Sex and the orthopaedic surgeon: a survey of patient, medical student and male orthopaedic surgeon attitudes towards female orthopaedic surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether perceived negative attitudes regarding female orthopaedic surgeons impact on female medical student career choice of orthopaedic surgery and determine to what extent these perceptions hold true among orthopaedic surgeons and patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire, distributed to three study cohorts; 311 medical students, 182 patients and 54 orthopaedic surgeons from two specialist orthopaedic hospitals, asked questions pertaining to views regarding female orthopaedic surgeons. Binary questions and 5-point Likert scale statements were scored. Analysis was undertaken using Fisher's exact test and the trend test for proportions. Qualitative responses were categorised into themes and reported. Significance levels were set at < or = 0.05. RESULTS: Only 24% of female students would consider orthopaedic surgical careers, differing significantly from male students (p = < 0.01). The reasons given included disinterest and male domination. Significantly greater female students had been exposed to negative attitudes regarding female surgeons (p = < 0.01), of which 62% would not consider surgery. Most patients (89%) had no sex-preference for orthopaedic surgeon. Seventy-five percent believed women are surgically as skilled as men and 4% of the patients stated they had more confidence in female orthopaedic surgeons compared to males. Fifty-eight percent of the surgeons had never encountered negative attitudes. Of those that had, skill and family responsibilities were questioned. All agreed there is a place for women in orthopaedic surgical careers and welcomed diversity. CONCLUSION: Rumoured negative attitudes regarding female orthopaedic surgeons still exist among some orthopaedic surgeons, but not patients, influencing the undergraduate teaching experience and ultimate career choice in orthopaedic surgery.

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing in developmental dysplasia: a case-control study.

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing was performed for developmental dysplasia in 96 hips in 85 patients, 78 in women and 18 in men, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 43 years (14 to 65). These cases were matched for age, gender, operating surgeon and date of operation with a group of patients with primary osteoarthritis who had been treated by resurfacing, to provide a control group of 96 hips (93 patients). A clinical and radiological follow-up study was performed. The dysplasia group were followed for a mean of 4.4 years (2.0 to 8.5) and the osteoarthritis group for a mean of 4.5 years (2.2 to 9.4). Of the dysplasia cases, 17 (18%) were classified as Crowe grade III or IV. There were five (5.2%) revisions in the dysplasia group and none in the osteoarthritic patients. Four of the failures were due to acetabular loosening and the other sustained a fracture of the neck of femur. There was a significant difference in survival between the two groups (p = 0.02). The five-year survival was 96.7% (95% confidence interval 90.0 to 100) for the dysplasia group and 100% (95% confidence interval 100 to 100) for the osteoarthritic group. There was no significant difference in the median Oxford hip score between the two groups at any time during the study. The medium-term results of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing in all grades of developmental dysplasia are encouraging, although they are significantly worse than in a group of matched patients with osteoarthritis treated in the same manner.

The validity of serum levels as a surrogate measure of systemic exposure to metal ions in hip replacement.

Metal ions generated from joint replacements are a cause for concern. There is no consensus on the best surrogate measure of metal ion exposure. This study investigates whether serum and whole blood concentrations can be used interchangeably to report results of cobalt and chromium ion concentrations. Concentrations of serum and whole blood were analysed in 262 concurrent specimens using high resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. The agreement was assessed with normalised scatterplots, mean difference and the Bland and Altman limits of agreement. The wide variability seen in the normalised scatterplots, in the Bland and Altman plots and the statistically significant mean differences between serum and whole blood concentrations suggest that they cannot be used interchangeably. A bias was demonstrated for both ions in the Bland-Altman plots. Regression analysis provided a possible conversion factor of 0.71 for cobalt and 0.48 for chromium. However, even when the correction factors were applied, the limits of agreement were greater than +/-67% for cobalt and greater than +/-85% for chromium, suggesting that serum and whole blood cannot be used interconvertibly. This suggests that serum metal concentrations are not useful as a surrogate measure of systemic metal ion exposure.

Blood and urine metal ion levels in young and active patients after Birmingham hip resurfacing arthroplasty: four-year results of a prospective longitudinal study.

This is a longitudinal study of the daily urinary output and the concentrations in whole blood of cobalt and chromium in patients with metal-on-metal resurfacings over a period of four years. Twelve-hour urine collections and whole blood specimens were collected before and periodically after a Birmingham hip resurfacing in 26 patients. All ion analyses were carried out using a high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Clinical and radiological assessment, hip function scoring and activity level assessment revealed excellent hip function. There was a significant early increase in urinary metal output, reaching a peak at six months for cobalt and one year for chromium post-operatively. There was thereafter a steady decrease in the median urinary output of cobalt over the following three years, although the differences are not statistically significant. The mean whole blood levels of cobalt and chromium also showed a significant increase between the pre-operative and one-year post-operative periods. The blood levels then decreased to a lower level at four years, compared with the one-year levels. This late reduction was statistically significant for chromium but not for cobalt. The effects of systemic metal ion exposure in patients with metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasties continue to be a matter of concern. The levels in this study provide a baseline against which the in vivo wear performance of newer bearings can be compared.

One- or two-stage bilateral metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty.

Patients considered suitable for total hip resurfacing arthroplasty often have bilateral disease. The peri-operative complications, transfusion requirements, hospital stay, outcome and costs in patients undergoing one-stage bilateral total hip resurfacing were compared with a group of patients undergoing a two-stage procedure. A total of 92 patients were included in the study, of which 37 (40%) had a one-stage and 55 (60%) had a two-stage resurfacing. There were no significant differences in age, gender, or American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade between the groups (p = 0.31, p = 0.23, p = 0.13, respectively). There were three systemic complications in the one-stage group (8.1%) and one in the two-stage group (1.8% of patients; 0.9% of procedures). There was no significant difference in the complication rate (p = 0.72) or the transfusion requirements (p = 0.32) between the two groups. The one-stage group had a reduced total hospital stay of five days (95% confidence interval 4.0 to 6.9; p < 0.001), reduced length of time to completion of all surgery of five months (95% confidence interval 2.6 to 8.3; p < 0.001), and the reduced cost was 35% less than that of a two-stage procedure. However, the total anaesthetic time was significantly longer for the one-stage group (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval 31 to 52). This study demonstrates that consideration should be given to one-stage surgery for patients with bilateral symptomatic disease suitable for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing. A one-stage procedure appears to have benefits for both the patient and the hospital without additional complications.

Risk factors for failure of the 36 mm metal-on-metal Pinnacle total hip arthroplasty system: a retrospective single-centre cohort study.

AIMS: To determine ten-year failure rates following 36 mm metal-on-metal (MoM) Pinnacle total hip arthroplasty (THA), and identify predictors of failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed a single-centre cohort of 569 primary 36 mm MoM Pinnacle THAs (all Corail stems) followed up since 2012 according to Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Agency recommendations. All-cause failure rates (all-cause revision, and non-revised cross-sectional imaging failures) were calculated, with predictors for failure identified using multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: Failure occurred in 97 hips (17.0%). The ten-year cumulative failure rate was 27.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 21.6 to 33.7). Primary implantation from 2006 onwards (hazard ratio (HR) 4.30; 95% CI 1.82 to 10.1; p = 0.001) and bilateral MoM hip arthroplasty (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.46; p = 0.037) predicted failure. The effect of implantation year on failure varied over time. From four years onwards following surgery, hips implanted since 2006 had significantly higher failure rates (eight years 28.3%; 95% CI 23.1 to 34.5) compared with hips implanted before 2006 (eight years 6.3%; 95% CI 2.4 to 15.8) (HR 15.2; 95% CI 2.11 to 110.4; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: We observed that 36 mm MoM Pinnacle THAs have an unacceptably high ten-year failure rate, especially if implanted from 2006 onwards or in bilateral MoM hip patients. Our findings regarding implantation year and failure support recent concerns about the device manufacturing process. We recommend all patients undergoing implantation since 2006 and those with bilateral MoM hips undergo regular investigation, regardless of symptoms. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:592-600.

Increased expression of inducible co-stimulator on CD4+ T-cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with failed hip arthroplasties.

OBJECTIVES: T-cells are considered to play an important role in the inflammatory response causing arthroplasty failure. The study objectives were to investigate the composition and distribution of CD4+ T-cell phenotypes in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients undergoing revision surgery for failed metal-on-metal (MoM) and metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) hip arthroplasties, and in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, PB and SF were obtained from 22 patients (23 hips) undergoing revision of MoM (n = 14) and MoP (n = 9) hip arthroplasties, with eight controls provided from primary hip osteoarthritis cases awaiting arthroplasty. Lymphocyte subtypes in samples were analysed using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentages of CD4+ T-cell subtypes in PB were not different between groups. The CD4+ T-cells in the SF of MoM hips showed a completely different distribution of phenotypes compared with that found in the PB in the same patients, including significantly decreased CD4+ T-central memory cells (p < 0.05) and increased T-effector memory cells (p < 0.0001) in the SF. Inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) was the only co-stimulatory molecule with different expression on CD4+ CD28+ cells between groups. In PB, ICOS expression was increased in MoM (p < 0.001) and MoP (p < 0.05) cases compared with the controls. In SF, ICOS expression was increased in MoM hips compared with MoP hips (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of ICOS on CD4+ T-cells in PB and SF of patients with failed arthroplasties suggests that these cells are activated and involved in generating immune responses. Variations in ICOS expression between MoM and MoP hips may indicate different modes of arthroplasty failure.Cite this article: Professor P. A. Revell. Increased expression of inducible co-stimulator on CD4+ T-cells in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with failed hip arthroplasties. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:52-60. doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.52.2000574.

Can blood metal ion levels be used to identify patients with bilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacings who are at risk of adverse reactions to metal debris?

AIMS: We investigated whether blood metal ion levels could effectively identify patients with bilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) implants who have adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Metal ion levels in whole blood were measured in 185 patients with bilateral BHRs. Patients were divided into those with ARMD who either had undergone a revision for ARMD or had ARMD on imaging (n = 30), and those without ARMD (n = 155). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal thresholds of blood metal ion levels for identifying patients with ARMD. RESULTS: The maximum level of cobalt or chromium ions in the blood was the parameter which produced the highest area under the curve (91.0%). The optimal threshold for distinguishing between patients with and without ARMD was 5.5 µg/l (83.3% sensitivity, 88.4% specificity, 58.1% positive and 96.5% negative predictive values). Similar results were obtained in a subgroup of 111 patients who all underwent cross-sectional imaging. Between 3.2% and 4.3% of patients with ARMD were missed if United Kingdom (7 µg/l) and United States (10 µg/l) authority thresholds were used respectively, compared with 2.7% if our implant specific threshold was used, though these differences did not reach statistical significance (p ≥ 0.248). CONCLUSION: Patients with bilateral BHRs who have blood metal ion levels below our implant specific threshold were at low-risk of having ARMD. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1455-62.

The utility of repeat ultrasound imaging in the follow-up of metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty patients.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed changes in metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties (MoMHAs) after repeat ultrasound examination. METHODS: This retrospective, single-centre cohort study involved all patients undergoing two ultrasound examinations of the same MoMHA. Between 2010 and 2014, 96 ultrasound examinations were performed in 48 MoMHAs (mean time between scans = 1.1 years). A radiologist assigned each scan to one of four grades and measured volumes of any solid/cystic masses. Changes in grade and lesion volume between scans were analysed. RESULTS: Change in grade between scans was significant (p=0.012); 27% (n=13) of MoMHAs increased in grade, 67% (n=32) had no grade change, and 6% (n=3) decreased in grade. The mean increase in lesion volume was 24.2cm(3) by the second scan, and was significant (p=0.023). Evidence of progression in findings was observed in 54% (26/48) of MoMHAs. Of patients with normal scans initially, 44% (8/18) developed abnormalities. No factors (including blood metal ion concentrations and cup position) were associated significantly with progression of ultrasound findings. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat ultrasound in MoMHA patients demonstrated that findings frequently progress in the short-term. Therefore, regular surveillance of MoMHA patients is important, with ultrasound representing an effective investigation for identifying the development and progression of lesions.

Birmingham hip resurfacing arthroplasty. A minimum follow-up of five years.

We report the survival at five years of 144 consecutive metal-on-metal resurfacings of the hip implanted between August 1997 and May 1998. Failure was defined as revision of either the acetabular or femoral component for any reason during the study period. The survival at the end of five years was 98% overall and 99% for aseptic revisions only. The mean age of the patients at implantation was 52.1 years. Three femoral components failed during the first two years, two were infected and one fractured. A single stage revision was carried out in each case. No other revisions were performed or are impending. No patients were lost to follow-up. Four died from unrelated causes during the study period. This study confirms that hip resurfacing using a metal-on-metal bearing of known provenance can provide a solution in the medium term for the younger more active adult who requires surgical intervention for hip disease.

The Oxford hip and knee outcome questionnaires for arthroplasty.

The Oxford hip and knee scores are used to measure the outcome after primary total hip and knee replacement. We propose a new layout for the instrument in which patients are always asked about both limbs. In addition, we have defined an alternative scoring method which accounts for missing data. Over a period of 4.5 years, 4086 (1423 patients) and 5708 (1458 patients) questionnaires were completed for hips and knees, respectively. The hip score had a pre-operative median of 70.8 (interquartile range (IQR) 58.3 to 81.2) decreasing to 20.8 (IQR 10.4 to 35.4) after one year. The knee score had a pre-operative median of 68.8 (IQR 56.2 to 79.2) decreasing to 29.2 (IQR 14.6 to 45.8). There was no further significant change in either score after one year. As a result of the data analysis, we suggest that the score percentiles can be used as a standard for auditing patients before and after operation.

A comparison of a conventional non-ionic contrast medium (iohexol) alone and with adrenaline and an iso-osmolar non-ionic contrast medium (iotrolan) in computed tomographic arthrography of the shoulder.

The physico-chemical properties of the iso-osmolar dimeric contrast medium iotrolan offers potential advantages in computed tomographic arthrography (CTA). A trial was undertaken comparing iotrolan with iohexol to assess if these theoretical benefits produced an increase in the measured densities in a series of shoulder CTAs. The results showed that iotrolan did produce clinically useful increases in density when compared to a monomeric non-ionic contrast medium. The addition of adrenaline to the monomeric contrast medium produced a significant improvement in the computed tomography density which surpassed that offered by the dimeric contrast medium alone.

The Oswestry Disability Index.

STUDY DESIGN: The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders. This review is based on publications using the ODI identified from the authors' personal databases, the Science Citation Index, and hand searches of Spine and current textbooks of spinal disorders. OBJECTIVES: To review the versions of this instrument, document methods by which it has been validated, collate data from scores found in normal and back pain populations, provide curves for power calculations in studies using the ODI, and maintain the ODI as a gold standard outcome measure. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: It has now been 20 years since its original publication. More than 200 citations exist in the Science Citation Index. The authors have a large correspondence file relating to the ODI, that is cited in most of the large textbooks related to spinal disorders. METHODS: All the published versions of the questionnaire were identified. A systematic review of this literature was made. The various reports of validation were collated and related to a version. RESULTS: Four versions of the ODI are available in English and nine in other languages. Some published versions contain misprints, and many omit the scoring system. At least 114 studies contain usable data. These data provide both validation and standards for other users and indicate the power of the instrument for detecting change in sample populations. CONCLUSIONS: The ODI remains a valid and vigorous measure and has been a worthwhile outcome measure. The process of using the ODI is reviewed and should be the subject of further research. The receiver operating characteristics should be explored in a population with higher self-report disabilities. The behavior of the instrument is incompletely understood, particularly in sensitivity to real change.

Randomized trial comparing interferential therapy with motorized lumbar traction and massage in the management of low back pain in a primary care setting.

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized trial designed to compare interferential therapy with motorized lumbar traction and massage management for low back pain in a primary care setting. OBJECTIVE: To measure and compare the outcome of interferential therapy and management by motorized lumbar traction and massage. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Management of low back pain by interferential therapy and motorized lumbar traction and massage is common in Germany. No reports of previous randomized trials for the outcome from interferential therapy were found. METHODS: Consenting patients were randomly assigned into one of two groups. A pretreatment interview was performed by the patient using a computer-based questionnaire. It also incorporated the Oswestry Disability Index and a pain visual analog scale. Management consisted of six sessions over a 2- to 3-week period. Oswestry Disability Indexes and pain visual analog scale scores also were obtained immediately after and at 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients were recruited. The two treatment groups had similar demographic and clinical baseline characteristics. The mean Oswestry Disability Index before treatment was 30 for both groups (n = 147). After treatment, this had dropped to 25, and, at 3 months, were 21 (interferential therapy) and 22 (motorized lumbar traction and massage). The mean pain visual analog scale score before treatment was 50 (interferential therapy) and 51 (motorized lumbar traction and massage). This had dropped, respectively, to 46 and 44 after treatment and to 42 and 39 at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a progressive fall in Oswestry Disability Index and pain visual analog scale scores in patients with low back pain treated with either-interferential therapy or motorized lumbar traction and massage. There was no difference in the improvement between the two groups at the end of treatment. Although there is evidence from several trials that traction alone is ineffective in the management of low back pain, this study could not exclude some effect from the concomitant massage.

A computer-based interview system for patients with back pain. A validation study.

A microcomputer-based system has been designed to interview patients with a view to investigating and establishing common syndromes of back and leg pain. In a randomized crossover validation study, 50 consecutive outpatients were interviewed by the computer and had a conventional clerking by a doctor. The conventional clerking made minor errors in 3.75% of questions answered and major errors in 0.90%. The computer made minor errors in 6.75% of questions and major errors in 5.45%. The majority of the computer errors were due to inadequate question design. These have been corrected, and it is anticipated that the computer will now have an overall rate of 94% correct answers and be sufficiently accurate to pursue the aim of clinical syndrome identification.

1989 Volvo Award in clinical sciences. Reproducibility of physical signs in low-back pain.

The reproducibility between observers of physical signs in patients with low-back pain was investigated. Fifty patients were examined by two surgeons and another sample of 33 patients was examined by a surgeon and a physiotherapist. Continuous data on five signs were analyzed by Pearsons' correlation coefficient, and binary data on 54 signs were analyzed by the Kappa agreement coefficient. Reliable signs consisted of measurements of lordosis and flexion range, determination of pain on flexion and lateral bend, nearly all measurements associated with the straight leg raising test, determination of pain location in the thigh and legs, and determination of sensory changes in the legs. Signs of root tension showed better agreement when qualified with a description of where the pain was experienced. Bony tenderness was more reliable than soft tissue tenderness.

Influence of anthropometric factors and joint laxity in the incidence of adolescent back pain.

Out of 446 pupils aged 13-17 years, 115 were found to have a history of back pain. These pupils tended to have decreased lower limb joint mobility and increased trunk length compared with pupils without back pain. In 77 pupils whose site of back pain was identified, 38 had pain associated with the lumbar spine. These pupils had an increased trunk length while those with thoracolumbar or thoracic pain did not. Back pain was more common in those who avoided sports.

Metal-on-metal resurfacing of the hip in patients under the age of 55 years with osteoarthritis.

The results of conventional hip replacement in young patients with osteoarthritis have not been encouraging even with improvements in the techniques of fixation and in the bearing surfaces. Modern metal-on-metal hip resurfacing was introduced as a less invasive method of joint reconstruction for this particular group. This is a series of 446 hip resurfacings (384 patients) performed by one of the authors (DJWM) using cemented femoral components and hydroxyapatite-coated uncemented acetabular components with a maximum follow-up of 8.2 years (mean 3.3). Their survival rate, Oxford hip scores and activity levels are reviewed. Six patients died due to unrelated causes. There was one revision (0.02%) out of 440 hips. The mean Oxford score of the surviving 439 hips is 13.5. None of the patients were told to change their activities at work or leisure; 31% of the men with unilateral resurfacings and 28% with bilateral resurfacings were involved in jobs that they considered heavy or moderately heavy; 92% of men with unilateral hip resurfacings and 87% of the whole group participate in leisure-time sporting activity. The extremely low rate of failure in spite of the resumption of high level occupational and leisure activities provides early evidence of the suitability of this procedure for young and active patients with arthritis.

The McKee-Farrar hip arthroplasty. A long-term study.

Between 1965 and 1973 a total of 808 McKee-Farrar metal-on-metal cemented total hip arthroplasties were performed in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Of these, 230 surviving arthroplasties have been reviewed at average follow-up of 13.9 years. There were good or excellent results in 49% of the arthroplasties as judged by the Harris hip score with 78% of these having little or no pain. A comprehensive radiographic analysis was undertaken and a survivorship study of 81% of the total number of prostheses is presented.

The cost-effectiveness of limb salvage for bone tumours.

The use of endoprostheses for limb salvage in primary bone tumours is highly specialised. Studies have shown no significant difference in survival, function or quality of life between patients with limb salvage and those with amputation. We have derived a formula for calculating the ongoing costs of limb salvage with an endoprosthesis which is based on actual costs and uses historical data to show the likelihood of further surgery or revision. Comparative data for amputation are also shown. Using current prices, the cost-effectiveness of surgery with an endoprosthesis is clearly demonstrated.