Aims

The incidence of bone metastases is between 20% to 75% depending on the type of cancer. As treatment improves, the number of patients who need surgical intervention is increasing. Identifying patients with a shorter life expectancy would allow surgical intervention with more durable reconstructions to be targeted to those most likely to benefit. While previous scoring systems have focused on surgical and oncological factors, there is a need to consider comorbidities and the physiological state of the patient, as these will also affect outcome. The primary aim of this study was to create a scoring system to estimate survival time in patients with bony metastases and to determine which factors may adversely affect this.

The December 2015 Hip & Pelvis Roundup. 360 . looks at: Vitamin E infusion helpful in polyethylene; Hip replacement in fracture and arthritis; Non-surgical treatment for arthritis; Cost and approach in hip surgery; Who does well in FAI surgery?; AAOS Thromboembolism guidelines; Thromboprophylaxis and periprosthetic joint infection; Fluid collections not limited to metal-on-metal THR

Aims. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of previous lumbar surgery in patients who undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to investigate their patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) one year post-operatively. Patients and Methods. Data from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register and the Swedish Spine Register gathered from 2002 to 2013 were merged to identify a group of patients who had undergone lumbar surgery before THA (n = 997) and a carefully matched one-to-one control group. We investigated differences in the one-year post-operative PROMs between the groups. Linear regression analyses were used to explore the associations between previous lumbar surgery and these PROMs following THA. The prevalence of prior lumbar surgery was calculated as the ratio of patients identified with previous lumbar surgery between 2002 and 2012, and divided by the total number of patients who underwent a THA in 2012. Results. The prevalence of lumbar surgery prior to THA in 2012 was 3.5% (351 of 10 082). Linear regression analyses showed an association with more pain (B = 4.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.57 to 6.12), worse EuroQol (EQ)-5D index, (B = -0.089, 95% CI -0.112 to -0.066), worse EQ VAS (B = -6.75, 95% CI -8.58 to -4.92), and less satisfaction (B = 6.04, 95% CI 4.05 to 8.02). Conclusion. Lumbar spinal surgery prior to THA is associated with less reduction of pain, worse health-related quality of life, and less satisfaction one year after THA. This is useful information to share in the decision-making process and may help establish realistic expectations of the outcomes of THA in patients who also have previously undergone lumbar spinal surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:759–65

Aims. We sought to determine whether cobalt-chromium alloy (CoCr) femoral stem tapers (trunnions) wear more than titanium (Ti) alloy stem tapers (trunnions) when used in a large diameter (LD) metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasty system. Patients and Methods. We performed explant analysis using validated methodology to determine the volumetric material loss at the taper surfaces of explanted LD CoCr MoM hip arthroplasties used with either a Ti alloy (n = 28) or CoCr femoral stem (n = 21). Only 12/14 taper constructs with a rough male taper surface and a nominal included angle close to 5.666° were included. Multiple regression modelling was undertaken using taper angle, taper roughness, bearing diameter (horizontal lever arm) as independent variables. Material loss was mapped using a coordinate measuring machine, profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. Results. After adjustment for other factors, CoCr stem tapers were found to have significantly greater volumetric material loss than the equivalent Ti stem tapers. Conclusion. When taper junction damage is identified during revision of a LD MoM hip, it should be suspected that a male taper composed of a standard CoCr alloy has sustained significant changes to the taper cone geometry which are likely to be more extensive than those affecting a Ti alloy stem. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1304–12

Aims

The main objective of this study was to examine whether the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) demonstrated floor or ceiling effects when used to measure outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty in a large national cohort. Secondary objectives were to assess its pain and function subscales, and to identify independent predictors for patients achieving a postoperative ceiling score following shoulder arthroplasty.

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To determine if primary cemented acetabular component geometry (long posterior wall (LPW), hooded, or offset reorientating) influences the risk of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for instability or loosening.

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The aim of this study was to radiologically evaluate the quality of cement mantle and alignment achieved with a polished tapered cemented femoral stem inserted through the anterior approach and compared with the posterior approach.

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Cement-in-cement revision of the femoral component represents a widely practised technique for a variety of indications in revision total hip arthroplasty. In this study, we compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of two polished tapered femoral components.

