Aims

To assess how the cost-effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) varies with age, sex, and preoperative Oxford Hip or Knee Score (OHS/OKS); and to identify the patient groups for whom THA/TKA is cost-effective.

We identified 1305 femoral impaction bone grafting revisions using the Exeter stem performed between 1989 and 2002 in 30 hospitals throughout Sweden. There were 1188 patients with a mean age of 71 years (29 to 94) followed up for between five and 18 years. The participating departments reported 70 further revisions in total, of which 57 could also be identified on the Swedish National Arthroplasty Registry. Kaplan-Meier survivorship for all causes of failure was 94.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 92 to 96) for women and 94.7% (95% CI, 92 to 96) for men at 15 years. Survivorship at 15 years for aseptic loosening was 99.1% (95% CI 98.4 to 99.5), for infection 98.6% (95% CI 97.6 to 99.2), for subsidence 99.0% (95% CI 98.2 to 99.4) and for fracture 98.7% (95% CI 97.9 to 99.2). Statistically significant predictors of failure were the year in which revision was conducted (p < 0.001). The number of previous revisions was slightly above the level of signifance (p = 0.056). Age, gender, the length of the stem and previous septic loosening were not predictors of failure (p = 0.213, p = 0.399, p = 0.337, p = 0.687, respectively). The difference in survivorship between high- and low-volume departments was only 3% at ten years. We conclude that impaction bone grafting with the Exeter stem has an excellent long-term survivorship following revision arthroplasty. The technique of impaction grafting appears to be reliable, can be learned rapidly and produces a predictably low incidence of aseptic loosening

We report a retrospective review of the incidence of venous thromboembolism in 463 consecutive patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (487 procedures). Treatment included both total hip replacement and hip resurfacing, and the patients were managed without anticoagulants. The thromboprophylaxis regimen included an antiplatelet agent, generally aspirin, hypotensive epidural anaesthesia, elastic compression stockings and early mobilisation. In 258 of these procedures (244 patients) performed in 2005 (cohort A) mechanical compression devices were not used, whereas in 229 (219 patients) performed during 2006 (cohort B) bilateral intermittent pneumatic calf compression was used. All operations were performed through a posterior mini-incision approach. Patients who required anticoagulation for pre-existing medical problems and those undergoing revision arthroplasty were excluded. Doppler ultrasonographic screening for deep-vein thrombosis was performed in all patients between the fourth and sixth post-operative days. All patients were reviewed at a follow-up clinic six to ten weeks after the operation. In addition, reponse to a questionnaire was obtained at the end of 12 weeks post-operatively. No symptomatic calf or above-knee deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism occurred. In 25 patients in cohort A (10.2%) and in ten patients in cohort B (4.6%) asymptomatic calf deep-vein thromboses were detected ultrasonographically. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.03). The regimen followed by cohort B offers the prospect of a low incidence of venous thromboembolism without subjecting patients to the higher risk of bleeding associated with anticoagulant use

We reviewed 19 patients who presented with aggressive granulomatosis around the femoral stem after hip replacement. All had experienced stress pain and had required revision arthroplasty on average 8.8 years after the primary operation. Fifteen patients were men and four were women; none had rheumatoid arthritis. One patient had an uncemented Moore hemiprosthesis; the others all had cemented total hip replacements. When first detected, the granulomatous lesions were multifocal in 13 patients. The first granuloma was in the region of the lesser trochanter in 10, and near the tip of the stem in only two. Speed of growth varied but on average there was doubling of the area on anteroposterior films in 2.2 years (range 6 months to 4.6 years). Aggressive granulomatous lesions in replaced hips are a distinct condition, different from simple loosening or infection; the lesions may grow rapidly, so revision surgery is indicated soon after diagnosis

All surgical operations have the potential for contamination, and the equipment used can harbour bacteria. We collected samples from 100 elective primary hip and knee arthroplasties. These showed rates of contamination of 11.4% for the sucker tips, 14.5% for light handles, 9.4% for skin blades and 3.2% for the inside blades used during surgery; 28.7% of gloves used for preparation were also contaminated. Of the samples taken from the collection bags used during hip arthroplasty, 20% grew bacteria, which represents a significant microbial reservoir. Also, 17% of theatre gowns were contaminated at the end of the operation. Contamination was found in 10% of the needles used during closure of the fascia. Overall, 76% of the organisms grown were coagulase-negative staphylococcus. A total of 63% of operations showed contamination in the field of operation. Some changes in practice are suggested. Follow-up for a minimum of two years revealed one deep infection but the organism was not identified as a contaminant. These data provide a baseline for studying the bacteriology of the surgery of revision arthroplasty

