Background. No study compared the clinical results of the posterior-stabilized mobile-bearing knee with those of nonposterior-stabilized mobile-bearing knee in the same patients. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the clinical and radiographic results, range of motion, patients satisfaction, and complication rates would be better in the knees with a posterior-stabilized mobile-bearing knee than in the knees with a nonposterior-stabilized mobile-bearing knee. Methods. One hundred and fourteen patients (mean age, 67.9 years) received a nonposterior-stabilized mobile-bearing knee prosthesis in one knee and a posterior-stabilized mobile-bearing knee prosthesis in the contralateral knee. Seven patients were men, and 107 were women. At the time of each follow-up (mean, 7.3 years; range, seven to 7.6 years), the patients were assessed clinically and radiographically. Results. The mean postoperative Knee Society knee score (95 points versus 96 points, p=0.176), Hospital for Special Surgery knee score (92 points versus 93 points, p=0.077), and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis score (21 versus 20 points, p=0.785) were similar between the two group. At the final follow-up, the average range of motion was 27.7° (range, 70° to 150°) in the knees with a nonposterior stabilized mobile-bearing prosthesis and it was 132° (range, 90 to 150 °) in the knees with a posterior-stabilized mobile-bearing prosthesis. Complication rates (2.6% versus 1.8%) were similar between the two groups. The estimated survival rate was 97.4% at eight years with an overall revision rate of 2.6% (three of 114 knees) in the nonposterior-stabilized mobile-bearing prosthesis group and 98.2% at eight years with an overall revision rate of 1.8% (two of 114 knees) in the posterior-stabilized mobile-bearing prosthesis group. Conclusions. After a minimum duration of follow-up of seven years, we found no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the clinical and radiographic results, or patient satisfaction, or complication rate. However, the posterior-stabilized mobile-bearing prosthesis group had a greater range of knee motion than the nonposterior-stabilized mobile-bearing prosthesis group

Introduction. Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) in patients after proximal femoral osteotomy remains a major challenge. Inferior survival for both cementless and cemented THA has been reported in this subgroup of patients. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of a consecutive series of 48 THAs (45 Patients) who had undergone conversion THA for failed intertrochanteric osteotomy after a mean of 12 years (2–33 years) using a cementless, grit-blasted, double-tapered femoral stem. Mean follow-up was 20 years (range, 15–25 years), mean age at surgery was 47 years (range, 13–55 years). Clinical results were evaluated using the Harris Hip Score. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was performed to determine long-term outcomes for different end points. Results. At follow-up, 10 patients (11 hips) had died, and 1 patient (1 hip) was lost to follow-up. Five patients (5 hips) underwent femoral revision, 2 for infection and 3 for aseptic loosening of the stem. Overall stem survival was 91% at 20 years (95%-CI: 78%–97%); survival with femoral revision for aseptic loosening as end point was 93% (95%-CI: 80%–98%). Discussion and Conclusion. The long-term results with this type of cementless femoral component in young patients with failed intertrochanteric osteotomy are encouraging and compare well to those achieved in patients with regular femoral anatomy

Osteocondritis dissecans (OCD) is a relatively common cause of knee pain. Ideal treatment is still controversial. Aim of this exhibit is to describe the outcomes of 5 different surgical techniques in a series of 63 patients. 63patients (age 22.5±7.4 years) affected by OCD of the femoral condyle (45 medial and 17 lateral) were treated by either osteochondral autologous transplantation, autologous chondrocyte implantation with bone graft, biomimetic nanostructured osteochondral scaffold (Maioregen) implantation, bone-cartilage paste graft or bone marrow derived cells transplantation “one-step” technique. Patient evaluation included IKDC score, eq-vas score, X-Rays and MRI preoperatively and at follow-up. Global mean IKDC improved from pre-operative 40.1±14.6 to 77.2±21.3 (p<0.0005) at mean 5.3±4.7 years follow-up, while eq-vas improved from 51.7±17.0 to 83.5±18.3(p<0.0005). No influence of age, size of the lesion, length of follow-up and associated surgeries on the result was found. No differences were found between the results obtained with different surgeries except a slight tendency of better improvement in the result following autologous chondrocyte implantation (p<0.01). Control MRI evidenced a satisfactory repair of cartilaginous layer and subchondral bone. The techniques described were effective in providing good clinical and radiographic results in the treatment of OCD and confirmed the validity of autologous chondrocyte implantation over time. Newer techniques such as Maioregen implantation and “one-step” base on different rationales, the first relying on the characteristics of the scaffold and the second on the regenerative potential of mesenchymal cells. Both of them have the advantages to be minimally invasive surgeries and to require a single operation

OBJECTIVES. In elderly patients the temporary loss of function of the upper extremity due to immobilization for treatment of unstable proximal humeral fractures is a very disabling condition. Stable fixation of such fractures allowing immediate functional aftercare may contribute to early social reintegration in this group of patients. Aim of this study is to present the surgical technique of humeral blade plate fixation and the clinical and radiographic results after fixation of unstable surgical neck fractures with this implant followed by immediate functional treatment in patients older than 60 years. PATIENTS. 20 patients (4 male, 16 female) with a mean age of 74 years (59y–93y) were included in this study and treated consecutively for an unstable/displaced surgical neck fracture with a humeral blade plate. Postoperatively functional treatment was allowed. All but one patient had a clinical and radiographic follow-up 6 weeks po. At an average final follow-up of 18,8 months (12–24 months) 4 patients had died from causes unrelated to surgery. RESULTS. Surgery was performed in all patients without local or general complications despite comorbidities. In all patients anatomic reduction and stable fixation could be achieved. 6 weeks po all patients (N=20) were free of pain at rest, 7 patients had low pain (VAS < 4) when actively moving the arm. All patients used their operated arm for ADL and were back home or in the institution they came from at the time of trauma. All fractures were deamed to be healed without implant failure. In two cases a clinically asymptomatic 1–2mm protrusion of the blade through the subchondral bone was observed, but did not required further surgery. At final follow-up (N=8) the average absolute Constant/Murley Score was 68,6 points (contralateral 71,4). Radiographically all fractures had healed without complications. Implant removal was not required. CONCLUSION. Humeral blade plate fixation combined with suture tension-banding of the rotator cuff allows indirect reduction, dynamic and stable osteosynthesis of unstable surgical neck fractures even in osteoporotic bone. In our small series, this technique has shown to be a safe and reliable therapeutic option allowing immediate functional treatment and thus early social reintegration in elderly patients

Introduction. Scaphoid nonunions remain controversial with regard to optimal management. The objective of this article is to compare our clinical experience in the treatment of patients with scaphoid nonunion using distal radius non vascularised bone graft with that of iliac crest bone graft. Material & Methods. We conducted a prospective randomized study comparing the clinical, functional and radiographic results of 42 patients treated for scaphoid nonunion using a non-vascularised bone graft from the dorsal and distal aspect of the radius (group I), relative to 46 patients treated by means of a conventional non-vascularised bone graft from the iliac crest (group II). All nonunions were stabilized with single Herbert screw. Results. Bone fusion was achieved in 87.1% of group I and 86.5% of group II patients. Functional results were good to excellent in 76.0% of the patients in group I and 72.5% in group II. The average grip power, as well as wrist flexion and extension were similar in both groups. However, the donor site morbidity was much higher in group II (4 cases of hematoma, 6 cases of chronic pain and 1 anterior superior iliac spine avulsion) fracture. No complication was seen in group I. Conclusion. We conclude that nonvascularized distal radius bone grafting yields similar union rate as well as functional outcome as compared to iliac crest bone graft with no donor site morbidity