Time Of Short-term Follow-up Research Articles

Robot-assisted primary cementless total hip arthroplasty with a short femoral stem: a prospective randomized short-term outcome study

Background: Recently, two topical issues in total hip arthroplasty (THA) have been robot-assisted surgery and use of a short stem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of robotic milling on the accuracy of short femoral stem positioning and on the short-term clinical outcome in THA using a prospective, randomized design.Methods: We randomized 54 patients into two groups, either robotic milling group or manual rasping group. The patients were assessed clinically and radiographically at 8 weeks, 5 months, 12 months, and 24 months.Results: Robotic milling group had a significantly longer operation time, requiring on average 8.9 min for registration and 11.2 min for milling. On the other hand, robotic milling group showed superior results in terms of stem alignment and leg length equality. Two intraoperative femoral fractures occurred only in manual rasping group. Harris hip scores and WOMAC scores at 24 months postoperatively were similar in both groups. No complications including stem loosening, infection, nerve palsy, or dislocation were encountered in either group during the follow-up period.Conclusions: The present study suggested that robot-assisted short stem THA could increase the accuracy of stem alignment, improve leg length equality, and help reduce the risk of intraoperative femoral fracture as compared with manual rasping. However, the clinical outcome scores did not differ between the two groups at the time of short-term follow-up. Long-term follow-up is needed to determine whether there will be a long-term clinical relevance of robot-assisted implantation of short femoral stems in THA.

Early Follow-up of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients Sixty Years of Age or Younger

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an accepted treatment that provides reproducible results in the treatment of shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff deficiency. Concerns over the longevity of the prosthesis have resulted in this procedure being reserved for the elderly. There are limited data in the literature with regard to outcomes in younger patients. We report on the early outcomes of RSA in a group of patients who were sixty years or younger and who were followed for a minimum of two years. A retrospective multicenter review of sixty-six patients (sixty-seven RSAs) with a mean age of 52.2 years was performed. The indications included rotator cuff insufficiency (twenty-nine), massive rotator cuff disorder with osteoarthritis (eleven), failed primary shoulder arthroplasty (nine), rheumatoid arthritis (six), posttraumatic arthritis (four), and other diagnoses (eight). Forty-five shoulders (67%) had at least one prior surgical intervention, and thirty-one shoulders (46%) had multiple prior surgical procedures. At a mean follow-up time of 36.5 months, mean active forward elevation of the arm as measured at the shoulder improved from 54.6° to 134.0° and average active external rotation improved from 10.0° to 19.6°. A total of 81% of patients were either very satisfied or satisfied. The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain improved from 40.0 to 72.4 and 7.5 to 3.0, respectively. The ability to achieve postoperative forward arm elevation of at least 100° was the only significant predictor of overall patient satisfaction (p < 0.05) that was identified in this group. There was a 15% complication rate postoperatively, and twenty-nine shoulders (43%) had evidence of scapular notching at the time of the latest follow-up. RSA as a reconstructive procedure improved function at the time of short-term follow-up in our young patients with glenohumeral arthritis and rotator cuff deficiency. Objective outcomes in our patient cohort were similar to those in previously reported studies. However, overall satisfaction was much lower in this patient population (81%) compared with that in the older patient population as reported in the literature (90% to 96%).

Cylindrical Costal Osteochondral Autograft for Reconstruction of Large Defects of the Capitellum Due to Osteochondritis Dissecans

There is a need to clarify the usefulness of and problems associated with cylindrical costal osteochondral autograft for reconstruction of large defects of the capitellum due to osteochondritis dissecans. Twenty-six patients with advanced osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum were treated with use of cylindrical costal osteochondral autograft. All were males with elbow pain and full-thickness articular cartilage lesions of ≥15 mm in diameter. Clinical, radiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes were evaluated at a mean follow-up of thirty-six months (range, twenty-four to fifty-one months). All patients had rapid functional improvement after treatment with costal osteochondral autograft and returned to their former activities, including sports. Five patients needed additional minor surgical procedures, including screw removal, loose body removal, and shaving of protruded articular cartilage. Mean elbow function, assessed with use of the clinical rating system of Timmerman and Andrews, was 111 points preoperatively and improved to 180 points at the time of follow-up and to 190 points after the five patients underwent the additional operations. Mean elbow motion was 126° of flexion with 16° of extension loss preoperatively and improved to 133° of flexion with 3° of extension loss at the time of follow-up. Osseous union of the graft on radiographs was obtained within three months in all patients. Revascularization of the graft depicted on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and congruity of the reconstructed articular surface depicted on T2-weighted or short tau inversion recovery imaging were assessed at twelve and twenty-four months postoperatively. Functional recovery was good, and all patients were satisfied with the final outcomes. Cylindrical costal osteochondral autograft was useful for the treatment of advanced osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum. Functional recovery was rapid after surgery. Additional operations were performed for five of the twenty-six patients, whereas the remaining patients showed essentially full recovery within a year. All patients were satisfied with the results at the time of short-term follow-up.

