Radiological evidence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis
(PTOA) after fracture of the tibial plateau is common but end-stage arthritis
which requires total knee arthroplasty is much rarer. The aim of this study was to examine the indications for, and
outcomes of, total knee arthroplasty after fracture of the tibial
plateau and to compare this with an age and gender-matched cohort
of TKAs carried out for primary osteoarthritis. Between 1997 and 2011, 31 consecutive patients (23 women, eight
men) with a mean age of 65 years (40 to 89) underwent TKA at a mean
of 24 months (2 to 124) after a fracture of the tibial plateau.
Of these, 24 had undergone ORIF and seven had been treated non-operatively.
Patients were assessed pre-operatively and at 6, 12 and >
60 months
using the Short Form-12, Oxford Knee Score and a patient satisfaction
score. Patients with instability or nonunion needed total knee arthroplasty
earlier (14 and 13.3 months post-injury) than those with intra-articular
malunion (50 months, p <
0.001). Primary cruciate-retaining implants
were used in 27 (87%) patients. Complication rates were higher in
the PTOA cohort and included wound complications (13% Total knee arthroplasty undertaken after fracture of the tibial
plateau has a higher rate of complications than that undertaken
for primary osteoarthritis, but patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction
are comparable. Cite this article:
The December 2012 Trauma Roundup360 looks at: more is not always better, especially when its chemotherapy; new hope for skeletal metastasis; biopsy tracts; intra-operative imaging of sarcomas; curettage with adjuvant therapy; amputation and distal tibial osteosarcoma; and diaphyseal tibial tumours.
Over the past 30 years there have been many improvements
in implant fixation, correction of deformity, improved polyethylene
wear, and survival after knee replacement. The work over the last
decade has focused on less invasive surgical techniques, multimodal
pain management protocols, more rapid functional recovery and reduced
length of stay, aiming to minimise the side effects of treatment
while maintaining function and implant durability. When combined
and standardised these pre-, intra- and post-operative factors have
now facilitated outpatient knee replacement procedures for unicompartmental
replacement, patella femoral arthroplasty and total knee replacement
(TKR). We have found liposomal bupivacaine, with potential for longer
therapeutic action, to be a helpful adjunct and describe our current
pain management program. The next step in our multimodal program
is to improve the duration of patient satisfaction and reduce cost
and length of stay after TKR. 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:
Obesity is a risk factor for complications following
many orthopaedic procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate
whether obesity was an independent risk factor increasing the rate
of complications following periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and to
determine whether radiographic correction after PAO was affected
by obesity. We retrospectively collected demographic, clinical and radiographic
data on 280 patients (231 women; 82.5% and 49 men; 17.5%) who were
followed for a mean of 48 months (12 to 60) after PAO. A total of
65 patients (23.2%) were obese (body mass index (BMI) >
30 kg/m2).
Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that BMI was an independent
risk factor associated with the severity of the complications. The
average probability of a patient developing a major complication
was 22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.78 to 38.21) for an obese
patient compared with 3% (95% CI 1.39 to 6.58) for a non-obese patient
The odds of a patient developing a major complication were 11 times
higher (95% CI 4.71 to 17.60, p <
0.0001) for an obese compared
with a non-obese patient. Following PAO surgery, there was no difference in radiographic
correction between obese and non-obese patients. PAO procedures
in obese patients correct the deformity effectively but are associated
with an increased rate of complications. Cite this article:
This review examines the future of total hip arthroplasty, aiming to avoid past mistakes
A retrospective review was performed of patients
undergoing primary cementless total knee replacement (TKR) using
porous tantalum performed by a group of surgical trainees. Clinical
and radiological follow-up involved 79 females and 26 males encompassing
115 knees. The mean age was 66.9 years (36 to 85). Mean follow-up
was 7 years (2 to 11). Tibial and patellar components were porous
tantalum monoblock implants, and femoral components were posterior
stabilised (PS) in design with cobalt–chromium fibre mesh. Radiological
assessments were made for implant positioning, alignment, radiolucencies,
lysis, and loosening. There was 95.7% survival of implants. There
was no radiological evidence of loosening and no osteolysis found.
