Clinical Outcomes and Bearing-Specific Complications Following Fourth-Generation Alumina Ceramic-on-Ceramic Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Single-Surgeon Series of 749 Hips at a Minimum of 5-Year Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the minimum 5-year outcomes and bearing-specific complications in a single surgeon series of fourth-generation alumina ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasties (THAs). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 667 patients (749 hips) who underwent primary THAs by a single surgeon using fourth-generation alumina ceramic bearings. There were 315 men and 352 women with a mean age of 54.2 years. The surgeon used cementless prostheses with an identical design and BIOLOX Delta ceramics in all hips, using a 36-mm head in 472 hips (63%) and a 32-mm head in 227. The mean follow-up duration was 6.5 years (range, 5 to 8 years). RESULTS: The mean Harris hip score improved from 45.6 points preoperatively to 91.3 points at final follow-up. All but 1 acetabular cup and all femoral stems were well fixed. No radiographic evidence of osteolysis was identified at final follow-up. There were 2 (0.3%) ceramic liner fractures and no ceramic head fractures. A total of 48 hips (6.4%) exhibited audible noise (29 clickings and 19 squeakings), but no patient required revision. Other complications were 1 dislocation, 1 deep infection, 3 iliopsoas tendonitis, and 6 periprosthetic femoral fractures. Kaplan-Meier survivorship for revision for any reason was 98.6% (95% confidence interval, 97.7-99.5) at 6.5 years. CONCLUSION: Delta ceramic-on-ceramic THAs had a high rate of survivorship without radiographic evidence of osteolysis at 6.5-year follow-up. However, we found 0.3% ceramic liner fractures and 6.4% audible noises associated with the use of Delta ceramics.

Risk Factors Associated with Fixation Failure in Intertrochanteric Fracture Treated with Cephalomedullary Nail.

Purpose: Cephalomedullary (CM) nailing is widely performed in treatment of elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures. However, in cases of fixation failure, re-operation is usually necessary, thus determining factors that may contribute to fixation failure is important. In this study, we examined factors affecting the occurrence of fixation failure, such as age or fracture stability, after CM nailing in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively using registered data. From April 2011 to December 2018, CM nailing was performed in 378 cases diagnosed with femoral intertrochanteric fractures, and 201 cases were finally registered. Cases involving patients who were bed-ridden before injury, who died from causes unrelated to surgery, and those with a follow-up period less than six months were excluded. Results: Fixation failure occurred in eight cases. Comparison of the surgical success and fixation failure group showed that the mean age was significantly higher in the fixation failure group compared with the control group (81.3±6.4 vs. 86.4±6.8; P=0.034). A significantly high proportion of unstable fractures was also observed (139/54 vs. 3/5; P=0.040), with a significantly high ratio of intramedullary reduction (176/17 vs. 5/3; P=0.034). A significantly higher ratio of unstable fractures compared with that of stable fractures was observed in the intramedullary reduction group (132/49 vs. 10/10; P=0.033). Conclusion: Fixation failure of CM nailing is likely to occur in patients who are elderly or have unstable fracture patterns. Thus, care should be taken in order to avoid intramedullary reduction.

Dual mobility articulation total hip arthroplasty for displaced neck fracture in elderly with neuromuscular disorder.

PURPOSE: Neuromuscular disease is well known to be at increased risk of complications following hip replacement surgeries. This study is prospectively conducted to investigate clinical performance and survivorship of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using dual mobility articulation in femoral neck fractures of elderly with neuromuscular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 162 patients (162 hips) with displaced femoral neck fracture who gave informed consent for dual mobility articulation THA. Of the 162 patients, 35 patients had neuromuscular disease including cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, hemiplegia, and Parkinson disease (NM group). The other 127 patients had no history of neuromuscular disease (non-NM group). The mean age was 76.5 years (range, 60 - 95) and female ratio was 71.0% (115/162). Clinical outcomes including Harris hip score (HHS), University of California Los Angles activity (UCLA) score were compared between the two groups. Computed tomography and serial radiographs were obtained after surgery. Postoperative complications and reoperation including revision were recorded. RESULTS: Pain-VAS and all clinical scores of the NM group were comparable to those of the non-NM group. The incidence of dislocation in the NM group did not differ from that in Non-NM group (2/35, 5.7% versus 5/127, 3.9%, p = 0.645). Reoperation was performed in 3 hips (3/35, 8.6%) of the NM group and in 4 hips (4/127, 3.1%) of the non-NM group (p = 0.173). Kaplan-Meier survivorship with an end point of revision for any reason was 97.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 1.03) in the NM group and 98.4% (95% CI, 0.96 to 1.01) in the non-NM group at 7.3 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly with neuromuscular disease, THA with dual mobility articulation is a reasonable option as a treatment for femoral neck fractures.

A Comparison of U-blade Gamma3 and Gamma3 Nails Used for the Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fractures.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes (i.e., clinical and radiological findings, postoperative complication) in the fixation of intertrochanteric fractures with U-blade Gamma3 and Gamma3 nails. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of 162 patients (both male and female) treated for intertrochanteric fractures between December 2012 and December 2018 was conducted. All patients were older than 65 years of age and treated with U-blade Gamma3 (n=90) or Gamma3 (n=72) nails. Evaluations included: (i) screw-head position, (ii) fracture-reduction status, (iii) time to union, (iv) cases of cut-out, (v) tip-apex distance, and (vi) lag screw sliding distance. Differences in pre- and postoperative ambulatory ability was also investigated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between the two groups. While the lag-screw sliding distance was significantly shorter in U-blade Gamma3 nail group (4.7 mm vs. 3.6 mm; P=0.025), the mean time to union was similar between the groups (P=0.053). Three and six cases of cut-out were noted in the U-blade Gamma3 and Gamma3 nail groups, respectively (P=0.18), however no other postoperative complications were noted in either group. Lastly, there was no difference between the change from pre- to postoperative activity level between the groups (P=0.753). CONCLUSION: Of all the clinical and radiological outcomes assessed, the only significant improvement between those treated with U-Blade Gamma and Gamma3 nails was a shorter lag-screw sliding distance. These findings should benefit clinicians when deciding between the use of U-Blade Gamma or Gamma3 nails.