Abstract. Introduction. Cryocompression therapy after knee surgery is widely utilised for post-operative rehabilitation. Skin temperature should be reduced to 10–15°C to maximise the therapeutic benefits while avoiding risks of adverse events. Some cryocompression devices offer control over the temperature of the ice-water circulated through a cuff. The degree to which this corresponds to the achieved skin temperature during a treatment is unknown. Methods. 30 healthy participants volunteered for this prospective randomised crossover trial involving the use of a cryocompression device. Each underwent a 30-minute test in all of five conditions: A, B, C, D and Control. Conditions corresponded to device temperature settings of 6, 8, 10, 12°C and no ice-water circulation, respectively. Skin temperature was measured prior to the cuff being applied, then every 5 minutes during a test. Results. Groups A, B, C and D significantly reduced skin temperature relative to the Control condition (p<0.05). Mean baseline skin temperatures did not significantly differ between groups. Mean skin temperatures after 30 minutes were 13.2 ± 1.9°C (Group A), 14.4 ± 1.5°C (Group B), 16.3 ± 1.8°C (Group C), 18.3 ± 1.7°C (Group D), and 30.8 ± 2.3°C (Control). Conclusions. The cryocompression device successfully reduced the skin temperature to within the therapeutic range. However, temperature settings did not correspond to skin temperatures achieved. To optimise the therapeutic benefit of treatment with this device, the 6°C setting is recommended. (Note: these are preliminary results from on an ongoing study, comprising 72% of the final dataset. Full results will be presented at BASK 2022)

Introduction. Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has been demonstrated to drastically improve a patient's quality of life. The outcomes following TKA are often reported by subjective patient reported outcome measurements (PROMs). However, there are few objective outcome measures following TKA, limiting the amount of information physicians can use to effectively guide a patient's recovery, especially in the first 3 weeks. Newly developed knee sensors have been able to ameliorate this problem by providing the physician with previously unobtainable objective data. Our study aims to evaluate the use of a wearable knee sensor device to measure functional outcomes (range of motion and steps) in real time. Methods. 29 patients who underwent primary, unilateral TKA were recruited for this IRB approved study. Patients were instructed how to use the device and associated mobile phone application preoperatively (Figure 1) and provided knee sensors to wear postoperatively (Figure 2). Patients wore the device for 3 weeks postoperatively to allow for data collection. The device recorded range of motion, number of steps, and percentage of physical therapy exercises completed. Patients were grouped by gender, age (<69 or >=70 years old), and BMI (<30 and >=30 kg/m2) for analysis of functional outcome measurements (maximum flexion, minimum extension, and number of steps). Unpaired two-sample t-tests were used to analyze differences between the groups. Results. Patients were able to tolerate wearing the device without complication and the device collected functional outcome data appropriately as designed. After brief instruction, both patients and physicians were able to monitor patient data via the mobile phone application in real time. The mean maximum flexion and minimum extension did not significantly change from postoperative week 1 to postoperative week 2 and week 3. However, the mean number of steps taken increased from 4,923 steps in postoperative week 1 to 8,163 steps week 2 (p=0.01) and 11,615 steps week 3 (p<0.001) postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences in maximum flexion, minimum extension, and number of steps between the different gender, age, and BMI groups. Discussion and Conclusion. The knee sensor device used in our study proved to be useful in providing objective functional outcomes following TKA. The device was well tolerated by patients and the mobile phone applications were easy to use for the physicians and the patients. Real time tracking of patients' own range of motion, number of steps, and percentage of exercises completed may motivate them to further their own recovery process. There were wide ranges in the number of steps taken during each postoperative time interval. These results may help identify individuals who are recovering at a faster rate or those who may need more focused physical therapy. Subsequent larger studies can utilize the device to elucidate previously unknown recovery trends among different groups of patients following TKA. In the future, the device's ability to collect real time functional outcome data will allow physicians and other healthcare providers to create individualized physical therapy plans, thereby optimizing the patient's recovery process. For figures, tables, or references, please contact authors directly

