We evaluated (1) wear rate, (2) prevalence and volume of osteolysis using 3D-CT scan, (3) other bearing-related complications, (4) HHS and survivorship free from revision at 15 years after THA using first-generation XLPE (1G XLPE).

One-hundred sixty THAs were evaluated regarding bearing-related complication, HHS and survivorship. Among them, 112 hips underwent 3D-CT to analyze wear rate and osteolysis. All THAs were performed by single surgeon using cup of identical design, a 28-mm metal head and 1G XLPE (10 Mrad). Average age were 57 years and mean follow-up was 15.2 years. 3D-CT scan was performed at average of 13.0 years. Clinical evaluation included HHS and radiographic analysis was performed regarding stem alignment, cup anteversion and inclination angle, component stability, wear rate and osteolysis. Wear was measured using digital software. The prevalence and volume of osteolysis were also evaluated. Complications included XLPE dissociation/rim fracture, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, infection, HO and any revision. Survivorship free from revision at 15 years was estimated.

Average inclination and anteversion angle of cups were 40.7° and 20.6°. Mean stem alignment was 0.1° valgus. Average bedding-in and annual wear rate wear rate was 0.085 mm and 0.025 mm/yr. Eleven hips (10%) demonstrated osteolysis; pelvic osteolysis with average volume of 1.4 cm³ in six and femoral osteolysis with mean size of 0.4 cm² in seven hips. Of 160 THAs, 5 hips (3%) dislocated. Overall, bearing-related complications occurred in 16 hips (10%). Other complications included postoperative periprosthetic fracture in 4 (3%), infection and HO in 3 hips, respectively. No hip demonstrated loosening, XLPE rim fracture/dissociation. Seven THAs (4%) were revised; recurrent dislocation in 5 and periprosthetic joint infection in 2 hips. Average HHS at last follow-up improved from 47.7 preoperatively to 91.2 points (p<0.001). Estimated survivorship free from revision at 15 years was 95.6 %.

THA using 1G XLPE demonstrated low wear rate as well as low incidence of osteolysis at average follow-up of fifteen years. Longer-term studies will be necessary to determine if XLPE will continue to demonstrate this improved osteolysis characteristics.

Purpose. Patients with acetabular dysplasia demonstrate altered biomechanics during gate and other activities. We hypothesized that these patients exhibit a compensatory increase in the anterior pelvic tilt during gait. Materials & Methods. Twelve patients were included in this prospective radiographic and gait analysis study prior to the PAO. All were women. The mean age was 27 years (+/− 8 yrs). Tonnis grade was zero in nine, and one in three hips. All patients performed multiple one-minute walking trials on the level, the incline, and the decline treadmill surfaces in an optical motion capture lab. Anterior pelvic tilt is reported in (+), while the posterior pelvic tilt is reported in (–) values. Results. Radiographic Data. : The mean alpha angle measured from the Dunn and the frog lateral images was 63.0º±17.4, and 54.7º±16.4, respectively. The mean LCEA was 14.9°±6.1, and the mean anterior center edge angle was 18.3°±8.9. the mean acetabular version at 1, 2, and 3 o'clock were 12.1°±11.6, 29.2°±9.9, and 23.3°±7.4, respectively. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for these measurements were 0.934, 0.895, and 0.971, respectively. The mean femoral anteversion, as measured on the 3D CT scan was 21.3°±16.1. The mean hip flexion range was 107.1°± 7.2. The mean pelvic tilt was 88.7 mm ± 14.4 using the PS-SI distance with an ICC of 0.998. Gait Data. : Baseline measurements were done in the standing position. On the leveled surface, 5 patients had anterior (+) while 7 had posterior (−) pelvic tilt. The mean posterior pelvic tilt was 1.0° with the range of −2.8° to +0.67°. On the inclined surface, all patients had posterior (−) pelvic tilt. The mean pelvic tilt was −4.9° with the range of −6.4° to −3.1°. On the declined surface, 8 patients had anterior (+) while 4 patients had posterior (−) pelvic tilt. The mean pelvic tilt was −0.39° with the range of −1.9° to +1.0°. The pelvic tilt was negatively correlated with the PS-SI distance on all three surfaces with the Spearman coefficients of −0.27, −0.04, and −0.18 on the 3 different surfaces, respectively. Conclusion. Our results demonstrated that the patients with hip dysplasia exhibit variable degrees of the pelvic tilt while walking on different surface inclinations. Weak negative correlation with the standing pelvic tilt measurements from the radiographs suggests that those patients with more anterior standing pelvic tilt tend to have greater compensatory posterior tilt during gait

