Clinical and radiological outcomes and analysis of failures of modular revisions stems at long-term follow-up: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Increasingly hip replacements at young age exposes the patient to an increased risk of failure of the implant over the years. In case of failure, revision specific stems were designed to overcome bone loss. Modularity of these devices is an important resource for the surgeon as they allow the new implant to be better adapted to the patient's anatomy. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide data about the outcome at long-term follow-up (>8 years) of hip modular revision femoral stems. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement guidelines. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were systematically and independently searched, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers performed the data extraction independently. In case of disagreement, the senior authors were sought to resolve the divergences. Quality of the involved studies was evaluated with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines (eight-item list) and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). Primary and secondary outcomes were evaluated. The statistical analysis of this meta-analysis was performed by using Excel Microsoft and the software STATA. Results: The primary outcome was the re-revision rate of modular revision stems at long-term follow-up. It ranged from 1.4% to 45.6%: random effect pooled estimate was 5.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 4% to 7%], with a I2 of 12.3% (P=0.332). Mean Harris Hip Score (HHS) was 83 [min: 79; max: 87.6; standard deviation (SD): 3.55]. Secondary evaluated outcomes were: subsidence >5 mm, rate of periprosthetic infection or fractures (intra- and post-operative) and dislocations. The mean value for the NICE tool was 5.5 (SD: 1.13) and 7.3 (SD: 0.79) for the NOS tool. The survival rate was >90% at long-term follow-up (min: 60%; max: 97%). Conclusions: The modular femoral revision stems have demonstrated good long-term reliability and efficacy. This meta-analysis demonstrates that the re-revision rate after 8 years of follow-up is low and 90% of the implants did not fail.

Is Modular Dual Mobility Superior to Standard Bearings for Reducing Dislocation Risk after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty? A Retrospective Comparative Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Dual mobility (DM) has been proven to reduce dislocation risk after total hip arthroplasty (THA). In the last decade modular DM (modDM) constructs have been introduced to allow the use of DM articulation with standard cementless acetabular shells. However, clinical evidence of modDM effectiveness is still low in primary THA and concerns about implant-related complications are increasing. This retrospective comparative multicenter study is aimed to investigate if the dislocation rate after primary THA could be reduced with modDM in comparison to standard bearing (SB). METHODS: 262 THAs were performed between 2017 and 2019, using SB (129 hips) or modDM (133) with the same cementless highly porous modular acetabular cup. Dislocations, complications and revisions were recorded and implant survival was analyzed. RESULTS: At 2.5-year mean follow-up, dislocation occurred in 4 hips (3.1%) within the SB group while intraprosthetic dislocation in 2 hips (1.5%) within the modDM group (p = 0.44). Implant survivals with revision due to dislocation were 95.2% and 95.9% at 4-year follow-up for SB and modDM, respectively (p = 0.50). CONCLUSIONS: modDM used in primary THA might reduce dislocation rate in comparison to SB, even in high-risk patients, however, caution is advocated due to specific intraprosthetic dislocation.

Do prior intra-articular injections impact on the risk of periprosthetic joint infection in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty? A meta-analysis of the current evidences with a focus on the timing of injection before surgery.

Purpose: Intra-articular injection is a well-established and increasingly used treatment for the patient with mild-to-moderate hip osteoarthritis. The objectives of this literature review and meta-analysis are to evaluate the effect of prior intra-articular injections on the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to try to identify which is the minimum waiting time between hip injection and replacement in order to reduce the risk of infection. Methods: The database of PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library was systematically and independently searched, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. To assess the potential risk of bias and the applicability of the evidence found in the primary studies to the review, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used. The statistical analysis was performed by using the software 'R' version 4.2.2. Results: The pooling of data revealed an increased risk of PJI in the injection group that was statistically significative (P = 0.0427). In the attempt to identify a 'safe time interval' between the injection and the elective surgery, we conducted a further subgroup analysis: in the subgroup 0-3 months, we noted an increased risk of PJI after injection. Conclusions: Intra-articular injection is a procedure that may increase the risk of developing periprosthetic infection. This risk is higher if the injection is performed less than 3 months before hip replacement.

Is Fibrinogen a Reliable Biomarker in the Diagnosis of Peri-Prosthetic Joint Infection? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In recent years, several studies have identified closed correlations between the coagulation cascade and inflammatory mechanisms in infective diseases. Fibrinogen (PF) is emerging as promising biomarker for the diagnosis of peri-prosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of PF in diagnosing PJI and to explore potential causes influencing the diagnostic value of PF. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched regarding the role of fibrinogen as a biomarker in the diagnosis of PJI. Studies in English were included in the meta-analysis if they determined the diagnostic value of fibrinogen for PJI detection after hip or knee arthroplasty, applying the recognized diagnostic criteria for PJI. A quality evaluation of the studies included was performed. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) were obtained using the statistical software STATA, version 17 (StataCorp, College Station, TX). Results: Ten studies (9 retrospective) were included in the study. Low publication bias was detected, but with high heterogeneity among them. Plasma fibrinogen showed a good diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility in PJI (sensitivity, 0.81 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.75-0.86]; specificity, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.76-0.86]; AUROC, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.85-0.91]; DOR, 19 [95% CI, 14-26]). Conclusions: The attempt to find an "ideal" biomarker is crucial to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the current diagnostic algorithms for PJI. The analysis performed in the current study indicates that plasma fibrinogen test is a valid biomarker for PJI diagnosis.

Knee function after a mean of 19 years Post-retirement in 65 Italian semi-professional rugby veterans.

Background and aim sport activity has been largely correlated to the development of knee osteoarthritis, but only few papers have investigated the long-term impact of a rugby career on the knee joint. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence and epidemiology of knee osteoarthritis and general health in a population of 65 retired semi-professional rugby players. Methods demographic and anamnestic analysis was recorded and Oxford Knee score, SF-12 and VAS were submitted to all veterans in order to assess current knee function, general health condition and level of pain. Parametric analysis of Spearman was used to evaluate the statistical significance on these results and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess the significant differences between the questionnaire results and the demographic and anamnestic records. Results we found that players who sustained a knee injury during their career have a current reduction of the knee function compared to veterans who did not suffer any injury and who showed values comparable with those of the health population. In terms of general and mental health, athletes who retired later have now a better condition than those who retired from the sport  earlier. Conclusions: we concluded that knee injury prevention should be an unequivocal priority because although rugby is a high energy sport, it does not increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis in absence of serious knee injuries.

Deep infection following reconstruction of pelvic fractures: prevalence, characteristics, and predisposing risk factors.

PURPOSE: To identify the incidence, risk factors, and treatment course of patients who developed deep infection following fixation of pelvic fractures. METHODS: Over a period of 8 years patients who underwent pelvic reconstruction in our institution and developed postoperative infection were included. Exclusion criteria were pathological fractures and infections that were not secondary to post-traumatic reconstruction. The mean time of follow-up was 43.6 months (33-144). For comparison purposes, we randomly selected patients that underwent pelvic fracture fixation from our database (control group). A logistic regression was fitted to patient characteristics including age, sex, ISS, and diabetic status. RESULTS: Out of 858 patients, 18 (2.1%) (12 males), with a mean age of 41 (18-73) met the inclusion criteria. The control group consisted of 82 patients with a mean age of 41 years (18-72). The mean ISS was 27.7 and 17.6 in the infection and control group, respectively. The mean time from pelvic reconstruction to the diagnosis of infection was 20 days (7-80). The median number of trips to theatre was 3 (1-16). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most frequently isolated organism in the years prior to 2012. Eradication was achieved in 93% of the patients. The most important risk factors for deep infection were ISS (OR 1.08, 1.03-1.13), posterior sacral approach (OR 17.03, 1.49-194.40), and diabetes (OR 36.85, 3.54-383.70). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective case-control study, deep infection following pelvic trauma was rare. A number of patient-, injury- and surgery-related factors have shown strong correlation with this serious complication.

The management of Vancouver B1 and C periprosthetic fractures: radiographic and clinic outcomes of a monocentric consecutive series.

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic fractures (PFs) are a main complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA), with rising incidence. The optimal treatment of PFs is still being debated in the literature. Historically, high failure and reoperation rates are reported, although the introduction of locking plates has led to improved results. In this study we report clinical and radiographic outcomes of a consecutive series of Vancouver B1 and C fractures, treated with a novel type of locking plate. We also aim to identify the variables associated with healing time. METHODS: Between June 2013 and May 2019, 47 patients were consecutively admitted to the Emergency Department of our Hospital with a diagnosis of PF around a well-fixed THA stem. 31 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. All patients underwent osteosynthesis with a novel type of plate ("Ironlady" Intrauma, Rivoli, Italy) through a distally extended posterolateral approach. All surgical procedures were performed with the aim of reducing the rigidity of the fixation construct and preserving periosteal vitality. Demographic data, type of fracture, type of stem and its fixation, surgical details, and clinical and radiographical outcomes were recorded. Each variable was investigated to assess its relationship with fracture healing and healing time. RESULTS: 31 patients were included in the study. 4 patients died before the minimum follow-up of 6 months and were excluded from the series. The final sample consisted of 27 patients. Their median age at operation was 84.8 years (range 65.3-95.4 years); 21 were female. The median follow-up after surgery was 2.36 years (range 6 months-4.7 years). In the cohort there were 22 type Vancouver B1 fractures (81.5%) and 5 type C (18.5%). All fractures occurred postoperatively (no acute intraoperative fractures). Fracture union was achieved in 26 patients (96.3%). The following variables were found to be associated with increased healing time: Vancouver type of fracture, pattern of Vancouver B1 fracture type, age and male gender. CONCLUSIONS: On the base of our results, the management of Vancouver B1 and C type of PFs by locking plate osteosynthesis appears to be a safe and effective procedure. To enhance healing and reduce complication rate, accurate surgical technique is required, aiming to implement the proximal fixation, avoid stress rising, reduce rigidity of the osteosynthesis construct and preserve the plate-to-bone gap.

Prevalence and risk factors for re-interventions following reamed intramedullary tibia nailing.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and the risk factors for re-interventions following reamed intramedullary nailing (IMN) of tibial shaft fractures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed a prospectively populated data of adult patients that underwent reamed intramedullary nailing for stabilization of tibial shaft fractures over a period of three years. Exclusion criteria were immature patients, pathological and periarticular fractures. Data collected included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, open or closed injury pattern, ISS, perioperative complications, reintervention characteristics (time, cause, number), smoking habits, medical co-morbidities and progress to radiological fracture union. Fractures were classified according to AO/OTA system. The cohort of these patients was divided in two groups: Group 1 included the patients who healed uneventfully and Group 2 included the patients who underwent a re-intervention for the healing of the fracture. A logistic regression analysis model was used to assess the odds ratio (OR) of identified risk factors predicting the necessity of re-interventions. RESULTS: 181 (129 male) patients with a mean age of 37 (range 16-87) met the inclusion criteria. 30 patients were excluded due to inadequate follow up, leaving 151 patients for the study group. 119 patients were included in Group 1. 32 (21.2%) patients who had at least one re-intervention (range 1-3) were included in Group 2. The most common causes for re-intervention were aseptic non-union (31.3%) and removal of implants due to soft tissue irritation/anterior knee pain (31.3%), followed by early metalwork failure (12.5%), infected non-union (9.4%), correction of rotational deformities (9.4%) and canal intramedullary sepsis with evident fracture healing (6.3%). 29 (25.8%) from the study cohort patients sustained an open fracture and 8 of them underwent a re-intervention (20.5% of interventions). Incidence of fracture pattern 42-B, C was statistically significant greater in the reintervention (40.6%) compared to the non-re-intervention group (23.53%) (p = 0.026). Risk factors predicting the need for re-interventions included the type of fracture B, C (p = 0.026 OR: 2.528, range: 1.117-5.721) and increased alcohol consumption (p = 0.027/OR: 2.618, range: 1.116-6.141). CONCLUSION: Fracture pattern and alcohol abuse were highly predictive for re-interventions following reamed IM nailing for stabilization of acute tibial shaft fractures.

A cohort study on the incidence and outcome of pulmonary embolism in trauma and orthopedic patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in trauma and orthopedic patients within a regional tertiary referral center and its association with the pattern of injury, type of treatment, co-morbidities, thromboprophylaxis and mortality. METHODS: All patients admitted to our institution between January 2010 and December 2011, for acute trauma or elective orthopedic procedures, were eligible to participate in this study. Our cohort was formed by identifying all patients with clinical features of PE who underwent Computed Tomography-Pulmonary Angiogram (CT-PA) to confirm or exclude the clinical suspicion of PE, within six months after the injury or the surgical procedure.Case notes and electronic databases were reviewed retrospectively to identify each patient's venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk factors, type of treatment, thromboprophylaxis and mortality. RESULTS: Out of 18,151 patients admitted during the study period only 85 (0.47%) patients developed PE (positive CT-PA) (24 underwent elective surgery and 61 sustained acute trauma). Of these, only 76% of the patients received thromboprophylaxis. Hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular disease were the most commonly identifiable risk factors. In 39% of the cases, PE was diagnosed during the in-hospital stay. The median time of PE diagnosis, from the date of injury or the surgical intervention was 23 days (range 1 to 312). The overall mortality rate was 0.07% (13/18,151), but for those who developed PE it was 15.29% (13/85). Concomitant deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was identified in 33.3% of patients. The presence of two or more co-morbidities was significantly associated with the incidence of mortality (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.34, 18.99), P = 0.034). Although there was also a similar clinical effect size for polytrauma injury on mortality (unadjusted OR = 1.90 (0.38, 9.54), P = 0.218), evidence was not statistically significant for this factor. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of VTE was comparable to previously reported rates, whereas the mortality rate was lower. Our local protocols that comply with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines in the UK appear to be effective in preventing VTE and reducing mortality in trauma and orthopedic patients.

Biomarkers predicting sepsis in polytrauma patients: Current evidence.

INTRODUCTION: Major trauma still represents one of the leading causes of death in the first four decades of life. Septic complications represent the predominant causes of late death (45% of overall mortality) in polytrauma patients. The ability of clinicians to early differentiate between systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis is demonstrated to improve clinical outcome and mortality. The identification of an "ideal" biomarker able to early recognize incoming septic complications in trauma patients is still a challenge for researchers. AIM: To evaluate the existing evidence regarding the role of biomarkers to predict or facilitate early diagnosis of sepsis in trauma patients, trying to compile some recommendations for the clinical setting. METHODS: An Internet-based search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was performed using the search terms: "Biomarkers", "Sepsis" and "Trauma" in various combinations. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Checklist (QUADAS). After data extraction, the level of evidence available for each bio-marker was rated and presented using the "best-evidence synthesis" method, in line with the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. RESULTS: Thirty studies were eligible for the final analysis: 13 case-control studies and 17 cohort studies. The "strong evidence" available demonstrated the potential use of procalcitonin as an early indicator of post-traumatic septic complications and reported the inability of c-reactive protein (CRP) to specifically identify infective complications. Moderate, conflicting and limited evidence are available for the other 31 biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Several biomarkers have been evaluated for predicting or making early diagnosis of sepsis in trauma patients. Current evidence does not support the use of a single biomarker in diagnosing sepsis. However, procalcitonin trend was found to be useful in early identification of post-traumatic septic course and its use is suggested (Recommendation Grade: B) in clinical practice.

Joint line tenderness and McMurray tests for the detection of meniscal lesions: what is their real diagnostic value?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the interobserver concordance of the joint line tenderness (JLT) and McMurray tests, and to determine their diagnostic efficiency for the detection of meniscal lesions. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Orthopedics outpatient clinic, university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=60) with suspected nonacute meniscal lesions who underwent knee arthroscopy. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were examined by 3 independent observers with graded levels of experience (>10y, 3y, and 4mo of practice). The interobserver concordance was assessed by Cohen-Fleiss κ statistics. Accuracy, negative and positive predictive values for prevalence 10% to 90%, positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios, and the Bayesian posttest probability with a positive or negative result were also determined. The diagnostic value of the 2 tests combined was assessed by logistic regression. Arthroscopy was used as the reference test. RESULTS: No interobserver concordance was determined for the JLT. The McMurray test showed higher interobserver concordance, which improved when judgments by the less experienced examiner were discarded. The whole series studied by the "best" examiner (experienced orthopedist) provided the following values: (1) JLT: sensitivity, 62.9%; specificity, 50%; LR+, 1.26; LR-, .74; (2) McMurray: sensitivity, 34.3%; specificity, 86.4%; LR+, 2.52; LR-, .76. The combination of the 2 tests did not offer advantages over the McMurray alone. CONCLUSIONS: The JLT alone is of little clinical usefulness. A negative McMurray test does not modify the pretest probability of a meniscal lesion, while a positive result has a fair predictive value. Hence, in a patient with a suspected meniscal lesion, a positive McMurray test indicates that arthroscopy should be performed. In case of a negative result, further examinations, including imaging, are needed.

Clinical outcomes after repair of quadriceps tendon rupture: a systematic review.

The existing evidence regarding the management of quadriceps tendon rupture remains obscure. The aim of the current review is to investigate the characteristics, the different techniques employed and to analyse the clinical outcomes following surgical repair of quadriceps tendon rupture. An Internet based search of the English literature of the last 25 years was carried out. Case reports and non-clinical studies were excluded. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Coleman Methodology Score. All data regarding mechanism and site of rupture, type of treatment, time elapsed between diagnosis and repair, patients' satisfaction, clinical outcome, return to pre-injury activities, complications and recurrence rates were extracted and analysed. Out of 474 studies identified, 12 met the inclusion criteria. The average of Coleman Methodology Score was 50.46/100. In total 319 patients were analysed with a mean age of 57 years (16-85). The mean time of follow-up was 47.5 months (3 months to 24 years). The most common mechanism of injury was simple fall (61.5%). Spontaneous ruptures were reported in 3.2% of cases. The most common sites of tear were noted between 1cm and 2 cm of the superior pole of the patella and, in the older people, at the osseotendinous junction. The most frequently used repair technique was patella drill holes (50% of patients). Simple sutures were used in mid-substance ruptures. Several reinforcement techniques were employed in case of poor quality or retraction of the torn ends of tendon. The affected limb was immobilised in a cast for a period of 3-10 weeks. Quadriceps muscular atrophy and muscle strength deficit were present in most of the cases. Worst results were noted in delayed repairs. Reported complications included heterotopic ossifications in 6.9% of patients, deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in 2.5%, superficial infection in 1.2% and deep infection in 1.1%. It appears that the type of surgical repair does not influence the clinical results. The majority of the studies reported good or excellent ROM and return to the pre-injury activities. The overall rate of re-rupture was 2%.