Aims. This study aims to evaluate a new home medical stretching device called the Self Treatment Assisted Knee (STAK) tool to treat knee arthrofibrosis. Methods. 35 patients post-major knee surgery with arthrofibrosis and mean range of movement (ROM) of 68° were recruited. Both the STAK intervention and control group received standard physiotherapy for eight weeks, with the intervention group additionally using the STAK at home. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Oxford Knee Scores (OKS) were collected at all timepoints. An acceptability and home exercise questionnaire capturing adherence was recorded after each of the interventions. Results. Compared to the control group, the STAK intervention group made significant gains in mean ROM (30° versus 8°, p < 0.0005), WOMAC (19 points versus 3, p < 0.0005), and OKS (8 points versus 3, p < 0.0005). The improvements in the STAK group were maintained at long-term follow-up. No patients suffered any complications relating to the STAK, and 96% of patients found the STAK tool ‘perfectly acceptable’. Conclusion. The STAK tool is effective in increasing ROM and reducing pain and stiffness. Patients find it acceptable and adherence to treatment was high. This study indicates that the STAK tool would be of benefit in clinical practice and may offer a new, cost-effective treatment for arthrofibrosis. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-8:465–473

The optimal characteristics of pneumatic compression for mechanical prophylaxis of thromboembolism after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are not known. Our study compared two methods of calf compression, with the hypothesis that the device which provided a larger increase in peak venous velocity would produce a lower rate of thromboembolism. We performed a prospective, randomised study on 423 patients (472 knees). Duplex ultrasonography was carried out by experienced technicians who were blinded to the device used. Overall, 206 patients (232 knees) used a rapid inflation, asymmetrical compression (RIAC) device and 217 (240 knees) a sequential circumferential compression device (SCD). The rate of venous thromboembolism was 6.9% with the RIAC device compared with 15% for the SCD device (p = 0.007). The incidence of thrombi with unilateral primary TKA was 8.4% for the RIAC compared with 16.8% for the SCD device (p = 0.03). In 47 patients with a bilateral TKA, the incidence of thrombi was 4% for the RIAC compared with 22.7% for the SCD device (p = 0.05 per knee). There was a low rate of mortality and pulmonary embolism when using mechanical prophylaxis for thromboembolism after TKA. Our findings show that the use of rapid inflation, asymmetrical calf compression gave a significantly lower rate of thromboembolism

Pain, swelling and inflammation are expected during the recovery from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. The severity of these factors and how a patient copes with them may determine the ultimate outcome of a TKA. Cryotherapy and compression are frequently used modalities to mitigate these commonly experienced sequelae. However, their effect on range of motion, functional testing, and narcotic consumption has not been well-studied. A prospective, multi-center, randomised trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a cryopneumatic device on post-operative TKA recovery. Patients were randomised to treatment with a cryopneumatic device or ice with static compression. A total of 280 patients were enrolled at 11 international sites. Both treatments were initiated within three hours post-operation and used at least four times per day for two weeks. The cryopneumatic device was titrated for cooling and pressure by the patient to their comfort level. Patients were evaluated by physical therapists blinded to the treatment arm. Range of motion (ROM), knee girth, six minute walk test (6MWT) and timed up and go test (TUG) were measured pre-operatively, two- and six-weeks post-operatively. A visual analog pain score and narcotic consumption was also measured post-operatively. At two weeks post-operatively, both the treatment and control groups had diminished ROM and function compared to pre-operatively. Both groups had increased knee girth compared to pre- operatively. There was no significant difference in ROM, 6MWT, TUG, or knee girth between the 2 groups. We did find a significantly lower amount of narcotic consumption (509 mg morphine equivalents) in the treatment group compared with the control group (680 mg morphine equivalents) at up to two weeks postop, when the cryopneumatic device was being used (p < 0.05). Between two and six weeks, there was no difference in the total amount of narcotics consumed between the two groups. At six weeks, there was a trend toward a greater distance walked in the 6MWT in the treatment group (29.4 meters versus 7.9 meters, p = 0.13). There was a significant difference in the satisfaction scores of patients with their cooling regimen, with greater satisfaction in the treatment group (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in ROM, TUG, VAS, or knee girth at six weeks. There was no difference in adverse events or compliance between the two groups. A cryopneumatic device used after TKA appeared to decrease the need for narcotic medication from hospital discharge to 2 weeks post-operatively. There was also a trend toward a greater distance walked in the 6MWT. Patient satisfaction with the cryopneumatic cooling regimen was significantly higher than with the control treatment.