In impaction grafting of contained bone defects after revision joint arthroplasty the graft behaves as a friable aggregate and its resistance to complex forces depends on grading, normal load and compaction. Bone mills in current use produce a distribution of particle sizes more uniform than is desirable for maximising resistance to shear stresses. We have performed experiments in vitro using morsellised allograft bone from the femoral head which have shown that its mechanical properties improve with increasing normal load and with increasing shear strains (strain hardening). The mechanical strength also increases with increasing compaction energy, and with the addition of bioglass particles to make good the deficiency in small and very small fragments. Donor femoral heads may be milled while frozen without affecting the profile of the particle size. Osteoporotic femoral heads provide a similar grading of sizes, although fewer particles are obtained from each specimen. Our findings have implications for current practice and for the future development of materials and techniques

Instruments used in surgery which rotate or vibrate at a high frequency can produce potentially contaminated aerosols. Such tools are in use in cemented hip revision arthroplasties. We aimed to measure the extent of the environmental and body contamination caused by an ultrasound device and a high-speed cutter. On a human cadaver we carried out a complete surgical procedure including draping and simulated blood flow contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 12600). After cemented total hip arthroplasty, we undertook repeated extractions of cement using either an ultrasound device or a high-speed cutter. Surveillance cultures detected any environmental and body contamination of the surgical team. Environmental contamination was present in an area of 6 x 8 m for both devices. The concentration of contamination was lower for the ultrasound device. Both the ultrasound and the high-speed cutter contaminated all members of the surgical team. The devices tested produced aerosols which covered the whole operating theatre and all personnel present during the procedure. In contaminated and infected patients, infectious agents may be present in these aerosols. We therefore recommend the introduction of effective measures to control infection and thorough disinfection of the operating theatre after such procedures

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in detecting pathogens from synovial fluid of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) patients.

Aims

Debate continues about whether it is better to use a cemented or uncemented hemiarthroplasty to treat a displaced intracapsular fracture of the hip. The aim of this study was to attempt to resolve this issue for contemporary prostheses.

Aims

To assess the effect of age on clinical outcome and revision rates in patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA).

Aims

Complex total hip arthroplasty (THA) with subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy is necessary in conditions other than developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and septic arthritis sequelae with significant proximal femur migration. Our aim was to evaluate the hip centre restoration with THAs in these hips.

Aims

Femoral revision component subsidence has been identified as predicting early failure in revision hip surgery. This comparative cohort study assessed the potential risk factors of subsidence in two commonly used femoral implant designs.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine if a three-month course of microorganism-directed oral antibiotics reduces the rate of failure due to further infection following two-stage revision for chronic prosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip and knee.

Of 1197 renal transplant recipients on the Oxford Transplant Programme, 25 (2%) needed arthroplasties for painful osteonecrosis of the hip. Nine of them had bilateral operations, giving a total of 34 primary total hip replacements (THR). The mean time from onset of symptoms to THR was 2.4 years and from transplantation to THR 5.1 years. The mean follow-up was 5.1 (1 to 14) years. THR relieved the pain in all the patients, but survival analysis indicated a lower survival rate than is usual for primary THR. There were eight major complications. One graft-related problem, early acute tubular necrosis, resolved rapidly after immediate treatment. One patient developed deep infection at 3.5 years after THR which settled with conservative treatment. Five hips developed aseptic loosening requiring revision arthroplasty at a mean of 8.8 years' follow-up. One patient had a non-fatal pulmonary embolism. THR is the treatment of choice for patients with painful osteonecrosis of the hip after renal transplant, but has higher rates of both early and late complications. Surgery should be performed in close association with a renal transplant unit

Aims

The aim of this study was to identify modifiable risk factors associated with mortality in patients requiring revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for periprosthetic hip fracture.

Two acetabula which contained large bone allografts introduced at revision arthroplasty were obtained at post-mortem. The allografts had been placed in superior defects to support cementless acetabular components, and both hips were functioning well at the time of death. Clinical radiographs demonstrated apparent healing of graft to host bone, no graft collapse and stability of the acetabular components. Microscopic examination of sections through these specimens showed that the bulk allografts were encapsulated in fibrous tissue. Vascularity was increased at the host-graft interface, but there was limited evidence of bone union between the graft and the host. In the few areas where union had occurred, revascularisation extended no more than 2 mm beyond the graft-host interface. Within the body of the graft, the acellular matrix of trabecular bone maintained structural integrity up to 48 months after surgery. In areas where the allograft was adjacent to an implant, there was fibrous tissue orientated parallel to the implant surface. The acetabulum which contained a porous-coated component showed evidence of bone growth into the porous surface where it was in contact with viable host bone. No ingrowth occurred in areas where the porous coating was in contact with the graft. Although the grafts were functioning well, allograft revascularisation and remodelling were minimal, and the radiological appearance of healing did not correlate with histological findings