Introduction

Rising incidence of fracture neck of femur (NOF) are associated with rising geriatric population. Majority of patients are suffering from comorbid factors. Impaired renal function is a common comorbid factor and most of the time it is attributed to an acute renal impairment following the fracture and surgery.

Objective of this study was to identify the effect of renal comorbid factors and their probable relative risk for a fracture and compare the results with Asian and European data. Specific objective was to identify a possibility of presence of pretraumatic subclinical chronic renal failure among fractured Sri Lankans.

Emerging evidence has linked the long-term use of alendronate (fosamax) with subtrochanteric insufficiency fractures. However, findings to date have been anecdotal. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of subtrochanteric insufficiency fractures and identify whether they were more prevalent following the introduction of alendronate in Australia. All patients that presented between January 2007 and February 2009 with low- energy subtrochanteric fracture were identified. Similar data were collected between January 1995 and February 1997 as this was immediately prior to introduction of alendronate in Australia. The radiographs were examined for failure due to pre- existing insufficiency fracture. Characteristic findings were a transverse fracture line on the tension side of the femur with lateral cortical thickening immediately adjacent to the fracture. Relevant details from the history were recorded. We also separately identified all patients that presented between 2007 and 2009 with a proximal femoral fracture and determined the proportion taking alendronate. One hundred and seventeen patients with low-energy subtrochanteric fracture were included. Seventy-nine patients presented between 2007 and 2009 and 38 presented between 1995 and 1997. Forty-one of the 79 (52%) patients were identified as having radiograph findings suggestive of underlying insufficiency fracture, whilst none were identified prior to the introduction of alendronate. Of the 41 patients with subtrochanteric insufficiency fracture, 40 (98%) had been taking alendronate and one had been taking risedronate. Twenty-nine of the 41 (71%) complained of prodromal pain in the affected femur. Eighteen of the 41 (44%) demonstrated subtrochanteric insufficiency changes on the contralateral side and 9 of 41 (22%) sustained spontaneous non-traumatic fracture during activities of daily living. Of the 38 patients without insufficiency changes, 12 (32%) had been taking alendronate. Alendronate use was therefore strongly suggestive of insufficiency fracture (sensitivity = 98%, specificity = 84%, PPV = 77%, NPV = 99%, LR+ = 6). The mean duration of alendronate use in those with insufficiency fracture was 7.1 years (95% CI, 6.6-7.6 years). The mean duration in those without was 3.2 years (95% CI, 2.6-3.8 years, P<0.0001). Three hundred and ninety eight patients presented with a low-energy proximal femur fracture between 2007 and 2009. Of these, only 52 (13%, P<0.0001) were taking alendronate. This is the largest study in the literature on subtrochanteric insufficiency fractures and alendronate therapy. Confirming recent reports, alendronate use was strongly suggestive of subtrochanteric insufficiency fracture. Our findings provide the most compelling evidence to date of the potential long-term sequelae of alendronate but more research is needed before definitive conclusions can be made

Fracture neck of femur (NOF) in elderly is a serious debilitating injury and has been presenting in increasing proportions. Some of these patients are unfortunate to come back with a contralateral injury. We attempted at looking into the incidence of these episodes in a cohort attending our trust and compared various parameters. We retrospectively assessed our hospital theatre data for fracture NOF in patients over 60 years in the last 3 years. We reviewed their demographics, mode of injury, time to contralateral injury, incidence of any other insufficiency fracture, operative procedure and any complications. There were 1435 patients who underwent surgery for fracture NOF over the 3 years. Forty-three of these had bilateral fractures. Females had 3 times more incidence as compared to males; average age at first injury was 84 years and at contralateral side was 85 years. Time between the two injuries ranged from 20 to 855 days (Median 242 days). Almost equal incidence of intra / extracapsular fractures was noted. Contralateral fracture pattern (Intra vs Extracapsular) for the was similar in 34 patients. Twelve patients had an associated insufficiency fracture. Fracture NOF in elderly is a rising epidemic. Only 3% of these patients suffer a contralateral fracture NOF which usually occurs within a year. The fracture pattern is frequently similar to the first fracture in and hence similar implants have been used. Only 21% patients were on bone protection medications. It is rather difficult to identify this small group and hence prevent a second contralateral incident

