mean ageat the time of the index procedure of 52 ± 9 years, was comprised of 45females and 58 males. The mean follow up was 10.3 years (range 7.3 – 12.7years). Two independent observers who were not part of the surgical team performed clinical and radiographic evaluations.

The senior author performed 103 consecutiveuncemented primary total hip arthroplasties in 89 patients from July 1991 to December 1996. The components implanted were the Omnifit-HA femoral stem and the Omnifit PSL porous coated acetabular shell. The cohort, with a mean ageat the time of the index procedure of 52 ± 9 years, was comprised of 45females and 58 males. The mean follow up was 10.3 years (range 7.3 – 12.7years). Two independent observers who were not part of the surgical team performed clinical and radiographic evaluations.

The Omnifit-HA femoral component continues to show excellent clinical results as indicated by the multi-center trials. This is the first study to report 10-year follow up by an independent surgeon. Despite the younger mean age, relatively high polyethylene wear, and 10% rate of lysis in the acetabulum, the femoral stem had a 100%survivorship. This supports the theory that proximal circumferential bone in growth affords protection against the migration of wear debris along the femoral stem.

Introduction and Aims: Cartilage injury often leads to secondary osteoarthritis. However, the progression of cartilage lesions after injury has not been fully documented. Factors predictive of the rate and severity of progression are largely unknown. This study analysed the relationship between arthroscopic, histologic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings after acute joint trauma.

Method: Twenty patients were recruited into the study at a mean three months after acute knee injury. Each patient underwent cartilage-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences of the affected knee after injury and at six months, one year, and two years after arthroscopy. Cartilage lesions were graded on MRI and arthroscopy. Synovial fluid was sampled, and a 1.8 mm biopsy was obtained from the edge of cartilage lesion. Control biopsies were obtained from fresh cadaver donors. Cells undergoing DNA fragmentation in biopsies were counted.

Results: All cases of partial or full thickness cartilage loss were detected by MRI. Biopsies from cartilage lesions had significantly more cells undergoing DNA fragmentation (41%) than control biopsies (12%), suggesting apoptotic cell death. On MRI follow-up, cartilage lesion grade improved in five patients, worsened in two, and did not change in 13 patients. The percentage of cells undergoing DNA fragmentation correlated significantly with keratan sulfate levels in synovial fluid (R = 0.68). Keratan sulfate levels were markedly higher in knees with progressive lesions (72 vs. 31 microgm/ml).

Conclusion: Cartilage cell viability can directly impact the potential for repair. The development of accurate markers that may predict the eventual fate of the lesion is of tremendous clinical value. Elevated levels of matrix degradation products such as keratan sulfate can be predictive of a poorer prognosis.