Aims. Osteoporosis is common in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. It plays a substantial factor in the surgery’s outcome, and previous studies have revealed that pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis influences implant survival rate. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of and treatment rates for osteoporosis prior to THA, and to explore differences in osteoporosis-related biomarkers between patients treated and untreated for osteoporosis. Methods. This single-centre retrospective study included 398 hip joints of patients who underwent THA. Using medical records, we examined preoperative bone mineral density measures of the hip and lumbar spine using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and the medications used to treat osteoporosis at the time of admission. We also assessed the following osteoporosis-related biomarkers: tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b); total procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (total P1NP); intact parathyroid hormone; and homocysteine. Results. The prevalence of DXA-proven hip osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5) among THA patients was 8.8% (35 of 398). The spinal osteoporosis prevalence rate was 4.5% (18 of 398), and 244 patients (61.3%; 244 of 398) had osteopenia (-2.5 < T-score ≤ -1) or osteoporosis of either the hip or spine. The rate of pharmacological osteoporosis treatment was 22.1% (88 of 398). TRACP-5b was significantly lower in the osteoporosis-treated group than in the untreated group (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Osteoporosis is common in patients undergoing THA, but the diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis were insufficient. The lower TRACP-5b levels in the osteoporosis-treated group — that is, osteoclast suppression — may contribute to the reduction of the postoperative revision rate after THA. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(12):873–880

Osteoporosis can cause significant disability and cost to health services globally. We aim to compare risk fractures for both osteoporosis and fractures at the L1-L4 vertebrae (LV) and the neck of femurs (NOFs) in patients referred for DEXA scan in the North-West of England. Data was obtained from 31546 patients referred for DEXA scan in the North-West of England between 2004 and 2011. Demographic data was retrospectively analysed using STATA, utilising chi-squared and t-tests. Logistical models were used to report odds ratios for risk factors included in the FRAX tool looking for differences between osteoporosis and fracture risk at the LV and NOFs. In a study involving 2530 cases of LV fractures and 1363 of NOF fractures, age was significantly linked to fractures and osteoporosis at both sites, with a higher risk of osteoporosis at NOFs compared to LV. Height provided protection against fractures and osteoporosis at both sites, with a more pronounced protective effect against osteoporosis at NOFs. Weight was more protective for NOF fractures, while smoking increased osteoporosis risk with no site-specific difference. Steroids were unexpectedly protective for fractures at both sites, with no significant difference, while alcohol consumption was protective against osteoporosis at both sites and associated with increased LV fracture risk. Rheumatoid arthritis increased osteoporosis risk in NOFs and implied a higher fracture risk, though not statistically significant compared to LV. Results summarised in Table 1. Our study reveals that established osteoporosis and fracture risk factors impact distinct bony sites differently. Age and rheumatoid arthritis increase osteoporosis risk more at NOFs than LV, while height and steroids provide greater protection at NOFs. Height significantly protects LV fractures, with alcohol predicting them. Further research is needed to explore risk factors’ impact on additional bony sites and understand the observed differences’ pathophysiology. For any figures or tables, please contact the authors directly

Aims. Osteoporosis can determine surgical strategy for total hip arthroplasty (THA), and perioperative fracture risk. The aims of this study were to use hip CT to measure femoral bone mineral density (BMD) using CT X-ray absorptiometry (CTXA), determine if systematic evaluation of preoperative femoral BMD with CTXA would improve identification of osteopenia and osteoporosis compared with available preoperative dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) analysis, and determine if improved recognition of low BMD would affect the use of cemented stem fixation. Methods. Retrospective chart review of a single-surgeon database identified 78 patients with CTXA performed prior to robotic-assisted THA (raTHA) (Group 1). Group 1 was age- and sex-matched to 78 raTHAs that had a preoperative hip CT but did not have CTXA analysis (Group 2). Clinical demographics, femoral fixation method, CTXA, and DXA data were recorded. Demographic data were similar for both groups. Results. Preoperative femoral BMD was available for 100% of Group 1 patients (CTXA) and 43.6% of Group 2 patients (DXA). CTXA analysis for all Group 1 patients preoperatively identified 13 osteopenic and eight osteoporotic patients for whom there were no available preoperative DXA data. Cemented stem fixation was used with higher frequency in Group 1 versus Group 2 (28.2% vs 14.3%, respectively; p = 0.030), and in all cases where osteoporosis was diagnosed, irrespective of technique (DXA or CTXA). Conclusion. Preoperative hip CT scans which are routinely obtained prior to raTHA can determine bone health, and thus guide femoral fixation strategy. Systematic preoperative evaluation with CTXA resulted in increased recognition of osteopenia and osteoporosis, and contributed to increased use of cemented femoral fixation compared with routine clinical care; in this small study, however, it did not impact short-term periprosthetic fracture risk. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(3):254–260

To evaluate the effects of 6 and 18 months of abaloparatide (ABL) compared with placebo (PBO) on bone mineral density (BMD) in the acetabular regions of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (OP).

Acetabular bone loss, as may occur in OP, increases risk of acetabular fragility fractures^a. In total hip arthroplasty (THA), low acetabular BMD adversely affects primary stability, osseointegration, and migration of acetabular cups.^c ABL is an osteoanabolic agent for the treatment of men and postmenopausal women with OP at high risk for fracture. Effects of ABL on acetabular BMD are unknown.

Hip DXA scans were obtained at baseline, 6, and 18 months from a random subgroup of postmenopausal women (aged 49–86 y) from the phase 3 ACTIVE trial randomized to either ABL 80 µg/d or PBO (n=250/group). Anatomical landmarks were identified in each DXA scan to virtually place a hemispherical shell model of an acetabular cup and define regions of interest corresponding to DeLee & Charnley zones 1 (R1), 2 (R2), and 3 (R3). BMD changes compared to baseline were calculated for each zone. Statistical P values were based on a repeated mixed measures model.

BMD in all zones were similar at baseline in the ABL and PBO groups. BMD significantly increased in the ABL group at 6 and 18 months compared with PBO (all P<0.0001 vs PBO). BMD in the PBO group was relatively stable over time.

ABL treatment resulted in rapid and progressive increases in BMD of all 3 acetabular zones. Increasing acetabular BMD has the potential to improve acetabular strength, which may reduce risk of acetabular fragility fractures. In bone health optimization prior to THA, increased acetabular BMD via ABL may provide better primary stability and longevity of acetabular cups in postmenopausal women with OP.

Aims

This study aimed to develop and validate a fully automated system that quantifies proximal femoral bone mineral density (BMD) from CT images.

Aims

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) with dual-mobility components (DM-THA) has been shown to decrease the risk of dislocation in the setting of a displaced neck of femur fracture compared to conventional single-bearing THA (SB-THA). This study assesses if the clinical benefit of a reduced dislocation rate can justify the incremental cost increase of DM-THA compared to SB-THA.

Aims

Fixation of osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures remains challenging even with state-of-the-art locking plates. Despite the demonstrated biomechanical benefit of screw tip augmentation with bone cement, the clinical findings have remained unclear, potentially as the optimal augmentation combinations are unknown. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the biomechanical benefits of the augmentation options in a humeral locking plate using finite element analysis (FEA).

Aims

To develop prediction models using machine-learning (ML) algorithms for 90-day and one-year mortality prediction in femoral neck fracture (FNF) patients aged 50 years or older based on the Hip fracture Evaluation with Alternatives of Total Hip arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty (HEALTH) and Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trials.

Aims

This work aimed at answering the following research questions: 1) What is the rate of mechanical complications, nonunion and infection for head/neck femoral fractures, intertrochanteric fractures, and subtrochanteric fractures in the elderly USA population? and 2) Which factors influence adverse outcomes?

Aims

Two-stage exchange revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed in case of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has been considered for many years as being the gold standard for the treatment of chronic infection. However, over the past decade, there have been concerns about its safety and its effectiveness. The purposes of our study were to investigate our practice, collecting the overall spacer complications, and then to analyze their risk factors.

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore the functional results in a fitter subgroup of participants in the Hip Fracture Evaluation with Alternatives of Total Hip Arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty (HEALTH) trial to determine whether there was an advantage of total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA) in this population.

In revision total hip replacement, bone loss can be managed by impacting porous bone chips. In order to guarantee sufficient mechanical strength, the bone chips have to be compacted. The aim of this study was to determine in an in vitro simulation whether the use of a pneumatic hammer leads to higher primary stability than manual impaction. Bone mass characteristics were measured by force and distance variation of a penetrating punch, which was lowered into a plastic cup filled with bone chips. From these measurements bulk density, contact stiffness, impaction hardness and penetration resistance were calculated for different durations of impaction. We found that the pneumatic method reached higher values of impaction hardness, contact stiffness and bulk density suggesting an increase in stability of the implant. No significant differences were found between the two different methods concerning the penetration resistance. The pneumatic method might reduce the risk of fracture in vivo, as force peaks are smaller and applied for a shorter period. Results from manual impaction showed higher variability and depend much on the experience of the surgeon. The pneumatic hammer is a suitable tool to standardise the impaction process

Aims

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) impairs bone strength and is a significant risk factor for hip fracture, yet currently there is no reliable tool to assess this risk. Most risk stratification methods rely on bone mineral density, which is not impaired by diabetes, rendering current tests ineffective. CT-based finite element analysis (CTFEA) calculates the mechanical response of bone to load and uses the yield strain, which is reduced in T2DM patients, to measure bone strength. The purpose of this feasibility study was to examine whether CTFEA could be used to assess the hip fracture risk for T2DM patients.

We enrolled 98 patients (107 hips) with a mean age of 47 years (SD 8.6) into a prospective study of the Madreporic Lord THR; 34 hips had primary and 73 secondary osteoarthritis. After ten years, the survival rate using revision as the endpoint for failure was 70% (±9) for the cup and 98% (±0.3) for the stem. The combined clinical and radiological survival rates were 46% (±11) and 81% (±10), respectively. Osteoporosis due to stress-shielding was observed in the proximal femur. Hips with radiologically dense bone postoperatively showed the most pronounced bone loss. We recommend continued radiological follow-up of patients with this type of implant to allow revision to be performed before there is severe bony destruction of the pelvis

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether fixation, as opposed to revision arthroplasty, can be safely used to treat reducible Vancouver B type fractures in association with a cemented collarless polished tapered femoral stem (the Exeter).

Objectives

Different criteria for assessing the reduction quality of trochanteric fractures have been reported. The Baumgaertner reduction quality criteria (BRQC) are relatively common and the Chang reduction quality criteria (CRQC) are relatively new. The objectives of the current study were to compare the reliability of the BRQC and CRQC in predicting mechanical complications and to investigate the clinical implications of the CRQC.

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the rate of mortality and causes of death in Korean patients who undergo surgery for a fracture of the hip, up to 11 years after the injury, with a control group from the general population.

Aims

The aim of this large registry-based study was to compare mid-term survival rates of cemented femoral stems of different designs used in hemiarthroplasty for a fracture of the femoral neck.

A common situation presenting to the orthopaedic surgeon today is a worn acetabular liner with substantial acetabular and pelvic osteolysis. The surgeon has many options for dealing with osteolytic defects. These include allograft, calcium based substitutes, demineralised bone matrix, or combinations of these options with or without addition of platelet rich plasma. To date there are no clinical studies to determine the efficacy of using bone-stimulating materials in osteolytic defects at the time of revision surgery and there are surprisingly few studies demonstrating the clinical efficacy of these treatment options. Even when radiographs appear to demonstrate incorporation of graft material CT studies have shown that incorporation is incomplete. The surgeon, in choosing a graft material for a surgical procedure must take into account the efficacy, safety, cost and convenience of that material.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B (11 Suppl A):70–2.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict implant cut-out after cephalomedullary nailing of intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric hip fractures, and to test the significance of calcar referenced tip-apex distance (CalTAD) as a predictor for cut-out.

We retrospectively reviewed 170 consecutive fractures that had undergone cephalomedullary nailing. Of these, 77 met the inclusion criteria of a non-pathological fracture with a minimum of 80 days radiological follow-up (mean 408 days; 81 days to 4.9 years). The overall cut-out rate was 13% (10/77).

The significant parameters in the univariate analysis were tip-apex distance (TAD) (p <  0.001), CalTAD (p = 0.001), cervical angle difference (p = 0.004), and lag screw placement in the anteroposterior (AP) view (Parker’s ratio index) (p = 0.003). Non-significant parameters were age (p = 0.325), gender (p = 1.000), fracture side (p = 0.507), fracture type (AO classification) (p = 0.381), Singh Osteoporosis Index (p = 0.575), lag screw placement in the lateral view (p = 0.123), and reduction quality (modified Baumgaertner’s method) (p = 0.575). In the multivariate analysis, CalTAD was the only significant measurement (p = 0.001). CalTAD had almost perfect inter-observer reliability (interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.901).

Our data provide the first reported clinical evidence that CalTAD is a predictor of cut-out. The finding of CalTAD as the only significant parameter in the multivariate analysis, along with the univariate significance of Parker’s ratio index in the AP view, suggest that inferior placement of the lag screw is preferable to reduce the rate of cut-out.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1029–34.