Objectives. Alarm over the reported high failure rates for metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants as well as their potential for locally aggressive Adverse Reactions to Metal Debris (ARMDs) has prompted government agencies, internationally, to recommend the monitoring of patients with MoM hip implants. Some have advised that a blood ion level >7 µg/L indicates potential for ARMDs. We report a systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance of metal ion testing for ARMDs. Methods. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify articles from which it was possible to reconstruct a 2 × 2 table. Two readers independently reviewed all articles and extracted data using explicit criteria. We computed a summary receiver operating curve using a Bayesian random-effects hierarchical model. Results. Our literature search returned 575 unique articles; only six met inclusion criteria defined a priori. The discriminative capacity of ion tests was homogeneous across studies but that there was substantial cut-point heterogeneity. Our best estimate of the “true” area under curve (AUC) for metal ion testing is 0.615, with a 95% credible interval of 0.480 to 0.735, thus we can state that the probability that metal ion testing is actually clinically useful with an AUC ≥ 0.75 is 1.7%. Conclusion. Metal ion levels are not useful as a screening test for identifying high risk patients because ion testing will either lead to a large burden of false positive patients, or otherwise marginally modify the pre-test probability. With the availability of more accurate
The aim of this review is to evaluate the current
available literature evidencing on peri-articular hip endoscopy
(the third compartment). A comprehensive approach has been set on
reports dealing with endoscopic surgery for recalcitrant trochanteric
bursitis, snapping hip (or coxa-saltans; external and internal),
gluteus medius and minimus tears and endoscopy (or arthroscopy)
after total hip arthroplasty. This information can be used to trigger
further research, innovation and education in extra-articular hip
endoscopy.
The purpose of this study was to assess N-acetyl aspartate changes
in the thalamus in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip using
proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Nine patients with osteoarthritis of the hip (symptomatic group,
nine women; mean age 61.4 years (48 to 78)) and nine healthy volunteers
(control group, six men, three women; mean age 30.0 years (26 to
38)) underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess
the changes of N-acetyl aspartate in the thalamus. Objectives
Methods
