Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the tapered cone stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with excessive femoral anteversion and after femoral osteotomy.

Aims. Limited implant survival due to aseptic cup loosening is most commonly responsible for revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). Advances in implant designs and materials have been crucial in addressing those challenges. Vitamin E-infused highly cross-linked polyethylene (VEPE) promises strong wear resistance, high oxidative stability, and superior mechanical strength. Although VEPE monoblock cups have shown good mid-term performance and excellent wear patterns, long-term results remain unclear. This study evaluated migration and wear patterns and clinical and radiological outcomes at a minimum of ten years’ follow-up. Methods. This prospective observational study investigated 101 cases of primary THA over a mean duration of 129 months (120 to 149). At last follow-up, 57 cases with complete clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated. In all cases, the acetabular component comprised an uncemented titanium particle-coated VEPE monoblock cup. Patients were assessed clinically and radiologically using the Harris Hip Score, visual analogue scale (pain and satisfaction), and an anteroposterior radiograph. Cup migration and polyethylene wear were measured using Einzel-Bild-Röntgen-Analyze software. All complications and associated treatments were documented until final follow-up. Results. Clinical assessment showed persistent major improvement in all scores. On radiological assessment, only one case showed a lucent line (without symptoms). At last follow-up, wear and migration were below the critical thresholds. No cup-related revisions were needed, indicating an outstanding survival rate of 100%. Conclusion. Isoelastic VEPE cups offer high success rates and may prevent osteolysis, aseptic loosening, and the need for revision surgeries in the long term. However, longer follow-up is needed to validate our findings and confirm the advantages offered by this cup. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(10):825–831

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The liner design is a key determinant of the constraint of a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). The aim of this study was to compare the degree of constraint of rTSA liners between different implant systems.

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Custom-made partial pelvis replacements (PPRs) are increasingly used in the reconstruction of large acetabular defects and have mainly been designed using a triflange approach, requiring extensive soft-tissue dissection. The monoflange design, where primary intramedullary fixation within the ilium combined with a monoflange for rotational stability, was anticipated to overcome this obstacle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the design with regard to functional outcome, complications, and acetabular reconstruction.

Aims

Precise implant positioning, tailored to individual spinopelvic biomechanics and phenotype, is paramount for stability in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Despite a few studies on instability prediction, there is a notable gap in research utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of developing an AI algorithm tailored to individual spinopelvic mechanics and patient phenotype for predicting impingement.

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In metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasties and resurfacings, mechanically induced corrosion can lead to elevated serum metal ions, a local inflammatory response, and formation of pseudotumours, ultimately requiring revision. The size and diametral clearance of anatomical (ADM) and modular (MDM) dual-mobility polyethylene bearings match those of Birmingham hip MoM components. If the acetabular component is satisfactorily positioned, well integrated into the bone, and has no surface damage, this presents the opportunity for revision with exchange of the metal head for ADM/MDM polyethylene bearings without removal of the acetabular component.

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Periprosthetic fracture and implant loosening are two of the major reasons for revision surgery of cementless implants. Optimal implant fixation with minimal bone damage is challenging in this procedure. This pilot study investigates whether vibratory implant insertion is gentler compared to consecutive single blows for acetabular component implantation in a surrogate polyurethane (PU) model.

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Isolated acetabular liner exchange with a highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) component is an option to address polyethylene wear and osteolysis following total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the presence of a well-fixed acetabular shell. The liner can be fixed either with the original locking mechanism or by being cemented within the acetabular component. Whether the method used for fixation of the HXLPE liner has any bearing on the long-term outcomes is still unclear.

Aims. Manual impaction, with a mallet and introducer, remains the standard method of installing cementless acetabular cups during total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to quantify the accuracy and precision of manual impaction strikes during the seating of an acetabular component. This understanding aims to help improve impaction surgical techniques and inform the development of future technologies. Methods. Posterior approach THAs were carried out on three cadavers by an expert orthopaedic surgeon. An instrumented mallet and introducer were used to insert cementless acetabular cups. The motion of the mallet, relative to the introducer, was analyzed for a total of 110 strikes split into low-, medium-, and high-effort strikes. Three parameters were extracted from these data: strike vector, strike offset, and mallet face alignment. Results. The force vector of the mallet strike, relative to the introducer axis, was misaligned by an average of 18.1°, resulting in an average wasted strike energy of 6.1%. Furthermore, the mean strike offset was 19.8 mm from the centre of the introducer axis and the mallet face, relative to the introducer strike face, was misaligned by a mean angle of 15.2° from the introducer strike face. Conclusion. The direction of the impact vector in manual impaction lacks both accuracy and precision. There is an opportunity to improve this through more advanced impaction instruments or surgical training. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(4):193–200

Aims

This study reports the results of 38 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in 33 patients aged less than 50 years, using the JRI Furlong hydroxyapatite ceramic (HAC)-coated femoral component.

