Aims. Using data from the Hip Fracture Evaluation with Alternatives of Total Hip Arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty (HEALTH) trial, we sought to determine if a difference in functional outcomes exists between monopolar and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (HA). Methods. This study is a secondary analysis of patients aged 50 years or older with a displaced femoral neck fracture who were enrolled in the HEALTH trial and underwent monopolar and bipolar HA. Scores from the Western Ontario and McMaster University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and (MCS) were compared between the two HA groups using a propensity score-weighted analysis. Results. Of 746 HAs performed in the HEALTH trial, 404 were bipolar prostheses and 342 were unipolar. After propensity score weighting, adequate balance between the bipolar and unipolar groups was obtained as shown by standardized mean differences less than 0.1 for each covariable. A total of 24 months after HA, the total WOMAC score and its subcomponents showed no statistically significant difference between the unipolar and bipolar groups. Similarly, no statistically significant difference was found in the PCS and MCS scores of the SF-12 questionnaire. In participants aged 70 years and younger, no difference was found in any of the functional outcomes. Conclusion. From the results of this study, the use of bipolar HA over unipolar design does not provide superior functional outcomes at 24 months postoperatively. The theoretical advantage of reduced acetabular wear with bipolar designs does not appear to influence functional outcomes in the first two years postoperatively. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(5):370–377

Current treatment options for displaced acetabular fractures in elderly patients include non-surgical management, surgical fixation and surgical fixation with simultaneous hip replacement, the so-called “fix-and-replace”™. There remains a paucity of evidence to guide surgeons in decision making for these difficult injuries. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of performing an appropriately powered RCT between treatment options for acetabular fractures in older patients. This was an NIHR funded feasibility triple-arm RCT with participation from 7 NHS MTCs. Patients older than 60 were recruited if they had an acetabular fracture deemed sufficiently displaced for the treating surgeon to consider surgical fixation. Randomisation was performed on a 1:1:1 basis. The three treatment arms were non-surgical management, surgical fixation and fix-and-replace. Feasibility was assessed by willingness of patients to participate and clinicians to recruit, drop out rate, estimates of standard deviation to inform the sample size calculation for the full trial and completion rates to inform design of a future definitive trial. EQ-5D was the primary outcome measure at 6 months, OHS and Disability Rating Index were secondary outcome measures. Of 117 eligible patients, 60 were randomised whilst 50 declined study participation. Nine patients did not receive their allocated intervention. Analysis was performed on an intention to treat basis. During the study period 4 patients withdrew before final review, 4 patients died and 1 was lost to follow-up. The estimated sample size for a full scale study was calculated to be 1474 participants for an EQ-5D MCID of 0.06 with a power of 0.8. This feasibility study suggests a full scale trial would require international collaboration. This study also has provided observed safety data regarding mortality and morbidity for the fix-and-replace procedure to aid surgeons in the decision-making process when considering treatment options

Aims. To develop prediction models using machine-learning (ML) algorithms for 90-day and one-year mortality prediction in femoral neck fracture (FNF) patients aged 50 years or older based on the Hip fracture Evaluation with Alternatives of Total Hip arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty (HEALTH) and Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trials. Methods. This study included 2,388 patients from the HEALTH and FAITH trials, with 90-day and one-year mortality proportions of 3.0% (71/2,388) and 6.4% (153/2,388), respectively. The mean age was 75.9 years (SD 10.8) and 65.9% of patients (1,574/2,388) were female. The algorithms included patient and injury characteristics. Six algorithms were developed, internally validated and evaluated across discrimination (c-statistic; discriminative ability between those with risk of mortality and those without), calibration (observed outcome compared to the predicted probability), and the Brier score (composite of discrimination and calibration). Results. The developed algorithms distinguished between patients at high and low risk for 90-day and one-year mortality. The penalized logistic regression algorithm had the best performance metrics for both 90-day (c-statistic 0.80, calibration slope 0.95, calibration intercept -0.06, and Brier score 0.039) and one-year (c-statistic 0.76, calibration slope 0.86, calibration intercept -0.20, and Brier score 0.074) mortality prediction in the hold-out set. Conclusion. Using high-quality data, the ML-based prediction models accurately predicted 90-day and one-year mortality in patients aged 50 years or older with a FNF. The final models must be externally validated to assess generalizability to other populations, and prospectively evaluated in the process of shared decision-making. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(3):168–181