No revisions were performed for aseptic loosening. Average tibial
component alignment was 1.4° of varus (4°of valgus to 9° varus),
and 6.2° (3° anterior to 15° posterior) of posterior slope. Mean
femoral component alignment was 6.6° (1° to 11°) of valgus. Mean tibiofemoral
alignment was 5.6° of valgus (7° varus to 16° valgus). Patellar
tilt was a mean of 2.4° lateral (5° medial to 28° lateral). Patient
satisfaction with improvement in pain was 91%. Cementless TKR incorporating
porous tantalum yielded good clinical and radiological outcomes
at a mean of follow-up of seven-years. Cite this article:
Previous studies of failure mechanisms leading
to revision total knee replacement (TKR) performed between 1986 and
2000 determined that many failed early, with a disproportionate
amount accounted for by infection and implant-associated factors
including wear, loosening and instability. Since then, efforts have
been made to improve implant performance and instruct surgeons in
best practice. Recently our centre participated in a multi-centre evaluation
of 844 revision TKRs from 2010 to 2011. The purpose was to report
a detailed analysis of failure mechanisms over time and to see if
failure modes have changed over the past 10 to 15 years. Aseptic
loosening was the predominant mechanism of failure (31.2%), followed
by instability (18.7%), infection (16.2%), polyethylene wear (10.0%),
arthrofibrosis (6.9%) and malalignment (6.6%). The mean time to
failure was 5.9 years (ten days to 31 years), 35.3% of all revisions
occurred at less than two years, and 60.2% in the first five years.
With improvements in implant and polyethylene manufacture, polyethylene
wear is no longer a leading cause of failure. Early mechanisms of
failure are primarily technical errors. In addition to improving
implant longevity, industry and surgeons must work together to decrease
these technical errors. All reports on failure of TKR contain patients
with unexplained pain who not infrequently have unmet expectations.
Surgeons must work to achieve realistic patient expectations pre-operatively,
and therefore, improve patient satisfaction post-operatively. Cite this article:
The Oxford mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee
replacement (UKR) is an effective and safe treatment for osteoarthritis
of the medial compartment. The results in the lateral compartment
have been disappointing due to a high early rate of dislocation
of the bearing. A series using a newly designed domed tibial component
is reported. The first 50 consecutive domed lateral Oxford UKRs in 50 patients
with a mean follow-up of three years (2.0 to 4.3) were included.
Clinical scores were obtained prospectively and Kaplan-Meier survival
analysis was performed for different endpoints. Radiological variables
related to the position and alignment of the components were measured. One patient died and none was lost to follow-up. The cumulative
incidence of dislocation was 6.2% (95% confidence interval (CI)
2.0 to 17.9) at three years. Survival using revision for any reason
and aseptic revision was 94% (95% CI 82 to 98) and 96% (95% CI 85
to 99) at three years, respectively. Outcome scores, visual analogue
scale for pain and maximum knee flexion showed a significant improvement
(p <
0.001). The mean Oxford knee score was 43 ( Clinical results are excellent and short-term survival has improved
when compared with earlier series. The risk of dislocation remains
higher using a mobile-bearing UKR in the lateral compartment when
compared with the medial compartment. Patients should be informed
about this complication. To avoid dislocations, care must be taken
not to elevate the lateral joint line.
