Anatomical total knee arthroplasty alignment
In an initial randomised controlled trial (RCT)
we segregated 180 patients to one of two knee positions following total
knee replacement (TKR): six hours of knee flexion using either a
jig or knee extension. Outcome measures included post-operative
blood loss, fall in haemoglobin, blood transfusion requirements,
knee range of movement, limb swelling and functional scores. A second
RCT consisted of 420 TKR patients randomised to one of three post-operative
knee positions: flexion for three or six hours post-operatively,
or knee extension. Positioning of the knee in flexion for six hours immediately
after surgery significantly reduced blood loss (p = 0.002). There
were no significant differences in post-operative range of movement,
swelling, pain or outcome scores between the various knee positions
in either study. Post-operative knee flexion may offer a simple
and cost-effective way to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements
following TKR. We also report a cautionary note regarding the potential risks
of prolonged knee flexion for more than six hours observed during
clinical practice in the intervening period between the two trials,
with 14 of 289 patients (4.7%) reporting lower limb sensory neuropathy
at their three-month review. Cite this article:
Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) is challenging
when there is severe loss of bone in the proximal femur. The purpose
of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes
of revision THA in patients with severe proximal femoral bone loss
treated with a fluted, tapered, modular femoral component. Between
January 1998 and December 2004, 92 revision THAs were performed
in 92 patients using a single fluted, tapered, modular femoral stem
design. Pre-operative diagnoses included aseptic loosening, infection
and peri-prosthetic fracture. Bone loss was categorised pre-operatively
as Paprosky types III-IV, or Vancouver B3 in patients with a peri-prosthetic
fracture. The mean clinical follow-up was 6.4 years (2 to 12). A
total of 47 patients had peri-operative complications, 27 of whom
required further surgery. However, most of these further operations
involved retention of a well-fixed femoral stem, and 88/92 femoral
components (97%) remained Revision THA in patients with extensive proximal femoral bone
loss using the Link MP fluted, tapered, modular stem led to a high
rate of osseointegration of the stem at mid-term follow-up. Cite this article:
To investigate the longevity of uncemented fixation of a femoral
component in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with Dorr
type C proximal femoral morphology. A total of 350 consecutive uncemented THA in 320 patients were
performed between 1983 and 1987, by a single surgeon using the Taperloc
femoral component. The 63 patients (68 hips) with Dorr type C proximal
femoral morphology were the focus of this review. The mean age of
the patients was 69 years (24 to 88) and mean follow-up was 16.6
years (ten to 29). Survival analysis included eight patients (eight
hips) who died without undergoing revision surgery prior to obtaining
ten years follow-up. All 55 surviving patients (60 hips) were available
for clinical assessment and radiographic review. As a comparator
group, the survival and implant fixation in the remaining 282 THAs
(257 patients) with Dorr type A and B morphology were evaluated.
The mean age of these patients was 52 years (20 to 82).Aims
Patients and Methods
We report on 397 consecutive revision total hip
replacements in 371 patients with a mean clinical and radiological follow-up
of 12.9 years (10 to 17.7). The mean age at surgery was 69 years
(37 to 93). A total of 28 patients (8%) underwent further revision,
including 16 (4%) femoral components. In all 223 patients (56%,
233 hips) died without further revision and 20 patients (5%, 20
hips) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining patients, 209 (221
hips) were available for clinical assessment and 194 (205 hips)
for radiological review at mean follow-up of 12.9 years (10 to 17.7). The mean Harris Hip Score improved from 58.7 (11 to 92) points
to 80.7 (21 to 100) (p <
0.001) and the mean Merle d’Aubigné and
Postel hip scores at final follow-up were 4.9 (2 to 6), 4.5 (2 to
6) and 4.3 (2 to 6), respectively for pain, mobility and function.
