Fungal arthritis with adjacent osteomyelitis caused by Candida pelliculosa: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Candida sp. osteoarticular infection is rare and most often due to hematogenous seeding during an episode of candidemia in immunocompromised patients. However, the diagnosis can be delayed in patients with subtle symptoms and signs of joint infection without a concurrent episode of candidemia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old woman presented with a three-year history of pain and swelling of the left knee. Candida pelliculosa was detected from the intraoperative tissue when the patient had undergone left total knee arthroplasty 32 months ago, but no antifungal treatment was performed. One year after the total knee arthroplasty, C. pelliculosa was repeatedly isolated from the left knee synovial fluid and antifungal treatment comprising amphotericin B deoxycholate and fluconazole was administered. However, joint infection had extended to the adjacent bone and led to progressive joint destruction. The patient underwent surgery for prosthesis removal and received prolonged antifungal treatment with micafungin and fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows that C. pelliculosa, an extremely rare non-Candida albicans sp., can cause fungal arthritis and lead to irreversible joint destruction owing to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Early experience of lateral hinge fracture during medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy: incidence and clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: Lateral hinge fracture (LHF) during a medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) is considered to be the main cause of instability, further displacement, loss of correction, malunion, and nonunion. The purposes of this study were to evaluate whether the incidence of LHFs during MOWHTOs has decreased as the number of cases performed over time has increased, and whether the radiographic and clinical outcomes of patients with LHFs were worse than those of patients without LHFs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the period of July 2013 to January 2017, 132 MOWHTOs were performed by a single surgeon using a locking plate (TomoFix®, DePuySynthes, Solothurn, Switzerland) for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis, with LHFs postoperatively detected in 32 knees (24.2%). To evaluate trends in the incidence of LHFs occurring during MOWHTOs over time, all 132 cases were divided chronologically into four groups of 33 cases and compared. The time for bony union and loss of correction were compared between the LHF group and the non-LHF group using an osteotomy filling index, hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angles, medial proximal tibial angles (MPTA), weight-bearing line (WBL) ratios, and posterior tibial slope (PTS) angles on radiographs. Clinical outcomes were also compared using the Knee Society Scores (KSS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores 1 year post-surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of LHFs in each group of 33 cases did not decrease over time (21.2%, 27.3%, 24.2%, and 24.2%, respectively, p = 0.954). The time to union was significantly different between the non-LHF group (5.0 months) and the LHF group (7.3 months) (p < 0.001). However, there were no immediate or 1-year postoperative differences in the HKA angles, MPTAs, WBL ratios, or PTS angles between the non-LHF and LHF groups (all p > 0.05). The KSS and WOMAC scores were significantly improved in both groups (all p < 0.001) 1 year post-surgery, without any differences between the groups (p = 0.997 and p = 0.122, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LHFs during MOWHTO procedures occurred consistently, with a similar incidence over time. Although patients with LHFs required more time to bony union, they showed similarly favorable radiographic and clinical results as the patients without LHFs 1 year after surgery.