Rapidly progressive osteoarthritis of the hip (RPOH) is an unusual subset of osteoarthritis. It is characterized by rapid joint space loss, chondroly­sis, and sometimes marked femoral head and acetabular destruction as a late finding. The exact pathogenetic mechanism is unknown. Potential causes of RPOH include subchondral insufficiency fracture resulting from osteoporosis, increasing posterior pelvic tilt as a mechanical factor, and high serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 as biological factors. This study was aimed to identify some markers that associate with the destructive process of RPOH by analyzing the proposed pathological factors of the disease, MMP-3, pelvic tilt, and osteoporosis. Of female patients who visited our hospital with hip pain from 2012 through 2018, this study enrolled female patients with sufficient clinical records including the onset of hip pain, age and body mass index (BMI) at the onset, a series of radiographs during the period of >12 months from the onset of hip pain, and hematological data of MMP-3 and C-reactive protein (CRP). We found the hip joints of 31 patients meet the diagnostic criteria of RPOH, chondrolysis >two mm in one year, or 50% joint space narrowing in one year. Those patients were classified into two groups, 17 and 14 patients with and without subsequent femoral head destruction in one year shown by computed tomography, respectively. Serum MMP-3 and CRP were measured with blood samples within one year after the hip pain onset. The cortical thickness index (CTI) as an indicator of osteoporosis and pelvic tilt parameters were evaluated on the initial anteroposterior radiograph of the hip. These factors were statistically compared between the two groups. This study excluded male patients because RPOH occurs mainly in elderly females and the reference intervals of MMP-3 are different between males and females. There was no difference in age at onset or bone mass index between the RPOH patients with and without subsequent femoral head destruction. Serum levels of MMP-3 were significantly higher in the RPOH patients with the destruction (152.1 ± 108.9 ng/ml) than those without the destruction (66.8 ± 27.9 ng/ml) (P = 0.005 by Mann-Whitney test). We also found increased CRP in the patients with femoral head destruction (0.725 ± 1.44 mg/dl) compared with those without the destruction (0.178 ± 0.187 mg/dl) (P = 0.032 by Mann-Whitney test). No difference in the duration between the hip pain onset and the blood examination was found between the two groups. There was no significant difference in CTI or pelvic tilt between the two groups. The pathological condition that may increase serum MMP-3 and CRP could be involved in femoral head destruction after chondrolysis of the hip in patients with RPOH

Recently, a new technique of custom-made cutting guides for TKA is introduced to clinical practice. However, no published data yet on the comparison between this new technique against both navigation and conventional techniques. The author prospectively compared between custom-made cutting guides, navigation and conventional techniques. A total number of 90 cases were included in this study with 30 consecutive cases for each technique. The highest number of medically unfit patients and those with articular and extra articular deformities were in custom guides groups. The results showed one case of aseptic loosening after one year in custom guides, one case of superficial infection and loose pins but with no fracture in navigation group, and higher need for blood transfusion in conventional. One case in the custom guide group had a periprosthetic fracture 3 weeks postoperatively diagnosed as insufficiency fracture after a relatively minor trauma to an osteoporotic bone. Navigation was the most accurate in alignment but custom guides was the most accurate in implant sizing and had the least bleeding. This clinical study showed some advantages of custom-made cutting guides over conventional instrumentation. It eliminated medullary guides, reduced operative time, and provided better accuracy. The technique was proved to be useful in complex cases of deformities and unfit patients

Modulus femoral prosthesis is a modular cementless femoral system which consists of 5 degree tapered conical stem made of a titanium alloy with 8 fins of 1mm and modular neck. Modular neck enables to control any ideal stem anteversion as a surgeon prefers. This system is considered to be useful in severe hip deformity, for example developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). In this study, clinical and radiographic outcomes of the Modulus femoral prosthesis were evaluated at a mean of 3.6 (2–6) years postoperatively. We assessed the results of 193 primary total hip arthroplasty using a Modulus femoral prosthesis in 169 patients (15 males, 154 females) undergoing surgery between September 2007 and December 2011. The mean age at the time of surgery was 65.6 (31–86) years old. The diagnoses were osteoarthritis (OA) in 178 hips (including 167 hips of DDH), rapidly destructive coxopathy (RDC) in 6 hips, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 6 hips, osteonecrosis in 2 hips, and subchondral insufficiency fracture in one hip. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) hip scores and complications. Radiographic assessments were including stem alignment, bone on-growth, cortical hypertrophy, stress shielding and stem subsidence. 43.8 points of the preoperative mean JOA score was significantly improved to 93.1 points postoperatively. In one case intraoperative femoral fracture was occurred. One dislocation had occurred and thigh pain was observed in one hip. No revision surgery was required. In 192 hips of 193 hips (99.5%), stem was implanted in neutral position (within ±2 degrees). Bone on-growth was observed in all cases (94.3% in zone 3; 73.1% in zone 5; 30.6% in zone 2; 22.3% in zone 6). Cortical hypertrophy was observed in 66 hips (34.2%) at zone 3 and 5. Reduction of bone density due to stress shielding was observed (1. st. degree was 58.5%; 2. nd. degree was 29.5%; 3. rd. degree was 11.9%; 4. th. degree was 0%). In 22 cases (11.4%), more than 2mm of stem subsidence was observed, however the subsidence was stopped within 6 months in all cases. Modulus femoral prosthesis showed good clinical results and radiographic findings up to 6 years postoperatively