Radiographs showed no lucencies around 186 (90.7%) femoral stems
with stable bony ingrowth seen in 199 stems (97%). The survival
of the S-ROM femoral stem at 15 years with revision for any reason as
the endpoint was 90.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85.7 to 93.8)
and with revision for aseptic loosening as the endpoint 99.3% (95%
CI 97.2 to 99.8). We have shown excellent long-term survivorship and good clinical
outcome of a cementless hydroxyapatite proximally-coated modular
femoral stem in revision hip surgery. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to define the incidence
of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and risk factors for the development
of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) after the resection of a musculoskeletal
tumour. A total of 94 patients who underwent resection of a musculoskeletal
tumour between January 2003 and December 2005 were prospectively
studied. There were 42 men and 52 women with a mean age of 54.4
years (18 to 86). All patients wore intermittent pneumatic compression
devices and graduated compression stockings. Ultrasound examination
of the lower limbs was conducted to screen for DVT between the fifth
and ninth post-operative days. DVT was detected in 21 patients (22%). Of these, two were symptomatic
(2%). One patient (1%) had a fatal pulmonary embolism. Patients
aged ≥ 70 years had an increased risk of DVT (p = 0.004). The overall incidence of DVT (both symptomatic and asymptomatic)
after resection of a musculoskeletal tumour with mechanical prophylaxis
was high. It seems that both mechanical and anticoagulant prophylaxis
is needed to prevent VTE in patients who have undergone the resection
of a musculoskeletal tumour. Cite this article:
We investigated the incidence and risk factors
for the development of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head in
the course of treatment of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and
dislocation of the hip. All underwent open reduction, proximal femoral
and Dega pelvic osteotomy. The inclusion criteria were: a predominantly
spastic form of CP, dislocation of the hip (migration percentage,
MP >
80%), Gross Motor Function Classification System, (GMFCS) grade
IV to V, a primary surgical procedure and follow-up of >
one year. There were 81 consecutive children (40 girls and 41 boys) in
the study. Their mean age was nine years (3.5 to 13.8) and mean
follow-up was 5.5 years (1.6 to 15.1). Radiological evaluation included
measurement of the MP, the acetabular index (AI), the epiphyseal
shaft angle (ESA) and the pelvic femoral angle (PFA). The presence
and grade of AVN were assessed radiologically according to the Kruczynski
classification. Signs of AVN (grades I to V) were seen in 79 hips (68.7%). A
total of 23 hips (18%) were classified between grades III and V. Although open reduction of the hip combined with femoral and
Dega osteotomy is an effective form of treatment for children with
CP and dislocation of the hip, there were signs of avascular necrosis
in about two-thirds of the children. There was a strong correlation
between post-operative pain and the severity of the grade of AVN. Cite this article:
National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines
state that cemented stems with an Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel
(ODEP) rating of >
3B should be used for hemiarthroplasty when treating
an intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck. These recommendations
are based on studies in which most, if not all stems, did not hold
such a rating. This case-control study compared the outcome of hemiarthroplasty
using a cemented (Exeter) or uncemented (Corail) femoral stem. These
are the two prostheses most commonly used in hip arthroplasty in
the UK. Data were obtained from two centres; most patients had undergone
hemiarthroplasty using a cemented Exeter stem (n = 292/412). Patients
were matched for all factors that have been shown to influence mortality
after an intracapsular fracture of the neck of the femur. Outcome
measures included: complications, re-operations and mortality rates
at two, seven, 30 and 365 days post-operatively. Comparable outcomes
for the two stems were seen. There were more intra-operative complications in the uncemented
group (13% This study therefore supports the use of both cemented and uncemented
stems of proven design, with an ODEP rating of 10A, in patients
with an intracapsular fracture of the neck of the femur. Cite this article:
Because posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) resection makes flexion
gaps wider in total knee replacement (TKR), preserving or sacrificing
a PCL affects the gap equivalence; however, there are no criteria
for the PCL resection that consider gap situations of each knee.
This study aims to investigate gap characteristics of knees and
to consider the criteria for PCL resection. The extension and flexion gaps were measured, first with the
PCL preserved and subsequently with the PCL removed (in cases in
which posterior substitute components were selected). The PCL preservation
or sacrifice was solely determined by the gap measurement results,
without considering other functions of the PCL such as ‘roll back.’Objectives
Methods
Temperature is known to influence muscle physiology, with the velocity of shortening, relaxation and propagation all increasing with temperature. Scant data are available, however, regarding thermal influences on energy required to induce muscle damage. Gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were harvested from 36 male rat limbs and exposed to increasing impact energy in a mechanical test rig. Muscle temperature was varied in 5°C increments, from 17°C to 42°C (to encompass the Objectives
Methods
Cementless femoral stems are currently preferred
for total hip replacement (THR) in the United States. Improvements
in stem design, instrumentation and surgical technique have made
this technology highly successful, reproducible, and applicable
to the vast majority of patients requiring a THR. However, there
are ongoing developments in some aspects of stem design that influence
clinical results, the incidence of complications and their inherent adaptability
in accommodating the needs of individual patients. Here we examine
some of these design features. Cite this article:
The management of open lower limb fractures in the United Kingdom
has evolved over the last ten years with the introduction of major
trauma networks (MTNs), the publication of standards of care and
the wide acceptance of a combined orthopaedic and plastic surgical approach
to management. The aims of this study were to report recent changes
in outcome of open tibial fractures following the implementation
of these changes. Data on all patients with an open tibial fracture presenting
to a major trauma centre between 2011 and 2012 were collected prospectively.
