Functional Improvement and Patient Satisfaction following Conversion of Fused Hip to Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the clinical outcomes, predictors of suboptimal functional improvement, and factors influencing patient satisfaction following conversion of a fused hip to total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical and radiographic data was performed on 83 patients (83 hips) who underwent fused hip conversion to THA. Implant survival and predictors of poor functional outcome (Harris Hip Score [HHS] < 70) were analyzed. In addition, factors associated with patient dissatisfaction (visual analogue scale [VAS] < 25th percentile) were analyzed in 63 patients (63 hips) who completed a patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaire. RESULTS: The median HHS improved from 55 (range, 18 to 77) to 78 (range, 36 to 100) at a mean follow-up of 10.2 ± 4.8 years (P < 0.001). Implant survival was 97.4% at 10 years and 91.3% at 20 years, with any revision as the endpoint. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative reliance on mobility aids as an independent predictor of poor functional outcome (P = 0.021). There were 48 of 63 patients (76%) satisfied (satisfaction VAS ≥ 80) with the operated hip. Demographics and pre-/post-operative clinical data did not differ between satisfied and unsatisfied patients. Among the PROMs, the Forgotten Joint Score-12 emerged as an independent discriminator of patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion of a fused hip to THA provides functional improvement, favorable implant survival, and high patient satisfaction. However, patients dependent on mobility aids may experience suboptimal functional recovery, underscoring the need for careful preoperative counseling and patient selection.

Long-term antibacterial activity of silver-containing hydroxyapatite coatings against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and invivo.

BACKGROUND: The potential of silver-containing hydroxyapatite (Ag-HA) coatings to prevent orthopaedic implant-associated infection was explored previously; however, the resistance of Ag-HA coatings to late-onset orthopaedic infections is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term Ag+ elution and antibacterial properties of the Ag-HA coatings through in vitro and in vivo experiments. METHODS: Ag-HA-coated disc specimens were immersed in fetal bovine serum (FBS) for six months. Ag concentration was measured over time using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to evaluate Ag release. The hydroxyapatite (HA)- or Ag-HA-coated disc specimens were immersed in FBS for 3 months to elute Ag+ for in vitro experiments. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) suspensions were inoculated onto each disc; after 48 h, the number of colonies and the biofilm volume were measured. HA- or Ag-HA-coated disc specimens were inserted under the skin of Sprague-Dawley rats for three months for in vivo experiments. In in vivo experiment 1, specimens were inoculated with MRSA and the number of colonies was counted after 48 h. In in vivo experiment 2, the specimens were inoculated with bioluminescent S. aureus Xen36 cells, and bioluminescence was measured using an in vivo imaging system. RESULTS: The Ag-HA-coated disc specimens continued to elute Ag+ after six months. The biofilm volume in the Ag-HA group was lower than in the HA group. In in vitro and in vivo experiment 1, the bacterial counts in the Ag-HA group were lower than those in the HA group. In in vivo experiment 2, the bioluminescence in the Ag-HA group was lower than that in the HA group on days 1-7 after inoculation. CONCLUSIONS: The Ag-HA-coated discs continued to elute Ag+ for a long period and exhibited antibacterial activity and inhibition of biofilm formation against S. aureus. The Ag-HA coatings have the potential to reduce late-onset orthopaedic implant-associated infections.

Fragility fracture following total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: While periprosthetic fractures following total hip arthroplasty (THA) are a well-known phenomenon for orthopedic surgeons, fragility fractures following THA are also a significant, though less studied, concern. Furthermore, patients who have undergone THA have several additional risk factors for fragility fractures, including motor weakness, bone atrophy, and limping. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of fragility fractures following THA and to clarify the characteristics of these fractures. METHODS: This study included 5678 primary THA procedures in 4589 female patients. This study evaluated body morphology data, disease type leading to THA, Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score, range of motion of the hip joint, and medical history. Distal radius and patella fractures were defined as fragility fractures. Risk factors for fragility fractures after THA were calculated by comparing the fragility fracture group with the non-fracture group. RESULTS: Fifty-three fragility fractures were confirmed in 53 patients (distal radius fracture: 32 fractures in 32 patients, patella fracture: 21 fractures in 21 patients). In the univariate analysis, the following eight risk factors for fragility fractures were significantly different between the groups: height, weight, follow-up period, developmental dysplasia of the hip, primary osteoarthritis, abduction before THA, internal rotation before THA, and external rotation before THA. Medical histories were not significantly different between the groups. There was no difference in any study factor and in the time of occurrence between the radius fractures and patella fractures analyzed as fragility fractures. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that there are significant preoperative factors of fragility fractures following THA. These factors will serve as useful data for THA treatment strategies, preoperative explanations, and future studies.

Comparison of the clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty in osseous ankylosed and non-ankylosed knees using propensity-score matching.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have compared the clinical outcomes and complications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with and without osseous ankylosed knees. Thus, we investigated the clinical outcomes and complications of TKA in patients with osseous ankylosed knees, using a propensity-score matching method. METHODS: Thirteen knees in the osseous ankylosed-knees group and 13 knees in the non-ankylosed-knees group were included after excluding those with less than two years of follow-up or a lack of data and after propensity-score matching. The American Knee Society Score-knee (AKSS-knee), American Knee Society Score-function (AKSS-function), knee-flexion angle, knee-extension angle, knee range of motion (ROM) before and after TKA, and the number of knees with postoperative complications were evaluated as primary outcomes. RESULTS: The AKSS-knee, AKSS-function, knee-flexion angle, and knee ROM in the osseous ankylosed-knees group after TKA were significantly lower than those in the non-ankylosed-knees group. The knee-extension angle after TKA and number of knees with postoperative complications within two years were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results of TKA in patients with osseous ankylosed knees were inferior to those in patients with non-ankylosed knees.

Hydroxyapatite-coated cementless total hip arthroplasty for patients undergoing dialysis: a study of 30 hips with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years.

BACKGROUND: The number of total hip arthroplasties (THAs) performed for patients undergoing dialysis is increasing. However, there are few reports of cementless THA for patients undergoing dialysis. This study investigated the mid-term to long-term results of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated cementless THA for dialysis patients. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study enrolled dialysis patients undergoing primary HA-coated cementless THA. A total of 24 patients (30 hips) were included in the final analyses. The Harris hip score and radiographic results were assessed preoperatively and during the final follow-up examination. Postoperative complications and mortality rates were recorded. The mean follow-up period was 109 months (range, 60-216 months). RESULTS: The total Harris hip score significantly improved from 40 to 84 points. The overall cumulative survival rates with revision as the endpoint were 100% at 5 years and 90.4% at both 10 and 15 years. Stress shielding was observed in 24 hips (80%). No deaths were related to the primary THA. Complications included periprosthetic fracture for one patient (3.3%), blood transfusion for nine patients (30%), shunt blockage for two patients (6.7%), deep infection for one patient (3.3%), and dislocation for two patients (6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: HA-coated cementless THA resulted in good mid-term outcomes for patients undergoing dialysis with no mortality risk. However, the procedure involved a relatively high perioperative risk of blood transfusion.

Periarticular analgesic injection containing a corticosteroid after total hip arthroplasty may prevent deep venous thrombosis: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Of late, periarticular analgesic injection (PAI) has become a common alternative treatment for pain following total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the systemic effects of PAI containing corticosteroids in patients subjected to THA have not been investigated. This study evaluated the analgesic efficacy and systemic effects of PAI containing a corticosteroid in patients subjected to THA. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective cohort study enrolled patients undergoing unilateral, primary THA. A total of 197 patients (200 hips) were included in the final analyses, with 87 hips in the PAI group and 113 hips in the control group. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and laboratory data were assessed preoperatively and on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 7. Pearson's correlation coefficients were obtained to assess the correlations between the D-dimer level on POD 7 and each outcome measure on POD 1. RESULTS: The postoperative white blood cell count (WBC) was significantly higher in the PAI group than in the control group. Postoperative NRS, creatine phosphokinase (CK), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly lower in the PAI group. D-dimer levels were significantly lower in the PAI group on POD 7. Postoperative aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels were within reference ranges. D-dimer levels on POD 7 showed a significant negative correlation with WBC on POD 1 (r=-0.4652) and a significant positive correlation with the NRS score and AST, CK, CRP, and D-dimer levels on POD 1 (r = 0.1558, 0.2353, 0.2718, 0.3545, and 0.3359, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: PAI containing a corticosteroid may be an effective treatment for pain and inflammation after THA, and it does not seem to cause drug-induced liver or kidney injury. Moreover, corticosteroid PAI can may accelerate early ambulation, which prevents the elevation of postoperative D-dimer levels, and may reduce the risk of deep venous thrombosis.

Mid-term clinical outcomes and complications of primary total knee arthroplasty in hemodialysis patients: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Numerous patients who receive hemodialysis (HD) undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to advanced knee joint arthritis. However, there are few studies that describe the clinical outcomes and complications of TKA in HD patients. This study investigated the mid-term results of TKA in patients undergoing HD. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study compared clinical and surgical outcomes following TKA in patients who were receiving HD with those who were not. We used propensity scores to match 21 knees of 18 patients who received HD to 706 knees of 569 patients who had not received HD, from a total of 727 knees (587 patients) that underwent primary unilateral TKA. The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Knee Society Score-knee (AKSS-knee) and AKSS-function scores. The primary surgical outcome measure was the number of knees with postoperative complications. RESULTS: In both the HD and non-HD groups, postoperative AKSS-knee and function scores significantly improved when compared to preoperative values. Postoperative AKSS-knee and function scores were not significantly different between the groups. The number of knees with postoperative complications was larger in the HD group than the non-HD group within the first postoperative month, 0-12 months, 12-24 months, 0-24 months, and two years after surgery. Additionally, in the HD group, more complications occurred in the first month than any subsequent month in the two years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: TKA improves AKSS-knee and function scores equivalently for HD patients and non-HD patients. However, HD patients develop more complications after TKA, especially within the first month. Therefore, surgeons who perform TKA for HD patients should obtain informed consent after explaining the possible complications, and HD patients should be carefully observed following TKA.

Conventional cementless total hip arthroplasty in patients with dwarfism with height less than 140 cm and minimum 10-year follow up: A clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Orthopedic complications can cause issues and severe disability in patients with dwarfism. Thus, these individuals frequently undergo total hip arthroplasty to mitigate decline in daily functioning. Although studies have reported on the difficulties of orthopedic surgery in patients with dwarfism, many do not clearly define dwarfism and have a short follow-up period. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the clinical and radiographic results of total hip arthroplasty for patients with dwarfism. METHODS: A total of 68 hips of 49 patients with height <140 cm and at least 10-year follow-up periods were enrolled. All patients had conventional cementless implants. All hips were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score. RESULTS: The main hip disease etiologies were primary hip osteoarthritis (58%) and secondary osteoarthritis due to developmental dysplasia (31%). Rheumatoid arthritis, rapidly destructive coxarthrosis, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, childhood infection, and femoral head aseptic necrosis were also causative pathologies. Hip scores significantly improved from 44 to 82 out of 100. Overall implant-associated survival rate after 10 years was 94.1%. Cup loosening was observed in 2 hips, and subsidence >5 mm was observed in 9 hips. Presence of Crowe IV in hips was a significant risk factor for total hip arthroplasty in patients with dwarfism (p < 0.05); leg lengthening had a weak but significant correlation (r = 0.253, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Total hip arthroplasty using conventional cementless implants for patients with dwarfism shows good clinical and radiological outcomes and has a relatively low perioperative risk.

Total hip arthroplasty using hydroxyapatite-coated cementless cup for rapidly destructive coxarthrosis: Minimum 10-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) as early as possible is recommended for rapidly destructive coxarthrosis (RDC) as it causes pain that becomes progressively more severe. However, acetabular bone loss remains an issue in THA. Special devices, such as a Kerboull-type plate, may be used for acetabular bone defects, but the procedure is highly invasive and often the patients are elderly, further complicating matters. We retrospectively investigated the clinical and radiographic results of THA using conventional hydroxyapatite-coated cementless cup in RDC. METHODS: A total of 32 patients (35 hips) with RDC were enrolled in the study with a minimum 10-year follow-up. All THAs were performed using conventional hydroxyapatite-coated cementless cup. All patients were evaluated clinically according to the Harris hip score (HHS). Acetabular bone deficiency was classified according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) classification. RESULTS: Eleven hips (31%) were AAOS type III, and none were type IV. Total HHS significantly improved from 36.5 to 79.4 (p < 0.01). Two cups exhibited loosening. The overall implant-associated survival rate after 10 years was 91.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical results of THA using conventional cementless implants for patients with RDC were acceptable. Thus, THA using conventional cementless implant is an effective and safe surgery for patients with RDC, minimizing surgical stress.

The relationship between pelvic incidence and anatomical acetabular anteversion in female Japanese patients with hip osteoarthritis: a retrospective iconographic study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed (1) to investigate the relationship between pelvic incidence (PI) and the anatomical acetabular anteversion (AA) relative to the spino-pelvic tilt (SPT) plane (anatomical AASPT), relative to the anterior pelvic plane (anatomical AAAPP), and functional standing AA; and (2) to compare AA and the sagittal spino-pelvic parameters of lumbo-pelvic complex types 1 (PI ≤ 30°) and 2 (PI > 30°), in Japanese females with hip osteoarthritis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 110 Japanese females with unilateral hip osteoarthritis. PI, standing lumbar lordosis (LL), standing SPT, anatomical AASPT, anatomical AAAPP, and functional standing AA were measured and calculated using radiographs and computed tomography. The PI-LL difference was defined as the mathematical difference between the PI and standing LL angles. Pearson's correlation test was used to measure the relationship between the PI and AA. Student's t test was used to compare spino-pelvic parameters between lumbo-pelvic complex type 1 (n = 24) and type 2 (n = 86). RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between the PI and anatomical AASPT (r = -0.532, p < 0.001), but no significant relationship between the PI and anatomical AAAPP (r = -0.021, p = 0.824) or functional standing AA (r = 0.104, p = 0.299). Lumbo-pelvic complex type 1 had a higher anatomical AASPT (22.4° ± 9.1° vs. 5.4° ± 15.1°, p < 0.001), similar anatomical AAAPP (15.0° ± 10.6° vs. 15.1° ± 15.3°, p = 0.981) and functional standing AA (12.4° ± 8.0° vs. 15.0° ± 14.1°, p = 0.254), a lower standing SPT (- 14.3° ± 11.0° vs. 13.7° ± 12.6°, p < 0.001), and a lower PI-LL difference (- 14.4° ± 18.5° vs. 6.4° ± 17.1°, p < 0.001) in comparison to lumbo-pelvic complex type 2. CONCLUSION: Our findings will help to improve the understanding of hip anatomy and its relationship with the standing spino-pelvic alignment in Japanese females with hip osteoarthritis.

Reduction of Postoperative Pain by Addition of Intravenous Acetaminophen after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

We evaluated the analgesic effects of multimodal pain control in which intravenous acetaminophen (IV APAP) was added to the standard protocol for Japanese patients who had undergone a total hip arthroplasty (THA). We performed a retrospective cohort study of 180 patients aged 66.4±10.5 years (30% male) who had undergone a THA (Oct. 2014 to Feb. 2015) at our hospital. The control patients were administered the standard analgesic protocol: flurbiprofen axetil as a continuous intravenous infusion and oral celecoxib (NAPAP; n=109). The patients in the new analgesic protocol group received IV APAP in addition to the standard analgesic protocol (APAP; n=71). The primary outcome was the maximum value of postoperative pain the patients reported on a numerical rating scale (NRS) during the first 24 h post-surgery. A univariate analysis and multivariate analyses adjusted for age, sex, the stage of hip osteoarthritis, preoperative pain, and surgical time showed that the maximum postoperative pain NRS scores during the first 24 h after surgery was significantly lower when the APAP protocol was used. The addition of IV APAP to the current standard multimodal analgesia protocol for Japanese patients who have undergone a THA may decrease the patients' postoperative pain.

Bone ongrowth of a cementless silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite-coated antibacterial acetabular socket.

BACKGROUND: The silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite-coated socket (KYOCERA, Osaka, Japan) is a cementless antibacterial implant that has both the osteoconductivity of the HA and the antibacterial activity of silver. The silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite coating was shown to have good osteoconductivity and new bone formation in vitro and in vivo. However, the histological bone ongrowth of this implant has not been proven in a clinical study. METHODS: We analyzed bone ongrowth using two silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite-coated sockets that were removed in revision total hip arthroplasty for recurrent dislocation. A histomorphometric analysis was performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected to a CCD camera and an elemental analysis was performed by energy-dispersive elemental spectrometry (EDS). RESULT: A white structure thought to be osseous tissue was attached to the retrieved socket surface macroscopically, and histological bone ongrowth of the silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite coating of the socket was confirmed by SEM. In addition, the presence of silver in the silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite coating was confirmed in an elemental analysis by EDS. CONCLUSION: Histologically, the silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite-coated socket presented bone ongrowth in this clinical study.

Sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in rapidly destructive coxarthrosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the sagittal spino-pelvic alignment (SSPA) in patients with rapidly destructive coxarthrosis (RDC). METHODS: SSPA was investigated in 44 patients with RDC and 70 patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA). The study included only female patients over the age of 70 years because epidemiological reports indicate that RDC most commonly occurs in this group of patients. The SSPA parameters that were analyzed included lumbar lordosis (LL), lumbar range of motion (ΔLL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic incidence (PI), and pelvic tilt (PT). The pelvic inclination angle (PIA) in the supine position and the change in the PIA from the supine to the standing position (ΔPIA) were measured using anteroposterior pelvic radiographs. The values of these parameters were compared between the two groups. The levels of the SRS-Schwab classification modifiers were used to investigate the degree of sagittal malalignment. RESULTS: The RDC group showed significant lower LL, ΔLL and SS values, and significantly higher PT and ΔPIA values than the HOA group (P < 0.01). With regard to the sagittal modifiers in the SRS-Schwab classifications of the patients, the PI-LL and PT levels of the RDC group were significantly worse than those in the HOA group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the static factors of a reduction in the lumbar lordotic angle and greater posterior pelvic tilt, the dynamic factors of small ΔLL values and large ΔPIA values and the complex interaction of these two types of factors, may play important roles in the development of RDC.

Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy in a patient with pyogenic spondylitis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Metronidazole is an antimicrobial agent commonly used in the treatment of several protozoal and anaerobic infections. Neurotoxicity associated with metronidazole has been rarely reported, and the incidence of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy is unknown. Therefore, the accurate diagnosis of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy is often difficult because of the rarity of the disease. CASE PRESENTATION: An 86-year-old woman suffered from pyogenic spondylitis of the lumbar spine. Parvimonas micra, a gram-positive anaerobic bacterial species and a resident of the flora of the oral cavity, was identified in the biopsy specimens. Oral administration of metronidazole (1500 mg/day) was initiated. Forty-four days after initiating metronidazole (total intake of 66 g), she complained of tingling sensations in the upper limbs. After 4 days, she complained of additional symptoms including sensory disturbance of the tongue, dysarthria, and deglutition disorder. Characteristic brain magnetic resonance imaging findings on T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging led to the diagnosis of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. Metronidazole was discontinued, and her neurological symptoms improved 10 days after discontinuation. At 14 days after discontinuation of oral metronidazole, abnormal findings on diffusion-weighted imaging almost disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: With the possibility of needing to prescribe metronidazole in the orthopedic field for the treatment of various infections, orthopedic surgeons are likely to encounter cases of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. Thus, they should be able to recognize the condition and its potential complications. With increased awareness, early diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging and discontinuation of metronidazole may become feasible when such patients are referred. Our report presents a detailed account of such a case, which may help in the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. Furthermore, we recommend that patients treated with metronidazole should undergo careful and constant surveillance after starting antibiotic therapy.

Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients with Residual Poliomyelitis at a Mean Eight Years of Follow-up.

In patients with poliomyelitis, degenerative arthritis of the hip may be encountered in the paralytic or normal contralateral limb because of leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, or severe deformities of the affected hip. Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most common orthopedic procedures, there are few reports of THA in adult patients with residual poliomyelitis. From March 2001 to January 2011, 5 patients with residual poliomyelitis (6 hips) underwent THA using uncemented implants at our hospital. We retrospectively evaluated the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) hip score, complications, and radiographs. All five patients' follow-up information was available: 4.5 years minimum, 8.4 years average, range 4.5-15 years. Surgery was done at the same side of the paralytic limb in 2 hips and contralateral to the paralytic limb in four hips. All patients had pain relief and improvement in function; JOA hip score improved significantly from the mean of 42.8 preoperatively to 78.8 at the last follow-up (p=0.028). There was no loosening or osteolysis in this series, and no cases of dislocation, infection or nerve palsy. These findings can contribute to decisions regarding treatment for arthritic hips in adults with residual poliomyelitis.

Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients with Residual Poliomyelitis at a Mean Eight Years of Follow-up.

In patients with poliomyelitis, degenerative arthritis of the hip may be encountered in the paralytic or normal contralateral limb because of leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, or severe deformities of the affected hip. Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most common orthopedic procedures, there are few reports of THA in adult patients with residual poliomyelitis. From March 2001 to January 2011, 5 patients with residual poliomyelitis (6 hips) underwent THA using uncemented implants at our hospital. We retrospectively evaluated the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) hip rating score, complications, and radiographs. All five patients' follow-up information was available: 4.5 years minimum, 8.4 years average, range 4.5-15 years. Surgery was done at the same side of the paralytic limb in 2 hips and contralateral to the paralytic limb in four hips. All patients had pain relief and improvement in function; JOA hip rating score improved significantly from the mean of 45 preoperatively to 78 at the last follow-up (p=0.0313). There was no loosening or osteolysis in this series, and no cases of dislocation, infection or nerve palsy. These findings can contribute to decisions regarding treatment for arthritic hips in adults with residual poliomyelitis.

Total hip arthroplasty following Girdlestone arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Complications associated with re-implantation of total hip arthroplasty (THA) after resection arthroplasty for the treatment of primary septic hip arthritis or infected THA and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) are not well-documented. Furthermore, no comparison has been made between septic arthritis (SA) and infected THA and BHA. We divided subjects into two groups for evaluation: a SA group and an infected THA or BHA group. METHODS: Nineteen hips in 19 patients (12 in the SA group, 7 in the infected THA or BHA group) with an average of 77 months of follow-up from the time of re-implantation THA were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The average Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score improved from 50 points (range, 30 to 73 points) preoperatively to 80 points (range: 64 to 96 points) at the time of the final follow-up (p < 0.01). Intra- and postoperative complications occurred in 11 cases, including intraoperative fracture in 1 hip, deep infection in 6 hips, dislocation in 7 hips, and septic loosening of acetabular component in 2 hips. Following re-implantation, further surgical revision was required in four cases. Two revisions were performed for recurrent infection: one patient had recurrent dislocation of one hip, and one patient had recurrent infection and dislocation. The number of hips with relapsed infection in the infected THA or BHA group (5 hips) was significantly higher than that in the SA group (1 hip) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Re-implantation after septic hip arthritis or infected THA or BHA was an effective treatment for improving the activity of daily life, especially the gait function. Furthermore, 94.7% of patients were free of infection at the latest follow-up. However, the rate of recurrence of infection was 31.6%, and re-implantation after resection arthroplasty following infected THA or BHA led to a lower rate of infection control than that after primary SA.

First Clinical Experience With Thermal-Sprayed Silver Oxide-Containing Hydroxyapatite Coating Implant.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infection is a serious complication of implant therapy. To prevent prosthetic joint infection, we previously reported the features of silver oxide-containing hydroxyapatite (Ag-HA), which was prepared by mixing silver (a metal with antimicrobial activity) with HA. In this study, we evaluated the potential issues of total hip arthroplasty (THA) with an Ag-HA-coated implant. METHODS: We prepared an implant for THA that was coated with Ag-HA. In this study, the implant contained silver at a maximum quantity of 2.9 mg/implant. In this prospective interventional study, we performed THA with this implant in 20 patients and investigated the effects of silver. RESULTS: Blood silver levels peaked at 2 weeks after THA and gradually decreased thereafter. The highest blood silver level recorded during the postoperative follow-up was 6.0 ng/mL, which was within the normal range. The Harris Hip Scores increased in all cases, and activities of daily living improved markedly after THA with Ag-HA-coated implants. Implant failure was absent on radiography. No adverse reaction to silver was noted, and argyria was not observed in any case. No patients have developed infection after surgery. CONCLUSION: This is the first clinical study of Ag-HA-coated implants in THA. Our Ag-HA-coated implants markedly improved patients' activities of daily living without causing any adverse reactions attributable to silver in the human body. Ag-HA is expected to reduce postoperative infections and prevent decreased quality of life in patients undergoing prosthetic arthroplasty, thus leading to more favorable outcomes.