The August 2015 Hip &
Pelvis Roundup360 looks at: The well-fixed acetabular revision; Predicting complications in revision arthroplasty; Is infection associated with fixation?; Front or back? An enduring question in hip surgery; Muscle-sparing approaches?; Gabapentin as a post-operative analgesic adjunct; An Indian take on AVN of the hip; Weight loss and arthroplasty
A number of studies have reported satisfactory
results from the isolated revision of an acetabular component. However,
many of these studies reported only the short- to intermediate-term
results of heterogeneous bearing surfaces in a mixed age group. We present our experience of using a ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC)
bearing for isolated revision of an uncemented acetabular component
in 166 patients (187 hips) who were under the age of 50 years at
the time of revision. There were 78 men and 88 women with a mean
age of 47.4 years (28 to 49). The most common reason for revision
was polyethylene wear and acetabular osteolysis in 123 hips (66%),
followed by aseptic loosening in 49 hips (26%). We report the clinical and radiological outcome, complication
rate, and survivorship of this group. The mean duration of follow-up
was 15.6 years (11 to 19). The mean pre-operative Harris hip score was 33 points (1 to 58),
and improved to a mean of 88 points (51 to 100) at follow-up. The
mean pre-operative total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities
Osteoarthritis Index score was 63.2 (43 to 91) and improved to 19.8
points (9 to 61) post-operatively. Overall, 153 of 166 patients
(92%) were satisfied with their outcome. Kaplan–Meier survivorship
analysis, with revision or radiological evidence of implant failure
(13 patients, 8%) as end-points, was 92% at 15 years (95% confidence
interval 0.89 to 0.97). Isolated revision of a cementless acetabular component using
a CoC bearing gives good results in patients under 50 years of age. Cite this article:
The April 2015 Knee Roundup360 looks at: Genetic determinants of ACL strength; TKA outcomes influenced by prosthesis; Single- or two-stage revision for infected TKA?; Arthroscopic meniscectomy: a problem that just won’t go away!; Failure in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction; ACL reconstruction in the over 50s?; Knee arthroplasty for early osteoarthritis; All inside meniscal repair; Steroids, thrombogenic markers and TKA
The April 2015 Wrist &
Hand Roundup360 looks at: Non-operative hand fracture management; From the sublime to the ridiculous?; A novel approach to carpal tunnel decompression; Osteoporosis and functional scores in the distal radius; Ulnar variance and force distribution; Tourniquets in carpal tunnel under the spotlight; Scaphoid fractures reclassified; Osteoporosis and distal radial fracture fixation; PROMISing results in the upper limb
The best method of managing a fracture of the
distal humerus in a frail low-demand patient with osteoporotic bone remains
controversial. Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) has been recommended
for patients in whom open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF)
is not possible. Conservative methods of treatment, including the
‘bag of bones’ technique (acceptance of displacement of the bony
fragments and early mobilisation), are now rarely considered as
they are believed to give a poor functional result. We reviewed 40 elderly and low-demand patients (aged 50 to 93
years, 72% women) with a fracture of the distal humerus who had
been treated conservatively at our hospital between March 2008 and
December 2013, and assessed their short- and medium-term functional
outcome. In the short-term, the mean Broberg and Morrey score improved
from 42 points (poor; 23 to 80) at six weeks after injury to 67
points (fair; 40 to 88) by three months. In the medium-term, surviving patients (n = 20) had a mean Oxford
elbow score of 30 points (7 to 48) at four years and a mean Disabilities
of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score of 38 points (0 to 75): 95%
reported a functional range of elbow flexion. The cumulative rate
of fracture union at one year was 53%. The mortality at five years approached
40%. Conservative management of a fracture of the distal humerus in
a low-demand patient only gives a modest functional result, but
avoids the substantial surgical risks associated with primary ORIF
or TEA. Cite this article:
The June 2015 Spine Roundup360 looks at: Less is more in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis; Paracetamol out of favour in spinal pain but effective for osteoarthritis; Local wound irrigation to reduce infection?; Lumbar facet joint effusion: a reliable prognostic sign?; SPORT for the octogenarian; Neurological deterioration following traumatic spinal cord injury; PROMS in spinal surgery
Oxidised zirconium (OxZi) has been developed
as an alternative bearing surface for femoral heads in total hip arthroplasty
(THA). This study has investigated polyethylene wear, functional
outcomes and complications, comparing OxZi and cobalt–chrome (CoCr)
as part of a three-arm, multicentre randomised controlled trial.
Patients undergoing THA from four institutions were prospectively
randomised into three groups. Group A received a CoCr femoral head
and highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) liner; Group B received
an OxZi femoral head and XLPE liner; Group C received an OxZi femoral
head and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) liner.
At five years, 368 patients had no statistically significant differences
in short-form-36 (p = 0.176 mental, p = 0.756 physical), Western
Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (p = 0.847),
pain scores
(p = 0.458) or complications. The mean rate of linear wear was 0.028
mm/year (standard deviation ( Cite this article:
This review examines the future of total hip arthroplasty, aiming to avoid past mistakes
The April 2015 Research Roundup360 looks at: MCID in grip strength and distal radial fracture; Experiencing rehab in a trial setting; Electrical stimulation and nerve recovery; Molecular diagnosis of TB?; Acetabular orientation: component and arthritis; Analgesia after knee arthroplasty; Bisphosphonate-associated femoral fractures
Ankle replacements have improved significantly since the first reported attempt at resurfacing of the talar dome in 1962. We are now at a stage where ankle replacement offers a viable option in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. As the procedure becomes more successful, it is important to reflect and review the current surgical outcomes. This allows us to guide our patients in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. What is the better surgical treatment – arthrodesis or replacement?
A patient-centred approach, usually achieved through shared decision
making, has the potential to help improve decision making around
knee arthroplasty surgery. However, such an approach requires an
understanding of the factors involved in patient decision making.
This review’s objective is to systematically examine the qualitative literature
surrounding patients’ decision making in knee arthroplasty. A systematic literature review using Medline and Embase was conducted
to identify qualitative studies that examined patients’ decision
making around knee arthroplasty. An aggregated account of what is
known about patients’ decision making in knee arthroplasties is
provided.Objectives
Methods
The December 2014 Knee Roundup360 looks at: national guidance on arthroplasty thromboprophylaxis is effective; unicompartmental knee replacement has the edge in terms of short-term complications; stiff knees, timing and manipulation; neuropathic pain and total knee replacement; synovial fluid α-defensin and CRP: a new gold standard in joint infection diagnosis?; how to assess anterior knee pain?; where is the evidence? Five new implants under the spotlight; and a fresh look at ACL reconstruction
A small proportion of patients have persistent
pain after total knee replacement (TKR). The primary aim of this study
was to record the prevalence of pain after TKR at specific intervals
post-operatively and to ascertain the impact of neuropathic pain.
The secondary aim was to establish any predictive factors that could
be used to identify patients who were likely to have high levels
of pain or neuropathic pain after TKR. A total of 96 patients were included in the study. Their mean
age was 71 years (48 to 89); 54 (56%) were female. The mean follow-up
was 46 months (39 to 51). Pre-operative demographic details were
recorded including a Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain, the Hospital
Anxiety and Depression score as well as the painDETECT score for neuropathic
pain. Functional outcome was assessed using the Oxford Knee score. The mean pre-operative VAS was 5.8 (1 to 10); and it improved
significantly at all time periods post-operatively (p <
0.001):
(from 4.5 at day three to five (1 to 10), 3.2 at six weeks (0 to
9), 2.4 at three months (0 to 7), 2.0 at six months (0 to 9), 1.7
at nine months (0 to 9), 1.5 at one year (0 to 8) and 2.0 at mean
46 months (0 to 10)). There was a high correlation (r >
0.7; p <
0.001) between the mean VAS scores for pain and the mean painDETECT
scores at three months, one year and three years post-operatively.
