Heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in congenital hip disease: comparison of two different prophylactic protocols.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of combined postoperative radiotherapy and indomethacin compared to indomethacin alone for the prevention of heterotopic ossification (HO) in high-risk patients with congenital disease of hip (CDH) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients received indomethacin alone (Group A), while 44 patients received the combined protocol (Group B). Patients >or=55 years were enrolled in Group B and those younger than 55 years in Group A. Patients were evaluated radiologically for the presence of HO 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: The incidence of HO in Group A was 34.5% (95% confidence interval 22.2-48.6%), while the respective incidence in Group B patients was 27.3% (95% CI 15.0- 42.8%). The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.5). No significant treatment-related side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study evaluating the impact of HO prophylaxis in an immiscible population of patients with secondary arthritis due to CDH undergoing THA. Further future randomised evidence is required in order to ascertain the observed trend towards improved efficacy of the combined protocol for HO development.

Multicentre use of a porous tantalum monoblock acetabular component.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the minimum five-year prospective results from the multicentre use of a porous tantalum monoblock acetabular component for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). A multicentre study was performed in 253 consecutive primary THAs in three separate surgical centres. All patients underwent identical postoperative protocols including radiological and clinical evaluation. The average preoperative total HHS score was 44.0 +/- 13.8 and increased at one-year follow-up to 95.2 +/- 4.8 (p <0.05), remaining constant through the five-year follow-up at 97.0 +/- 6.2 (p < 0.05). There was no radiographic evidence of gross polyethylene wear, progressive radiolucencies, osteolytic lesions, acetabular fracture, or component subsidence. From these results, we can recommend the continued use of this material for acetabular components in primary THA and that further review of the current multicentre population is warranted to determine the long-term durability of the acetabular composite.

Use of (99m)Tc-sulesomab for the diagnosis of prosthesis infection after total joint arthroplasty.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of antigranulocyte scintigraphy using the antibody fragment (99m)Tc-sulesomab (LeukoScan) for the diagnosis of prosthesis infection in patients with total hip or knee arthroplasty. The results from 19 patients with suspected total joint arthroplasty infection who had undergone a three-phase bone scan and a subsequent examination with (99m)Tc-sulesomab during a 1-year period were reviewed. Twelve patients were shown to have prosthesis infection on culture of aspirated synovial fluid or intra-operative samples. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy for (99m)Tc-sulesomab were 75%, 86%, 90%, 66% and 79%, respectively, compared with 54%, 83%, 88%, 45% and 63%, respectively, for the three-phase bone scan. This study showed that (99m)Tc-sulesomab had good diagnostic value for the detection of prosthesis infection. The combination of (99m)Tc-sulesomab with other laboratory or imaging examinations may improve diagnostic performance in prosthesis infection and should be investigated further.