Introduction. Retrieved metal-on-metal acetabular components are invaluable resources from which to investigate the wear behaviour of failed hip implants. New forensic and investigative techniques continue to be developed to help the surgeon further understand factors which contribute to early failure. We have developed a novel technique to locate the in vivo location of the primary wear scar of an explanted cup. Patients/Materials & Methods. Thirteen (13) patients with failed metal hip resurfacings were recruited and their acetabular components retrieved. A 3D wear map was generated and the precise location of the primary wear scar in each cup was identified using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). This wear scar position and location was noted in relation to standard landmarks on the acetabular cup. All patients underwent a computerised tomography (CT) scan prior to revision surgery. The 3D positional map from the CMM was then co-registered with the implant on the patient's pelvic 3D CT scan. Results. A schematic diagram was generated revealing the 3D orientation and location in the patient of the acetabular primary wear scars for all 13 subjects. The distribution of the location of the in vivo primary wear scars was variable and unique for each of the patient's acetabular cup. Discussion. We were able to identify the location of the in vivo primary wear scar of all thirteen acetabular cups successfully with this novel method. This technique can only be recruited for acetabular components that have clearly identifiable features which can be identified on CT. This is the first study to co-relate the point of highest wear on the acetabular cup to its pre-failure position in vivo. Conclusion. This technique has made it possible to better understand the three-dimensional properties of wear behaviour and can be used in further studies to investigate variables that determine the orientation and position of the primary wear scar

Aims

The primary objective of this study was to develop a validated classification system for assessing iatrogenic bone trauma and soft-tissue injury during total hip arthroplasty (THA). The secondary objective was to compare macroscopic bone trauma and soft-tissues injury in conventional THA (CO THA) versus robotic arm-assisted THA (RO THA) using this classification system.

Aims

Acetabular edge-loading was a cause of increased wear rates in metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties, ultimately contributing to their failure. Although such wear patterns have been regularly reported in retrieval analyses, this study aimed to determine their in vivo location and investigate their relationship with acetabular component positioning.

Aims

In patients where the proximal femur shows gross deformity due to degenerative changes or fracture, the contralateral femur is often used to perform preoperative templating for hip arthroplasty. However, femurs may not be symmetrical: the aim of this study was to determine the degree of variation between hips in healthy individuals and to determine whether it is affected by demographic parameters.

Aims

Asphericity of the femoral head-neck junction is common in cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and usually quantified using the alpha angle on radiographs or MRI. The aim of this study was to determine the natural alpha angle in a large cohort of patients by continuous circumferential analysis with CT.

Femoral stem version has a major influence on impingement and early post-operative stability after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of a novel radiological method for measuring stem version. Anteroposterior (AP) radiographs and three-dimensional CT scans were obtained for 115 patients (female/male 63/72, mean age 62.5 years (50 to 75)) who had undergone minimally invasive, cementless THA. Stem version was calculated from the AP hip radiograph by rotation-based change in the projected prosthetic neck–shaft (NSA*) angle using the mathematical formula ST = arcos [tan (NSA*) / tan (135)]. We used two independent observers who repeated the analysis after a six-week interval. Radiological measurements were compared with 3D-CT measurements by an independent, blinded external institute.

We found a mean difference of 1.2° (sd 6.2) between radiological and 3D-CT measurements of stem version. The correlation between the mean radiological and 3D-CT stem torsion was r = 0.88 (p < 0.001). The intra- (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.94) and inter-observer agreement (mean concordance correlation coefficient = 0.87) for the radiological measurements were excellent.

We found that femoral tilt was associated with the mean radiological measurement error (r = 0.22, p = 0.02).

The projected neck–shaft angle is a reliable method for measuring stem version on AP radiographs of the hip after a THA. However, a highly standardised radiological technique is required for its precise measurement.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015; 97-B:306–11.

Pre-operative planning for total hip replacement (THR) is challenging in hips with severe acetabular deformities, including those with a hypoplastic acetabulum or severe defects and in the presence of arthrodesis or ankylosis. We evaluated whether a Rapid Prototype (RP) model, which is a life-sized reproduction based on three-dimensional CT scans, can determine the feasibility of THR and provide information about the size and position of the acetabular component in severe acetabular deformities. THR was planned using an RP model in 21 complex hips in five men (five hips) and 16 women (16 hips) with a mean age of 47.7 years (24 to 70) at operation. An acetabular component was implanted successfully and THR completed in all hips. The acetabular component used was within 2 mm of the predicted size in 17 hips (80.9%). All of the acetabular components and femoral stems had radiological evidence of bone ingrowth and stability at the final follow-up, without any detectable wear or peri-prosthetic osteolysis. The RP model allowed a simulated procedure pre-operatively and was helpful in determining the feasibility of THR pre-operatively, and to decide on implant type, size and position in complex THRs.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1458–63.

