We carried out a clinical and radiological review of 103 cementless primary hip arthroplasties with a tapered rectangular grit-blasted titanium press-fit femoral component and a threaded conical titanium acetabular component at a mean follow-up of 14.4 years (10.2 to 17.1). The mean Harris hip score at the last follow-up was 89.2 (32 to 100). No early loosening and no fracture of the implant were found. One patient needed revision surgery because of a late deep infection. In 11 hips (10.7%), the reason for revision was progressive wear of the polyethylene liner. Exchange of the acetabular component because of aseptic loosening without detectable liner wear was carried out in three hips (2.9%). After 15 years the survivorship with aseptic loosening as the definition for failure was 95.6% for the acetabular component and 100% for the femoral component.
In this retrospective study we evaluated the
proficiency of shelf autograft in the restoration of bone stock
as part of primary total hip replacement (THR) for hip dysplasia,
and in the results of revision arthroplasty after failure of the primary
arthroplasty. Of 146 dysplastic hips treated by THR and a shelf
graft, 43 were revised at an average of 156 months, 34 of which
were suitable for this study (seven hips were excluded because of
insufficient bone-stock data and two hips were excluded because
allograft was used in the primary THR). The acetabular bone stock
of the hips was assessed during revision surgery. The mean implant–bone
contact was 58% (50% to 70%) at primary THR and 78% (40% to 100%)
at the time of the revision, which was a significant improvement
(p <
0.001). At primary THR all hips had had a segmental acetabular
defect >
30%, whereas only five (15%) had significant segmental
bone defects requiring structural support at the time of revision.
In 15 hips (44%) no bone graft or metal augments were used during
revision. A total of 30 hips were eligible for the survival study. At a
mean follow-up of 103 months (27 to 228), two aseptic and two septic
failures had occurred. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the revision
procedures demonstrated a ten-year survival rate of 93.3% (95% confidence
interval (CI) 78 to 107) with clinical or radiological failure as
the endpoint. The mean Oxford hip score was 38.7 (26 to 46) for
non-revised cases at final follow-up. Our results indicate that the use of shelf autografts during
THR for dysplastic hips restores bone stock, contributing to the
favourable survival of the revision arthroplasty should the primary
procedure fail. Cite this article:
We retrospectively reviewed 175 patients (191 hips) who had undergone primary cemented total hip replacement between November 1992 and November 1995 using a collarless polished double-tapered femoral component after a minimum of ten years (mean 11.08; 10 to 12.8). All stems were implanted using contemporary cementing techniques with a distal cement restrictor, pressurised lavage, retrograde cementing with a gun and proximal pressurisation. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Harris Hip score. Radiological analysis was performed on calibrated plain radiographs taken in two planes. Complete radiological data on 110 patients (120 hips) and clinical follow-up on all the surviving 111 patients (122 hips) was available. The fate of all the hips was known. At final follow-up, the mean Harris Hip score was 86 (47 to 100), and 87 of 116 patients (75%) had good or excellent scores. Survival with revision of the stem for aseptic loosening as the endpoint was 100%; and survival with revision of the stem for any reason was 95.9% (95% confidence interval 87.8 to 96.8) at ten years. All the stems subsided vertically at the stem-cement interface in a predictable pattern, at an overall mean rate of 0.18 mm per year (0.02 to 2.16), but with a mean rate of 0.80 mm (0.02 to 2.5) during the first year. The mean total subsidence was 1.95 mm (0.21 to 24). Only three stems loosened at the cement-bone interface. There was excellent preservation of proximal femoral bone stock. There was a high incidence of Brooker III and IV heterotopic ossification affecting 25 patients (22%). The collarless polished tapered stem has an excellent clinical and radiological outcome at a minimum of ten years’ follow-up. The pattern and magnitude of subsidence of the stem within the cement mantle occurred in a predictable pattern, consistent with the design philosophy.
A retrospective study was conducted to investigate
the changes in metal ion levels in a consecutive series of Birmingham
Hip Resurfacings (BHRs) at a minimum ten-year follow-up. We reviewed
250 BHRs implanted in 232 patients between 1998 and 2001. Implant
survival, clinical outcome (Harris hip score), radiographs and serum chromium
(Cr) and cobalt (Co) ion levels were assessed. Of 232 patients, 18 were dead (five bilateral BHRs), 15 lost
to follow-up and ten had been revised. The remaining 202 BHRs in
190 patients (136 men and 54 women; mean age at surgery 50.5 years
(17 to 76)) were evaluated at a minimum follow-up of ten years (mean
10.8 years (10 to 13.6)). The overall implant survival at 13.2 years
was 92.4% (95% confidence interval 90.8 to 94.0). The mean Harris
hip score was 97.7 (median 100; 65 to 100). Median and mean ion
levels were low for unilateral resurfacings (Cr: median 1.3 µg/l,
mean
1.95 µg/l (<
0.5 to 16.2); Co: median 1.0 µg/l, mean 1.62 µg/l
(<
0.5 to 17.3)) and bilateral resurfacings (Cr: median 3.2 µg/l,
mean 3.46 µg/l (<
0.5 to 10.0); Co: median 2.3 µg/l, mean 2.66
µg/l (<
0.5 to 9.5)). In 80 unilateral BHRs with sequential ion
measurements, Cr and Co levels were found to decrease significantly
(p <
0.001) from the initial assessment at a median of six years
(4 to 8) to the last assessment at a median of 11 years (9 to 13),
with a mean reduction of 1.24 µg/l for Cr and 0.88 µg/l for Co.
Three female patients had a >
2.5 µg/l increase of Co ions, associated with
head sizes ≤ 50 mm, clinical symptoms and osteolysis. Overall, there
was no significant difference in change of ion levels between genders
(Cr, p = 0.845; Co, p = 0.310) or component sizes (Cr, p = 0.505;
Co, p = 0.370). Higher acetabular component inclination angles correlated
with greater change in ion levels (Cr, p = 0.013; Co, p = 0.002).
Patients with increased ion levels had lower Harris hip scores (p
= 0.038). In conclusion, in well-functioning BHRs the metal ion levels
decreased significantly at ten years. An increase >
2.5 µg/l was
associated with poor function. Cite this article:
We evaluated the outcome of 104 consecutive primary cemented Exeter femoral components in 78 patients (34 men, 44 women) under the age of 40 years who underwent total hip replacement between October 1993 and May 2004. The mean age at operation was 31 years (16 to 39). No hip was lost to follow-up, but three patients (four hips) died. None of the deaths were related to the surgery. At a mean follow-up of 6.2 years (2 to 13), three femoral components had been revised for septic loosening. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the seven-year survival of the component with revision for any reason as the endpoint was 95.8% (95% confidence interval 86.67 to 98.7). The seven-year survival with aseptic femoral loosening as the endpoint was 100% (95% confidence interval 100). The cemented Exeter femoral component in patients under the age of 40 shows promising medium-term results. As it is available in a wide range of sizes and offsets, we could address all types of anatomical variation in this series without the need for custom-made components.
We conducted a randomised prospective study to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of a mobile- and fixed-bearing total knee replacement of similar design in 174 patients who had bilateral simultaneous knee replacement. The mean follow-up was for 5.6 years (5.2 to 6.1). The total knee score, pain score, functional score and range of movement were not statistically different (p >
0.05) between the two groups. Osteolysis was not seen in any knee in either group. Two knees (1%) in the mobile-bearing group required revision because of infection; none in the fixed-bearing group needed revision. Excellent results can be achieved with both mobile- and fixed-bearing prostheses of similar design at mid-term follow-up. We could demonstrate no significant clinical advantage for a mobile bearing.
When fracture of an extensively porous-coated
femoral component occurs, its removal at revision total hip arthroplasty
(THA) may require a femoral osteotomy and the use of a trephine.
The remaining cortical bone after using the trephine may develop
thermally induced necrosis. A retrospective review identified 11
fractured, well-fixed, uncemented, extensively porous-coated femoral
components requiring removal using a trephine with a minimum of
two years of follow-up. The mean time to failure was 4.6 years (1.7 to 9.1, standard
deviation ( A total of four patients (36.4%) required further revision: three
for instability and one for fracture of the revision component.
There was no statistically significant difference in the mean Harris
hip score before implant fracture (82.4; These findings suggest that removal of a fractured, well-fixed,
uncemented, extensively porous-coated femoral component using a
trephine does not compromise subsequent fixation at revision THA
and the patient’s pre-operative level of function can be restored.
