Revision total hip replacement (THR) for young patients is challenging because of technical complexity and the potential need for subsequent further revisions. We have assessed the survivorship, functional outcome and complications of this procedure in patients aged <  50 years through a large longitudinal series with consistent treatment algorithms. Of 132 consecutive patients (181 hips) who underwent revision THR, 102 patients (151 hips) with a mean age of 43 years (22 to 50) were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 11 years (2 to 26) post-operatively. We attempted to restore bone stock with allograft where indicated. Using further revision for any reason as an end point, the survival of the acetabular component was 71% (. sd. 4) and 54% (. sd. 7) at ten- and 20 years. The survival of the femoral component was 80% (. sd. 4) and 62% (. sd. 6) at ten- and 20 years. Complications included 11 dislocations (6.1%), ten periprosthetic fractures (5.5%), two deep infections (1.1%), four sciatic nerve palsies (2.2%; three resolved without intervention, one improved after exploration and freeing from adhesions) and one vascular injury (0.6%). The mean modified Harris Hip Score was 41 (10 to 82) pre-operatively, 77 (39 to 93) one year post-operatively and 77 (38 to 93) at the latest review. This overall perspective on the mid- to long-term results is valuable when advising young patients on the prospects of revision surgery at the time of primary replacement. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1047–51

We reviewed 249 consecutive Charnley primary low-friction arthroplasties in 191 patients performed by one surgeon using a transtrochanteric approach at a minimum follow-up of ten years. Of these, 37 hips in 32 patients showed osteolysis and were compared with 41 hips in 37 matched patients with no osteolysis. We assessed in each case the wear rate, stability of the prosthesis, acetabular angle, socket angle, thickness of the acetabular and femoral cement mantle, canal flare index, femoral score, stem alignment, implant:canal ratio and stem:canal ratio. We found that a high rate of wear, component instability and osteolysis were associated. Osteolysis was three times more common in men than in women. Factors which reduced osteolysis were cement mantles of 6 mm at the acetabulum and of 3 mm in all zones of the femur, a stem:canal ratio of 60% to 70% and an implant:canal ratio of over 99%. The overall incidence of osteolysis was 14.9% but when these technical criteria were met, the incidence was 5.2%. This suggests that careful technique can dramatically reduce the risk of this complication

Between 1983 and 1988 we carried out 45 Charnley low-friction arthroplasties with autografts from the femoral head in 41 patients for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The preoperative radiographs were assessed for the severity of DDH according to the classifications of Crowe et al, Hartofilakidis et al and Sharp. The postoperative and follow-up radiographs were analysed for coverage of the socket by the graft, for loosening and for the outcome of the fixation of the bone graft. Two patients died (two hips) at four and seven years after THR from causes unrelated to the surgery and were excluded from the final radiological analysis. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 46 years 3 months. The autograft of the femoral head covered a mean 26% (16 to 35) of the acetabular component. All the grafts united. Some degree of resorption of the bone graft occurred in 27 patients, and always involved the lateral part of the graft, which was beyond the margin of the socket. After a mean follow-up of 11 years there had been no revisions and 38 patients had no pain or only slight discomfort. One socket migrated and four others were fully demarcated. Our findings indicate that the Charnley LFA with an autograft of the femoral head for DDH remains successful at a follow-up of 15 years

Deep infection was identified as a serious complication in the earliest days of total hip arthroplasty. It was identified that airborne contamination in conventional operating theatres was the major contributing factor. As progress was made in improving the engineering of operating theatres, airborne contamination was reduced. Detailed studies were carried out relating airborne contamination to deep infection rates.

In a trial conducted by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council (MRC), it was found that the use of ultra-clean air (UCA) operating theatres was associated with a significant reduction in deep infection rates. Deep infection rates were further reduced by the use of a body exhaust system. The MRC trial also included a detailed microbiology study, which confirmed the relationship between airborne contamination and deep infection rates.

Recent observational evidence from joint registries has shown that in contemporary practice, infection rates remain a problem, and may be getting worse. Registry observations have also called into question the value of “laminar flow” operating theatres.