Abstract

Aims. The study was designed to gauge adequacy of pain relief in the first 5 days following TKA, in particular comparing the Painbuster device (B Braun, Sheffield, UK) with more routine modalities. Methods. In a prospective, multi-disciplinary audit, all post-operative in-patients completed a pain diary. Pain was recorded as none (0), mild (1), moderate (2) or severe (3), three times a day. This information was collated, along with the pre-operative Oxford knee score, type of anaesthetic, and use of post-operative analgesia. This included oral and intravenous medication, local anaesthetic infiltration and the Painbuster, a continuous infusion device which delivers bupivacaine into the knee for 48 hours. Results. 49 patients completed pain diaries between April and August 2009. Forty-two (86%) received a spinal block with sedation. Only 13 patients (27%) required intravenous morphine via a PCA. Ten patients (20%) received a Painbuster device, while another eight (16%) underwent a single local anaesthetic infiltration. Painbuster patients had average pain scores of 1.65 over days 0-4, whereas all other patients had mean scores of 1.49 over the same period. The latter group used more NSAIDs (55% vs 40%) which may partly explain the difference. When patients given a Painbuster were grouped with those receiving local anaesthetic infiltration, there was no superiority to those treated routinely. Of eight pharmacological analgesics offered (paracetamol, PCA etc), more than half of patients received four or more modalities. Median length of stay was 4 days. Conclusions. Analgesia after TKA is challenging, and most patients experience episodes of severe pain. The Painbuster does not ofer superior analgesia, despite its popularity in other surgical disciplines. This may relate to inadequate delivery of anaesthetic throughout the wound, and to the lingering benefits of a spinal block which may mask the Painbuster's effect. A single answer to early post-operative pain remains elusive, but a flexibile and committed approach can still lead to successful early discharge

Nine patients underwent arthrodesis of the knee using a customised coupled nail (the Mayday arthrodesis nail), five after infected arthroplasty, one following failed arthrodesis, one for intractable anterior knee pain, one for Charcot instability and one after trauma. Comparison was made with 17 arthrodeses, eight undertaken using external fixation, four with dual compression plates, and five with long Küntscher nails. Union was achieved in all patients (100%) at a mean time of ten months using the customised implant. There were no complications despite early weight-bearing. No further procedures were required. This contrasted with a rate of union of 53% and a complication rate of 76% with alternative techniques. Of this second group, 76% required a further operative procedure.

We compared the Mayday arthrodesis nail with other techniques of arthrodesis of the knee. The differences in the need for further surgery and occurrence of complications were statistically significant (p < 0.001), and differences in the rate of nonunion and inpatient stay of less than three weeks were also significant (p < 0.05) using Fisher’s exact test.

We conclude that a customised coupled intramedullary nail can give excellent stability allowing early weight-bearing, and results in a high rate of union with minimal postoperative complications.

Aims. Wear of the polyethylene (PE) tibial insert of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) increases the risk of revision surgery with a significant cost burden on the healthcare system. This study quantifies wear performance of tibial inserts in a large and diverse series of retrieved TKAs to evaluate the effect of factors related to the patient, knee design, and bearing material on tibial insert wear performance. Methods. An institutional review board-approved retrieval archive was surveyed for modular PE tibial inserts over a range of in vivo duration (mean 58 months (0 to 290)). Five knee designs, totalling 1,585 devices, were studied. Insert wear was estimated from measured thickness change using a previously published method. Linear regression statistical analyses were used to test association of 12 patient and implant design variables with calculated wear rate. Results. Five patient-specific variables and seven implant-specific variables were evaluated for significant association with lower insert wear rate. Six were significant when controlling for other factors: greater patient age, female sex, shorter duration in vivo, polished tray, highly cross-linked PE (HXLPE), and constrained knee design. Conclusion. This study confirmed that knee wear rate increased with duration in vivo. Older patients and females had significantly lower wear rates. Polished modular tibial tray surfaces, HXLPE, and constrained TKA designs were device design factors associated with significantly reduced wear rate. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(11):1695–1701

Abstract. 20% of patients are severely dis-satisfied following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Arthrofibrosis is a devastating complication preventing normal knee range of motion (ROM), severely impacting patient's daily living activities. A previous RCT demonstrated superiority of a high intensity stretching programme using a novel device the STAK tool compared with standard physiotherapy in TKA patients with arthrofibrosis. This study analyses the results when the previous “standard physiotherapy” group were subsequently treated with the STAK tool. Methods. 15 patients post TKA with severe arthrofibrosis and mean ROM 71° were recruited, (three cases had previously failed manipulation under anaesthetic (MUA). Patients received 8 weeks standard physiotherapy, then treatment with the STAK at home for 8 weeks. ROM, extension, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Oxford Knee Scores (OKS) were collected at various time-points. Results. Following standard physiotherapy there were small improvements in ROM (8°) (p<0.01), but no significant improvements in extension, OKS or WOMAC (p=0.39). Following the STAK treatment all outcomes significantly improved (p<0.01). STAK group; mean ROM (21° versus 8°, p < 0.001), extension 9° versus 2° (p < 0.01), WOMAC (18 points versus 3, p < 0.01), and OKS (8 points versus 4, p<0.01). No patients suffered any complications relating to the STAK. Conclusions. The STAK is effective in increasing ROM, extension and function, whilst reducing pain and stiffness. The device can be considered a cost-effective and valuable treatment following TKA. This is likely to increase the overall satisfaction rate and has potential to reduce the need for MUA

Abstract. Introduction. Symptomatic osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and traumatic osteochondral fractures (OCF) are treated with fixation with either metal or bioabsorbable device. We performed a comparative review of patients with OCD and traumatic OCF stabilised with Bio-Compression screws which are headless absorbable compression screws. Our aim was to determine whether there was a difference in outcomes between presentations. Methods. Retrospective single-centre cohort study of all patients with OCD and OCF treated with Bio-Compression screw between July 2017 and September 2022. All patients followed up until discharge with satisfactory clinical outcome. Primary outcome was return to theatre for ongoing pain or mechanical symptoms. Secondary outcome was evidence of fixation failure on follow-up MRI scan. Results. 20 patients included; 8 OCF and 12 OCD. Average age 21 (OCF), 24 (OCD). The most common location was patella (58%) in OCF or the medial femoral condyle (75%) in OCD. Traumatic defects were smaller (2.6cm2 vs 3.3cm2) although this was not statistically significant (p=0.28). In the OCF group one patient went on to have further surgery. There were no re-operations in the OCD group. Both groups had good outcomes and similar times to discharge. There was no evidence of fixation failure of Bio-Compression screws on MRI scans. Conclusions. Within the limits of this relatively small cohort there is no significant difference between outcomes for OCD or traumatic OCF fixation with Bio-Compression screws. Both groups demonstrate good outcomes irrespective of the location or the aetiology of the fragment