There is an increasing incidence of revision for periprosthetic joint infection. The addition of vancomycin to beta-lactam antimicrobial prophylaxis in joint arthroplasty may reduce surgical site infections, however, the efficacy and safety have not been established. This was a multicenter, double-blind, superiority, placebo-controlled trial. We randomized 4239 adult patients undergoing joint arthroplasty surgery to receive 1.5g vancomycin or normal saline placebo, in addition to standard cefazolin antimicrobial prophylaxis. The primary outcome was surgical site infection at 90-days from index surgery. Perioperative carriage of Staphylococcus species was also assessed. In the 4113 patients included in the modified intention-to-treat population, surgical site infections occurred in 72/2069 (3.5%) in the placebo group and 91/2044 (4. 5%) in the vancomycin group (risk ratio 1.28; 95% confidence interval 0.94 to 1.73; p value 0.11). No difference was observed between the two groups for primary hip arthroplasty procedures. A higher proportion of infections occurred in knee arthroplasty patients in the vancomycin group (63/1109 [4.7%]) compared with the placebo group (42/1124 [3.7%]; risk ratio 1.52; 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 2.23; p value 0.031). Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 11 (0.5%) patients in the placebo group and 24 (1.2%) in the vancomycin group (risk ratio 2.20; 95% confidence interval 1.08, 4.49) and acute kidney injury in 74 (3.7%) patients in the placebo group and 42 (2.1%) in the vancomycin group (risk ratio 0.57; 95% confidence interval 0.39, 0.83). Perioperative Staphylococcus aureus carriage was detected in 1089/3748 (29.1%) of patients. This is the first randomized controlled trial examining the addition of a glycopeptide antimicrobial to standard beta-lactam surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in joint arthroplasty. The addition of vancomycin to standard cefazolin prophylaxis was not superior to placebo for the prevention of surgical site infections in hip and knee arthroplasty surgery

Aims. Achieving accurate implant positioning and restoring native hip biomechanics are key surgeon-controlled technical objectives in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The primary objective of this study was to compare the reproducibility of the planned preoperative centre of hip rotation (COR) in patients undergoing robotic arm-assisted THA versus conventional THA. Methods. This prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 60 patients with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis undergoing conventional THA (CO THA) versus robotic arm-assisted THA (RO THA). Patients in both arms underwent pre- and postoperative CT scans, and a patient-specific plan was created using the robotic software. The COR, combined offset, acetabular orientation, and leg length discrepancy were measured on the pre- and postoperative CT scanogram at six weeks following surgery. Results. There were no significant differences for any of the baseline characteristics including spinopelvic mobility. The absolute error for achieving the planned horizontal COR was median 1.4 mm (interquartile range (IQR) 0.87 to 3.42) in RO THA versus 4.3 mm (IQR 3 to 6.8; p < 0.001); vertical COR mean 0.91 mm (SD 0.73) in RO THA versus 2.3 mm (SD 1.3; p < 0.001); and combined offset median 2 mm (IQR 0.97 to 5.45) in RO THA versus 3.9 mm (IQR 2 to 7.9; p = 0.019). Improved accuracy was observed with RO THA in achieving the desired acetabular component positioning (root mean square error for anteversion and inclination was 2.6 and 1.3 vs 8.9 and 5.3, repectively) and leg length (mean 0.6 mm vs 1.4 mm; p < 0.001). Patient-reported outcome measures were comparable between the two groups at baseline and one year. Participants in the RO THA group needed fewer physiotherapy sessions postoperatively (median six (IQR 4.5 to 8) vs eight (IQR 6 to 11; p = 0.005). Conclusion. This RCT suggested that robotic-arm assistance in THA was associated with improved accuracy in restoring the native COR, better preservation of the combined offset, leg length correction, and superior accuracy in achieving the desired acetabular component positioning. Further evaluation through long-term and registry data is necessary to assess whether these findings translate into improved implant survival and functional outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(4):324–335