Observational evidence from joint registries provides very limited evidence on the efficacy of UCA operating theatres. Although there have been some changes in surgical practice in recent years, the conclusions of the MRC trial remain valid, and the use of UCA is essential in preventing deep infection.

There is evidence that if UCA operating theatres are not used correctly, they may have poor microbiological performance. Current UCA operating theatres have limitations, and further research is required to update them and improve their microbiological performance in contemporary practice.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1264–9.

1. In seventeen cases of tuberculosis of the hip in children with severe destruction of the joint arthroplasty was done using full thickness skin from the abdominal wall as the interposing material. 2. The results, after a follow-up on the average of three years, show that one-third of the cases are very satisfactory, one-third are fair and one-third show no movement

We have reviewed 65 bipolar arthroplasties of the hip in 55 patients with osteoarthritis secondary to dysplasia. The mean age at operation was 56 years (42 to 79) and the mean period of follow-up was 7.2 years (5.0 to 13.0). The average Merle d’Aubigné and Postel score before operation was 10.3 and at final follow-up 15.0. There were excellent or good results in 42 hips (65%). Migration of the outer head was observed in 50 hips (77%), most often in the group with a centre-edge angle of less than 0°, an acetabular head index of less than 60%, coverage of the outer head by the original acetabulum of less than +10° and after bone grafting of the acetabulum. This migration was progressive in 31 (62%) of the 50 hips, with massive osteolysis of the acetabulum in eight. The extent and progression of migration were closely associated with this osteolysis. Four hips required revision for extensive migration of the outer head with destruction of the acetabulum or severe acetabular osteolysis, and nine hips are awaiting revision for failure of the bipolar prosthetic head. The overall failure rate was 18%. We report major problems after bipolar hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia with progressive migration of the outer head and massive acetabular osteolysis at five years or more after operation

We describe three patients with a compartment syndrome of the thigh, two after total hip replacement and one after total knee replacement. Two of the patients were fully anticoagulated. A compartment syndrome of the thigh is a rare, but important complication of joint replacement surgery if patients are receiving anticoagulants. Close observation is needed and when indicated monitoring of the intracompartmental pressure should be done. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of an acute compartment syndrome and knowledge of the anatomy of the compartments of the thigh will help in the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially devastating complication

Between 1990 and 1996 we performed 20 consecutive ulnohumeral arthroplasties for primary osteoarthritis of the elbow. The outcome was assessed using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH) and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) at a mean follow-up of 75 months (58 to 132). There were excellent or good results in 17 elbows (85%) using the DASH score and in 13 (65%) with the MEPS (correlation coefficient 0.79). The mean fixed flexion deformity had improved by 10° and the range of flexion by a mean of 20°. In 16 elbows (80%) the benefits of surgery had been maintained, and of 16 patients working at the time of operation, 12 (75%) had returned to the same job. There was no correlation between radiological recurrence of degenerative changes and the amount of fixed flexion deformity, the flexion arc, or the elbow scores

We report the results of low friction arthroplasty in 72 old tuberculous hips and 42 hips with old quiescent septic arthritis. Follow-up was for a minimum of two years. Recrudescence of tuberculosis was seen in only one patient, but deep infection occurred in four of the hips with previous septic arthritis. The reasons for this are discussed. It is recommended that patients with old tuberculous hips should have a course of anti-tuberculous drugs before operation, that patients with previous septic infection should have prophylactic antibiotics and antibiotic-loaded cement and that the operation should be performed by an experienced surgeon

Twenty-one cases of the Charnley low-friction arthroplasty were revised because of recurrent or irreducible dislocation. Three main reasons for this revision, usually in combination, were identified: loss of the abductor mechanism due to trochanteric detachment; shortening of the limb due to high placement of the socket or low section of the femoral neck; and malorientation of the components. Sixteen patients had no further problems after revision. One patient had a single dislocation, four had more than one dislocation although they managed to cope with them and did not require a further revision

