Long-term follow-up of a cemented titanium stem.

We present the outcome of 270 cemented titanium alloy femoral stems. These patients were followed up annually both clinically and radiologically, and were included up until their last follow-up. 120 patients completed a 10-year follow-up. The 10-year survival of the Ultima Straight Stem cemented femoral component (defined by revision of the femoral stem) was 90.1% (95% CI=84.0-94.0%), with aseptic loosening being the major reason for failure. The preoperative Harris Hip Score improved from 35.3 to 79.3 at 10 years. There were 17 cases of stem subsidence, radiolucent lines in 11 hips, 5 cases of cement fracture and 18 hips had osteolysis in 2 adjacent Gruen zones. This is the largest study in the English literature of this implant, and reflects UK district general hospital practice with surgery performed by a variety of surgical grades and via different surgical approaches. Although the outcome of this implant was within the previous standard set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and is comparable to other series of titanium stems, it is inferior to that of more modern cemented and uncemented implants, and falls outside the new NICE recommendation of <5% revision rate at ten year. As a result this implant is no longer used in our institution, and it has also now been withdrawn from the market. We suggest that patients with this implant should be followed up radiologically due to the relatively high rate of stem subsidence and lucency between the cement and prosthesis, to identify those who may be at risk of failure.

Tranexamic acid reduces early post-operative blood loss after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomised controlled trial of 29 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Extensive blood loss related to knee arthroplasty is quite normal and many patients require blood transfusions. Surgery and the use of pneumatic tourniquets lead to an increase in the activity of the fibrinolytic system, which in turn may accentuate the blood loss. Drugs that inhibit the fibrinolytic system may thus be used to reduce blood loss. Tranexamic acid (TA) acts by binding to one of the enzymes at the start of the coagulation cascade, so inhibiting the fibrinolytic system. A concern is that this inhibition may have the side effect of increasing thromboembolic disease, a common complication of joint replacement surgery. We aimed to confirm the reductions in blood loss and to assess the impact of TA usage on clinical and sub-clinical DVT. METHOD: We performed a prospective, randomised, double blind, controlled trial, using patients due to undergo primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Patients were randomised to receive either 15 mg/kg of tranexamic acid or a similar volume of normal saline at the time of cementing of the prosthesis. Perioperative blood loss was recorded and patients were screened for DVT with duplex ultrasound assessment of both legs on the fifth post-operative day. RESULTS: A statistically significant (p=0.006) decrease in blood loss in the early post-operative period was noted in the group receiving tranexamic acid. This was not associated with a significant difference in total blood loss (p=0.55) or in transfusion requirements. There was no of evidence in DVT in either group on duplex ultrasound screening of the lower limbs. INTERPRETATION: One injection of 15 mg/kg of tranexamic given at the time of cementing the prosthesis in total knee arthroplasty, before deflation of the tourniquet, significantly decreases the amount of blood loss in the early post-operative period. The treatment was not associated with an increase in thromboembolic complications.

A feasibility study for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing cast immobilisation versus no immobilisation for patients following first-time patellar dislocation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this feasibility study was to begin to determine the efficacy of cylinder cast immobilisation compared to no form of immobilisation for patients following first-time patellar dislocation (FTPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were patients who attended a National Health Service Accident and Emergency department following a FTPD. Patients were randomised to receive immobilisation for four weeks in a cylinder cast followed by rehabilitation, versus no immobilisation and early rehabilitation. All patients were followed-up over a three month period, assessed using the Visual analogue scale for pain, Short Form-36, the Lysholm knee score and the Modified Functional Index. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were approached to participate. Eight satisfied the pre-defined eligibility criteria and were randomised between the two groups. Whilst the results indicated a trend for superior short-term functional outcomes for those patients not immobilised compared to those immobilised following a FTPD, the small sample and baseline imbalances between the groups may have had a substantial influence on the results. CONCLUSION: This feasibility study has indicated that the outcome measurements adopted were appropriate to answer this research question, but the assessment of return to normal activity, recurrent instability and dislocation and cost-effectiveness over a longer follow-up period is recommended. Similarly, defining a more pragmatic eligibility criteria and recruiting from multiple centres would be recommended for the definitive trial requiring a sample of 348 patients to demonstrate a statistical significant treatment effect.