Delayed
The purpose of this study was to establish whether
exploration and neurolysis is an effective method of treating neuropathic
pain in patients with a
We report a case of
1. It is possible that neonatal
1. Three new cases of neonatal
A case of bilateral myositis ossificans in the biceps femoris muscles causing a
Aims. It may not be possible to undertake revision total hip arthroplasty
(THA) in the presence of massive loss of acetabular bone stock using
standard cementless hemispherical acetabular components and metal
augments, as satisfactory stability cannot always be achieved. We
aimed to study the outcome using a reconstruction cage and a porous
metal augment in these patients. Patients and Methods. A total of 22 acetabular revisions in 19 patients were performed
using a combination of a reconstruction cage and porous metal augments.
The augments were used in place of structural allografts. The mean
age of the patients at the time of surgery was 70 years (27 to 85)
and the mean follow-up was 39 months (27 to 58). The mean number
of previous THAs was 1.9 (1 to 3). All patients had segmental defects
involving more than 50% of the acetabulum and seven hips had an
associated pelvic discontinuity. . Results. Three failures were observed in two hips, both of which had undergone
a previous resection of a tumour affecting the acetabulum. Other
complications included a late arterial injury, a
We evaluated all cases involving the combined use of a subtrochanteric derotational femoral shortening osteotomy with a cemented Exeter stem performed at our institution. With severe developmental dysplasia of the hip an osteotomy is often necessary to achieve shortening and derotation of the proximal femur. Reduction can be maintained with a 3.5 mm compression plate while the implant is cemented into place. Such a plate was used to stabilise the osteotomy in all cases. Intramedullary autograft helps to prevent cement interposition at the osteotomy site and promotes healing. There were 15 female patients (18 hips) with a mean age of 51 years (33 to 75) who had a Crowe IV dysplasia of the hip and were followed up for a mean of 114 months (52 to 168). None was lost to follow-up. All clinical scores were collected prospectively. The Charnley modification of the Merle D’Aubigné-Postel scores for pain, function and range of movement showed a statistically significant improvement from a mean of 2.4 (1 to 4), 2.3 (1 to 4), 3.4 (1 to 6) to 5.2 (3 to 6), 4.4 (3 to 6), 5.2 (4 to 6), respectively. Three acetabular revisions were required for aseptic loosening; one required femoral revision for access. One osteotomy failed to unite at 14 months and was revised successfully. No other case required a femoral revision. No postoperative
Dislocation remains a leading cause of failure following revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). While dual-mobility (DM) bearings have been shown to mitigate this risk, options are limited when retaining or implanting an uncemented shell without modular DM options. In these circumstances, a monoblock DM cup, designed for cementing, can be cemented into an uncemented acetabular shell. The goal of this study was to describe the implant survival, complications, and radiological outcomes of this construct. We identified 64 patients (65 hips) who had a single-design cemented DM cup cemented into an uncemented acetabular shell during revision THA between 2018 and 2020 at our institution. Cups were cemented into either uncemented cups designed for liner cementing (n = 48; 74%) or retained (n = 17; 26%) acetabular components. Median outer head diameter was 42 mm. Mean age was 69 years (SD 11), mean BMI was 32 kg/m2 (SD 8), and 52% (n = 34) were female. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier methods. Mean follow-up was two years (SD 0.97).Aims
Methods
Revision total hip replacement (THR) for young
patients is challenging because of technical complexity and the potential
need for subsequent further revisions. We have assessed the survivorship,
functional outcome and complications of this procedure in patients
aged <
50 years through a large longitudinal series with consistent treatment
algorithms. Of 132 consecutive patients (181 hips) who underwent
revision THR, 102 patients (151 hips) with a mean age of 43 years
(22 to 50) were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 11 years (2 to 26)
post-operatively. We attempted to restore bone stock with allograft
where indicated. Using further revision for any reason as an end point,
the survival of the acetabular component was 71% (. sd. 4)
and 54% (. sd. 7) at ten- and 20 years. The survival of the
femoral component was 80% (. sd. 4) and 62% (. sd. 6)
at ten- and 20 years. Complications included 11 dislocations (6.1%),
ten periprosthetic fractures (5.5%), two deep infections (1.1%),
four
1. A case of complete
We report six cases of contralateral limb involvement during total hip arthroplasty including swelling of the gluteal muscle compartments, rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and
Eight children with paralytic drop foot after intramuscular injections later developed gluteal fibrosis.
Fifty-four hips converted to low friction arthroplasty between 1965 and 1975 have been reviewed one to eleven years after operation. In many cases malposition had led to degenerative changes in the opposite hip, the lumbar spine or the knee, often with severe loss of function due to pain. It was found that total replacement could give useful relief of pain and improved function, though the range of movement obtained was not as good as in primary replacement. An outstanding feature was the correction of inequality of leg length. In general, the results were much better in cases of ankylosis acquired in adult life than in cases of spontaneous fusion after sepsis in childhood. The most important complication was a single case of
We report 11 patients having revision of total hip arthroplasty using massive structural allografts for failure due to sepsis and associated bone loss. All patients had a two-stage reconstruction and the mean follow-up was 47.8 months (24 to 72). Positive cultures were obtained at the first stage in nine of the 11 patients, with Staphylococcus epidermidis being the most common organism. The other two patients had draining sinuses with negative cultures. There was no recurrence of infection in any patient. The mean increase in the modified Harris hip score was 45 and all the grafts appeared to have united to host bone. Two patients required additional procedures, but only one was related to the allograft. Complications included an incomplete
Varus-valgus constrained (VVC) implants are often used during revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to gain coronal plane stability. However, the increased mechanical torque applied to the bone-cement interface theoretically increases the risk of aseptic loosening. We assessed mid-term survivorship, complications, and clinical outcomes of a fixed-bearing VVC device in revision TKAs. A total of 416 consecutive revision TKAs (398 patients) were performed at our institution using a single fixed-bearing VVC TKA from 2007 to 2015. Mean age was 64 years (33 to 88) with 50% male (199). Index revision TKA diagnoses were: instability (n = 122, 29%), aseptic loosening (n = 105, 25%), and prosthetic joint infection (PJI) (n = 97, 23%). All devices were cemented on the epiphyseal surfaces. Femoral stems were used in 97% (n = 402) of cases, tibial stems in 95% (n = 394) of cases; all were cemented. In total, 93% (n = 389) of cases required a stemmed femoral and tibial component. Femoral cones were used in 29%, and tibial cones in 40%. Survivorship was assessed via competing risk analysis; clinical outcomes were determined using Knee Society Scores (KSSs) and range of movement (ROM). Mean follow-up was four years (2 to 10).Aims
Methods
Severe acetabular bone loss and pelvic discontinuity (PD) present particular challenges in revision total hip arthroplasty. To deal with such complex situations, cup-cage reconstruction has emerged as an option for treating this situation. We aimed to examine our success in using this technique for these anatomical problems. We undertook a retrospective, single-centre series of 35 hips in 34 patients (seven male, 27 female) treated with a cup-cage construct using a trabecular metal shell in conjunction with a titanium cage, for severe acetabular bone loss between 2011 and 2015. The mean age at the time of surgery was 70 years (42 to 85) and all patients had an acetabular defect graded as Paprosky Type 2C through to 3B, with 24 hips (69%) having PD. The mean follow-up was 47 months (25 to 84).Aims
Patients and Methods
To our knowledge, no study has compared the long-term results of cemented and hybrid total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) secondary to congenital hip disease (CHD). This is a demanding procedure that may require special techniques and implants. Our aim was to compare the long-term outcome of cemented low-friction arthroplasty (LFA) and hybrid THA performed by one surgeon. Between January 1989 and December 1997, 58 hips (44 patients; one man, 43 woman; mean age 56.6 years (25 to 77)) with OA secondary to CHD were treated with a cemented Charnley LFA (group A), and 55 hips (39 patients; two men, 37 women; mean age 49.1 years (27 to 70)) were treated with a hybrid THA (group B), by the senior author (GH). The clinical outcome and survivorship were compared.Aims
Patients and Methods
A variety of surgical approaches are used for total hip arthroplasty (THA), all with reported advantages and disadvantages. A number of common complications can occur following THA regardless of the approach used. The purpose of this study was to compare five commonly used surgical approaches with respect to the incidence of surgery-related complications. The electronic medical records of all patients who underwent primary elective THA at a single large-volume arthroplasty centre, between 2011 and 2016, with at least two years of follow-up, were reviewed. After exclusion, 3574 consecutive patients were included in the study. There were 1571 men (44.0%) and 2003 women (56.0%). Their mean age and body mass index (BMI) was 63.0 years (Aims
Patients and Methods
Nerve palsy is a well-described complication
following total hip arthroplasty, but is highly distressing and
disabling. A nerve palsy may cause difficulty with the post-operative
rehabilitation, and overall mobility of the patient. Nerve palsy
may result from compression and tension to the affected nerve(s)
during the course of the operation via surgical manipulation and
retractor placement, tension from limb lengthening or compression
from post-operative hematoma. In the literature, hip dysplasia,
lengthening of the leg, the use of an uncemented femoral component, and
female gender are associated with a greater risk of nerve palsy.
We examined our experience at a high-volume, tertiary care referral
centre, and found an overall incidence of 0.3% out of 39 056 primary
hip arthroplasties. Risk factors found to be associated with the
incidence of nerve palsy at our institution included the presence
of spinal stenosis or lumbar disc disease, age younger than 50,
and smoking. If a nerve palsy is diagnosed, imaging is mandatory
and surgical evacuation or compressive haematomas may be beneficial.
As palsies are slow to recover, supportive care such as bracing,
therapy, and reassurance are the mainstays of treatment. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to investigate the local recurrence rate at an extended follow-up in patients following navigated resection of primary pelvic and sacral tumours. This prospective cohort study comprised 23 consecutive patients (nine female, 14 male) who underwent resection of a primary pelvic or sacral tumour, using computer navigation, between 2010 and 2012. The mean age of the patients at the time of presentation was 51 years (10 to 77). The rates of local recurrence and mortality were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of this study was to examine whether leg-length discrepancy (LLD) following unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) affects the incidence of contralateral head collapse and subsequent THA in patients with bilateral osteonecrosis, and to determine factors associated with subsequent collapse. We identified 121 patients with bilateral non-traumatic osteonecrosis who underwent THA between 2003 and 2011 to treat a symptomatic hip, and who also exhibited medium-to-large lesions (necrotic area ≥ 30%) in an otherwise asymptomatic non-operated hip. Of the 121 patients, 71 were male (59%) and 50 were female (41%), with a mean age of 51 years (19 to 71) at the time of initial THA. All patients were followed for at least five years and were assessed according to the presence of a LLD (non-LLD Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to examine the results of the acetabular
distraction technique in achieving implantation of a stable construct,
obtaining biological fixation, and producing healing of chronic
pelvic discontinuity at revision total hip arthroplasty. We identified 32 patients treated between 2006 and 2013 who underwent
acetabular revision for a chronic pelvic discontinuity using acetabular
distraction, and who were radiographically evaluated at a mean of
62 months (25 to 160). Of these patients, 28 (87.5%) were female.
The mean age at the time of revision was 67 years (44 to 86). The patients
represented a continuous series drawn from two institutions that
adhered to an identical operative technique.Aims
Patients and Methods
To report our experience with trunnion corrosion following metal-on-polyethylene
total hip arthroplasty, in particular to report the spectrum of
presentation and determine the mean time to presentation. We report the presenting symptoms and signs, intraoperative findings,
and early results and complications of operative treatment in nine
patients with a mean age of 74 years (60 to 86). The onset of symptoms
was at a mean of seven years (3 to 18) after index surgery.Aims
Patients and Methods
There is no consensus about the best method of achieving equal
leg lengths at total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with Crowe
type-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). We reviewed our
experience of a consecutive series of patients who underwent THA
for this indication. We retrospectively reviewed 78 patients (86 THAs) with Crowe
type-IV DDH, including 64 women and 14 men, with a minimum follow-up
of two years. The mean age at the time of surgery was 52.2 years
(34 to 82). We subdivided Crowe type-IV DDH into two major types
according to the number of dislocated hips, and further categorised
them into three groups according to the occurrence of pelvic obliquity
or spinal curvature. Leg length discrepancy (LLD) and functional
scores were analysed.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this cadaver study was to identify
the change in position of the sciatic nerve during arthroplasty
using the posterior surgical approach to the hip. We investigated
the position of the nerve during this procedure by dissecting 11
formalin-treated cadavers (22 hips: 12 male, ten female). The distance
between the sciatic nerve and the femoral neck was measured before
and after dislocation of the hip, and in positions used during the
preparation of the femur. The nerve moves closer to the femoral
neck when the hip is flexed to >
30° and internally rotated to 90° (90°
IR). The mean distance between the nerve and femoral neck was 43.1
mm (standard deviation ( This study demonstrates that the sciatic nerve becomes closer
to the operative field during hip arthroplasty using the posterior
approach with progressive flexion of the hip. Cite this article:
This study aimed to evaluate implant survival of reverse hybrid
total hip arthroplasty (THA) at medium-term follow-up. A consecutive series of 1082 THAs in 982 patients with mean follow-up
of 7.9 years (5 to 11.3) is presented. Mean age was 69.2 years (21
to 94). Of these, 194 (17.9%) were in patients under 60 years, 663
(61.3%) in female patients and 348 (32.2%) performed by a trainee.
