Joint replacement is a life-enhancing, cost-effective surgical intervention widely used to treat disabling joint pain mainly caused by osteoarthritis. Hip and knee joint replacements are common, highly successful operations bringing many patients relief from pain, and improve mobility. Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are often difficult to diagnose; diagnosis often relying on a combination of clinical findings, microbiological data and histological evaluation of periprosthetic tissue. The majority of recent studies demonstrate a higher sensitivity for the culture of sonication fluid (62–94%) than periprosthetic tissue (55–88%). The Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust provided a specialist multidisciplinary team. We evaluated the use of sonication for identifying pathogens during revision hip and knee replacement in our unit with the intention of applying for further grants to study this technology in more detail; it was a diagnostic feasibility study. The target recruitment was 50 patients; 25 consecutive patients undergoing revision hip arthroplasty for any reason, and 25 undergoing revision knee arthroplasty for any reason. The majority of patients were identified in outpatient clinics. Our results show that tissue culture remains more sensitive than sonication. The sensitivity for direct sonication was 75% compared with 80% for tissue culture; sensitivity of enriched sonication was 80 %, compared to the unit results for tissue culture of 83%. The combined sensitivity of tissue culture was better as a higher number of tissue specimens were obtained. The different methodology might explain reported differences between this and other studies; however, our study does not support the use of sonication as the only tool in the diagnosis of PJI

Aims

Psychological status may be an important predictor of outcome after periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of psychological distress on postoperative health-related quality of life, joint function, self-assessed pain, and sports ability in patients undergoing PAO.

Aims

To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-targeted simvastatin-loaded microbubble destruction (UTMD_SV) for alleviation of the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in rabbits through modulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ).

Introduction. There are several potential biological mechanisms that may influence aseptic implant failure including excessive innate and adaptive immune responses to implant debris. We investigated the hypothesis that patients with painful total joint replacements will exhibit elevated levels of metal reactivity and inflammatory markers compared to patients with well-performing TJA. We evaluated this hypothesis by testing for metal hypersensitivity using in vitro LTT assay and analyzing serum levels of selected inflammatory markers. Methods. Subject Groups: Blinded de-identified data from patients with TJR referred for metal hypersensitivity testing using a lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) and serum markers of inflammation using Luminex Multi-Analyte Assay was approved by Rush University IRB and retrospectively reviewed. None of the patients had radiographically identifiable osteolysis. Two groups of TJA patients were tested: Group 1: Well-functioning implant (<3 yrs. post-op), with no self-reported pain, i.e. <1 on 0–10 VAS scale (n=8) and Group 2: Painful TJR (<3 yrs. post-op), with self-determined pain of >8 on a 0–10 VAS scale at the time of blood draw (n=25). Metal-LTT: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 30mL of peripheral blood by Ficoll gradient separation. PBMCs were cultured with NiCl2. 3H Thymidine was added at day 5 of culture and 3H thymidine incorporation was analyzed using a beta scintillation counter at day 6. A stimulation index (SI) of reactivity was calculated by dividing scintillation counts per minute (cpms) of Ni challenged cells by those of untreated controls. A SI of <2 was considered nonreactive, 2 to <4 was mildly reactive and 4 to <8 was reactive. Luminex Assay: Serum samples were collected from whole blood and were analyzed according to manufacturer's protocols. Statistical analysis: Statistical differences were determined using unpaired t-test with Welch's correction with statistical significance at p≤0.1 (90% confidence interval). Results. To test if differences in metal sensitization exist among individuals with joint pain following TJR vs. well-functioning TJR (no pain), we analyzed each person-specific PBMC SI of reactivity to NiCl2. Painful TJR group exhibited greater sensitivity as demonstrated by significantly higher in vitro metal SI level. In general, inflammatory markers measured in serum among patients with pain following TJR were significantly increased compared to patients with no pain following TJR. Specifically, inflammatory markers that are classified as prototypical markers of a M1 inflammatory macrophage i.e. GMCSF, IL-12, IL-18, IL-1β and TNFα were significantly greater in TJR patients with pain compared to TJR patients with no pain. Due to this increase in inflammatory markers, IL-4, an anti-inflammatory marker was also significantly greater in TJR patients with pain in order to combat/mitigate the inflammatory microenvironment. While VEGF was the only marker that was significantly greater in TJR patients with no pain and is characteristic of M2 anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype. Discussion. Metal sensitivity reactivity and serum markers of inflammation demonstrated significant differences between groups of patients with painful TJRs vs. well-functioning TJR. Classical markers of M1 phenotype were significantly greater in painful TJR group. Our data suggests that patients with self-reported pain following a TJR demonstrate active innate and adaptive immune responses that are significantly higher than patients with a well-performing TJR and that these differences are associated with detectable serum inflammatory markers. An important limitation of this study however, is that group subject numbers were low and that statistical differences found in these groups suggests these inflammatory markers may be more marked than was anticipated

Aims

To explore the effect of different types of articulating antibiotic-loaded cement spacers in two-stage revision for chronic hip prosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Aims

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate if the 24-hour activity profile (i.e. waking activities and sleep) objectively measured using wrist-worn accelerometry of patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA) improves postoperatively.

Louis Pasteur once said that: “Fortune favours the prepared mind.” As one of the great scientists who contributed to the fight against infection, he emphasised the importance of being prepared at all times to recognise infection and deal with it. Despite the many scientific discoveries and technological advances, such as the advent of antibiotics and the use of sterile techniques, infection continues to be a problem that haunts orthopaedic surgeons and inflicts suffering on patients.

The medical community has implemented many practices with the intention of preventing infection and treating it effectively when it occurs. Although high-level evidence may support some of these practices, many are based on little to no scientific foundation. Thus, around the world, there is great variation in practices for the prevention and management of periprosthetic joint infection.

This paper summaries the instigation, conduct and findings of a recent International Consensus Meeting on Surgical Site and Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1450–2.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess N-acetyl aspartate changes in the thalamus in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

We present the development and results of a nationwide, prospective, observational follow-up programme including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register. The programme started in 2002 and has gradually expanded to include all units performing total hip replacement in Sweden. The self-administered PROMs protocol comprises the EQ-5D instrument, the Charnley class categorisation and visual analogue scales for pain and satisfaction. These current analyses include 34 960 total hip replacements with complete pre- and one-year post-operative questionnaires.

Patients eligible for total hip replacement generally report low health-related quality of life and suffer from pain. One year post-operatively the mean EQ-5D index increased to above the level of an age- and gender-matched population, with a considerable reduction of pain (p < 0.001). Females, younger patients and those with Charnley category C reported a lower EQ-5D index pre-operatively than males, older patients and Charnley category A or B, respectively (all p < 0.001). In a multivariable regression analysis Charnley category C, male gender and higher age were associated with less improvement in health-related quality of life (p < 0.001).

Nationwide implementation of a PROMs programme requires a structured organisation and effective data capture. Patients’ response rates to the Registry are good. The continuous collection of PROMs permits local and national improvement work and allows for further health-economic evaluation.