We reviewed the outcome of 69 uncemented, custom-made, distal femoral endoprosthetic replacements performed in 69 patients between 1994 and 2006. There were 31 women and 38 men with a mean age at implantation of 16.5 years (5 to 37). All procedures were performed for primary malignant bone tumours of the distal femur. At a mean follow-up of 124.2 months (4 to 212), 53 patients were alive, with one patient lost to follow-up. All nine implants (13.0%) were revised due to aseptic loosening at a mean of 52 months (8 to 91); three implants (4.3%) were revised due to fracture of the shaft of the prosthesis and three patients (4.3%) had a peri-prosthetic fracture. Bone remodelling associated with periosteal cortical thinning adjacent to the uncemented intramedullary stem was seen in 24 patients but this did not predispose to failure. All aseptically loose implants in this series were diagnosed to be loose within the first five years. The results from this study suggest that custom-made uncemented distal femur replacements have a higher rate of aseptic loosening compared to published results for this design when used with cemented fixation. Loosening of uncemented replacements occurs early indicating that initial fixation of the implant is crucial. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:263–9

Aims

Gram-negative periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has been poorly studied despite its rapidly increasing incidence. Treatment with one-stage revision using intra-articular (IA) infusion of antibiotics may offer a reasonable alternative with a distinct advantage of providing a means of delivering the drug in high concentrations. Carbapenems are regarded as the last line of defense against severe Gram-negative or polymicrobial infection. This study presents the results of one-stage revision using intra-articular carbapenem infusion for treating Gram-negative PJI, and analyzes the characteristics of bacteria distribution and drug sensitivity.

Aims

Total femoral arthroplasty (TFA) is a rare procedure used in cases of significant femoral bone loss, commonly from cancer, infection, and trauma. Low patient numbers have resulted in limited published work on long-term outcomes, and even less regarding TFA undertaken for non-oncological indications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of all TFAs in our unit.

Aims

Removal of infected components and culture-directed antibiotics are important for the successful treatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, as many as 27% of chronic PJI patients yield negative culture results. Although culture negativity has been thought of as a contraindication to one-stage revision, data supporting this assertion are limited. The aim of our study was to report on the clinical outcomes for one-stage and two-stage exchange arthroplasty performed in patients with chronic culture-negative PJI.

We performed routine venography after operation in a consecutive series of 252 patients with total joint arthroplasties in whom no form of routine chemical or mechanical prophylaxis had been used. The prevalence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) was 32% (16% distal, 16% proximal) after total hip replacement and 66% (50% distal, 16% proximal) after total knee replacement (p < 0.001). We did not treat distal DVT. There were only two readmissions within three months of surgery because of thromboembolic disease. There were two deaths within this period, neither of which was due to pulmonary embolism

Aims

In the absence of an identified organism, single-stage revision is contraindicated in prosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, no studies have examined the use of intra-articular antibiotics in combination with single-stage revision in these cases. In this study, we present the results of single-stage revision using intra-articular antibiotic infusion for treating culture-negative (CN) PJI.

Aims

The aim of this study was to conduct the largest low contact stress (LCS) retrieval study to elucidate the failure mechanisms of the Porocoat and Duofix femoral component. The latter design was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer.

Aims

The aim of this study was to give estimates of the incidence of component incompatibility in hip and knee arthroplasty and to test the effect of an online, real-time compatibility check.

We have implanted 76 biaxial total wrist prostheses as a primary procedure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist. A total of 66 was reviewed at a mean follow-up time of 52 months. Pain was relieved in 67% of the surviving wrist replacements. On the basis of the Hospital for Special Surgery scoring system, 49 wrists (74%) were graded as fair to excellent. More than half of the 27 patients who had an arthrodesis on the contralateral wrist would have preferred a second arthroplasty. Five replacements were revised or fused because of loosening and a further nine showed signs of radiological loosening, three of which were asymptomatic. The probability of survival of the biaxial total wrist replacement at eight years was 83% with revision surgery as the terminal event, 78% with radiological loosening as the endpoint and 82% with dorsal migration and displacement from the metacarpal as the terminal event. There was a linear relationship between subsidence of the component and distal loosening. There was no evidence that the length of the stem of the carpal component, within the third metacarpal, affected any of the terminal events. The position and alignment of the carpal component within the bone at the time of surgery significantly affect the outcome and can be used to predict failure

We describe the development and early clinical application of a ported, proximally-cemented titanium stem for cemented total hip arthroplasty. PMMA bone cement is delivered to the proximal femur under pressure after the stem has been positioned within the femoral canal. A mid-stem cement occluder contains the cement to the proximal stem only. A tapered body is incorporated in the design of the stem to reduce the structural stiffness and hence the degree of stress shielding within the reconstructed joint. We performed preclinical studies to measure the reduction in porosity and the pressurisation achieved. The porosity, as measured by the void percentage within the cured cement mantle, was reduced by more than 50% and there was an almost threefold increase in the mean pressure. Mechanical testing of the stem, using a three-point bend test, showed that the addition of cement injection ports on the anterior and posterior sides of the body of the proximal stem did not reduce its strength. Finite-element analysis indicated that, compared with a fully-cemented conventional stem, there was no change in the stresses within the cement mantle. In a series of 40 proximally-cemented stems followed for up to six years (mean 51 months) the mean Harris hip score was 91, and 85% of patients had good or excellent results. There was excellent pain relief, an increased level of activity and good patient satisfaction. One mechanical failure of the stem required revision at three years after implantation. The early results indicate that the clinical performance was equal to that achieved with other modern cemented stems. Radiological evaluation showed excellent results with no evidence of stress shielding. Further follow-up will determine if long-term stress shielding is reduced and if revision is made easier by the absence of a distal cement mantle

An analysis of the cement mantle obtained with the Exeter impaction allografting system at one centre showed that it was either deficient or absent in almost 47% of Gruen zones. We therefore examined the mantle obtained using this system at another hospital and compared the results with those from the CPT and Harris Precoat Systems at other centres. The surgical indications for the procedure and the patient details were broadly similar in all four hospitals. There was some variation in the frequency of use of cortical strut allografts, cerclage wires and wire mesh to supplement the impaction allograft. Analysis of the cement mantles showed that when uncertain Gruen zones were excluded, the incidence of zones with areas of absence or deficiency of the cement was 47% and 50%, respectively, for the two centres using the Exeter system, 21% for the CPT system and 18% for the Harris Precoat system. We measured the difference in size between the proximal allograft impactors and the definitive prosthesis for each system. The Exeter system impactors are shorter than the definitive prosthesis and taper sharply so that the cavity created is inadequate, especially distally. The CPT proximal impactors are considerably longer than the definitive prosthesis and are designed to give a mantle of approximately 2 mm medially and laterally and 1.5 mm anteriorly and posteriorly. The Harris Precoat proximal impactors allow for a mantle with a circumference of 0.75 mm in the smaller sizes and 1 mm in the larger. Many reports link the longevity of a cemented implant to the adequacy of the cement mantle. For this reason, femoral impaction systems require careful design to achieve a cement mantle which is uninterrupted in its length and adequate in its thickness. Our results suggest that some current systems require modification

Valgus knee deformity can present a number of unique surgical challenges for the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgeon. Understanding the typical patterns of bone and soft-tissue pathology in the valgus arthritic knee is critical for appropriate surgical planning. This review aims to provide the knee arthroplasty surgeon with an understanding of surgical management strategies for the treatment of valgus knee arthritis.

Lateral femoral and tibial deficiencies, contracted lateral soft tissues, attenuated medial soft tissues, and multiplanar deformities may all be present in the valgus arthritic knee. A number of classifications have been reported in order to guide surgical management, and a variety of surgical strategies have been described with satisfactory clinical results. Depending on the severity of the deformity, a variety of TKA implant designs may be appropriate for use.

Regardless of an operating surgeon’s preferred surgical strategy, adherence to a step-wise approach to deformity correction is advised.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B(1 Supple A):60–4.

Aims

Periprosthetic fracture is a significant complication of total hip and knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to describe the survival of patients sustaining periprosthetic femoral fractures and compare this with that of the general population, as well as to identify the factors that influence survival.

Collateral ligament release is advocated in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to deal with significant coronal plane deformities, but is also associated with significant disadvantages.

We describe steps to avoid release of the collateral (superficial medial and lateral collateral) ligaments during TKA in severely deformed knees, while correcting deformity and balancing the knee.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B(1 Suppl A):101–4.

Objectives

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a potential treatment for isolated bone on bone osteoarthritis when limited to a single compartment. The risk for revision of UKA is three times higher than for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this review was to discuss the different revision options after UKA failure.

Aims

The aim of this study was to present data on 11 459 patients who underwent total hip (THA), total knee (TKA) or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) between November 2002 and April 2014 with aspirin as the primary agent for pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication for patients and results in greatly increased costs of care for both healthcare providers and patients. More than 15 500 revision hip and knee procedures were recorded in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2013, with infection accounting for 13% of revision hip and 23% of revision knee procedures.

We report our experience of using antibiotic eluting absorbable calcium sulphate beads in 15 patients (eight men and seven women with a mean age of 64.8 years; 41 to 83) as part of a treatment protocol for PJI in revision arthroplasty.

The mean follow-up was 16 months (12 to 22). We report the outcomes and complications, highlighting the risk of hypercalcaemia which occurred in three patients.

We recommend that serum levels of calcium be routinely sought following the implantation of absorbable calcium sulphate beads in orthopaedic surgery.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1237–41.

The Unified Classification System (UCS) was introduced because of a growing need to have a standardised universal classification system of periprosthetic fractures. It combines and simplifies many existing classification systems, and can be applied to any fracture around any partial or total joint replacement occurring during or after operation. Our goal was to assess the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the UCS in association with knee replacement when classifying fractures affecting one or more of the femur, tibia or patella.

We used an international panel of ten orthopaedic surgeons with subspecialty fellowship training and expertise in adult hip and knee reconstruction (‘experts’) and ten residents of orthopaedic surgery in the last two years of training (‘pre-experts’). They each received 15 radiographs for evaluation. After six weeks they evaluated the same radiographs again but in a different order.

The reliability was assessed using the Kappa and weighted Kappa values.

The Kappa values for inter-observer reliability for the experts and the pre-experts were 0.741 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.707 to 0.774) and 0.765 (95% CI 0.733 to 0.797), respectively. The weighted Kappa values for intra-observer reliability for the experts and pre-experts were 0.898 (95% CI 0.846 to 0.950) and 0.878 (95% CI 0.815 to 0.942) respectively.

The UCS has substantial inter-observer reliability and ‘near perfect’ intra-observer reliability when used for periprosthetic fractures in association with knee replacement in the hands of experienced and inexperienced users.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1669–73.

Obtaining a balanced flexion gap with correct femoral component rotation is one of the prerequisites for a successful outcome after total knee replacement (TKR). Different techniques for achieving this have been described. In this study we prospectively compared gap-balancing versus measured resection in terms of reliability and accuracy for femoral component rotation in 96 primary TKRs performed in 96 patients using the Journey system. In 48 patients (18 men and 30 women) with a mean age of 65 years (45 to 85) a tensor device was used to determine rotation. In the second group of 48 patients (14 men and 34 women) with a mean age of 64 years (41 to 86), an ‘adapted’ measured resection technique was used, taking into account the native rotational geometry of the femur as measured on a pre-operative CT scan.

Both groups systematically reproduced a similar external rotation of the femoral component relative to the surgical transepicondylar axis: 2.4° (sd 2.5) in the gap-balancing group and 1.7° (sd 2.1) in the measured resection group (p = 0.134). Both gap-balancing and adapted measured resection techniques proved equally reliable and accurate in determining femoral component rotation after TKR. There was a tendency towards more external rotation in the gap-balancing group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.134). The number of outliers for our ‘adapted’ measured resection technique was much lower than reported in the literature.

Prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism after elective total hip replacement is routinely recommended. Our preference has been to use mechanical prophylaxis without anticoagulant drugs. A randomised controlled trial was performed to evaluate whether the incidence of post-operative venous thromboembolism was reduced by using pharmacological anticoagulation with either fondaparinux or enoxaparin in addition to our prophylactic mechanical regimen. A total of 255 Japanese patients who underwent primary unilateral cementless total hip replacement were randomly assigned to one of three postoperative regimens, namely injection of placebo (saline), fondaparinux or enoxaparin. There were 85 patients in each group. All also received the same mechanical prophylaxis during and after the operation, regardless of their assigned group. The primary measurement of efficacy was the presence of a venous thromboembolic event by day 11, defined as deep-vein thrombosis detected by ultrasonography, documented symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis or documented symptomatic pulmonary embolism. The duration of follow-up was 12 weeks.

The rate of venous thromboembolism was 7.2% with the placebo, 7.1% with fondaparinux and 6.0% with enoxaparin (p = 0.95 for the comparison of all three groups). Our study confirmed the effectiveness and safety of mechanical thromboprophylaxis without the use of anticoagulant drugs after total hip replacement in Japanese patients.