Aims. Custom triflange acetabular components (CTACs) play an important role in reconstructive orthopaedic surgery, particularly in revision total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) and pelvic tumour resection procedures. Accurate CTAC positioning is essential to successful surgical outcomes. While prior studies have explored CTAC positioning in rTHA, research focusing on tumour cases and implant flange positioning precision remains limited. Additionally, the impact of intraoperative navigation on positioning accuracy warrants further investigation. This study assesses CTAC positioning accuracy in tumour resection and rTHA cases, focusing on the differences between preoperative planning and postoperative implant positions. Methods. A multicentre observational cohort study in Australia between February 2017 and March 2021 included consecutive patients undergoing acetabular reconstruction with CTACs in rTHA (Paprosky 3A/3B defects) or tumour resection (including Enneking P2 peri-acetabular area). Of 103 eligible patients (104 hips), 34 patients (35 hips) were analyzed. Results. CTAC positioning was generally accurate, with minor deviations in cup inclination (mean 2.7°; SD 2.84°), anteversion (mean 3.6°; SD 5.04°), and rotation (mean 2.1°; SD 2.47°). Deviation of the hip centre of rotation (COR) showed a mean vector length of 5.9 mm (SD 7.24). Flange positions showed small deviations, with the ischial flange exhibiting the largest deviation (mean vector length of 7.0 mm; SD 8.65). Overall, 83% of the implants were accurately positioned, with 17% exceeding malpositioning thresholds. CTACs used in tumour resections exhibited higher positioning accuracy than rTHA cases, with significant differences in inclination (1.5° for tumour vs 3.4° for rTHA) and rotation (1.3° for tumour vs 2.4° for rTHA). The use of intraoperative navigation appeared to enhance positioning accuracy, but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion. This study demonstrates favourable CTAC positioning accuracy, with potential for improved accuracy through intraoperative navigation. Further research is needed to understand the implications of positioning accuracy on implant performance and long-term survival. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(4):260–268

Aims. It is important to analyze objectively the hammering sound in cup press-fit technique in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in order to better understand the change of the sound during impaction. We hypothesized that a specific characteristic would present in a hammering sound with successful fixation. We designed the study to quantitatively investigate the acoustic characteristics during cementless cup impaction in THA. Methods. In 52 THAs performed between November 2018 and April 2022, the acoustic parameters of the hammering sound of 224 impacts of successful press-fit fixation, and 55 impacts of unsuccessful press-fit fixation, were analyzed. The successful fixation was defined if the following two criteria were met: 1) intraoperatively, the stability of the cup was retained after manual application of the torque test; and 2) at one month postoperatively, the cup showed no translation on radiograph. Each hammering sound was converted to sound pressures in 24 frequency bands by fast Fourier transform analysis. Basic patient characteristics were assessed as potential contributors to the hammering sound. Results. The median sound pressure (SP) of successful fixation at 0.5 to 1.0 kHz was higher than that of unsuccessful fixation (0.0694 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.04721 to 0.09576) vs 0.05425 (IQR 0.03047 to 0.06803), p < 0.001). The median SP of successful fixation at 3.5 to 4.0 kHz and 4.0 to 4.5 kHz was lower than that of unsuccessful fixation (0.0812 (IQR 0.05631 to 0.01161) vs 0.1233 (IQR 0.0730 to 0.1449), p < 0.001; and 0.0891 (IQR 0.0526 to 0.0891) vs 0.0885 (IQR 0.0716 to 0.1048); p < 0.001, respectively). There was a statistically significant positive relationship between body weight and SP at 0.5 to 1.0 kHz (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses indicated that the SP at 0.5 to 1.0 kHz and 3.5 to 4.0 kHz was independently associated with the successful fixation. Conclusion. The frequency bands of 0.5 to 1.0 and 3.5 to 4.0 kHz were the key to distinguish the sound characteristics between successful and unsuccessful press-fit cup fixation. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(3):154–161

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Post-traumatic periprosthetic acetabular fractures are rare but serious. Few studies carried out on small cohorts have reported them in the literature. The aim of this work is to describe the specific characteristics of post-traumatic periprosthetic acetabular fractures, and the outcome of their surgical treatment in terms of function and complications.