Aims. This study aims to assess the feasibility of conducting a pragmatic, multicentre randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an informal caregiver training programme to support the recovery of people following hip fracture surgery. Methods. This will be a mixed-methods feasibility RCT, recruiting 60 patients following hip fracture surgery and their informal caregivers. Patients will be randomized to usual NHS care, versus usual NHS care plus a caregiver-patient dyad training programme (HIP HELPER). This programme will comprise of three, one-hour, one-to-one training sessions for the patient and caregiver, delivered by a nurse, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist. Training will be delivered in the hospital setting pre-patient discharge. It will include practical skills for rehabilitation such as: transfers and walking; recovery goal setting and expectations; pacing and stress management techniques; and introduction to the HIP HELPER Caregiver Workbook, which provides information on recovery, exercises, worksheets, and goal-setting plans to facilitate a ‘good’ recovery. After discharge, patients and caregivers will be supported in delivering rehabilitation through three telephone coaching sessions. Data, collected at baseline and four months post-randomization, will include: screening logs, intervention logs, fidelity checklists, quality assurance monitoring visit data, and clinical outcomes assessing quality of life, physical, emotional, adverse events, and resource use outcomes. The acceptability of the study intervention and RCT design will be explored through qualitative methods with 20 participants (patients and informal caregivers) and 12 health professionals. Discussion. A multicentre recruitment approach will provide greater external validity across population characteristics in England. The mixed-methods approach will permit in-depth examination of the intervention and trial design parameters. The findings will inform whether and how a definitive trial may be undertaken to test the effectiveness of this caregiver intervention for patients after hip fracture surgery. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(11):909–920

Studies have shown that 10–30% patients do not achieve optimal function outcomes after total hip replacement (THR). High quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of techniques to improve functional outcomes after THR are lacking. We performed this study to evaluate the feasibility of a RCT comparing patient-reported functional outcomes after hybrid or fully cemented THR (ISRCTN11097021). Patients were recruited from two centres and randomised to receive either a fully cemented or hybrid THR. Data collection included Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), non-serious adverse events of special interest (AESI), serious adverse device effects (SADE) and NHS resource use. Qualitative interviews were undertaken to understand a) patient experiences of study processes and their reasons for taking part or not, and b) to understand surgeons’ perceptions of the study, factors affecting willingness to participate, and barriers to implementation of the future RCT findings. The target of 40 patients were successfully recruited for the feasibility RCT; the ratio of successful recruitment to eligible patients was 0.61 across both sites. Treatment crossovers occurred in four patients, all related to bone quality. Four patients were withdrawn due to not undergoing surgery within the study window because of the pandemic. Follow-up was 100% and PROMs were completed by all patients at all time points. The feasibility of conducting a within-trial cost-utility analysis was demonstrated. Interviews were conducted with 27 patients and 16 surgeons. Patients and surgeons generally found the study procedures acceptable and workable. Some declined participation because they did not want treatment allocated at random, or because blinding was off-putting. Surgeons’ perceptions of equipoise varied, and implementation of findings from the future RCT would need to recognise the ‘craft’ nature of surgery and the issue of training. We conclude that a full RCT with economic analysis will be both feasible and practicable, although mechanisms to safely implement potential changes to practice because of RCT findings may need consideration by the wider arthroplasty community

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate serum metal levels in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) with a conventional compared to a modular dual-mobility bearing. Patients undergoing primary THA for osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either a modular dual-mobility or conventional polyethylene bearing. All patients received the same titanium acetabular and femoral component and a ceramic femoral head. Serum metal levels were drawn pre-operatively then annually for a minimum of two years postoperatively. An a priori power analysis determined that 40 patients (20 per cohort) were needed to identify a clinically relevant difference in serum cobalt of 0.35 ng/ml (ppb) at 90% power. Forty-six patients were randomized to a modular dual-mobility (n=25) or conventional bearing (n=21) with 40 at a minimum follow-up of two years. No differences in serum cobalt (mean 0.14 ppb [range, 0.075–0.29] vs. 0.20 ppb [range, 0.075–0.57], p=0.39) or chromium levels (mean 0.14 ppb [range, 0.05–0.50] vs. 0.12 ppb [range, 0.05–0.35], p=0.65) were identified between the modular dual-mobility and conventional cohorts, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in serum Co or Cr at two years postoperatively in subjects implanted with a ceramic head and this particular dual mobility bearing in comparison to a ceramic head and a conventional acetabular component. While modest expected elevations in serum Co and Cr were observed in the dual mobility group, in no case did the Co level exceed the laboratory reference range nor the threshold of one part per billion that has been associated with adverse local tissue reactions to mechanically-assisted crevice corrosion

