The April 2015 Foot &
Ankle Roundup360 looks at: Plantar pressures linked to radiographs; Strength training for ankle instability?; Is weight loss good for your feet?; Diabetes and foot surgery complications; Tantalum for failed ankle arthroplasty?; Steroids, costs and Morton’s neuroma; Ankle arthritis and subtalar joint
We determined the efficacy of a devitalised autograft
(n = 13) and allograft (n = 16) cortical strut bone graft combined
with long-stem endoprosthetic reconstruction in the treatment of
massive tumours of the lower limb. A total of 29 patients (18 men:11
women, mean age 20.1 years (12 to 45) with a ratio of length of
resection to that of the whole prosthesis of >
50% were treated
between May 2003 and May 2012. The mean follow-up was 47 months
(15 to 132). The stem of the prosthesis was introduced through bone
graft struts filled with cement, then cemented into the residual
bone. Bone healing was achieved in 23 patients (86%). The mean Musculoskeletal
Tumour Society functional score was 85% (57 to 97). The five-year
survival rate of the endoprostheses was 81% (95% confidence intervals
67.3 to 92.3). The mean length of devitalised autografts and allografts
was 8.6 cm (5 to 15), which increased the ratio of the the length
of the stem of the prosthesis to that of the whole length of the
prosthesis from a theoretical 35% to an actual 55%. Cortical strut bone grafting and long-stem endoprosthetic reconstruction
is an option for treating massive segmental defects following resection
of a tumour in the lower limb. Patients can regain good function
with a low incidence of aseptic loosening. The strut graft and the
residual bone together serve as a satisfactory bony environment
for a revision prosthesis, if required, once union is achieved. Cite this article:
We conducted a retrospective study to assess
the prevalence of adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD) in patients
operated on at our institution with metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip
replacements with 36 mm heads using a Pinnacle acetabular shell.
A total of 326 patients (150 males, 175 hips; 176 females, 203 hips)
with a mean age of 62.7 years (28 to 85) and mean follow-up of 7.5
years (0.1 to 10.8) participating in our in-depth modern MoM follow-up
programme were included in the study, which involved recording whole
blood cobalt and chromium ion measurements, Oxford hip scores (OHS)
and plain radiographs of the hip and targeted cross-sectional imaging. Elevated
blood metal ion levels (>
5 parts per billion) were seen in 32 (16.1%)
of the 199 patients who underwent unilateral replacement. At 23
months after the start of our modern MoM follow-up programme, 29
new cases of ARMD had been revealed. Hence, the nine-year survival
of this cohort declined from 96% (95% CI 95 to 98) with the old
surveillance routine to 86% (95% CI 82 to 90) following the new
protocol. Although ARMD may not be as common in 36 mm MoM THRs as
in those with larger heads, these results support the Medicines
and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency guidelines on regular
reviews and further investigations, and emphasise the need for specific
a follow-up programme for patients with MoM THRs. Cite this article:
This is the second of a series of reviews of registries. This review looks specifically at worldwide registry data that have been collected on knee arthroplasty, what we have learned from their reports, and what the limitations are as to what we currently know.
A total of seven patients (six men and one woman)
with a defect in the Achilles tendon and overlying soft tissue underwent
reconstruction using either a composite radial forearm flap (n =
3) or an anterolateral thigh flap (n = 4). The Achilles tendons
were reconstructed using chimeric palmaris longus (n = 2) or tensor
fascia lata (n = 2) flaps or transfer of the flexor hallucis longus
tendon (n = 3). Surgical parameters such as the rate of complications
and the time between the initial repair and flap surgery were analysed.
Function was measured objectively by recording the circumference
of the calf, the isometric strength of the plantar flexors and the
range of movement of the ankle. The Achilles tendon Total Rupture
Score (ATRS) questionnaire was used as a patient-reported outcome
measure. Most patients had undergone several previous operations
to the Achilles tendon prior to flap surgery. The mean time to flap
surgery was 14.3 months (2.1 to 40.7). At a mean follow-up of 32.3 months (12.1 to 59.6) the circumference
of the calf on the operated lower limb was reduced by a mean of
1.9 cm ( These otherwise indicate that reconstruction of the Achilles
tendon combined with flap cover results in a successful and functional
reconstruction. Cite this article:
The August 2014 Shoulder &
Elbow Roundup360 looks at: Myofibroblasts perhaps not implicated in post-traumatic elbow stiffness; olecranon tip biomechanically sound for coranoid reconstruction; obesity and elbow replacement don’t mix; single column plating successful for extra-articular distal humeral fractures; satisfaction not predictable in frozen shoulder; tenodesis and repair both acceptable in Grade II SLAP tears; glenoid bone grafting is effective and glenohumeral articular lesions best seen with an arthroscope.