Aims. Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing (MoM-HR) has seen decreased usage due to safety and longevity concerns. Joint registries have highlighted the risks in females, smaller hips, and hip dysplasia. This study aimed to identify if reported risk factors are linked to revision in a long-term follow-up of MoM-HR performed by a non-designer surgeon. Methods. A retrospective review of consecutive MoM hip arthroplasties (MoM-HRAs) using Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was conducted. Data on procedure side, indication, implant sizes and orientation, highest blood cobalt and chromium ion concentrations, and all-cause revision were collected from local and UK National Joint Registry records. Results. A total of 243 hips (205 patients (163 male, 80 female; mean age at surgery 55.3 years (range 25.7 to 75.3)) with MoM-HRA performed between April 2003 and October 2020 were included. Mean follow-up was 11.2 years (range 0.3 to 17.8). Osteoarthritis was the most common indication (93.8%), and 13 hips (5.3%; 7M:6F) showed dysplasia (lateral centre-edge angle < 25°). Acetabular cups were implanted at a median of 45.4° abduction (interquartile range 41.9° - 48.3°) and stems neutral or valgus to the native neck-shaft angle. In all, 11 hips (4.5%; one male, ten females) in ten patients underwent revision surgery at a mean of 7.4 years (range 2.8 to 14.2), giving a cumulative survival rate of 94.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91.6% to 98.0%) at ten years, and 93.4% (95% CI 89.3% to 97.6%) at 17 years. For aseptic revision, male survivorship was 100% at 17 years, and 89.6% (95% CI 83.1% to 96.7%) at ten and 17 years for females. Increased metal ion levels were implicated in 50% of female revisions, with the remaining being revised for unexplained pain or avascular necrosis. Conclusion. The Birmingham MoM-HR showed 100% survivorship in males, exceeding the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ‘5% at ten years’ threshold. Female sex and small component sizes are independent risk factors. Dysplasia alone is not a contraindication to resurfacing. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(11):853–858

Aims

Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) is the most accurate radiological method to measure in vivo wear of highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) acetabular components. We have previously reported very low wear rates for a sequentially irradiated and annealed X3 XLPE liner (Stryker Orthopaedics, USA) when used in conjunction with a 32 mm femoral heads at ten-year follow-up. Only two studies have reported the long-term wear rate of X3 liners used in conjunction with larger heads using plain radiographs which have poor sensitivity. The aim of this study was to measure the ten-year wear of thin X3 XLPE liners against larger 36 or 40 mm articulations with RSA.

Aims

The primary aim of this study is to assess the survival of the uncemented hydroxyapatite (HA) coated Trident II acetabular component as part of a hybrid total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a cemented Exeter stem. The secondary aims are to assess the complications, joint-specific function, health-related quality of life, and radiological signs of loosening of the acetabular component.

Aims

The primary outcome was investigating differences in wear, as measured by femoral head penetration, between cross-linked vitamin E-diffused polyethylene (vE-PE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) acetabular component liners and between 32 and 36 mm head sizes at the ten-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included acetabular component migration and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Harris Hip Score, and University of California, Los Angeles Activity Scale (UCLA).

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Mendelian randomization (MR) is considered to overcome the bias of observational studies, but there is no current meta-analysis of MR studies on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to summarize the relationship between potential pathogenic factors and RA risk based on existing MR studies.

Aims. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal lip position for total hip arthroplasties (THAs) using a lipped liner. There is a lack of consensus on the optimal position, with substantial variability in surgeon practice. Methods. A model of a THA was developed using a 20° lipped liner. Kinematic analyses included a physiological range of motion (ROM) analysis and a provocative dislocation manoeuvre analysis. ROM prior to impingement was calculated and, in impingement scenarios, the travel distance prior to dislocation was assessed. The combinations analyzed included nine cup positions (inclination 30-40-50°, anteversion 5-15-25°), three stem positions (anteversion 0-15-30°), and five lip orientations (right hip 7 to 11 o’clock). Results. The position of the lip changes the ROM prior to impingement, with certain combinations leading to impingement within the physiological ROM. Inferior lip positions (7 to 8 o’clock) performed best with cup inclinations of 30° and 40°. Superior lip positions performed best with cup inclination of 50°. When impingement occurs in the plane of the lip, the lip increases the travel distance prior to dislocation. Inferior lip positions led to the largest increase in jump distance in a posterior dislocation provocation manoeuvre. Conclusion. The lip orientation that provides optimal physiological ROM depends on the orientation of the cup and stem. For a THA with stem anteversion 15°, cup inclination 40°, and cup anteversion 15°, the optimal lip position was posterior-inferior (8 o’clock). Maximizing jump distance prior to dislocation while preventing impingement in the opposite direction is possible with appropriate lip positioning. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(9):571–579

Aims

A revision for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has a major effect on the patient’s quality of life, including walking capacity. The objective of this case control study was to investigate the histological and ultrastructural changes to the gluteus medius tendon (GMED) in patients revised due to a PJI, and to compare it with revision THAs without infection performed using the same lateral approach.