Does non-contact or delayed contact of an adjustable-loop femoral button affect knee stability following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether cortical non-contact or delayed contact of an adjustable-loop button for femoral fixation could affect knee stability following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Eighty subjects who underwent single-bundle ACL reconstruction using an adjustable-loop femoral cortical button were retrospectively reviewed regarding patient demographics, graft size, combined surgery, and postoperative 2-year results of knee stability, functional scores, and radiographic tunnel widening. We compared the contact and the non-contact groups determined by position of the button observed in immediate postoperative radiographs. According to 2-year postoperative radiographs, the non-contact group was further divided into two subgroups (delayed contact and persisting non-contact subgroups) and results were compared. RESULTS: The contact group had 46 patients and the non-contact group had 34 patients. The average gap distance in the non-contact group was 1.9 ± 0.6 (1.1-3.4) mm. There were no significant differences in KT-1000 arthrometric knee stability (p = .667) or Lysholm score (p = .198), or International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score (p = .091) between the two groups. No significant differences in tunnel widening were found at femoral and tibial tunnels on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs (p > .1, all tunnels). In addition, delayed contact subgroup and persisting non-contact subgroup showed similar radiographic and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should strive to obtain cortical contact of the adjustable-loop femoral button. Nevertheless, cortical non-contact with less than 3 mm of gap distance did not affect knee stability, radiographic outcomes, or clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Duloxetine Reduces Pain and Improves Quality of Recovery Following Total Knee Arthroplasty in Centrally Sensitized Patients: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Unexplained postoperative pain is one of the most feared complications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A persistent noxious peripheral stimulus, such as the pain of chronic knee osteoarthritis, can cause central sensitization in which the central nervous system becomes hyperexcitable, resulting in hypersensitivity to both noxious and non-noxious stimuli. Patients with central sensitization may be more susceptible to unexplained pain after TKA. Duloxetine, a selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), can ameliorate the pain associated with central sensitization, and we aimed to determine whether it could reduce postoperative pain and improve quality of recovery after TKA in patients with central sensitization. METHODS: Patients undergoing TKA were screened for central sensitization preoperatively with use of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). Among 464 patients with primary osteoarthritis who were scheduled for primary unilateral TKA, 80 were identified as being centrally sensitized and were included in the study. Forty patients were randomly assigned to the duloxetine group (30 mg 1 day before surgery and for 6 weeks after surgery), and 40 were randomized to the control group (no duloxetine). Pain and quality of recovery were assessed with use of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Measure of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP), and the Hamilton Depression Scale. The prevalence of adverse medication effects was also noted. RESULTS: The patients in the duloxetine group had better performance across pain metrics during the initial 2 to 12-week postoperative period (p < 0.05). The duloxetine group also had a superior quality of recovery 2 weeks after TKA, as indicated by emotional and physical functioning (all p < 0.05). There was no difference between groups in the prevalence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of patients are centrally sensitized before TKA. Surgeons should consider selective incorporation of duloxetine into the multimodal postoperative analgesic protocol, according to the severity of central sensitization, to minimize the possibility of persistent pain following TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty using a contemporary patella-friendly implant are unaware of any differences due to patellar resurfacing.

PURPOSE: Anterior knee pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is often unexplained, spurring ongoing debates on the need for patellar resurfacing. It was hypothesized that a contemporary patella-friendly implant would restore patellofemoral kinematics more physiologically than outdated implants and that there would be no perceived or clinically demonstrable differences due to resurfacing of patella (RP). METHODS: This prospective bilateral randomized study was undertaken in 49 patients scheduled for the same-day bilateral TKAs. One knee was subjected at random to RP while withholding RP on the opposing side (non-RP). A recently approved single-radius femoral prosthesis featuring a deep, elongate trochlear groove with lateral tilt and a high lateral flange was implanted bilaterally in all patients. Mean follow-up duration was 5 years. Group comparisons were based on patient-reported outcomes [anterior knee pain, Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), and side preference], physician-rated results [Feller patellofemoral (PF) score], radiographic patellar position, patella-related complications, and need for reoperation. RESULTS: There were no differences in midterm rates of anterior knee pain (RP 8%; non-RP 4%; n.s.), FJS (all n.s.), or side preference (RP 47%; non-RP 45%; n.s.), nor did the groups differ by Feller PF score (all n.s.) or radiographic patellar position (all n.s.). No secondary resurfacings of non-RP or RP revisions were required. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were incapable of distinguishing whether RP was done, casting doubt on its benefits. Surgeons may thus forego RP during TKA when using contemporary patella-friendly TKA implants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, Level I.