The treatment and outcomes of the 65 Gustilo Anderson Grade III
B tibial fractures were compared with historical data from the same
unit. Aims
Patients and Methods
A total of 157 hindquarter amputations were carried
out in our institution during the last 30 years. We have investigated
the reasons why this procedure is still required and the outcome.
This operation was used as treatment for 13% of all pelvic bone
sarcomas. It was curative in 140 and palliative in 17, usually to
relieve pain. There were 90 primary procedures (57%) with the remaining
67 following the failure of previous operations to control the disease
locally. The indication for amputation in primary disease was for
large tumours for which limb-salvage surgery was no longer feasible.
The peri-operative mortality was 1.3% (n = 2) and major complications
of wound healing or infection arose in 71 (45%) patients. The survival
at five years after hindquarter amputation with the intent to cure
was 45%, and at ten years 38%. Local recurrence occurred in 23 patients
(15%). Phantom pain was a significant problem, and only 20% used
their prosthesis regularly. Functional scores were a mean of 57%.
With careful patient selection the oncological results and functional outcomes
of hindquarter amputation justify its continued use. Cite this article:
This study investigated whether the use of tranexamic acid (TXA)
decreased blood loss and transfusion related cost following surface
replacement arthroplasty (SRA). A retrospective review of patients treated with TXA during a
SRA, who did not receive autologous blood (TXA group) was performed.
Two comparison groups were established; the first group comprised
of patients who donated their own blood pre-operatively (auto group)
and the second of patients who did not donate blood pre-operatively
(control). Outcomes included transfusions, post-operative haemoglobin
(Hgb), complications, and length of post-operative stay. Aims
Methods
We investigated the clinical outcome of internal
fixation for pathological fracture of the femur after primary excision of
a soft-tissue sarcoma that had been treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. A review of our database identified 22 radiation-induced fractures
of the femur in 22 patients (seven men, 15 women). We noted the
mechanism of injury, fracture pattern and any complications after
internal fixation, including nonunion, hardware failure, secondary
fracture or deep infection. The mean age of the patients at primary excision of the tumour
was 58.3 years (39 to 86). The mean time from primary excision to
fracture was 73.2 months (2 to 195). The mean follow-up after fracture
fixation was 65.9 months (12 to 205). Complications occurred in
19 patients (86%). Nonunion developed in 18 patients (82%), of whom
11 had a radiological nonunion at 12 months, five a nonunion and
hardware failure and two an infected nonunion. One patient developed
a second radiation-associated fracture of the femur after internal
fixation and union of the initial fracture. A total of 13 patients
(59%) underwent 24 revision operations. Internal fixation of a pathological fracture of the femur after
radiotherapy for a soft-tissue sarcoma has an extremely high rate
of complication and requires specialist attention. Cite this article:
We evaluated the clinical results and complications
after extra-articular resection of the distal femur and/or proximal
tibia and reconstruction with a tumour endoprosthesis (MUTARS) in
59 patients (mean age 33 years (11 to 74)) with malignant bone or
soft-tissue tumours. According to a Kaplan–Meier analysis, limb
survival was 76% (95% confidence interval (CI) 64.1 to 88.5) after
a mean follow-up of 4.7 years (one month to 17 years). Peri-prosthetic infection
was the most common indication for subsequent amputation (eight
patients). Survival of the prosthesis without revision was 48% (95%
CI 34.8 to 62.0) at two years and 25% (95% CI 11.1 to 39.9) at five years
post-operatively. Failure of the prosthesis was due to deep infection
in 22 patients (37%), aseptic loosening in ten patients (17%), and
peri-prosthetic fracture in six patients (10%). Wear of the bearings
made a minor revision necessary in 12 patients (20%). The mean Musculoskeletal
Tumor Society score was 23 (10 to 29). An extensor lag >
10° was
noted in ten patients (17%). These results suggest that limb salvage after extra-articular
resection with a tumour prosthesis can achieve good functional results
in most patients, although the rates of complications and subsequent
amputation are higher than in patients treated with intra-articular
resection. Cite this article:
We studied whether the presence of lateral osteophytes
on plain radiographs was a predictor for the quality of cartilage
in the lateral compartment of patients with varus osteoarthritic
of the knee (Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 to 3). The baseline MRIs of 344 patients from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
(OAI) who had varus osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee on hip-knee-ankle
radiographs were reviewed. Patients were categorised using the Osteoarthritis
Research Society International (OARSI) osteophyte grading system
into 174 patients with grade 0 (no osteophytes), 128 grade 1 (mild
osteophytes), 28 grade 2 (moderate osteophytes) and 14 grade 3 (severe
osteophytes) in the lateral compartment (tibia). All patients had
Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or 3 arthritis of the medial compartment.
The thickness and volume of the lateral cartilage and the percentage
of full-thickness cartilage defects in the lateral compartment was
analysed. There was no difference in the cartilage thickness or cartilage
volume between knees with osteophyte grades 0 to 3. The percentage
of full-thickness cartilage defects on the tibial side increased
from <
2% for grade 0 and 1 to 10% for grade 3. The lateral compartment cartilage volume and thickness is not
influenced by the presence of lateral compartment osteophytes in
patients with varus OA of the knee. Large lateral compartment osteophytes
(grade 3) increase the likelihood of full-thickness cartilage defects
in the lateral compartment. Cite this article:
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) is the
most common hip disorder to affect adolescents. Controversy exists over
the optimal treatment of severe slips, with a continuing debate
between Between 2001 and 2011, 57 patients (35 male, 22 female) with
a mean age of 13.1 years (9.6 to 20.3, SD 2.3) were referred to
our tertiary referral institution with a severe slip. The affected
limb was rested in slings and springs before corrective surgery
which was performed via an anterior Smith-Petersen approach. Radiographic
analysis confirmed an improvement in mean head–shaft slip angle
from 53.8o (standard deviation ( This is a technically demanding operation with variable outcomes
reported in the literature. We have demonstrated good results in
our tertiary centre. Cite this article:
An 81-year-old woman presented with a fracture
in the left femur. She had well-fixed bilateral hip replacements
and had received long-term bisphosphonate treatment. Prolonged bisphosphonate
use has been recently linked with atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal
femoral fractures. While the current definition of an atypical fracture
of the femur excludes peri-prosthetic fractures, this case suggests
that they do occur and should be considered in patients with severe
osteopenia. Union of the fracture followed cessation of bisphosphonates
and treatment with teriparatide. Thus, this case calls into question
whether prophylactic intramedullary nailing is sufficient alone
to treat early or completed atypical femoral fractures.
A total of 22 patients with a tibial avulsion
fracture involving the insertion of the posterior cruciate ligament
(PCL) with grade II or III posterior laxity were reduced and fixed
arthroscopically using routine anterior and double posteromedial
portals. A double-strand Ethibond suture was inserted into the joint
and wrapped around the PCL from anterior to posterior to secure
the ligament above the avulsed bony fragment. Two tibial bone tunnels
were created using the PCL reconstruction guide, aiming at the medial
and lateral borders of the tibial bed. The ends of the suture were
pulled out through the bone tunnels and tied over the tibial cortex
between the openings of the tunnels to reduce and secure the bony
fragment. Satisfactory reduction of the fracture was checked arthroscopically and
radiographically. The patients were followed-up for a mean of 24.5 months (19 to
28). Bone union occurred six weeks post-operatively. At final follow-up,
all patients had a negative posterior drawer test and a full range
of movement. KT-1000 arthrometer examination showed that the mean
post-operative side-to-side difference improved from 10.9 mm (standard
deviation ( We conclude that this technique is convenient, reliable and minimally
invasive and successfully restores the stability and function of
the knee. Cite this article:
