Fully constrained liners are used to treat recurrent dislocations or patients at high risk after total hip replacements. However, they can cause significant morbidities including recurrent dislocations, infections, aseptic loosening and fractures. We examine long term results of 111 patients with tripolar constrained components to assess their redislocation and failure rate.

The purpose of this study was to assess survivorship, complications and functional outcomes at a minimum 10 years after the constrained tripolar liners used in our institute.

We retrospectively identified 111 patients who had 113 revision tripolar constrained liners between 1998 and 2008. Eighty-nine were revised due to recurrent dislocations, 11 for pseudotumor with dysfunctional abductors, and 13 for periprosthetic infection with loss of soft tissue stabilizers. All patients had revision hip arthroplasty before the constrained liner was used: 13 after the first revision, 17 after the second, 38 after the third, and 45 had more than 3 revisions. We extracted demographics, implant data, rate of dislocations and incidence of other complications. Kaplan Meier curves were used to assess dislocation and failure for any reason. WOMAC was used to assess quality of life.

At 10 years, the survival free of dislocation was 95.6% (95%CI 90- 98), and at 20 years to 90.6% (95% CI 81- 95.5). Eight patients (7.1%) had dislocations of their constrained liners: 1 patient had simultaneous periprosthetic infection identified at the time of open reduction, and 1 patient sustained stem fracture 3 months prior to the liner dislocation. At 10 years, the survival to any further surgery was 89.4% (95% CI 82–93.8), and at 20 years, this was 82.5 (95% CI 71.9–89.3). Five patients (4.4%) had deep infection: 4 of these had excision arthroplasty due to failure to control infection, while 1 patient was treated successfully with debridement, exchange of mobile components and intravenous antibiotics. Two patients (1.8%) had dissociated rings that required change of liner, ring and head. Two patients (1.8%) had periprosthetic femoral fractures that were treated by revision stems and exchange of constrained liners. The mean WOMAC functional and pain scores were 66.2 and 75.9 of 100, respectively.

Constrained tripolar liners in our institute provided favourable results in the long term for recurrent dislocation hip arthroplasty with dysfunctional hip stabilizers. Infection in these patients can prove to be difficult to treat due to their poor soft tissue conditions from repeated surgeries. Comparing long terms results from other types of constrained liners is essential to evaluate these salvage liners.

High complication rates and poor outcomes have been widely reported in patients undergoing revision of large head metal-on-metal arthroplasty. A previous study from our centre showed high rates of dislocation, nerve injury, early cup loosening and pseudotumor recurrence. After noting these issues, we implemented the following changes in surgical protocol in all large head MOM revisions: One: Use of highly porous shells in all cases. Two: Use of largest femoral head possible. Three: Low threshold for use of dual mobility and constrained liners when abductors affected or absent posterior capsule. Four: Use of ceramic head with titanium sleeve in all cases. Five: Partial resection of pseudotumor adjacent to sciatic and femoral nerves.

The purpose of the present study is to compare the new surgical protocol above to our previously reported early complications in this group of patients

We specifically looked at (1) complications including reoperations, (2) radiologic outcomes, and (3) functional outcomes. Complication rates after (Group 1), and before (Group 2) modified surgical protocol were compared using Chi-square test, assuming statistical significance p < 0 .05.

Major complications occurred in 4 (8.3%) of 48 patients who had modified surgical technique, compared to 12 (38%) of 32 revisions prior to modification (p < 0 .05). Two hips of 48 (4.17%) endured dislocations in Group 1, compared to 9 of 32 (28%) in Group 2 (p < 0 .05). Four patients of 48 had repeat revision in Group 1: 2 for recurrence of pseudotumor, 1 for dislocation, and 1 for infection, compared to 6 patients who had 7 repeat revisions of 32 patients in Group 2: 3 for acetabular loosening, 3 for dislocation, and 1 for recurrence of pseudotumor (p=0.1). None of 48 revisions in Group 1 had acetabular loosening, compared to 4 of 32 in Group 2 (p=0.02). Two patients had nerve injury in Group 2, compared to none in Group 1 (p=0.16). The mean WOMAC pain score was 87.1 of 100 and the function score was 88.4 of 100 in Group 1, compared to a mean WOMAC pain score of 78 of 100 (p=0.6) and a function score of 83 of 100 in Group 2 (p=0.8).

