Minimally invasive unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the outcome and surgical technique of minimally invasive unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with medial compartmental spontaneous osteonecrosis treated by minimally invasive Oxford phase 3 UKA from January 2009 to June 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Twelve subjects were men and 15 women, with an average age of 64.6 ± 8.6 years (52-82 years). At the time of diagnosis, 11 patients had with grade III necrosis and 16 grade IV according to Mont's classification. Pain, range of motion (ROM) and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee scores were evaluated before and after UKA. Pre-and postoperative alignment of the lower limbs was measured and compared. Postoperative radiographic assessments were made according to the guidelines proposed by the Oxford group at the final follow-up. RESULTS: All patients were followed for a mean time of 27.8 ± 15.9 months (6-59 months). There were no serious adverse events, such as infection, bearing dislocation, aseptic loosening, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, cardio-cerebral vascular incident or psychological problems. One revision was required for unrelated causes (fracture of tibia plateau) 3 years after arthroplasty. One femoral component was tilted with a postoperative radiographic angle >10°. One radiolucent line was observed in a patient with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. The two patients with implant failure had no symptoms at last follow-up. Visual analogue scale scores decreased from 6.9 ± 0.9 to 2.0 ± 1.1 (t = 19.27, P = 0.00). Pain was relieved in 96.3% of subjects (26/27). The mean post-operative ROM and femorotibial angle were 125.7° ± 9.6° and 177.7° ± 3.1°, respectively. HSS scores increased from 61.3 ± 9.7 to 93.0 ± 4.8 (t = 14.46, P = 0.00). Of the 27 patients, 26 (96.3%) were satisfied with the outcome of this surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive UKA is an effective means of managing spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. The short-term outcome of UKA is encouraging.

Quality of sexual life after total hip arthroplasty in male patients with osteonecrosis of femoral head.

BACKGROUND: Patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) have a severe impact on their health status, functionality and quality of life. Sexual life is an important component of the quality of life and is still a frequently neglected domain in patients with ONFH. The aims of the study were to evaluate the influence of the disease and the total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery on quality of sexual life (QSL) in these patients. METHODS: A prospective, self-controlled study was done. 247 patients of ONFH who underwent unilateral or bilateral THA were asked to complete a standardized QSL questionnaire, and the score of QSL was evaluated preoperatively and at first year follow-up of post-THA operation. RESULTS: The mean age of the patient was 46.8 (range 25-60) years. 194 cases (78.5%, 276 hips) were alcohol-induced ONFH. There is significant decrease (p = 0.026) in sexual relationship impairment on the 0-8 scale from pre-THA (5.3 ± 0.7) to post-THA (2.3 ± 0.4). There is no significant difference for effect on sexual function (p = 0.14) between pre-THA (2.3 ± 0.4) and post-THA (1.8 ± 0.3). There is significant improvement (p = 0.018) in overall sexual satisfaction degree of patients on the 1-5 scale from pre-THA (2.7 ± 0.2) to post-THA (4.7 ± 0.6), but no significant increase for sexual partner. CONCLUSION: ONFH has impaired relationships with partner and overall sexual satisfaction degree of the male patients; THA has improved significantly relationships with partner and overall sexual satisfaction degree of the male patients, but no effect on sexual function of the patients and overall sexual satisfaction degree of sexual partner.

Efficacy of multimodal cocktail periarticular injection with or without steroid in total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal cocktail periarticular injection (MCPI) with a large volume of low concentration local anesthetics, adrenaline, and anti-inflammatory agents such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or steroids have shown good pain control and improvement in range of motion after surgery. This study compares the efficacy of pain control after total knee arthroplasty, using multimodal cocktail periarticular injection with steroid or without steroid. METHODS: This is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized and control study. Seventy-two patients with osteoarthritis that met clinical criteria for total knee arthroplasty were recruited into the study, and were randomized to receive either multimodal cocktail periarticular injection with steroid or without steroid. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) at preoperative and postoperative at rest, and during activity. The range of motion was recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. The amount of daily and cumulative morphine consumption were measured by patient-controlled analgesia in the first 72 hours postoperatively. The duration of celecoxib usage was also recorded at the last follow-up. RESULTS: There were no differences between the non-steroid and steroid groups with regard to VAS at rest and during activity, or range of motion, at any postoperative observation time. The postoperative Knee Society Knee Score in the steroid group improved significantly as compared with that in non-steroid group at the one-month (84.1±13.1 and 65.9±12.1; P < 0.0045), three-month follow-up (90.2±16.3 and 72.5±16.6; P < 0.0027), but after postoperative six-month the Knee Society Knee Score showed no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant difference in consumption of the morphine about daily or total consumption within 72 hours between the two groups. The duration of celecoxib usage in patients in the steroid group was significantly shorter than that in the non-steroid group ((7.2±0.7) compared with (10.5±1.9) weeks; P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The patients who received the steroid injection had faster rehabilitation and less non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs consumption.

[Effects of posterior tibial slope on non-contact anterior cruciate ligament rupture and stability of anterior cruciate ligament rupture knee].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively explore the correlation between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-ruptured knees, stability of ACL-rupture knee and posterior tibial slope (PTS). METHODS: From January 2008 to October 2012, 150 knees with ACL rupture underwent arthroscopic surgery for ACL reconstruction. A control group was established for subjects undergoing arthroscopic surgery without ACL rupture during the same period. PTS was measured on a digitalized lateral radiograph. Lachman and mechanized pivot shift tests were performed for assessing the stability of knee. RESULTS: There was significant difference (P = 0.007) in PTS angle between the patients with ACL rupture (9.5 ± 2.2 degrees) and the control group (6.6 ± 1.8 degrees). Only among females, increased slope of tibial plateau had effect on the Lachman test. There was a higher positive rate of pivot shift test in patients of increased posterior slope in the ACL rupture group. CONCLUSION: Increased posterior tibial slope (>6.6) appears to contribute to non-contact ACL injuries in females. And the changes of tibial slope have no effect upon the Lachman test. However, large changes in tibial slope affect pivot shift.

