Geometrical restoration during total hip arthroplasty is related to change in gait pattern - a study based on computed tomography and three-dimensional gait analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of change in hip anatomy on change in gait pattern is not well described in current literature. Therefore, our primary aim was to describe and quantify changes in hip geometry and gait pattern 1 year after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in individuals with hip osteoarthritis. Our secondary aim was to explore the effect of postoperative change in femoral neck anteversion (FNA) and femoral offset and acetabular offset (FO/AO) quota on postoperative change in hip rotation and hip adduction moment during gait, respectively, 1 year after THA". METHODS: Sixty-five individuals with primary hip osteoarthritis, scheduled for THA, were analyzed in this prospective intervention study. Participants were evaluated pre- and 1 year postoperatively with computed tomography-scans, three-dimensional gait analysis, and patient-reported outcome measures. Multiple linear regressions were performed to evaluate the association between change in joint anatomy and change in gait pattern after THA. RESULTS: One year postoperatively, global offset was symmetrical between sides as a result of decreased acetabular offset and increased femoral offset on the operated side. Quality of overall gait pattern improved, and participants walked faster and with less trunk lean over the affected side. FNA and hip rotations during walking changed equally in external and internal directions after THA and change in hip rotation during walking was associated with change in FNA in the same direction. An increase in external hip adduction moments was, on the other hand, not associated with change in FO/AO quota but with a more upright walking position and increased walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that geometrical restoration during THA impacts postoperative gait pattern and, in addition to known factors such as FO, height of hip rotation center, and leg length discrepancy, the FNA must also be taken into consideration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: Clinicaltrial.gov , NCT01512550 , Registered 19 January 2012 - Retrospectively registered.

Positive effect of removal of subchondral bone plate for cemented acetabular component fixation in total hip arthroplasty: a randomised RSA study with ten-year follow-up.

We hypothesised that the removal of the subchondral bone plate (SCBP) for cemented acetabular component fixation in total hip arthroplasty (THA) offers advantages over retention by improving the cement-bone interface, without jeopardising implant stability. We have previously published two-year follow-up data of a randomised controlled trial (RCT), in which 50 patients with primary osteoarthritis were randomised to either retention or removal of the SCBP. The mean age of the retention group (n = 25, 13 males) was 70.0 years (sd 6.8). The mean age in the removal group (n = 25, 16 males) was 70.3 years (sd 7.9). Now we have followed up the patients at six (retention group, n = 21; removal group, n = 20) and ten years (retention group: n = 17, removal group: n = 18), administering clinical outcome questionnaires and radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and determining the presence of radiolucent lines (RLLs) on conventional radiographs. RSA demonstrated similar translation and rotation patterns up to six years. Between six and ten years, proximal acetabular component migration and changes of inclination were larger in the retention group, although the mean differences did not reach statistical significance. Differences in migration were driven by two patients in the SCBP retention group with extensive migration versus none in the SCBP removal group. The significant difference (p < 0.001) in the development of radiolucent lines in the retention group, previously observed at two years, increased even further during the course of follow-up (p < 0.001). While recognising SCBP removal is a more demanding technique, we conclude that, wherever possible, the SCBP should be removed to improve the cement-bone interface in order to maximise acetabular component stability and longevity.

Sensitivity analysis of a cemented hip stem to implant position and cement mantle thickness.

Patient-specific finite element models of the implanted proximal femur can be built from pre-operative computed tomography scans and post-operative X-rays. However, estimating three-dimensional positioning from two-dimensional radiographs introduces uncertainty in the implant position. Further, accurately measuring the thin cement mantle and the degree of cement-bone interdigitation from imaging data is challenging. To quantify the effect of these uncertainties in stem position and cement thickness, a sensitivity study was performed. A design-of-experiment study was implemented, simulating both gait and stair ascent. Cement mantle stresses and bone-implant interface strains were monitored. The results show that small variations in alignment affect the implant biomechanics, especially around the most proximal and most distal ends of the stem. The results suggest that implant position is more influential than cement thickness. Rotation around the medial-lateral axis is the dominant factor in the proximal zones and stem translations are the dominant factors around the distal tip.

The importance of adequate stem anteversion for rotational stability in cemented total hip replacement: a radiostereometric study with ten-year follow-up.

Progressive retroversion of a cemented stem is predictive of early loosening and failure. We assessed the relationship between direct post-operative stem anteversion, measured with CT, and the resulting rotational stability, measured with repeated radiostereometric analysis over ten years. The study comprised 60 cemented total hip replacements using one of two types of matt collared stem with a rounded cross-section. The patients were divided into three groups depending on their measured post-operative anteversion (< 10°, 10° to 25°, > 25°). There was a strong correlation between direct post-operative anteversion and later posterior rotation. At one year the < 10° group showed significantly more progressive retroversion together with distal migration, and this persisted to the ten-year follow-up. In the < 10° group four of ten stems (40%) had been revised at ten years, and an additional two stems (20%) were radiologically loose. In the 'normal' (10° to 25°) anteversion group there was one revised (3%) and one loose stem (3%) of a total of 30 stems, and in the > 25° group one stem (5%) was revised and another loose (5%) out of 20 stems. This poor outcome is partly dependent on the design of this prosthesis, but the results strongly suggest that the initial rotational position of cemented stems during surgery affects the subsequent progressive retroversion, subsidence and eventual loosening. The degree of retroversion may be sensitive to prosthetic design and stem size, but < 10° of anteversion appears deleterious to the long-term outcome for cemented hip prosthetic stems.

A comparison of structural and mechanical properties in cancellous bone from the femoral head and acetabulum.

Mechanical interlock obtained by penetration of bone cement into cancellous bone is critical to the success of cemented total hip replacement (THR). Although acetabular component loosening is an important mode of THR failure, the properties of acetabular cancellous bone relevant to cement penetration are not well characterized. Bone biopsies (9 mm diameter, 10 mm long) were taken from the articular surfaces of the acetabulum and femoral head during total hip replacement. After mechanical and chemical defatting the two groups of bone specimens were characterized using flow measurement, mechanical testing and finally serial sectioning and three-dimensional computer reconstruction. The mean permeabilities of the acetabular group (1.064 x 10(-10) m2) and femoral group (1.155 x 10(-10) m2) were calculated from the flow measurements, which used saline solution and a static pressure of 9.8 kPa. The mean Young's modulus, measured non-destructively, was 47.4 MPa for the femoral group and 116.4 MPa for the acetabular group. Three-dimensional computer reconstruction of the specimens showed no significant differences in connectivity and porosity between the groups. Results obtained using femoral head cancellous bone to investigate bone cement penetration and fixation are directly relevant to fixation in the acetabulum.

Effects of lamination on the strength of bone cement.

To improve cement penetration into the cancellous bone of the acetabulum in hip arthroplasty, sequential cementation of each anchoring hole may be feasible. Since this procedure creates laminations in the cement, we have determined the conditions under which such laminations affect the strength of the cement. Cement bars made at 2, 3 or 4 minutes after the start of cement mixing and with either dry laminations or laminations including blood or saline were tested for tensile strength. Solid unlaminated bars were used as references. Dry and saline laminations made up to 4 minutes after the start of cement mixing did not reduce the strength of the cement. However, there was a time-dependent decrease in cement strength if blood was entrapped in the interface. In such cases, there was a decrease in strength for laminations made at 4 minutes, at 3 minutes this was less pronounced and at 2 minutes no weakening at all was noted. Our findings indicate that a sequential cementation procedure is permissible as regards cement strength, provided it is performed with 2-3 minutes after the start of cement mixing. If the cement area is kept free from blood, the time may be prolonged up to 4 minutes, without the risk of weakening the cement strength.

Circulating blood diminishes cement penetration into cancellous bone. In vivo studies of 21 arthrotic femoral heads.

We compared the penetration depth into cancellous bone when pressurizing cement at predetermined pressure levels, and at different times after cement mixing, in 21 arthrotic femoral heads during total hip replacement. To determine the influence of circulating blood on cement penetration, cement was injected into holes drilled into the femoral head before and after osteotomy of the femoral neck. The penetration of cement increased on the average 100 percent in the absence of circulation.

Technetium-99m-nanocolloid scintigraphy in orthopedic infections: a comparison with indium-111-labeled leukocytes.

Twenty-three patients with clinically suspected acute or chronic osteomyelitis and 21 patients with suspected joint prosthetic infection underwent scintigraphy using both 99mTc-nanocolloid and 111In-labeled leukocytes. The scintigrams of the two tracers were blindly interpreted by three independent observers. Their evaluations showed high correspondence. Patients were classified as having no infection, probable infection or proven infection according to specific criteria which included results of bacteriological cultures and histopathological examinations. For proven and probable infection taken together, the sensitivity with 99mTc-nanocolloid was 94%, the specificity 84% and the accuracy 87%, compared with 75%, 90% and 85% with 111In-labeled leukocytes. We conclude that 99mTc-nanocolloid scintigraphy is at least equivalent with 111In-leucocyte scintigraphy, and its additional advantages are shorter examination time, less complexity and better radiation dosimetry.

Fracture of the tibial tray of the PCA knee. A case report of early failure caused by improper design.

Knee prostheses with metal backing of the polyethylene tibial component are nowadays used almost universally. Eight cases of fracture of the metal tray are reported in the literature. We present a case in which the failure could be expected because of improper design of the tibial tray.