Simultaneous vs staged bilateral hip arthroplasty: monocentric analysis of satisfaction rate and complications.

PURPOSE: Interest in bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been increasing over the past decade. This study aims to compare postoperative local and systemic complications, hospital readmissions, and satisfaction assessment in patients undergoing simultaneous versus staged bilateral THA. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted among patients who underwent simultaneous or staged bilateral THA between 2017 and 2020. Data on perioperative parameters, local and systemic complications, and 30-day hospital readmissions were collected. Patient satisfaction was assessed using Forgotten Joint Score (FJS). The comparison of continuous variables with normal distribution of variance was performed by ANOVA; for variables with abnormal distribution, the nonparametric test Mann-Whitney U was adopted. The distribution of dichotomous variables was analyzed by chi-square test, and statistical significance was calculated by Fisher exact test. RESULTS: The study included 199 patients, of whom 156 underwent staged and 43 simultaneous bilateral THA. A total of 44 patients developed complications (21 systemics, 12 locals, and 20 postoperative anemia). There were no significant differences regarding local (simultaneous 5% vs. staged 6%; p = 0.999) or systemic complications (simultaneous 14% vs. staged 10%; p = 0.408). Only the incidence of postoperative anemia was significantly higher in simultaneous group compared with staged group (p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in FJS between the two groups (p = 0.258). CONCLUSION: No differences in local or systemic complications nor readmission rates were observed following simultaneous or staged bilateral THA. Simultaneous bilateral THA is non-inferior to staged implants in terms of safety and patient satisfaction.

Trabecular metal screw implanted for avascular necrosis of the femoral head may complicate subsequent arthroplasty surgery.

A trabecular metal screw has been suggested to treat avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Non-surgical management with partial weight bearing can only be selected for early stages and very small lesions. Even in such cases, it has been proven to be ineffective in 80-90 % of patients. Conversely, the results with trabecular metal implants are not always clinically satisfactory, and some patients can show emerging pain and activity limitations that could require conversion to a total hip arthroplasty. Hereby we report the results of 6 patients who underwent this implant and describe the histopathology of the bone at the femoral neck and to speculate on the causes of complications encountered during arthroplasty surgery. The necrosis was stopped in 1 case, and 5 hips showed disease progression. Two protrusions of the screw apex were observed. In one case, rupture of the greater trochanter during prosthesis implant occurred. After trabecular metal implants for avascular osteonecrosis, some patients can require conversion to a total hip arthroplasty. Two patients had an intraoperative fracture with detachment of the greater trochanter that required wiring. Complications related to implant removal can be encountered, and the orthopedic surgeon should be aware of removal techniques.

Chondrosarcoma of the iliac wing in Von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare autosomic dominant hereditary tumoral syndrome characterized by mutation of the VHL gene. Here follows the first reported case of a patient (20 year old male) affected by Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, was referred to our Department because of the occurrence of a hard lump at the right aspect of the pelvis, who presented a primary mildly differentiated chondrosarcoma of the right iliac wing (confirmed by CT scan). Chondrosarcoma of the iliac wing, treated by surgical resection and reconstruction of the pelvis with appropriately shaped bone allograft fixed with plates and screws. At one year follow-up, the patient shows no signs of recurrence. Conventional treatment for chondrosarcoma of the iliac wing would be either wide or radical resection (hemipelvectomy), or amputation. The described treatment is unusual in that it is dependent on patient's choice to privilege quality of life due to the awareness of being affected by a genetic disease with an inauspicious prognosis.

Treatment of metastases of the cervical spine.

On the experience of 73 patients, the authors state their guidelines on the treatment of bone metastases on the cervical spine. Most of the cases on which no vertebral collapse occur neither neurological deficit, radiation therapy and external support are suggested. Surgery is necessary on case of severe bone destruction, collapse with or without subsequent neurological impairment. Anterior excision is considered the best approach, sometimes complemented by posterior stabilisation.

Fractures of the femoral head: a long-term follow-up study.

The femoral head fracture has become an increasingly frequent injury, usually sustained by individuals during high-energy trauma. Regardless of the type of treatment, long-term consequences, as avascular necrosis, post-traumatic arthritis, and heterotopic ossification, may complicate the clinical outcome leading to variable degree of disability. The aim of this study was to review the clinical and radiological long-term follow-up of patients with a fracture of the femoral head. Between January 1985 and January 2002, twenty-one patients with mean age 42.0 ± 15.9 years (range, 21-70 years) with a fracture of the femoral head were evaluated retrospectively. According to Pipkin's classification, there were four type I, nine type II, and eight type IV fractures. Functional outcomes were measured using the Merle d'Aubigné-Postel and Thompson-Epstein scoring scale. Heterotopic calcifications was graded according to the Brooker classification. All patients were followed up from 12 to 210 months, with an average of 81.19 ± 37.4 months. The average Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score was 12.9 ± 4.5. According to the Thompson-Epstein criteria, eight patients had excellent results, eight patients good, two patients fair, and three patients poor results. Overall, almost all (95. 2%) patients were determined to have radiographic criteria of post-traumatic arthritis (PA). Ten patients (47.6%) had a mild PA, seven patients (33.3%) had a moderate PA, and three patients (14.2%) had a severe PA. Open reduction and internal fixation of the fragments provided better results in comparison to excision. Although degenerative changes of the hip were observed in almost all patients, most severe case occurred in the excision group.

Cyclic sciatica related to an extrapelvic endometriosis of the sciatic nerve: new concepts in surgical therapy.

Sciatic pain caused by endometriosis of the sciatic nerve is an uncommon clinical finding and seems to have been verified histologically in only a few cases. Patients complain of typical signs and symptoms of common sciatica that are cyclic in nature. Suggested compression of lumbar root or sciatic nerve or its plexus could be confirmed by electromyography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging, and by prompt response to hormonal suppression of ovarian function with regression of the radiologic findings. Patients often have required radical surgery with total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. However, conservative surgery with excision of the endometriosis from the nerve can be successful in selected patients who wish to preserve reproductive function. We report a case of sciatic nerve involvement explored by magnetic resonance imaging, with endometriosis in contact with the nerve in the right sciatic trunk.