This study evaluates the outcome of arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty for cam lesions of the hip in the absence of additional pathology other than acetabular chondral lesions. We retrospectively reviewed 166 patients (170 hips) who were categorised according to three different grades of chondral damage. The outcome was assessed in each grade using the modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS) and the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS).

Overall, at the last follow-up (mean 22 months, 12 to 72), the mean MHHS had improved by 15.3 points (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.9 to 21.7) and the mean NAHS by 15 points (95% CI, 9.4 to 20.5). Significantly better results were observed in hips with less severe chondral damage. Microfracture in limited chondral lesions showed superior results.

Arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty for cam impingement with microfracture in selected cases is beneficial. The outcome correlates with the severity of acetabular chondral damage.

The orientation of the acetabular component can influence both the short- and long-term outcomes of total hip replacement (THR). We performed a prospective, randomised, controlled trial of two groups, comprising of 40 patients each, in order to compare freehand introduction of the component with introduction using the transverse acetabular ligament (TAL) as a reference for anteversion. Anteversion and inclination were measured on pelvic radiographs.

With respect to anteversion, in the freehand group 22.5% of the components were outside the safe zone versus 0% in the transverse acetabular ligament group (p = 0.002). The mean angle of anteversion in the freehand group was 21° (2° to 35°) which was significantly higher compared with 17° (2° to 25°) in the TAL group (p = 0.004). There was a significant difference comparing the variations of both groups (p = 0.008).

With respect to inclination, in the freehand group 37.5% of the components were outside the safe zone versus 20% in the TAL group (p = 0.14). There was no significant difference regarding the accuracy or variation of the angle of inclination when comparing the two groups.

The transverse acetabular ligament may be used to obtain the appropriate anteversion when introducing the acetabular component during THR, but not acetabular component inclination.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:312–18.

We retrospectively analysed concentrations of chromium and cobalt ions in samples of synovial fluid and whole blood taken from a group of 92 patients with failed current-generation metal-on-metal hip replacements. We applied acid oxidative digestion to our trace metal analysis protocol, which found significantly higher levels of metal ion concentrations in blood and synovial fluid than a non-digestive method. Patients were subcategorised by mode of failure as either ‘unexplained pain’ or ‘defined causes’. Using this classification, chromium and cobalt ion levels were present over a wider range in synovial fluid and not as strongly correlated with blood ion levels as previously reported. There was no significant difference between metal ion concentrations and manufacturer of the implant, nor femoral head size below or above 50 mm. There was a moderately positive correlation between metal ion levels and acetabular component inclination angle as measured on three-dimensional CT imaging.

Our results suggest that acid digestion of samples of synovial fluid samples is necessary to determine metal ion concentrations accurately so that meaningful comparisons can be made between studies.

Pre-operative computerised three-dimensional planning was carried out in 223 patients undergoing total hip replacement with a cementless acetabular component and a cementless modular-neck femoral stem. Components were chosen which best restored leg length and femoral offset. The post-operative restoration of the anatomy was assessed by CT and compared with the pre-operative plan.

The component implanted was the same as that planned in 86% of the hips for the acetabular implant, 94% for the stem, and 93% for the neck-shaft angle. The rotational centre of the hip was restored with a mean accuracy of 0.73 mm (sd 3.5) craniocaudally and 1.2 mm (sd 2) laterally. Limb length was restored with a mean accuracy of 0.3 mm (sd 3.3) and femoral offset with a mean accuracy of 0.8 mm (sd 3.1).

This method appears to offer high accuracy in hip reconstruction as the difficulties likely to be encountered when restoring the anatomy can be anticipated and solved pre-operatively by optimising the selection of implants. Modularity of the femoral neck helped to restore the femoral offset and limb length.

Because the femoral head/neck junction is preserved in hip resurfacing, patients may be at greater risk of impingement, leading to abnormal wear patterns and pain. We assessed femoral head/neck offset in 63 hips undergoing metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and in 56 hips presenting with non-arthritic pain secondary to femoroacetabular impingement. Most hips undergoing resurfacing (57%; 36) had an offset ratio ≤ 0.15 pre-operatively and required greater correction of offset at operation than the rest of the group. In the non-arthritic hips the mean offset ratio was 0.137 (0.04 to 0.23), with the offset ratio correlating negatively to an increasing α angle. An offset ratio ≤ 0.15 had a 9.5-fold increased relative risk of having an α angle ≥ 50.5°. Most hips undergoing resurfacing have an abnormal femoral head/neck offset, which is best assessed in the sagittal plane.