Diphosphonates remain among the most common drug treatments for osteoporosis. Recent evidence has implicated diphosphonate therapy, specifically, alendronate, with low-energy fractures of the subtrochanteric region of the femur. The general conclusion is that prolonged suppression of bone remodelling with alendronate may be associated with a new form of insufficiency fracture of the femur. Three case reports of patients with alendronate related insufficiency are discussed here with their treatment modalities and lessons learnt. One of the three patients had bilateral subtrochanteric stress fracture. A comprehensive review of the literature is presented with the best evidence for investigating, treating and preventing these fractures. Our experience in Launceston has increased awareness amongst the local medical community regarding the long term use of Diphosphnates and the fractures they may cause. Changes to our practice have included: Increased suspicion of patients with hip pain on diphosphonate therapy, imaging the contralateral femur to rule out stress fractures, reassuring GP's and Patients that benefits of Diphosphonate therapy far outweigh the potential risks. There are many unresolved questions about the prolonged use of diphosphonates, but there is sufficient evidence to show subtrochanteric stress fractures do occur. We, as Orthopaedic Surgeons, must be able to recognize this new entity and educate our medical colleagues appropriately

Introduction. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) using short design stem is surging with increasing movement of minimally invasive techniques. Short stems are easier to insert through small incisions preserving muscles. We have used these types of short stems since 2010. Almost all of the patients have shown good clinical results. However, two patients developed fatigue fractures on femurs post operatively. We have reviewed the clinical and radiographic results of these patients. Patients and methods. From April 2010, we have performed 621 THAs with short design stems, Microplasty. R. , Biomet, using a muscle preservation approach, the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA). The age ranged from 31 to 88 years old. Case1: 56y.o. male, BMI 23.1kg/m. 2. Preoperative diagnosis was bilateral osteoarthritis. Simultaneous THAs were performed on bilateral hips. He was allowed to bear as much weight as he could tolerate using an assistive device immediately after surgery, and followed standard hip precautions for the first 3 weeks. He was discharged from hospital seven days after surgery and returned to his job two weeks after surgery. He noticed sudden left thigh pain three weeks after surgery without any obvious cause. Crutches were recommended to partially bear his weight. Six weeks after surgery, a fracture line became visible on the radiographs and new callus formation also became visible. Three months after surgery, he felt no pain and was able to walk without any crutches. Case2: 66y.o. female, BMI 27.5 kg/m. 2. Preoperative diagnosis was bilateral osteoarthritis. THAs were performed on the hips at a six month interval. The right hip was operated on first, followed by the left hip. She was discharged from hospital four days after surgery and returned to her job six weeks after surgery. Two months later after left hip surgery, she suddenly felt pain on her left femur without any obvious cause, and was unable to walk. Three weeks later, X-rays showed fatigue fracture lines and new callus formations. After two or three months using crutches, her pain improved and X-rays showed good callus formation and no stem subsidence. Discussions. Several reports showed insufficiency fractures of the pelvis following THA. But most of them occurred due to repetitive stress on fragile bones. But our cases showed no evidence of osteoporosis. They had no history of trauma. But they had some points in common, which were they were bilateral cases and their BMI were not low. The incident rate of fatigue fractures of femur with this short stem THAs was 0.3% in our cases. We suggested that one of the causes of these fatigue fractures was the shortness of the stems. The shortness of the stems concentrate the body weight to limited contact area of the femur, and the stress causes the fatigue fractures. We should consider the risk of fatigue fractures on the patients who are operated on bilaterally. However these two patients showed good callus formations and no stem subsidence after a few weeks of partial weight bearing