Acute angulation at the thoracolumbar junction
with segmental subluxation of the spine occurring at the level above
an anteriorly hypoplastic vertebra in otherwise normal children
is a rare condition described as infantile developmental thoracolumbar
kyphosis. Three patient series with total of 18 children have been
reported in the literature. We report five children who presented
with thoracolumbar kyphosis and discuss the treatment algorithm. We
reviewed the medical records and spinal imaging at initial clinical
presentation and at minimum two-year follow-up. The mean age at
presentation was eight months (two to 12). All five children had
L2 anterior vertebral body hypoplasia. The kyphosis improved spontaneously
in three children kept under monitoring. In contrast, the deformity
was progressive in two patients who were treated with bracing. The
kyphosis and segmental subluxation corrected at latest follow-up
(mean age 52 months; 48 to 60) in all patients with near complete
reconstitution of the anomalous vertebra. The deformity and radiological
imaging on a young child can cause anxiety to both parents and treating
physicians. Diagnostic workup and treatment algorithm in the management
of infantile developmental thoracolumbar kyphosis is proposed. Observation
is indicated for non-progressive kyphosis and bracing if there is evidence
of kyphosis and segmental subluxation deterioration beyond walking
age. Surgical stabilisation of the spine can be reserved for severe
progressive deformities unresponsive to conservative treatment. Cite this article:
There is no single standardised method of measuring
the orientation of the acetabular component on plain radiographs
after total hip arthroplasty. We assessed the reliability and accuracy
of three methods of assessing anteversion of the acetabular component
for 551 THAs using the PolyWare software and the methods of Liaw
et al, and of Woo and Morrey. All measurements of the three methods
had excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability. The values
of the PolyWare software, which determines version of the acetabular
component by edge detection were regarded as the reference standard.
Although the PolyWare software and the method of Liaw et al were similarly
precise, the method of Woo and Morrey was significantly less accurate
(p <
0.001). The method of Liaw et al seemed to be more accurate
than that of Woo and Morrey when compared with the measurements
using the PolyWare software. If the qualified lateral radiograph
was selected, anteversion measured using the method of Woo and Morrey
was considered to be relatively reliable. Cite this article:
The October 2015 Hip &
Pelvis Roundup360 looks at: Smoking and complications in arthroplasty; Smoking cessation beneficial in arthroplasty; Intermediate care and arthroplasty; Do we still need cell salvage?; Femoroacetabular impingement in the Japanese population; Trunnionosis or taperosis and geometry; Decontamination for staphylococcus aureus works!; Policeman or opportunity? Quality improvement with registries; Death rates higher in readmission to other hospitals
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
Dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint is
a relatively common injury and a number of surgical interventions
have been described for its treatment. Recently, a synthetic ligament
device has become available and been successfully used, however,
like other non-native solutions, a compromise must be reached when
choosing non-anatomical locations for their placement. This cadaveric
study aimed to assess the effect of different clavicular anchorage points
for the Lockdown device on the reduction of acromioclavicular joint
dislocations, and suggest an optimal location. We also assessed
whether further stability is provided using a coracoacromial ligament
transfer (a modified Neviaser technique). The acromioclavicular
joint was exposed on seven fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders. The
joint was reconstructed using the Lockdown implant using four different
clavicular anchorage points and reduction was measured. The coracoacromial
ligament was then transferred to the lateral end of the clavicle,
and the joint re-assessed. If the Lockdown ligament was secured
at the level of the conoid tubercle, the acromioclavicular joint
could be reduced anatomically in all cases. If placed medial or
2 cm lateral, the joint was irreducible. If the Lockdown was placed
1 cm lateral to the conoid tubercle, the joint could be reduced
with difficulty in four cases. Correct placement of the Lockdown
device is crucial to allow anatomical joint reduction. Even when the
Lockdown was placed over the conoid tubercle, anterior clavicle
displacement remained but this could be controlled using a coracoacromial
ligament transfer. Cite this article:
Patients undergoing femoral lengthening by external fixation
tolerate treatment less well when compared to tibial lengthening.
Lengthening of the femur with an intramedullary device may have
advantages. We reviewed all cases of simple femoral lengthening performed
at our unit from 2009 to 2014. Cases of nonunions, concurrent deformities,
congenital limb deficiencies and lengthening with an unstable hip
were excluded, leaving 33 cases (in 22 patients; 11 patients had
bilateral procedures) for review. Healing index, implant tolerance
and complications were compared.Aims
Patients and Methods
Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) develop deposits in the spine
which may lead to vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Our aim
was to establish which spinopelvic parameters are associated with
the greatest disability in patients with spinal myeloma and VCFs. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional review of 148 consecutive
patients (87 male, 61 female) with spinal myeloma and analysed correlations
between spinopelvic parameters and patient-reported outcome scores.
The mean age of the patients was 65.5 years (37 to 91) and the mean
number of vertebrae involved was 3.7 (1 to 15).Aims
Patients and Methods
The June 2015 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup360 looks at: ACL reconstruction in paediatric knees; Hips, slips and cams; The adolescent clavicle; 3D fluoroscopy in DDH?; The psychiatric aspects of hip pain in adolescents; Adolescent bunions: dealer’s choice?; Medial epicondylar fractures revisited
Initial stability of tibial trays is crucial for long-term success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in both primary and revision settings. Rotating platform (RP) designs reduce torque transfer at the tibiofemoral interface. We asked if this reduced torque transfer in RP designs resulted in subsequently reduced micromotion at the cemented fixation interface between the prosthesis component and the adjacent bone. Composite tibias were implanted with fixed and RP primary and revision tibial trays and biomechanically tested under up to 2.5 kN of axial compression and 10° of external femoral component rotation. Relative micromotion between the implanted tibial tray and the neighbouring bone was quantified using high-precision digital image correlation techniques.Objectives
Methods
Because there have been no standard methods to determine pre-operatively
the thickness of resection of the proximal tibia in unicompartmental
knee arthroplasty (UKA), information about the relationship between
the change of limb alignment and the joint line elevation would
be useful for pre-operative planning. The purpose of this study
was to clarify the correlation between the change of limb alignment
and the change of joint line height at the medial compartment after
UKA. A consecutive series of 42 medial UKAs was reviewed retrospectively.