Head size was 28 mm in 953 hips (88.1%) or 32 mm in 129 hips (11.9%).
Survival analysis was performed and subgroups compared using log
rank tests.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to record the incidence of post-traumatic
osteoarthritis (OA), the need for total hip arthroplasty (THA),
and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) after surgery for
a fracture of the acetabulum, in our centre. All patients who underwent surgery for an acetabular fracture
between 2004 and 2014 were included. Patients completed the 36-Item
Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the modified Harris Hip Score
(mHHS) questionnaires. A retrospective chart and radiographic review
was performed on all patients. CT scans were used to assess the classification
of the fracture and the quality of reduction.Aims
Patients and Methods
Injury to the sciatic nerve following closed manipulation of a dislocated total hip replacement is rare. We present such a case in an elderly patient with partial recovery following exploration and release of the nerve.
Modular or custom-made femoral components have been preferred
for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with a history of Perthes’
disease because of the distortion in the anatomy of the proximal
femur. However, it has not been established whether a monobloc cementless
stem will fit the distorted proximal femur or whether the results
of the procedure are satisfactory in this group of patients. We reviewed 68 consecutive patients who had undergone THA for
childhood Perthes’ disease between June 2003 and December 2008.
There were 35 men and 33 women with a mean age of 48 years (16 to
73) at the time of index arthroplasty. Their mean body mass index
was 24.4 (18.3 to 32.9). Of the 68 hips, 32 were classified as Stulberg
class III and 36 as class IV. The mean pre-operative shortening
of the affected leg was 17.2 mm (5 to 34). The minimum follow-up
was five years (mean 8.5 years; 5.2 to 10).Aims
Patients and Methods
To evaluate the outcomes of cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA)
following a fracture of the acetabulum, with evaluation of risk
factors and comparison with a patient group with no history of fracture. Between 1992 and 2016, 49 patients (33 male) with mean age of
57 years (25 to 87) underwent cemented THA at a mean of 6.5 years
(0.1 to 25) following acetabular fracture. A total of 38 had undergone
surgical fixation and 11 had been treated non-operatively; 13 patients
died at a mean of 10.2 years after THA (0.6 to 19). Patients were
assessed pre-operatively, at one year and at final follow-up (mean
9.1 years, 0.5 to 23) using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS). Implant
survivorship was assessed. An age and gender-matched cohort of THAs
performed for non-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) or avascular necrosis
(AVN) (n = 98) were used to compare complications and patient-reported outcome
measures (PROMs).Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical
and radiographic outcomes of the Birmingham Interlocking Pelvic
Osteotomy (BIPO). In this prospective study, we report the mid- to long-term clinical
outcomes of the first 100 consecutive patients (116 hips; 88 in
women, 28 in men) undergoing BIPO, reflecting the surgeon’s learning
curve. Failure was defined as conversion to hip arthroplasty. The
mean age at operation was 31 years (7 to 57). Three patients (three
hips) were lost to follow-up.Aims
Patients and Methods
Joint-preserving surgery of the hip (JPSH) has evolved considerably
and now includes a number of procedures, including arthroscopy,
surgical dislocation, and redirectional osteotomies of the femur
and acetabulum. There are a number of different factors which lead
to failure of JPSH. Consequently, it is of interest to assess the
various modes of failure in order to continue to identify best practice
and the indications for these procedures. Using a retrospective observational study design, we reviewed
1013 patients who had undergone JPSH by a single surgeon between
2005 and 2015. There were 509 men and 504 women with a mean age
of 39 years (16 to 78). Of the 1013 operations, 783 were arthroscopies,
122 surgical dislocations, and 108 peri-acetabular osteotomies (PAO).
