Aims

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have both been shown to be effective treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Many studies have compared the outcomes of the two treatments, but less so with the use of robotics, or individualized TKA alignment techniques. Functional alignment (FA) is a novel technique for performing a TKA and shares many principles with UKA. Our aim was to compare outcomes from a case-matched series of robotic-assisted UKAs and robotic-assisted TKAs performed using FA.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(12):1120–1122.

Objectives. Distal humerus fractures in elderly population are often comminuted and presents multiple challenges. When managed with fixation the results are often complicated with stiffness, pain, and reduced function while total elbow replacement is fraught with lifelong restrictions on load bearing which can significantly affect elderly patients who rely assistive devices for ambulation. Elbow hemiarthroplasty however, presents a viable alternative in these cases. This series evaluates the results of the distal humerus hemiarthroplasty in a single centre. Designs and methods. Data was collected retrospectively. Comprehensive case reviews were done to collect demographic, intra-operative and post-operative data. Fractures were classified as per AO classification. The primary outcome was functional outcome and range of motion (ROM). The secondary outcomes were complications and patient satisfaction. Results. 22 cases were included in this study from 2016 – 2023 majority being females (n=18). Mean age was 74years (SD −11.2). Majority fractures were AO type C3 (n=15) with two A2 type fractures managed for non-union. Pre-existing bone on bone arthritis was present in 3 cases and CT scan was done for 12 patients to assess fracture configuration. Excluding those treated for non- union the median time between fracture and surgery was 8.5 days. Follow-up of more than 6 months was available for 16 patients with median follow-up of 18 months. ROM was available for 17 patients with 13 (50%) patients having functional ROM. No patients had full extension and there was a mean lag of 20. 0. Mean flexion was 118.2. 0. Nearly 2/3. rd. patients (73%- n=16) were satisfied with the surgery with no problems in activity of daily living. Complications seen were ulnar neuropathy (n=3), heterotopic ossification(n=2) and periprosthetic fracture (n=1). Conclusion. This single centre study suggests good outcomes following distal humerus hemiarthroplasty. It is a reasonable alternative to fixation and total elbow arthroplasty in complex fractures

Introduction. Instability in ACL deficient knees can lead to medial compartment osteoarthritis. The risk of developing significant OA is 5x higher in knees with ACL deficiency. In associated Varus, there is quicker progression of the medial OA along with a varus thrust exerting strain on the ACL graft. The simultaneous valgus HTO and ACL reconstruction decompresses the medial tibiofemoral joint, corrects the mechanical-axis and reduces strain on the graft. Outcomes for this simultaneous procedure are still unclear in literature and we attempt evaluating its functional outcome. Methods. This Panel study was performed using data from 2019 to 2022 on 21 patients who had ACL insufficiency with Varus or medial OA and underwent a simultaneous Opening-wedge HTO with Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. The mean follow-up was 2 years. The patients were evaluated with IKDC and Lysholm scores, Lachman test and ROM pre and post-operatively. The HKA was compared pre and post-operatively and the complications were evaluated. The progression of OA was evaluated with serial radiographs post-operatively. Results. There was a significant improvement in lifestyle and knee joint function post-operatively. The mechanical femorotibial angle was corrected from an average of 8.2° Varus to 0.8° Valgus. There was a significant improvement in IKDC and Lysholm scoring (IKDC score improved to 86.20 from 34.48 and the Lysholm score improved to 89 points from 37 points). There was significant improvement in the laxity which was evaluated by Lachman test. One patient had a clinical progression of medial-OA. No patients had non-union, graft or implant failure. Conclusion. Single stage HTO and ACL Reconstruction in patients with medial OA or Varus with ACL insufficiency is an option showing a satisfactory functional and radiological outcome along with activity scores

Objectives. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a degenerative condition that can result in low back pain and is likely underdiagnosed. Diagnosis is made clinically with the patient experiencing pain in the sacroiliac joint region. Initial management is non-operative with pain management, physiotherapy, injections, and rhizolysis. If these fail then surgical management, by sacroiliac joint fusion, can be considered. The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of all patients who underwent sacroiliac joint fusion by a single surgeon in a large district general hospital between April 2018 and April 2023. Design and Methods. A retrospective review of all patients who underwent sacroiliac joint fusion between April 2018 and April 2023 was conducted. Data was collected from clinical letters, operative notes, and the British Spinal Registry. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for back and leg pain were recorded as well as any post-operative complications. Results. In total 19 patients underwent sacroiliac joint fusion. Mean age was 47 years (range 27 – 69 years). Nine were right sided procedures and ten were left. The mean BMI was 32.3. ODI improved from a mean of 55 pre-operative to 26 at one year and 15 at two years post-operative. VAS for back pain improved from a mean of six pre-operative to three at one year and one at two years post-operative. VAS for leg pain improved from a mean of five pre-operative to four at one year and zero at two years post-operative. There were no surgical site complications. One patient developed trochanteric bursitis post-operatively. Two patients have since undergone sacroiliac joint fusion on the contralateral side with a further patient awaiting contralateral surgery. Conclusion. In patients with sacroiliac joint pain where non-operative measures have failed to control symptoms sacroiliac joint fusion is a reliable and effective surgical option

Objectives. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has gained popularity for hallux valgus, compared to the traditional scarf osteotomy (OS). Though evidence suggests similar clinical outcomes, there is paucity of randomised controlled studies. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial comparing the patient recorded and clinical outcomes for the surgical management of Hallux Valgus between OS and MIS Chevron Akin (MICA). Methods. Patients suitable for surgical correction were invited to participate. Post-op rehabilitation was standardised for both groups. Patients completed a validated questionnaire (Manchester Oxford Foot questionnaire and EQ-5D-5L) pre-operatively and post-operatively at 6 months and 1 year. Radiological parameters and range of motion were measured pre-and post-operatively. Results. 31 patients were recruited between Dec 2017 and June 2022. 17 patients were randomised to MICA (15 female, mean age 51) and 15 to OS (14 female, mean age 51). Both groups had a significant improvement in all MOXFQ parameters at 6m and 12m, as well as radiological parameters. VAS improved for OS (p=0.048) and for MICA (p=0.059) at 6m. There was no significant improvement in EQ-5D in either group at 12 months and no significant difference in operative time (p=0.53). There was a higher number of complications in the MICA group with 5 removal of metalwork (29.4%) and 2 superficial infections (11.8%) versus none in the OS group. The dorsiflexion significantly improved in the OS group at 6months (p=0.04). Recruitment rate dipped during COVID. No patients were lost at follow up. Conclusion. Both surgical options show similar clinical results, but higher complication rates were seen with MICA. This study illustrates the feasibility to conduct a randomised control trial for the comparison between the two techniques. Challenges to recruitment included surgeon equipoise, patient preference, training requirement and the pandemic which could be mitigated in a larger study

Objective. Neurological injuries are most common complication, which has refrained many surgeons from opting elbow arthroscopy for indicated surgeries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of anterolateral (AL) and posterolateral (PL) portals and chances of injury to the radial nerve and posterior interosseous nerve around the elbow joint during elbow arthroscopy. Material & Methods. A cadaveric study was conducted on 16 non dissected cadavers (32 elbow specimens) between the period of January 2021 to June 2022. Four portals were established using 4 mm Steinmann pins which are Proximal AL Portal, Mid-AL Portal, Distal AL Portal and PL Portal. The measurements of each portal were taken for each nerve and compared with each other. Results. In our study, the mean age was 56.5 years. Proximal AL Portal was found to be at an average distance of 12.03 mm from radial nerve, 9.48 mm from the PIN and 9.35 mm from the PACN (Posterior Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve). Distal AL Portal was at an average distance of 7.95 mm away from the radial nerve which closest to radial nerve amongst all portals. The radial nerve had the most risk of being injured out of all the nerves in the AL and PL portals followed by PIN and PACN in AL portal. Ulnar nerve was found safe in the PL portal. Conclusion. The PL portal was safer than the AL portal for conducting elbow arthroscopy. Care should be taken specially to protect radial nerve while performing elbow arthroscopy

Objectives. Acetabular fractures with quadrilateral plate involvement have been shown to have a high rate of complications. Anatomic suprapectineal plating systems have been developed to manage these injuries with good short-term outcomes, however long-term maintenance of anatomical reduction and functional outcomes is yet to be established. Efficacy of maintenance of reduction and functional outcomes at a minimum of 5-years follow-up is the aim of this study. Design and Methods. A retrospective cohort study examining patients aged over 16 years following fixation of acetabular fractures with quadrilateral plate involvement at a trauma centre in the United Kingdom. All patients had acetabular fracture fixation with an anatomically designed suprapectineal plate. Patients were admitted from March 2014 to January 2017. Primary outcomes included objective radiological outcomes such as reduction quality, maintenance of reduction, metalwork failure, complications (such as reoperation, neurological deficit and mortality) and subjective patient-related outcome measures (PROMs) using the Oxford Hip Score and EuroQol EQ5D Score at a minimum of 5-years post-operatively. Results. 16 patients met our eligibility criteria in this cohort. Post-operative mean Oxford Hip Score (OHS) at a minimum of 5-years was 40.5 (SD 11.9) with a median score of 45. Post-operative mean EuroQol EQ-5D scores at a minimum of 5-years were 0.83 (SD 0.25). Comparison of OHS and EQ5D at 1-year and 5-years showed no significant difference (OHS p = 0.27 / EQ5D p = 0.128). Radiographic outcomes were assessed with AP and Judet plain radiographs at a minimum of 5-years follow-up. Rate of conversion to total hip replacement was 6.25%. 56.3% showed some evidence of dome comminution with 18.8% demonstrating dome impaction. 93.7% showed evidence of quadrilateral plate involvement. 12.5% showed evidence of femoral head injury. Conclusion. Maintenance of reduction and functional and patient reported outcomes using anatomically contoured suprapectineal plates do not change significantly between 1 year and 5 years follow-up

Background. The rise in the adoption of outpatient arthroplasty has been attributed to its cost-effectiveness, although safety concerns persist. In this meta-analysis, we compare inpatient and outpatient joint arthroplasty with a primary focus on readmission and complication rates, using exclusively high-quality prospective data. Cost-effectiveness was used as a secondary outcome measure. Methods. A literature search was performed in Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library from inception to October 2023. A predefined strategy was used to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis. Twelve studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. These were critically appraised using RoB analysis and MINORS criteria. Overall readmission rate, readmission rate for THA, readmission rate for TKA, complication rate and cost-analysis were selected as outcomes of interest. Forest plots were extracted using RevMan 5.3.5 software. Results. The twelve studies included 2470 patients, of which 1052 were outpatients and 1418 inpatient subjects undergoing arthroplasty. Forest plot analysis showed no significant difference in safety outcomes (readmission and complication rates). However, there were significantly lower costs in the outpatient group compared to the inpatient group. The results of the analysis were; overall readmission rate (Odds ratio 0.66; P= 0.29; I. 2. =18%), readmission rate in THA (odds ratio 0.62; P=0.10; I. 2. =51%), readmission rate in TKA (odds ratio 0.67; P=0.56; I. 2. =0%), overall complication rate (odds ratio 0.77; P=0.12; I. 2. =38%) and cost analysis (RR −2.88; P<0.00001; I. 2. = 93%). Conclusions. This meta-analysis demonstrates that outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is a safe option, when compared to inpatient surgery. However, it is clear that further prospective studies and long-term randomized clinical data are necessary for a more comprehensive understanding

Aims

In the treatment of basal thumb osteoarthritis (OA), intra-articular autologous fat transplantation has become of great interest within recent years as a minimally invasive and effective alternative to surgical intervention with regard to pain reduction. This study aims to assess its long-term effectiveness.

Aims

Limb salvage surgery (LSS) is the primary treatment option for primary bone malignancy. It involves the removal of bone and tissue, followed by reconstruction with endoprosthetic replacements (EPRs) to prevent amputation. Trabecular metal (TM) collars have been developed to encourage bone ingrowth (osseointegration (OI)) into EPRs. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether OI occurs when TM collars are used in EPRs for tumour.

Aims

Better prediction of outcome after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is warranted. Systemic inflammation and central neuroinflammation are possibly involved in progression of osteoarthritis and pain. We explored whether inflammatory biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were associated with clinical outcome, and baseline pain or disability, 12 months after THA.

Aims

The transepicondylar axis is a well-established reference for the determination of femoral component rotation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, when severe bone loss is present in the femoral condyles, rotational alignment can be more complicated. There is a lack of validated landmarks in the supracondylar region of the distal femur. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between the surgical transepicondylar axis (sTEA) and the suggested dorsal cortex line (DCL) in the coronal plane and the inter- and intraobserver reliability of its CT scan measurement.

The December 2024 Wrist & Hand Roundup. 360. looks at: Variability in thumb ulnar collateral ligament rupture management across the UK: survey insights; Identifying five distinct hand osteoarthritis pain phenotypes highlights the impact of biopsychosocial factors; Long-term outcomes of MAÏA TMC joint prosthesis for osteoarthritis: a possible alternative to trapeziectomy; Diagnostic and management strategies for malignant melanoma of the hand; Early versus delayed surgery for distal radius fractures: comparable outcomes but higher complications in delayed treatment; Perioperative anticoagulant and antiplatelet use does not increase complications in wide-awake hand surgery; Variability in treatment of metacarpal shaft fractures highlights need for standardized care; Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound ineffective in reducing time to union for scaphoid nonunion post-surgery

Aims

The aim of the LightFix Trial was to evaluate the clinical outcomes for one year after the treatment of impending and completed pathological fractures of the humerus using the IlluminOss System (IS), and to analyze the performance of this device.

The December 2024 Knee Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty in the same patient?; Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: is it a good option?; The fate of the unresurfaced patellae in contemporary total knee arthroplasty: early- to mid-term results; Tibial baseplate migration is not associated with change in PROMs and clinical scores after total knee arthroplasty; Unexpected positive intraoperative cultures in aseptic revision knee arthroplasty: what effect does this have?; Kinematic or mechanical alignment in total knee arthroplasty surgery?; Revision total knee arthroplasty achieves minimal clinically important difference faster than primary total knee arthroplasty; Outcomes after successful DAIR for periprosthetic joint infection in total knee arthroplasty.

The December 2024 Research Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Skeletal muscle composition, power, and mitochondrial energetics in older men and women with knee osteoarthritis; Machine-learning models to predict osteonecrosis in patients with femoral neck fractures undergoing internal fixation; Aetiology of patient dissatisfaction following primary total knee arthroplasty in the era of robotic-assisted technology; Efficacy and safety of commonly used thromboprophylaxis agents following hip and knee arthroplasty; The COVID-19 effect continues; Nickel allergy in knee arthroplasty: does self-reported sensitivity affect outcomes?; Tranexamic acid use and joint infection risk in total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Aims. This study aimed to determine clinical outcomes; relationships between postoperative anterior, lateral, and posterior acetabular coverage and joint survival; and prognostic factors for joint survival after transposition osteotomy of the acetabulum (TOA). Methods. Data from 616 patients (800 hips) with hip dysplasia who underwent TOA between November 1998 and December 2019 were reviewed. The median follow-up period was 8.9 years (IQR 5 to 14). A medical notes review was conducted to collect demographic data, complications, and modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS). Radiological indicators of acetabular coverage included lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA), anterior wall index (AWI), and posterior wall index (PWI). The cumulative probability of TOA failure (progression to Tönnis grade 3 or conversion to total hip arthroplasty) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limited method. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify predictors for failure. Results. Median mHHS improved from 68 preoperatively to 96 at the latest follow-up (p < 0.001). The overall joint survival rate was 97% at ten years and 70% at 20 years. For the postoperative LCEA subgroups, survival in the deficient group was lower than that in the excessive (p = 0.006) and normal (p = 0.007) groups. For the postoperative AWI subgroups, survival in the deficient group was lower than that in the excessive (p = 0.015) and normal (p < 0.001) groups. Multivariate analysis identified age (p = 0.010), Tönnis grade 2 (p < 0.001), roundness index (p = 0.003), fair joint congruity (p = 0.004), and postoperative AWI (p = 0.002) as independent risk factors. Conclusion. Deficient postoperative AWI adversely affected joint survival after TOA, underscoring the importance of sufficient anterior acetabular coverage, along with precise surgical indications, to ensure successful hip joint preservation in the treatment of hip dysplasia. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(12):1399–1407

The December 2024 Arthroplasty Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Aspirin for hip and knee arthroplasty?; VTE prophylaxis; VTE prophylaxis part II.

Aims

Approximately 10% to 20% of knee arthroplasty patients are not satisfied with the result, while a clear indication for revision surgery might not be present. Therapeutic options for these patients, who often lack adequate quadriceps strength, are limited. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of a novel rehabilitation protocol that combines low-load resistance training (LL-RT) with blood flow restriction (BFR).