Reducing patient-staff contact in fast-track total hip arthroplasty has no effect on patient-reported outcomes, but decreases satisfaction amongst patients with self-perceived complications: analysis of 211 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several studies have compared fast-track with conventional pathways for total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients, but none have compared different fast-track pathways. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our department had to minimize patient-staff contact in the THA pathway. First, telephone consultations were implemented instead of an outpatient clinic visit and subsequently preoperative patient education was discontinued. This enabled us to compare patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction among 3 fast-track pathways. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data from patients treated for hip osteoarthritis with THA at Gødstrup Hospital between 2018 and 2021. The patients had experienced 1 of 3 pathways and were interviewed via telephone between 2 and 6 months after discharge. We analyzed the influence of patient pathway on patient-reported pain and mobility level, self-perceived complications, and compliance using logistic regression. We then compared the pathway's effect on patient satisfaction both for the total sample and for the patients who experienced complications. RESULTS: The amount of patient-staff contact in the patient pathway did not have any influence on patientreported outcomes or the probability of self-perceived complications. For the full sample, patient-staff contact had no statistically significant influence on patient satisfaction either, but for the subgroup of patients experiencing complications, the pathways with less patient-staff contact reduced satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was primarily related to pain and mobility outcomes. INTERPRETATION: Our results indicate that reducing patient-staff contact in fast-track THA can be done without influencing mobility and pain outcomes, but the overall satisfaction among patients with self-perceived complications will be negatively affected.

Cemented and cementless dual mobility cups show similar fixation, low polyethylene wear, and low serum cobalt-chromium in elderly patients: a randomized radiostereometry study with 6 years' follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dual mobility (DM) articulation total hip arthroplasty (THA) is used increasingly to reduce dislocation risk. We investigated cup fixation, polyethylene (PE) wear, serum chromium and cobalt ions, and their correlation to physical activity in patients with DM cups at 6-year follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a patient-blinded RCT, 60 patients with hip osteoarthritis at a median age of 74 years (70-82) were randomly allocated to cemented (n = 30) or cementless hydroxyapatite-coated (n = 30) fixation of Avantage DM THA with a highly-crosslinked vitamin-E PE liner. Cup migration and PE wear were measured with radiostereometric analysis (RSA), chromium and cobalt ions were measured in serum, and physical activity was measured with accelerometers. RESULTS: At 6-year follow-up, proximal cup migration was similar: 0.14 mm (95% CI 0.01-0.28) for cemented cups and 0.21 mm (0.02-0.39) for cementless cups. The PE wear rate from 1- to 6-year follow-up was also similar: 0.06 mm/year (0.04-0.09) for cemented cups and 0.07 mm/year (0.04-0.11) for cementless cups. Serum metal ion levels were undetectable or very low. Physical activity was mainly low intensity and did not correlate to PE wear rate or cup migration. CONCLUSION: Cemented and cementless DM cups with highly crosslinked vitamin-E infused liners have similar cup migration and PE wear when used for primary THA surgery.

Less early subsidence of cemented Exeter short stems compared with cemented Exeter standard stems in Dorr type A femurs.

Aims: The Exeter short stem was designed for patients with Dorr type A femora and short-term results are promising. The aim of this study was to evaluate the minimum five-year stem migration pattern of Exeter short stems in comparison with Exeter standard stems. Methods: In this case-control study, 25 patients (22 female) at mean age of 78 years (70 to 89) received cemented Exeter short stem (case group). Cases were selected based on Dorr type A femora and matched first by Dorr type A and then age to a control cohort of 21 patients (11 female) at mean age of 74 years (70 to 89) who received with cemented Exeter standard stems (control group). Preoperatively, all patients had primary hip osteoarthritis and no osteoporosis as confirmed by dual X-ray absorptiometry scanning. Patients were followed with radiostereometry for evaluation of stem migration (primary endpoint), evaluation of cement quality, and Oxford Hip Score. Measurements were taken preoperatively, and at three, 12, and 24 months and a minimum five-year follow-up. Results: At three months, subsidence of the short stem -0.87 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) -1.07 to -0.67) was lower compared to the standard stem -1.59 mm (95% CI -1.82 to -1.36; p < 0.001). Both stems continued a similar pattern of subsidence until five-year follow-up. At five-year follow-up, the short stem had subsided mean -1.67 mm (95% CI -1.98 to -1.36) compared to mean -2.67 mm (95% CI -3.03 to -2.32) for the standard stem (p < 0.001). Subsidence was not influenced by preoperative bone quality (osteopenia vs normal) or cement mantle thickness. Conclusion: The standard Exeter stem had more early subsidence compared with the short Exeter stem in patients with Dorr type A femora, but thereafter a similar migration pattern of subsidence until minimum five years follow-up. Both the standard and the short Exeter stems subside. The standard stem subsides more compared to the short stem in Dorr type A femurs. Subsidence of the Exeter stems was not affected by cement mantle thickness.