Arthroplasty registries are important for the
surveillance of joint replacements and the evaluation of outcome. Independent
validation of registry data ensures high quality. The ability for
orthopaedic implant retrieval centres to validate registry data
is not known. We analysed data from the National Joint Registry
for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NJR) for primary metal-on-metal
hip arthroplasties performed between 2003 and 2013. Records were
linked to the London Implant Retrieval Centre (RC) for validation.
A total of 67 045 procedures on the NJR and 782 revised pairs of
components from the RC were included. We were able to link 476 procedures
(60.9%) recorded with the RC to the NJR successfully. However, 306
procedures (39.1%) could not be linked. The outcome recorded by the
NJR (as either revised, unrevised or death) for a primary procedure
was incorrect in 79 linked cases (16.6%). The rate of registry-retrieval
linkage and correct assignment of outcome code improved over time.
The rates of error for component reference numbers on the NJR were
as follows: femoral head category number 14/229 (5.0%); femoral head
batch number 13/232 (5.3%); acetabular component category number
2/293 (0.7%) and acetabular component batch number 24/347 (6.5%). Registry-retrieval linkage provided a novel means for the validation
of data, particularly for component fields. This study suggests
that NJR reports may underestimate rates of revision for many types
of metal-on-metal hip replacement. This is topical given the increasing
scope for NJR data. We recommend a system for continuous independent
evaluation of the quality and validity of NJR data. Cite this article:
Using the United States Nationwide Inpatient
Sample, we identified national trends in revision spinal fusion
along with a comprehensive comparison of comorbidities, inpatient
complications and surgical factors of revision spinal fusion compared
to primary spinal fusion. In 2009, there were 410 158 primary spinal fusion discharges
and 22 128 revision spinal fusion discharges. Between 2002 and 2009,
primary fusion increased at a higher rate compared with revision
fusion (56.4% In the multivariable logistic regression model for all spinal
fusions, depression (odds ratio (OR) 1.53, p <
0.001), psychotic
disorders (OR 1.49, p <
0.001), deficiency anaemias (OR 1.35,
p <
0.001) and smoking (OR 1.10, p = 0.006) had a greater chance
of occurrence in revision spinal fusion discharges than in primary
fusion discharges, adjusting for other variables. In terms of complications,
after adjusting for all significant comorbidities, this study found
that dural tears (OR 1.41; p <
0.001) and surgical site infections
(OR 3.40; p <
0.001) had a greater chance of occurrence in revision
spinal fusion discharges than in primary fusion discharges (p <
0.001). A p-value <
0.01 was considered significant in all final
analyses. Cite this article:
In 1994 a cerebral palsy (CP) register and healthcare
programme was established in southern Sweden with the primary aim
of preventing dislocation of the hip in these children. The results from the first ten years were published in 2005 and
showed a decrease in the incidence of dislocation of the hip, from
8% in a historical control group of 103 children born between 1990
and 1991 to 0.5% in a group of 258 children born between 1992 and
1997. These two cohorts have now been re-evaluated and an additional
group of 431 children born between 1998 and 2007 has been added. By 1 January 2014, nine children in the control group, two in
the first study group and none in the second study group had developed
a dislocated hip (p <
0.001). The two children in the first study
group who developed a dislocated hip were too unwell to undergo
preventive surgery. Every child with a dislocated hip reported severe pain,
at least periodically, and four underwent salvage surgery. Of the
689 children in the study groups, 91 (13%) underwent preventive
surgery. A population-based hip surveillance programme enables the early
identification and preventive treatment, which can result in a significantly
lower incidence of dislocation of the hip in children with CP. Cite this article:
We present detailed information about early morbidity
after aseptic revision knee replacement from a nationwide study.
All aseptic revision knee replacements undertaken between 1st October
2009 and 30th September 2011 were analysed using the Danish National
Patient Registry with additional information from the Danish Knee
Arthroplasty Registry. The 1218 revisions involving 1165 patients
were subdivided into total revisions, large partial revisions, partial
revisions and revisions of unicondylar replacements (UKR revisions).
The mean age was 65.0 years (27 to 94) and the median length of
hospital stay was four days (interquartile range: 3 to 5), with
a 90 days re-admission rate of 9.9%,
re-operation rate of 3.5% and mortality rate of 0.2%. The age ranges
of 51 to 55 years (p = 0.018), 76 to 80 years (p <
0.001) and ≥ 81
years (p <
0.001) were related to an increased risk of re-admission.
The age ranges of 76 to 80 years (p = 0.018) and the large partial
revision subgroup (p = 0.073) were related to an increased risk
of re-operation. The ages from 76 to 80 years (p <
0.001), age ≥ 81
years (p <
0.001) and surgical time >
120 min (p <
0.001)
were related to increased length of hospital stay, whereas the use
of a tourniquet (p = 0.008) and surgery in a low volume centre (p
= 0.013) were related to shorter length of stay. In conclusion, we found a similar incidence of early post-operative
morbidity after aseptic knee revisions as has been reported after
primary procedures. This suggests that a length of hospital stay ≤ four
days and discharge home at that time is safe following aseptic knee
revision surgery in Denmark. Cite this article:
The February 2015 Shoulder &
Elbow Roundup360 looks at: Proximal Humerus fractures a comprehensive review, Predicting complications in shoulder ORIF, The Coronoid Revisited, Remplissage and bankart repair for Hill-Sach’s lesions, Diabetes and elbow arthroplasty, Salvage surgery for failed bankart repair, Sternoclavicular Joint Reconstruction, Steroids effective in the short-term for tennis elbow
The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional
and oncological outcome of extracorporeally irradiated autografts
used to reconstruct the pelvis after a P1/2 internal hemipelvectomy. The study included 18 patients with a primary malignant bone
tumour of the pelvis. There were 13 males and five females with
a mean age of 24.8 years (8 to 62). Of these, seven had an osteogenic
sarcoma, six a Ewing’s sarcoma, and five a chondrosarcoma. At a
mean follow-up of 51.6 months (4 to 185), nine patients had died
with metastatic disease while nine were free from disease. Local
recurrence occurred in three patients all of whom eventually died of
their disease. Deep infection occurred in three patients and required
removal of their graft in two while the third underwent a hindquarter
amputation for extensive flap necrosis. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score of the
16 patients who could be followed-up for at least 12 months was
77% (50 to 90). Those 15 patients who completed the Toronto Extremity
Salvage Score questionnaire had a mean score of 71% (53 to 85). Extracorporeal irradiation and re-implantation of bone is a valid
method of reconstruction after an internal hemipelvectomy. It has
an acceptable morbidity and a functional outcome that compares favourably
with other available reconstructive techniques. Cite this article:
Data on early morbidity and complications after
revision total hip replacement (THR) are limited. The aim of this nationwide
study was to describe and quantify early morbidity after aseptic
revision THR and relate the morbidity to the extent of the revision
surgical procedure. We analysed all aseptic revision THRs from 1st
October 2009 to 30th September 2011 using the Danish National Patient
Registry, with additional information from the Danish Hip Arthroplasty
Registry. There were 1553 procedures (1490 patients) performed in
40 centres and we divided them into total revisions, acetabular
component revisions, femoral stem revisions and partial revisions.
The mean age of the patients was 70.4 years (25 to 98) and the median
hospital stay was five days (interquartile range 3 to 7). Within 90
days of surgery, the readmission rate was 18.3%, mortality rate
1.4%, re-operation rate 6.1%, dislocation rate 7.0% and infection
rate 3.0%. There were no differences in these outcomes between high-
and low-volume centres. Of all readmissions, 255 (63.9%) were due
to ‘surgical’ complications Cite this article:
We present the long-term results of open surgery
for internal shoulder rotational deformity in brachial plexus birth palsy
(BPBP). From 1997 to 2005, 207 patients (107 females, 100 males, mean
age 6.2 (0.6 to 34)) were operated on with subscapularis elongation
and/or latissimus dorsi to infraspinatus transfer. Incongruent shoulder
joints were relocated. The early results of these patients has been
reported previously. We analysed 118 (64 females, 54 males, mean
age 15.1 (7.6 to 34)) of the original patient cohort at a mean of
10.4 years (7.0 to 15.1) post-operatively. A third of patients with
relocated joints had undergone secondary internal rotational osteotomy
of the humerus. A mixed effects models approach was used to evaluate the effects
of surgery on shoulder rotation, abduction, and the Mallet score.
Independent factors were time (pre-and post-surgery), gender, age,
joint category (congruent, relocated, relocated plus osteotomy)
and whether or not a transfer had been performed. Data from a previously published
short-term evaluation were reworked in order to obtain pre-operative
values. The mean improvement in external rotation from pre-surgery to
the long-term follow-up was 66.5° (95% confidence interval (CI)
61.5 to 71.6). The internal rotation had decreased by a mean of
22.6° (95% CI -18.7 to -26.5). The mean improvement in the three-grade
aggregate Mallet score was 3.1 (95% CI 2.7 to 3.4), from 8.7 (95%
CI 8.4 to 9.0) to 11.8 (11.5 to 12.1). Our results show that open subscapularis elongation achieves
good long-term results for patients with BPBP and an internal rotation
contracture, providing lasting joint congruency and resolution of
the trumpet sign, but with a moderate mean loss of internal rotation. Cite this article:
Not all questions can be answered by prospective randomised controlled trials. Registries were introduced as a way of collecting information on joint replacements at a population level. They have helped to identify failing implants and the data have also been used to monitor the performance of individual surgeons. This review aims to look at some of the less well known registries that are currently being used worldwide, including those kept on knee ligaments, ankle arthroplasty, fractures and trauma.
The orientation of the acetabular component is
influenced not only by the orientation at which the surgeon implants
the component, but also the orientation of the pelvis at the time
of implantation. Hence, the orientation of the pelvis at set-up
and its movement during the operation, are important. During 67
hip replacements, using a validated photogrammetric technique, we
measured how three surgeons orientated the patient’s pelvis, how
much the pelvis moved during surgery, and what effect these had
on the final orientation of the acetabular component. Pelvic orientation
at set-up, varied widely (mean (± 2, standard deviation ( Cite this article:
Osteoporosis and abnormal bone metabolism may prove to be significant
factors influencing the outcome of arthroplasty surgery, predisposing
to complications of aseptic loosening and peri-prosthetic fracture.
We aimed to investigate baseline bone mineral density (BMD) and
bone turnover in patients about to undergo arthroplasty of the hip
and knee. We prospectively measured bone mineral density of the hip and
lumbar spine using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans
in a cohort of 194 patients awaiting hip or knee arthroplasty. We
also assessed bone turnover using urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD),
a type I collagen crosslink, normalised to creatinine.Aims
Methods
Little information is available about the incidence
and outcome of incidental dural tears associated with microendoscopic
lumbar decompressive surgery. We prospectively examined the incidence
of dural tears and their influence on the outcome six months post-operatively
in 555 consecutive patients (mean age 47.4 years (13 to 89)) who
underwent this form of surgery. The incidence of dural tears was
5.05% (28/555). The risk factors were the age of the patient and
the procedure of bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach.
The rate of recovery of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score
in patients with dural tears was significantly lower than that in
those without a tear (77.7% Cite this article:
The cementless Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement
has been demonstrated to have superior fixation on radiographs and
a similar early complication rate compared with the cemented version.
However, a small number of cases have come to our attention where,
after an apparently successful procedure, the tibial component subsides into
a valgus position with an increased posterior slope, before becoming
well-fixed. We present the clinical and radiological findings of
these six patients and describe their natural history and the likely
causes. Two underwent revision in the early post-operative period,
and in four the implant stabilised and became well-fixed radiologically with
a good functional outcome. This situation appears to be avoidable by minor modifications
to the operative technique, and it appears that it can be treated
conservatively in most patients. Cite this article:
Although it has been suggested that the outcome
after revision of a unicondylar knee replacement (UKR) to total knee
replacement (TKR) is better when the mechanism of failure is understood,
a comparative study on this subject has not been undertaken. A total of 30 patients (30 knees) who underwent revision of their
unsatisfactory UKR to TKR were included in the study: 15 patients
with unexplained pain comprised group A and 15 patients with a defined
cause for pain formed group B. The Oxford knee score (OKS), visual
analogue scale for pain (VAS) and patient satisfaction were assessed before
revision and at one year after revision, and compared between the
groups. The mean OKS improved from 19 (10 to 30) to 25 (11 to 41) in
group A and from 23 (11 to 45) to 38 (20 to 48) in group B. The
mean VAS improved from 7.7 (5 to 10) to 5.4 (1 to 8) in group A
and from 7.4 (2 to 9) to 1.7 (0 to 8) in group B. There was a statistically
significant difference between the mean improvements in each group
for both OKS (p = 0.022) and VAS (p = 0.002). Subgroup analysis
in group A, performed in order to define a patient factor that predicts
outcome of revision surgery in patients with unexplained pain, showed
no pre-operative differences between both subgroups. These results may be used to inform patients about what to expect
from revision surgery, highlighting that revision of UKR to TKR
for unexplained pain generally results in a less favourable outcome
than revision for a known cause of pain. Cite this article: