Oxford hip scores at 6 months and 5 years are associated with total hip revision within the subsequent 2 years.

BACKGROUND: The Oxford hip score (OHS) is commonly reported in research studies as a reflection of pain and function but it is unclear whether it predicts subsequent prosthesis failure. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined whether OHS obtained at 6 months and 5 years after surgery predicts risk of revision within the subsequent 2 years. METHODS: We reviewed data from the New Zealand Joint Registry between January 1999 and December 2010. OHS at 6 months was available for 17,831 total hip patients. Patients were separated into four categories based on their OHS: 10,458 (59%) scored 42-48, 4726 (26%) scored 34-41, 1592 (9%) scored 27-33, and 1028 (6%) scored 0-26. Five-year OHSs were available for 3665 patients. Of these patients, 2619 (72%) scored 42-48, 657 (18%) scored 34-41, 225 (6%) scored 27-33, and 164 (4%) scored 0-26. RESULTS: For patients with a 6-month OHS, revision risk within 2 years was 0.4% in the 42-48 group, 1.0% in the 34-41 group, 1.7% in the 27-33 group, and 6.2% in the 0-27 group. For patients with 5-year OHS, revision risk within 2 years was 0.3%, 1.1%, 3.6%, and 6.1%, respectively. Increase in revision risk for the 0-27 versus the 42-48 OHS group was 15-fold at 6 months and 18-fold at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest patients with an OHS of 42-48 at 6 months need a 5-year postoperative appointment. Those patients with a 5-year OHS of 42-48 need not be followed up for a further 5 years.

Redefining the cast index: the optimum technique to reduce redisplacement in pediatric distal forearm fractures.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the optimal cast index (CI) level that reduces the risk of fracture redisplacement. The CI is the ratio of sagittal to coronal width from the inside edges of the cast at the fracture site. Previous studies have used 0.7 as the standard. METHODS: Case records and radiographs of 1001 children who underwent a manipulation under anesthesia for a displaced fracture of the distal forearm were studied. Redisplacement was defined as > 15 degrees of angulation and/or > 80% of translational displacement on check radiographs at 2 weeks. Angulation (degrees) and translational displacement (%) were measured on the initial and check radiographs. The CI was measured on the check radiographs. The CI has previously been validated in an experimental study. RESULTS: The adequacy of reduction after manipulation was determined by translation and angulation of the radius and ulna in anteroposterior and lateral plain film radiographs. From the 1001 patients who qualified for the study, fracture redisplacement was seen in 107 (10.6%) cases at the 2-week follow-up. A total of 752 (75%) patients had CIs of ≤ 0.8, whereas 249 (25%) had casting indices of ≥ 0.81. In patients with CIs of ≤ 0.8, the displacement rate was only 5.58%. However, in patients with CIs of ≥ 0.81, the displacement rate was 26%. A high CI was the sole factor that was significantly higher in the redisplacement group. No statistically significant difference was seen for age, sex, or surgeon seniority. Statistical differences were not noted in initial angular deformity or initial displacement. DISCUSSION: The CI is a simple reliable radiographic measurement to predict the redisplacement of forearm fractures in children. A plaster with a CI of > 0.81 is prone to redisplacement. High CIs are associated with redisplacement of fractures and should be avoided when molding casts in distal forearm fractures. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III--retrospective comparative study.

Fraturas supracondilares tipo III do úmero em crianças: tratamento com braço reto / Type III supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children: straight-arm treatment

INTRODUÇÃO: As fraturas supracondilares de Gartland tipo III são as lesões comuns em crianças. Apresentamos um método de redução manipulativa, imobilização e fixação usando gesso-de-Paris, com o cotovelo em extensão total (braço reto). MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo analisando todos os pacientes com fraturas supracondilares de Gartland tipo III no Wellington Public Hospital, durante o período de fevereiro de 1999 a março de 2007. Os sete pacientes foram tratados pela técnica do braço reto, e os desfechos clínicos foram revisados neste estudo. RESULTADO: Todos os pais ficaram satisfeitos com os resultados. Usando os critérios de Flynn,6 seis pacientes atingiram excelentes resultados e um teve resultado bom quando se analisou o ângulo de alinhamento. Ao verificar a amplitude de movimento, quatro pacientes tiveram resultados bons, um moderado e dois, ruim. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento com braço reto das fraturas supracondilares de Gartland tipo III parece ser uma alternativa não-invasiva e segura da fixação com fio K.

OBJECTIVE: Gartland type III supracondylar fractures are a common injury in children. We present a method of manipulative reduction, immobilization and fixation using Plaster of Paris with the elbow in full extension (straight-arm). METHOD: Retrospective study analyzing all patients with Gartland type III supracondylar fractures at the Wellington Public Hospital during the period from February 1999 to March 2007. The seven patients had been treated with the straight-arm technique, and the clinical outcomes are reviewed in this study. RESULT: All the parents were satisfied with the results. Using the Flynn criteria6, six patients achieved excellent results and one good, in relation to the carrying angle. With regard to the range of motion, four patients had good results, one fair, and two poor. CONCLUSION: Straight-arm treatment of Gartland type III supracondylar fractures appears to be a non-invasive and safe alternative to K-wire fixation.

The influence of steroid injections on the incidence of infection following total knee arthroplasty.

AIM: To investigate whether a relationship exists between preoperative intra-articular steroid injections and postoperative wound healing in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Similar research studies on total hip arthroplasty (THA) have found higher rates of post surgical problems in hips that have been injected with steroids. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with TKA postoperative wound infection, and 352 TKA patients without postoperative wound infection were compared against corticosteroid injected and non-injected patients. Variables measured were diabetes, cigarette smoking, knee scores, number of injections, injection administrator, and preoperative injection intervals. RESULTS: No significant difference emerged in rates of infection or between smoking rates and diabetes. Number of injections, preoperative injection interval and injection administrator did not significantly influence outcome. A significant difference exists between each group's knee scores. CONCLUSIONS: Injecting knees with corticosteroids prior to TKA did not increase the incidence of postoperative wound infection.

Hybrid total hip replacement: outcome after a mean follow up of 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Total hip replacement is one of the most successful surgical procedures of the modern surgical era. The method of fixation of implants continues to evolve, and as cemented acetabular fixation appears to be less durable than anticipated, the use of a cemented stem and an uncemented acetabulum - a so-called 'hybrid hip'- has become more popular. This paper reports the results of hybrid total hip replacement at an average of 10 years postoperatively. METHODS: Primary hybrid total hip replacements carried out by a single surgeon in 1994 and 1995 were identified; patients were sent Oxford Hip Score and EuroQuol-5 Dimension quality-of-life questionnaires and, where necessary, a radiograph appointment. Questions about diabetes, cigarette smoking and hip dislocation were included. First postoperative and final radiographs were compared for stem subsidence, cup migration, stem position, osteolysis of the femur and pelvis, and evidence of loosening of both components. RESULTS: At 10-year follow up the revision rate for femoral component loosening was 2.9%. Fifteen per cent showed some abnormality at the femoral interface, not related to stem size and more common in titanium stems. Average hip score was 20.9, and quality-of-life measures indicated a high level of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid total hip replacement gives excellent clinical outcomes with low revision rates for both components. The one-piece uncemented cup offers important advantages over modular devices, the use of which should be re-evaluated.

Osteosarcoma in New Zealand: an outcome study comparing survival rates between 1981-1987 and 1994-1999.

AIMS: To review the data and outcome of patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand from 1994 to 1999 and to compare this to data retrieved from a similar study from 1981 to 1987. METHODS: Data from 1994-1999 was obtained from the New Zealand Cancer Registry; raw data was also retrieved from the 1981-1987 study. RESULTS: There were 96 cases in the 1981-1987 cohort and 84 cases in the 1994-1999 cohort. Overall, 5-year survival from osteosarcoma improved from 32.3% to 44.0% between the cohorts. When the cohorts were compared, there was a trend toward improved outcome in most subgroups CONCLUSIONS: The outcome in patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand has improved over the study period and is similar to that seen in the overseas literature.

Femoral revision with a fluted, tapered, modular stem seventy patients followed for a mean of 3.9 years.

Fluted tapered revision femoral stems have been used successfully in Europe. Modularity makes these implants more versatile, but outcomes of modular designs have not been reported. We report a retrospective review of 70 such stems with a mean follow-up of 47 months. Combined metaphyseal/diaphyseal bone loss was present preoperatively in 36 (51%) of 70 hips. Three hips (4.3%) were re-revised or in need of re-revision, and worst-case survival was 87%. The mean postoperative patient-assessed Oxford Hip Score was 21.1. Restoration of proximal bone was noted in 56%. Complications included mean subsidence of 9.9 mm, dislocation in 7 (10%) of 70 hips, and fracture or cortical perforation in 17 (24.2%) of 70. These results are equivalent to, or better than, reported results of other types of cementless revision femoral stems.

Does pelvic osteolysis occur with a nonmodular uncemented acetabular component?

We present a radiographic follow-up of an uncemented, nonmodular, pure titanium-backed acetabular component at 6 to 12 years postimplantation. Between 1990 and 1992, 130 primary total hip arthroplasties were carried out by 1 surgeon using this implant, in association with both cemented and uncemented femoral components. There were 19 deaths, 5 revisions, and 19 hips lost to follow-up, leaving 87 hips available for review at a mean of 9.6 years. Two revisions were for infection, whereas 3 well-fixed cups were changed at the time of revision of a loose femoral component to allow downsizing to a 28-mm head. No cup has been revised for aseptic loosening. There was no radiographic evidence of periacetabular osteolysis or loosening of any of the cups, even in a subgroup of 31 patients who were 60 years or younger at the time of implantation.

Complications and outcomes of single-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: A recent literature review by the senior authors of this study revealed that simultaneous bilateral knee arthroplasty is uncommon and controversial. Reported complications include myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, thromboembolic complications, pseudo-obstruction, postoperative ileus and death. This present study was designed to identify complications of single-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty to compare with reports in the international literature. METHODS: A retrospective study of 40 cases of simultaneous total knee arthroplasty carried out by the senior authors at Wellington over the last 10 years, examined details of surgery, anaesthesia, preoperative and postoperative management to identify the occurrence of complications. Thirty-one patients completed an Oxford Knee Score, a EuroQuol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire and reported their experience of the bilateral procedure. RESULTS: Complications reported in the international literature did not occur in the patients studied. Complications that did occur included urinary retention, wound infections and oedema of the limbs or knees. The mean Oxford Knee Score was 20.79. In 2003 the New Zealand national mean for primary total knee arthroplasty was 23.35. The EQ-5D revealed high patient satisfaction and good functional status. CONCLUSIONS: While the outcomes and cost benefits of single stage bilateral replacement are established, the risk of complications remains. This study establishes the low complication rate associated with this procedure in the senior authors' hands, and documents the high patient satisfaction. The study demonstrates that, in selected patients, simultaneous bilateral knee replacement surgery can be performed with good outcomes without a definite increase in perioperative risk.

The evaluation of processed cancellous bovine bone as a bone graft substitute.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of a novel bovine cancellous bone xenoimplant to act as an osteoconductive graft in an ovine femoral defect model. An autograft harvested from the xenoimplant site was placed in a contralateral limb defect for comparison. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The xenoimplant used had been rendered immunologically inert by a novel defatting and deproteinating process. Following surgical implantation of cores into condylar cancellous bone defects, fluorochrome labels were administered to 12 sheep at 2 1/2, 4 1/2 and 8 weeks. Incorporation of the xenoimplants and autografts into the host bone was compared radiographically and histomorphometrically at 10 weeks. RESULTS: Radiographically, the degree of osteointegration was comparable. Histomorphometric data, consisting of labelled surface (LS) estimates, confirmed osteoconductive properties of both the xenoimplants and autografts. Remodelling activity was greatest in the xenoimplants at 2 1/2, weeks. At 4 1/2 weeks, there was more activity in the autograft, but by 8 weeks they were performing similarly. Xenoimplant-LS estimates were comparable or greater than those of the autograft at all times. CONCLUSIONS: Processed bovine cancellous bone xenoimplants were osteoconductive in this model and show promise for development as a biomaterial in human and veterinary orthopaedic surgery.

Influence of preoperative medical status and delay to surgery on death following a hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study of 138 patients with fractured hips was undertaken to determine if a delay to surgery beyond 24 h influenced 1-year mortality. In particular, the results of the subgroup of patients who were in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class 3 or 4 were considered. METHODS: Patients were found using ICD-9 database information. One-year mortality data was collected from Births, Deaths and Marriages -- the New Zealand government agency that collects and stores statistics on these events. RESULTS: The 1-year mortality rate was 17.4%. Age, operation type and time to surgery did not significantly affect 1-year mortality. American Society of Anesthesiologists' Class 1 and 2 patients had a significantly lower 1-year mortality (5.3%) than ASA Class 3 and 4 patients (22.4%) (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Time to surgery did not significantly affect 1-year mortality within each ASA Class.

Ankle fractures: functional and lifestyle outcomes at 2 years.

BACKGROUND: Ankle fractures form a high proportion of the total number of fractures treated in New Zealand. International studies show that there are mixed functional outcomes with differing fracture types and subsequently differing lifestyle outcomes. METHODS: Fracture clinic records and orthopaedic admissions books for Wellington Public Hospital, Capital Coast Health, -Wellington, were retrospectively reviewed to gain a population of patients who sustained ankle fractures for the period January--December 1998. These patients were asked to fill in postal questionnaires detailing their current ankle function and lifestyle, two years after fracturing their ankle. The patients' radiographs were reviewed to classify the types of ankle fractures sustained. RESULTS: Of 141 patients that sustained ankle fractures, 74 were followed up 2 years after their ankle fracture. All fracture types averaged Olerud-Molander ankle scores of 71.1. Weber A fractures averaged ankle function scores of 90, Weber B fractures 80, and Weber C fractures 78. Four patients (5%) achieved 'poor' results, 12 (16%) patients achieved a 'fair' result, 30 (41%) patients gained a 'good' result, 27 (36%) patients attained 'excellent' results. Lifestyle outcomes were reflected in the patient's ankle function outcomes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients who sustain ankle fractures can be expected to be still experiencing functional difficulties two years post-treatment.