The relationship between muscle power, functional performance, accelerometer-based measurement of physical activity and patient-reported outcomes in patients with hip osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis appear to have between-leg differences in leg extension power (LEP). The Nottingham Leg Extensor Power Rig provides reliable and valid results but requires sensitive equipment. It would be relevant to identify measures closely associated with this test. OBJECTIVE: (i) To investigate if LEP is lower in the affected leg compared to the non-affected leg. Furthermore, to investigate the associations between LEP and the measures: (ii) Functional performance, (iii) accelerometer-based measurement of physical activity and (iv) patient-reported outcome measures (PROM). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study including 60 patients (30 men, 30 women) with hip osteoarthritis scheduled for hip replacement. METHOD: The counter movement jump and 10-m sprint tests were used to determine functional performance, accelerometer-sensors were used to determine physical activity and the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) was used to determine PROM. RESULTS: (i) LEP in the affected leg corresponded to 79% [95% CI 74%; 85%] of the non-affected leg, (ii) LEP was positively associated with functional performance tests (ß 0.63 to 0.78, p < 0.05), (iii) positively associated although non-significantly with physical activity (ß 0.16 to 0.23, p > 0.05) and (iv) positively associated with the six HAGOS subscales (ß 0.25 to 0.54, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Functional performance tests may be used as feasible, inexpensive and fast ways to assess LEP in clinical settings. These results may suggest that interventions aimed at improving LEP can improve functional performance and PROM, but not physical activity. Future research is needed to confirm the causality of these cross-sectional findings. THE CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: Danish Data Protection Agency (1-16-02-640-14), ClinicalTrials.gov (NTC02301182) and approved by the Danish Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (1-10-72- 343-14) prior to data collection.

Indwelling urinary catheterisation may increase risk of complications in hip and knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Routine use of perioperative indwelling urinary catheterisation in fast-track total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still debatable, as urinary catheterisation may cause complications. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of re-catheterisa-tion and urologic complications during the initial 30 days following THA and TKA fast-track surgery. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study of 795 patients ≥ 50 years of age who had undergone elective fast-track THA or TKA with perioperative indwelling urinary catheterisation until the first post-operative morning. Primary outcomes were number of patients keeping their catheter the first post-operative morning and the incidence of re-catheterisations before discharge. Follow-up on post-discharge complications was done by phone 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 784 of 795 included patients (98.6%) were analysed for the primary outcomes, and follow-up data were available for 760 patients (95.6%). Three patients (0.4%) kept their catheter after the first post-operative morning and 25 patients (3.2%) were re-catheterised before discharge. The median length of stay was two days (interquartile range: 1-2). The incidence of post-operative urinary tract infections (UTI) was 4.2%, and about 30% of the patients experienced pre-to-post-operative aggravation of their lower urinary tract symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of perioperative indwelling urinary catheterisation in fast-track THA and TKA may increase the risk of post-operative UTI and does not eliminate the need for subsequent re-catheterisation. These findings speak against routine use of perioperative indwelling catheterisation. FUNDING: The study was supported by the Lundbeck Foundation and registered with clinicaltrials.gov. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov 8 April 2014 (NCT02133768).

The effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on myocardial injury in emergency hip fracture surgery (PIXIE trial): phase II randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) prevents myocardial injury in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. DESIGN: Phase II, multicentre, randomised, observer blinded, clinical trial. SETTING: Three Danish university hospitals, 2015-17. PARTICIPANTS: 648 patients with cardiovascular risk factors undergoing hip fracture surgery. 286 patients were assigned to RIPC and 287 were assigned to standard practice (control group). INTERVENTION: The RIPC procedure was initiated before surgery with a tourniquet applied to the upper arm and consisted of four cycles of forearm ischaemia for five minutes followed by reperfusion for five minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The original primary outcome was myocardial injury within four days of surgery, defined as a peak plasma cardiac troponin I concentration of 45 ng/L or more caused by ischaemia. The revised primary outcome was myocardial injury within four days of surgery, defined as a peak plasma cardiac troponin I concentration of 45 ng/L or more or high sensitive troponin I greater than 24 ng/L (the primary outcome was changed owing to availability of testing). Secondary outcomes were peak plasma troponin I and total troponin I release during the first four days after surgery (cardiac and high sensitive troponin I), perioperative myocardial infarction, major adverse cardiovascular events, and all cause mortality within 30 days of surgery, length of postoperative stay, and length of stay in the intensive care unit. Several planned secondary outcomes will be reported elsewhere. RESULTS: 573 of the 648 randomised patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (mean age 79 (SD 10) years; 399 (70%) women). The primary outcome occurred in 25 of 168 (15%) patients in the RIPC group and 45 of 158 (28%) in the control group (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.76; P=0.003). The revised primary outcome occurred in 57 of 286 patients (20%) in the RIPC group and 90 of 287 (31%) in the control group (0.55, 0.37 to 0.80; P=0.002). Myocardial infarction occurred in 10 patients (3%) in the RIPC group and 21 patients (7%) in the control group (0.46, 0.21 to 0.99; P=0.04). Statistical power was insufficient to draw firm conclusions on differences between groups for the other clinical secondary outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular events, 30 day all cause mortality, length of postoperative stay, and length of stay in the intensive care unit). CONCLUSIONS: RIPC reduced the risk of myocardial injury and infarction after emergency hip fracture surgery. It cannot be concluded that RIPC overall prevents major adverse cardiovascular events after surgery. The findings support larger scale clinical trials to assess longer term clinical outcomes and mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02344797.

Good function and high patient satisfaction at mean 2.8 years after dual mobility THA following femoral neck fracture: a cross-sectional study of 124 patients.

AIMS: Our aim was to investigate function, health status and satisfaction in patients treated with primary dual mobility (DM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) after displaced femoral neck fracture (FNF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2005-2011, 414 consecutive FNF patients received Saturne DM THA. At a minimum of 1-year follow-up, 124 (95 women) were evaluated with Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure (EQ-5D) and two functional tests: Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Sit to Stand 10 times (STS). The FNF patients were matched 1:2 by age, sex and surgery date with patients receiving THA due to osteoarthrosis (OA group) and 1-year OHS and EQ5D were compared. FNF patients were matched by age and sex with the general population index (GPI) for EQ-5D comparison. RESULTS: Patient age at surgery after FNF was mean 74.8 (range 30-92) years. At mean follow-up of 2.8 (range 1.0-7.7) years, mean EQ-5D score was 0.79 (SD 0.15) in the FNF group, which was similar to the matched GPI (p = 0.4), but lower (p = 0.014) compared to the OA group. Mean OHS was 36.4 (SD 9.5) in the FNF group and 38.4 (SD 7.2) in the OA group (p = 0.18). HHS in the FNF group was 78.7 (SD 15.5). Mean TUG time was 13.5 (SD 4.9) secs, and mean STS was 37.9 (SD 15.3) secs. Eighty nine percent (n = 111) of FNF patients were satisfied with the operation result. CONCLUSION: DM THA following displaced FNF provides a good functional result and quality of life in addition to high patient satisfaction.

Higher UHMWPE wear-rate in cementless compared with cemented cups with the Saturne® Dual-Mobility acetabular system.

INTRODUCTION: Dual mobility (DM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) may reduce dislocation risk, but might increase the risk of high polyethylene (PE) wear due to double wearing surfaces. METHODS: 127 patients (97 female) with 129 hips operated with THA after displaced femoral neck fracture FNF between 2005 and 2011, were seen for a cross-sectional clinical follow-up. Acetabular components were Saturne® DM cups with 28mm chrome-cobalt heads in UHMWPE. Cementless cups (n = 73) were hydroxyapatite coated. Radiographs were obtained for analysis of cup placement, 2D polyethylene wear and wear-rate (PolyWare 3D), and further radiological evaluation. Activity measurements included Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and walking distance from Harris Hip Score (HHS). RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 2.83 (1.0-7.7) years the mean wear was 0.82 mm (range 0.17-4.51, SD 0.50), and the wear-rate was 0.37 mm (range 0.06-1.90, SD 0.29). Wear-rate of 0.43 mm/year (SD 0.30) in cementless cups was higher (p = 0.004) than 0.30 mm/year (SD 0.27) in cemented cups. Mean age at time of surgery was 75.1 years (range 30-95). There was no correlation between age at time of surgery and wear (p = 0.56). There was no correlation between cup inclination and wear-rate (p = 0.35). TUG was mean 13.4 seconds (range 4.5-30.1) and correlated with wear rate (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: At short term follow-up, the mean wear-rate in old and low demand patients was high, correlated to activity, and was above the generally accepted osteolysis threshold (0.1 mm/yr.). Cementless HA-coated cups had higher wear-rate than cemented cups.