Predictive factors for satisfaction after contemporary unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and high tibial osteotomy in isolated medial femorotibial osteoarthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Both high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) are viable treatment options for early osteoarthritis (OA). Although a substantial proportion of the patient selection criteria for HTO and UKA are now shared, the factors related to satisfaction following each procedure remain unclear. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that patient factors associated with satisfaction following contemporary HTO and UKA would be different. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutively enrolled medial opening-wedge HTOs (n=123) and Oxford mobile-bearing UKAs (n=118) with satisfactory postoperative alignment. Preoperative demographics, physical activity levels, varus deformity status, and degree of OA were recorded. Postoperative radiographs, frequency of combined procedures and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score, and patient satisfaction were assessed. RESULTS: Severe OA (p<0.01) was associated with an increased risk of dissatisfaction following HTO, whereas young age (p<0.01) and severe varus deformity (p=0.045) were related to dissatisfaction after UKA. In addition, patient satisfaction following UKA was higher than that following HTO in individuals with highly physically demanding activity. All UKA PROs were superior to those of the HTO group, except pain level. CONCLUSION: Despite the shared patient selection criteria for contemporary HTO and UKA, severe OA was associated with dissatisfaction following HTO, whereas young age and varus deformity were associated with dissatisfaction following UKA. Age, varus deformity and OA severity should be considered when deciding whether to perform HTO or UKA. TYPE OF STUDY AND LEVEL OF PROOF: Retrospective cohort study, Level III.

Complications Associated With Medial Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy Using a Locking Plate: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate complications following medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy using a locking plate. In addition, we aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between the complicated and the uncomplicated group. METHODS: This study enrolled 209 patients who underwent medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy between 2010 and 2015. Patients with a follow-up period of at least 2 years were enrolled. Medical records and radiologic data were retrospectively reviewed. The complications were assessed up to postoperative 2 years and categorized into major and minor complications. The preoperative and postoperative clinical statuses were assessed using the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 56.4 ± 5.9 years. Overall complication rate was 29.7%. Minor complications included undisplaced lateral hinge fracture (12.0%), hardware irritation (1.4%), displaced lateral hinge fracture (2.4%), delayed wound healing (1.9%), undisplaced lateral tibial plateau fracture (1%), and superficial wound infection (1%). Major complications were symptomatic hardware which needed hardware removal (4.8%), deep wound infection (1.9%), hardware failure with correction loss (1%), nonunion (0.5%), and early conversion to arthroplasty (0.5%). Most complications occurred intraoperatively (30.6%) and within 3 months postoperatively (40.3%). The major complication group showed a statistically higher Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index score than did other groups at postoperative 1 year (P = .013) and 2 years (P = .001). CONCLUSION: The overall complication rate was 29.7%. Most complications were minor. The most common complication was undisplaced lateral hinge fracture. Major complications occurred in 8.6%. The major complication group showed significantly worse clinical outcomes than did the uncomplicated and minor complication groups.

Implant Overhang after Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: Oxford Prosthesis versus Miller-Galante II Prosthesis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to compare the prevalence of implant overhang between the Oxford and the Miller-Galante II (M-G II) unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) prostheses and determine whether overhang is associated with postoperative clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed one hundred and seven UKAs which consisted of 37 Oxford UKAs and 70 M-G II. Overhang was considered present if ≥3 mm overhang was observed in any zone. The range of motion, the Knee Society scores and the Western Ontario and McMaster scores were compared after a mean follow-up duration of 48 months. RESULTS: Thirty three of 107 knees (30.8%) had overhang in at least one zone of the femoral or tibial component. In the tibial side, there were no significant differences between the groups in component overhang in each zone. In the femoral side, the Oxford UKA group showed a significantly higher prevalence of the posterior overhang of the femoral component (19/37, 51.4%) than did the M-G II UKA group (3/70, 4.3%; p<0.001). However, no significant differences in clinical results were observed between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in clinical results between the overhang and the non-overhang groups. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior overhang of the femoral component was highly prevalent in Oxford UKA patients. However, posterior overhang of the femoral component had no significant relationship with postoperative clinical results in both Oxford and M-G II UKAs at a mean of 48 months follow-up.