The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented burden on global healthcare systems, and existing infrastructures must adapt and evolve to meet the challenge. With health systems reliant on the health of their workforce, the importance of protection against disease transmission in healthcare workers (HCWs) is clear. This study collated responses from several countries, provided by clinicians familiar with practice in each location, to identify areas of best practice and policy so as to build consensus of those measures that might reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to HCWs at work. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was designed with ten open and closed questions and sent to a representative sample. The sample was selected on a convenience basis of 27 senior surgeons, members of an international surgical society, who were all frontline workers in the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist.Aims
Methods
The dual mobility cup was introduced in the 1970s to allow extensive range of motion associated with great stability thanks to double articulation; the first between the head and polyethylene, the second between the polyethylene and the cup. The original plan was to install a stainless-steel uncemented cup coated with a thin layer of alumina and a metal head of 22,2 mm with a polyethylene liner of first generation. Long term follow-up case studies are cited in the literature showing excellent results in reducing dislocations; however wearing and aseptic loosening are noted. The new dual-mobility cups, with reticular polyethylene and titanium and hydroxyapatite coating are proving as reliable as the older ones in terms of stability whilst they appear to be more durable. Furthermore, cemented dual-mobility cups are available, these are the topic of this study. One of the most frequent complications in the major revisions of hip replacement is dislocation. This study summarises our experience gathered in the use of dual-mobility cups during revisions of complex cases (GIR III-IV femoral or acetabular). Between July 2014 to March 2015, we have implanted 13 cemented cups with dual-mobility (Avantage® Biomet) each in different patients, who have undergone revision with severe ostheolysis (GIR III-IV femoral or acetabular). The mean age of patients was 71.5 years old (46 to 89). Indications for revisions were: aseptic loosening in 7 patients (two at third surgery), recurrent dislocation in 3 patients, 1 septic loosening, 1 revision after spacer removal e 1 post-traumatic. We used dual-mobility cup in revision surgery when implant stability could have been compromised due to difficult positioning of acetabular component in cases of walls defects or muscolar laxity. The patients have been evaluated clinically and radiographically.Introduction
Materials and Methods
Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is considered one of the most feared causes of implant failure, due to the difficulty in formulating a proper and timely diagnosis. In the diagnostic workup are often used test with a low specificity, such as the dosage of ESR and CRP, or sensitivity, such as cultures or the leukocyte count of the synovial fluid. Radiological investigations are expensive and unreliable to play a direct role in the diagnosis of PJI. The alpha-defensin is an antimicrobial peptide released by neutrophils in response to pathogens and it is an ideal biomarker for the diagnosis of PJI. It is now possible to verify the presence of alpha-defensin in periprosthetic synovial fluid with an ELISA (Synovasure® PJI, Zimmer) that provides results in 10 minutes, with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 96%, without being affected by systemic inflammatory diseases or by the assumption of antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to assess the applicability and reliability of Synovasure® PJI, correlating its results with microbiological analyzes, laboratory tests and imaging studies of the patient. Patients recruited are those who have undergone a previous total hip or knee arthroplasty where there is suspicion of PJI. The test can be performed either during surgery or during the diagnostic iter, through the execution of an arthrocentesis. The synovial fluid is partly used for Synovasure® PJI and partly put in culture for microbiological analyzes. Once ready, culture results are compared with the results of the test to get a confirmation of its reliability or reference to identify the microorganism responsible for PJI. These data are then compared, with laboratory tests and radiological investigations performed by the patient.Introduction
Materials and Methods
We present the mid-term results of our consecutive series of 155 hips treated with ASR XL Acetabular System (ASR-XL) for large-diameter metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty and with DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System (ASR) for hip resurfacing. 114 ASR-XL and 41 ASR were implanted between 2004 and 2008 in 145 patients (69 men and 76 women) with a mean age of 57 years. Twenty-one patients (23 hips) resulted lost to follow-up. All patients were recalled and monitored periodically with clinical, hematological and radiological evaluation. Average follow-up of the 155 hips was 72 months (1 to 104). The mean follow-up, excluding revised patients and those lost to follow-up, was up to 89 months.Introduction:
Methods:
Second-generation metal-on-metal bearings have been used since the late 1980s as alternative bearings to eliminate aseptic loosening due to polyethylene wear. This study is the first with a long term follow-up for Meteasul, (Zimmer GmbH, Winterthur, Switzerland) metal on metal (MoM) hip replacement; in literature most of the studies have a mean follow-up of 7 years. Metasul showed better performances than other MoM couplings, with a low failure rate at long term follow-up and low revision rate for aspetic loosening. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results of a series of Metasul implanted between January 1993 and July 1997. 145 cementless THAs with a 28 mm Metasul articulation were performed in 114 consecutive patients. Implant survivorship was calculated and clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed on 93 hips still available for follow-up at a mean of 19 years postoperatively (43 hips are dead or lost to FU, 29, 6%). Nine hips (6.2%) were revised. The cumulative probability of survival of the overall implant at 19 years postoperatively with revision for any reason as the end point, was 0.937 (95% confidence interval, 0.888 to 0.985). The cumulative probability of survival of Metasul with revision for any reason as the end point, was 0.956 (95% confidence interval, 0.916 to 0.997). Clinical outcome has been evaluated with modified Harris Hip Score for 93 hips with an average of 88.8 points. Various degrees of radiolucencies and osteolysis were found proximally around the femoral components of 25 hips (20%). Most of the patients has normal serum levels of metal ions (Co and Cr), and no cases of systemic toxicity has been reported. Cementless Metasul THAs showed high probability of survival at 19 years postoperatively.
Previous studies have indicated poor outcomes and high complication rate in patients having revision of metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants resulting from adverse local tissue reactions. Metal ions released by MoM bearings may potentially increase infection occurrence in patients with failed implants. We reviewed all patients at our institution who sustained revision of a failed large-head metal-on-metal hip implant to determine if infection-related complications are associated with the elevation of serum metal ions concentration.Background
Questions/purposes
We present the mid-term results of our consecutive series of 155 hips treated with ASR extra-large (XL) Acetabular System (ASR XL) and with ASR Hip Resurfacing System (ASR). We reviewed the clinical records of patients with implanted ASR or ASR XL. All patients were recalled and invited to come to our hospital for a periodic clinical, hematological and radiological evaluation.114 ASR XL and 41 ASR were implanted between 2004 and 2008 in 145 patients (69 men and 76 women) with a mean age of 57 years. 21 patients (23 hips) were lost from follow-up. Average follow-up was 76 months (50 to 91). Up now 42 ASR implants have been revised (27.0%): revision involved 9 hips on 41 treated with resurfacing (21.9%) and 33 hips on 114 treated with XL total hip arthroplasty (28.9%). Main reasons for revision were aseptic loosening with or without metallosis in 23 hips (56%), infection in 3 hips (7%), recurrent dislocation in 1 hip (2%), periprosthetic fractures in 1 hip (2%), elevation of blood metal ion in 6 (14%), pain in 2 (5%), unknown in 6 (14%). The cumulative survival for our ASR implants series was 61.6% with revision for any reason as the end-point after a mean follow-up of 76 months. The cumulative survival with revision for any reason as the end-point for ASR and ASR XL were respectively 67.0% and 59.1%. For patients who did not undergone revision, the mean Harris hip score improved to 91 (57 to 100) at five years and the mean satisfaction after the operation was graded 4.4 in a score from 1 to 5. Periprosthetic osteolysis was not found around any unrevised hip. Average cup inclination was 48° for the functioning hips and 55° for the revised hips. Metal ions plasma concentration analysis was conducted in 83 patients (87 hips). Elevated metal ion concentration (>7 μg/l) was found in 39 patients (42 hips, 48%) with average plasma concentrations of 37.3 μg/l for chromium and 81.5 μg/l for cobalt. Lower metal ions levels (<7 μg/l) were found in 44 patients (45 hips, 52%) with average plasma concentrations of 1.2 μg/l for chromium and 1.9 μg/l for cobalt. Our current concerns involve our large series of 30 asymptomatic patients (31 hips) with a radiographically stable implant without osteolysis signs but with elevated blood metal ion concentrations.
Second-generation metal-on-metal bearings have been used since the late 1980s as alternative bearings to eliminate aseptic loosening due to polyethylene wear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results of a series of Metasul (Zimmer GmbH, Winterthur, Switzerland) metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA). Between January 1993 and September 1996, 149 cementless THAs with a 28 mm Metasul articulation were performed in 111 consecutive patients. Implant survivorship was calculated and clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed on 82 hips still available for follow-up at a mean of 18 years postoperatively. Nine hips (6.0%) were revised. The cumulative probability of survival of the overall implant at 18 years postoperatively with revision for any reason as the end point, was 0.937 (95% confidence interval, 0.888 to 0.985). The cumulative probability of survival of Metasul with revision for any reason as the end point, was 0.956 (95% confidence interval, 0.916 to 0.997). Various degrees of radiolucencies and osteolysis were found proximally around the femoral components of 25 hips (20%). Cementless Metasul THA showed high survival at 18 years postoperatively.