We analysed the overall failure rates and modes of failure. Re-operations
were categorised into four groups: Mode 1 was arthritis progression
or organ failure leading to total hip arthroplasty (THA); Mode 2
was an Incorrect diagnosis/procedure; Mode 3 resulted from malcorrection
of femur (type A), acetabulum (type B), or labrum (type C) and Mode 4
resulted from an unintended consequence of the initial surgical
intervention.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of our study is to summarise the current scientific
findings regarding the impact of obesity on total hip arthroplasty
(THA); specifically the influence of obesity on the timing of THA,
incidence of complications, and effect on clinical and functional
outcomes. We performed a systematic review that was compliant with the
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
guidelines to identify prospective studies from the PubMed/Medline,
Embase, and Cochrane Library databases that evaluated primary THA
in obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2) patients.Aims
Materials and Methods
Few studies dealing with chondrosarcoma of the pelvis are currently
available. Different data about the overall survival and prognostic
factors have been published but without a detailed analysis of surgery-related complications.
We aimed to analyse the outcome of a series of pelvic chondrosarcomas
treated at a single institution, with particular attention to the
prognostic factors. Based on a competing risk model, our objective
was to identify risk factors for the development of complications. In a retrospective single-centre study, 58 chondrosarcomas (26
patients alive, 32 patients dead) of the pelvis were reviewed. The
mean follow-up was 13 years (one week to 23.1 years).Aims
Patients and Methods
Peripheral nerve injury is an uncommon but serious
complication of hip surgery that can adversely affect the outcome.
Several studies have described the use of electromyography and intra-operative
sensory evoked potentials for early warning of nerve injury. We
assessed the results of multimodal intra-operative monitoring during
complex hip surgery. We retrospectively analysed data collected
between 2001 and 2010 from 69 patients who underwent complex hip
surgery by a single surgeon using multimodal intra-operative monitoring
from a total pool of 7894 patients who underwent hip surgery during
this period. In 24 (35%) procedures the surgeon was alerted to a
possible lesion to the sciatic and/or femoral nerve. Alerts were
observed most frequently during peri-acetabular osteotomy. The surgeon
adapted his approach based on interpretation of the neurophysiological changes.
From 69 monitored surgical procedures, there was only one true positive
case of post-operative nerve injury. There were no false positives
or false negatives, and the remaining 68 cases were all true negative.
The sensitivity for predicting post-operative nerve injury was 100%
and the specificity 100%. We conclude that it is possible and appropriate
to use this method during complex hip surgery and it is effective
for alerting the surgeon to the possibility of nerve injury.
Several studies have reported the rate of post-operative
mortality after the surgical treatment of a fracture of the hip,
but few data are available regarding the delayed morbidity. In this
prospective study, we identified 568 patients who underwent surgery
for a fracture of the hip and who were followed for one year. Multivariate
analysis was carried out to identify possible predictors of mortality
and morbidity. The 30-day, four-month and one-year rates of mortality
were 4.3%, 11.4%, and 18.8%, respectively. General complications
and pre-operative comorbidities represented the basic predictors
of mortality at any time interval (p <
0.01). In-hospital, four-month
and one-year general complications occurred in 29.4%, 18.6% and
6.7% of patients, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables,
comorbidities and poor cognitive status determined the likelihood
of early and delayed general complications, respectively (p <
0.001). Operative delay was the main predictor of the length of
hospital stay (p <
0.001) and was directly related to in-hospital
(p = 0.017) and four-month complications (p = 0.008). Cite this article:
We report the outcome of 161 of 257 surgically fixed acetabular fractures. The operations were undertaken between 1989 and 1998 and the patients were followed for a minimum of ten years. Anthropometric data, fracture pattern, time to surgery, associated injuries, surgical approach, complications and outcome were recorded. Modified Merle D’Aubigné score and Matta radiological scoring systems were used as outcome measures. We observed simple fractures in 108 patients (42%) and associated fractures in 149 (58%). The result was excellent in 75 patients (47%), good in 41 (25%), fair in 12 (7%) and poor in 33 (20%). Poor prognostic factors included increasing age, delay to surgery, quality of reduction and some fracture patterns. Complications were common in the medium- to long-term and functional outcome was variable. The gold-standard treatment for displaced acetabular fractures remains open reduction and internal fixation performed in dedicated units by specialist surgeons as soon as possible.