There was no correlation between the pre-operative scores and any
post-operative scores at any time point. We report the prevalence of pain and neuropathic pain at various
intervals up to three years after TKR. Neuropathic pain is an underestimated
problem in patients with pain after TKR. It peaks at between six
weeks and three-months post-operatively. However, from these data
we were unable to predict which patients are most likely to be affected. Cite this article:
This study demonstrates a significant correlation
between the American Knee Society (AKS) Clinical Rating System and
the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and provides a validated prediction
tool to estimate score conversion. A total of 1022 patients were prospectively clinically assessed
five years after TKR and completed AKS assessments and an OKS questionnaire.
Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations between
OKS and the AKS knee and function scores but a stronger correlation
(r = 0.68, p <
0.001) when using the sum of the AKS knee and
function scores. Addition of body mass index and age (other statistically
significant predictors of OKS) to the algorithm did not significantly
increase the predictive value. The simple regression model was used to predict the OKS in a
group of 236 patients who were clinically assessed nine to ten years
after TKR using the AKS system. The predicted OKS was compared with
actual OKS in the second group. Intra-class correlation demonstrated
excellent reliability (r = 0.81, 95% confidence intervals 0.75 to
0.85) for the combined knee and function score when used to predict
OKS. Our findings will facilitate comparison of outcome data from
studies and registries using either the OKS or the AKS scores and
may also be of value for those undertaking meta-analyses and systematic
reviews. Cite this article:
The outcome after total hip replacement has improved
with the development of surgical techniques, better pain management
and the introduction of enhanced recovery pathways. These pathways
require a multidisciplinary team to manage pre-operative education,
multimodal pain control and accelerated rehabilitation. The current economic
climate and restricted budgets favour brief hospitalisation while
minimising costs. This has put considerable pressure on hospitals
to combine excellent results, early functional recovery and shorter
admissions. In this review we present an evidence-based summary of some common
interventions and methods, including pre-operative patient education,
pre-emptive analgesia, local infiltration analgesia, pre-operative
nutrition, the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields, peri-operative
rehabilitation, wound dressings, different surgical techniques, minimally
invasive surgery and fast-track joint replacement units. Cite this article:
The February 2015 Wrist &
Hand Roundup360 looks at: Toes, feet, hands and transfers… FCR Tendonitis after Trapeziectomy and suspension, Motion sparing surgery for SLAC/SNAC wrists under the spotlight, Instability following distal radius fractures, Bilateral wrist arthrodesis a good idea?, Sodium Hyaluronate improves hand recovery following flexor tendon repair, Ultrasound treatments for de Quervain’s, Strategies for treating metacarpal neck fractures.
The February 2014 Foot &
Ankle Roundup360 looks at: optimal medial malleolar fixation; resurfacing in the talus; predicting outcome in mobility ankles; whether mal-aligned ankles can be successfully replaced; cartilage colonisation in bipolar ankle grafts; CTs and proof of fusion; recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy; and recurrent fifth metatarsal stress fractures.
As it remains unproven that hypermobility of
the first tarsometatarsal joint (TMTJ-1) is a significant factor
in hallux valgus deformity, the necessity for including arthrodesis
of TMTJ-1 as part of a surgical correction of a hallux valgus is
questionable. In order to evaluate the role of this arthrodesis
on the long-term outcome of hallux valgus surgery, a prospective,
blinded, randomised study with long-term follow-up was performed,
comparing the Lapidus procedure (which includes such an arthrodesis)
with a simple Hohmann distal closing wedge metatarsal osteotomy. The
study cohort comprised 101 feet in 87 patients: 50 feet were treated
with a Hohmann procedure and 51 with a Lapidus procedure. Hypermobility
of TMTJ-1 was assessed pre-operatively by clinical examination.
After a mean of 9.25 years (7.25 to 11.42), 91 feet in 77 patients
were available for follow-up. There was no difference in clinical
or radiological outcome between the two procedures. Also, there
was no difference in outcome between the two procedures in the subgroup
clinically assessed as hypermobile. This study does not support
the theory that a hallux valgus deformity in a patient with a clinically
assessed hypermobile TMTJ-1 joint requires fusion of the first tarso-metatarsal
joint. Cite this article:
The April 2014 Wrist &
Hand Roundup360 looks at: diagnosis of compressive neuropathy; relevant reviews; the biomechanics of dorsal PIP fracture dislocation; the more strands the better; and state of mind the best predictor of outcome.