Patients with trochanteric hip fractures and pre-existing osteoarthritis can be treated with nailing osteosynthesis without significant decrease in functional status.

PURPOSE: Functional outcome in patients after trochanteric fracture fixation with pre-existing radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. Analyzing their function and independence, before and after fracture, could optimize their treatment and decrease the socioeconomic burden in this particular group. METHODS: The influence of pre-existing radiographic hip OA on functional outcome was retrospectively analyzed with a cohort of patients undergoing proximal femoral nailing for trochanteric fracture. OA was graded according to the Tonnis classification. Functional outcome was assessed preoperatively and 12 months after surgery by the Parker Mobility Score (PMS). We consider a meaningful reduction a difference between preoperatively PMS and 12 months after surgery ≥ 2. In order to evaluate if OA is related to PMS reduction ≥ 2, we calculate the SubHazard ratio (SHR) performing a competing risk regression model considering death as a competing risk event, adjusting by confounders. Death, reoperations, readmissions, surgical time, and fracture reduction quality in patients with and without osteoarthritis were recorded. RESULTS: 375 trochanteric hip fractures treated with cephalomedullary nails were included, from which 80 (21% CI95% 17%-21%) were classified as Tonnis 2 or 3. This group of patients with pre-existing OA was significantly older (mean age of 88.6 [SD 5.65] vs 85.5 years [SD 6.95]) than the group without OA. The preoperatively PMS score was 6.28 (2.71) in non-OA patients and 5.69 (2.67) in OA patients. The mean PMS reduction 12 months after surgery was 1.3 (SD 2.05) in OA patients and 1.07 (SD 2.2) in non-OA patients (p = 0.43). Competing risks analysis, adjusted by confounders had an SHR of 1.15 (IC95% 0.77 - 1.69). Death, readmission, reoperations, surgical time, and fracture reduction quality did not differ in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pre-existing radiographic OA treated with femoral nailing have a similar reduction in functional outcomes compared to the non-OA group at one-year follow-up. Further studies will be needed to compare the results of the functional outcome in arthroplasty with those of femoral nailing for the treatment of trochanteric femur fractures in patients with OA.

Selected Vancouver B2 periprosthetic femoral fractures around cemented polished femoral components can be safely treated with osteosynthesis.

AIMS: We aimed to compare the implant survival, complications, readmissions, and mortality of Vancouver B2 periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) treated with internal fixation with that of B1 PFFs treated with internal fixation and B2 fractures treated with revision arthroplasty. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 112 PFFs, of which 47 (42%) B1 and 27 (24%) B2 PFFs were treated with internal fixation, whereas 38 (34%) B2 fractures underwent revision arthroplasty. Decision to perform internal fixation for B2 PFFs was based on specific radiological (polished femoral components, intact bone-cement interface) and clinical criteria (low-demand patient). Median follow-up was 36.4 months (24 to 60). Implant survival and mortality over time were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Adverse events (measured with a modified Dindo-Clavien classification) and 90-day readmissions were additionally compared between groups. RESULTS: In all, nine (8.01%) surgical failures were detected. All failures occurred within the first 24 months following surgery. The 24-month implant survival was 95.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 89.13 to 100) for B1 fractures treated with internal fixation, 90% (95% CI 76.86 to 100) for B2 PFFs treated with osteosynthesis-only, and 85.8% (95% CI 74.24 to 97.36) for B2 fractures treated with revision THA, without significant differences between groups (p = 0.296). Readmissions and major adverse events including mortality were overall high, but similar between groups (p > 0.05). The two-year patient survival rate was 87.1% (95% CI 77.49 to 95.76), 66.7% (95% CI 48.86 to 84.53), and 84.2% (95% CI 72.63 to 95.76), for the B1 group, B2 osteosynthesis group, and B2 revision group, respectively (p = 0.102). CONCLUSION: Implant survival in Vancouver B2 PFFs treated with internal fixation was similar to that of B1 fractures treated with the same method and to B2 PFFs treated with revision arthroplasty. Low-demand, elderly patients with B2 fractures around well-cemented polished femoral components with an intact bone-cement interface can be safely treated with internal fixation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(7):1222-1230.

¿Qué factores hacen fallar un reimplante de cadera luego de una revisión en dos tiempos? / What factors cause hip reimplantation to fail after a two-stage revision hip arthroplasty?

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la supervivencia sin recurrencia de infección en pacientes con reemplazo total de cadera tratados con revisión en dos tiempos, valorando el impacto del cultivo intraoperatorio y la congelación positiva en el reimplante. materiales y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 96 casos con infección periprotésica crónica, según los criterios de la MusculoSkeletal Infection Society, sometidos a los dos tiempos quirúrgicos en nuestra institución, entre 2008 y 2013. El seguimiento promedio fue 90 meses. La falla séptica se definió sobre la base de un consenso tipo Delphi modificado. La supervivencia sin falla séptica se definió sobre la base del estimador de Kaplan-Meier. Se compararon los resultados de supervivencia en función del cultivo intraoperatorio y de los estudios de anatomía patológica por congelación mediante la prueba del orden logarítmico. Resultados: La supervivencia sin falla séptica fue del 82,65% a los 2 años (IC95% 73,25-88,99%), 80,40% a los 5 años (IC95% 70,70-87,17%) y 77,32% a 6-10 años (IC95% 66,90-84,33%). Hubo significativamente más fallas en los pacientes con un cultivo positivo en el reimplante que en aquellos con un cultivo negativo (prueba del orden logarítmico, p = 0,0208), y en quienes tuvieron un estudio anatomopatológico por congelación positivo en el reimplante que en aquellos con un resultado negativo (prueba del or-den logarítmico, p = 0,0154). Conclusiones: Los reimplantes sin recurrencias infecciosas por, al menos, 6 años tuvieron un riesgo de falla séptica muy bajo. Cuando se detectó un cultivo o una congelación positivos, la falla séptica fue significativamente mayor. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Background: We analyzed the survivorship free-from-septic failure in a series of THA cases treated with a two-stage protocol at long-term follow-up, with a special focus on the relevance of positive frozen section and positive intraoperative culture taken during the reimplantation. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 96 cases who met the Musculoskeletal Infec-tion Society criteria for periprosthetic joint infection and who had undergone both stages of a two-stage protocol at our institution between 2008-2013. Mean follow-up was 90 months. Treatment failure was determined with a modified Delphi-based consensus definition. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to determine survivorship free-from-septic failure. Log-Rank test was used to compare variables associated with septic failure. Results: Survival free-from-septic failure was 82.65% at 2 years (95%CI 73.25%-88.99%), 80.40% at 5 years (95%CI 70.70%-87.17%) and 77.32% at 6-10 years (95%CI 66.90%-84.33%). Patients with a positive culture at reimplantation had significantly more septic failures than those without it (Log-Rank test, p=0.0208), while patients with a positive frozen section at reimplantation had significantly more septic failures than those without it (Log-Rank test, p=0.0154). Conclusions: Reimplantations that remained at least 6 years without septic recurrences had a very low risk of further septic failure. Both positive frozen section and intraoperative culture at reimplantation were risk factors for septic failure. Level of Evidence: IV