These patients were assessed radiographically both pre- and post-operatively
with standing anteroposterior radiographs. The thickness of bone
resection at the proximal tibia and the distal femur was measured
radiographically. The relationship between the change of femorotibial
angle (δFTA) and the change of joint line height, was analysed.Objectives
Methods
The interaction between the lumbosacral spine
and the pelvis is dynamically related to positional change, and
may be complicated by co-existing pathology. This review summarises
the current literature examining the effect of sagittal spinal deformity
on pelvic and acetabular orientation during total hip arthroplasty
(THA) and provides recommendations to aid in placement of the acetabular
component for patients with co-existing spinal pathology or long
spinal fusions. Pre-operatively, patients can be divided into four
categories based on the flexibility and sagittal balance of the
spine. Using this information as a guide, placement of the acetabular
component can be optimal based on the type and significance of co-existing
spinal deformity. Cite this article:
The highly cross-linked polyethylene Exeter RimFit flanged cemented
acetabular component was introduced in the United Kingdom in 2010.
This study aimed to examine the rates of emergence of radiolucent
lines observed when the Rimfit acetabular component was implanted
at total hip arthroplasty (THA) using two different techniques: firstly,
the ‘rimcutter’ technique in which the flange sits on a pre-prepared
acetabular rim; and secondly, the ‘trimmed flange’ technique in
which the flange is trimmed and the acetabular component is seated
inside the rim of the acetabulum. The radiographs of 150 THAs (75 ‘rimcutter’, 75 ‘trimmed flange’)
involving this component were evaluated to assess for radiolucencies
at the cement/bone interface by three observers. Aims
Patients and Methods
We reviewed 34 consecutive patients (18 female-16 male) with
isthmic spondylolysis and grade I to II lumbosacral spondylolisthesis
who underwent in situ posterolateral arthodesis between the L5 transverse
processes and the sacral ala with the use of iliac crest autograft.
Ten patients had an associated scoliosis which required surgical correction
at a later stage only in two patients with idiopathic curves unrelated
to the spondylolisthesis. No patient underwent spinal decompression or instrumentation
placement. Mean surgical time was 1.5 hours (1 to 1.8) and intra-operative
blood loss 200 ml (150 to 340). There was one wound infection treated
with antibiotics but no other complication. Radiological assessment
included standing posteroanterior and lateral, Ferguson and lateral flexion/extension
views, as well as CT scans. Aims
Methods
There have been several studies examining the
association between the morphological characteristics seen in acetabular
dysplasia and the incidence of the osteoarthritis (OA). However, most studies focus mainly on acetabular morphological
analysis, and few studies have scrutinised the effect of femoral
morphology. In this study we enrolled 36 patients with bilateral
acetabular dysplasia and early or mid-stage OA in one hip and no
OA in the contralateral hip. CT scans were performed from the iliac
crest to 2 cm inferior to the tibial tuberosity, and the morphological
characteristics of both acetabulum and femur were studied. In addition, 200 hips in 100 healthy volunteer Chinese adults
formed a control group. The results showed that the dysplastic group
with OA had a significantly larger femoral neck anteversion and
a significantly shorter abductor lever arm than both the dysplastic
group without OA and the controls. Femoral neck anteversion had
a significant negative correlation with the length of the abductor
lever arm and we conclude that it may contribute to the development
of OA in dysplastic hips. Cite this article:
This non-blinded randomised controlled trial compared the effect
of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) A total of 242 patients were randomised; 20 were excluded due
to failure of spinal anaesthesia leaving 109 patients in the PCEA
group and 113 in the LIA group. Patients were reviewed at six weeks
and one year post-operatively.Aims
Patients and Methods
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:
Polyethylene wear debris can cause osteolysis
and the failure of total hip arthroplasty. We present the five-year
wear rates of a highly cross-linked polyethylene (X3) bearing surface
when used in conjunction with a 36 mm ceramic femoral head. This was a prospective study of a cohort of 100 THAs in 93 patients.
Pain and activity scores were measured pre- and post-operatively.
Femoral head penetration was measured at two months, one year, two
years and at five years using validated edge-detecting software
(PolyWare Auto). At a mean of 5.08 years (3.93 to 6.01), 85 hips in 78 patients
were available for study. The mean age of these patients was 59.08
years (42 to 73, the mean age of males (n = 34) was 59.15 years,
and females (n = 44) was 59.02 years). All patients had significant
improvement in their functional scores (p <
0.001). The steady
state two-dimensional linear wear rate was 0.109 mm/year. The steady
state volumetric wear rate was 29.61 mm3/year. No significant
correlation was found between rate of wear and age (p = 0.34), acetabular
component size (p = 0.12) or clinical score (p = 0.74). Our study shows low steady state wear rates at five years in
X3 highly cross-linked polyethylene in conjunction with a 36 mm
ceramic femoral head. The linear wear rate was almost identical
to the osteolysis threshold of 0.1 mm/year recommended in the literature. Cite this article: