The use of dual mobility cups in revision total hip arthroplasty for failed large head metal-on-metal bearings.

PURPOSE: Revision of failed large head metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a challenging procedure particularly to reconstruct acetabular bone defect due to osteolysis and to achieve hip stability due to soft tissue damages, both potentially caused by adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD). This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of dual mobility cup (DMC) constructs in revision THA for failed large head MoM bearings with a special attention to the occurrence of dislocation or re-revision. METHODS: Between 2015 and 2019, 57 patients (64 THAs, 41 men, mean age = 65 ± 10 years) underwent revision for MoM THA with the use of DMC were prospectively included in our total joint registry. Mean time to revision was 11 ± 2.5 years. The causes for revision were adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) in 49 THAs (76%), painful hip with elevated blood cobalt-chromium ions in seven (11%), and acetabular aseptic loosening in eight (13%). The revision was complete in 22 THAs (34%) and acetabular only in 42 (66%). Clinical and radiographic outcomes, complications, and re-revisions were evaluated at most recent follow-up. RESULTS: At mean follow-up of six ± 1.5 years, the pre- to postoperative Harris Hip Score improved from 74 ± 19 to 92 ± 4 (p = 0.004). Complications occurred in 11 cases (17%): five dislocations (8%), three periprosthetic infections (5%), two aseptic loosening of the acetabular component (3%), and two periprosthetic fractures (3%). Re-revision was required in six cases (9%). CONCLUSION: The use of DMC is a reliable option to prevent instability and ensure a stable acetabular reconstruction in revision THA for failed large head MoM bearings. However, dislocation after revision remains a concern, particularly in cases of severe soft tissue damage related to ARMD.

Total knee arthroplasty improves the quality-adjusted life years in patients who exceeded their estimated life expectancy.

PURPOSE: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the treatment of choice for end-stage osteoarthritis though its risk-benefit ratio in elderly patients remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate the functional outcome, rates of complication and mortality, and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in patients who exceeded their estimated life expectancy. METHODS: Ninety-seven TKA implanted in 86 patients who exceeded their estimated life expectancy at the time of TKA were prospectively included in our institutional joint registry and retrospectively analyzed. At latest follow-up, the functional outcome with the Knee Society Score (KSS), rates of complication and mortality, and QALY with utility value of EuroQol-5D score were evaluated. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of three ± one years, the pre- to post-operative KSS improved significantly (p < 0.01). The rates of surgical and major medical complications related to TKA were 3% and 10%, respectively. The re-operation rate with readmission was 3% while no TKA was revised. The 30-day and one year mortality was 1% and 3%, respectively. The pre- to one year post-operative QALY improved significantly (p < 0.01). The cumulative QALY five years after TKA was four years. Assuming that these patients did not undergo TKA, their cumulative QALY at five years would have been only two years. CONCLUSION: TKA is an effective procedure for the treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis in patients who exceeded their estimated life expectancy. TKA provided significant improvement in function and quality of life without adversely affecting overall morbidity and mortality. Therefore, TKA should not be contra-indicated in elderly patients based on their advanced age alone.

Comparison of the long-term cause of failure and survivorship of four hundred and twenty seven metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties: resurfacing versus large head total hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Comparison of mid- to long-term cause of failure and survivorship of metal-on-metal (MoM) resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA) and large head total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains sparse. This study aimed to identify and compare the cause of failure and survivorship of MoM RHA and THA at a minimum ten year follow-up. METHODS: Four hundred twenty-seven MoM hip arthroplasties (286 THA and 141 RHA) were retrospectively analyzed at a mean follow-up of 13 ± three years. Causes of failure were reported as MoM specific (i.e., adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) and painful hip with ion elevation) or MoM non-specific (i.e., fracture, infection, and dislocation). Chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) ion levels and Co/Cr ratio were compared. Survivorship was compared according to the cause of failure with revision as the endpoint. RESULTS: The rate of ARMD was significantly higher in THA (OR = 2.9 [95%-CI: 1-7]; p = 0.02). No significant difference was detected in failure rate due to other causes between the two groups (p = 0.2-0.9). Ion levels and Co/Cr ratio were both significantly higher in THA (p < 0.01). Survivorship was significantly lower in THA compared to RHA at ten years [89% (95%-CI: 85%-91%) vs 96% (95%-CI: 91%-98%); p = 0.01] and 15 years [73% (95%-CI: 67%-78%) vs 83% (95%-CI: 73%-90%); p = 0.01]. CONCLUSION: RHA survivorship was significantly higher at any time point. Failure rate due to ARMD was significantly higher in THA while no significant difference in other causes of failure was observed between the two groups. This result emphasizes the role of fretting corrosion at the head-neck junction (i.e., trunnionosis) with significantly higher ion levels and Co/Cr ratio dissociation in THA.

Carbon/PEEK nails: a case-control study of 22 cases.

BACKGROUND: Interest around carbon/PEEK plates and nails has been raising. The elastic modulus close to the bone, the high load-carrying capacity and radiolucency make CFR/PEEK materials a potential breakthrough. In the literature, there are abundant data about CFR/PEEK plates in the treatment of proximal humerus, distal radius and distal fibula fractures. In patients affected by bone metastasis, CFR/PEEK nails were proved effective and safe with 12 months of follow-up. Very little is known about performances of CFR/PEEK nails in patients affected by other pathologies. PURPOSES: The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of CFR/PEEK nails in the treatment of various pathological conditions. It was also investigated whatever radiolucency of this nails could lead to a more objective evaluation of bone callus or disease site. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the study group were included 20 patients (22 bone segments) who underwent CFR/PEEK nail implantation (eight humerus, one tibia, nine femur and four knee arthrodesis). They were affected by pathological fractures, and in four cases, they required an arthrodesis of the knee. They were retrospectively evaluated considering nail failures and bone callus or disease progression (RUSH scores). Mean follow-up time was 11 months (min 6.8-max 20.3). In the control group were included patients treated with titanium nails in the same institution for the same pathologies. An interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis was performed in both groups considering RUSH scores by two expert surgeon from two institution to assess whether radiolucency could lead to a more objective evaluation of disease or bone callus site. RESULTS: The ICC of mean values between RUSH scores was 0.882 (IC 95%: 0.702-0.953) in the CFR/PEEK group, while it was 0.778 (IC 95%: 0.41-0.91) in the titanium group. Observers' evaluation showed a significantly higher obscuration by titanium nails than by CFR/PEEK nails. No osteosynthesis failures were reported in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the safety of CFR/PEEK nails in the short-medium term. The radiolucency of these materials led our observers to perform more objective evaluations of bone callus formation or disease progression compared to the titanium group given the higher ICC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III Case-control therapeutic study.

[Myases from here and elsewhere†: pseudo-furonculosis and Ignatzschineria larvae bacteremia]. / Myiases d'ici et d'ailleurs†: pseudo-furonculose et bactériémie à Ignatzschineria larvae.

Myiasis is an infestation by maggots. In humans, it predominates in regions with low socio-economic development. We report on two cases of myiasis acquired during a tropical travel and in Switzerland, respectively. The first one presented as a furunculous-like disease due to the invasion of subcutaneous tissues by Cordylobia sp. larvae. The second corresponded to a chronic wound infestation that resulted in a rarely reported bacteremia due to Ignatzschineria larvae, a commensal bacteria of maggots' digestive tract. Surgery was necessary in both cases, mainly for psychological reasons in the first case. Both the entomologist and molecular biology were instrumental for treatment decisions.

La myiase est une infestation par des larves de mouches. Chez l'homme, elle prédomine dans les régions à faible niveau socio-économique. Nous rapportons ici deux cas de myiase, l'un acquis lors d'un voyage sous les tropiques et l'autre autochtone : une myiase furonculaire due à la pénétration d'une larve de diptère dans la peau, en l'occurrence Cordylobia sp. ; et une myiase de plaie survenue par ponte de mouches dans des tissus nécrotiques, avec une exceptionnelle bactériémie secondaire, due à une bactérie commensale du tractus digestif de ces larves, Ignatzschineria larvae. Dans les deux situations, la chirurgie a été nécessaire, pour une indication surtout d'ordre psychologique dans la première. Dans les deux cas, l'apport de l'entomologiste et de la biologie moléculaire a été déterminant dans la décision thérapeutique.

Conversion of hip resurfacing to total hip arthroplasty: is the outcome closer to primary or revision total hip arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: Along with the advent of newer bearings, hip resurfacing (HR) is gaining renewed interest as a bone sparing alternative to conventional total hip arthroplasty (THA) in young patients. However, the outcome of conversion of failed HR to THA (HRc) remains sparsely described. This study aimed to compare the outcomes and complication rates of HRc to those of primary (pTHA) and revision THA (rTHA) to find out to which group HRc is most comparable. HYPOTHESIS: The study hypothesis was that the outcomes and complications rates of HRc were closer to those of pTHA than rTHA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2001 and 2011, a continuous series of 207 HR were prospectively included in our institutional registry and retrospectively analyzed. Out of them, 17 HR (8%) were converted to THA. Propensity scores were used to match patients in the HRc group to the pTHA and the rTHA groups using a greedy 1:3 matching procedure (51 pTHA and 51 rTHA). Clinical and radiographic outcomes, perioperative data and complications were analyzed and compared between the three groups. RESULTS: No significant difference between HRc and pTHA was observed in terms of clinical and functional outcomes, duration of surgery, acetabular component diameter and length of hospital stay (p = 0.13 to 0.94). Perioperative blood loss was significantly lower for pTHA than for HRc (p = 0.01). HRc demonstrated significantly higher HHS and HOOS scores than for rTHA at one year (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively). Duration of surgery was significantly lower in HRc compared to rTHA (p = 0.02) while length of hospital stay was similar (p = 0.84). Complication rate was significantly higher in the rTHA group, compared to HRc and pTHA groups (37.3 vs. 29.4 vs. 11.8%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the clinical and functional outcomes of HRc were closer to those of pTHA than those of rTHA, though complication rate was higher than for pTHA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III; Retrospective comparative study.

Resurfacing Hip Arthroplasty Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Total Hip Arthroplasty in Young Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at comparing resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) in terms of rate of complications, revisions, functional outcomes, blood loss, operative time and metal ions levels. The search was conducted on three databases (PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science) updated until 13 October 2022. The inclusion criteria were RCTs) written in the English language, with no time limitation, comparing RHA and THA. Among the retrieved 4748 articles, 18 RCTs were eligible for a total of 776 patients (mean age 53.1 ± 5.0). A meta-analysis was performed. RHA reported significantly lower blood loss compared to THA (p < 0.001) but with longer operative time (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between RHA and THA in terms of complications (12.08% and 16.24%, respectively) and revisions (6.32% and 6.14%, respectively). Both RHA and THA provide excellent clinical results in a population of young and active patients. Functional outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. Moreover, no significant difference in metal ion levels was found. These findings provide evidence concerning the safety and clinical effectiveness of RHA. Because of its bone-preserving properties, the lack of drawbacks and good outcomes, RHA appears to be a valid alternative to THA in young and active patients.