We present minimum 20 year results of a randomized, prospective double blinded trial (RCT) of cross-linked versus conventional polyethylene (PE), using a computer assisted method of PE wear measurement. After Ethics Committee approval, 122 patients were enrolled into an RCT comparing Enduron (non cross-linked PE) and highly cross-linked Marathon PE (DePuy, Leeds, UK). Other than the PE liners, identical components were used, a Duraloc 300 metal shell with one screw, a 28mm CoCr femoral head and a cemented Charnley Elite femoral stem. All patients were followed with anteroposterior (A∼P) and lateral radiographs at 3 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 20 years. PE wear was measured with PolyMig, which has a phantom validated accuracy of ± 0.09mm. At minimum 20 year follow-up, 47 patients had died, 5 of which had been revised prior to their death. Another 32 patients were revised and alive, leaving 43 patients unrevised and alive (15 Enduron, 28 Marathon). No patients were lost to follow-up, but 2 were not able to be radiographed (dementia), leaving 41 patients (15 Enduron, 26 Marathon) available for PE wear measurement. After the bedding-in period, Enduron liners had a wear rate of 0.182 mm/year, and Marathon liners had a wear rate of 0.028 mm/year. At 20 years follow-up, 37 patients had required revision. Patients with conventional PE had three times the revision rate (28/37) of those who received XLPE (9/37). This is the longest term RCT showing substantially improved clinical and radiological results when XLPE is used as the bearing surface

Aims. The primary outcome was investigating differences in wear, as measured by femoral head penetration, between cross-linked vitamin E-diffused polyethylene (vE-PE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) acetabular component liners and between 32 and 36 mm head sizes at the ten-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included acetabular component migration and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Harris Hip Score, and University of California, Los Angeles Activity Scale (UCLA). Methods. A single-blinded, multi-arm, 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial was undertaken. Patients were recruited between May 2009 and April 2011. Radiostereometric analyses (RSAs) were performed from baseline to ten years. Of the 220 eligible patients, 116 underwent randomization, and 82 remained at the ten-year follow-up. Eligible patients were randomized into one of four interventions: vE-PE acetabular liner with either 32 or 36 mm femoral head, and XLPE acetabular liner with either 32 or 36 mm femoral head. Parameters were otherwise identical except for acetabular liner material and femoral head size. Results. A total of 116 patients participated, of whom 77 were male. The median ages of the vE-PE 32 mm and 36 mm groups were 65 (interquartile range (IQR) 57 to 67) and 63 years (IQR 56 to 66), respectively, and of the XLPE 32 mm and 36 mm groups were 64 (IQR 58 to 66) and 61 years (IQR 54 to 66), respectively. Mean total head penetration was significantly lower into vE-PE acetabular liner groups than into XLPE acetabular liner groups (-0.219 mm (95% confidence interval -0.348 to -0.090); p = 0.001). There were no differences in wear according to head size, acetabular component migration, or PROMs, except for UCLA. There were no cases of aseptic loosening or failures requiring revision at long-term follow-up. Conclusion. Significantly lower wear was observed in vE-PE acetabular liners than in XLPE acetabular liners. No difference in wear was observed between different head size or PROMs except for the UCLA at ten years. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(10):1052–1059

We aimed to use data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the sliding hip screw vs. intramedullary nailing (IMN) for trochanteric fractures to examine complication rates between those managed with a short vs. long IMN. This is a secondary analysis using one arm of an RCT of patients ≥18 years with trochanteric fractures. We examined differences in fracture-related (femoral shaft fracture, implant failure, surgical site infection (SSI), nonunion, limb shortening, and pain) and medical (organ failure, respiratory distress, stroke, deep vein thrombosis [DVT] gastrointestinal upset, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, sepsis, or urinary tract infection) adverse events (AE), and readmission between short vs. long IMNs. We included 412 trochanteric fracture patients, 339 (82.2%) of whom received a short (170mm–200mm) nail, while 73 (17.7%) received a long (260mm–460 mm) nail. Patients in the long group were more likely to be admitted from home (vs. an institution), and have comorbidities, or more complex fracture types. Patients in the long group had higher rates of fracture-related AE (12.3%) vs. the short group (3.5%). Specifically, SSI (5.5% vs. 0.3%) and pain (2.7% vs. 0.0%) were significantly higher in the long group. Patients in the long group were also more likely to develop DVT (2.7% vs. 0.3%), and be readmitted to the hospital (28.8% vs. 20.7%). Following covariable adjustment, long nails remained associated with a higher odds of fracture-related AE (5.11, 1.96–13.33) compared to short nails. We found no association between the adjusted odds of readmission and nail length (1.00, 0.52–1.94). Our analyses revealed that trochanteric fracture patients managed with long IMN nails may have a higher odds of fracture-related AE compared to short nails. Future research is required to validate these findings with larger event rates, and further optimize IMN for trochanteric fracture patients

In this RCT the primary aim was to assess whether a short (125mm) Exeter V40 stem offered an equivalent hip specific function compared to the standard (150mm) stem when used for cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondary aims were to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), patient satisfaction, stem height and alignment, radiographic loosening, and complications between the two stems. A prospective multicentre double-blind randomised control trial was conducted. During a 15-month period, 220 patients undergoing THA were randomised to either a standard (n=110) or short (n=110) stem Exeter. There were no significant (p≥0.065) differences in preoperative variables between the groups. Functional outcomes and radiographic assessment were undertaken at 1- and 2-years. There were no differences (p=0.428) in hip specific function according to the Oxford hip score at 1-year (primary endpoint) or at 2-years (p=0.767) between the groups. The short stem group had greater varus angulation (0.9 degrees, p=0.003) when compared to the standard group and were more likely (odds ratio 2.42, p=0.002) to have varus stem alignment beyond one standard deviation from the mean. There were no significant (p≥0.083) differences in the Forgotten joint scores, EuroQol-5-Dimension, EuroQol-VAS, Short form 12, patient satisfaction, complications, stem height or radiolucent zones at 1 or 2-years between the groups. The Exeter short stem offers equivalent hip specific function, HRQoL, patient satisfaction, and limb length when compared to the standard stem at 2-years post-operation. However, the short stem was associated with a greater rate of varus malalignment which may influence future implant survival

Vitamin E-doped cross-linked polyethylene (VEPE) has encouraged the use of larger heads in thinner liners in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, there are concerns about wear and mechanical failure of the thin liner, especially when metal heads are used. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate if the use of a large metal head in a thin VEPE liner would increase polyethylene wear compared with a standard 32-mm metal head and to compare periacetabular radiolucencies and patient-reported outcomes in THA. 96 candidates for uncemented THA were randomly allocated to either the largest possible metal head (36–44 mm) that could be fitted in the thinnest available VEPE liner (intervention group) or a standard 32-mm metal head (control group). The primary outcome was proximal head penetration (PHP) measured with model-based radiostereometric analysis (RSA). Secondary outcomes were periacetabular radiolucencies and patient-reported outcomes. The mid-term results of the trial at 5 years are presented. Median total PHP (interquartile range) was -0.04 mm (−0.12 to 0.02) in the intervention group and -0.03 mm (=0.14 to 0.05) in the control group (p=0.691). The rates of periacetabular radiolucencies were 1/44 and 4/42 (p=0.197), respectively. Patient-reported hip function and health-related quality of life did not differ between the groups, but participants in the intervention group reported a higher level of activity (median UCLA rank 7 vs 6, p=0.020). There were 5 revisions caused by dislocations (2), periprosthetic fracture (1), stem subsidence (1), or iliopsoas impingement (1). Large metal heads in thin VEPE liners did not increase liner wear and were not associated with liner failure 5 years after THA

