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Effect of radiation, heat, and aging on in vitro wear resistance of polyethylene.

Radiation cross-linking increases the wear resistance of polyethylene used in total hip replacement. Radiation also generates residual free radicals, which are detrimental to long-term properties of polyethylene. Two approaches are used to stabilize the residual free radicals and terminally sterilize the components. One is postirradiation annealing with gas sterilization and the other is postirradiation melting with gamma sterilization in nitrogen. The hypothesis of the current study is that postirradiation annealing followed by gamma sterilization in nitrogen will result in more free radicals in polyethylene than gamma sterilization either in air or in nitrogen alone. To test this hypothesis, concentration of residual free radicals was quantified in polyethylene that was annealed and gamma sterilized in nitrogen and control polyethylenes gamma sterilized in air versus in nitrogen. Three crosslinked polyethylenes that were melted and gas sterilized also were included in the study. The effects of residual free radicals were studied by accelerated aging. Oxidation levels and weight loss in bidirectional pin-on-disk tests were determined before and after aging. Polyethylene that was subjected to postirradiation annealing and gamma sterilization resulted in 58% more residual free radicals than control polyethylenes. Weight loss of the annealed polyethylene increased by 16-fold on accelerated aging and had three times higher oxidation levels than that measured in control polyethylenes after aging. In contrast, polyethylenes that were stabilized with postirradiation melting and terminally gas sterilized showed no detectable residual free radicals. Accelerated aging did not affect the weight loss and oxidation levels of melted polyethylenes.

Free Radicals↗

Cost effectiveness of revision total knee arthroplasty.

UNLABELLED: Total knee arthroplasty now exceeds total hip arthroplasty as the most commonly performed joint replacement. Projections suggest the need for revision knee arthroplasty in the future will produce an immense economic burden. The excellent cost effectiveness of primary knee arthroplasty has been well established. This article explores the cost effectiveness of revision knee arthroplasty, and makes a comparison of costs between different international health care systems. While revision knee arthroplasty is more costly, technically difficult, and complicated than primary knee arthroplasty, it is still a cost effective means of improving function, pain relief, and quality of life. The role of national arthroplasty registries will be important in guiding decision making toward reducing the requirements for revision surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level II-1 (prospective study). See Guidelines for Authors for complete description of levels of evidence.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee↗

Is restricted femoral navigation sufficient for accuracy of total knee arthroplasty?

A total knee arthroplasty performed with navigation results in more accurate component positioning with fewer outliers. It is not known whether image-based or image-free-systems are preferable and if navigation for only one component leads to equal accuracy in leg alignment than navigation of both components. We evaluated the results of total knee arthroplasties performed with femoral navigation. We studied 90 knees in 88 patients who had conventional total knee arthroplasties, image-based total knee arthroplasties, or total knee arthroplasties with image-free navigation. We compared patients' perioperative times, component alignment accuracy, and short-term outcomes. The total surgical time was longer in the image-based total knee arthroplasty group (109 +/- 7 minutes) compared with the image-free (101 +/- 17 minutes) and conventional total knee arthroplasty groups (87 +/- 20 minutes). The mechanical axis of the leg was within 3 degrees of neutral alignment, although the conventional total knee arthroplasty group showed more (10.6 degrees ) variance than the navigated groups (5.8 degrees and 6.4 degrees , respectively). We found a positive correlation between femoral component malalignment and the total mechanical axis in the conventional group. Our results suggest image-based navigation is not necessary, and image-free femoral navigation may be sufficient for accurate component alignment.

Aged↗

Outcomes following cheilectomy and interpositional arthroplasty in hallux rigidus.

Surgical management of hallux rigidus remains controversial. Arthrodesis is considered the gold standard. However, many patients are reluctant to undergo fusion. This paper reviews two commonly used procedures that are reasonable alternatives. A retrospective review of 19 patients (24 feet) with grade 2 osteoarthritis and 11 patients (11 feet) with grade 3 osteoarthritis was performed. The patients with grade 2 osteoarthritis were managed with a cheilectomy and the patients with grade 3 osteoarthritis with an interpositional arthroplasty. All patients were individually assessed with a subjective questionnaire, physical exam, AOFAS hallux scale, SF-36 and pedobarographic analysis. Cheilectomy patients (51.9 years) were younger than interpositional arthroplasty (59 years). Follow up between the interpositional arthroplasties (2.0 years) and cheilectomies (2.1 years) were comparable. Postoperative motion, visual analogue pain scale and SF-36 scores were comparable between groups. Cheilectomies had a higher mean AOFAS score (77.3) than interpositional arthroplasties (71.6). Weakness of the great toe was reported in 72.7% of interpositional arthroplasty patients compared to only 16.7% of patients with a cheilectomy. Patient satisfaction was 87.5% in cheilectomies and 72.7% in interpositional arthroplasties. Pedobarographic analysis demonstrated a decreased load under the great toe with increased weight transfer to the lesser metatarsal heads in all patients. The weight transfer to the lesser metatarsal heads was greatest in patients with interpositional arthroplasty. Management of moderate hallux rigidus with a cheilectomy and phalangeal osteotomy is a reliable method of relieving pain and improving function. Management of severe osteoarthritis of the joint with an interpositional arthroplasty should be considered a salvage procedure with less reliable results.

Adult↗

Registry of shoulder arthroplasty - the Scottish experience.

INTRODUCTION: Recognising that timely dissemination of information in the orthopaedic community was important and in the absence of any national guidelines for shoulder arthroplasty, the Scottish shoulder arthroplasty registry, a voluntary registry, was started in 1996. The goals of the registry were to assess contemporary practice, provide a benchmark against which surgeons could compare their practice, identify risk factors for a poor outcome, and to improve outcomes through continuous feedback to the participating surgeons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A standardised proforma was used to collect information on the diagnostic and demographic data, type of procedure performed, type of implant used, any associated procedures performed in conjunction with the arthroplasty, and peri-operative complications. Postoperative pain, activity and patient satisfaction were assessed annually using another standardised proforma. RESULTS: Twenty surgeons have contributed to the register and 451 shoulder arthroplasties were registered over a 5-year period. Of patients, 23.2% were male and 76.8% female. The mean age was 65 years (range, 37-90 years). Shoulder arthroplasty was commonly performed for rheumatoid arthritis followed by trauma, osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis of the humeral head. Overall, 397 (88%) patients had a hemi-arthroplasty and 54 (12%) had a total shoulder replacement. Of the 54 cases that had a glenoid replacement, 28 were performed for inflammatory arthritis, 21 for osteoarthritis and 5 were for revisions. The humeral component was cemented in 204 (45%) cases, 160 of whom had a shoulder replacement for trauma. The glenoid component was cemented in 48 (89%) cases. Cross referencing our data with the figures of the actual number of shoulder arthroplasties performed, however, indicated that our registry at best collected only 53% of all the shoulder arthroplasties performed in Scotland annually. CONCLUSIONS: The value of a joint registry is dependent on the accuracy and completeness of the data entered. Our registry, therefore, fails as an implant registry. We believe that compliance for data registration can only be ensured if dedicated data collection staff are employed to co-ordinate the data collection and collation process.

Adult↗

Resurfacing of the glenoid in total shoulder arthroplasty. A comparison, at a mean of five years, of prostheses inserted with and without cement.

