Aims

The aim of this consensus was to develop a definition of post-operative fibrosis of the knee.

Revision knee arthroplasty presents a number of challenges, not least of which is obtaining solid primary fixation of implants into host bone. Three anatomical zones exist within both femur and tibia which can be used to support revision implants. These consist of the joint surface or epiphysis, the metaphysis and the diaphysis. The methods by which fixation in each zone can be obtained are discussed. The authors suggest that solid fixation should be obtained in at least two of the three zones and emphasise the importance of pre-operative planning and implant selection.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:147–9.

Bone loss in the proximal tibia and distal femur is frequently encountered in revision knee replacement surgery. The various options for dealing with this depend on the extent of any bone loss. We present our results with the use of cementless metaphyseal metal sleeves in 103 patients (104 knees) with a mean follow-up of 43 months (30 to 65). At final follow-up, sleeves in 102 knees had good osseointegration. Two tibial sleeves were revised for loosening, possibly due to infection.

The average pre-operative Oxford Knee Score was 23 (11 to 36) and this improved to 32 (15 to 46) post-operatively. These early results encourage us to continue with the technique and monitor the outcomes in the long term.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1640–4.

This study provides recommendations on the position of the implant in reverse shoulder replacement in order to minimise scapular notching and osteophyte formation. Radiographs from 151 patients who underwent primary reverse shoulder replacement with a single prosthesis were analysed at a mean follow-up of 28.3 months (24 to 44) for notching, osteophytes, the position of the glenoid baseplate, the overhang of the glenosphere, and the prosthesis scapular neck angle (PSNA).

A total of 20 patients (13.2%) had a notch (16 Grade 1 and four Grade 2) and 47 (31.1%) had an osteophyte. In patients without either notching or an osteophyte the baseplate was found to be positioned lower on the glenoid, with greater overhang of the glenosphere and a lower PSNA than those with notching and an osteophyte. Female patients had a higher rate of notching than males (13.3% vs 13.0%) but a lower rate of osteophyte formation (22.9% vs 50.0%), even though the baseplate was positioned significantly lower on the glenoid in females (p = 0.009) and each had a similar mean overhang of the glenosphere.

Based on these findings we make recommendations on the placement of the implant in both male and female patients to avoid notching and osteophyte formation.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:530–5.

This review summarises the opinions and conclusions reached from a symposium on infected total knee replacement (TKR) held at the British Association of Surgery of the Knee (BASK) annual meeting in 2011. The National Joint Registry for England and Wales reported 5082 revision TKRs in 2010, of which 1157 (23%) were caused by infection. The diagnosis of infection beyond the acute post-operative stage relies on the identification of the causative organism by aspiration and analysis of material obtained at arthroscopy. Ideal treatment then involves a two-stage surgical procedure with extensive debridement and washout, followed by antibiotics. An articulating or non-articulating drug-eluting cement spacer is used prior to implantation of the revision prosthesis, guided by the serum level of inflammatory markers. The use of a single-stage revision is gaining popularity and we would advocate its use in certain patients where the causative organism is known, no sinuses are present, the patient is not immunocompromised, and there is no radiological evidence of component loosening or osteitis.

It is our opinion that single-stage revision produces high-quality reproducible results and will soon achieve the same widespread acceptance as it does in infected hip arthroplasty.

The treatment of bony defects of the tibia at the time of revision total knee replacement is controversial. The place of compacted morsellised bone graft is becoming established, particularly in contained defects. It has previously been shown that the initial stability of impaction-grafted trays in the contained defects is equivalent to that of an uncemented primary knee replacement. However, there is little biomechanical evidence on which to base a decision in the treatment of uncontained defects. We undertook a laboratory-based biomechanical study comparing three methods of graft containment in segmental medial tibial defects and compared them with the use of a modular metal augment to bypass the defect.

Using resin models of the proximal tibia with medial defects representing either 46% or 65% of the medial cortical rim, repair of the defect was accomplished using mesh, cement or a novel bag technique, after which impaction bone grafting was used to fill the contained defects and a tibial component was cemented in place. As a control, a cemented tibial component with modular metal augments was used in identical defects. All specimens were submitted to cyclical mechanical loading, during which cyclical and permanent tray displacement were determined.

The results showed satisfactory stability with all the techniques except the bone bag method. Using metal augments gave the highest initial stability, but obviously lacked any potential for bone restoration.

Preliminary costectomy before Harrington instrumentation and fusion for idiopathic scoliosis allows direct excision of the rib prominence and better correction at the second-stage operation. The excised rib fragments are used as grafts, thus avoiding the need for a separate pelvic incision. The management regime and the technique of costectomy are described. The results in 42 children, most suffering from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and all treated by this method, have been reviewed. Respiratory function in a group of these children has been compared with that of a group treated by Harrington instrumentation alone. Costectomy produced a significantly greater reduction in total lung capacity and peak expiratory flow rate but, providing the preliminary lung function tests were reasonably normal, the cosmetic and psychological effects of costectomy were very rewarding.

A case of rotatory dislocation of both atlanto-axial joints is presented. A review of the literature reveals two other cases, both in children. This would appear to be the first report in an adult, who survived and made a full recovery.

1. This is a simple clinical study of the end-results of arthrodesis of the hip joint in patients followed up and re-examined five to twenty-five years after operation.

2. The study was stimulated by our astonishment at recent reports which suggested that arthrodesis of the hip caused serious operative mortality, a high rate of wound infection, and failure of sound fusion in one of every two cases; and that even when sound fusion was gained there was always pain in the back and usually stiffness of the knee. To say that we were astonished puts it mildly.

3. This review includes 120 patients aged from ten to seventy years, treated for osteoarthritis of the hip joint by intra-articular arthrodesis with the internal fixation of a nail, usually with an iliac graft, and with immobilisation in plaster for not less than four months.

4. Of these 120 patients there was sound fusion of the joint, proved radiographically, in 94 per cent; a mortality of nil; and recovery of free movement of the knee joint to the right angle or far beyond in 91·5 per cent. Almost half of the patients regained normal movement, the heel touching the buttock. Only in eight patients was there less than right-angled flexion.

5. There was no pain in the back—none whatever—in 64 per cent of the patients. In 36 per cent there was some pain or discomfort. One alone said that the low back pain was worse than before the operation. Many others said that pain in the back had been relieved by the operation.

6. It is emphasised that these results were gained only from sound fixation of the joint in the mid-position with neutral rotation, no more abduction than is needed to correct true shortening, and no more flexion of the joint than that with which the patient lies on the table. The limb was immobilised in plaster for at least four months after operation. The stiff knee was mobilised by the patient's own exercise without passive stretching, force or manipulation.

7. Two other groups of patients are considered. There are fourteen treated by fixation of the joint with nail alone, an operation that was never intended to arthrodese the joint and which has long since been abandoned. The other small group is that of patients with old unreduced traumatic dislocation of the hip, a procedure in which the risks of operation are so great and the number of successful results so small as to dissuade us from attempting operative reduction.

8. After successful arthrodesis of the hip joint patients can return to every household activity and every recreation including ski-ing, mountaineering, rock climbing, or whatever else they want.