However, the loss of proximal bone stock before revision may be associated
with a high rate of dislocation post-operatively. Cite this article:
We describe the survivorship of the Exeter femoral component in a District General Hospital. Between 1994 and 1996, 230 Exeter Universal cemented femoral components were implanted in 215 patients who were reviewed at a mean of 11.2 years (10 to 13). We used one acetabular implant, the Elite Ogee component, in 218 of the 230 hips. During the period of this study 76 patients (79 hips) died. Of the remaining 139 patients (151 hips), 121 were able to attend for radiological analysis at a minimum of ten years. One patient was lost to follow-up. No femoral component was revised for aseptic loosening. Three hips were revised for deep infection and six acetabular components required revision, four for loosening and two for recurrent dislocation. Taking the ‘worst-case scenario’ including the one patient lost to follow-up, the overall survival rate was 94.4% at 13 years. Our results confirm excellent medium-term results for the Exeter Universal femoral component, implanted in a general setting. The excellent survival of this femoral component, when used in combination with the Ogee acetabular component, suggests that this is a successful pairing.
We reviewed the results at nine to 13 years of 125 total hip replacements in 113 patients using the monoblock uncemented Morscher press-fit acetabular component. The mean age at the time of operation was 56.9 years (36 to 74). The mean clinical follow-up was 11 years (9.7 to 13.5) and the mean radiological follow-up was 9.4 years (7.7 to 13.1). Three hips were revised, one immediately for instability, one for excessive wear and one for deep infection. No revisions were required for aseptic loosening. A total of eight hips (7.0%) had osteolytic lesions greater than 1 cm, in four around the acetabular component (3.5%). One required bone grafting behind a well-fixed implant. The mean wear rate was 0.11 mm/year (0.06 to 0.78) and was significantly higher in components with a steeper abduction angle. Kaplan-Meier survival curves at 13 years showed survival of 96.8% (95% confidence interval 90.2 to 99.0) for revision for any cause and of 95.7% (95% confidence interval 88.6 to 98.4) for any acetabular re-operation.
We describe the results at five years of a prospective study of a new tri-tapered polished, cannulated, cemented femoral stem implanted in 51 patients (54 hips) with osteoarthritis. The mean age and body mass index of the patients was 74 years and 27.9, respectively. Using the anterolateral approach, half of the stems were implanted by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and half by six different registrars. There were three withdrawals from the study because of psychiatric illness, a deep infection and a recurrent dislocation. Five deaths occurred prior to five-year follow-up and one patient withdrew from clinical review. In the remaining 51 hips the mean pre-operative Oxford hip score was 47 points which decreased to 19 points at five years (45 hips). Of the stems 49 (98%) were implanted within 1° of neutral in the femoral canal. The mean migration of the stem at five years was 1.9 mm and the survivorship for aseptic loosening was 100%. There was no significant difference in outcome between the consultant and registrar groups. At five years, the results were comparable with those of other polished, tapered, cemented stems. Long-term surveillance continues.
This pilot study reports the clinical outcomes
of a combination of partial subscapularis tendon transfer and small-head
hemiarthroplasty in patients with rotatator cuff arthropathy. A
total of 30 patients (30 shoulders; eight men and 22 women) with
a mean age of 74 years (55 to 84) were assessed at a mean follow-up
of 31 months (24 to 60). The inclusion criteria were painful cuff
tear arthropathy with normal deltoid function and a non-degenerative subscapularis
muscle and tendon and a preserved teres minor. Outcome was assessed using the University of California Los Angeles
score, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, and the Oxford
Shoulder Score. Radiographic measurements included the centre of
rotation distance and the length of the deltoid. All clinical scores were significantly improved post-operatively.
The active flexion and external rotation improved significantly
at the most recent follow-up (p <
0.035). Although the mean centre
of rotation distance changed significantly (p <
0.001), the mean
length of the deltoid did not change significantly from the pre-operative
value (p = 0.29). The change in the length of the deltoid with <
100° flexion was significantly less than that with >
100° (p <
0.001). Progressive erosion of the glenoid was seen in four patients.
No patient required revision or further surgery. A combination of partial subscapularis tendon transfer and small-head
hemiarthroplasty effectively restored function and relieved pain
in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy. Cite this article: 2015;97-B:1090–5.