Extendible endoprostheses have been available for more than 30
years and have become more sophisticated with time. The latest generation
is ‘non-invasive’ and can be lengthened with an external magnetic
force. Early results have shown a worryingly high rate of complications
such as infection. This study investigates the incidence of complications
and the need for further surgery in a cohort of patients with a
non-invasive growing endoprosthesis. Between 2003 and June 2014, 50 children (51 prostheses) had a
non-invasive growing prosthesis implanted for a primary bone sarcoma.
The minimum follow-up was 24 months for those who survived. Their
mean age was 10.4 years (6 to 14). The incidence of complications
and further surgery was documented.Aims
Patients and Methods
Pelvic discontinuity represents a rare but challenging
problem for orthopaedic surgeons. It is most commonly encountered
during revision total hip replacement, but can also result from
an iatrogentic acetabular fracture during hip replacement. The general
principles in management of pelvic discontinuity include restoration
of the continuity between the ilium and the ischium, typically with
some form of plating. Bone grafting is frequently required to restore
pelvic bone stock. The acetabular component is then impacted, typically
using an uncemented, trabecular metal component. Fixation with multiple
supplemental screws is performed. For larger defects, a so-called
‘cup–cage’ reconstruction, or a custom triflange implant may be
required. Pre-operative CT scanning can greatly assist in planning
and evaluating the remaining bone stock available for bony ingrowth.
Generally, good results have been reported for constructs that restore
stability to the pelvis and allow some form of biologic ingrowth. Cite this article:
To investigate the longevity of uncemented fixation of a femoral
component in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with Dorr
type C proximal femoral morphology. A total of 350 consecutive uncemented THA in 320 patients were
performed between 1983 and 1987, by a single surgeon using the Taperloc
femoral component. The 63 patients (68 hips) with Dorr type C proximal
femoral morphology were the focus of this review. The mean age of
the patients was 69 years (24 to 88) and mean follow-up was 16.6
years (ten to 29). Survival analysis included eight patients (eight
hips) who died without undergoing revision surgery prior to obtaining
ten years follow-up. All 55 surviving patients (60 hips) were available
for clinical assessment and radiographic review. As a comparator
group, the survival and implant fixation in the remaining 282 THAs
(257 patients) with Dorr type A and B morphology were evaluated.
The mean age of these patients was 52 years (20 to 82).Aims
Patients and Methods
Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) is challenging
when there is severe loss of bone in the proximal femur. The purpose
of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes
of revision THA in patients with severe proximal femoral bone loss
treated with a fluted, tapered, modular femoral component. Between
January 1998 and December 2004, 92 revision THAs were performed
in 92 patients using a single fluted, tapered, modular femoral stem
design. Pre-operative diagnoses included aseptic loosening, infection
and peri-prosthetic fracture. Bone loss was categorised pre-operatively
as Paprosky types III-IV, or Vancouver B3 in patients with a peri-prosthetic
fracture. The mean clinical follow-up was 6.4 years (2 to 12). A
total of 47 patients had peri-operative complications, 27 of whom
required further surgery. However, most of these further operations
involved retention of a well-fixed femoral stem, and 88/92 femoral
components (97%) remained Revision THA in patients with extensive proximal femoral bone
loss using the Link MP fluted, tapered, modular stem led to a high
rate of osseointegration of the stem at mid-term follow-up. Cite this article:
We evaluated an operative technique, described
by the Exeter Hip Unit, to assist accurate introduction of the femoral
component. We assessed whether it led to a reduction in the rate
of leg-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 100 patients undergoing THA were studied retrospectively;
50 were undertaken using the test method and 50 using conventional
methods as a control group. The groups were matched with respect
to patient demographics and the grade of surgeon. Three observers
measured the depth of placement of the femoral component on post-operative
radiographs and measured the length of the legs. There was a strong correlation between the depth of insertion
of the femoral component and the templated depth in the test group
(R = 0.92), suggesting accuracy of the technique. The mean leg-length
discrepancy was 5.1 mm (0.6 to 21.4) pre-operatively and 1.3 mm
(0.2 to 9.3) post-operatively. There was no difference between Consultants
and Registrars as primary surgeons. Agreement between the templated
and post-operative depth of insertion was associated with reduced
post-operative leg-length discrepancy. The intra-class coefficient
was R ≥ 0.88 for all measurements, indicating high observer agreement.
The post-operative leg-length discrepancy was significantly lower
in the test group (1.3 mm) compared with the control group (6.3
mm, p <
0.001). The Exeter technique is reproducible and leads to a lower incidence
of leg-length discrepancy after THA. Cite this article: