Clinical reasoning for the continuation or discontinuation of hip precautions after total hip arthroplasty in Switzerland: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence raises doubts about the need for routine hip precautions after primary total hip replacements to reduce the risk of postoperative dislocation. However, hip precautions are still routinely and widely prescribed in postoperative care in Switzerland. We aimed to investigate experts' clinical reasoning for hip precaution recommendations after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Using a convenience sampling strategy, 14 semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with surgeons, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists in the vicinity of an inpatient rehabilitation clinic in Switzerland. Data analysis followed Mayring's principle of inductive and deductive structuring content analysis. RESULTS: Expert statements from the interviews were summarised into four main categories and 10 subcategories. Categories included statements on the incidences of dislocation and underlying risk factors; current preferences and use of hip precautions; their effect on physical function, anxiety, or costs; and patient's adherence to the movement restrictions. Hip surgeons routinely prescribed hip precautions, although in different variations. Fear of dislocation and caution are barriers to changing current practice. Some surgeons are considering individualised prescribing based on patients' risk of dislocation, which therapists would welcome. CONCLUSION: A lack of clear instructions from the surgeon leads to ambiguity among therapists outside the acute hospital. A shared understanding of the need for and nature of hip precautions, guidelines from societies, or at least specific instructions from surgeons to therapists are warranted.

[Evaluation of spino-pelvic mobility; its importance in preventing total hip replacement dislocation]. / Evaluación de la movilidad espino-pélvica; su importancia para prevenir la luxación de prótesis total de cadera.

Recently, it has been recognized that changes in sagittal alignment and spinopelvic mobility due to alterations of the lumbosacral spine can influence the dislocation of a hip replacement. The biggest difficulties for this problem are: a) the bibliography related to this topic has been written in English and there is confusion in its terminology; b) there is no consensus on what parameters should be used to identify, measure, and estimate the risks of dislocation occurring; c) the basic concepts that interrelate spinal disorders and prosthetic dislocation are not clearly understood; and d) spine and hip surgeons pursue different goals. The objective of this narrative review is to overcome the aforementioned difficulties by using a strategy to answer some questions: Is hip dislocation really a problem? What is the interrelationship between alterations in the pelvic spinal balance and the dislocation of a prosthesis? How is sagittal balance and lumbosacral mobility defined and how can their alterations be measured? What are their compensatory mechanisms to achieve a good functioning and how these mechanisms can be used to correctly orient the acetabulum? To document this review, we consulted the databases of PubMed, Scopus, SciELO and Google Scholar with the keywords: Spinopelvic, Total Hip Arthroplasty, Hip Dislocation, Spine-Pelvis-hip Arthroplasty. The articles that, in the author's opinion, were the most objective and/or relevant for the study of this topic were selected.

Recientemente se ha reconocido que los cambios en alineación sagital y la movilidad espino-pélvica por alteraciones de la columna lumbosacra pueden ejercer influencia en la luxación de una prótesis de cadera. Las mayores dificultades para este problema son: a) que la bibliografía relacionada con este tema se ha escrito en idioma inglés y hay confusiones en su terminología; b) no hay consenso de cuáles son los parámetros que deben utilizarse para identificarla, medirla y para estimar los riesgos de que ocurra una luxación; c) no se conocen con claridad los conceptos básicos que interrelacionen los trastornos de la columna y la luxación protésica; y d) que los cirujanos de columna y artroplásticos de cadera persiguen diferentes objetivos. Esta revisión narrativa persigue como objetivo allanar las dificultades antes mencionadas, utilizando como estrategia contestar algunas preguntas: ¿la luxación de cadera es realmente un problema?; ¿cuál es la interrelación entre las alteraciones en el balance espino-pélvico y la luxación de una prótesis?; ¿cómo se define el balance sagital y la movilidad lumbosacra y cómo se pueden medir sus alteraciones?; ¿cuáles son sus mecanismos compensatorios para lograr un buen funcionamiento, y cómo se pueden aprovechar estos mecanismos para orientar correctamente el acetábulo? Para documentar esta revisión se consultaron las bases de datos de PubMed, Scopus, SciELO y Google Académico con las palabras clave: Spinopelvic, Total Hip Arthroplasty, Hip Dislocation, Spine-Pelvis-hip Arthroplasty. Se seleccionaron los artículos que a juicio del autor fueron los más objetivos y/o relevantes para el estudio de este tema.

Use of the flat panel detector fluoroscope reduces radiation exposure during periacetabular osteotomy.

The Periacetabular Osteotomy is a technically demanding procedure that requires precise intraoperative evaluation of pelvic anatomy. Fluoroscopic images pose a radiation risk to operating room staff, scrubbed personnel, and the patient. Most commonly, a Standard Fluoroscope with an Image Intensifier is used. Our institution recently implemented the novel Fluoroscope with a Flat Panel Detector. The purpose of this study was to compare radiation dosage and accuracy between the two fluoroscopes. A retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients who underwent Periacetabular Osteotomy for symptomatic hip dysplasia was completed. The total radiation exposure dose (mGy) was recorded and compared for each case from the standard fluoroscope (n = 27) and the flat panel detector (n = 26) cohorts. Lateral center edge angle was measured and compared intraoperatively and at the six-week postoperative visit. A total of 53 patients (96% female) with a mean age and BMI of 17.84 (± 6.84) years and 22.66 (± 4.49) kg/m2 (standard fluoroscope) and 18.23 (± 4.21) years and 21.99 (± 4.00) kg/m2 (flat panel detector) were included. The standard fluoroscope averaged total radiation exposure to be 410.61(± 193.02) mGy, while the flat panel detector averaged 91.12 (± 49.64) mGy (p < 0.0001). The average difference (bias) between intraoperative and 6-week postoperative lateral center edge angle measurement was 0.36° (limits of agreement: - 3.19 to 2.47°) for the standard fluoroscope and 0.27° (limits of agreement: - 2.05 to 2.59°) for the flat panel detector cohort. Use of fluoroscopy with flat panel detector technology decreased the total radiation dose exposure intraoperatively and produced an equivalent assessment of intraoperative lateral center edge angle. Decreasing radiation exposure to young patients is imperative to reduce the risk of future comorbidities.

Impact of combined lumbar spine fusion and total hip arthroplasty on spine, pelvis, and hip kinematics during a sit to stand task.

Lumbar fusion is a risk factor for hip dislocation following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The objective was to compare joint/segment angles during sit-stand-sit in participants that had a THA with and without a lumbar fusion. The secondary objective was to compare pain, physical function, disability, and quality of life. This cross-sectional study includes participants that had THA and lumbar fusion (THA-fusion; n = 12) or THA only (THA-only; n = 12). Participants completed sit-stand-sit trials. Joint/segment angles were measured using electromagnetic motion capture. Angle characteristics were determined using principal component analysis. Hierarchical linear models examined relationships between angle characteristics and groups. Pain, physical function, and disability were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Upper lumbar spine was more extended during sit-stand-sit in the THA-fusion group (b = 42.41, P = 0.04). The pelvis was more posteriorly and anteriorly tilted during down and end sit-stand-sit phases, respectively, in the THA-fusion group (b = 12.21, P = 0.03). There were no significant associations between group and other angles. THA-fusion group had worse pain, physical function, disability, and quality of life. Although differences in spine joint, pelvis segment, and hip joint angles existed, these findings are unlikely to account for the increased incidence of hip dislocation after total hip arthroplasty in patients that had spine fusion.

Genome wide association study in Swedish Labrador retrievers identifies genetic loci associated with hip dysplasia and body weight.

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have been utilized to identify genetic risk loci associated with both simple and complex inherited disorders. Here, we performed a GWAS in Labrador retrievers to identify genetic loci associated with hip dysplasia and body weight. Hip dysplasia scores were available for 209 genotyped dogs. We identified a significantly associated locus for hip dysplasia on chromosome 24, with three equally associated SNPs (p = 4.3 × 10-7) in complete linkage disequilibrium located within NDRG3, a gene which in humans has been shown to be differentially expressed in osteoarthritic joint cartilage. Body weight, available for 85 female dogs, was used as phenotype for a second analysis. We identified two significantly associated loci on chromosome 10 (p = 4.5 × 10-7) and chromosome 31 (p = 2.5 × 10-6). The most associated SNPs within these loci were located within the introns of the PRKCE and CADM2 genes, respectively. PRKCE has been shown to play a role in regulation of adipogenesis whilst CADM2 has been associated with body weight in multiple human GWAS. In summary, we identified credible candidate loci explaining part of the genetic inheritance for hip dysplasia and body weight in Labrador retrievers with strong candidate genes in each locus previously implicated in the phenotypes investigated.

A rare soccer-related injury: Traumatic posterior hip fracture-dislocation - Case series and overview of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Soccer is one of the most popular sports with millions of active professional and non-professional players worldwide. Traumatic hip dislocations are rare in soccer but can lead to major sequelae both physically and psychologically. The aim of this review was to obtain insight into the outcomes after surgerically repaired hip fracture-dislocation in soccer players as well as rehabilitation and prevention. METHODS: Two cases of a posterior hip fracture-dislocation that occurred during an amateur soccer match are presented and mechanism of injury, complications and rehabilitation were analysed. Follow-up of both patients was at least one year after surgery. Questionnaires and physical examinations were obtained to quantify and qualify outcome. RESULTS: In both cases the hip-dislocations were reduced within 3 h after injury. Semi-elective open reduction and internal fixation was performed within seven days. In one case, there was a concomitant Pipkin fracture and sciatic nerve neuropathy. There were no postoperative complications. Follow-up showed full of range of motion and normal hip functionality in both cases. However, both patients indicated a reduced quality of life and anxiety related to the accident. CONCLUSION: Traumatic hip fracture-dislocations during soccer practice are extremely rare. Despite uncomplicated fracture healing after surgery and return of hip function, both patients still suffer from psychological problems resulting in a decreased quality of life. Further research is required to enhance psychological outcomes, as well as to facilitate return to pre-injury levels of participation and engagement in sports following traumatic hip fracture-dislocations related to soccer.

Neonatal Ultrasound and Radiographic Markers of Hip Dysplasia in Young Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To examine radiologic outcomes at skeletal maturity of sonographically normal, immature, mildly, and severely dysplastic newborn hips. METHODS: During 1988 to 1990, 11 925 newborns were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial examining screening strategies for developmental hip dysplasia. In total, 4469 were invited to clinical and radiologic follow-up 18 years later, of which 1735 had received neonatal ultrasound. Radiographic markers for dysplasia in left adult hips included the center-edge (CE) angle. RESULTS: At follow-up, 984 of 1735 (56.7%) with newborn ultrasound met, of which 966 (614 females) had valid radiographs and were thus included. For females, 34 (10.2%) and 1 (0.3%) of the 332 sonographically normal left neonatal hips were judged borderline (20°≤ CE <25°) or dysplastic (CE <20°) at skeletal maturity respectively. Corresponding numbers were 36 (19.7%) and 3 (1.6%) of the 183 immature, 12 (15.6%) and 2 (2.6%) of the 77 mildly dysplastic, and 3 (13.6%) and 3 (13.6%) of the 22 severely dysplastic neonatal left hips (P ≤ .001). In males, no associations were found. In females, adult joint hypermobility was associated with sonographic neonatal hip instability (P = .046), as well as with adult acetabular dysplasia (P = .024). CONCLUSIONS: Significant associations between neonatal hip phenotypes and adult dysplasia were revealed in females. This indicates the possibility of different mechanisms affecting the course of developmental dysplasia of the hip for females and males, prompting consideration of prolonged clinical and radiologic follow-up for females with dysplastic neonatal hips. Results in males are limited by low numbers of dysplastic hips. The significance of joint hypermobility warrants further investigation.

Acetabular "Fleck" Sign: Outcomes of Surgical Repair.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic, posterior hip dislocations in the pediatric population are typically managed by closed reduction to achieve a concentric hip joint. The presence of an acetabular "fleck" sign, despite concentric reduction, has been shown to signify significant hip pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of open labral repair through a surgical hip dislocation (SHD) in a consecutive series of patients with an acetabular "fleck" sign associated with a traumatic hip dislocation/subluxation. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients between 2008 and 2022 who presented to a single, level 1 pediatric trauma center with a traumatic posterior hip dislocation/subluxation was performed. Patients were included if they had an acetabular "fleck" sign on advanced imaging and underwent open labral repair through SHD. Medical records were reviewed for sex, age, laterality, mechanism of injury (MOI), and associated orthopaedic injuries. The modified Harris hip score (mHHS) was utilized as the primary clinical outcomes measure. Patients were assessed for the presence of heterotopic ossification (HO) and complications, including implant issues, infection, avascular necrosis (AVN), and post-traumatic dysplasia. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (23 male, average age: 13.0±2.7 y; range: 5.2 to 17.3) were identified. Eighteen injuries were sports related, 9 caused by motor vehicle accidents, and 1 pedestrian struck. All patients were found to have an acetabular "fleck" sign on CT (26 patients) or MRI (5 patients). Associated injuries included: femoral head fracture (n=6), pelvic ring injury (n=3), ipsilateral femur fracture (n=2), and ipsilateral PCL avulsion (n=1). At the latest follow-up (2.2±1.4 y), all patients had returned to preinjury activity/sport. Three patients developed asymptomatic, grade 1 HO in the greater trochanter region. There was no incidence of AVN. One patient developed post-traumatic acetabular dysplasia due to early triradiate closure. mHHS scores showed excellent outcomes (n=21, 94.9±7.4, range: 81 to 100.1). CONCLUSIONS: The acetabular "fleck" sign indicates a consistent pattern of osteochondral avulsion of the posterior/superior labrum. Restoring native hip anatomy and stability is likely to improve outcomes. SHD with open labral repair in these patients produces excellent clinical outcomes, with no reported cases of AVN. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-therapeutic.

Does Size Really Matter? Incidence of Periprosthetic Fractures After Femoral Osteotomy in Patients With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE: Of children, 30% to 35% with cerebral palsy (CP) develop hip subluxation or dislocation and often require reconstructive hip surgery, including varus derotation osteotomy (VDRO). A recent literature review identified postoperative fractures as the most common complication (9.4%) of VDROs. This study aimed to assess risk factors for periprosthetic fracture after VDRO in children with CP. METHODS: A total of 347 patients (644 hips, 526 bilateral hips) with CP and hip subluxation or dislocation (129 females; mean age at index VDRO: 8.6 y, SD 3.4, range: 1.5 to 17.7; 2 Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I, 35 GMFCS II, 39 GMFCS III, 119 GMFCS IV, 133 GMFCS V, 21 unavailable) were included in this retrospective, single-group intervention (VDRO) study at a tertiary referral center. Imaging and clinical documentation for patients age 18 years or younger at index surgery, treated with VDRO were reviewed to determine demographic data, GMFCS level, surgeon, type of hardware implanted, use of anticonvulsants and steroids, type of postoperative immobilization, presence of periprosthetic fractures, fracture location and mechanism, and time from surgery to fracture. Potential determinants of periprosthetic fractures were assessed using mixed effects logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 644 hips, 14 (2.2%, 95% CI: 1.3%, 3.6%) sustained a periprosthetic fracture, at a median of 2.1 years postoperatively (interquartile range: 4.6 y, range: 1.2 mo to 7.8 y). Patients with a fracture had a median age at index surgery of 7.3 years (interquartile range: 4.3, range: 2.8 to 17.8; 1 GMFCS II, 6 GMFCS IV, 7 GMFCS V). Periprosthetic fractures were not significantly related to age at index surgery ( P = 0.18), sex ( P = 0.30), body mass index percentile ( P = 0.87), surgery side ( P = 0.16), anticonvulsant use ( P = 0.35), type of postoperative immobilization ( P = 0.40), GMFCS level ( P = 0.31), or blade plate size ( P = 0.17). Only surgeon volume significantly related to periprosthetic fracture (odds ratio = 5.03, 95% CI: 1.53, 16.56, P = 0.008), with the highest-volume surgeon also using smaller blade plates ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Periprosthetic fractures after VDRO surgery in children with CP are uncommon, and routine hardware removal appears unnecessary. The data suggest that the common dogma of putting in the largest blade plate possible to maximize fixation may increase the risk of periprosthetic fracture. Due to the overall low fracture rate, especially when contextualized relative to the risk of hardware removal, a reactive approach to hardware removal appears warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective study (targeting varus derotational osteotomies in children with cerebral palsy).