BACKGROUND: Clinically evident loosening of a glenoid component inserted with cement in total shoulder arthroplasty is infrequent, but radiographic changes that indicate loosening at the implant-bone interface are common and have been associated with functional limitation. We compared the results of total shoulder arthroplasties in which the glenoid implant had been inserted with cement with those of arthroplasties in which a bone-ingrowth glenoid implant had been inserted without cement. METHODS: The results of eighty-six consecutive total shoulder arthroplasties, performed by the same surgeon, were retrospectively reviewed between four and seven years after the operation. Fifty-eight shoulders in which the primary glenoid implant was in situ were assessed with use of the Simple Shoulder Test and Short Form-36 questionnaires, clinical examination, and fluoroscopic imaging of the glenoid implant-bone interface. Thirty-two of the glenoid components had been fixed with cement and twenty-six, without cement. RESULTS: Complications occurred in 16 percent (fourteen) of the eighty-six shoulders, and 9 percent (eight) of the shoulders needed a revision operation. None of the revisions were done because of loosening of the glenoid component. Five of the eight revisions involved implants that had been inserted without cement. Three of these implants were revised because of early instability and two, because the polyethylene component had separated from the metal tray of the glenoid implant. With the numbers available, we could not detect any significant differences between the groups with respect to pain, range of motion, function of the shoulder, or general health. Radiographic analysis demonstrated a high level of interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.89). Radiolucent lines were observed after 41 percent (thirteen) of the thirty-two arthroplasties performed with cement compared with 23 percent (six) of the twenty-six arthroplasties performed without cement. The proportion of implants classified as probably loose was approximately three times greater in the group in which cement had been used. Eccentric wear of the posterior rim of the metal tray and focal osteolysis under the metal tray were observed in the group in which the component had been inserted without cement; these findings may indicate a potential for progression of radiographic loosening with increased durations of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, despite the higher rate of early complications, the intermediate-term outcomes of arthroplasties in which the glenoid implant is inserted without cement are comparable with those of arthroplasties with cementing of the glenoid component.

Adult↗

Ipsilateral total shoulder and elbow arthroplasties in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The data on seventeen patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had been managed with ipsilateral total shoulder and elbow arthroplasties were analyzed to determine whether the operative technique, the presence of total shoulder and total elbow prostheses in the same upper extremity, or complications of the arthroplasties affected the result in each joint or the overall functional outcome of the upper extremity. METHODS: Seventeen patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were managed with a total of eighteen ipsilateral total shoulder and elbow arthroplasties were evaluated. The most recent physical examination was at an average of six years and six months (range, two years and one month to fourteen years) postoperatively. Radiographs, including 40-degree oblique and axillary radiographs of the shoulder as well as anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the elbow, were made at an average of six years and eleven months (range, two years and two months to twenty-two years and eleven months) postoperatively. The radiographs of the shoulder were examined for loosening of the glenoid component, glenohumeral subluxation, and radiolucency at the bone-cement or bone-implant interface. The functional results of the total shoulder arthroplasties were evaluated with use of the rating systems of Neer et al. and Cofield. The Mayo elbow-performance score was used to evaluate elbow function. A rating system was also developed to assess the overall function of the upper extremity, including pain and motion of both the elbow and the shoulder. With this system, the overall function of the upper extremity was rated as excellent, good, fair, or poor. RESULTS: Evaluation of the shoulders revealed substantial relief of pain and an increase in active elevation. On radiographic evaluation, eight glenoid and five humeral components were considered to be loose. There were no reoperations. According to the rating system of Neer et al., eight shoulders had a satisfactory result and eight had an unsatisfactory result with limited active abduction. Limited-goals rehabilitation was successful after one shoulder arthroplasty and unsuccessful after another. There were two type-B periprosthetic humeral fractures. There was also substantial relief of pain in the elbows as well as an increase in the extension-flexion arc; the pronation-supination arc was sufficient for tasks of daily living. There was no radiographic loosening. Two elbows had an avulsion of the triceps, and two had aseptic loosening (one of which also had a worn bushing); all four needed a reoperation. One other elbow had persistent ulnar neuritis. The average interval between the arthroplasties was two years and eight months when the shoulder was replaced first and three years and five months when the elbow was replaced first. The interval between the joint replacements and the sequence of the joint replacements were not found to influence the outcome. Function of the extremity was improved by replacement of either the shoulder or the elbow alone; however, it improved significantly only when both joints were replaced (p = 0.03). According to combined clinical outcomes scores, there were nine excellent outcomes, four good outcomes, four fair outcomes, and one poor outcome after ipsilateral total shoulder and elbow arthroplasties. CONCLUSIONS: When there is severe arthritis of both the shoulder and the elbow, consideration should be given to replacing both joints in order to obtain optimum functional and clinical outcomes. The possibility of fracture of the humeral shaft necessitates an alteration of the technique for ipsilateral total shoulder and elbow arthroplasties.

Adult↗

Prevalence of fat embolism following bilateral simultaneous and unilateral total hip arthroplasty performed with or without cement : a prospective, randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the safety of bilateral simultaneous total hip arthroplasty, in part because of the potentially higher prevalence of pulmonary fat embolism. The purpose of the present study was to determine if unilateral and bilateral simultaneous total hip arthroplasty procedures resulted in different prevalences of fat embolization, different degrees of hemodynamic compromise, or different levels of hypoxemia or mental status changes. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty were prospectively enrolled in the study. The study group included fifty patients undergoing bilateral simultaneous total hip arthroplasty and 106 patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty. One hundred hips were treated with a cemented stem, and 106 were treated with a cementless stem. Arterial and right atrial blood samples were obtained before implantation (baseline); at one, three, five, and ten minutes after implantation of the acetabular and femoral components; and at twenty-four and forty-eight hours after the operation. Arterial blood pressure, right atrial pressure, arterial oxygen tension, and carbon-dioxide tension were also monitored at these times. The presence of lipid and cellular contents of bone marrow was determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of fat embolism was not significantly different between the groups managed with bilateral and unilateral total hip arthroplasty or between the groups managed with cemented and cementless stems. Similarly, the prevalence of bone-marrow-cell embolization was not significantly different between the groups managed with bilateral and unilateral total hip arthroplasty or between the groups managed with cemented and cementless stems. Patients with bone-marrow-cell embolization had a significantly lower arterial oxygen tension (p = 0.022) and oxygen saturation (p = 0.017) than did patients without bone-marrow-cell embolization on the first postoperative day. Four patients with bone-marrow cells in the blood samples that were obtained from the right atrium on the first postoperative day had development of diffuse encephalopathy with confusion and agitation that lasted for about twenty-four hours. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of fat and bone-marrow-cell embolization was similar in the groups managed with bilateral simultaneous and unilateral total hip arthroplasty as well as in the groups managed with cemented and cementless stems.

Adult↗

Contemporary total hip arthroplasty with and without cement in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

BACKGROUND: The rate of failure of primary total hip arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head is higher than that in patients with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this prospective study was to document the clinical and radiographic results of arthroplasty with so-called third-generation cementing and the results of second-generation cementless total hip arthroplasty in ninety-eight consecutive patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: Fifty patients who had had simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty with a cemented stem in one hip and a cementless stem in the other and forty-eight patients who had had a unilateral total hip arthroplasty with a cementless stem were included in the study. A cementless acetabular component was used in all hips. The presumed cause of the osteonecrosis was ethanol abuse in fifty-seven patients, unknown in twenty-seven, fracture of the femoral neck in nine, and steroid use in five. There were eighty men and eighteen women. The mean age at the time of the arthroplasty was 47.3 years (range, twenty-six to fifty-eight years). Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed preoperatively; at six weeks; at three, six, and twelve months; and yearly thereafter. The average duration of follow-up was 9.3 years. RESULTS: The average Harris hip scores in the group treated with unilateral arthroplasty (97 points) and the group treated with bilateral arthroplasty (94 points) were similar at the time of final follow-up. They were also similar between the group treated with cement (mean, 96 points) and that treated without cement (95 points). No component had aseptic loosening in either group. In one hip, a cemented femoral stem (2%) and a cementless cup were revised because of infection. Two cementless stems (2%) were revised because of fracture of the proximal part of the femur with loosening of the stem. Annual wear of the polyethylene liner averaged 0.22 mm in the group treated with cement (a zirconia head) and 0.14 mm in the group treated without cement (a cobalt-chromium head). The prevalence of osteolysis in zones 1 and 7 of the femur was 16% in the group treated with cement and 24% in the group treated without cement. CONCLUSIONS: Advancements in surgical technique and better designs have greatly improved the long-term survival of cemented and cementless implants in young patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Although there was no aseptic loosening of the components, a high rate of linear wear of the polyethylene liner and a high rate of osteolysis in these high-risk young patients remain challenging problems.

