RESUMO
In this observational study, we describe the medium-term outcomes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in Malawi, a low-income country. With a high prevalence of HIV and increasing arthroplasty rates in low and middle-income countries, understanding the outcomes of TJA in this unique cohort of patients is essential to ensure that surgical practice is evidence-based. METHODS: Data for all HIV-positive patients who had TJA from January 2005 to March 2020 were extracted from the National Arthroplasty Registry of the Malawi Orthopaedic Association (NARMOA). From January 2005 to March 2020, a total of 102 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and 20 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were performed in 97 patients who were HIV-positive and without hemophilia or a history of intravenous drug use. The mean length of follow-up was 4 years and 3 months (range, 6 weeks to 15 years) in the THA group and 4 years and 9 months (range, 6 weeks to 12 years) in the TKA group. The mean patient age was 50 years (range, 21 to 76 years) and 64 years (range, 48 to 76 years) at the time of THA and TKA, respectively. RESULTS: The primary indication for THA was osteonecrosis (66 hips). In the THA group, the mean preoperative Oxford Hip Score and Harris hip score were 14.0 (range, 2 to 33) and 29.4 (range, 1 to 64), respectively, and improved to 46.6 (range, 23 to 48) and 85.0 (range, 28 to 91) postoperatively. The primary indication for TKA was osteoarthritis (19 knees). The mean preoperative Oxford Knee Score was 14.9 (range, 6 to 31) and increased to 46.8 (range, 40 to 48) postoperatively. In patients who underwent THA, there was 1 deep infection (1 of 102 procedures), and 6 patients developed aseptic loosening (6 of 102). There was 1 postoperative superficial infection following TKA (1 of 20 procedures), and 1 patient developed aseptic loosening (1 of 20). Postoperative 6-week mortality among all patients was zero. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the largest medium-term follow-up of HIV-positive patients, without hemophilia or a history of intravenous drug use, who have had TJA in a low-income country. This study demonstrated good medium-term results among HIV-positive patients undergoing TJA, low complication rates, and improvements in patient-reported outcome measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
RESUMO
We describe our 10-year experience performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients enrolled in the National Joint Registry of the Malawi Orthopaedic Association. METHODS: Eighty-three THAs were performed in 70 patients (40 male and 30 female) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 18 to 77 years). The cohort included 24 patients (14 male and 10 female; mean age, 52 years [range, 35 to 78 years]) who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. RESULTS: The main indications for surgery were osteonecrosis (n = 41 hips) and osteoarthritis (n = 26 hips). There were no deaths perioperatively and no early complications at 6 weeks. Forty-six patients (59 THAs) were seen at 10 years postoperatively, with a mean Harris hip score (HHS) of 88 (range, 41 to 91) and a mean Oxford Hip Score (OHS) of 46 (range, 25 to 48). Five hips (8% of 59) were revised due to loosening (n = 4) and fracture (n = 1). There were no infections or dislocations. Fourteen patients died, including 4 HIV-positive patients, of unknown causes in the follow-up period, and 10 patients were lost to follow-up. In the group of 24 HIV-positive patients, there were no early complications, and the mean HHS was 88 (range, 76 to 91) at >10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our 10-year experience and long-term outcomes after primary THA in a low-income setting show that good results can be achieved within a controlled hospital environment, thereby establishing a benchmark against which other hospitals and registries in similar low-income countries can compare their results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We describe our 10-year experience with total knee arthroplasty in patients who are included in the Malawi National Joint Registry. METHODS: A total of 127 patients underwent 153 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) between 2005 and 2015. The mean duration of follow-up was 4 years and 3 months (range, 6 months to 10 years and 6 months). The study group included 98 women and 29 men with a mean age of 65.3 years (range, 24 to 84 years). Nine patients were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. RESULTS: The primary indication for surgery was osteoarthritis (150 knees), and the mean preoperative and postoperative Oxford Knee Scores were 16.81 (range, 4 to 36) and 45.61 (range, 29 to 48), respectively. Four knees (2.6%) were revised because of early periprosthetic joint infection (1 knee), aseptic loosening (1 knee), and late periprosthetic joint infection (2 knees). There were no perioperative deaths. In the group of 9 patients who were HIV-positive, there were no early or late complications and the mean Oxford Knee Score was 47 (range, 42 to 48) at the time of the latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated good short-term results following 153 primary TKAs performed in a low-income country. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