Closed reduction of dislocated hip prosthesis using a traction table.

This article describes three cases in which a dislocated hip prosthesis was reduced by a new reduction technique - that we previously described - using traction table. The dissociation of a prosthesis is a rare but serious complication of closed reduction manoeuvre. The new reduction manoeuvre using a traction table may be a good option to avoid dissociation of the prosthesis during closed reduction for treatment of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty.

Unveiling the learning curve of periacetabular osteotomy.

Aims: Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is widely recognized as a demanding surgical procedure for acetabular reorientation. Reports about the learning curve have primarily focused on complication rates during the initial learning phase. Therefore, our aim was to assess the PAO learning curve from an analytical perspective by determining the number of PAOs required for the duration of surgery to plateau and the accuracy to improve. Methods: The study included 118 consecutive PAOs in 106 patients. Of these, 28 were male (23.7%) and 90 were female (76.3%). The primary endpoint was surgical time. Secondary outcome measures included radiological parameters. Cumulative summation analysis was used to determine changes in surgical duration. A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify independent factors influencing surgical time. Results: The learning curve in this series was 26 PAOs in a period of six months. After 26 PAO procedures, a significant drop in surgical time was observed and a plateau was also achieved. The mean duration of surgery during the learning curve was 103.8 minutes (SD 33.2), and 69.7 minutes (SD 18.6) thereafter (p < 0.001). Radiological correction of acetabular retroversion showed a significant improvement after having performed a total of 93 PAOs, including anteverting PAOs on 35 hips with a retroverted acetabular morphology (p = 0.005). Several factors were identified as independent variables influencing duration of surgery, including patient weight (ß = 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 0.7); p < 0.001), learning curve procedure phase of 26 procedures (ß = 34.0 (95% CI 24.3 to 43.8); p < 0.001), and the degree of lateral correction expressed as the change in the lateral centre-edge angle (ß = 0.7 (95% CI 0.001 to 1.3); p = 0.048). Conclusion: The learning curve for PAO surgery requires extensive surgical training at a high-volume centre, with a minimum of 50 PAOs per surgeon per year. This study defined a cut-off value of 26 PAO procedures, after which a significant drop in surgical duration occurred. Furthermore, it was observed that a retroverted morphology of the acetabulum required a greater number of procedures to acquire proficiency in consistently eliminating the crossover sign. These findings are relevant for fellows and fellowship programme directors in establishing the extent of training required to impart competence in PAO.

Management of long bone fractures and traumatic hip dislocations in paediatric patients: study protocol for a prospective global multicentre observational cohort registry.

INTRODUCTION: Management controversy and clinical equipoise exist in treatments of long bone fractures and traumatic hip dislocation in paediatric patients due to the lack of high-quality clinical evidence. This protocol describes the effort of a large prospective global multicentre cohort study (registry) aiming at providing quality data to assist evidence-based treatment decision-making. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Eligible paediatric patients (N=750-1000) with open physes suffering from proximal humerus fractures, distal humerus fractures, proximal radius fractures, forearm shaft fractures, traumatic hip dislocations, femoral neck fractures or tibial shaft fractures will be recruited over a period of 24-36 months. Hospitalisation and treatment details (including materials and implants) will be captured in a cloud-based, searchable database. Outcome measures include radiographic assessments, clinical outcomes (such as range of motion, limb length discrepancies and implant removal), patient-reported outcomes (Patient Reported Outcomes Of Fracture, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-Y)) and adverse events.Aside from descriptive statistics on patient demographics, baseline characteristics, types of fractures and adverse event rates, research questions will be formulated based on data availability and quality. A statistical analysis plan will be prepared before the statistical analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval will be obtained before patients are enrolled at each participating site. Patient enrolment will follow an informed consent process approved by the responsible ethics committee. Peer-reviewed publication is planned to disseminate the study results. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04207892.

