Our aim was to compare kinematic with mechanical alignment in
total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We performed a prospective blinded randomised controlled trial
to compare the functional outcome of patients undergoing TKA in
mechanical alignment (MA) with those in kinematic alignment (KA).
A total of 71 patients undergoing TKA were randomised to either
kinematic (n = 36) or mechanical alignment (n = 35). Pre- and post-operative
hip-knee-ankle radiographs were analysed. The knee injury and osteoarthritis
outcome score (KOOS), American Knee Society Score, Short Form-36,
Euro-Qol (EQ-5D), range of movement (ROM), two minute walk, and timed
up and go tests were assessed pre-operatively and at six weeks,
three and six months and one year post-operatively.Aims
Patients and Methods
Anatomical total knee arthroplasty alignment
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of using a
portable, accelerometer-based surgical navigation system (KneeAlign2)
in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on the alignment of the femoral
component, and blood loss. A total of 241 consecutive patients with primary osteoarthritis
of the knee were enrolled in this prospective, randomised controlled
study. There were 207 women and 34 men. The mean age of the patients
was 74.0 years (57 to 89). The KneeAlign2 system was used for distal
femoral resection in 121 patients (KA2 group) and a conventional intramedullary
femoral guide was used in 120 patients (IM group).Aims
Patients and Methods
To assess the accuracy of patient-specific instruments (PSIs) CT scans were obtained from five female cadaveric pelvises. Five osteotomies were designed using Mimics software: sacroiliac, biplanar supra-acetabular, two parallel iliopubic and ischial. For cases of the left hemipelvis, PSIs were designed to guide standard oscillating saw osteotomies and later manufactured using 3D printing. Osteotomies were performed using the standard manual technique in cases of the right hemipelvis. Post-resection CT scans were quantitatively analysed. Student’s Objectives
Methods
Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a demanding procedure, with tibial component subsidence or pain from high tibial strain being potential causes of revision. The optimal position in terms of load transfer has not been documented for lateral UKA. Our aim was to determine the effect of tibial component position on proximal tibial strain. A total of 16 composite tibias were implanted with an Oxford Domed Lateral Partial Knee implant using cutting guides to define tibial slope and resection depth. Four implant positions were assessed: standard (5° posterior slope); 10° posterior slope; 5° reverse tibial slope; and 4 mm increased tibial resection. Using an electrodynamic axial-torsional materials testing machine (Instron 5565), a compressive load of 1.5 kN was applied at 60 N/s on a meniscal bearing via a matching femoral component. Tibial strain beneath the implant was measured using a calibrated Digital Image Correlation system.Objectives
Methods
In the time since Letournel popularised the surgical
treatment of acetabular fractures, more than 25 years ago, there
have been many changes within the field, related to patients, surgical
technique, implants and post-operative care. However, the long-term
outcomes appear largely unchanged. Does this represent stasis or
have the advances been mitigated by other negative factors? In this
article we have attempted to document the recent changes within
the surgery of patients with a fracture involving the acetabulum,
outline contemporary management, and identify the major problem
areas where further research is most needed. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to compare the maximum
laxity conferred by the cruciate-retaining (CR) and posterior-stabilised
(PS) Triathlon single-radius total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for anterior
drawer, varus–valgus opening and rotation in eight cadaver knees
through a defined arc of flexion (0º to 110º). The null hypothesis
was that the limits of laxity of CR- and PS-TKAs are not significantly
different. The investigation was undertaken in eight loaded cadaver knees
undergoing subjective stress testing using a measurement rig. Firstly
the native knee was tested prior to preparation for CR-TKA and subsequently
for PS-TKA implantation. Surgical navigation was used to track maximal
displacements/rotations at 0º, 30º, 60º, 90º and 110° of flexion.
Mixed-effects modelling was used to define the behaviour of the
TKAs. The laxity measured for the CR- and PS-TKAs revealed no statistically
significant differences over the studied flexion arc for the two
versions of TKA. Compared with the native knee both TKAs exhibited
slightly increased anterior drawer and decreased varus-valgus and
internal-external roational laxities. We believe further study is required
to define the clinical states for which the additional constraint
offered by a PS-TKA implant may be beneficial. Cite this article:
Correct positioning and alignment of components during primary total knee replacement (TKR) is widely accepted to be an important predictor of patient satisfaction and implant durability. This retrospective study reports the effect of the post-operative mechanical axis of the lower limb in the coronal plane on implant survival following primary TKR. A total of 501 TKRs in 396 patients were divided into an aligned group with a neutral mechanical axis (± 3°) and a malaligned group where the mechanical axis deviated from neutral by >
3°. At 15 years’ follow-up, 33 of 458 (7.2%) TKRs were revised for aseptic loosening. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a weak tendency towards improved survival with restoration of a neutral mechanical axis, but this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.47). We found that the relationship between survival of a primary TKR and mechanical axis alignment is weaker than that described in a number of previous reports.
The April 2012 Knee Roundup360 looks at the torn ACL, ACL reconstruction, the risk of ACL rupture, the benefit of warm-ups before exercise, glucosamine and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, sensitisation and sporting tendinopathy, pain relief after TKR, the long-term results of the Genesis I, the gender specific recovery times after TKR, and the accuracy of the orthopaedic eyeball
Isolated patellofemoral arthritis is a common
condition and there are varying opinions on the most effective treatments.
