Adequate bone healing after supplementary fixation of periprosthetic total knee arthroplasty fractures using Luque cerclage wiring: a retrospective case series.

PURPOSE: Cerclage wiring is a well-known supplemental fixation technique that can be used in many types of fractures. With the tendency toward minimally invasive approaches in the management of periprosthetic total knee arthroplasty (TKA) fractures, and with absence of a dedicated study that reports the results of cerclage wiring in TKA fractures in particular, the aim of this retrospective study is to report the outcomes of supplementary cerclage wiring using simple Luque wires in fractures of distal femur associated with TKA. METHOD: Eighteen cases, with a mean age of 77.2 years had complete follow-up data and had their radiographs and clinical data assessed for this study. Patients received cerclage wiring along with plates, retrograde nailing or around cracked femoral shaft overlying revision TKA femoral stem during the surgical management of periprosthetic TKA distal femur fractures. RESULTS: Fracture healing with adequate callus formation occurred in all 18 cases at a mean of 11.4 weeks postoperatively. None of the cases had any vascular injury, and after a mean clinical follow-up of 51 weeks, none of the cases had nonunion or hardware complications. One case had postoperative periprosthetic infection that developed 8 months after full fracture healing and had a two-stage revision using revision stemmed TKA and protective cerclage wiring with successful eradication of infection. CONCLUSION: Supplementary cerclage wiring in distal femur TKA fractures can aid in enhanced bone healing with minimal complications, provided that adequate reduction and rigid fixation were achieved. This study reflects the level of evidence IV.

Comparable Results With Porous Metal Augments in Combination With Either Cemented or Uncemented Cups in Revision Hip Arthroplasty: An Analysis of One Hundred Forty-Seven Revisions at a Mean of Five Years.

BACKGROUND: Porous metal augments have been used successfully for management of large acetabular defects during revision hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review and compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of porous metal augments in cemented and uncemented acetabular revisions, all performed at the same institution. METHODS: Using our institutional clinical databases, the clinical and radiological outcomes of 104 cemented and 43 uncemented acetabular revisions with metal augments, performed between 2006 and 2015, were studied and compared. Acetabular augments were used when preoperative and intraoperative findings indicated the presence of large acetabular defects that can hinder the stability of the revision implants. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 60.1 months (range 12.7-112.1), a total of 5 cups (3.4%), being 3 cemented (2.8%) and 2 uncemented (4.6%), had shown signs of aseptic loosening with cup and augment migration and 4 of these have been re-revised (2.7%). At final follow-up, the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions for generic health, and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) parameters had improved substantially without any significant difference between fixation techniques. CONCLUSION: Porous metal augments show comparable excellent radiographic and clinical mid-term outcomes when combined with cemented or uncemented cups in revision hip arthroplasty.

Modified Masquelet Technique and Primary Tibial Metaphyseal Shortening for the Management of Proximal Tibial-infected Non-union in a Patient with Alcohol-induced Neuropathy: A Case Study.

Aim: To highlight the role of the Masquelet technique as a limb salvage procedure for a neuropathic patient presenting with infected non-union of proximal tibia. Background: The management of an infected non-union in neuropathic patients is most challenging; with various treatment options available, the prognosis is often guarded. Case description: A 37-year-old male with chronic polyneuropathy, also possessing a contralateral midfoot Charcot arthropathy secondary to a history of alcohol abuse, developed infection after a proximal tibial osteotomy for a preceding mal-non-union of a proximal tibia fracture. The management included hardware removal, excision of necrotic bone, interim insertion of antibiotic-loaded bone cement followed by an acute shortening and revision of the internal fixation utilising a second surgical incision. Successful bone union and eradication of infection was achieved and maintained after 13 months follow-up. Conclusion: A successful outcome was achieved for an infected non-union of a long bone in a neuropathic patient using the Masquelet technique which was then followed with a second-stage removal of the spacer and shortening. By performing the revision ORIF surgery utilising a different skin incision in the setting of complicated previous surgical scars proved to be a viable technique towards reducing risk of recurrence of infection and a good outcome. Clinical significance: Utilisation of the Masquelet technique and limb shortening in a staged manner for the management of long bone infections in neuropathic patients has not been reported before and may be valuable in such demanding clinical situations. How to cite this article: Mahmoud AN, Watson JT, Horwitz DS. Modified Masquelet Technique and Primary Tibial Metaphyseal Shortening for the Management of Proximal Tibial-infected Non-union in a Patient with Alcohol-induced Neuropathy: A Case Study. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr 2023;18(3):181-185.

Early ambulation and good outcomes after using combined nail plate construct for fixation of distal femoral fractures: a retrospective series of 14 cases.

BACKGROUND: Combined nail/plate technique is a relatively novel method for surgically managing distal femur fractures. It was supposed to allow for early weight bearing and achieve adequate fixation that allow for good bone healing. This study aims to describe our single institution experience of treating distal femur fractures using the combined nail/plate technique. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective study of 14 cases who had AO/OTA fractures 33A_C that were managed with this technique. Patients mean age was 67.6 years and all of them had either obvious osteopenia/osteoporosis or comminuted fractures. RESULTS: With early postoperative weight bearing, after a mean follow up of 13.2 months, all the patients were able to return to preinjury activity level. None of the cases were revised for union related problems. Adequate bone healing was noticed after a mean of 16.8 weeks postoperatively. At the final follow up, the mean Oxford knee score was 42 (range 34-46). CONCLUSION: The combined nail/plate technique provides adequate fixation method that allows for early weight bearing and good functional outcomes. More studies, ideally comparative are needed to properly assess the cost benefit of this technique compared to other techniques.

Hip Arthroplasty with a Preceding Contralateral Pelvic Support Osteotomy: 7- and 21-Year Follow-up: A Case Report.

CASE: This is a case of 27-year-old woman with bilateral hip dysplasia who had been treated with a pelvic support osteotomy (PSO) on 1 side and a contralateral total hip replacement (THR). Good clinical outcomes for both hips were achieved after 21 and 7 years after PSO and THR, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, these 2 different methods have not been previously reported in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: Total hip arthroplasty in presence of contralateral PSO may be offered as a viable treatment option for advanced osteoarthritis to restore hip range of motion and achieve satisfactory clinical results.

Stable migration pattern of an ultra-short anatomical uncemented hip stem: a prospective study with 2 years radiostereometric analysis follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Shorter, anatomically shaped and proximally loading stems have been developed to achieve better stress distribution and be more bone preserving. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the migration pattern of the Proxima™ ultra-short uncemented stem using radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and to review the literature regarding the migration of short stemmed hip arthroplasty. METHODS: 25 patients (28 hips) with hip osteoarthritis received a Proxima stem during total hip arthroplasty (THA). To measure stem migration, repeated RSA examinations were done during a 2 year follow up period. The patients were evaluated with the hip specific (HOOS) and the generic health (EQ5D) scores up to 1 year, and clinically for 6 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Almost all migration occurred within the first 3 months, with mean subsidence of 0.22 mm and varus rotation of 1.04°, being the primary effect variables. After the third postoperative month and up to the 2 year RSA follow up no further significant migration occurred. The outcome scores showed substantial improvement after 1 year. No revisions were performed or indicated for any stem after a mean clinical follow up of 72.1 months. CONCLUSIONS: Like many other uncemented stems, the Proxima showed early migration up to 3 months hereafter osseointegration seems to have occurred. The achieved stability and clinical outcomes indicate favorable early results for this stem in younger patients who have good bone quality and average BMI. We found, however, the surgical technique to be slightly more demanding compared to conventional stems owing to the unique implant design that necessitates specific adjusted femoral cutting and broaching procedures.

Effect of lengthening along the anatomical axis of the femur and its clinical impact.

AIM: To review and study the effect of lengthening along the anatomical axis of long bones and its relation to the mechanical axis deviation. METHODS: We try in this review to calculate and discuss the exact clinical impact of lengthening along the anatomical axis of the femur on affecting the limb alignment. Also we used a trigonometric formula to predict the change of the femoral distal anatomical mechanical angle (AMA) after lengthening along the anatomical axis. RESULTS: Lengthening along the anatomical axis of the femur by 10% of its original length results in reduction in the distal femoral AMA by 0.57 degrees. There is no objective experimental scientific data to prove that the Mechanical axis is passing via the center of the hip to the center of the knee. There is wide variation in normal anatomical axis for different populations. In deformity correction, surgeons try to reproduce the normal usual bone shape to regain normal function, which is mainly anatomical axis. CONCLUSION: Lengthening of the femur along its anatomical axis results in mild reduction of the distal femoral AMA. This may partially compensate for the expected mechanical axis lateralisation and hence justify its minimal clinical impact.