Metal-backed or all-poly tibial components: which are better for medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty? A propensity-score-matching retrospective study at the 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective medium-term follow-up study compares the outcomes of medial fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (mUKA) using a cemented metal-backed (MB) or an all-polyethylene (AP) tibial component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The database of our institution was mined for primary mUKA patients implanted with an MB or an AP tibial component (the MB-UKA and AP-UKA groups, respectively) from 2015 to 2018. We compared patient demographics, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and motion analysis data obtained with the Riablo™ system (CoRehab, Trento, Italy). We conducted propensity-score-matching (PSM) analysis (1:1) using multiple variables. RESULTS: PSM analysis yielded 77 pairs of MB-UKA and AP-UKA patients. At 5 years, the physical component summary (PCS) score was 52.4 ± 8.3 in MB-UKA and 48.2 ± 8.3 in AP-UKA patients (p < 0.001). The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12) was 82.9 ± 18.8 in MB-UKAs and 73.4 ± 22.5 in AP-UKAs (p = 0.015). Tibial pain was reported by 7.8% of the MB-UKA and 35.1% of the AP-UKA patients (p < 0.001). Static postural sway was, respectively, 3.9 ± 2.1 cm and 5.4 ± 2.3 (p = 0.0002), and gait symmetry was, respectively, 92.7% ± 3.7 cm and 90.4% ± 5.4 cm (p = 0.006). Patient satisfaction was 9.2 ± 0.8 in the MB-UKA and 8.3 ± 2.0 in the AP-UKA group (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: MB-UKA patients experienced significantly better 5-year static sway and gait symmetry outcomes than AP-UKA patients. Although the PROMs of the two groups overlapped, MB-UKA patients had a lower incidence of tibial pain, better FJS-12 and PCS scores, and were more satisfied.

Distal femoral osteotomy versus lateral unicompartmental arthroplasty for isolated lateral tibiofemoral osteoarthritis with intra-articular and extra-articular deformity: a propensity score-matched analysis.

PURPOSE: Lateral unicompartmental arthroplasty (UKA) and distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) represent surgical solutions in cases of valgus malalignment and isolated lateral osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical results, complications, and the overall postoperative alignment of a series of DFO and lateral UKA with a minimum 2-year follow-up in active middle-aged patients. METHODS: Patients with valgus knee and isolated lateral OA who underwent opening-wedge DFO or UKA from 2017 to 2019 were reviewed. Each patient was characterized by a joint line convergence angle (JLCA) > 3° and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) < 87°. We excluded patients who underwent meniscus or osteochondral allograft during DFO. The Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), complications, and postoperative alignment were assessed. Propensity score matching was used to identify comparable patients. RESULTS: The DFO and lateral UKA groups consisted of 29 patients each. No statistically significant differences in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), length of follow-up, or limb deformity were reported between the two groups. In the DFO group, OKS was reported to improve from 27.51 to 38.59 (p < 0.05) and KOOS from 51.14 to 67.2 (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the UKA group, OKS improved from 26.23 to 35.43 (p < 0.05) and KOOS from 50.12 to 65.91 (p < 0.05). However, the improvement in OKS and KOOS (delta) did not differ between groups (p = 0.35 and p = 0.95). The DFO and UKA groups were characterized by similar postoperative hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle measurements of -3.26 and -3.00, respectively (p = 0.65). No patients in the UKA group underwent revision or other knee surgeries during follow-up. No infections were detected in either group. In the DFO group, no cases of nonunion or delayed union were reported. However, 40% of DFO patients underwent plate removal. One patient in each group was characterized by progression of medial OA with Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade > 3. CONCLUSION: UKA and DFO represent an effective treatment in lateral knee OA with intra-articular and extra-articular deformity. Both surgeries were able to provide a significant and comparable clinical improvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, comparative retrospective cohort study.

Tibial Tubercle Screw Fixation on Custom Metaphyseal Cone: Surgical Tip in Severe Metaphyseal Tibia Bone Loss.

Tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) facilitates exposure in knee arthroplasty revision. However, it comes with complications, especially if it invades the intramedullary canal. Most revisions are characterized by compromised femur and/or tibia bone stock, and the use of metaphyseal cones or sleeves for implant fixation has become increasingly frequent. Several methods of fixation of the tibial tubercle have been proposed, such as screw fixation, cerclage wiring, and suture repair. Despite screws providing the strongest fixation for TTO, their placement around a tibial intramedullary stem or a metaphyseal tibial cone may be difficult. We described the use of a custom-made metaphyseal tibial cone with holes in its anterior surface that allow the surgeon to achieve accurate TTO fixation by screws.

Multimodal Treatment of Bone Metastasis-A Surgical Perspective.

Over the past decades there has been an increase in the incidence of cancer worldwide. With the advancement in treatment, patient survival has improved in tandem with the increasing incidence. This, together with the availability of advanced modern diagnostic modalities, has resulted in more cases of metastatic bone disease being identified. Bone metastasis is an ongoing problem and has significant morbidity implications for patients affected. Multimodal treatment strategies are required in dealing with metastatic bone disease, which include both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. In the multidisciplinary team, orthopedic surgeons play an important role in improving the quality of life of cancer patients. Surgical intervention in this setting is aimed at pain relief, restoration of function and improvement in functional independence. In selected cases with resectable solitary metastasis, surgical treatment may be curative. With the advancement of surgical technique and improvement in implant design and manufacture, a vast array of surgical options are available in the modern orthopedic arena. In the majority of cases, limb salvage procedures have become the standard of care in the treatment of metastatic bone disease. Non-surgical adjuvant treatment also contributes significantly to the improvement of cancer patient care. A multidisciplinary approach in this setting is of paramount importance.

The role of intraoperative frozen section in arthroplasty revision surgery: our experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Due to the increasing the number of hip and knee replacement in the future will be increasing the number of cases of prosthetic revision. Our aim is to test the validity of extemporaneous exam for differentiation between septic and aseptic loosening of prosthetic. METHODS: 159 patients underwent surgery for the prosthesis revision from 2008 to 2014 An intraoperative histological examination was performed during all the surgeries and multiple samples were taken for the conclusive histological examination and culture. RESULTS: Sensitivity of the intraoperative histological examination resulted 38,3% (IC 0,26; 0,51); specificity 82,5% (IC 0,73; 0,90), where positive predictive value was 57,5% (IC 0,41; 0,73) and negative predictive value 68,4% (IC 0,59; 0,76). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a universally accepted method to diagnose infection in patients with mobilization of the prosthesis, intraoperative histological examination is, in spite of everything, a method easy to perform and reproduce, it shows high specificity and sensitivity in the presence of highly virulent pathogens.

Extracapsular vs standard approach in hip arthroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Over the last decades, the arthroscopic treatment of hip pathology has highly grown thanks to the evolution of surgical and diagnostic techniques and instrumentation development. Furthermore the higher life expectancy and functional request make younger patients to be evaluated more frequently for non-arthrosic hip pathologies like labral lesion, FAI, cartilage tears. Treatment substantially has to be chosen between arthroscopy and arthrotomy. This study pretends to compare the clinical outcome between two different arthroscopic access techniques: the traditional one and the extrarticolar one (OUT-IN) we are using regularly in our clinic. METHODS: From 2012 to 2014, 37 patients with FAI were treated with traditional technique (Group A) and 28 with extra-articular access (Group B). Indication to surgery treatment was given on the basis of radiological imaging (Pelvis Rx, Hip Rx in AP, Frog Leg view, Dunn view, Pelvic MRI) (8, 9), dynamic range of motion, clinical examination and functional scores (MHHS, MHOT). Pain was scored with NRS.  Minimum follow up for each patient was 12 month with clinical controls and functional score recording at 3-6-12 month after surgery. Complications or iatrogenic lesions were assessed. RESULTS: At 12 month after surgery there was no statistically significant differences in hip R.O.M., MHHS and MHOT (33) score. We observed an higher number of iatrogenic lesions and complications in the group A (standard technique) than group B. CONCLUSIONS: Hip arthroscopy is a viable and reproducible alternative technique when treating articular lesion such as femur-acetabular impingement and it is demonstrated by the increase of functional score. We can furthermore appreciate that an extra-articular access technique leads to a vary good outcome both in hip R.O.M. and functional scores and has a very low number of complications and iatrogenic lesions.