Aims

With recent progress in cancer treatment, the number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases has been increasing. It is important to clarify the influence of advanced age on outcomes following surgery for spinal metastases, especially with a focus on subjective health state values.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the hemostatic effects of tranexamic acid (TA) in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed with different three methods.

The subjects were 89 patients (10 males, 79 females; mean age at surgery 74 years old) who underwent TKA for osteoarthritic knees in our department between April 2006 and October 2007. A cemented prosthesis (NexGen LPS flex, Zimmer) was used in all cases. The subjects were divided into three groups; Group A (n=39), in whom intravenous administration of TA (1 000 mg) 15 minutes before tourniquet release and a drain-clamping method [DC; joint filled with 50 ml of fluid that contained TA (1 000 mg, 10 ml) and 40 ml of physiological saline just after surgery] were performed, as reported by Prof. Otani (Keio Univ., Tokyo, Japan) in 2005; Group B (n=20), who had the same protocol as Group A, except that the DC Joint was filled with a total of 50 ml physiological saline alone; and group C (n=30), who received DC alone with 50 ml of physiological saline and no intravenous administration of TA. The parameters evaluated were the amounts of intra-operative bleeding, bleeding after 24 hours, total bleeding (intra- and post-operative), and changes in Hb levels between before surgery and 1 week after surgery. Statistical analyses were performed using a Mann-Whitney U-test, with P-values greater than 0.05 considered to be significant.

No differences were observed in the amount of bleeding during the TKA among the groups. In contrast, bleeding at 24 hours after surgery and total amounts of bleeding were significantly lower in Group A (281 and 695ml, respectively) as compared to Group B (337 and 868 ml, respectively) and Group C (650 and 1043 ml, respectively) (p< 0.01). In addition, Hb levels at 1 week after surgery were reduced by 1.8 g/dl in Group A, as compared to 2.3 and 3.0 g/dl in Groups B and C, respectively, demonstrating a significantly lower amount of reduction in Group A (p< 0.01).

The effect of TA for reducing blood loss in TKA is widely recognized. In the present study, concomitant use of an intravenous administration and infiltration into the joint (via DC) significantly reduced blood loss during and after TKA. Furthermore, allogenic blood transfusion could be avoided in all patients (Group A) who underwent that protocol. In our study, even when given intra-operatively, such as intravenous administration and infiltration, there were no complications. Nevertheless, when used during the post-operative course, careful attention should be paid to prevent such problems. In order to reduce blood loss during and after TKA, it is important to elucidate the optimal conditions, volume, and timing of administration of TA in future studies.

This study was conducted to investigate the cases which were obliged to receive revision surgery within the first 5 years after primary Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).

The subjects of this study were 15 patients (5 males & 10 females, mean age at revision 72 years) who had undertaken revision surgery within 5 years since 1996. Intervals between primary and revision TKA averaged 29.8 months. Prosthesis used for primary TKA was as follows; 11 Zimmer NexGen LPS-flex fixed bearing, 2 mobile bearing, 2 CR type.

Revised components, cause of revision, JOA score as clinical results and FTA as radiographic evaluation were examined.

Revised parts were as follows;

All components: 2,

Stemmed Femoral components were used in 6 out of 8 knees, stemmed Tibial components in 9 out of 11 knees.

The causes of revision were as follows;

infection: 1,

JOA scores improved from 45 points to 78 points, and FTA proved to be 176 deg., postoperatively.

Primary TKA remains one of the most successful orthopedic procedures. Survivorship was generally reported over 15 years in the previous article. However, there are some cases in which revision TKA is necessary by some causes. There seems to be various types of causes for revisions, such as loosening, inadequate position, abrasion of components and others. Though loosening of components due to traumatic cause was inevitable, other causes, such as inadequate position of component, imbalanced soft tissues and infection, which depend on our technique, should be cared during and after surgery. From our study, except for 7 (2 trauma, 5 unknown) out of 15 knees, almost half of revision TKA (8 knees) might be due to technical demand. As for surgical techniques, in the case of poor bony quality, we routinely use stemmed components and should try not to impact strongly on setting component to prevent from sinking. In the case of non-traumatic cause, 3 out of 12, though the position of tibial component was acceptable, tibial component sunk because of bony weakness and/or imbalanced soft tissues resulting pain.