Aims. This study reports the ten-year wear rates, incidence of osteolysis, clinical outcomes, and complications of a multicentre randomized controlled trial comparing oxidized zirconium (OxZr) versus cobalt-chrome (CoCr) femoral heads with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) liners in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods. Patients undergoing primary THA were recruited from four institutions and prospectively allocated to the following treatment groups: Group A, CoCr femoral head with XLPE liner; Group B, OxZr femoral head with XLPE liner; and Group C, OxZr femoral head with UHMWPE liner. All study patients and assessors recording outcomes were blinded to the treatment groups. The outcomes of 262 study patients were analyzed at ten years’ follow-up. Results. Patients in Group C were associated with increased mean liner wear rates compared to patients in Group A (0.133 mm/yr (SD 0.21) vs 0.031 mm/yr (SD 0.07), respectively; p < 0.001) and Group B (0.133 mm/yr (SD 0.21) vs 0.022 mm/yr (SD 0.05), respectively; p < 0.001) at ten years’ follow-up. Patients in Group C were also associated with increased risk of osteolysis and aseptic loosening requiring revision surgery, compared with patients in Group A (7/133 vs 0/133, respectively; p = 0.007) and Group B (7/133 vs 0/135, respectively; p = 0.007). There was a non-statistically significant trend towards increased mean liner wear rates in Group A compared with Group B (0.031 mm/yr (SD 0.07) vs 0.022 mm/yr (SD 0.05), respectively; p = 0.128). All three groups were statistically comparable preoperatively and at ten years’ follow-up when measuring normalized Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (p = 0.410), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (p = 0.465 mental, p = 0.713 physical), and pain scale scores (p = 0.451). Conclusion. The use of UHMWPE was associated with progressively increased annual liner wear rates after THA compared to XLPE. At ten years’ follow-up, the group receiving UHMWPE demonstrated an increased incidence of osteolysis and aseptic loosening requiring revision surgery compared to XLPE. Femoral heads composed of OxZr were associated with trend towards reduced wear rates compared to CoCr, but this did not reach statistical significance and did not translate to any differences in osteolysis, functional outcomes, or revision surgery between the two femoral head components. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(7):833–843

Proximal hamstring tendon avulsion from the ischial tuberosity is a significant injury, with surgical repair shown to have superior functional outcomes compared to non-surgical treatment. However, limited data exists regarding the optimal rehabilitation regime following surgical repair. The aim of this study was to investigate patient outcomes following repair of proximal hamstring tendon avulsions between a conservative (CR) versus an accelerated rehabilitation (AR) regimen. This prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) randomised 50 patients undergoing proximal hamstring tendon repair to either a braced, partial weight-bearing rehabilitation regime (CR=25) or an accelerated, unbraced regime, that permitted full weight-bearing as tolerated (AR=25). Patients were evaluated pre-operatively and at 3 and 6 months post-surgery, via patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Perth Hamstring Assessment Tool (PHAT) and 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Primary analysis was per protocol and based on linear mixed models. Both groups were matched at baseline with respect to patient characteristics. All PROMs improved (p>0.05) and, while the AR group reported a significantly better Physical Component Score for the SF-12 at 3 months (p=0.022), there were no other group differences. Peak isometric hamstrings strength and peak isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings torque symmetry were all comparable between groups (p>0.05). Three re-injuries have been observed (CR=2, AR=1). After proximal hamstring repair surgery, post-operative outcomes following an accelerated rehabilitation regimen demonstrate comparable outcomes to a traditionally conservative rehabilitation pathway, albeit demonstrating better early physical health-related quality of life scores, without an increased incidence of early re-injury

