High tibial osteotomy performed with PEEK implant demonstrated a failure rate of 28.

OBJECTIVES: Opening-wedge high tibia osteotomies (HTO) can be technically challenging. The HTO iBalance system was designed to reduce vascular complications and to avoid secondary plate removal. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the performance of the HTO iBalance system in patients with symptomatic medial osteoarthritis and varus malalignment. METHODS: The study was performed as a retrospective cohort study investigating a consecutive series of patients who underwent HTO with the iBalance system performed by a single surgeon from August 2013 to March 2016 at Zealand University Hospital, Koege, and Aleris-Hamlet Hospital. The primary outcome was the degree of realignment. The secondary outcome was Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Follow-up was performed at mean (SD) 25 (9.7) months. Weight-bearing long-leg standing radiographs were taken before surgery and at follow-up. Failure was defined as collapse of the HTO defined as a correction <50% of the intended correction at time of follow-up. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for failure. RESULTS: 44 patients and a total of 47 knees were included in this study. Preoperatively the mechanical axis was a mean (SD) 5.8° (2.9) varus and postoperatively 2.3° (3.7) varus . The HTO failed in 13 of 47 knees (28%). Patients with failure showed no statistically significant differences to non-failure in any KOOS subscore (p>0.05). American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (p=0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (p=0.05) were correlated with failure, whereas bone transplantation and smoking were not. CONCLUSION: In this study, the failure rate of HTO was 28%. High BMI and ASA-score were the only risk factors associated with failure while bone grafting and smoking were not. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective cohort study, level III.

No-Fault Compensation From the Patient Compensation Association in Denmark After Primary Total Hip Replacement in Danish Hospitals 2005-2017.

BACKGROUND: There is an annually rising number of performed total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgeries in Denmark and this is expected to become even more common. However, there are still risks of adverse events, which become the basis for compensation claims. In Denmark, there are no studies available concerning filed claims after THA. The aims of this study are to determine the incidence of claims related to THAs in Denmark, the reasons to claim, which claims lead to compensation, the amount of compensation, and trends over time. METHODS: In this observational study, we analyzed all closed claims between 2005 and 2017 from the Danish Patient Compensation Association (DPCA). With the intention to contribute to prevention, we have identified the number and outcome of claims. RESULTS: There were 2924 cases (ie, 2.5% of all THAs performed in this period). The approval rate was 54%. The number of claims filed was stagnant over time, except for a spike of metal-on-metal (MoM) prosthesis cases. The total payout was USD 29,591,045, and 87% of this was due to nerve damage (USD 9,106,118), infection (USD 6,046,948), MoM prosthesis (USD 4,624,353), insufficient or incorrect treatment (USD 472,500), and fracture (USD 2,088,110). CONCLUSION: In total, 2.5% of all THAs performed between 2005 and 2017 lead to a claim submission at the DPCA. One of 2 claims were approved. The majority of payouts were due to nerve damage, infection, MoM prosthesis, insufficient or incorrect treatment, and fracture. Although DPCA manages claims for patients, the data can also provide beneficial feedback to arthroplasty surgeons with the aim of improving patient care.

Poncet's disease (tubercular rheumatism) with primary involvement of the foot - A case report.

We present a rare case with primary tubercular involvement of the foot, accomapanied by a reactionary (aseptic) effusion in the knee. The diagnosis was delayed due to unusual presentation and also because of failure to elicit a detailed history. Incision and drainage of the foot abscess and antitubercular drug therapy resulted in satisfactory control of tubercular infection. Polyarticular presentation may not always signify active tubercular focus in every joint; it may reflect reactive synovitis known as Poncet's disease, which resolves with multidrug antitubercular therapy.A multidispilinary approach should be adopted and chest physicians, rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons should work in close association to correctly diagnose and treatthis condition.

Prevention of post-operative anaemia in hip and knee arthroplasty--a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Patient blood management strategies for total hip and knee arthroplasty are controversial. They range from pre-operative haemoglobin optimisation to intra- and post-operative interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the various treatment modalities with respect to blood loss, haemoglobin levels and blood transfusions. METHODS: The analysis was based on the principles of a systematic review. The literature was searched in PubMed for the period from 2004 to November 2014. The articles were reviewed with respect to blood loss, post-operative haemoglobin drop, blood transfusions and length of hospital stay. The papers were evidence-graded. Non-randomised clinical studies and papers not concerning total hip or knee arthroplasty were excluded as were studies lacking a control group. Subanalyses were performed for tranexamic acid, tourniquet and fibrin use. RESULTS: A total of 49 studies were found eligible which is equivalent to a total of 4,752 patients. Tranexamic acid administered either orally, topically, intravenously or in combination decreased blood loss, increased the post-operative haemoglobin level, decreased the number of patients receiving blood transfusions and minimised the length of stay. A similar result was found for fibrin spray in total hip arthroplasty. However, for total knee arthroplasty, the outcome was blurred. Tourniquet use was uniformly not significant in the measured parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Tranexamic acid is useful in managing anaemia and blood loss. Fibrin sealant also has this potential, but is not more potent than tranexamic acid. Tourniquet use is not advantageous.