Adequate position and balance of components should be achieved during primary TKA. In our department, we are trying to revise and routinely use stemmed components as soon as possible, when loosening of component is confirmed. Metal augmentation, if necessary, is mainly used for bone defect to do early rehabilitation.

We concluded that adequate position of components and soft tissue balance was very important at the time of primary TKA. Clinical results of revision TKA were almost equal to those of primary TKA, however, long term follow-up will be needed.

This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between intra-operative Flexion Balance (IFB) and post-operative Flexion instability in Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).

Eighty-three knees (4 males and 79 females, average 74 y/o) with primary TKA (Zimmer NexGen LPS flex fixed-bearing) for varus osteoarthritis in our hospital between January 2006 and December 2007, were included in this study. After bone-cutting independently and balancing manually, Extension Balance (EB) and IFB were measured with seesaw type tensor. Post-operative Flexion Balance (PFB) was evaluated as post-operative instability with Kanekasu’s Epicondylar view at the least more than 6 months postoperatively. Varus inclination (lateral joint opening) was indicated as plus. In addition, pre-operative standing FTA (femorotibial angle), the change of FB (CFB=PFB-IFB) and True Correction Angle (TCA=FTA-174-EB), we had defined, were calculated. The TCA was hypothesized to mean the extent of medial soft tissue release. With these data, the correlation between IFB and PFB, CFB and TCA were analyzed. Of these, furthermore, in the well-balanced knees (IFB ≥ ±2°), same analyses were done. Statistical analysis was performed with StatView software.

Each data (n=83) in all subjects was as follows (Mean ± SD, degrees.); EB: 2.74 ±2.74, IFB: 1.61 ±3.67, PFB: 1.73 ±2.66, CFB: 0.01 ±4.25, FTA: 185.3 ±6.7, TCA: 8.65 ±6.52, respectively. Though there was no correlation between IFB and PFB (r=−0.09, p=0.57), CFB was correlated with TCA (r=0.40, p< 0.01).

Each data in the well-balanced knees (n=43) was as follows, EB: 3.09 ±2.71, IFB: 0.70 ±1.30, PFB: 1.22 ±2.52, CFB: 0.57 ±2.3, FTA: 185.5 ±6.5, TCA: 8.42 ±6.09, respectively. There was a correlation between IFB and PFB (r=0.41, p< 0.01), however, FBC was not correlated with TCA (r=−0.26, p=0.10).

Same rectangular balance has been thought to be one the most important factors to obtain the good postoperative stability in TKA. For correcting alignment of lower extremity, medial or posteromedial release are generally needed to perform mainly in extended knee. Even if well-balanced EB was achieved, IFB does not necessarily prove to be well, rather than sparse. This might be because intra-operative balance was not measured under physiological condition, especially after wide posteromedial release. Soft tissues released for balancing would be repaired and shortened over time, so it seems to be natural that intra-operative balance would change. We have reported that EB was correlated with post-operative instability in the previous congress (ISTA 2006). However, it remains unknown as for FB. Our study demonstrated that CFB increased in accordance with the extent of soft tissue release (TCA), and that IFB was correlated with PFB only in the well balanced knees. This means that the measurement of IFB was not useful for predicting PFB in the imbalanced knees. That’s why we should achieve adequate balance & gap during operation and should recognize that FB was influenced by various factors, not only soft tissues but also rotation and inclination of components. In the future, how to measure IFB, including tensor and measurement condition, should be considered and established to predict knee balancing for good clinical results.