Aims

In the UK, the NHS generates an estimated 25 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (4% to 5% of the nation’s total carbon emissions) and produces over 500,000 tonnes of waste annually. There is limited evidence demonstrating the principles of sustainability and its benefits within orthopaedic surgery. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the environmental impact of orthopaedic surgery and the environmentally sustainable initiatives undertaken to address this. The secondary aim of this study was to describe the barriers to making sustainable changes within orthopaedic surgery.

Background. Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after knee arthroplasty surgery remains a serious complication. Yet, there is no international consensus on the surgical treatment of PJI. The purpose was to assess the prosthesis survival rates, risk of re-revision, and mortality rate following the different surgical strategies (1-stage or 2-stage implant revision, and irrigation and debridement (IAD) with implant retention) used to treat PJI. Methods. The study was based on 653 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) revised due to PJI in the period 1994 to 2016. Kaplan-Meier (KM) and multiple Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the survival rate of these revisions and the risk of re-revisions. We also studied the mortality rates at 90 days and 1 year after revision for PJI. Results. Of the 653 revision TKAs; 329, 81, and 243 revisions were performed with IAD, 1-stage, and 2-stage revision procedures, respectively. During the follow-up period, 19%, 12.3% and 11.5% of the IAD, 1-stage, and 2-stage revision cases were re-revised due to PJI, respectively. With any reasons of re-revision as end-point the 5 year KM survival of the index revision procedure was 76%, 82%, and 84% after IAD, 1-stage, and 2-stage revision, respectively. Similarly, the 5-year KM survival with a re-revision for infection as end-point was 79%, 88%, and 87% after IAD, 1-stage, and 2-stage revision, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between 1-stage and 2-stage revision for re-revision of any reasons (RR=1.6; 95% CI: 0.8–3.1) nor did we find a difference for re-revision due to deep infection (RR=1.4; 95% CI: 0.6–3.1) as end-point. In an age-stratified analysis, however, the risk of re-revision for any causes was 4 times increased after 1-stage revision compared to 2-stage revision in patients over 70 years of age (RR=4.2, 95% CI: 1.3–13.7) but the risk was similar for deep infection as end-point. Age had no statistically significant effect on the risk of re-revision for knees revised with the IAD procedure. The 90-days and 1-year mortality rate after revision for PJI were 2.1% and 3.6% after IAD, 1.2% and 1.2% after 1-stage revision, and 0.4% and 1.6% after 2-stage revision and there were no statistically significant differences in mortality rate according to revision procedure. Conclusion. IAD had good results compared to earlier published studies. Despite that 1-stage revisions had a 4 times higher risk for re-revision compared to 2-stage revisions in older patients, the overall outcomes after 1-stage and 2-stage revision were similar

Genesis 2 (Smith &Nephew) PS type total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) originally required measured resection technique. Between 2009 and 2013, cemented 102 TKAs were performed with modified gap technique in 29 men and 73 women with a mean age of 75 years at the time of surgery. At the time of final follow up, complications included four DVTs, one knee flexion contracture, two superficial infections. Femoro-tibial angle (FTA) was improved from 110 to 123 degrees, and mean extension of knee was improved from −8.5 to −2.1 degrees. Three TKAs with painful patello-femoral component after un-replaced patellar cases required patellar replacements. There was no radiographic evidence of loosening, osteolysis, or polyethylene wear. When patellar replacement was performed, cemented Genesis 2 PS type offered good gap balancing and excellent early outcomes with modified gap technique

Backgrounds. In order to permit soft tissue balancing under more physiological conditions during total knee arthroplasties (TKAs), we developed an offset type tensor to obtain soft tissue balancing throughout the range of motion with reduced patella-femoral (PF) and aligned tibiofemoral joints and reported the intra-operative soft tissue balance assessment in cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-stabilized (PS) TKA [1, 2]. However, the soft tissue balance in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is unclear. Therefore, we recently developed a new tensor for UKAs that is designed to assist with soft tissue balancing throughout the full range of motion. The first purpose of the present study is to assess joint gap kinematics in UKA. Secondly, we attempted to compare the pattern in UKA with those in CR and PS TKA with the reduced PF joint and femoral component placement, which more closely reproduces post-operative joint alignment. Methods. Using this tensor, we assessed the intra-operative joint gap measurements of UKAs performed at 0, 10, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 135° of flexion in 20 osteoarthritic patients. In addition, the kinematic pattern of UKA was compared with those of CR and PS TKA that were calculated as medial compartment gap from the previous series of this study. Results. While the joint gap measurements of UKAs increased from full extension to extension (10 degrees of flexion), these values remained constant throughout the full range of motion. Of note, the gap values of CR TKA were significantly smaller from midrange to deep flexion compared with PS TKA, and furthermore UKA showed a significantly smaller gap from extension to midrange flexion compared with CR TKA. Conclusions. Accordingly, we conclude that the intra-operative joint gap kinematic pattern in UKA differs from the pattern in TKA

Aims

Currently, there is no single, comprehensive national guideline for analgesic strategies for total joint replacement. We compared inpatient and outpatient opioid requirements following total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in order to determine risk factors for increased inpatient and outpatient opioid requirements following total hip or knee arthroplasty.

We present seven patients with recurrent haemarthroses after total knee arthroplasty, caused by an inherent platelet function defect. These patients developed painful knee swelling, persistent bleeding and/or wound breakdown, a platelet factor 3 availability defect being identified in all cases. Surgical exploration, with joint debridement, lavage and synovectomy, was performed in four patients who did not improve with conservative therapy. Histopathological examination of synovium revealed a focal synovial reaction with histiocytic infiltration, and occasional foreign-body giant cells. One patient required an early revision because of aseptic loosening of their tibial component. The condition was treated by single-donor platelet transfusions with good results. The diagnosis, management, and relevance of this disorder are discussed.