Between 1988 and 1998 we implanted 318 total hip replacements (THRs) in 287 patients using the Plasmacup (B. Braun Ltd, Sheffield, United Kingdom) and a conventional metal-on-polyethylene articulation. The main indications for THR were primary or secondary osteoarthritis. At follow-up after a mean 11.6 years (7.6 to 18.4) 17 patients had died and 20 could not be traced leaving a final series of 280 THRs in 250 patients. There were 62 revisions (22.1%) in 59 patients. A total of 43 acetabular shells (15.4%) had been revised and 13 (4.6%) had undergone exchange of the liner. The most frequent indications for revision were osteolysis and aseptic loosening, followed by polyethylene wear. The mean Kaplan-Meier survival of the Plasmacup was 91% at ten years and 58% at 14 years. Osteolysis was found around 36 (17.1%) of the 211 surviving shells. The median annual rate of linear wear in the surviving shells was 0.12 mm/year and 0.25 mm/year in those which had been revised (p <
0.001). Polyethylene wear was a strong independent risk factor for osteolysis and aseptic loosening. The percentage of patients with osteolysis increased proportionately with each quintile of wear-rate. There is a high late rate of failure of the Plasmacup. Patients with the combination of this prosthesis and bearing should be closely monitored after ten years.
The June 2013 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: whether allograft composite is superior to megaprosthesis in massive reconstruction; pain from glomus tumours; thromboembolism and orthopaedic malignancy; bone marrow aspirate and cavity lesions; metastasectomy in osteosarcoma; spinal giant cell tumour; post-atomic strike sarcoma; and superficial sarcomas and post-operative infection rates.
Cartilage defects of the hip cause significant
pain and may lead to arthritic changes that necessitate hip replacement.
We propose the use of fresh osteochondral allografts as an option
for the treatment of such defects in young patients. Here we present
the results of fresh osteochondral allografts for cartilage defects
in 17 patients in a prospective study. The underlying diagnoses
for the cartilage defects were osteochondritis dissecans in eight
and avascular necrosis in six. Two had Legg-Calve-Perthes and one
a femoral head fracture. Pre-operatively, an MRI was used to determine
the size of the cartilage defect and the femoral head diameter.
All patients underwent surgical hip dislocation with a trochanteric
slide osteotomy for placement of the allograft. The mean age at
surgery was 25.9 years (17 to 44) and mean follow-up was 41.6 months
(3 to 74). The mean Harris hip score was significantly better after
surgery (p <
0.01) and 13 patients had fair to good outcomes.
One patient required a repeat allograft, one patient underwent hip
replacement and two patients are awaiting hip replacement. Fresh
osteochondral allograft is a reasonable treatment option for hip
cartilage defects in young patients. Cite this article:
The contemporary practice of orthopaedic surgery
requires an evidence-based approach to support all medical and surgical
interventions. In this essay, the author expresses a forthright,
personal and somewhat prejudiced appeal to retain the legitimacy
of clinical decision making in conditions that are rare, contain
multiple variables, have a solution that generally works or has
an unpredictable course. Cite this article:
We report the results of 79 patients (81 hips)
who underwent impaction grafting at revision hip replacement using the
Exeter femoral stem. Their mean age was 64 years (31 to 83). According
to the Endoklinik classification, 20 hips had a type 2 bone defect,
40 had type 3, and 21 had type 4. The mean follow-up for unrevised
stems was 10.4 years (5 to 17). There were 12 re-operations due to intra- and post-operative
fractures, infection (one hip) and aseptic loosening (one hip).
All re-operations affected type 3 (6 hips) and 4 (6 hips) bone defects.
The survival rate for re-operation for any cause was 100% for type
2, 81.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 67.1 to 95.3) for type 3,
and 70.8% (95% CI 51.1 to 90.5) for type 4 defects at 14 years.
The survival rate with further revision for aseptic loosening as
the end point was 98.6% (95% CI 95.8 to 100). The final clinical
score was higher for patients with type 2 bone defects than type
4 regarding pain, function and range of movement. Limp was most
frequent in the type 4 group (p <
0.001). The mean subsidence
of the stem was 2.3 mm ( The impacted bone grafting technique has good clinical results
in femoral revision. However, major bone defects affect clinical
outcome and also result in more operative complications.