Higher UHMWPE wear-rate in cementless compared with cemented cups with the Saturne® Dual-Mobility acetabular system.

INTRODUCTION: Dual mobility (DM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) may reduce dislocation risk, but might increase the risk of high polyethylene (PE) wear due to double wearing surfaces. METHODS: 127 patients (97 female) with 129 hips operated with THA after displaced femoral neck fracture FNF between 2005 and 2011, were seen for a cross-sectional clinical follow-up. Acetabular components were Saturne® DM cups with 28mm chrome-cobalt heads in UHMWPE. Cementless cups (n = 73) were hydroxyapatite coated. Radiographs were obtained for analysis of cup placement, 2D polyethylene wear and wear-rate (PolyWare 3D), and further radiological evaluation. Activity measurements included Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and walking distance from Harris Hip Score (HHS). RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 2.83 (1.0-7.7) years the mean wear was 0.82 mm (range 0.17-4.51, SD 0.50), and the wear-rate was 0.37 mm (range 0.06-1.90, SD 0.29). Wear-rate of 0.43 mm/year (SD 0.30) in cementless cups was higher (p = 0.004) than 0.30 mm/year (SD 0.27) in cemented cups. Mean age at time of surgery was 75.1 years (range 30-95). There was no correlation between age at time of surgery and wear (p = 0.56). There was no correlation between cup inclination and wear-rate (p = 0.35). TUG was mean 13.4 seconds (range 4.5-30.1) and correlated with wear rate (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: At short term follow-up, the mean wear-rate in old and low demand patients was high, correlated to activity, and was above the generally accepted osteolysis threshold (0.1 mm/yr.). Cementless HA-coated cups had higher wear-rate than cemented cups.

[Penetrating injury of lower extremity caused by a heavy machine gun cartridge casing]. / Penetrerende underekstremitetslæsion forårsaget af patronhylster fra tungt maskingevær.

Penetrating injuries caused by cartridge casing are rarely described in the literature. This case report presents a 21-year-old male soldier with a lower extremity injury caused by a heavy machine gun cartridge casing. Physical examination revealed an entrance wound proximal and anterior of his right thigh and there were no exit wound identified. A radiograph of the femur showed the cartridge casing to have travelled caudally into the posterior aspect of the knee. There were no associated fractures or neurovascular injuries. The patient underwent surgical wound debridement and removal of the foreign body and was discharged fully recovered after three days.

Higher wear-rate of third-generation metal-backed Reflection cups with eto-sterilised UHMWPE at a mean 13 years follow-up.

Polyethylene (PE) wear and osteolysis is a recognised problem with non-cross linked PE liners and first generation modular cup designs. Wear particles induce osteolysis leading to aseptic loosening. We retrospectively compared the linear PE wear and implant survival and revision rates of the Reflection Cup and the Duraloc 300. After a mean clinical follow-up of 13 years (range 11-15 years), the 2D linear PE wear-rate of the Reflection liner (n = 68) was 0.23 mm/year, with a mean total wear of 3.14 mm (1.04-7.36), SD 1.45. The wear-rate of the Duraloc 300 cups (n = 32) was 0.14 mm/year, with a mean total wear of 1.84 mm (0.55-4.63), SD 1.07. The difference in PE wear-rate as well as mean total wear was highly significant (p = 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between wear-rate and both Oxford Hip Score and Harris Hip Score (p = 0.02). Large acetabular cup size (>54 mm), HA coating on the stem and age <50 years did not influence PE wear. The higher wear-rate in the Reflection liners could be related to the EtO sterilisation. Intermediate and long-term follow-up is advisable.

Failed total carpometacarpal joint prosthesis of the thumb: results after resection arthroplasty.

Total joint prosthesis in carpometacarpal joint arthritis of the thumb often fails. Loosening of the implant is often treated by resection arthroplasty, and we reviewed 10 patients, mean age 54 years (range 47-63) who were treated by resection arthroplasty after a failed total joint prosthesis. The male:female ratio was 1:4 and the mean duration of observation 32 months (range 6-52). In three patients the revised implant was a MOJE uncemented carpometacarpal joint prosthesis and in seven patients an Elektra uncemented one. At follow-up grip strength was reduced to less than 90% of the other hand in eight of 10 patients, but the mean Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) scores, self-reported pinch-grip-related function, and pain were comparable with our earlier published results with the Elektra carpometacarpal total joint prosthesis.