Clinical diagnosis and arthroscopic treatment of acetabular labral tears.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical diagnosis and arthroscopic treatment of acetabular labral tears. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with unilateral acetabular labral tears hospitalized from November 2008 to December 2009 were included in this retrospective study. A definitive diagnosis was made preoperatively on the basis of physical examination, plain radiography and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA). All cases were treated with arthroscopic surgeries: labral debridement (14 cases), labral debridement plus femoral osteoplasty (5 cases), and labral repair plus osteoplasty (2 cases). All patients were followed-up and the results evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Harris hip score. RESULTS: A positive flexion, abduction and internal rotation (FADIR) impingement sign was found in all 21 affected hips, a positive flexion, abduction and external rotation (FABER) impingement sign in 15, and a positive McCarthy test in 9. Plain radiography showed 11 cases had cam type impingement, in 6 of whom it was combined with pincer type impingement; and 2 cases had acetabular retroversion alone. Labral tears were observed on MRA in all cases and were all confirmed by arthroscopy. All patients were followed up for an average of 11.6 months (range, 6 to 19 months). The VAS decreased from (5.3 ± 1.3) preoperatively to (1.4 ± 0.9) 6 months postoperatively. The mean Harris hip score improved from (63 ± 9) preoperatively to (84 ± 10) 6 months postoperatively. All these differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Acetabular labral injury is closely correlated with femoro-acetabular impingement. Impingement tests and MRA have high sensitivity and accuracy in clinical diagnosis of labral tears. Arthroscopic debridement, repair and osteoplasty for labral tears results in a good early outcome.

Treatment of nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head using bone impaction grafting through a femoral neck window.

Nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (non-ONFH) is a disorder that can lead to femoral head collapse and the need for total hip replacement. Various head-preserving procedures have been used for this disease to avert the need for total hip replacement. These include various vascularised and nonvascularised bone grafting procedures. We examined the effect of bone-grafting through a window at the femoral head-neck junction known as the "light bulb" approach for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head with a combination of demineralised bone matrix (DBM) and auto-iliac bone. The study included 110 patients (138 hips; 41 females, 69 males; mean age 32.36 years, range 17-54 years) with stage IIA-IIIA nontraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head according to the system of the ARCO (Association Research Circulation Osseous). The bone grafting procedure is called "light bulb" procedure in which the diseased bone was replaced by a bone graft substitute (combination of DBM and auto-iliac bone).The outcome was determined by the changes in the Harris hip score, by progression in radiographic stages, and by the need for hip replacement. The mean follow-up was 25.37 months (range 7-42 months). All data were processed by a statistics analysis including Cox risk model analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Pre- and postoperative evaluations showed that the mean Harris hip score increased from 62 to 79. Clinically, 94 of 138 hips (68%) were successful at the latest follow-up, and radiological improvement was noted in 100% of patients in stage IIA, 76.67% of patients in stage IIB and 50.96% of patients in stage IIC and IIIA cases. Excellent and good results according to the Harris score were obtained in 100% of cases in stage IIA, 93.33% in stage IIB and 59.62% in stages IIIA and IIC stage, with a survivorship of 85% in stages IIA and IIB and 60% in stage IIIA and IIC cases. Cox risk model analysis showed that the clinical success rate correlated with both pre-operation stage and the necrotic area of the femoral head. The complications included ectopic ossification, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve lesion and joint infection. This procedure may be effective at avoiding or forestalling the need for total hip replacement in young patients with early to intermediate stages of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Therefore, it may be the treatment of choice particularly in nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head of pre-collapse stage with small and middle area (<30%, or the depth of collapse <2 mm).

Treatment of nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with the implantation of core decompression and concentrated autologous bone marrow containing mononuclear cells.

BACKGROUND: Since self-limited repair ability of the necrotic lesion may be a cause for failure of the technique, the possibility has been raised that bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) containing BMSCs implanted into a necrotic lesion of the femoral head with core decompression (CD) may be of benefit in the treatment of this condition. For this reason, we studied the implantation of the concentrated autologous bone marrow containing mononuclear cells in necrotic lesion of the femoral head to determine the effect of the method. METHODS: The study included 45 patients (59 hips, 9 females, 36 males; mean age 37.5 years, range 16-56 years) with stages I-IIIA nontraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head according to the system of the Association Research Circulation Osseous. Concentrated bone marrow (30-50 ml) containing mononuclear cells has been gained from autologous bone marrow (100-180 ml) obtained from the iliac crest of patient with the cell processor system. Concentrated bone marrow was injected through a CD channel into the femoral head. The outcome was determined by the changes in the Harris hip score, by progression in radiographic stages, and by the need for hip replacement. The mean follow-up was 27.6 months (range 12-40 months). RESULTS: Pre- and post-operative evaluations showed that the mean Harris hip score increased from 71 to 83. Clinically, the overall success is 79.7%, and hip replacement was done in 7 of the 59 hips (11.9%). Radiologically, 14 of the 59 hips exhibited femoral head collapse or narrowing of the coxofemoral joint space, and the overall failure rate is 23.7%. The number of BMMCs increased from 12.2 +/- 3.2 x 10(6)/ml to 35.2 +/- 12 x 10(6)/ml between pre-concentration and post-concentration. CONCLUSION: The concentrated autologous bone marrow containing mononuclear cells implantation relieves hip pain, prevents the progression of osteonecrosis. Therefore, it may be the treatment of choice particularly in stages I-II nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.