What Do We Really Know About the Natural History of Spastic Hip Dysplasia and Pain in Total-involvement Cerebral Palsy? A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Hip surveillance protocols and surgery for spastic hip dysplasia have become standard of care for children with cerebral palsy (CP) out of concern for long-term sequelae, including pain. It is unclear if available data support that spastic hip dysplasia/dislocation independently correlates with pain in total-involvement CP. A better understanding of this correlation may help guide decision-making for these medically complex patients. METHODS: We undertook a systematic literature review to assess published data on the association of spastic hip dysplasia and pain in total-involvement CP using PubMed (which includes the MedLine databases) and EMBASE databases. A total of 114 English-language articles were identified. Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated using the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. RESULTS: Of 15 articles that specifically assessed the association of spastic hip dysplasia and pain, 5 articles provided strong evidence per our criteria regarding the correlation of pain and spastic hip dysplasia. All 5 articles described the severity of CP in their studied population, radiographically defined hip displacement, included a control group, and described how pain was assessed. Nevertheless, there was no standard classification of dysplasia between studies and the ages of patients and methods of pain determination varied. Four of the articles provided level III evidence and one provided level II evidence. Of these 5 articles with the strongest available evidence, data from 2 did not support a correlation between hip dysplasia and hip pain, 2 supported a correlation, and 1 was equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Even the best available evidence on spastic hip dysplasia and pain reveals no consensus or conclusion on whether spastic hip dysplasia and dislocation in total-involvement CP is independently correlated with pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-Prognostic study.

The contribution of the ligamentum teres to the hip fluid seal: A biomechanics study.

BACKGROUND: The suction seal of the hip plays an important role in maintaining hip stability; however, the function of the ligamentum teres in maintaining this seal remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the hip suction seal in ligamentum teres deficient hips for joint positions occurring during gait. METHODS: Six fresh-frozen human cadaveric hips were dissected and mounted to an Instron materials test system. Each specimen was analyzed for average peak distraction force, stiffness, and total energy during hip displacement. Testing was performed in the native intact ligamentum teres state and the deficient ligamentum teres state. Specimens were examined in 20° of flexion, neutral, and 10° of extension. FINDINGS: In the neutral position, the ligamentum teres deficient state displayed a significant decrease in peak distraction force (mean difference: 33.2 N, p < 0.001), average stiffness (mean difference: 63.7 N/mm, p = 0.016), and total energy (mean difference: 82.3 mJ, p = 0.022) compared to the intact controls. In extension, the deficient state exhibited a significant decrease in peak distraction force (mean difference: 42.8 N, p < 0.001) and total energy (mean difference: 72.9 mJ, p = 0.007). In flexion, the deficient state displayed a significant decrease in peak distraction force relative to contols (mean difference: 7.1 N, p = 0.003). INTERPRETATION: The ligamentum teres plays a significant role in maintaining the suction seal of the hip, with its effect being most prominent when the hip is in neural alignment or in extension. The findings suggest that ligamentum teres deficiency may be a relevant treatment target in the clinical setting.

Application of deep learning for automated diagnosis and classification of hip dysplasia on plain radiographs.

BACKGROUND: Hip dysplasia is a condition where the acetabulum is too shallow to support the femoral head and is commonly considered a risk factor for hip osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to develop a deep learning model to diagnose hip dysplasia from plain radiographs and classify dysplastic hips based on their severity. METHODS: We collected pelvic radiographs of 571 patients from two single-center cohorts and one multicenter cohort. The radiographs were split in half to create hip radiographs (n = 1022). One orthopaedic surgeon and one resident assessed the radiographs for hip dysplasia on either side. We used the center edge (CE) angle as the primary diagnostic criteria. Hips with a CE angle < 20°, 20° to 25°, and > 25° were labeled as dysplastic, borderline, and normal, respectively. The dysplastic hips were also classified with both Crowe and Hartofilakidis classification of dysplasia. The dataset was divided into train, validation, and test subsets using 80:10:10 split-ratio that were used to train two deep learning models to classify images into normal, borderline and (1) Crowe grade 1-4 or (2) Hartofilakidis grade 1-3. A pre-trained on Imagenet VGG16 convolutional neural network (CNN) was utilized by performing layer-wise fine-turning. RESULTS: Both models struggled with distinguishing between normal and borderline hips. However, achieved high accuracy (Model 1: 92.2% and Model 2: 83.3%) in distinguishing between normal/borderline vs. dysplastic hips. The overall accuracy of Model 1 was 68% and for Model 2 73.5%. Most misclassifications for the Crowe and Hartofilakidis classifications were +/- 1 class from the correct class. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study shows promising results that a deep learning model distinguish between normal and dysplastic hips with high accuracy. Future research and external validation are warranted regarding the ability of deep learning models to perform complex tasks such as identifying and classifying disorders using plain radiographs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic level IV.

Comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes for the anterior and medial approaches to open reduction in the treatment of bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) affects 1-3% of newborns and 20% of cases are bilateral. The optimal surgical management strategy for patients with bilateral DDH who fail bracing, closed reduction or present too late for these methods to be used is unclear. There are proponents of both medial approach open reduction (MAOR) and anterior approach open reduction (AOR); however, there is little evidence to inform this debate. METHODS: We will perform a systematic review designed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol. We will search the medical and scientific databases including the grey and difficult to locate literature. The Medical Subject Headings "developmental dysplasia of the hip", "congenital dysplasia of the hip", "congenital hip dislocation", "developmental hip dislocation", and their abbreviations, "DDH" and "CDH" will be used, along with the qualifier "bilateral". Reviewers will independently screen records for inclusion and then independently extract data on study design, population characteristics, details of operative intervention and outcomes from the selected records. Data will be synthesised and a meta-analysis performed if possible. If not possible we will analyse data according to Systematic Review without Meta-Analysis guidance. All studies will be assessed for risk of bias. For each outcome measure a summary of findings will be presented in a table with the overall quality of the recommendation assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation approach. DISCUSSION: The decision to perform MAOR or AOR in patients with bilateral DDH who have failed conservative management is not well informed by the current literature. High-quality, comparative studies are exceptionally challenging to perform for this patient population and likely to be extremely uncommon. A systematic review provides the best opportunity to deliver the highest possible quality of evidence for bilateral DDH surgical management. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO ID CRD42022362325).

Replacing hip precautions after hemiarthroplasty with a pose avoidance protocol.

AIMS: After hip arthroplasty surgery, hip precautions are often implemented to minimise the risk of dislocation, although existing evidence does not support their effectiveness. At our institution, we replaced post-operative precautions with a novel pose avoidance protocol in patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty for neck of femur fracture. The objectives of our study were to validate this new protocol by assessing the incidence of dislocation before and after its introduction and evaluating its impact on the length of hospital stay. METHODS: Between 20th September 2021 and 19th March 2023, 200 patients underwent 203 hip hemiarthroplasties. Hip precautions were replaced with the new pose avoidance protocol on 20th June 2022. Data were retrospectively collected and included patient demographics, Abbreviated Mental Test Score, American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade, surgical approach, prosthesis, dislocation, and mortality. RESULTS: The incidence of dislocation within 90 days after hip hemiarthroplasty decreased from seven out of 98 cases (7.1%) before 20th June 2022 to one out of 105 cases (1.0%), p-value 0.030. However, there was no significant difference in the length of stay, with a median (interquartile range) of 19 (10 - 29) days before 20th June 2022, and 16 (11 - 22) days thereafter, p-value 0.242. A multivariate logistic regression confirmed the pose avoidance protocol and the anterolateral approach to be independent negative predictors of dislocation, p-value 0.030 (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.077) and p-value 0.005 (OR 0.022), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hip precautions are unnecessary and potentially detrimental to patient outcomes following hemiarthroplasty. Replacing these precautions with our new pose avoidance protocol may have led to a significant reduction in dislocation rates and saved on the cost of adaptive equipment. We advocate for the anterolateral over the posterior approach in hip hemiarthroplasty to further mitigate the risk of dislocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.