Aims. The purpose of this current multicentre study is to analyse the presence of alpha-defensin proteins in synovial fluid using the Synovasure lateral flow device and to determine its diagnostic reliability and accuracy compared with the prosthetic joint infection (PJI) criteria produced by the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS). Patients and Methods. A cohort of 121 patients comprising 85 total knee arthroplasties and 36 total hip arthroplasties was prospectively evaluated between May 2015 and June 2016 in three different orthopaedic centres. The tests were performed on patients with a chronically painful prosthesis undergoing a joint aspiration in a diagnostic pathway or during revision surgery. Results. Based on the MSIS criteria, 34 patients (28%) would have had a PJI, and 87 patients had no PJI. Testing with the lateral flow device had a sensitivity of 97.1% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 84.5 to 99.9) and a specificity of 96.6% (95% CI 90.3 to 99.2). The positive predictive value was 91.7% (95% CI 77.7% to 98.3), and the negative predictive value was 98.8% (95% CI 93.6 to 99.9). Receiver operator characteristics analysis demonstrated an area under the curve for the Synovasure test of 0.97 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.00). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the Synovasure test has an excellent diagnostic performance to confirm or reject the diagnosis of a PJI. The results are promising for the care of the painful or problematic knee and hip joint arthroplasty and the test should be considered as part of the diagnostic toolbox for PJIs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1176–82

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate whether an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) for arthroplasty established during the COVID-19 pandemic at a safety net hospital can be associated with a decrease in hospital length of stay (LOS) and an increase in same-day discharges (SDDs) without increasing acute adverse events.

The June 2015 Hip & Pelvis Roundup. 360 . looks at: neuraxial anaesthesia and large joint arthroplasty; revision total hip arthoplasty: factors associated with re-revision surgery; acetabular version and clinical outcomes in impingement surgery; hip precautions may be ineffective; implant selection and cost effectiveness; femoroacetabular impingement in the older age group; multiple revision in hip arthroplasty

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Adverse local tissue reactions associated with abnormal wear considerably slowed down the general use of metal-on-metal (MoM) hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA), now limited to a few specialized centres. In this study, we provide the clinical results of 400 consecutive MoM HRAs implanted more than 20 years ago in one such centre.

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There are concerns regarding initial stability and early periprosthetic fractures in cementless hip arthroplasty using short stems. This study aimed to investigate stress on the cortical bone around the stem and micromotions between the stem and cortical bone according to femoral stem length and positioning.

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This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of implant placement with robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Aims. We present the clinical and radiological results at a minimum follow-up of five years for patients who have undergone multiple cement-in-cement revisions of their femoral component at revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and Methods. We reviewed the outcome on a consecutive series of 24 patients (10 men, 14 women) (51 procedures) who underwent more than one cement-in-cement revision of the same femoral component. The mean age of the patients was 67.5 years (36 to 92) at final follow-up. Function was assessed using the original Harris hip score (HHS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and the Merle D’Aubigné Postel score (MDP). Results. The mean length of follow-up was 81.7 months (64 to 240). A total of 41 isolated acetabular revisions were performed in which stem removal facilitated access to the acetabulum, six revisions were conducted for loosening of both components and two were isolated stem revisions (each of these patients had undergone at least two revisions). There was significant improvement in the OHS (p = 0.041), HHS (p = 0.019) and MDP (p = 0.042) scores at final follow-up There were no stem revisions for aseptic loosening. Survival of the femoral component was 91.9% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 71.5 to 97.9) at five years and 91.7% (95% CI 70 to 97) at ten years (number at risk 13), with stem revision for all causes as the endpoint. Conclusion. Cement-in-cement revision is a viable technique for performing multiple revisions of the well cemented femoral component during revision total hip arthroplasty at a minimum of five years follow-up. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:199–203

Aims

Knee arthroplasty surgery is a highly effective treatment for arthritis and disorders of the knee. There are a wide variety of implant brands and types of knee arthroplasty available to surgeons. As a result of a number of highly publicized failures, arthroplasty surgery is highly regulated in the UK and many other countries through national registries, introduced to monitor implant performance, surgeons, and hospitals. With time, the options available within many brand portfolios have grown, with alternative tibial or femoral components, tibial insert materials, or shapes and patella resurfacings. In this study we have investigated the effect of the expansion of implant brand portfolios and where there may be a lack of transparency around a brand name. We also aimed to establish the potential numbers of compatible implant construct combinations.

We matched 78 patients with a loose cemented Charnley Elite Plus total hip replacement (THR) by age, gender, race, prosthesis and time from surgery with 49 patients with a well-fixed stable hip replacement, to determine if poor bone quality predisposes to loosening. Clinical, radiological, biomechanical and bone mineral density indicators of bone quality were assessed. Patients with loose replacements had more pain, were more likely to have presented with atrophic arthritis and to have a history of fragility fracture, narrower femoral cortices and lower peri-prosthetic or lumbar spine bone mineral density (all t-test, p < 0.01). They also tended to be smokers (chi-squared test, p = 0.08). Vitamin-D deficiency was common, but not significantly different between the two groups (t-test, p = 0.31). In this series of cemented hip replacements performed between 1994 and 1998, aseptic loosening was associated with poor bone quality. Patients with a THR should be screened for osteoporosis and have regular radiological surveillance

The December 2014 Hip & Pelvis Roundup. 360 . looks at: Sports and total hips; topical tranexamic acid and blood conservation in hip replacement; blind spots and biases in hip research; no recurrence in cam lesions at two years; to drain or not to drain?; sonication and diagnosis of implant associated infection; and biomarkers and periprosthetic infection