Modification of the surgical techniques described in the introduction has resulted in a significant decrease in complications in revision of large head MOM total hips. We continue to use this protocol and recommend it for these difficult cases.

Introduction

The transtibial approach is widely used for femoral tunnel positioning in ACL reconstruction. Controversy exists over the superiority of this approach over others. Few studies reflected on the reproducibility rates of the femoral tunnel position in relation to the approach used.

The transtibial approach is widely used for femoral tunnel positioning in ACL reconstruction. Controversy exists over the superiority of this approach over others. Few studies reflected on the reproducibility rates of the femoral tunnel position in relation to the approach used.

We reviewed AP and Lat X-ray radiographs post isolated ACL reconstruction for 180 patients for femoral tunnel position, tibial tunnel position and graft inclination angle. All patients had their operations performed by one surgeon in one hospital between March 2006 and Sep 2010. All operations were performed using one standard technique using transtibial approach for femoral tunnel positioning.

Two orthopaedic fellows, with similar experiences, reviewed blinded radiographs. A second reading was done 8 weeks later. Pearson inter-observer, intra-observer correlation and Bland-Altman agreements plots statistical analyses were done.

Mean age was 29 years (range 16–54), Pearson intra-observer correlation shows substantial to perfect agreement while Pearson's inter-observer correlation shows moderate to substantial agreement.

Previous literature proved that optimal femoral tunnel position for the best clinical and biomechanical outcome is for the centre of the tunnel to be at 43% from the lateral end of the width of the femoral condyles on the AP view and at 86% from the anterior end of the Blumensaat's line on the lateral view. In our study 85% of the femoral tunnels were within +/− 5% of the optimal tunnel position on the AP views, and more than 70% of the femoral tunnels were within +/−5% of the optimal tunnel position on the Lateral view. Interobserver and intraobserver corelations show moderate to substantial agreement, Bland-Altman agreement plots show substantial agreements for interobserver and intraobserver measurements. These results were found to be statistically significant at 0.01

Based on our results we conclude that using one standardised transtibial technique for ACL reconstruction can result in high reproducibility rates of optimal femoral tunnel position. Further studies are needed to validate our results and to study the reproducibility rates for different approaches and techniques.

Introduction

“No routine post-operative follow up appointments” policy has been implemented in NHS hospitals in different specialties for uncomplicated surgical procedures. In trauma and orthopaedics few studies to date reviewed this practice and reflected on the patients' opinions.

In this study we reviewed all Total Elbow Replacements (TER) done in our hospital over eight years period (1997 – 2005), 21 patients (16 females, 5 males) were available for follow up and four were lost (two died and two moved out of the region) with average age of 65 years (range 44 – 77), all procedures were done by two upper limb surgeons (CHB & RGW). 16 patients (14 females, 2 males) had the procedure for Rheumatoid Arthritis and 5 patients (3 males, 2 females) undergone the procedure for post-traumatic arthritis.

The average follow up was 61 months (range 12 – 120 months), the Mayo Clinic performance index, the DASH scores and activities of daily living (adopted from Secec Elbow Score) assessment tools were used. In addition, all patients were assessed for loosening using standard AP and lateral radiographs. Sixteen patients had Souter-Starthclyde prosthesis whilst three had Kudo and two had Conrad-Moorey prosthesis.

All procedures were done through dorsal approach and all were cemented, the ulnar nerve was not transposed in any of the cases. The average elbow extension lag was 27 degrees (range 15 – 35) with flexion up to 130 degrees (range 110 – 140). Supination was 65 degrees (range 15 – 90) and pronation was 77 (range 55 – 90). The average DASH score was 51.3 (range 19 – 95), the Mayo elbow score was 82 (range 55 – 100) and the average Activities of daily living Secec Score was 17 (range 10 – 20).

There were four complications, three ulnar nerve paresis which recovered and one wound complication which needed a flap cover. Two needed revision surgery, one for a periprosthetic fracture and one for loosening. Two patients showed radiological signs of loosening but were asymptomatic. The survival rate with revision as the end point is 95% for aseptic loosening and 90% for any other reason.

Our study proves TER has good medium term results with good functional outcome and high patient satisfaction rate.