The role of arthroscopy in patients with persistent hip pain after total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a safe and successful procedure for the treatment of osteoarthritis. One of the most common postoperative problems remains persistent hip pain. The arthroscopic evaluation of persistent hip pain following THA can be a valuable diagnostic tool in a select number of patients when carried out by experts in this technique. OBJECTIVE: Indication for arthroscopy was persistent pain after THA. Inclusion criteria were an absence of radiological loosening and a sterile aspiration 6 weeks before arthroscopy. Hip joint function and pain were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Hip Outcome Score (HOS), which scored the activities of daily living (ADL), and a sports subscale. METHODS: 5 patients (3 female, 2 male) with an average age of 60.2 ± 4.27 years (range 51-72 years) were included in the study. Arthroscopy with biopsy, adhesiolysis and psoas tendon release was performed 21.0 ± 21.97 months (range 6-57 months) after primary hip replacement. RESULTS: Pathological findings were prosthetic joint infection (two cases), impingement between acetabular component and psoas tendon (two cases), adhesions of the periprosthetic tissue (one case). The patients achieved a significant improvement of the Hip Outcome Score (HOS), from an average of 45.6 ± 22.5 (range 14.0-63.1) to 76.5 ± 3.8 (range 41.0-89.4, P=0.016). Evaluation of the VAS showed a significant improvement from a preoperative value of 8.8 ± 0.5 to a postoperative value of 3.4 ± 1.0 (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Hip arthroscopy provides a minimal-invasive tool for diagnosis and therapy. In cases of persistent pain after THA, standard diagnostic procedures should be utilised. Arthroscopy of a hip post-THA would be highly specialised. As a next step, arthroscopy helps the diagnosis and therapy of persistent pain after THA.

Refractory adhesive capsulitis under acitretin therapy.

BACKGROUND: Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is characterized by a limited active and passive motion. Although the exact pathology remains unknown, a number of contributing factors are discussed. OBJECTIVE: AC has probably been caused by the Re-PUVA therapy (PUVA irradiation plus acitretin) of a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, type mycosis fungoides. Acitretin belongs to the group of retinoids and is often used in cornification disorders. METHODS: After non-successful initial conservative therapy with intraarticular steroid injections and physical therapy, a significant improvement of shoulder joint mobility was finally achieved by an arthroscopic juxtaglenoid capsulotomy and adhesiolysis. RESULTS: A therapy with acitretin should be considered as a possible trigger of AC. CONCLUSIONS: Patient's medication should be checked carefully on possible triggers of AC. The athroscopic adhesiolysis is an effective method for a frustrating conservative treatment of AC.

Primary stability of cementless threaded acetabular cups at first implantation and in the case of revision regarding micromotions as indicators.

The primary stability of cementless total hip endoprosthesis is of vital importance for proximate, long-term osteointegration. The extent of micromotions between implant and acetabulum is an indicator of primary stability. Based on this hypothesis, different cementless hip joint endoprosthesis were studied with regard to their micromotions. The primary stability of nine different cementless threaded acetabular cups was studied in an experimental setup with blocks of rigid foam. The micromotions between implant and implant bearing were therefore evaluated under cyclic, sinusoidal exposure. The blocks of polymer foam were prepared according to the Paprosky defect classifications. The micromotions increased with the increasing degree of the defect with all acetabuli tested. Occasionally coefficients of over 200 µm were measured. From a defect degree of 3b according to Paprosky, the implants could no longer be appropriately placed. The exterior form of the spherical implants tended to exhibit better coefficients than the conical/parabolic implants.

Late Periprosthetic Joint Infection due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis Identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis, member to the group of coagulase-negative staphylococci, is previously thought to be rarely isolated. Recently other staphylococci have been described, which were supposedly related to S. lugdunensis, such as Staphylococcus pseudolugdunensis and Staphylococcus pettenkoferi. To decrease the rate misidentifications, an accurate identification method, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry or molecular methods, should be used. S. lugdunensis is usually associated with severe infections similar to those caused by S. aureus. Moreover, it has been described that skin infections due to S. lugdunensis are severely underreported and could be also underreported in periprosthetic joint infections. Ours is the first case of a late periprosthetic infection of the hip due to S. lugdunensis, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A periprosthetic infection due to S. lugdunensis should be treated according to protocols of S. aureus periprosthetic infections, and therefore an accurate species identification is desirable.

Anatomical and surgical study of volume determination of the anterolateral epidural space nerve root L5/S1 under the aspect of epidural perineural injection in minimal invasive treatment of lumbar nerve root compression.

Herniated intervertebral disc causes in a great number of cases of lumbar nerve root compression, especially in the segment L5/S1. Other reasons responsible for stress to the lumbar spinal root are the spinal canal stenosis and the postdiscotomy syndrome. For patients without neurological deficiencies, the conservative treatment includes different epidural injection techniques. Steroids are often applied. A specific injection technique needing only a small drug amount is the epidural perineural approach using a special two-needle technique. The anatomical spaces of the nerve roots have received little attention in therapy. We have determined the anterolateral epidural space nerve volume of the nerve root L5/S1, and compared the data collected in an anatomical study with operative measurements during discectomy. The volume determination in the human cadavers was performed with liquid silicone filling the anterolateral space after dissection. The in vivo measurements were performed during surgery at the site of the anterolateral space after discectomy. The anatomical studies showed us a mean value volume of 1.1 ml. The surgical volume determinations result in a mean volume of 0.9 ml. A better understanding of the anterolateral epidural space may allow a reduction of the injection volume in the conservative nerve root compression treatment, especially using the epidural perineural technique, avoiding the risk of side effects of high doses of steroids.

How reliable is MRI in diagnosing cartilaginous lesions in patients with first and recurrent lateral patellar dislocations?

BACKGROUND: Lateral dislocation of the patella (LPD) leads to cartilaginous injuries, which have been reported to be associated with retropatellar complaints and the development of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of MRI for cartilage diagnostics after a first and recurrent LPD. METHODS: After an average of 4.7 days following an acute LPD, 40 patients (21 with first LPDs and 19 with recurrent LPDs) underwent standardized 1.5 Tesla MRI (sagittal T1-TSE, coronal STIR-TSE, transversal fat-suppressed PD-TSE, sagittal fat-suppressed PD-TSE). MRI grading was compared to arthroscopic assessment of the cartilage. RESULTS: Sensitivities and positive predictive values for grade 3 and 4 lesions were markedly higher in the patient group with first LPDs compared to the group with recurrent LPDs. Similarly, intra- and inter-observer agreement yielded higher kappa values in patients with first LPDs compared to those with recurrent LPDs. All grade 4 lesions affecting the subchondral bone (osteochondral defects), such as a fissuring or erosion, were correctly assessed on MRI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a comparatively good diagnostic performance for MRI in the evaluation of first and recurrent LPDs, and we therefore recommend MRI for the cartilage assessment after a LPD.

Hoffa's fat pad impingement treated arthroscopically: related findings on preoperative MRI in a case series of 62 patients.

INTRODUCTION: The morphology of painful impingement of the infrapatellar fat pad (Hoffa's disease), which is characterized by inflammation, swelling, hypertrophy, fibrosis, and/or calcifications, has been well described. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether corresponding characteristic MRI findings could be assessed in patients with infrapatellar fat pad impingement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes 62 patients with secondary symptomatic Hoffa's fat pad impingement. In these patients, the fat pad was partially resected until no impingement could be determined at full knee movement. Within a maximum of 3 months before arthroscopic surgery, patients had standardized MR imaging using a 1.5 Tesla unit with the following sequences: sagittal T1-TSE, coronal STIR-TSE, transversal fat-suppressed PD-TSE, and sagittal fat-suppressed PD-TSE (Siemens Magnetom Avanto syngo MR B 15). In this case series, the preoperative MRI appearance of the fat pad was evaluated and compared with a cohort of 255 patients without fat pad impingement but with various knee disorders at arthroscopy as well as the same standardized MRI protocol. RESULTS: In patients with Hoffa's fat pad impingement, morphologic changes such as localized edema of the superior and/or posterior part of the fat pad, a deep fluid-filled infrapatellar bursa, non-visualization of vertical and/or horizontal clefts, fibrosis, and calcifications were noted on MR imaging with remarkable frequency. Besides a significant enlargement of the fat pad, each of these MRI findings was significantly associated with impingement of Hoffa's fat pad (P < 0.05). Besides a moderate kappa score for the detection of intrahoffatic calcifications and vertical clefts, kappa values for each finding showed good inter-observer agreement. Results of logistic regression revealed that edema of Hoffa's fat pad was one of the most important diagnostic MRI criteria for the diagnosis of Hoffa's fat pad impingement. CONCLUSION: MR imaging allows identification of several changes that may be related to a symptomatic impingement of Hoffa's fat pad. In patients who are suspected of having infrapatellar fat pad impingement, such MRI findings should be considered and distinguished from other causes of anterior knee pain.

Arthroscopy vs. MRI for a detailed assessment of cartilage disease in osteoarthritis: diagnostic value of MRI in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: In patients with osteoarthritis, a detailed assessment of degenerative cartilage disease is important to recommend adequate treatment. Using a representative sample of patients, this study investigated whether MRI is reliable for a detailed cartilage assessment in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: In a cross sectional-study as a part of a retrospective case-control study, 36 patients (mean age 53.1 years) with clinically relevant osteoarthritis received standardized MRI (sag. T1-TSE, cor. STIR-TSE, trans. fat-suppressed PD-TSE, sag. fat-suppressed PD-TSE, Siemens Magnetom Avanto syngo MR B 15) on a 1.5 Tesla unit. Within a maximum of three months later, arthroscopic grading of the articular surfaces was performed. MRI grading by two blinded observers was compared to arthroscopic findings. Diagnostic values as well as intra- and inter-observer values were assessed. RESULTS: Inter-observer agreement between readers 1 and 2 was good (kappa = 0.65) within all compartments. Intra-observer agreement comparing MRI grading to arthroscopic grading showed moderate to good values for readers 1 and 2 (kappa = 0.50 and 0.62, respectively), the poorest being within the patellofemoral joint (kappa = 0.32 and 0.52). Sensitivities were relatively low at all grades, particularly for grade 3 cartilage lesions. A tendency to underestimate cartilage disorders on MR images was not noticed. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, the use of MRI for precise grading of the cartilage in osteoarthritis is limited. Even if the practical benefit of MRI in pretreatment diagnostics is unequivocal, a diagnostic arthroscopy is of outstanding value when a grading of the cartilage is crucial for a definitive decision regarding therapeutic options in patients with osteoarthritis.

Early patellofemoral osteoarthritis caused by an osteochondral defect after retrograde solid nailing of the femur in sheep.

BACKGROUND: Retrograde femoral nailing (RFN) is an increasingly used technique for internal fixation of femoral fractures. Geometrically and empirically, the nail entry zone is close to the center of the femoral groove, causing concern about the development of patellofemoral osteoarthritis. METHODS: We studied the effect of opening the distal femur through the femoral groove on the development of osteoarthritis in sheep after retrograde reamed insertion of a solid titanium nail into the femoral canal. Knees were radiographically and macroscopically studied for the presence of osteophytes and signs of cartilage degeneration. Controls underwent the same procedure without opening the femoral groove. RESULTS: The study group showed time-dependent macroscopic and radiographic signs of osteoarthritis with predominant involvement of the patellofemoral joint. CONCLUSION: RFN can cause patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Care should be exercised to use RFN in isolated supracondylar or shaft fractures of the femur in healthy young adults.

Reconstruction of the greater trochanter with an allograft after resection of a giant cell tumor.

Our report involves the rare case of a giant cell tumor which filled out the greater trochanter. After complete resection of the greater trochanter, reconstructive surgery using a bone allograft was performed. Although the allograft healed without any complications, it was resorbed within 28 months, and there were no signs of infection or tumor recurrence during this period. Even though the greater trochanter was missing, the 32-year-old patient did not have any complaints and showed no weakness of the abductor muscles. This shows that compensation for the missing greater trochanter is possible in adulthood. If the vasto-gluteal muscle sling is maintained, the greater trochanter, which would only function as a hypomochlion, may not be necessary. This is why we do not recommend reconstruction of the greater trochanter with an allograft when it is possible to maintain the tendineous junction between the vastus lateralis muscle and the gluteal muscles.