We compared the clinical and radiographic results
of total ankle replacement (TAR) performed in non-diabetic and diabetic
patients. We identified 173 patients who underwent unilateral TAR
between 2004 and 2011 with a minimum of two years’ follow-up. There
were 88 male (50.9%) and 85 female (49.1%) patients with a mean
age of 66 years ( The mean AOS and AOFAS scores were significantly better in the
non-diabetic group (p = 0.018 and p = 0.038, respectively). In all,
nine TARs (21%) in the diabetic group had clinical failure at a
mean follow-up of five years (24 to 109), which was significantly
higher than the rate of failure of 15 (11.6%) in the non-diabetic
group (p = 0.004). The uncontrolled diabetic subgroup had a significantly
poorer outcome than the non-diabetic group (p = 0.02), and a higher
rate of delayed wound healing. The incidence of early-onset osteolysis was higher in the diabetic
group than in the non-diabetic group (p = 0.02). These results suggest
that diabetes mellitus, especially with poor glycaemic control,
negatively affects the short- to mid-term outcome after TAR. Cite this article:
The August 2014 Knee Roundup360 looks at: re-admission following total knee replacement; out with the old and in with the new? computer navigation revisited; approach less important in knee replacement; is obesity driving a rise in knee replacements?; knee replacement isn’t cheap in the obese; cruciate substitution doesn’t increase knee flexion; and sonication useful diagnostic aid in two-stage revision.
Our study aimed to examine not only the incidence but also the
impact of noise from two types of total hip replacement articulations:
ceramic-on-ceramic and ceramic-on-polyethylene. We performed a case-controlled study comparing subjective and
objective questionnaire scores of patients receiving a ceramic-on-ceramic
or a ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip replacement by a single surgeon.Objectives
Methods
Between May 1998 and May 2007 we carried out 50 Avon patellofemoral joint replacements in 32 patients with isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis. There were no revisions in the first five years, giving a cumulative survival of 100% for those with a minimum follow-up of five years. The mean follow-up was 5.3 years (2.1 to 10.2). The median Oxford knee score was 30.5 (interquartile range 22.25 to 42.25). In patients with bilateral replacements the median Euroqol General health score was 50 which was significantly lower than that of 75 in those with a unilateral replacement (p = 0.047). The main complication was progression of disease, which was identified radiologically in 11 knees (22%). This highlights the need for accurate selection of patients. Our findings suggest that the Avon prosthesis survives well and gives a satisfactory functional outcome in the medium term.
Medium-term results of the Discovery elbow replacement
are presented. We reviewed 51 consecutive primary Discovery total
elbow replacements (TERs) implanted in 48 patients. The mean age
of the patients was 69.2 years (49 to 92), there were 19 males and
32 females (37%:63%) The mean follow-up was 40.6 months (24 to 69).
A total of six patients were lost to follow-up. Statistically significant
improvements in range movement and Oxford Elbow Score were found
(p <
0.001). Radiolucent lines were much more common in, and
aseptic loosening was exclusive to, the humeral component. Kaplan–Meier
survivorship at five years was 92.2% (95% CI 74.5% to 96.4%) for
aseptic loosening. In four TERs, periprosthetic infection occurred
resulting in failure. A statistically significant association between
infection and increased BMI was found (p = 0.0268). Triceps failure
was more frequent after the Mayo surgical approach and TER performed
after previous trauma surgery. No failures of the implant were noted. Our comparison shows that the Discovery has early clinical results
that are similar to other semi-constrained TERs. We found continued
radiological surveillance with particular focus on humeral lucency
is warranted and has not previously been reported. Despite advances
in the design of total elbow replacement prostheses, rates of complication
remain high. Cite this article:
The February 2013 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: proximal fibular tumours; radiotherapy-induced chondrosarcoma; mega-prosthesis; CRP predictions of sarcoma survival; predicting survival in metastatic disease; MRI for recurrence in osteoid osteoma; and a sarcoma refresher