Aims

Recent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs have featured more anatomical morphologies and shorter tibial keels. However, several reports have raised concerns about the impact of these modifications on implant longevity. The aim of this study was to report the early performance of a modern, cemented TKA design.

Aims

Uncemented metal acetabular components show good osseointegration, but material stiffness causes stress shielding and retroacetabular bone loss. Cemented monoblock polyethylene components load more physiologically; however, the cement bone interface can suffer fibrous encapsulation and loosening. It was hypothesized that an uncemented titanium-sintered monoblock polyethylene component may offer the optimum combination of osseointegration and anatomical loading.

Aims

While preoperative bloodwork is routinely ordered, its value in determining which patients are at risk of postoperative readmission following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine which routinely ordered preoperative blood markers have the strongest association with acute hospital readmission for patients undergoing elective TKA and THA.

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The purpose is to determine the non-inferiority of a smartphone-based exercise educational care management system after primary knee arthroplasty compared with a traditional in-person physiotherapy rehabilitation model.

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Displaced distal radius fractures were investigated at a level 1 major trauma centre during the COVID-19 2020 lockdown due to the implementation of temporary changes in practice. The primary aim was to establish if follow-up at one week in place of the 72-hour British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma & Orthopaedics (BOAST) guidance was safe following manipulation under anaesthetic. A parallel adaptation during lockdown was the non-expectation of Bier’s block. The secondary aim was to compare clinical outcomes with respect to block type.

Objectives. The ability to determine human bone stiffness is of clinical relevance in many fields, including bone quality assessment and orthopaedic prosthesis design. Stiffness can be measured using compression testing, an experimental technique commonly used to test bone specimens in vitro. This systematic review aims to determine how best to perform compression testing of human bone. Methods. A keyword search of all English language articles up until December 2017 of compression testing of bone was undertaken in Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Studies using bulk tissue, animal tissue, whole bone, or testing techniques other than compression testing were excluded. Results. A total of 4712 abstracts were retrieved, with 177 papers included in the analysis; 20 studies directly analyzed the compression testing technique to improve the accuracy of testing. Several influencing factors should be considered when testing bone samples in compression. These include the method of data analysis, specimen storage, specimen preparation, testing configuration, and loading protocol. Conclusion. Compression testing is a widely used technique for measuring the stiffness of bone but there is a great deal of inter-study variation in experimental techniques across the literature. Based on best evidence from the literature, suggestions for bone compression testing are made in this review, although further studies are needed to establish standardized bone testing techniques in order to increase the comparability and reliability of bone stiffness studies. Cite this article: S. Zhao, M. Arnold, S. Ma, R. L. Abel, J. P. Cobb, U. Hansen, O. Boughton. Standardizing compression testing for measuring the stiffness of human bone. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:524–538. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.78.BJR-2018-0025.R1

Objectives. The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is difficult and requires a battery of tests and clinical findings. The purpose of this review is to summarize all current evidence for common and new serum biomarkers utilized in the diagnosis of PJI. Methods. We searched two literature databases, using terms that encompass all hip and knee arthroplasty procedures, as well as PJI and statistical terms reflecting diagnostic parameters. The findings are summarized as a narrative review. Results. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were the two most commonly published serum biomarkers. Most evidence did not identify other serum biomarkers that are clearly superior to ESR and CRP. Other serum biomarkers have not demonstrated superior sensitivity and have failed to replace CRP and ESR as first-line screening tests. D-dimer appears to be a promising biomarker, but more research is necessary. Factors that influence serum biomarkers include temporal trends, stage of revision, and implant-related factors (metallosis). Conclusion. Our review helped to identify factors that can influence serum biomarkers’ level changes; the recognition of such factors can help improve their diagnostic utility. As such, we cannot rely on ESR and CRP alone for the diagnosis of PJI prior to second-stage reimplantation, or in metal-on-metal or corrosion cases. The future of serum biomarkers will likely shift towards using genomics and proteomics to identify proteins transcribed via messenger RNA in response to infection and sepsis. Cite this article: A. Saleh, J. George, M. Faour, A. K. Klika, C. A. Higuera. Serum biomarkers in periprosthetic joint infections. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:85–93. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.71.BJR-2017-0323

Aims

The purpose of this study was to report bone adaptive changes after anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) using a standard-length hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated humeral component, and to report on a computer-based analysis of radiographs to determine changes in peri-implant bone density objectively.

Abstract. The medial malleolus, once believed to be the primary stabilizer of the ankle, has been the topic of conflicting clinical and biomechanical data for many decades. Despite the relevant surgical anatomy being understood for almost 40 years, the optimal treatment of medial malleolar fractures remains unclear, whether the injury occurs in isolation or as part of an unstable bi- or trimalleolar fracture configuration. Traditional teaching recommends open reduction and fixation of medial malleolar fractures that are part of an unstable injury. However, there is recent evidence to suggest that nonoperative management of well-reduced fractures may result in equivalent outcomes, but without the morbidity associated with surgery. This review gives an update on the relevant anatomy and classification systems for medial malleolar fractures and an overview of the current literature regarding their management, including surgical approaches and the choice of implants. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:512–521

Aims

Debate continues regarding the optimum management of periprosthetic distal femoral fractures (PDFFs). This study aims to determine which operative treatment is associated with the lowest perioperative morbidity and mortality when treating low (Su type II and III) PDFFs comparing lateral locking plate fixation (LLP-ORIF) or distal femoral arthroplasty (DFA).

Aims. The aim of this study was to report the initial results of the Exeter V40 stem, which became available in 2000. Patients and Methods. A total of 540 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) were performed in our unit using this stem between December 2000 and May 2002. Our routine protocol is to review patients postoperatively and at one, five, and ten years following surgery. Results. A total of 145 patients (26.9%) died before ten years and of the remaining 395 stems, 374 (94.7%) remain in situ. A total of 21 well-fixed stems (5.3%) were revised. Ten were exchanged using a cement-in-cement technique to facilitate acetabular revision. Three were revised for infection, one for instability, one for fracture of the stem, and six following a periprosthetic fracture. An additional 16 acetabular components (4.1%) were revised; five for aseptic loosening and 11 for instability. There were no revisions for aseptic loosening of the stem, and no evidence of aseptic loosening in any hip. The fate of every stem is known and all patients remain under review. Survivorship, with revision of the stem for aseptic loosening as the endpoint, was 100%. At 13.5 years, the Kaplan–Meier survival rate for all-cause revision of the stem was 96.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 94.8 to 98.8) and all-cause revision (including acetabular revision, infection, and instability) was 91.2% (95% CI 88.3 to 94.1). Conclusion. No stem was revised for aseptic loosening in this series. The contemporary Exeter V40 stem continues to perform well, and survival has remained comparable with that of the Exeter Universal stem. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1002–9

Aims

Up to one in five patients undergoing primary total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) require contralateral surgery. This is frequently performed as a staged procedure. This study aimed to determine if outcomes, as determined by the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and Knee Score (OKS) differed following second-side surgery.

Aims. This study reports the mid-term results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed using a monoblock acetabular component with a large-diameter head (LDH) ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearing. Patients and Methods. Of the 276 hips (246 patients) included in this study, 264 (96%) were reviewed at a mean of 67 months (48 to 79) postoperatively. Procedures were performed with a mini posterior approach. Clinical and radiological outcomes were recorded at regular intervals. A noise assessment questionnaire was completed at last follow-up. Results. There were four re-operations (1%) including one early revision for insufficient primary fixation (0.4%). No hip dislocation was reported. The mean University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score, 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental Component Summary (MCS) score, SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) were 6.6 (2 to 10), 52.8 (25.5 to 65.7), 53.0 (27.2 to 66.5), 7.7 (0 to 63), and 88.5 (23 to 100), respectively. No signs of loosening or osteolysis were observed on radiological review. The incidence of squeaking was 23% (n = 51/225). Squeaking was significantly associated with larger head diameter (p < 0.001), younger age (p < 0.001), higher SF-12 PCS (p < 0.001), and UCLA scores (p < 0.001). Squeaking did not affect patient satisfaction, with 100% of the squeaking hips satisfied with the surgery. Conclusion. LDH CoC THAs have demonstrated excellent functional outcomes at medium-term follow-up, with very low revision rate and no dislocations. The high incidence of squeaking did not affect patient satisfaction or function. LDH CoC with a monoblock acetabular component has the potential to provide long term implant survivorship with unrestricted activity, while avoiding implant impingement, liner fracture at insertion, and hip instability. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1434–41