Abstract. Introduction. Knee braces are limited to providing passive support. There is currently no brace available providing both continuous monitoring and active robot-assisted movements of the knee joint. This project aimed to develop a wearable intelligent motorised robotic knee brace to support and monitor rehabilitation for a range of knee conditions including post-surgical rehabilitation. This brace can be used at home providing ambulatory continuous passive movement obviating the need for hospital admissions. Methodology. A wearable sensing system monitoring knee range of motion was developed to provide remote feedback to clinicians and real-time guidance for patients. A prototype of an exoskeleton providing dynamic motion assistance was developed to help patients complete their exercise goals and strengthen their muscles. The accuracy and reliability of those functions were validated in human participants during exercises including knee flexion/extension (FE) in bed and in chair, sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit. Results. The knee FE measurement from the sensing system showed high accuracy (correlation coefficient of 0.99°) in human participants. The real-time FE data during exercises showed that the desired exoskeleton rotation fitted well with the participant's knee rotation. This indicated the exoskeleton could coordinate with the participant's knee motion by providing consistent motion assistance. The development of user interfaces to provide feedback is currently underway. Conclusion. A wearable robotic knee brace to monitor and support knee rehabilitation exercises was successfully developed. Further development of this device with the use of artificial intelligence has the potential to aid patient rehabilitation in a variety of knee conditions

Aims. Varus-valgus constrained (VVC) devices are typically used in revision settings, often with stems to mitigate the risk of aseptic loosening. However, in at least one system, the VVC insert is compatible with the primary posterior-stabilized (PS) femoral component, which may be an option in complex primary situations. We sought to determine the implant survivorship, radiological and clinical outcomes, and complications when this VVC insert was coupled with a PS femur without stems in complex primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). Methods. Through our institution’s total joint registry, we identified 113 primary TKAs (103 patients) performed between 2007 and 2017 in which a VVC insert was coupled with a standard cemented PS femur without stems. Mean age was 68 years (SD 10), mean BMI was 32 kg/m. 2. (SD 7), and 59 patients (50%) were male. Mean follow-up was four years (2 to 10). Results. The five-year survivorship free from aseptic loosening was 100%. The five-year survivorship free from any revision was 99%, with the only revision performed for infection. The five-year survivorship free from reoperation was 93%. The most common reoperation was treatment for infection (n = 4; 4%), followed by manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA; n = 2; 2%). Survivorship free from any complication at five years was 90%, with superficial wound infection as the most frequent (n = 4; 4%). At most recent follow-up, two TKAs had non-progressive radiolucent lines about both the tibial and femoral components. Knee Society Scores improved from 53 preoperatively to 88 at latest follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusion. For complex primary TKA in occasional situations, coupling a VVC insert with a standard PS femur without stems proved reliable and durable at five years. Longer-term follow-up is required before recommending this technique more broadly. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(11):921–925

Abstract. Introduction. The popularity of all-inside meniscal repair devices has led to a shift away from inside-out meniscus repair without comparative studies to support the change. The aim of this study was to compare the failure rate and time to failure of all-inside and inside-out meniscus repair performed in elite athletes. Methodology. A retrospective review was performed of all elite athletes who underwent meniscal repair, with a minimum of two-year follow-up between 2013 and 2019. Repairs were classified as all-inside or inside-out according to the repair technique. Failure was defined as undergoing a subsequent surgery to address a persistent meniscal tear. Results. 192 (135 lateral and 57 medial) meniscal repairs in elite athletes were included and 41 (21%) failed. Medial meniscus tears repaired with the all-inside technique failed at a significantly higher rate (58%) than medial meniscus tears repaired with the inside-out (23%) or lateral meniscus tears repaired with the all-inside (12%) or inside-out (14%) technique (p<.001). At 1 year following repair, 8% of lateral meniscus repairs had failed regardless of technique. Medial meniscus repairs failed at an approximate rate of 15% for inside-out technique and 42% for all-inside technique. By 2 years, approximately 54% of all-inside medial meniscus repairs had failed and by 5 years over 60% of repairs had failed. Conclusion. All-inside medial meniscal repair led to a higher rate of failure compared to inside-out medial or lateral meniscus repair in elite athletes. Medial meniscus repairs failed at a high rate than lateral meniscal repairs

Abstract. Introduction. Inter-prosthetic femoral fractures (IPFF) are fractures occurring between ipsilateral hip and knee implants or fixation devices. In 2020, the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) was extended to capture data from patients with peri-prosthetic femoral fractures (PPFF), including those specifically with IPFF. This study aims to describe the epidemiology and treatment of IPFF in England and Wales. Methodology. This population-based observational cohort study utilised open-access data available from the NHFD. Patients aged over 60, admitted to an acute hospital in England or Wales with an IPFF, within the period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020 were included. The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of IPFF in England and Wales. The secondary outcome was the treatment received. Results. Of 2606 patients admitted with PPFF, a total of 133 fractures occurred between ipsilateral hip and knee implants. Internal fixation was performed most frequently, in 87 cases. Revision arthroplasty was performed in 15 cases (hip n=10, knee n=5). A total of 20 patients were managed non-operatively, and three underwent primary arthroplasty (hip n=2, knee n=1). Conclusion. As the proportion of patients living with hip and knee implants continues to increase, it is expected that so too will the incidence of IPFF. This study is the first to estimate the incidence of IPFF in England and Wales. This is likely an underestimate of the true incidence and so we support calls for the prioritisation of further research into the epidemiology, prevention, and management of IPFF

Introduction. Patients who undergo total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are at a high risk for the development of thromboembolic complications. The rate at which venous thromboembolism occurs following TJA has been reported to be between 1.3–9.4%. As a result, the utilization of prophylactic therapies is considered standard of care in this patient population. The primary purpose of the current study was to 1) evaluate patient satisfaction with the use of intermittent compression devices 2) evaluate the risk of self-reported falls secondary to the use of these devices following TJA. Methods. This is a single institution, prospective study on patients who underwent TJA at an urban, academic orthopedic specialty hospital. Patients were surveyed using an electronic patient rehabilitation application regarding their use and satisfaction with their home intermittent compression devices with a battery and power cord attachment that the patient must wear while using the devices. They were also asked if any falls or near-falls they may have experienced. Surveys were administered on postoperative Day 14, and patients were given 10 days to submit their responses. Using our institutions data warehouse, patient demographics were also collected (Table 1). Results. Survey responses were collected from 479 patients who underwent TJA between August 2018 and October 2018. Of the respondents, 278 were female and 201 were male. Approximately 79% of patients in the cohort were satisfied with their use of their compression devices compared to 21% of patients who were unsatisfied. During this time, 16% of patients (75 pts) also reported at least one tripping episode at home and 11 patients (2.3%) had at least one fall at home. Conclusion. These results suggest that patients are generally satisfied with their home intermittent compression devices. There are a significant number of trips or falls after surgery and further study examining the potential role of these devices and their cords in these falls is needed. For figures, tables, or references, please contact authors directly

Aims. Varus-valgus constrained (VVC) implants are often used during revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to gain coronal plane stability. However, the increased mechanical torque applied to the bone-cement interface theoretically increases the risk of aseptic loosening. We assessed mid-term survivorship, complications, and clinical outcomes of a fixed-bearing VVC device in revision TKAs. Methods. A total of 416 consecutive revision TKAs (398 patients) were performed at our institution using a single fixed-bearing VVC TKA from 2007 to 2015. Mean age was 64 years (33 to 88) with 50% male (199). Index revision TKA diagnoses were: instability (n = 122, 29%), aseptic loosening (n = 105, 25%), and prosthetic joint infection (PJI) (n = 97, 23%). All devices were cemented on the epiphyseal surfaces. Femoral stems were used in 97% (n = 402) of cases, tibial stems in 95% (n = 394) of cases; all were cemented. In total, 93% (n = 389) of cases required a stemmed femoral and tibial component. Femoral cones were used in 29%, and tibial cones in 40%. Survivorship was assessed via competing risk analysis; clinical outcomes were determined using Knee Society Scores (KSSs) and range of movement (ROM). Mean follow-up was four years (2 to 10). Results. The five-year cumulative incidence of subsequent revision for aseptic loosening and instability were 2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 3, number at risk = 154) and 4% (95% CI 2 to 6, number at risk = 153), respectively. The five-year cumulative incidence of any subsequent revision was 14% (95% CI 10 to 18, number at risk = 150). Reasons for subsequent revision included PJI (n = 23, of whom 12 had previous PJI), instability (n = 13), and aseptic loosening (n = 11). The use of this implant without stems was found to be a significant risk factor for subsequent revision (hazard ratio (HR) 7.58 (95% CI 3.98 to 16.03); p = 0.007). KSS improved from 46 preoperatively to 81 at latest follow-up (p < 0.001). ROM improved from 96° prerevision to 108° at latest follow-up (p = 0.016). Conclusion. The cumulative incidence of subsequent revision for aseptic loosening and instability was very low at five years with this fixed-bearing VVC implant in revision TKAs. Routine use of cemented and stemmed components with targeted use of metaphyseal cones likely contributed to this low rate of aseptic loosening. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(4):458–462

