Excellent 20-Year Results of Total Hip Arthroplasty With Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene on Cobalt-Chromium Femoral Heads in Patients ≤50 Years.

BACKGROUND: Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) acetabular bearing surfaces have appeared to offer excellent wear resistance, low incidence of wear-related osteolysis, and high implant survivorship at 10-year to 15-year follow-up. However, concerns over potential performance deterioration at longer-term follow-up remain - particularly in younger patients - and outcome data into the third decade have not been available. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed 62 patients (68 hips) who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) at age ≤50 years with a single manufacturer's cementless components, remelted HXLPE liner, and small diameter (26 and 28 millimeter) cobalt-chromium (CoCr) femoral heads at minimum 18-year follow-up. We assessed clinical outcomes (modified Harris Hip score, University of California Los Angeles Activity Score, polyethylene wear rates, radiographic findings (osteolysis, component loosening), and implant survivorship. RESULTS: At 20.6-year mean follow-up (range, 18 to 23 years) modified Harris Hip scores for surviving hips remained an average of 41 points above preoperative baseline (49 versus 90, P < .001) and UCLA scores 2.8 points above baseline (3.7 versus 6.4, P < .001). Wear analysis revealed a population linear wear rate of 0.0142 mm/y (standard deviation (SD), 0.0471) and volumetric wear rate of 10.14 mm3/y (SD, 23.41). Acetabular lysis was noted in 2 asymptomatic hips at 16.6 and 18.4 years. No components were radiographically loose. Survivorship free from wear-related revision was 100% at 20 years (97% free from any revision). CONCLUSION: The HXLPE-CoCr bearing couple with small femoral heads continues to be extremely effective 20 years after primary THA in the younger patient population.

Mean 16-Year Results of Total Hip Arthroplasty With Alumina Ceramic Femoral Heads on Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene in Patients 50 Years or Less.

BACKGROUND: Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) is a widely used bearing surface in total hip arthroplasty (THA); long-term results in young patients are limited. We previously demonstrated excellent results in HXPLE on cobalt-chrome femoral heads at 15-year mean follow-up. The purpose of the present study was to investigate polyethylene wear rates, implant survivorships, wear-related revisions, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in a young patient cohort who had alumina ceramic on HXPLE coupling at an average 16-year follow-up. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 128 hips that underwent THA with HXLPE on alumina ceramic bearings between March 1, 2004, and April 15, 2007. The patient's mean age was 38 years (range, 13 to 50). All THAs utilized HXPLE liners with alumina ceramic heads. The University of California, Los Angeles activity score and modified Harris hip scores were collected preoperatively and at each follow-up. Martell hip analysis suite was used for wear calculations. RESULTS: At average 16 years (range, 13 to 18), aseptic revision survivorship was 93.3% and osteolysis/wear survivorship was 99.2%. The mean linear wear rate was 0.0191 mm/year and mean volumetric wear rate was 19.43 mm3/y, both of which were clinically undetectable. We observed excellent PROs with a significant increase in mean modified Harris hip scores (43.6 to 87.4, P < .0001) and the University of California, Los Angeles activity scores (4.0 to 6.0, P < .0001). There were no statistically significant differences in PROs or wear rates between ceramic and cobalt-chrome groups. CONCLUSION: At a mean 16-year follow-up, young patients who had HXLPE on ceramic coupling had excellent wear properties, PROs, and acceptable survivorships.

The Association of α Angle on Disease Severity in Adolescent Femoroacetabular Impingement.

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain in adolescent patients. Clinical exam and radiographic markers, such as α angle and lateral center edge angle (LCEA), are commonly used to aid in the diagnosis of this condition. The purpose of this study was to correlate preoperative α angle and LCEA with preoperative symptoms, intraoperative findings, and preoperative and postoperative patient reported outcomes (PROs) in the adolescent patient. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted for all patients who underwent operative intervention for FAI at an academic institution over an 11-year period. Preoperative imaging was obtained and measured for LCEA and α angle. PROs (modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and UCLA score) were collected preoperatively, as well as 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively. Operative intervention was either open surgical hip dislocation or arthroscopic, and intraoperative disease was graded using the Beck Classification system. Patients with minimum 1-year follow-up were included in statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were 86 hips (64 female hips) included with an average age of 16.3 years (range, 10.4 to 20.5 y), with an average of 37 months of follow-up. There was no correlation between severity of preoperative symptoms or difference between pre and postoperative PROs for both α angle and LCEA. Overall, significant improvement was noted in modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and UCLA Score (P<0.001 for each). Independent of preoperative symptoms, increased α angle correlated with more severe intraoperative labral disease (P<0.001), and longer length of labral tear (Corr 0.295, P<0.01). Femoral head and acetabular articular cartilage damage did not correlate with α angle or LCEA, nor did overall severity of disease. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescent patients with FAI, increased α angle was found to significantly correlate with labral pathology, including increased length of tear and severity of disease, irrespective of preoperative symptoms or postoperative patient reported outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients with Bilateral Upper-Limb Amelia: A Report of 2 Cases.

CASE: We report two patients, a 43-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, with bilateral absence of the upper extremity and severe hip osteoarthritis. The involved hip was the dominant extremity for both patients. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) was performed using a posterior approach with dual-mobility implants. Both patients report satisfactory outcomes including the ability to perform the significant range of motion required for daily activities such as toe-to-head motion. CONCLUSION: In patients with extreme range of motion requirements such as those affected with bilateral upper-limb amelia, a posterior THA with a dual-mobility implant may be safely and successfully performed to treat disabling hip osteoarthritis.

Ankylosing spondylitis substantially increases health-care costs and length of hospital stay following total hip arthroplasty - National in-patient database study.

Introduction: The outcome following major arthroplasty surgeries in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has tremendously improved over the past decades, due to substantial amelioration in the medical therapies and sophistication of available surgical modalities. Although various studies have already demonstrated the complication rates and challenges faced in AS patients undergoing THA, there is a substantial paucity of data on the actual healthcare burden associated with this disease, and the diverse factors which may affect it. Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (on the basis of ICD-10 CMP codes), patients undergoing THA between the years 2016 and 2019 were identified. These patients were then classified into two categories: group A: patients with a known diagnosis of AS; and group N: those without. The details regarding demographical information, associated co-morbidities, data pertaining to patients' hospital admissions including expenditure incurred, length of stay and complications encountered, were compared. In addition, propensity-score matching was performed to identify a 1:1 matched sample of THA patients without AS. Results: Overall, 367,890 patients underwent THA; among whom, 501 (0.14%) were known AS patients (group A). Group A included a substantially higher proportion of patients belonging to younger age group (58.6 ± 13.4 versus 65.9 ± 11.4 years; p < 0.001), male sex (67.1% in group A vs 44.1% in group N; p < 0.001), and Asian ethnicity (p < 0.001). Group A patients had a substantially higher risk for longer duration of hospital stay (p < 0.03) and higher overall healthcare expenditure incurred (p < 0.001). As compared to group N, AS patients had a significantly higher risk for developing post-operative anemia [21.8% (group A) vs 11.8% (group N); p < 0.02]; and higher rate of periprosthetic infections [2.4% (group A) vs 1.0% (group N); p < 0.007]. Conclusion: Patients with AS require a significantly longer duration of hospital stay and higher admission-related expenditure following THA, as compared to the general population. These enhanced early health care-associated costs can be attributed to higher complication rates in AS patients. AS patients are prone to higher rates of anemia and peri-prosthetic infections during the early post-THA period.

Radiographic Predictors of Reoperation in Adolescents Undergoing Hip Preservation Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement.

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition caused by repetitive abutment of a morphologically abnormal proximal femur and/or acetabulum that may result in chondral and labral pathology. An understanding of radiographic parameters associated with successful primary surgery has not been well established. PURPOSE: To determine preoperative radiographic parameters that predict reoperation for FAI and correlate radiographic measurements with outcomes in these patients. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A prospectively collected institutional registry of adolescent patients (age, <19 years) who underwent surgery for FAI (arthroscopic/open) was reviewed. Preoperative standing anteroposterior pelvic radiographs were analyzed for femoroepiphyseal acetabular roof (FEAR) index, as well as lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) and alpha, Tönnis, and Sharp angles. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (modified Harris Hip Score, Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) were analyzed preoperatively and at 1- and 2-year followup. Radiographic indication of risk for reoperation was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Spearman correlation was calculated between radiographic measurements and PROs at 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients (91 hips) underwent primary surgery (57 surgical dislocations vs 34 arthroscopies) for FAI. The mean age at time of primary operation was 16.23 years (range, 10.4-19.6 years) (73.6% female). Eleven hips (12.1%) underwent reoperation at a mean of 20.6 months from primary surgery. The LCEA, FEAR index, Tönnis angle, and Sharp angle before index surgery were significantly different (P < .05) between patients who underwent reoperation and those who did not. ROC analysis indicated that LCEA <22°, FEAR index >-8.7°, Tönnis angle >6.0°, and Sharp angle >44° were predictors for increased risk of reoperation. Using the cutoff values from the ROC analysis in this series, 43% of patients with an LCEA ≤22° had a repeat procedure, while only 8% of those with an LCEA >22° had a repeat procedure. Similar trends were seen with the other aforementioned acetabular radiographic measurements (FEAR index, Tönnis angle, Sharp angle). Patients who did not require a reoperation demonstrated significant improvement in all PRO categories from their preoperative to 2-year postoperative visits (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing treatment for FAI, a reoperation was associated with radiographic signs of hip dysplasia, indicating that patients with a shallower acetabulum are at risk for a repeat operation.

Complications of primary total hip arthroplasty in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with femoral head osteonecrosis.

BACKGROUND: Femoral head osteonecrosis (FHON) is a well-recognised complication in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a reliable solution to FHON and has provided functional improvement and pain relief in these patients. Higher complication rates, in particular infections, have been reported in the series of THAs done in the HIV-positive patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complication rate of THA for FHON in HIV-positive patients managed with the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) protocols. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of HIV-positive patients with FHON who underwent THAs over a 10-year period at a single institution. RESULTS: A total of 56 THAs (44 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at the time of THAs was 47 (range 34-60) years. Of the 44 patients, 39 (88.6%) were males. The mean follow-up was 6.6 (range 2.0-11.3) years. The overall complication rate was 12.5%, with 2 (3.6%) cases of deep periprosthetic infections. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-positive patients with FHON undergoing THAs do have a considerable complication rate (12.5%). The deep periprosthetic infection rate (3.6%) in these patients, however, has decreased with contemporary disease modification protocols.

Soft Tissue Cam Impingement in Adolescents: MRI Reveals Impingement Lesions Underappreciated on Radiographs.

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been described as repetitive and abnormal contact between a structurally abnormal proximal femur (cam) and/or acetabulum (pincer), occurring during the terminal range of motion of the hip. While cam and pincer lesions have traditionally been defined as osseous abnormalities, there may be a subset of adolescent patients whose impingement is primarily soft tissue (nonosseous). The existence of a nonosseous cam lesion in adolescents with FAI has not been well described. PURPOSE: To identify and characterize a series of adolescent patients with nonosseous (soft cam) FAI identified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compare these patients' clinical presentation and outcome with those of a cohort with primary osseous cam FAI in the same age group. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: A prospective institutional registry of patients with symptomatic FAI was reviewed. Patients were included if they had an MRI scan and a lateral radiograph of the hip (45° Dunn or frog) at a baseline visit. On MRI, the anterolateral femoral head was evaluated using radial, coronal, sagittal, or axial oblique sequences. A soft cam lesion was identified by the presence of soft tissue thickening of ≥2 mm at the anterolateral femoral head-neck junction. An alpha angle was measured on MRI scans and radiographs when a lesion was identified. The cohort with soft cam lesions was reviewed and findings and outcomes were compared with those of a cohort with osseous cam lesions. Continuous variables were first examined for normality, and then nonparametric tests-such as the Kruskal-Wallis test-were considered. The change between pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) was described by mean and standard deviation and evaluated with an independent-samples t test. RESULTS: A total of 31 (9.3%) of 332 hips (mean age, 16.4 years [range 13.1-19.6 years]; women, 83.9%) were identified with a soft tissue impingment lesion on MRI at the femoral head-neck junction between the 12 and 3 o'clock positions. These lesions demonstrated a thickened perichondral ring (71%), periosteal thickening (26%), or a cartilaginous epiphyseal extension (3%). The mean alpha angle on MRI was greater than on radiographs (63.5°± 7.9° vs 51.3°± 7.9°; P < .0001). A total of 22 patients (71%) with soft impingement underwent hip preservation surgery. When compared with patients in the osseous cohort who also underwent surgical management, both groups showed similar significant improvements from pre- to postoperatively (soft: modified Harris Hip Score [mHHS], 26.9 ± 18.2; Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [HOOS], 31.4 ± 22.9; osseous: mHHS, 22.8 ± 20.8; HOOS, 27.4 ± 20.1; P < .0001), with a mean follow-up of 3.4 years (range, 1-7 years) in the soft cam cohort and 3 years (1-10.1 years) in the osseous cam cohort. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of nonosseous or soft cam lesions that cause impingement in adolescent patients without an obvious osseous cam on radiographs. MRI is required to detect these soft cam lesions. When nonoperative treatment fails, the PROs in these patients after operative management are comparable with those in patients with osseous cam lesions. Further research is needed to determine whether the soft cam precedes an osseous cam or whether it is a separate entity.

Patient-Related Risk Factors Associated With Surgical Site Complications After Elective Hand Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify independent risk factors associated with an increased rate of surgical site complications after elective hand surgery. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of all patients who underwent elective hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow surgery over a 10-year period at a single institution. Electronic medical records were reviewed, and information regarding patient demographics, past medical and social history, perioperative laboratory values, procedures performed, and surgical complications was collected. Surgical site complications included surgical site infections, seromas or hematomas, and delayed wound healing or wound dehiscence. A univariate analysis was then performed to identify potential risk factors, which were then included in a multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3261 patients who underwent elective hand surgery and met the above inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. The mean age was 57 years, with 65% female and 35% male patients. The overall surgical complication rate was 2.2%. Univariate analysis of patient factors identified male sex; number of procedures >1; history of drug, alcohol, or smoking use; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class III and IV; and serum albumin <3.5 mg/dL to be significantly associated with complications. However, multivariate regression analysis identified that only ASA class III and IV (odds ratio = 3.27) was significantly associated with surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Patients classified as ASA class III or IV were identified to be at a significantly increased risk of complications following elective hand surgery. Health factors which triage patients into these 2 groups may represent potentially modifiable factors to mitigate perioperative risk in the elective hand surgery population.

Review of patient-reported outcomes in periprosthetic distal femur fractures after total knee arthroplasty: a plate or intramedullary nail?

PURPOSE: This study reviewed the literature regarding the patient-reported treatment outcomes of using either open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a plate and screw system or intramedullary nail (IMN) fixation for periprosthetic distal femur fractures around a total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: A total of 13 studies published in the last 20 years met the inclusion criteria. The studies included 347 patients who were allocated to ORIF (n = 249) and IMN (n = 98) groups according to the implants used. The primary outcome measures were the Knee Society Score or the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index. The secondary outcome measures included knee range of motion and the rates of complications, including non-union, malunion, infection, revision total knee arthroplasty, and reoperation. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean Knee Society Scores of ORIF and IMN groups were 83 and 84, respectively; the mean postoperative range of motion of the knee were 99° and 100°, respectively (P < 0.05); the non-union rates were 9.4 and 3.8%, respectively (P > 0.05); the malunion rates were 1.8 and 7.5%, respectively (P < 0.05); surgical site infection rates were 2 and 1.3%, respectively (P > 0.05); the reoperation rates were 9.6 and 5.1%, respectively (P > 0.05); and revision rates of total knee arthroplasty were 2 and 1%, respectively (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the patient-reported outcome assessments, both ORIF with a plate and screw system and IMN fixation are well-accepted techniques for periprosthetic distal femur fractures around a TKA, and they produce similar functional outcomes.

Use of an Extensile Posterior Approach to the Elbow Joint: Early Results of the Anconeus Approach.

Commonly used surgical approaches to the elbow typically limit the surgeon to either medial or lateral exposure, can provide visualization limited by an intact radial head, and may not be extensile. We describe the use of a well recognized, but uncommonly used, extensile approach to the medial and lateral compartments of the elbow joint. This approach provides access to address pathology of the proximal radius, ulna, and the distal humerus and can be made extensile both proximally and distally. The anconeus approach is easy to perform and well tolerated by patients. A retrospective review of 42 patients is included.