Aims. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive inherited condition that presents with a number of clinical manifestations that include musculoskeletal manifestations (MM). MM may present differently in different individuals and settings and the predictors are not well known. Herein, we aimed at determining the predictors of MM in patients with SCD at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. Methods. An unmatched case-control study was conducted between January and May 2019 in children below the age of 16 years. In all, 57 cases and 114 controls were obtained by systematic sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The different MM were identified, staged, and classified according to the Standard Orthopaedic Classification Systems using radiological and laboratory investigations. The data was entered in Epidata version 3.1 and exported to STATA 15 for analysis. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine predictors and predictive margins were used to determine the probability of MM. Results. The cases were older median age 9.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 7 to 12) years compared to controls 7 (IQR 4 to 11) years; p = 0.003. After multivariate logistic regression, increase in age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.45; p = 0.043), increase in the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.52; p = 0.009) and increase in percentage of haemoglobin S (HbS) (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.29; p < 0.001) were significant predictors of MM. Predictive margins showed that for a 16-year-old the average probability of having MM would be 51 percentage points higher than that of a two-year-old. Conclusion. Increase in age, frequency of VOC, and an increase in the percentage of HbS were significant predictors of MM. These predictors maybe useful to clinicians in determining children who are at risk. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-6:175–181

Osteonecrosis of femoral head is well known and recognised complication in Sickle cell disease patients. Due to the severity of the Osteonecrosis, hip pain is major limiting factor for these patients requiring total hip arthroplasty in relatively young age. We studied and report our results in total hip arthroplasty of sickle cell patients. We studied 80 patients from our combined Orthopaedic & Haematology Sickle cell clinic. Twenty four patients had painful Osteonecrosis with secondary osteoarthritis of hip and underwent total hip arthroplasty. Three patients had bilateral hip replacements. A total of twenty seven replacements were studied retrospectively. 19 patients had uncemented (Corail/Pinnacle), 5 patients had hybrid(Pinnacle/Exeter) and 3 patients had cemented(Exeter) total hip arthroplasties respectively. The patients were serially followed up for clinical and radiological assessments for loosening. Oxford hip score (OHS) was used to assess the functional outcome. The average age of the patients at the time of surgery was 38.4 (Range – 20 to 59 years. The average follow up was 5.1 years (Range – 6 months to 10 years). There were 13 female and 11 male patients. The average oxford hip score was 38.07 with 10% infection rate and 11% aseptic loosening. Arthroplasties carry high risk in patients with sickle cell disease. We report lower rates of infection and loosening rates compared to the earlier studies. Combined Haematological and Orthopaedic team input is optimal during assessment, surgery, peri-operative period and follow up. Our results of total hip replacements in sickle cell disease patients are good

Salmonella osteomyelitis occurs infrequently in children without a sickle cell disease, and its subacute form is rare. Diagnosis is often delayed because its slow onset, intermittent pain and it can be confused with bone tumors. An otherwise healthy 13-year-old boy was admitted from another center in order to discard bone tumor in proximal tibia, with compatible radiologic findings. There was no history of trauma or previous illness. Twenty days ago, he had flu symptoms and myalgia. On the physical examination the child was feverless, showed increased heat over his left knee, considerable effusion and painful restriction of movement. Inflammatory laboratory results revealed erythrocyte sedimentation rate 46mm/h and C-Reactive protein, 11,2 mg/L. Radiographs revealed a lytic lesion localized in the proximal metaphysis and epiphysis. The MRI showed an area of edema around the lytic lesion and surrounding soft tissues. Images supported the diagnosis of subacute osteomyelitis, (Brodie abscess). Empirically, intravenous cefuroxime was started. Forty-eight hours post admission, the patient underwent abscess surgical debridement, washout and cavity curettage. Samples were sent for cytology, culture and sensitivity and acid fast bacilli culture and sensitivity. Collection´s count cell was 173.000/ L white cells. Collection´s culture revealed Salmonella B sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Stool culture did not yield any growth. Intravenous cefuroxime was administered during 10 days. The patient responded well as evidenced by clinical and laboratory improvement He was discharged with his left leg immobilized in a cast during 1 month and treatment was completed with oral ciprofloxacin 500mg /12 h during 2 months. The patient had full range of knee motion after 2 months. Last reviewed, after two years of the income, he was completed recovered, and the radiograph showed bone healing without physeal neither damage nor limb leg discrepancy. The most effective therapy of a confirmed salmonella osteomyelitis is a combination of radical operative intervention and targeted intravenous antibiotics as in our case. Faced with a subacute osteomyelitis, we have to remember that it may mimic bone tumors. We highlight the isolation of Salmonella B in a patient without sickle cell disease

18 Patients with SCD and 2ndry Osteoarthritis of their hips due to Avascular Necrosis underwent uncemented THA.

There were 12 male and 6 female patients.

Patient had their pre op WOMAC/SF-36/HOOS/and Oxford hip scores recorded preoperatively a well as 3 month, 6months and one year post op.

The outcome scores at one year were significantly better than the pre operative scores

However, when compared to a matched cohort of patients who underwent THA for reasons other than SCD/AVN, e.g. primary OA, rheumatoid arthritis, post traumatic OA, the WOMAC pain score improvement was less.

Successful nonarthroplasty solutions for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head continued to be sought. However, no definitive nonarthroplasty solutions have to date been found. Hence, even in the best of hands a large number of patients with osteonecrosis end up with debilitating end-stage osteoarthritis. In the inception of total hip arthroplasty (THA), the results of treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis by THA were inferior to total hip replacement performed for osteoarthritis. Reasons for this included the young age of many osteonecrosis patients, the high numbers of comorbidities in this population (SLE, sickle cell anemia, alcoholism), and the poor bone quality at the time of surgery. Arthroplasty considerations included bipolar replacement, hemiresurfacing, resurfacing (non metal-on-metal and later metal-on-metal), cemented total hip arthroplasty and cementless total hip arthroplasty. Previous to the use of cementless arthroplasty, all of these procedures had a relatively high 5 to 10 year failure rate of 10–50%. Even our own 10-year results using contemporary cementing techniques demonstrated 10% failure compared to 1–2% failure in our nonosteonecrosis patients. For this reason, it made sense to continue exploring nonarthroplasty solutions for osteonecrosis of the hip. The introduction of cementless fixation for total hip arthroplasty changed the entire thinking about hip osteonecrosis treatment for many of us. Although initially we were concerned about whether bone would grow into the prosthesis in the environment of relatively poor bone, the early results demonstrated that it can and does. Most recently, with the use of crosslinked polyethylene, the cementless construct gives many of us hope that with cementless fixation, the treatment of many patients including the young (especially if followed closely to exchange bearing surfaces if necessary) will last a lifetime with THA being the only and definitive procedure. Our most recent 10-year results demonstrated a femoral stem revision rate of 1.5% will all other stems (other than the stem revised) bone ingrown. Acetabular fixation was also 100% and although 6% required liner exchange, our own and others' results with crosslinked polyethylene would suggest that this problem should be markedly reduced

Osteomyelitis is usually related to trauma, surgery, immunocompromised patients, IV drug abuse, poor vascular supply, diabetes, sickle cell disease or peripheral neuropathy. We report an unusual case of femur osteomyelitis without any of these risk factors. A 31 years old male, light smoker, presented at the Emergency Room for pain in the left thigh for about a month, without any previous event. He had 2 previous visits to the hospital with similar diffuse complaints interpreted as irradiated low back pain. He was pale, feverish but no signs of local inflamation. His left knee ROM was 30°-15°-0°. He had no neurologic deficits. Blood tests showed high WBC count and PCR (400mg/L). After contrasted CT showing an 1,2×6×2,5cm abcess the patient was taken to the OR for irrigation and debridment. The day after the patient did a MRI that showed extended femur osteomyelitis and adjacent myositis (images). He underwent new surgery for a more extensive irrigation and debridment, femur medular canal included, from where a large pus quantity erupted. The hemocultures and bone biopsys, revealed a Multissensible Strep. Alfa-hemolitic (S. anginosus) and appropriate antibiotherapy was implemented (Amoxicillin/Clavulanate). He slowed improve till 11th day when he showed rise of PCR and a new MRI showed the same inflammatory process. He underwent new surgery but no pus was visible. He gradually improved, started hyperbaric oxygen therapy and was discharged on the 28th day after the first surgery, continuing antibiotherapy at home for a total of 8 weeks. Transthoracic Ecography was normal, as well Brucella, HIV, and other serologies. Three weeks later, the patient again presented to the ER with fever and rise of inflammatory markers in blood, consistent with recurrence of the infection. The patient was taken to the OR for surgical debdridment and irrigation, but this time the cultures showed a multissensible Gemella haemolysans, possible contamination during the hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions. This is the case of a healthy young adult with an idiopathic femur osteomyelitis, initially misinterpreted for irradiated low back pain, that recurred after the first medical and surgical successful treatment, with an unusual agent

Intraosseous pressure measurements (IOP) are not new. Several authors have struggled to interpret static IOP and to understand arthritis and osteonecrosis pathology. This work uses a combination of simple experiments in vivo to reassess bone and joint physiology. Joint replacement needs to take into account the hydrodynamic conditions that are present in bone. Intraosseous pressure measurements were carried out with vascular occlusion, activity and saline injection in experimental conditions and then in man during walking. RESULTS. 1. Basal IOP has a pulse wave and an underlying respiratory wave (RW). 2. IOP closely reflects systemic vascular changes. 3. Proximal arterial occlusion causes loss of IOP (IOPa) and pulse volume (PV). 4. Proximal vein occlusion causes a rise in IOP (IOPv) with preservation of PV and RW. 5. Physical loading raises IOP with preservation of PV and RW. 6. Load with arterial occlusion caused minimal rise in IOP. Loading with venous occlusion caused an augmented rise in IOP with preservation of the PV. 7. Simultaneous recordings from the femoral head, condyle and upper tibia during vascular occlusion and loading show that the same effects occur at all sites. 8. Simultaneous recording from the femoral head, condyle and upper tibia during saline injection shows pressure is transmitted through bone but not across joints. 9. The Ficat bolus test destroys local circulation. Aspiration is better and preserves local perfusion. 10. Bone health at the needle tip is better assessed by IOPv – IOPa, the perfusion ‘bandwidth’. 11. Upper tibial pressure during standing, slow walking and fast walking shows large IOP changes in vivo. 12. There is probably a physiological subchondral bone blood pump. 13. Anatomical features are present which support this idea. CONCLUSIONS. IOP measurement in isolation is meaningless. With arterial and venous occlusion, perfusion at the needle tip can be studied. Compartment syndrome testing should be similar. Subchondral bone is a compressible perfused sponge with a ‘pumped’ microcirculation. Very high pressures arise in subchondral bone during activity. There are protective modifications of the microcirculation. Failure of subchondral circulation causes arthritis. Arthritis is mainly a ‘vasculo-mechanical’ disease. This work explains the spectrum of arthritis and osteonecrosis, and Perthes, caisson and sickle cell disease patterns. It explains why osteoporosis might protect against arthritis

INTRODUCTION. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is not commonly performed in young patients. However, markedly advanced hip disease can cause disabling end-stage arthritis, and THA may be the only available option for pain relief and restoration of function. We report our experience with modern alternative bearing THA in patients younger than 21 years. METHODS. Twenty-one consecutive primary THAs were performed in 18 patients. Pre- and post-operative Harris Hip Scores (HHS) and any postoperative complications were recorded. Radiographs were reviewed for evidence of premature component loosening. Mean patient age at operation was 18 years (range, 13-20). There were 14 females (78%) and 4 males (22%). Nine patients (50%) were Caucasian, 8 (44%) were African-American, and 1 (6%) was Asian. Average follow-up was 45 months (range, 16-85). All patients failed conservative treatment; 15 patients had prior core decompression and bone grafting. Underlying etiology was chemotherapy induced osteonecrosis (7, 33%), steroid induced osteonecrosis (6, 29%), sickle cell disease (5, 24%), and chronic dislocation (3, 14%); 1 patient underwent THA for fracture of a previous ceramic bearing, 1 patient had a slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and 1 patient had idiopathic joint destruction. Components implanted were ceramic/ceramic (14, 67%), metal/highly cross-linked polyethylene (6, 29%), and metal/metal surface replacement (1, 5%). RESULTS. HHS scores improved from 43.6 pre-operatively to 83.6 post-operatively (p<0.001). There were no infections or dislocations, and one patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia experienced post-operative hypotension following bilateral THA which resolved. At time of final follow-up, there was no radiographic evidence of component loosening; one THA was revised for a cracked ceramic liner. CONCLUSION. At intermediate-term follow-up, clinical and radiographic results are favorable following alternative bearing THA in patients under age 21. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess implant longevity in this patient population

Aims

As the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic passes, the challenge shifts to safe resumption of routine medical services, including elective orthopaedic surgery. Protocols including pre-operative self-isolation, COVID-19 testing, and surgery at a non-COVID-19 site have been developed to minimize risk of transmission. Despite this, it is likely that many patients will want to delay surgery for fear of contracting COVID-19. The aim of this study is to identify the number of patients who still want to proceed with planned elective orthopaedic surgery in this current environment.

Aims

The Precice intramedullary limb-lengthening system has demonstrated significant benefits over external fixation lengthening methods, leading to a paradigm shift in limb lengthening. This study compares outcomes following antegrade and retrograde femoral lengthening in both adolescent and adult patients.