We report a series of 17 exchange arthroplasties for infected knee prostheses, ten one-stage and seven two-stage procedures. The method proved successful in controlling infection and restoring function. In two-stage exchanges the interval between the stages was managed by using a prosthesis as a spacer, and acrylic cement beads containing the appropriate antibiotic to provide high local concentrations. Three one-stage procedures had recurrence of infection, but were successfully treated by further exchange operations. All patients had satisfactory function and there have been no serious complications. We recommend this modified two-stage technique for the management of infected knee arthroplasties

Degenerative arthritis of the elbow is a poorly recognised condition, usually seen in a middle-aged man with an occupation or activity which involves the repetitive use of his dominant arm. Flexion contracture and pain at terminal extension are common presenting features. Fifteen patients were reviewed at a mean of 33 months after debridement by ulnohumeral arthroplasty. Fourteen had good relief of pain, elbow extension had improved by an average of 11 degrees and elbow flexion by 10 degrees. On an objective scale 12 of the 15 patients had good or excellent results and 13 (87%) felt that they were improved by the operation

The case histories of 361 subcapital fractures of the femoral neck in 354 patients treated by primary replacement with the cemented Thompson prosthesis were reviewed, and 156 survivors were seen at follow-up. The average age was eighty-one years. Three hundred and thirty fractures occurred in women and thirty-one in men. The antero-lateral approach to the hip was used at all operations because it allows immediate and unrestricted mobilisation after operation. It is considered that this method is the best treatment in the rehabilitation of elderly patients after high femoral neck fractures, because of its low morbidity and high success rate in returning the geriatric orthopaedic patient to independence. The results after an average of just over three years were available for 161 hips in 156 patients studied at follow-up. Of these, 132 (82 per cent) were satisfactory. Most of the unsatisfactory results were in patients under seventy-five years of age. Out of the whole group of 361 hips treated the important early complications were wound infections in seventeen hips 4-7 per cent), all of which resolved, and dislocation in seven hips (2 per cent). Forty-six patients (12-9 per cent) died during the first four weeks after operation, their average age being eighty-five. One hundred and seventy-one patients (47-4 per cent) were discharged from hospital within under four weeks of the operation. Acetabular erosion and loosening are shown to be the important later complications. Three patients had late sepsis

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to define the standard minimum follow-up required to produce a reliable estimate of the rate of re-operation after radial head arthroplasty (RHA). The secondary objective was to define the leading reasons for re-operation.

Aims

Mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) with a flat tibial plateau has not performed well in the lateral compartment, leading to a high rate of dislocation. For this reason, the Domed Lateral UKA with a biconcave bearing was developed. However, medial and lateral tibial plateaus have asymmetric anatomical geometries, with a slightly dished medial and a convex lateral plateau. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the extent at which the normal knee kinematics were restored with different tibial insert designs using computational simulation.

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the results of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) undertaken for stiffness in the absence of sepsis or loosening.

Aims

Femoral impaction bone grafting was first developed in 1987 using morselised cancellous bone graft impacted into the femoral canal in combination with a cemented, tapered, polished stem. We describe the evolution of this technique and instrumentation since that time.

The revascularisation and remodelling of allografts used to replace the anterior cruciate ligament in the canine knee were studied by microangiographic, histological and biomechanical methods. The 26 allografts were obtained from the patellar tendons of other dogs and were stored by deep freezing. In a control study a strip of patellar tendon from the same leg was used as an autologous free graft. Microangiography showed that the allografts had been revascularised from the sixth postoperative week, and had later developed an intrinsic vascular pattern similar to that of a normal anterior cruciate ligament. Histologically, the allograft regained a fibrous framework similar to that of a normal ligament, and showed no evidence of immunological rejection. Biomechanical tests on the allograft replacements showed that their mean maximum tensile strength at 30 weeks was about 30% of that of the control ligaments. There were no significant differences between the mechanical properties of the allografts and the autografts

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most feared and challenging complications following total knee arthroplasty. We provide a detailed description of our current understanding regarding the management of PJI of the knee, including diagnostic aids, pre-operative planning, surgical treatment, and outcome.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B(10 Suppl A):20–9.