Aims

Despite higher rates of revision after total hip arthroplasty (THA) being reported for uncemented stems in patients aged > 75 years, they are frequently used in this age group. Increased mortality after cemented fixation is often used as a justification, but recent data do not confirm this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the design of the stem and the type of fixation on the rate of revision and immediate postoperative mortality, focusing on the age and sex of the patients.

Thromboprophylaxis after elective orthopaedic surgery remains controversial. Recent guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have suggested that low molecular weight heparin should be given to all patients undergoing total hip replacement. The British Orthopaedic Association is currently debating this guideline with NICE, as it is not clear whether published evidence supports this view. We present the early mortality in our unit after total hip replacement using aspirin as chemical thromboprophylaxis. The 30-day and 90-day mortality after primary total hip arthroplasty was zero. We compare this with that reported previously from our unit without using chemical thromboprophylaxis. With the introduction of routine aspirin thromboprophylaxis, deaths from cardiovascular causes have dropped from 0.75% to zero. These results demonstrate that there is a strong argument for the routine administration of aspirin after elective total hip replacement

Aims. Our main aim was to describe the trend in the comorbidities of patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and knee arthroplasties (KAs) between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2018 in England. Methods. We combined data from the National Joint Registry (NJR) on primary elective hip and knee arthroplasties performed between 2005 and 2018 with pre-existing conditions recorded at the time of their primary operation from Hospital Episodes Statistics. We described the temporal trend in the number of comorbidities identified using the Charlson Comorbidity Index, and how this varied by age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, index of multiple deprivation, and type of KA. Results. We included 696,504 and 833,745 elective primary THAs and KAs respectively, performed for any indication. Between 2005 and 2018, the proportion of elective THA and KA patients with one or more comorbidity at the time of their operation increased substantially (THA: 20% to 38%, KA: 22% to 41%). This was driven by increases in four conditions: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2018: ~17%), diabetes without complications (2018: THA 10%, KA 14%), myocardial infarction (2018: 4%), and renal disease (2018: ~8%). Notably, renal disease prevalence increased from < 1% in 2005 to ~8% in 2018. Conclusion. Between 2005 and 2018 there were significant changes in the number of comorbidities recorded in patients having elective primary THAs and KAs. Renal disease is now one of the most prevalent comorbidities in this patient population. Future research should explore whether this comorbidity trend has increased the burden on other medical specialities to optimize these patients before surgery and to provide additional postoperative care. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(9):1052–1059

Aims. To develop and externally validate a parsimonious statistical prediction model of 90-day mortality after elective total hip arthroplasty (THA), and to provide a web calculator for clinical usage. Methods. We included 53,099 patients with cemented THA due to osteoarthritis from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Registry for model derivation and internal validation, as well as 125,428 patients from England and Wales recorded in the National Joint Register for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the States of Guernsey (NJR) for external model validation. A model was developed using a bootstrap ranking procedure with a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model combined with piecewise linear regression. Discriminative ability was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Calibration belt plots were used to assess model calibration. Results. A main effects model combining age, sex, American Society for Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, the presence of cancer, diseases of the central nervous system, kidney disease, and diagnosed obesity had good discrimination, both internally (AUC = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75 to 0.81) and externally (AUC = 0.75, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.76). This model was superior to traditional models based on the Charlson (AUC = 0.66, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.70) and Elixhauser (AUC = 0.64, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.68) comorbidity indices. The model was well calibrated for predicted probabilities up to 5%. Conclusion. We developed a parsimonious model that may facilitate individualized risk assessment prior to one of the most common surgical interventions. We have published a web calculator to aid clinical decision-making. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(3):469–478

Aims. This study aimed to compare the effect of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) versus plain bone cement (PBC) on revision rates for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and all-cause revisions following primary elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for studies comparing ALBC versus PBC, reporting on revision rates for PJI or all-cause revision following primary elective THA or TKA. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO ID CRD42018107691). Results. Nine studies and one registry report were identified, enabling the inclusion of 371,977 THA and 671,246 TKA. Pooled analysis for THA demonstrated ALBC was protective against revision for PJI compared with PBC (relative risk (RR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56 to 0.77; p < 0.001), however, no differences were seen for all-cause revision rate (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.09; p = 0.100). For TKA, there were no significant differences in revision rates for PJI or all causes between ALBC and PBC (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.45; p = 0.730, and RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.02; p = 0.060, respectively). Conclusion. ALBC demonstrated a protective effect against revision for PJI compared with PBC in THA with no difference in all-cause revisions. No differences in revision rates for PJI and all-cause revision between ALBC and PBC for TKA were observed. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(1):7–15

We present a case of delayed presentation of a subdural haematoma causing cauda equina syndrome which occurred 96 hours after a spinal anaesthetic had been administered for an elective total hip replacement in an 86-year-old man. The patient had received low-molecular-weight heparin anticoagulation which had been delayed until 12 hours postoperatively. No other cause of the haemorrhage could be identified

Prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism after elective total hip replacement is routinely recommended. Our preference has been to use mechanical prophylaxis without anticoagulant drugs. A randomised controlled trial was performed to evaluate whether the incidence of post-operative venous thromboembolism was reduced by using pharmacological anticoagulation with either fondaparinux or enoxaparin in addition to our prophylactic mechanical regimen. A total of 255 Japanese patients who underwent primary unilateral cementless total hip replacement were randomly assigned to one of three postoperative regimens, namely injection of placebo (saline), fondaparinux or enoxaparin. There were 85 patients in each group. All also received the same mechanical prophylaxis during and after the operation, regardless of their assigned group. The primary measurement of efficacy was the presence of a venous thromboembolic event by day 11, defined as deep-vein thrombosis detected by ultrasonography, documented symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis or documented symptomatic pulmonary embolism. The duration of follow-up was 12 weeks. The rate of venous thromboembolism was 7.2% with the placebo, 7.1% with fondaparinux and 6.0% with enoxaparin (p = 0.95 for the comparison of all three groups). Our study confirmed the effectiveness and safety of mechanical thromboprophylaxis without the use of anticoagulant drugs after total hip replacement in Japanese patients

The effect of hypobaric spinal anaesthesia or narcotic-halothane-relaxant general anaesthesia on the incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis was studied in 140 elective total hip replacements in a prospective randomised manner. Deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed using impedance plethysmography and the 125I fibrinogen uptake test, combined, in selected cases, with ascending contrast venography. The overall incidence of deep vein thrombosis was 20%. Nine patients (13%) developed deep vein thrombosis in the spinal group and nineteen (27%) in the general anaesthetic group (p less than 0.05). The incidences of proximal thrombosis and of bilateral thrombi were also less with spinal anaesthesia than with general anaesthesia. It is concluded that spinal anaesthesia reduces the risks of postoperative thromboembolism in hip replacement surgery. The presence of varicose veins, being a non-smoker and having a low body mass index were associated with an increased incidence of deep vein thrombosis

Aims

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the mortality, morbidity, and functional outcomes of cemented versus uncemented hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of intracapsular hip fractures, analyzing contemporary and non-contemporary implants separately.

Aims

There is an increasing demand for hip arthroplasty in China. We aimed to describe trends in in-hospital mortality after this procedure in China and to examine the potential risk factors.

Aims

It has been suggested that cemented fixation of total hip arthroplasty (THA) is associated with an increased peri-operative mortality compared with cementless THA. Our aim was to investigate this through a nationwide matched cohort study adjusting for age, comorbidity, and socioeconomic background.

The aims of this study were to identify the early in-hospital mortality rate after hip fracture, identify factors associated with this mortality, and identify the cause of death in these patients. A retrospective cohort study was performed on 4426 patients admitted to our institution between the 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2013 with a hip fracture (1128 male (26%), mean age 82.0 years (60 to 105)).

Admissions increased annually, but despite this 30-day mortality decreased from 12.1% to 6.5%; 77% of these were in-hospital deaths. Male gender (odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3 to 3.0), increasing age (age ≥ 91; OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.4 to 12.2) and comorbidity (American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3 to 5; OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.0 to 8.7) were independently and significantly associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality. From 220 post-mortem reports, the most common causes of death were respiratory infections (35%), ischaemic heart disease (21%), and cardiac failure (13%). A sub-group of hip fracture patients at highest risk of early death can be identified with these risk factors, and the knowledge of the causes of death can be used to inform service improvements and the development of a more didactic care pathway, so that multidisciplinary intervention can be focused for this sub-group in order to improve their outcome.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:246–51.

Studies describing the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the outcome of total hip replacement have been inconclusive and contradictory. We examined the effect of BMI on medium-term outcome in a cohort of 1617 patients who underwent a primary total hip replacement for osteoarthritis. These patients were followed prospectively for five years with the outcomes of dislocation, revision, duration of surgery and deep and superficial infection studied, as well as collecting Harris hip scores (HHS) and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires pre-operatively and at review. A multivariate analysis was performed to see whether BMI is an independent predictor of poor outcome.

We found that patients with a BMI of ? 35 kg/m² have a 4.42 times higher rate of dislocation than those with a BMI < 25 kg/m². Increasing BMI is also associated with superficial infection and poorer HHS and SF-36 scores at five years. These trends remain significant even when multivariate analysis adjusts for age, gender, prosthesis, operating consultant, pre-operative HHS and SF-36, and comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease and osteoporosis.

Despite the increased risks, the five-year outcome scores indicate that obese patients have much to gain from total hip replacement. Thus total hip replacement should not be withheld from patients solely on the grounds of an elevated BMI. However, longer-term follow-up of this cohort is required to establish whether adverse outcomes become more evident with time.

Following the publication in 2007 of the guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE) for patients undergoing surgery, concerns were raised by British orthopaedic surgeons as to the appropriateness of the recommendations for their clinical practice. In order to address these concerns NICE and the British Orthopaedic Association agreed to engage a representative panel of orthopaedic surgeons in the process of developing expanded VTE guidelines applicable to all patients admitted to hospital. The functions of this panel were to review the evidence and to consider the applicability and implications in orthopaedic practice in order to advise the main Guideline Development Group in framing recommendations.

The panel considered both direct and indirect evidence of the safety and efficacy, the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis and its implication in clinical practice for orthopaedic patients. We describe the process of selection of the orthopaedic panel, the evidence considered and the contribution of the panel to the latest guidelines from NICE on the prophylaxis against VTE, published in January 2010.

This prospective randomised clinical trial evaluated the effect of alternatives for allogeneic blood transfusions after total hip replacement and total knee replacement in patients with pre-operative haemoglobin levels between 10.0 g/dl and 13.0 g/dl. A total of 100 patients were randomly allocated to the Eprex (pre-operative injections of epoetin) or Bellovac groups (post-operative retransfusion of shed blood). Allogeneic blood transfusions were administered according to hospital policy.

In the Eprex group, 4% of the patients (two patients) received at least one allogeneic blood transfusion. In the Bellovac group, where a mean 216 ml (0 to 700) shed blood was retransfused, 28% (14 patients) required the allogeneic transfusion (p = 0.002). When comparing Eprex with Bellovac in total hip replacement, the percentages were 7% (two of 30 patients) and 30% (nine of 30 patients) (p = 0.047) respectively, whereas in total knee replacement, the percentages were 0% (0 of 20 patients) and 25% (five of 20 patients) respectively (p = 0.042).

Pre-operative epoetin injections are more effective but more costly in reducing the need for allogeneic blood transfusions in mildly anaemic patients than post-operative retransfusion of autologous blood.

We determined the ten-year life expectancy of 5831 patients who had undergone 6653 elective primary total hip replacements at a regional orthopaedic centre between April 1993 and October 2004. Using hospital, general practitioner and the local health authority records, we recorded the dates of death for those who died following surgery.

The mean age at operation was 67 years (13 to 96) with a male:female ratio of 2:3. Of 1154 patients with a ten-year follow-up 340 (29.5%) had died a mean of 5.6 years (0 to 10) after surgery. Using Kaplan-Meier curves, the ten-year survival was 89% in patients under 65 years at surgery, 75% in patients aged between 65 and 74 years, and 51% in patients over 75.

The standardised mortality rates were considerably higher for patients under 45 years, 20% higher for those between 45 and 64 years, and steadily reduced in patients aged 65 and over.

The survival of cemented hip replacement derived from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register Annual Report 2004 exceeds the life expectancy of patients over the age of 60 in our area, suggesting that cemented hip replacement is the procedure of choice in this population.

We have undertaken a prospective study in patients with a fracture of the femoral shaft requiring intramedullary nailing to test the hypothesis that the femoral canal could be a potential source of the second hit phenomenon. We determined the local femoral intramedullary and peripheral release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) after fracture and subsequent intramedullary reaming.

In all patients, the fracture caused a significant increase in the local femoral concentrations of IL-6 compared to a femoral control group. The concentration of IL-6 in the local femoral environment was significantly higher than in the patients own matched blood samples from their peripheral circulation. The magnitude of the local femoral release of IL-6 after femoral fracture was independent of the injury severity score and whether the fracture was closed or open.

In patients who underwent intramedullary reaming of the femoral canal a further significant local release of IL-6 was demonstrated, providing evidence that intramedullary reaming can cause a significant local inflammatory reaction.

We examined the rates of infection and colonisation by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) between January 2003 and May 2004 in order to assess the impact of the introduction of an MRSA policy in October 2003, which required all admissions to be screened. Emergency admissions were treated prophylactically and elective beds ring-fenced. A total of 5594 admissions were cross-referenced with 22 810 microbiology results. The morbidity, mortality and cost of managing MRSA-carrying patients, with a proximal fracture of the femur were compared, in relation to age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade and residential status, with a group of matched controls who were MRSA-negative.

In 2004, we screened 1795 of 1796 elective admissions and MRSA was found in 23 (1.3%). We also screened 1122 of 1447 trauma admissions and 43 (3.8%) were carrying MRSA. All ten ward transfers were screened and four (40%) were carriers (all p < 0.001). The incidence of MRSA in trauma patients increased by 2.6% per week of inpatient stay (r = 0.97, p < 0.001). MRSA developed in 2.9% of trauma and 0.2% of elective patients during that admission (p < 0.001). The implementation of the MRSA policy reduced the incidence of MRSA infection by 56% in trauma patients (1.57% in 2003 (17 of 1084) to 0.69% in 2004 (10 of 1447), p = 0.035). Infection with MRSA in elective patients was reduced by 70% (0.56% in 2003 (7 of 1257) to 0.17% in 2004 (3 of 1806), p = 0.06). The cost of preventing one MRSA infection was £3200.

Although colonisation by MRSA did not affect the mortality rate, infection by MRSA more than doubled it. Patients with proximal fractures of the femur infected with MRSA remained in hospital for 50 extra days, had 19 more days of vancomycin treatment and 26 more days of vacuum-assisted closure therapy than the matched controls. These additional costs equated to £13 972 per patient.

From this experience we have been able to describe the epidemiology of MRSA, assess the impact of infection-control measures on MRSA infection rates and determine the morbidity, mortality and economic cost of MRSA carriage on trauma and elective orthopaedic wards.