Early Results of the Use of Tantalum Femoral Cones for Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

The optimum treatment method for large femoral bone defects during revision knee replacement has not been established. The purpose of the present study was to determine the initial results associated with the use of porous tantalum metaphyseal cones for the treatment of severe femoral bone loss at the time of revision total knee arthroplasty. Porous tantalum metaphyseal cones were implanted during twenty-four revision total knee replacements. The study group included thirteen women and eleven men with a mean age of sixty-four years at the time of the procedure. The indications for the revision procedure included aseptic loosening of the femoral component (eleven patients), second-stage reimplantation for the treatment of deep infection (seven patients), severe osteolysis around a well-fixed femoral component (three patients), periprosthetic femoral fracture (two patients), and severe knee instability (one patient). The patients were followed for an average of thirty-three months (range, twenty-four to fifty months). Overall, the average Knee Society clinical score improved from 55 points preoperatively to 81 points at the time of the latest follow-up. Radiographic evaluation was completed for twenty patients after a mean duration of follow-up of thirty-five months. All femoral cones appeared well fixed radiographically, with no evidence of complications related to the cone. At the time of short-term follow-up, the porous tantalum metaphyseal femoral cones effectively provided structural support for the femoral implants of a revision total knee arthroplasty in this series. The potential for long-term biologic fixation may provide durability for reconstructions. Long-term follow-up and comparison with alternative reconstructive techniques will be required to evaluate the true effectiveness of this implant.

Comparison of a Standard and a Gender-Specific Posterior Cruciate-Substituting High-Flexion Knee Prosthesis

Recently, much debate has focused on the effect of gender-specific total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of the present study was to compare clinical and radiographic results as well as femoral component fit in patients receiving either a standard posterior cruciate-substituting LPS-Flex or gender-specific posterior cruciate-substituting LPS-Flex total knee prosthesis. Sequential simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty was performed for eighty-five patients (170 knees). Eighty-five women (mean age, 69.7 years) received a standard LPS-Flex prosthesis in one knee and a gender-specific LPS-Flex prosthesis in the contralateral knee. The mean duration of follow-up was 2.13 years. At each follow-up, the Knee Society score, the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) score, and radiographs were evaluated. The aspect ratio of the distal part of the femur was compared with those of the standard LPS-Flex prosthesis and the gender-specific LPS-Flex prosthesis. The mean postoperative Knee Society scores (95.5 points in the standard implant group, compared with 96.5 points in the gender-specific implant group) and Hospital for Special Surgery knee scores (90.7 points in the standard implant group, compared with 91.2 points in the gender-specific implant group) were similar in both groups. The mean postoperative WOMAC score was 36.6 points. Postoperatively, the mean ranges of knee motion in the supine position (125 degrees in the standard implant group, compared with 126 degrees in the gender-specific implant group), patient satisfaction (8.3 points in the standard implant group, compared with 8.1 points in the gender-specific implant group), and radiographic results were similar in both groups. The femoral component in the standard implant group fit significantly better than that in the gender-specific implant group (p < 0.0001). The present study did not show any clinical benefits of a gender-specific LPS-Flex total knee prosthesis at the time of short-term follow-up. Longer follow-up is needed to determine whether there will be an advantage in terms of longer-term function. Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Use of Porous Tantalum Metaphyseal Cones for Severe Tibial Bone Loss During Revision Total Knee Replacement

The best treatment method for large tibial bone defects during revision knee replacement has not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine the initial results obtained with a unique reconstructive implant, the porous tantalum metaphyseal cone, designed as an alternative treatment for severe tibial bone loss following total knee arthroplasty. Porous tantalum metaphyseal cones were implanted during fifteen revision total knee replacements in eight women and seven men who had an average age of 68.1 years at the time of the procedure. The patients had had an average of 3.5 prior total knee replacements. According to the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute bone defect classification, eight knees had a Type-3 defect and seven knees had a Type-2B bone defect. All patients were followed clinically and radiographically. The patients were followed for an average of thirty-four months (range, twenty-four to forty-seven months). Overall, the average Knee Society clinical scores improved from 52 points preoperatively to 85 points at the time of the final follow-up. At the final follow-up evaluation, all fifteen porous metaphyseal cones showed evidence of osseointegration with reactive osseous trabeculation at points of contact with the tibia. There was no evidence of loosening or migration of any of these tibial reconstructions at the time of final follow-up. At the time of short-term follow-up, the porous tantalum metaphyseal tibial cones effectively provided structural support for the tibial implants in this series. The potential for long-term biologic fixation may provide durability for these tibial reconstructions. Long-term follow-up and comparison with alternative reconstructive techniques will be required to evaluate the true effectiveness of this treatment approach.

Einsatz eines speziellen Clips (Tumark® Professional) zur postinterventionellen Markierung suspekter Mammaläsionen nach MRT-gestützter Vakuumbiopsie – erste Ergebnisse

Evaluation of a newly developed Clip (Tumark Professional) for MRI-guided lesion localization after MRI-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) with regard to the exactness of positioning, migration, and visibility on mammography (MG), ultrasound (US) and MR imaging (MRI). 27 consecutive patients with 29 suspicious breast lesions detected with MRI were prospectively evaluated. The location of the lesion was determined with Tumark (Somatex, Teltow, Germany) after MRI-guided VAB. The distance between the clip and lesion was measured via MRI. The qualitative visibility of the clip was assessed by means of a 5-point scale from very good (1 point) to not visible (5 points). The analysis was performed for MG, US and MRI separately. Clip movement was measured via MG. 9 lesions were malignant (31%). All but one lesion (96%) were able to be localized exactly with a clip-lesion distance of < or = 10 mm. The Tumark was visible in 27 cases (93.1%) in US and in 25 cases (86.2%) in MRI. The visibility of the clip was moderate for both modalities (mean 3.2 points). Its visibility in MG was always very good (1 point). The clip position was stable at the time of short term follow-up (1 - 7 months; mean deviation 4.5 mm). Precise positioning of the Tumark Professional is usually possible. The clip is mostly visible in US. At the time of short-term follow-up, there was no relevant movement. Therefore, Tumark seems to be suitable for MRI-guided lesion localization after MRI-guided VAB of suspicious breast lesions. Further improvement of US visibility would be beneficial.

Use of Porous Tantalum Metaphyseal Cones for Severe Tibial Bone Loss During Revision Total Knee Replacement

The best treatment method for large tibial bone defects during revision knee replacement has not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine the initial results obtained with a unique reconstructive implant, the porous tantalum metaphyseal cone, designed as an alternative treatment for severe tibial bone loss following total knee arthroplasty. Porous tantalum metaphyseal cones were implanted during fifteen revision total knee replacements in eight women and seven men who had an average age of 68.1 years at the time of the procedure. The patients had had an average of 3.5 prior total knee replacements. According to the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute bone defect classification, eight knees had a Type-3 defect and seven knees had a Type-2B bone defect. All patients were followed clinically and radiographically. The patients were followed for an average of thirty-four months (range, twenty-four to forty-seven months). Overall, the average Knee Society clinical scores improved from 52 points preoperatively to 85 points at the time of the final follow-up. At the final follow-up evaluation, all fifteen porous metaphyseal cones showed evidence of osseointegration with reactive osseous trabeculation at points of contact with the tibia. There was no evidence of loosening or migration of any of these tibial reconstructions at the time of final follow-up. At the time of short-term follow-up, the porous tantalum metaphyseal tibial cones effectively provided structural support for the tibial implants in this series. The potential for long-term biologic fixation may provide durability for these tibial reconstructions. Long-term follow-up and comparison with alternative reconstructive techniques will be required to evaluate the true effectiveness of this treatment approach.

Ceramic Failure After Total Hip Arthroplasty with an Alumina-on-Alumina Bearing

The mechanical properties of alumina ceramic, now in its third generation, have been markedly improved through the evolution of design features and manufacturing processes and the introduction of proof-testing. Nonetheless, because of the lack of ductility of alumina ceramic, there is concern regarding the risk of fracture during insertion or in vivo use. The purpose of the present study was to present a multicenter review of primary total hip arthroplasties performed with use of a polyethylene-ceramic composite liner combined with a ceramic femoral head, with particular attention to failure of the ceramic bearing. We evaluated 357 primary total hip arthroplasties that had been performed in 319 patients with use of a contemporary alumina-on-alumina bearing design incorporating a polyethylene-ceramic composite liner within a titanium-alloy shell coupled with a 28-mm-diameter ceramic femoral head. The procedures were performed at four participating centers from 1998 to 2001. Ceramic failure without trauma occurred in six hips (1.7%). All of these hips were revised, and the retrieved alumina implants were examined by means of visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry. Two femoral heads fractured during the first postoperative year, and four alumina liners fractured after an average of 36.8 months in vivo. All four of the explanted alumina liners revealed evidence of rim contact with the metal neck of the femoral component. Composition analysis confirmed that surface-stain materials were titanium particles transferred from the femoral component. Despite the theoretical improvement in the fracture toughness of a polyethylene-alumina composite liner, a relatively high rate of catastrophic ceramic bearing surface failure was still observed at the time of short-term follow-up. This finding prompted us to discontinue the use of this type of alumina bearing design.

PERIPROSTHETIC FEMORAL FRACTURES AROUND WELL-FIXED IMPLANTS

Periprosthetic femoral fractures around hip replacements are increasingly common. When the femoral component is stable, open reduction and internal fixation is recommended in all but exceptional cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of treatment of fractures around stable implants with cortical onlay strut allografts with or without a plate. A survey of our four centers identified forty patients with a fracture around a well-fixed femoral stem treated with cortical onlay strut allografts without revision of the femoral component. There were fourteen men and twenty-six women, with an average age of sixty-nine years. Nineteen patients were treated with cortical onlay strut allografts alone, and twenty-one were managed with a plate and one or two cortical struts. All of the patients were followed until fracture union or until a reoperation was done. The mean duration of follow-up was twenty-eight months for thirty-nine patients. One patient, who was noncompliant with treatment recommendations, had a failure at two months because of a fracture of the plate and graft. The primary end point of the evaluation was fracture union; secondary end points included strut-to-host bone union, the amount of final bone stock, and postoperative function. Thirty-nine (98%) of the forty fractures united, and strut-to-host bone union was typically seen within the first year. There were four malunions, all of which had <10 degrees of malalignment, and one deep infection. There was no evidence of femoral loosening in any patient. All but one of the surviving patients returned to their preoperative functional level within one year. Cortical onlay strut allografts act as biological bone plates, serving both a mechanical and a biological function. The use of cortical struts, either alone or in conjunction with a plate, led to a very high rate of fracture union, satisfactory alignment, and an increase in femoral bone stock at the time of short-term follow-up. Although this study did not address the potential for later allograft remodeling, our findings suggest that cortical strut grafts should be used routinely to augment fixation and healing of a periprosthetic femoral fracture.

Arthroplasty with a metal radial head for unreconstructible fractures of the radial head.

Treatment of unreconstructible comminuted fractures of the radial head remains controversial. There is limited information on the outcome of management of these injuries with arthroplasty with a metal radial head implant. The functional outcomes of arthroplasties with a metal radial head implant for the treatment of twenty-five displaced, unreconstructible fractures of the radial head in twenty-four consecutive patients (mean age, fifty-four years) were evaluated at a mean of thirty-nine months (minimum, two years). There were ten Mason type-III and fifteen Mason-Johnston type-IV injuries. Two of these injuries were isolated, and twenty-three were associated with other elbow fractures and/or ligamentous injuries. At the time of follow-up, Short Form-36 (SF-36) summary scores suggested that overall health-related quality of life was within the normal range (physical component = 47 +/- 10, and mental component = 49 +/- 13). Other outcome scales indicated mild disability of the upper extremity (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score = 17 +/- 19), wrist (Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score = 17 +/- 21 and Wrist Outcome Score = 60 +/- 10), and elbow (Mayo Elbow Performance Index = 80 +/- 16). According to the Mayo Elbow Performance Index, three results were graded as poor; five, as fair; and seventeen, as good or excellent. The poor and fair outcomes were associated with concomitant injury in two patients, a history of a psychiatric disorder in three, comorbidity in two, a Workers' Compensation claim in two, and litigation in one. Subjective patient satisfaction averaged 9.2 on a scale of 1 to 10. Elbow flexion of the injured extremity averaged 140 degrees +/- 9 degrees; extension, -8 degrees +/- 7 degrees; pronation, 78 degrees +/- 9 degrees; and supination, 68 degrees +/- 10 degrees. A significant loss of elbow flexion and extension and of forearm supination occurred in the affected extremity, which also had significantly less strength of isometric forearm pronation (17%) and supination (18%) as well as significantly less grip strength (p < 0.05). Asymptomatic bone lucencies surrounded the stem of the implant in seventeen of the twenty-five elbows. Valgus stability was restored, and proximal radial migration did not occur. Complications, all of which resolved, included one complex regional pain syndrome, one ulnar neuropathy, one posterior interosseous nerve palsy, one episode of elbow stiffness, and one wound infection. Patients treated with a metal radial head implant for a severely comminuted radial head fracture will have mild-to-moderate impairment of the physical capability of the elbow and wrist. At the time of short-term follow-up, arthroplasty with a metal radial head implant was found to have been a safe and effective treatment option for patients with an unreconstructible radial head fracture; however, long-term follow-up is still needed.