Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Imageless Computer-Assisted Navigation-2-Year Follow-Up of a Prospective Randomized Study.

The purpose of this study is to compare computer-assisted to manual implantation-techniques in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to find out if the computer-assisted surgery is able to improve the clinical and functional results and reduce the dislocation rate in short-terms after THA. We performed a concise minimum 2-year follow-up of the patient cohort of a prospective randomized study published in 2014 and evaluated if the higher implantation accuracy in the navigated group can be seen as an important determinant of success in total hip arthroplasty. Although a significant difference was found in mean postoperative acetabular component anteversion and in the outliers regarding inclination and anteversion (p < 0.05) between the computer-assisted and the manual-placed group, we could not find significant differences regarding clinical outcome or revision rates at 2-years follow-up. The implantation accuracy in the navigated group can be regarded as an important determinant of success in THA, although no significant differences in clinical outcome could be detected at short-term follow-up. Therefore, further long-term follow-up of our patient group is needed.

Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty in Octogenarians.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies indicate excellent results for cementless implants, controversy persists regarding its use in elderly patients. We determined to evaluate the outcome on patients aged over 80 years who were treated with cementless total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis of the hip. METHODS: We assessed the data of 162 consecutive total hip arthroplasties in octogenarian patients (mean age 83 years, range 80-96 years). A control group was created, consisting of 342 patients aged younger than 80 years (mean age 65 years, range 37-79 years). The median follow-up of the cohort was 128.4 months (range 6-211). RESULTS: Competing risk analyses revealed a cumulative implant survival of 98.1% at 5 and 10 years in the study group compared to 99.1% and 98.4% in the control group, taking system exchange as the end point. No differences in regard to system exchange could be detected between the groups. A significantly worsened complication-free survival rate was evident in the octogenarian group. Osteoporosis was the most powerful risk factor that proved to have a significant negative impact on development of complications. CONCLUSION: Uncemented total hip arthroplasty is a viable option for the elderly patient. In this population sector, an excellent rate of implant survival can be expected. However, a significant increase of total complications in the octogenarian group could be detected, and was mainly caused by an elevated number of early postoperative complications. Osteoporosis turned out to be a strong risk factor in regard to complication-free survival. Surgeons should therefore be aware of this.

Climbing Has a Positive Impact on Low Back Pain: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of climbing versus no treatment to treat chronic low back pain. DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 30 patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and randomly assigned to 2 different groups: climbing and control. The inclusion criteria were defined as chronic low back pain, age between 18 and 45 years, body mass index lower than 25, and no climbing experience. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in the climbing group were instructed to climb 5 different climbing routes. A climbing activity of 10 sessions in 8 weeks, at least once a week with a minimum duration of 1 hour, was mandatory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The participants were examined before (T0) and after therapy (8 weeks, T8) and after another 6 weeks (T14). The outcome was evaluated using Oswestry Disability Index, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Likert scale, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Radiologists evaluating MRI were blinded. The study was performed as a single-center study. RESULTS: Evaluating the Oswestry Disability Index, a significant difference in the time course between the 2 groups was detected (P = 0.022). Significant improvements comparing climbing and control group were also found when assessing VAS in a minimal finger-floor-distance position (P = 0.048). Patients in the climbing group showed a reduction in size of disc protrusion. CONCLUSIONS: Climbing may be an effective and low-cost therapy option for people with chronic low back pain. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Low back pain is a very common disease but still a challenge to treat. Therapy strategies vary from conservative ones, pharmacological treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and weak opioids, to invasive treatment with acupuncture, injections, and operative reconstruction. Some can be costly and not without risks. For instance, many people who use NSAIDs are at risk of common side effects such as gastrointestinal complications (irritation, ulcers, and bleeding) that may lead to hospitalization. Climbing could offer reduction of pain and better performance in daily life, because it offers a closed chain muscle training that has the potential to improve posture, perception of the trunk midline, and muscle control. Climbing may also lead to a better adherence to continuing treatment than traditional physical therapy and exercise due to a more exciting aspect of the sports activity.

Total hip arthroplasty using imageless computer-assisted hip navigation: a prospective randomized study.

In a prospective randomized study of two groups of 65 patients each, we compared the acetabular component position when using the imageless navigation system compared to the freehand conventional technique for cementless total hip arthroplasty. The position of the component was determined postoperatively on computed tomographic scans of the pelvis. There was no significant difference for postoperative mean inclination (P = 0.29), but a significant difference for mean postoperative acetabular component anteversion (P = 0.007), for mean deviation of the postoperative anteversion from the target position of 15° (P = 0.02) and for the outliers regarding inclination (P = 0.02) and anteversion (P < 0.05) between the computer-assisted and the freehand-placement group. Our results demonstrate the importance of imageless navigation for the accurate positioning of the acetabular component.