Adult↗

Shoulder arthroplasty in patients with a prior anterior shoulder dislocation. Results of a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Prior reports of shoulder arthroplasty performed for dislocation-induced arthropathy have included only patients who had had a prior stabilizing procedure. The purpose of this study was to report the results of shoulder arthroplasty in all patients with a prior anterior shoulder dislocation, including both those previously treated operatively and those previously treated nonoperatively. METHODS: Fifty-five shoulders undergoing arthroplasty for arthritis following a prior anterior shoulder dislocation were evaluated. Twenty-seven of the shoulders had undergone a prior anterior stabilization procedure. The measures used to evaluate the shoulders included the Constant score, adjusted Constant score, active mobility, subjective satisfaction, radiographic result, and complications. RESULTS: The shoulders were evaluated at a mean of 45.0 months. The Constant score improved from a mean of 30.8 points preoperatively to a mean of 65.8 points at the time of follow-up. The adjusted Constant score improved from a mean of 38.2% to a mean of 79.8%. Active forward flexion improved from a mean of 82.1 degrees to a mean of 138.9 degrees. Active external rotation improved from a mean of 4.0 degrees to a mean of 38.6 degrees. Fifty patients rated the result as good or excellent. Negative prognosticators included an older age at the time of the initial dislocation and a rotator cuff tear. No significant differences in demographic factors, pre-arthroplasty function, post-arthroplasty function, pre-arthroplasty radiographic findings, post-arthroplasty radiographic findings, complication rate, or reoperation rate were noted between the patients treated with a prior operation for the anterior instability and those treated nonoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation documented the good results obtainable with shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of arthritis following anterior shoulder instability. In addition, our findings suggest that capsulorrhaphy-induced arthropathy may be indistinguishable from arthritis following nonoperatively treated anterior shoulder instability.

Adolescent↗

Surgical treatment of limb-length discrepancy following total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although most patients with limb-length discrepancy following total hip arthroplasty have manageable symptoms, others may be disabled as a result of pain or functional impairment. In these patients, reoperation may be indicated to equalize the limb lengths. There is a paucity of published data regarding the outcome of surgical intervention to treat this problem. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the results of revision hip surgery for the treatment of symptomatic limb-length discrepancy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of patients who had undergone revision hip surgery at our institution for the treatment of a symptomatic limb-length discrepancy following a previous total hip arthroplasty. We identified twenty-one patients (twenty-one hips) who had an average age of sixty-six years at the time of revision hip arthroplasty. The average duration of follow-up was 2.8 years, and no patient was lost to follow-up. The indications for revision hip arthroplasty were severe hip and/or back pain for eleven patients, instability of the hip for eight, hip pain and ipsilateral limb paresthesia for one, and hip pain and ipsilateral foot drop for one. RESULTS: Revision arthroplasty was performed at a mean of eight months (range, six days to six years) after primary total hip replacement. The mean limb-length discrepancy at the time of the revision was 4 cm (range, 2 to 7 cm). Following revision arthroplasty, which involved revision of a malpositioned acetabular and/or femoral component, equalization of the limb lengths was achieved in fifteen patients. In the remaining six patients, the mean discrepancy had decreased to 1 cm. The mean Harris hip score improved significantly, from 56.5 points before the revision to 83.2 points at the time of the latest follow-up (p < 0.005). All but two patients were satisfied with the outcome of the revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Limb-length discrepancy following hip arthroplasty can be associated with pain, paresthesia, and hip instability. In these patients, careful evaluation of the position and orientation of the components may reveal the cause of the discrepancy. Revision arthroplasty may be indicated when a surgically correctable cause of limb-length discrepancy can be identified.

Acetabulum↗

Total hip arthroplasty in patients with dwarfism.