Aims. The integrity of the soft tissue envelope is crucial for successful treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of limb salvage, infection control, and clinical function following microvascular free flap coverage for salvage of the infected TKA. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 23 microvascular free tissue transfers for management of soft tissue defects in infected TKA. There were 16 men and seven women with a mean age of 61.2 years (39 to 81). The median number of procedures performed prior to soft tissue coverage was five (2 to 9) and all patients had failed at least one two-stage reimplantation procedure. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Knee Society Scoring system for pain and function. Results. In all, one patient was lost to follow-up prior to 12 months. The remaining 22 patients were followed for a mean of 46 months (12 to 92). At latest follow-up, four patients (18%) had undergone amputation for failure of treatment and persistent infection. For the other 18 patients, 11 patients (50%) had maintained a knee prosthesis in place while seven patients had undergone resections for persistent infection but retained their limbs (32%). Reoperations were common following coverage and reimplantation. The median number of additional procedures was two (0 to 6). Clinical function was poor in patients who underwent reimplantation and retained a knee prosthesis following free flap coverage with a mean KSS score for pain and function of 44 (0 to 70) and 30 (0 to 65), respectively. All patients required an assistive device. Extensor mechanism problems and extensor lag requiring bracing were common following limb salvage and prosthesis reimplantation. Conclusion. Microvascular tissue transfer for management of infected TKA can be successful in limb salvage (82%) but clinical outcomes in salvaged limbs were poor. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6 Supple A):176–180

Aims. Many surgeons choose to perform total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery with the aid of a tourniquet. A tourniquet is a device that fits around the leg and restricts blood flow to the limb. There is a need to understand whether tourniquets are safe, and if they benefit, or harm, patients. The aim of this study was to determine the benefits and harms of tourniquet use in TKA surgery. Methods. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials, and trial registries up to 26 March 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparing TKA with a tourniquet versus without a tourniquet. Outcomes included: pain, function, serious adverse events (SAEs), blood loss, implant stability, duration of surgery, and length of hospital stay. Results. We included 41 RCTs with 2,819 participants. SAEs were significantly more common in the tourniquet group (53/901 vs 26/898, tourniquet vs no tourniquet respectively) (risk ratio 1.73 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10 to 2.73). The mean pain score on the first postoperative day was 1.25 points higher (95% CI 0.32 to 2.19) in the tourniquet group. Overall blood loss did not differ between groups (mean difference 8.61 ml; 95% CI -83.76 to 100.97). The mean length of hospital stay was 0.34 days longer in the group that had surgery with a tourniquet (95% CI 0.03 to 0.64) and the mean duration of surgery was 3.7 minutes shorter (95% CI -5.53 to -1.87). Conclusion. TKA with a tourniquet is associated with an increased risk of SAEs, pain, and a marginally longer hospital stay. The only finding in favour of tourniquet use was a shorter time in theatre. The results make it difficult to justify the routine use of a tourniquet in TKA surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(5):830–839

Aims

A novel enhanced cement fixation (EF) tibial implant with deeper cement pockets and a more roughened bonding surface was released to market for an existing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) system.This randomized controlled trial assessed fixation of the both the EF (ATTUNE S+) and standard (Std; ATTUNE S) using radiostereometric analysis.