Fibula head is a useful landmark to predict the location of posterior cruciate ligament footprint prior to total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The hypothesis of our study is that a routine tibial cut during cruciate retaining TKA may result in a partial or a total removal of the PCL footprint. Therefore providing a reliable landmark is essential to estimate the probability of PCL damage with a tibial cut and to enable the surgeon to decide pre-operatively whether a cruciate retaining implant design is suitable. METHODS: In a case series of 175 cruciate retaining TKA, the routinely made standing postoperative AP-view radiographs were evaluated to determine the distance between fibula head and tibial cutting plane. In a second case series knee MRI of 223 subjects were consecutively used to measure the vertical distance between tibial attachment of PCL and fibula head. The probability of partial or total PCL damage was calculated for different vertical distances between tibial cut and fibula head. RESULTS: The vertical distance between the tibial cut and the most proximal point of the fibula head averaged 6.1 mm ±4.8 mm. The mean vertical distance from fibula head to proximal and to distal PCL footprint revealed to be 11.4 mm ±3.7 mm and 5.4 mm ±2.9 mm, respectively. The location of the insertion was not significantly different between subgroups such as age (<50 or >50 years), gender and side. Based on our results 11 (7%) knees were considered at high risk of an entire PCL removal after implantation of a cruciate retaining TKA design. CONCLUSIONS: Currently available routine tibial preparation techniques result in partial or total posterior cruciate ligament detachment. Fibula head as a landmark aids to predict the PCL location and to estimate its disruption pre- and postoperatively on AP-view radiographs.

High-flexion mobile-bearing knees: impact on patellofemoral outcomes in 159 patients.

Ethnic cultural demands of the patient have encouraged surgeons to use high-flexion designs. It has been speculated that these high-flexion designs may produce higher incidence of patellofemoral complications over conventional designs. We wish to report 5- to 7-year follow-up of this design with special emphasis on patellofemoral outcomes. We performed a prospective study involving 159 patients who underwent computer-assisted simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with high-flexion design. Patients were evaluated clinically using Knee Society score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) score, and Hospital for Special Surgery patella score with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years. At last follow-up, mean scores were KSS (88.7), WOMAC (48.5), and HSS (86.7). All the scores improved postoperatively. Average preoperative range of motion was 108 degrees, which improved to 132 degrees postoperatively. There was no evidence of loosening or spin out in our study. Our study shows that TKA done using high-flexion rotating platform design results in near normal patellofemoral tracking patterns with improvement in function. The level of evidence of the study is IV.

Simultaneous bilateral computer assisted total knee arthroplasty: the effect of intravenous or intraarticular tranexamic acid.

The use of tranexamic acid (TA) in total knee arthroplasty is well documented. However, there is limited evidence to suggest the use of TA in simultaneous bilateral computer assisted total knee arthroplasty (CATKA). We, therefore, studied the effect of TA, in simultaneous bilateral computer assisted total knee arthroplasty, in terms of blood transfusion, routes of administration and complications. We divided 90 patients into three groups. Group I patients received intravenous normal saline alone (IVNS group). Group II received intravenous TA alone (IVTA group). Group III received intraarticular TA alone (IATA group). Our study confirms that there is significant benefit of using TA but no difference between the intravenous or intraarticular routes of administration.

Simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement: a prospective study of 150 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of simultaneous bilateral total knee replacement (TKR). METHODS: 124 women and 26 men (mean age, 66 years) underwent simultaneous bilateral TKR for tricompartmental osteoarthritis using a posteriorstabilised, high-flexion implant. All patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography for detection of any silent cardiac comorbidity by a cardiologist. None had any adverse effect after testing. Five patients had positive outcome and underwent coronary angiography to detect any significant coronary blockage. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Knee Society Score (KSS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Tranexamic acid was given intravenously to reduce peri-operative blood loss. Femoral blocks and patient-controlled analgesia were used to facilitate early recovery. Aggressive physiotherapy was allowed. Patients were followed up at months 3, 6, and 12, and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: At the 2-year follow-up, the mean range of motion improved from 95º to 129º (p=0.032), the mean KSS from 120 to 158 (p<0.001), and the WOMAC from 51 to 88 (p=0.002). One patient developed patellar crepitus at week 6, which resolved with conservative treatment. Another patient developed infection in both knees at month 6. Despite salvage procedures, infection recurred after 3 months and the patient underwent bilateral arthrodesis. No patient developed deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, or other cardiac event. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous bilateral TKR is safe for properly selected patients.

Outcome of subvastus approach in elderly nonobese patients undergoing bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Subvastus approach in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) spares the quadriceps and may assist in faster rehabilitation. The present randomised controlled study was conducted to determine if the subvastus approach results in early recovery, faster mobilization, shorter hospital stay, and improved function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 100 patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA were randomized into two groups: subvastus group and medial parapatellar group. The patients were assessed clinically using VAS, time to straight leg raise, ability to stand with walker, ability to use a commode chair, ability to climb stairs, flexion at discharge, and day of discharge. Perioperative blood loss and duration of surgery were also compared. The patient were kept on same pain management and physiotherapy protocol. The evaluation was done at day 0,1,3 and at discharge. Statistical analyses tested the null hypotheses of no differences in patients treated with either group at 95% significance level (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The VAS score was significantly lower in subvastus group on day 1 and day 3. Also mean hospital stay was 2.04 days less in subvastus group. Patients with subvastus approach were able to perform straight leg raising 0.44 days earlier. Though time to stand with walker was same for both groups, the ability to use commode chair, and climb stairs was significantly early (P < 0.05) in the subvastus group. The average flexion at the time of discharge in subvastus and parapatellar group were 100.8 and 96.8°, respectively. The mean perioperative blood loss in subvastus group and parapatellar group were 343 ml and 372 ml, respectively. Average surgical time required for subvastus approach and parapatellar approach were 108.5 and 94.3 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Subvastus approach produce appreciably less pain and faster mobilization due to lesser insult to quadriceps, thus assisting in early rehabilitation, shorter hospital stay, less expenditure, and more patient satisfaction.

Use of bone graft substitute in the treatment for distal radius fractures in elderly.

INTRODUCTION: Fractures of the distal radius in elderly patients are often associated with metaphyseal defects that can lead to collapse, malunion and therefore decreased function. An alternative approach to simple reduction is to fill the defects with materials that can provide structural support. METHODS: We used synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) in unstable fractures of the distal radius in thirty-one elderly patients, of which four patients lost to follow-up, leaving twenty-seven patients for this study. All subjects underwent closed reduction with K-wire fixation and HA augmentation. They were followed up at 8- and 16-week intervals post-operatively to assess the functional outcome using patient-related wrist evaluation [PRWE], clinical outcome and radiological outcome. RESULTS: At mean 16 weeks, our results show that patients treated with this method showed no metaphyseal defect, no collapse and had satisfactory clinical outcome as assessed by PRWE. CONCLUSION: We believe that fixation with hydroxyapatite augmentation for fractures of the distal radius in elderly patients is an attractive therapeutic option. This experience has changed our clinical practice.

The "Shetty test" in ankle injuries: validation of a novel test to rule out ankle fractures.

Ankle sprains are by far the commonest ankle injuries. The traditional clinical approach, to any ankle injury, is a clinical examination followed by radiological examination. We have developed a simple clinical test to rule out fractures in ankle injuries and thereby eliminating the necessity for radiological examination. Our test is simple, reproducible, economic, time saving and avoids potential radiation exposure risks.