BACKGROUND: Patients with short stature and osseous deformities resulting from osteochondrodysplasia frequently have premature development of advanced degenerative disease of the hip and thus may require total hip arthroplasty. The outcome of total hip arthroplasty in this group of young patients is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of total hip arthroplasty in patients with osteochondrodysplasia. METHODS: Between 1971 and 1997, sixty-two total hip arthroplasties were performed at our institution in thirty-seven patients with severe osteoarthritis secondary to osteochondrodysplasia. There were seventeen female patients and twenty male patients. Their average height was 142 cm, and their average age at the time of the index arthroplasty was thirty-seven years. The patients were followed clinically with use of the Harris hip score for a mean of 12.8 years, and they were followed radiographically for a mean of 11.5 years. RESULTS: The mean Harris hip score improved significantly (p < 0.0001), from 57 points preoperatively to 87 points at the time of the latest follow-up. Of the sixty hips available for follow-up, eighteen (30%) had required revision arthroplasty: fourteen required it because of aseptic loosening of one or both components; two, because of deep infection; one, because of periprosthetic fracture; and one, because of extensive osteolysis. There were two additional periprosthetic femoral fractures, which were treated with open reduction and internal fixation with retention of the components. The majority of patients had other functionally limiting conditions, such as spinal deformities, in addition to the degenerative arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of complications, periprosthetic fractures, and mechanical failure in these patients with osteochondrodysplasia who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Young age, severe deformity, and multiple joint involvement may in part explain these findings. Nonetheless, total hip arthroplasty proved to be reliable for alleviating pain and improving function in patients with advanced symptomatic arthritis of the hip secondary to osteochondrodysplasia.

Adolescent↗

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with liver cirrhosis have an increased risk of surgical morbidity and mortality. We are aware of no study that has investigated the risks and outcomes of elective orthopaedic procedures in these patients. The purposes of the present study were to review the results of total knee arthroplasty in patients with cirrhosis and to identify risk factors leading to poor results. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with cirrhosis who had undergone sixty total knee arthroplasties for osteoarthritis were studied. The medical records and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. All data were compared with those for matched patients without cirrhosis. Forty-two patients (fifty-one knees) with complete follow-up were evaluated with regard to complications, mortality, and factors leading to poor results. RESULTS: Total knee arthroplasty was associated with significantly more blood loss, a longer hospital stay, more complications, and a higher mortality rate in patients with cirrhosis as compared with control patients (p </= 0.006 for all). Twenty-six complications occurred in twenty patients (twenty-two knees). Logistic regression analysis showed that a history of hepatic decompensation or variceal bleeding was an independent predictor of complications. Infection was the most common complication (prevalence, 21%). Age, platelet count, and hepatitis-B-related cirrhosis were independent predictors of infection. There were no perioperative deaths. Fifteen patients died at a mean of forty-three months after total knee arthroplasty; two deaths were related to the procedure. The presence of a hepatoma was found to be a significant predictor of mortality (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of complications after total knee arthroplasty was significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in control patients (p < 0.001). We believe that total knee arthroplasty should not be performed in patients with a history of hepatic decompensation or variceal bleeding. The risk of infection was high in older patients, patients with a low platelet count, and patients in whom the cirrhosis was related to the hepatitis-B virus. Aggressive prophylaxis against infection should be performed. Patients with Child class-A cirrhosis without these risk factors may do well following a total knee arthroplasty. The benefit of total knee arthroplasty should be cautiously weighed against its potential risks in patients with cirrhosis.

Aged↗

Total knee arthroplasty following proximal tibial osteotomy: risk factors for failure.

BACKGROUND: The results of proximal tibial osteotomy are known to deteriorate over time, with the majority of patients eventually requiring total knee arthroplasty. The outcome of total knee arthroplasty in patients who have had a proximal tibial osteotomy, compared with that of routine primary total knee arthroplasty, remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiographic outcome of total knee arthroplasty in patients who had undergone a previous proximal tibial osteotomy and to identify the risk factors that may result in an inferior outcome. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1990, 166 cemented condylar total knee prostheses were implanted in 118 patients who had had a previous proximal tibial osteotomy for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The study group included seventy-seven men and forty-one women who had a mean age of 69.1 years at the time of knee arthroplasty. The average interval between the osteotomy and the total knee arthroplasty was 8.6 years. The average duration of clinical follow-up was 15.1 years, and the average duration of radiographic follow-up was 9.2 years. RESULTS: The mean Knee Society pain score improved from 34.5 to 82.9 points, and the mean function score improved from 44.6 to 88.1 points. There was also a substantial improvement in the mean arc of motion. Thirteen knees (8%) were revised at a mean of 5.9 years. At the time of the final follow-up, progressive complete radiolucent lines indicating a loose prosthesis were present around seventeen tibial components and seven femoral components. CONCLUSIONS: There was a very high rate of radiographic evidence of loosening. Male gender, increased weight, young age at the time of total knee arthroplasty, coronal laxity, and preoperative limb malalignment were identified as risk factors for early failure. Despite these findings, total knee arthroplasty can provide reliable and durable pain relief and improvement in function for patients who have had a previous proximal tibial osteotomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study. Level II-1 (retrospective study). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Age Factors↗

