Management of hip osteoarthritis in young active patients is made more challenging by the longevity required of the prostheses used and the level of activity they must endure. The aim of this study was to compare the functional outcomes and activity levels following hip resurfacing (HR) and uncemented total hip arthroplasty (UTHA) in young active patients matched for age, gender and activity levels. 255 consecutive hip arthroplasties performed in a teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed from which were identified 58 UTHA patients and 58 HR patients, matched for age, gender and pre-operative activity level. Mean age of patients within UTHA was 58.5 years (34 – 65) and in HR was 57.9 years (43 – 68). No patients within the study were lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up was five years. Within each group there was a statistically significant improvement in the mean UCLA score following surgery (p=0.00). In the HR Group, mean UCLA score improved from 4.2 (1–8) to 6.7 (3–10) while in the UTHA group the mean UCLA score improved from 3.4 (1–7) to 5.8 (3–10). Mean OHS improved from 44.4 (31–57) to 16.6 (12–31) in the HR group and from 46.1 (16–60) to 18.8 (12–45) in the UTHA group, p = 0.00 each group. This study found no statistically significant difference in the levels of function (p= 0.82) or activity pursued (p= 0.60) after surgery between UTHA and HR in a population of patients matched for age, gender and pre-operative activity levels. This study has shown comparable outcomes with hip resurfacing and uncemented THA in terms of both functional outcomes and activity levels in a group of young active patients. The potential complications unique to hip resurfacing may be avoided by the use of uncemented THA. In addition, uncemented THA has a longer track record.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and assess the sporting and physical activities of patients who have undergone hip resurfacing. One hundred and seventeen patients who underwent hip resurfacing between 2003–2007 were reviewed. Demographic data such as age, sex and comorbidities were recorded. University of California and Los Angeles (UCLA) activity level ratings and Oxford hip scores were collected pre-and postoperatively for each patient. The sporting and physical activities of all patients were pre-and post-operatively recorded. The mean age of patients at surgery was 54 yrs and 56 yrs at review. The mean follow up time was 19 months. Following surgery there was a significant improvement in UCLA activity level scores from 4.4 to 6.8 (Wilcoxon Matched-pairs Signed rank test, p<
0.05). Oxford hip scores significantly improved from 43.4 to 17.7 following surgery. Eighty six patients regularly participated in sport before they became symptomatic with significant hip pain, and 75 regularly participated in sports after surgery. In total 87% of patients successfully returned to their regular sporting and physical activities following surgery. Many patients were returning to high impact sports including football, tennis, cricket and squash. The published medium-term survivorship of the Birmingham hip has given surgeons increasing confidence to use the prosthesis on a younger generation of patients. Our study has demonstrated that hip resurfacing can allow patients to remain extremely active.
The management of osteoarthritis of the hip in young active patients has always been challenging. This can be made more difficult because of the longevity required of the prostheses used and the level of activity they must endure. The aim of this study was to compare the functional outcomes and activity levels following hip resurfacing and uncemented THA in young active patients matched for age, gender and activity levels. A retrospective review of 255 consecutive hip arthroplasties performed in a teaching hospital was carried out. From this series we identified 58 patients who had undergone uncemented THA (Group A) and 58 patients who underwent hip resurfacing (Group B), matched for age, gender and pre-operative activity level. The mean age of patients within Group A was 58.5 years (34–65) and in Group B was 57.9 years (43–68). Mean pre-operative University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score in Group A was 3.4 (1–7) and in Group B was 4.2 (1–8). The mean pre-operative Oxford Hip Score (OHS) was 46.1 (16–60) and 44.4 (31–57) in Groups A and B respectively. Mean follow-up period was five years (4–7 years). In the hip resurfacing group, the mean UCLA score improved from 4.2 (1–8) to 6.7 (3–10), while in the uncemented THA group this improved from 3.4 (1–7) to 5.8 (3–10). Similarly, the mean OHS improved from 44.4 (31–57) to 16.6 (12–31) in the hip resurfacing group and from 46.1 (16–60) to 18.8 (12–45) in the uncemented THA group. This study found no statistically significant difference in the levels of function (p= 0.82) or activity pursued (p= 0.60) after surgery between uncemented THA and hip resurfacing in a population of patients matched for age, gender and pre-operative activity levels. Although there was statistically significant improvement in UCLA and OHS within each group, it was found that no group was better than the other. This study has shown comparable outcomes with hip resurfacing and uncemented THA in terms of both functional outcomes and activity levels in a group of young active patients. The potential complications unique to hip resurfacing may be avoided by the use of uncemented THA. In addition, uncemented THA has a longer track record.
We describe the association between immediate postoperative radiological appearances and early aseptic failure of THA having compensated for the methodological flaws in previous similar studies. 63 hips were entered into the aseptic failure group and 138 into the control group. Alignment of the femoral stem was not associated with failure (p=0.283). Thickness of the cement mantle was associated with failure in Gruen zones 6 (p=0.040) and 7 (p=0.003). A significant association for the presence of radiolucent lines was found for Gruen zones 3 (p=0.0001) and 5 (p=0.0001). Grade of cementation was associated with failure for Barrack grades C (p=0.001) and D (p=0.001). This study has demonstrated that easily applied radiological criteria can be used to identify at risk THAs from the immediate post-operative AP radiograph.
We present four patients who had sustained a traumatic dislocation of the atlanto-occipital joint. The diagnosis was initially missed in two patients. One patient, who was neurologically intact, was treated non-operatively. The remaining three recovered neurologically after an occipitocervical fusion. Early recognition of the injury, especially in multiply-injured patients with head injuries, and timely management may improve survival and neurological recovery.
Injuries at the occipitocervical junction are commonly due to high velocity trauma. Because of severe injury to the cervicomedullary junction and concomitant cerebral trauma, they are usually fatal. We describe our experience in the management of five patients who initially survived the injuries. Between 1995 and 2000 we treated four men and one woman, ranging in age from 23 to 47 years, injured in motor vehicle accidents. All patients had head injuries, three with cranial nerve involvement, and four had polytrauma. Although initial radiographs of the skull included the occipitocervical junction, the traumatic disruption of the occipitocervical junction was not diagnosed for between two days and five weeks. One patient, who had no neurological deficit, developed periodic weakness of the lower limbs with rotation of the neck. In three patients the dislocation was posterior and in two it was anterior to Wackenheim’s line. Three of four patients who required ventilatory support died before surgical stabilisation. The dislocation was reduced in only one of the remaining two, both of whom underwent a successful occipitocervical fusion (O-C2), with subsequent complete neurological recovery. In patients with polytrauma, meticulous clinical evaluation and appropriate radiographic investigations of the occipitocervical junction are essential for early recognition and management of this potentially fatal injury.