We reviewed 111 hemispherical Duraloc series-500 acetabular components with a minimum follow-up of 12 years. The mean clinical and radiological follow-up was 13.4 years (12 to 15). A Profile hydroxyapatite-coated anatomical femoral component was used in each case. Six patients had a late dislocation, for whom the polyethylene liner was exchanged. Each acetabular component was well fixed and all femoral components showed signs of bone ingrowth. The mean rate of femoral head penetration was 0.10 mm/year (0.021 to 0.481). The probability of not developing femoral cortical hypertrophy and proximal osteopenia by 12 years was 80.2% (95% confidence interval, 72.7 to 87.6) and 77.5% (95% confidence interval, 69.7 to 85.2), respectively. Despite these good clinical results, further follow-up is needed to determine whether these prostheses will loosen with time.
We report our experience of performing an elbow
hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of comminuted distal humeral fractures
in the elderly patients. A cohort of 42 patients (three men and 39 women, mean age 72;
56 to 84) were reviewed at a mean of 34.3 months (24 to 61) after
surgery. Functional outcome was measured with the Mayo Elbow Performance
Score (MEPS) and range of movement. The disabilities of the arm,
shoulder and hand questionnaire (DASH) was used as a patient rated
evaluation. Complications and ulnar nerve function were recorded.
Plain radiographs were obtained to assess prosthetic loosening,
olecranon wear and heterotopic bone formation. The mean extension deficit was 23.5° (0° to 60°) and mean flexion
was 126.8° (90° to 145°) giving a mean arc of 105.5° (60° to 145°).
The mean MEPS was 90 (50 to 100) and a mean DASH score of 20 (0
to 63). Four patients had additional surgery for limited range of
movement and one for partial instability. One elbow was revised
due to loosening, two patients had sensory ulnar nerve symptoms,
and radiographic signs of mild olecranon wear was noted in five
patients. Elbow hemiarthroplasty for comminuted intra-articular distal
humeral fractures produces reliable medium-term results with functional
outcome and complication rates, comparable with open reduction and
internal fixation and total elbow arthroplasty. Cite this article:
Partial knee arthroplasty (PKA), either medial
or lateral unicompartmental knee artroplasty (UKA) or patellofemoral arthroplasty
(PFA) are a good option in suitable patients and have the advantages
of reduced operative trauma, preservation of both cruciate ligaments
and bone stock, and restoration of normal kinematics within the
knee joint. However, questions remain concerning long-term survival.
The goal of this review article was to present the long-term results
of medial and lateral UKA, PFA and combined compartmental arthroplasty
for multicompartmental disease. Medium- and long-term studies suggest
reasonable outcomes at ten years with survival greater than 95% in
UKA performed for medial osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis, and similarly
for lateral Cite this article:
This was a retrospective analysis of the medium-
to long-term results of 46 TC3 Sigma revision total knee replacements
using long uncemented stems in press-fit mode. Clinical and radiological analysis took place pre-operatively,
at two years post-operatively, and at a mean follow-up of 8.5 years
(4 to 12). The mean pre-operative International Knee Society (IKS)
clinical score was 42 points (0 to 74), improving to 83.7 (52 to
100) by the final follow-up. The mean IKS score for function improved
from 34.3 points (0 to 80) to 64.2 (15 to 100) at the final follow-up.
At the final follow-up 30 knees (65.2%) had an excellent result, seven
(15.2%) a good result, one (2.2%) a medium and eight (17.4%) a poor
result. There were two failures, one with anteroposterior instability
and one with aseptic loosening. The TC3 revision knee system, when used with press-fit for long
intramedullary stems and cemented femoral and tibial components,
in both septic and aseptic revisions, results in a satisfactory
clinical and radiological outcome, and has a good medium- to long-term
survival rate.
Cementless acetabular fixation has demonstrated superior long-term durability in total hip replacement, but most series have studied implants with porous metal surfaces. We retrospectively evaluated the results of 100 consecutive patients undergoing total hip replacement where a non-porous Allofit component was used for primary press-fit fixation. This implant is titanium alloy, grit-blasted, with a macrostructure of forged teeth and has a biradial shape. A total of 81 patients (82 hips) were evaluated at final follow-up at a mean of 10.1 years (8.9 to 11.9). The Harris Hip Score improved from a mean 53 points (23 to 73) pre-operatively to a mean of 96 points (78 to 100) at final review. The osseointegration of all acetabular components was radiologically evaluated with no evidence of loosening. The survival rate with revision of the component as the endpoint was 97.5% (95% confidence interval 94 to 100) after 11.9 years. Radiolucency was found in one DeLee-Charnley zone in four acetabular components. None of the implants required revision for aseptic loosening. Two patients were treated for infection, one requiring a two-stage revision of the implant. One femoral stem was revised for osteolysis due to the production of metal wear debris, but the acetabular shell did not require revision. This study demonstrates that a non-porous titanium acetabular component with adjunct surface fixation offers an alternative to standard porous-coated implants.
It has been suggested that the wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in total hip replacement is substantially reduced when the femoral head is ceramic rather than metal. However, studies of alumina and zirconia ceramic femoral heads on the penetration of an UHMWPE liner The purpose of this study was to examine the surface characteristics of 30 alumina and 24 zirconia ceramic femoral heads and to identify any phase transformation in the zirconia heads. We also studied the penetration rate of alumina and zirconia heads into contemporary UHMWPE liners. The alumina heads had been implanted for a mean of 11.3 years (8.1 to 16.2) and zirconia heads for a mean of 9.8 years (7.5 to 15). The mean surface roughness values of the explanted alumina heads (Ra 40.12 nm and Rpm 578.34 nm) were similar to those for the explanted zirconia heads (Ra 36.21 nm and Rpm 607.34 nm). The mean value of the monoclinic phase of two control zirconia heads was 1% (0.8% to 1.5%) and 1.2% (0.9% to 1.3%), respectively. The mean value of the monoclinic phase of 24 explanted zirconia heads was 7.3% (1% to 26%). In the alumina group, the mean linear penetration rate of the UMWPE liner was 0.10 mm/yr (0.09 to 0.12) in hips with low Ra and Rpm values (13.22 nm and 85.91 nm, respectively). The mean linear penetration rate of the UHMWPE liner was 0.13 mm/yr (0.07 to 0.23) in hips with high Ra and Rpm values (198.72 nm and 1329 nm, respectively). This difference was significant (p = 0.041). In the zirconia head group, the mean linear penetration rate of the UHMWPE liner was 0.09 mm/yr (0.07 to 0.14) in hips with low Ra and Rpm values (12.78 nm and 92.99 nm, respectively). The mean linear penetration rate of the UHMWPE liner was 0.12 mm/yr (0.08 to 0.22) in hips with high Ra and Rpm values (199.21 nm and 1381 nm, respectively). This difference was significant (p = 0.039). The explanted zirconia heads which had a minimal phase transformation had similar surface roughness and a similar penetration rate of UHMWPE liner as the explanted alumina head.
Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a reliable
procedure with reproducible long-term results. Nevertheless, there
are conditions related to the type of patient or local conditions
of the knee that can make it a difficult procedure. The most common
scenarios that make it difficult are discussed in this review. These
include patients with many previous operations and incisions, and
those with severe coronal deformities, genu recurvatum, a stiff knee,
extra-articular deformities and those who have previously undergone
osteotomy around the knee and those with chronic dislocation of
the patella. Each condition is analysed according to the characteristics of
the patient, the pre-operative planning and the reported outcomes. When approaching the difficult primary TKA surgeons should use
a systematic approach, which begins with the review of the existing
literature for each specific clinical situation. Cite this article:
Between 1990 and 2000, 123 hips in 110 patients were reconstructed for aseptic loosening using impaction bone grafting with frozen, irradiated, morsellised femoral heads and cemented acetabular components. This series was reported previously at a mean follow-up of five years. We have extended this follow-up and now describe the outcome of 86 hips in 74 patients at a mean of ten years. There have been 19 revisions, comprising nine for infection, seven for aseptic loosening and three for dislocation. In surviving acetabular reconstructions, union of the graft had occurred in 64 of 67 hips (95.5%). Survival analysis for all indications at ten years was 83.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 68 to 89) and 71.3% (95% CI 58 to 84) at 15 years. Acetabular reconstruction using irradiated allograft and a cemented acetabular component is an effective method of reconstruction, providing results in the medium- to long-term comparable with those of reported series where non-irradiated freshly-frozen bone was used.