Long-term results of total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture nonunion.

BACKGROUND: Hip arthroplasty for the treatment of nonunion at the site of a femoral neck fracture has provided good short-term results. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term results and complications of total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck nonunion. METHODS: The records of ninety-nine patients who had been managed with total hip arthroplasty with use of a cemented Charnley acetabular component and a cemented Charnley monoblock femoral component for the treatment of a femoral neck nonunion were retrospectively reviewed. The average age at the time of the arthroplasty was sixty-eight years. Eighty-four patients (85%) were followed until death, revision, or component removal or for at least two years (mean, 12.2 years) postoperatively. RESULTS: Twelve patients were treated with revision (eleven) or resection arthroplasty (one), eleven were lost to follow-up, and four died less than two years postoperatively. Of the remaining seventy-two unrevised hips that were followed for at least two years, sixty-nine (96%) had no or mild hip pain at the time of the last follow-up. The rate of component survival free of revision or removal for any reason was 93% at ten years and 76% at twenty years. The risk factors that were significantly associated with revision for aseptic loosening included an age of less than sixty-five years at the time of the arthroplasty (p = 0.045), a body-mass index of >/=30 (p < 0.01), and male gender (p = 0.02). The second most common complication after loosening was dislocation, which occurred in nine patients (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Total hip arthroplasty is an effective method for the treatment of nonunion of the femoral neck and provides satisfactory long-term results. However, the rate of implant survival is poorer than that reported in most other studies of Charnley total hip arthroplasty in the general population.

Adult↗

Effect of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone mineral density after total joint arthroplasty. A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic bone loss following total joint arthroplasty may threaten the survival of the implant. Bisphosphonates are effective in reducing bone loss in conditions associated with accelerated bone turnover. To determine the current understanding of the effect of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone mineral density after total joint arthroplasty, we conducted computerized searches for randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of bisphosphonates in patients treated with primary total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the web site of the United Kingdom National Research Register, and the archives of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meetings (1989 through 2003), and we conducted hand searches of the bibliographies of relevant articles. We assessed methodological quality and abstracted relevant data. When necessary, we contacted authors to provide additional information. RESULTS: Of 386 citations that were initially identified, six (five complete papers and one abstract), which included a total of 290 patients, met our inclusion criteria. Those papers showed that significantly less periprosthetic bone loss had occurred in the bisphosphonate-treated patients than in the control patients at three months (152 patients; weighted mean difference, 3.3%; 95% confidence interval, 1.9% to 4.7%; p < 0.01), six months (248 patients; weighted mean difference, 4.5%; 95% confidence interval, 1.6% to 7.4%; p < 0.001), and twelve months (197 patients; weighted mean difference, 4.2%; 95% confidence interval, 1.5% to 6.9%; p = 0.03). Bisphosphonates appeared to have a larger effect on bone loss following arthroplasties with cement than on bone loss following arthroplasties without cement (difference, 0.1%, 5%, and 5.4% at three, six, and twelve months; significant difference [p < 0.001] at one year only) and a larger effect on bone loss following total knee arthroplasties than on bone loss following total hip arthroplasties (difference, 4.1%, 11.5%, and 7.1% at three, six, and twelve months; significant difference [p < 0.001] at six months only). None of the studies related the effects of bisphosphonates on bone mineral density to clinically relevant outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: A meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials suggested that bisphosphonates have a beneficial effect with regard to maintaining more periprosthetic bone mineral density than that in controls. However, the limitations of the available studies and the lack of analyses of clinically relevant outcomes (functional outcomes, revision rates, and quality of life) necessitate the planning and conduct of a sufficiently sized, methodologically sound study with clinically relevant end points. Until this has been done, the current evidence regarding the beneficial effects of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone after total joint arthroplasty should be interpreted with caution.

