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Volume 98-B, Issue 4 April 2016

Editorial
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Knee
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S. Middleton A. Toms

We explored the literature surrounding whether allergy and hypersensitivity has a clinical basis for implant selection in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In error, the terms hypersensitivity and allergy are often used synonymously. Although a relationship is present, we could not find any evidence of implant failure due to allergy. There is however increasing basic science that suggests a link between loosening and metal ion production. This is not an allergic response but is a potential problem. With a lack of evidence logically there can be no justification to use ‘hypoallergenic’ implants in patients who have pre-existing skin sensitivity to the metals used in TKA.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:437–41.


S. Lacny E. Bohm G. Hawker J. Powell D. A. Marshall

Aims

We aimed to assess the comparability of data in joint replacement registries and identify ways of improving the comparisons between registries and the overall monitoring of joint replacement surgery.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a review of registries that are full members of the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries with publicly available annual reports in English. Of the six registries which were included, we compared the reporting of: mean age, definitions for revision and re-operation, reasons for revision, the approach to analysing revisions, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA).


S. S. S. Mahmoud E. O. Pearse T. O. Smith C. B. Hing

Aims

The optimal management of intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck in independently mobile patients remains open to debate. Successful fixation obviates the limitations of arthroplasty for this group of patients. However, with fixation failure rates as high as 30%, the outcome of revision surgery to salvage total hip arthroplasty (THA) must be considered. We carried out a systematic review to compare the outcomes of salvage THA and primary THA for intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck.

Patients and Methods

We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) compliant systematic review, using the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries databases. A meta-analysis was performed where possible, and a narrative synthesis when a meta-analysis was not possible.


M. P. Abdel C. D. Watts M. T. Houdek D. G. Lewallen D. J. Berry

Aim and Methods

The goals of this study were to define the risk factors, nature, chronology, and treatment strategies adopted for periprosthetic femoral fractures in 32 644 primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs).

Results

There were 564 intra-operative fractures (1.7%); 529 during uncemented stem placement (3.0%) and 35 during cemented stem placement (0.23%). Intra-operative fractures were more common in females and patients over 65 years (p < 0.001). The majority occurred during placement of the femoral component (60%), and involved the calcar (69%). There were 557 post-operative fractures (20-year probability: 3.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2 to 3.9); 335 fractures after placement of an uncemented stem (20-year probability: 7.7%; 95% CI 6.2 to 9.1) and 222 after placement of a cemented stem (20-year probability: 2.1%; 95% CI 1.8 to 2.5). The probability of a post-operative fracture within 30 days after an uncemented stem was ten times higher than a cemented stem. The most common post-operative fracture type was a Vancouver AG (32%; n = 135), with 67% occurring after a fall. In all, 36% (n = 152) were treated with revision arthroplasty.


M. P. Abdel M. T. Houdek C. D. Watts D. G. Lewallen D. J. Berry

Aims

The goals of this study were to define the risk factors, characteristics, and chronology of fractures in 5417 revision total hip arthroplasties (THAs).

Patients and Methods

From our hospital’s prospectively collected database we identified all patients who had undergone a revision THA between 1969 and 2011 which involved the femoral stem. The patients’ medical records and radiographs were examined and the relevant data extracted. Post-operative periprosthetic fractures were classified using the Vancouver system. A total of 5417 revision THAs were identified.


J. F. Maempel N. D. Clement J. A. Ballantyne E. Dunstan

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an enhanced recovery program (ERP) on the short-term functional outcome after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondary outcomes included its effect on rates of dislocation and mortality.

Patients and Methods

Data were gathered on 1161 patients undergoing primary THA which included 611 patients treated with traditional rehabilitation and 550 treated with an ERP.


S. Tigchelaar J. de Rooy G. Hannink S. Koëter A. van Kampen E. Bongers

Aim

Nail patella syndrome (NPS) is a skeletal dysplasia with patellofemoral dysfunction as a key symptom. We present the first in-depth radiological evaluation of the knee in a large series of NPS patients and describe the typical malformations.

Patients and Methods

Conventional radiological examination of 95 skeletally mature patients with NPS was performed. Patellar morphology was classified according to the Wiberg classification as modified by Baumgartl and Ficat criteria, and trochlear shape was classified according to the Dejour classification.


J. F. Maempel N. R. Wickramasinghe N. D. Clement I. J. Brenkel P. J. Walmsley

Aims

The pre-operative level of haemoglobin is the strongest predictor of the peri-operative requirement for blood transfusion after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). There are, however, no studies reporting a value that could be considered to be appropriate pre-operatively.

