Aims

Despite declining frequency of blood transfusion and electrolyte supplementation following total joint arthroplasty, postoperative blood analyses are still routinely ordered for these patients. This study aimed to determine the rate of blood transfusion and electrolyte restoration in arthroplasty patients treated with a perioperative blood conservation protocol and to identify risk factors that would predict the need for transfusion and electrolyte supplementation.

A common situation presenting to the orthopaedic surgeon today is a worn acetabular liner with substantial acetabular and pelvic osteolysis. The surgeon has many options for dealing with osteolytic defects. These include allograft, calcium based substitutes, demineralised bone matrix, or combinations of these options with or without addition of platelet rich plasma. To date there are no clinical studies to determine the efficacy of using bone-stimulating materials in osteolytic defects at the time of revision surgery and there are surprisingly few studies demonstrating the clinical efficacy of these treatment options. Even when radiographs appear to demonstrate incorporation of graft material CT studies have shown that incorporation is incomplete. The surgeon, in choosing a graft material for a surgical procedure must take into account the efficacy, safety, cost and convenience of that material.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B (11 Suppl A):70–2.

This preliminary study evaluates a combination of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7 and non-vascularised autologous fibular grafting (AFG) for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

BMP-7/AFG combination was applied in seven pre-collapse femoral heads (five Steinberg stage II, two stage III) in six patients. Pre- and post-operative evaluation included clinical (Harris hip score (HHS), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain) and radiological assessment (radiographs, quantitative CT) at a mean follow-up of 4 years (2 to 5.5).

A marked improvement of function (mean HHS increase of 49.2) and decrease of pain level (mean VAS decrease of 5) as well as retention of the sphericity of the femoral head was noted in five hips at the latest follow-up, while signs of consolidation were apparent from the third post-operative month. One patient (two hips) required bilateral total hip replacement at one year post-operatively. In the series as a whole, quantitative-CT evaluation revealed similar densities between affected and normal bone. Heterotopic ossification was observed in four hips, without compromise of the clinical outcome.

In this limited series AFG/BMP-7 combination proved a safe and effective method for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis, leading to early consolidation of the AFG and preventing collapse in five of seven hips, while the operative time and post-operative rehabilitation period were much shorter compared with free vascularised fibular grafts.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:31–5.

During revision total hip replacement using morcellised compacted bone allograft, 16 patients were randomised to receive a graft which had been rinsed in either an ibandronate solution or in saline. Patients were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry after operation and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. A region of interest between the tip of the femoral stem and the distal plastic plug was chosen to measure the changes in bone density over time. The study was double-blinded. In all the control patients the bone density decreased during the first three months and then remained constant at this lower level. A large proportion of the mass of the bone graft was lost. In contrast, all patients with grafts treated with bisphosphonate showed a slight increase in bone density. The difference between the groups was highly significant at all points in time.

We conclude that rinsing the graft in a bisphosphonate solution prevents its resorption and may therefore reduce the risk of mechanical failure. The treatment is simple, inexpensive, and appears virtually free of risk.