Arthroplasty, Replacement↗

Quality-of-life outcome following hemiarthroplasty or total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis. A prospective, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Both total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty have been used commonly to treat severe osteoarthritis of the shoulder; however, their effect on disease-specific quality-of-life outcome is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the quality-of-life outcome following hemiarthroplasty with that following total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis of the shoulder. METHODS: Forty-two patients with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the shoulder were randomized to receive a hemiarthroplasty or a total shoulder arthroplasty. One patient died, and all others were evaluated preoperatively and at six weeks and three, six, twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four months postoperatively with use of a standardized format including a disease-specific quality-of-life measurement tool (Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder [WOOS] index), general shoulder rating scales (University of California at Los Angeles [UCLA] shoulder scale, Constant score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] evaluation form), general pain scales (McGill pain score and visual analogue scale), and a global health measure (Short Form-36 [SF-36]). When a patient required revision of a hemiarthroplasty to a total shoulder arthroplasty, the last score before he or she "crossed over" was used for the analysis. RESULTS: Significant improvements in disease-specific quality of life were seen two years after both the total shoulder arthroplasties and the hemiarthroplasties. There were no significant differences in quality of life (WOOS score) between the group treated with total shoulder arthroplasty and that treated with hemiarthroplasty (90.6 +/- 13.2 and 81.5 +/- 24.1 points, respectively; p = 0.18). The other outcome measures demonstrated similar findings. Two patients in the hemiarthroplasty group crossed over to the other group by undergoing a revision to a total shoulder arthroplasty because of glenoid arthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Both total shoulder arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty improve disease-specific and general quality-of-life measurements. With the small number of patients in our study, we found no significant differences in these measurements between the two treatment groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I.

Aged↗

Revision total elbow arthroplasty for prosthetic fractures.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of total elbow arthroplasty components are uncommon, and the literature provides little guidance regarding the management and outcomes of treatment of these complications. The goal of this report was to investigate the prevalence and management of fractures of ulnar and humeral components following total elbow arthroplasty and to review our experience with cement-within-cement reconstruction for revision following such fractures. METHODS: Between 1979 and 2003, twenty-four patients with a total of twenty-seven fractured total elbow arthroplasty components (seventeen ulnar and ten humeral) of different designs presented to our institution. Twenty-six implants underwent subsequent revision elbow arthroplasty at our institution. Fourteen of those revisions were done with a cement-within-cement technique, and twelve, with traditional methods. Twenty-one patients (twenty-three implants) were available for final follow-up, and data that had been acquired prospectively and entered into the institutional arthroplasty database were reviewed retrospectively. At the time of final follow-up, the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was calculated and preoperative, postoperative, and most recent radiographs were examined for bone loss, bushing wear, and integrity of the bone-cement interface. RESULTS: The prevalences of humeral and ulnar component fracture following primary total elbow arthroplasties performed at our institution were 0.65% and 1.2%, respectively. At a mean of 5.1 years following revisions for those fractures, the MEPS was excellent for eight patients, good for five, fair for six, and poor for two. The average MEPS was 82 points following the revision total elbow arthroplasties done with the cement-within-cement technique and 78 points following the revisions done with the traditional method of cement removal and insertion of a revision component. Complications included seven intraoperative cortical perforations; five nerve injuries, two of which were permanent; three triceps avulsions; and one deep infection. CONCLUSIONS: Implant fractures following total elbow arthroplasty are uncommon. They occur for several reasons, such as notch sensitivity, component design, and high stresses due to bone deficiency. Revision techniques, such as cement-within-cement reimplantation, are reliable for relieving pain and restoring function; however, the rate and spectrum of complications are a cause for concern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV.

Adult↗