The gold standard treatment of hip dysplasia is a peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO). Labral tears are seen in the majority of patients presenting with hip dysplasia and diagnosed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The goal was to (1) evaluate utility/value of MRI in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy at time of PAO, and (2) determine whether MRI findings of labral pathology can predict outcome. A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at tertiary institutions, comparing patients with hip dysplasia treated with isolated PAO versus PAO with adjunct hip arthroscopy. This study was a subgroup analysis on 74 patients allocated to PAO and adjunct hip arthroscopy (age 26±8 years; 89.2% females). All patients underwent radiographic and MRI assessment using a 1.5-Tesla with or 3-Tesla MRI without arthrography to detect labral or cartilage pathology. Clinical outcome was assessed using international Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT). 74% of patients (55/74) were pre-operatively diagnosed with a labral tear on MRI. Among these, 41 underwent labral treatment (74%); whilst among those without a labral tear on MRI, 42% underwent labral treatment (8/19). MRI had a high sensitivity (84%), but a low specificity (56%) for labral pathology (p=0.053). There was no difference in pre-operative (31.3±16.0 vs. 37.3±14.9; p=0.123) and post-operative iHOT (77.7±22.2 vs. 75.2±23.5; p=0.676) between patients with and without labral pathology on MRI. Value of MRI in the diagnostic work-up of a patient with hip dysplasia is limited. MRI had a high sensitivity (84%), but low specificity (44%) to identify labral pathology in patients with hip dysplasia. Consequently, standard clinical MRI had little value as a predictor of outcome with no differences in PROM scores between patients with and without a labral tear on MRI. Treatment of labral pathology in patients with hip dysplasia remains controversial. The results of this subgroup analysis of a prospective, multi-centre RCT do not show improved outcome among patients with dysplasia treated with labral repair

This trial aims to assess the effectiveness of quality improvement collaboratives as a technique to introduce large-scale change and improve outcomes for patients undergoing primary elective total hip or total knee arthroplasty. 41 NHS Trusts that did not have; a preoperative anaemia screening and optimisation pathways, or a methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) decolonisation pathway, in place were randomised to one of two parallel collaboratives in a two arm, cluster randomised controlled trial. Each collaborative focussed on implementing one of these two preoperative pathways. Collaboratives took place from May 2018 to November 2019. 27 Trusts completed the trial. Outcome data were collected for procedures between November 2018 and November 2019. Co-primary outcomes were perioperative blood transfusion (within 7 days of surgery) and deep surgical site infections (SSI) caused by MSSA (within 90 days) for the anaemia and MSSA arms respectively. Secondary outcomes include deep and superficial SSIs (any organism), length of stay, critical care admissions, and readmissions. Process measures include the proportion of patients receiving each preoperative initiative. 19,254 procedures from 27 Trusts are included. Process measures show both preoperative pathways were implemented to a high degree (75.3% compliance in MSSA arm; 61.2% anaemia arm), indicating that QICs can facilitate change in the NHS. However, there were no improvements in blood transfusions (2.9% v 2.3% adjusted-OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.52–2.75, p=0.67), MSSA deep SSIs (0.13% v 0.14% adjusted-OR 1.01, 95%CI 0.42–2.46, p=0.98), or any secondary outcome. Whilst no significant improvement in patient outcomes were seen, this trial shows quality improvement collaboratives can successfully support the implementation of new preoperative pathways in planned surgery in the NHS

The primary treatment goal for patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, a common hip condition in athletes, is to improve pain and function. In selected patients, in the short term following intervention, arthroscopic hip surgery is superior to a pragmatic NHS- type physiotherapy programme. Here, we report the three-year follow-up results from the FemoroAcetabular Impingement Trial (FAIT), comparing arthroscopic hip surgery with physiotherapy in the management of patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. Two-group parallel, assessor-blinded, pragmatic randomised controlled study across seven NHS England sites. 222 participants aged 18 to 60 years with FAI syndrome confirmed clinically and radiologically were randomised (1:1) to receive arthroscopic hip surgery (n = 112) or physiotherapy and activity modification (n = 110). We previously reported on the hip outcome score at eight months. The primary outcome measure of this study was minimum Joint Space Width (mJSW) on Anteroposterior Radiograph at 38 months post randomisation. Secondary outcome measures included the Hip Outcome Score and Scoring Hip Osteoarthritis with MRI (SHOMRI) score. Minimum Joint Space Width data were available for 101 participants (45%) at 38 months post randomisation. Hip outcome score and MRI data were available for 77% and 62% of participants respectively. mJSW was higher in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 3.34mm (1.01)) compared to the physiotherapy group (2.99mm (1.33)) at 38 months, p=0.017, however this did not exceed the minimally clinically important difference of 0.48mm. SHOMRI score was significantly lower in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 9.22 (11.43)) compared to the physiotherapy group (22.76 (15.26)), p-value <0.001. Hip outcome score was higher in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 84.2 (17.4)) compared with the physiotherapy group (74.2 (21.9)), p-value < 0.001). Patients with FAI syndrome treated surgically may experience slowing of osteoarthritisprogression and superior pain and function compared with patients treated non- operatively

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate serum metal ion levels in patients undergoing THA with either a standard or modular dual-mobility bearing. Patients undergoing primary THA for osteoarthritis were randomized to receive either a modular dual-mobility or a standard polyethylene bearing. All patients received the same titanium acetabular and femoral component and a ceramic femoral head. Only patients without a prior history of metal implants in their body were eligible for inclusion, thus isolating serum metal ions to the prosthesis itself. Serum metal ion levels were drawn pre-operatively and at 1 year postoperatively. Power analysis determined that 40 patients (20 in each group) were needed to identify a clinically relevant difference in serum cobalt of 0.35 ng/ml (ppb) at 90% power assuming a pooled standard deviation of 0.31 ppb and alpha=0.05; an additional 30% were enrolled to account for potential dropouts. 53 patients were enrolled, with 22 patients in the modular dual-mobility group and 20 in the standard cohort with data available at one-year. No differences in the serum cobalt (0.17 ppb [range 0.07 to 0.50] vs. 0.19 ppb [range 0.07 to 0.62], p = 0.51) or chromium levels (0.19 ppb [range 0.05 to 0.56] vs. 0.16 ppb [range 0.05 to 0.61], p = 0.23) were identified. At 1 year postoperatively, no differences in serum cobalt or chromium levels were identified with this design of a modular dual mobility bearing when compared to a standard polyethylene bearing

Aims. The purpose of this study is to evaluate early outcomes with the use of a smartphone-based exercise and educational care management system after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and demonstrate decreased use of in-person physiotherapy (PT). Methods. A multicentre, prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate a smartphone-based care platform for primary THA. Patients randomized to the control group (198) received the institution’s standard of care. Those randomized to the treatment group (167) were provided with a smartwatch and smartphone application. PT use, THA complications, readmissions, emergency department/urgent care visits, and physician office visits were evaluated. Outcome scores include the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS, JR), health-related quality-of-life EuroQol five-dimension five-level score (EQ-5D-5L), single leg stance (SLS) test, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Results. The control group was significantly younger by a mean 3.0 years (SD 9.8 for control, 10.4 for treatment group; p = 0.007), but there were no significant differences between groups in BMI, sex, or preoperative diagnosis. Postoperative PT use was significantly lower in the treatment group (34%) than in the control group (55.4%; p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in complications, readmissions, or outpatient visits. The 90-day outcomes showed no significant differences in mean hip flexion between controls (101° (SD 10.8)) and treatment (100° (SD 11.3); p = 0.507) groups. The HOOS, JR scores were not significantly different between control group (73 points (SD 13.8)) and treatment group (73.6 points (SD 13); p = 0.660). Mean 30-day SLS time was 22.9 seconds (SD 19.8) in the control group and 20.7 seconds (SD 19.5) in the treatment group (p = 0.342). Mean TUG time was 11.8 seconds (SD 5.1) for the control group and 11.9 (SD 5) seconds for the treatment group (p = 0.859). Conclusion. The use of the smartphone care management system demonstrated similar early outcomes to those achieved using traditional care models, along with a significant decrease in PT use. Noninferiority was demonstrated with regard to complications, readmissions, and ED and urgent care visits. This technology allows patients to rehabilitate on a more flexible schedule and avoid unnecessary healthcare visits, as well as potentially reducing overall healthcare costs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(7 Supple B):91–97