Non-operative and operative treatments have failed to demonstrate
effective long-term treatment for those in an advanced stage of
the condition. Newer designs and increased technology in patellofemoral replacement
(PFR) have produced more consistent outcomes. This has led to a
renewed enthusiasm for this procedure. Newer PFR prostheses have
addressed the patellar maltracking issues plaguing some of the older designs.
Short-term results with contemporary prostheses and new technology
are described here. Cite this article:
Robots have been used in surgery since the late
1980s. Orthopaedic surgery began to incorporate robotic technology
in 1992, with the introduction of ROBODOC, for the planning and
performance of total hip replacement. The use of robotic systems
has subsequently increased, with promising short-term radiological
outcomes when compared with traditional orthopaedic procedures.
Robotic systems can be classified into two categories: autonomous
and haptic (or surgeon-guided). Passive surgery systems, which represent
a third type of technology, have also been adopted recently by orthopaedic
surgeons. While autonomous systems have fallen out of favour, tactile systems
with technological improvements have become widely used. Specifically,
the use of tactile and passive robotic systems in unicompartmental
knee replacement (UKR) has addressed some of the historical mechanisms
of failure of non-robotic UKR. These systems assist with increasing
the accuracy of the alignment of the components and produce more
consistent ligament balance. Short-term improvements in clinical
and radiological outcomes have increased the popularity of robot-assisted
UKR. Robot-assisted orthopaedic surgery has the potential for improving
surgical outcomes. We discuss the different types of robotic systems
available for use in orthopaedics and consider the indication, contraindications
and limitations of these technologies.
The December 2013 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: Peri-articular resection fraught with complications; Navigated margins; Skeletal tumours and thromboembolism; Conditional survival in Ewing’s sarcoma; Reverse shoulders and tumour; For how long should we follow up sarcoma patients?; and already metastasised?
We have observed clinical cases where bone is formed in the overlaying muscle covering surgically created bone defects treated with a hydroxyapatite/calcium sulphate biomaterial. Our objective was to investigate the osteoinductive potential of the biomaterial and to determine if growth factors secreted from local bone cells induce osteoblastic differentiation of muscle cells. We seeded mouse skeletal muscle cells C2C12 on the hydroxyapatite/calcium sulphate biomaterial and the phenotype of the cells was analysed. To mimic surgical conditions with leakage of extra cellular matrix (ECM) proteins and growth factors, we cultured rat bone cells ROS 17/2.8 in a bioreactor and harvested the secreted proteins. The secretome was added to rat muscle cells L6. The phenotype of the muscle cells after treatment with the media was assessed using immunostaining and light microscopy.Objectives
Materials and Methods
Patient specific cutting guides generated by
preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the patient’s extremity
have been proposed as a method of improving the consistency of Total
Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) alignment and adding efficiency to the operative
procedure. The cost of this option was evaluated by quantifying the
savings from decreased operative time and instrument processing
costs compared to the additional cost of the MRI and the guide.
Coronal plane alignment was measured in an unselected consecutive
series of 200 TKAs, 100 with standard instrumentation and 100 with
custom cutting guides. While the cutting guides had significantly lower
total operative time and instrument processing time, the estimated
$322 savings was overwhelmed by the $1,500 additional cost of the
MRI and the cutting guide. All measures of coronal plane alignment
were equivalent between the two groups. The data does not currently
support the proposition that patient specific guides add value to
TKA.
The December 2015 Knee Roundup360 looks at: Albumin and complications in knee arthroplasty; Tantalum: a knee fixation for all seasons?; Dynamic knee alignment; Tibial component design in UKA; Managing the tidal wave of revision knee arthroplasty; Scoring pain in TKR; Does anyone have a ‘normal’ tibial slope?; XLPE in TKR? A five-year clinical study; Spacers and infected revision arthroplasties; Dialysis and arthroplasty
The biomechanical function of the anteromedial
(AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) remains controversial. Some studies report that the AM bundle
stabilises the knee joint in anteroposterior (AP) translation and
rotational movement (both internal and external) to the same extent
as the PL bundle. Others conclude that the PL bundle is more important
than the AM in controlling rotational movement. The objective of this randomised cohort study involving 60 patients
(39 men and 21 women) with a mean age of 32.9 years (18 to 53) was
to evaluate the function of the AM and the PL bundles of the ACL
in both AP and rotational movements of the knee joint after single-bundle
and double-bundle ACL reconstruction using a computer navigation
system. In the double-bundle group the patients were also randomised
to have the AM or the PL bundle tensioned first, with knee laxity
measured after each stage of reconstruction. All patients had isolated
complete ACL tears, and the presence of a meniscal injury was the
only supplementary pathology permitted for inclusion in the trial.
The KT-1000 arthrometer was used to apply a constant load to evaluate
the AP translation and the rolimeter was used to apply a constant
rotational force. For the single-bundle group deviation was measured
before and after ACL reconstruction. In the double-bundle group
deviation was measured for the ACL-deficient, AM- or PL-reconstructed
first conditions and for the total reconstruction. We found that the AM bundle in the double-bundle group controlled
rotation as much as the single-bundle technique, and to a greater
extent than the PL bundle in the double-bundle technique. The double-bundle
technique increases AP translation and rotational stability in internal
rotation more than the single-bundle technique.