This study aimed to identify threshold pre-operative levels of haemoglobin that would predict the requirement for blood transfusion in patients who undergo TKA.

Patients and Methods

Analysis of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of 2284 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral TKA was used to determine gender specific thresholds predicting peri-operative transfusion with the highest combined sensitivity and specificity (area under ROC curve 0.79 for males; 0.78 for females).


D. Mahadevan M. Attwal R. Bhatt M. Bhatia

Aims

The objective of this double-blind randomised controlled trial was to assess whether ultrasound guidance improved the efficacy of corticosteroid injections for Morton’s neuroma (MN).

Patients and Methods

In all, 50 feet (40 patients) were recruited for this study but five feet were excluded due to the patients declining further participation. The mean age of the remaining 36 patients (45 feet) was 57.8 years (standard deviation (sd) 12.9) with a female preponderance (33F:12M). All patients were followed-up for 12 months. Treatment was randomised to an ultrasound guided (Group A) or non-ultrasound guided (Group B) injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide and 2 ml 1% lignocaine, following ultrasound confirmation of the diagnosis.


S. Ajami G. W. Blunn S. Lambert S. Alexander M. Foxall Smith M. J. Coathup

Aims

To assess the extent of osteointegration in two designs of shoulder resurfacing implants. Bony integration to the Copeland cylindrical central stem design and the Epoca RH conical-crown design were compared.

Patients and Methods

Implants retrieved from six patients in each group were pair-matched. Mean time to revision surgery of Copeland implants was 37 months (standard deviation (sd) 23; 14 to 72) and Epoca RH 38 months (sd 28; 12 to 84). The mean age of patients investigated was 66 years (sd 4; 59 to 71) and 58 years (sd 17; 31 to 73) in the Copeland and Epoca RH groups respectively. None of these implants were revised for loosening.


H. T. Spencer L. Hsu J. Sodl A. Arianjam E. H. Yian

Aims

To compare radiographic failure and re-operation rates of anatomical coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstructional techniques with non-anatomical techniques after chronic high grade acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed chronic AC joint reconstructions within a region-wide healthcare system to identify surgical technique, complications, radiographic failure and re-operations. Procedures fell into four categories: (1) modified Weaver-Dunn, (2) allograft fixed through coracoid and clavicular tunnels, (3) allograft loop coracoclavicular fixation, and (4) combined allograft loop and synthetic cortical button fixation. Among 167 patients (mean age 38.1 years, (standard deviation (sd) 14.7) treated at least a four week interval after injury, 154 had post-operative radiographs available for analysis.


D. A. Lees J. B. Penny P. Baker

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the pain caused by the application of a tourniquet after exsanguination of the upper limb with that occurring after simple elevation.

Patients and Methods

We used 26 healthy volunteers (52 arms), each of whom acted as their own matched control.

The primary outcome measure was the total pain experienced by each volunteer while the tourniquet was inflated for 20 minutes. This was calculated as the area under the pain curve for each individual subject. Secondary outcomes were pain at each time point; the total pain experienced during the recovery phase; the ability to tolerate the tourniquet and the time for full recovery after deflation of the tourniquet.


Spine
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E. N. Hanley G. Ode J. B. Jackson III R. Seymour

Aims

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of coccygectomy for patients with chronic coccydynia.

Patients and Methods

Between 2007 and 2011, 98 patients underwent coccygectomy for chronic coccydynia. The patients were aged > 18 years, had coccygeal pain, local tenderness and a radiological abnormality, and had failed conservative management. Outcome measures were the Short Form 36 (SF-36), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. Secondary analysis compared the pre-operative features and the outcomes of patients with successful and failed treatment, two years post-operatively. The threshold for success was based on a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) on the ODI of 20 points. All other patients, including those lost to follow-up, were classified as failures.


S. T. J. Tsang L. A. Mills J. Frantzias J. P. Baren J. F. Keating A. H. R. W. Simpson

Aims

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the failure of exchange nailing in nonunion of tibial diaphyseal fractures.

Patients and Methods

A cohort of 102 tibial diaphyseal nonunions in 101 patients with a mean age of 36.9 years (15 to 74) were treated between January 1992 and December 2012 by exchange nailing. Of which 33 (32%) were initially open injuries. The median time from primary fixation to exchange nailing was 6.5 months (interquartile range (IQR) 4.3 to 9.8 months).

The main outcome measures were union, number of secondary fixation procedures required to achieve union and time to union.

Univariate analysis and multiple regression were used to identify risk factors for failure to achieve union.


O. Leonardsson O. Rolfson C. Rogmark

Aims

Hemiarthroplasty of the hip is usually carried out through either a direct lateral or posterior approach. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine any differences in patient-reported outcomes between the two surgical approaches.

Patients and Methods

From the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register we identified patients of 70 years and above who were recorded as having had a hemiarthroplasty during 2009. Only patients who had been treated with modern prostheses were included. A questionnaire was posted to those who remained alive one year after surgery. A total of 2118 patients (78% of those available) with a mean age of 85 years (70 to 102) returned the questionnaire.


A. Midbari E. Suzan T. Adler E. Melamed D. Norman S. Vulfsons E. Eisenberg

Aims

Amputation in intractable cases of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) remains controversial.

The likelihood of recurrent Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), residual and phantom limb pain and persistent disability after amputation is poorly described in the literature. The aims of this study were to compare pain, function, depression and quality of life between patients with intractable CRPS who underwent amputation and those in whom amputation was considered but not performed.

Patients and Methods

There were 19 patients in each group, with comparable demographic details. The amputated group included 14 men and five women with a mean age of 31 years (sd 12) at the time of CRPS diagnosis. The non-amputated group consisted of 12 men and seven women and their mean age of 36.8 years (sd 8) at CRPS diagnosis. The mean time from CRPS diagnosis to (first) amputation was 5.2 years (sd 4.3) and the mean time from amputation to data collection was 6.6 years (sd 5.8).

All participants completed the following questionnaires: Short-Form (SF) 36, Short Form McGill Pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Pain Disability Index (PDI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a clinical demographic questionnaire.


Oncology
Osteosarcoma of the pelvis Pages 555 - 563
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M. C. Parry M. Laitinen J. Albergo L. Jeys S. Carter C. L. Gaston V. Sumathi R. J. Grimer

Aims

Osteosarcoma of the pelvis is a particularly difficult tumour to treat as it often presents late, may be of considerable size and/or associated with metastases when it presents, and is frequently chondroid in origin and resistant to chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to review our experience of managing this group of patients and to identify features predictive of a poor outcome.

Patients and Methods

Between 1983 and 2014, 121 patients, (74 females and 47 males) were treated at a single hospital: 74 (61.2%) patients had a primary osteosarcoma and 47 (38.8%) had an osteosarcoma which was secondary either to Paget’s disease (22; 18.2%) or to previous pelvic irradiation (25; 20.7%).

The mean age of those with a primary osteosarcoma was 29.3 years (nine to 76) and their mean follow-up 2.9 years (0 to 29). The mean age of those with a secondary sarcoma was 61.9 years (15 to 85) and their mean follow-up was one year (0 to 14).

A total of 22 patients with a primary sarcoma (52.4%) and 20 of those with a secondary sarcoma (47.6%) had metastases at the time of presentation.


Children's Orthopaedics
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A. Kothari S. Bhuva J. Stebbins A B. Zavatsky T. Theologis

Aims

There is increasing evidence that flexible flatfoot (FF) can lead to symptoms and impairment in health-related quality of life. As such we undertook an observational study investigating the aetiology of this condition, to help inform management. The hypothesis was that as well as increased body mass index (BMI) and increased flexibility of the lower limb, an absent anterior subtalar articulation would be associated with a flatter foot posture.

Patients and Methods

A total of 84 children aged between eight and 15 years old were prospectively recruited. The BMI for each child was calculated, flexibility was assessed using the lower limb assessment scale (LLAS) and foot posture was quantified using the arch height index (AHI). Each child underwent a sagittal T1-weighted MRI scan of at least one foot.


O. Wiig S. Huhnstock T. Terjesen A. H. Pripp S. Svenningsen

Aims

The aims of this study were to describe the course of non-operatively managed, bilateral Perthes’ disease, and to determine specific prognostic factors for the radiographic and clinical outcome.

Patients and Methods

We identified 40 children with a mean age of 5.9 years (1.8 to 13.5), who were managed non-operatively for bilateral Perthes’ disease from our prospective, multicentre study of this condition, which included all children in Norway who were diagnosed with Perthes’ disease in the five-year period between 1996 and 2000. All children were followed up for five years.

The hips were classified according to the Catterall classification. A modified three-group Stulberg classification was used as an outcome measure, with a spherical femoral head being defined as a good outcome, an oval head as fair, and a flat femoral head as a poor outcome.


Errata/Corrigenda Pages 576 - 576
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F. S. Haddad

Zaidi R, Cro S, Gurusamy K, Sivanadarajah N, Macgregor A, Henricson A, Goldberg A.The outcome of total ankle replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1500–1507.


Errata/Corrigenda Pages 576 - 576
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F. S. Haddad

Bollen SR.Is arthroscopy of the knee completely useless? Meta-analysis: a reviewer’s nightmare.Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1591–1592.