Saline-Coupled Bipolar Sealing in Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of saline-coupled bipolar sealing devices in joint arthroplasty is uncertain, and the utility in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been reported. METHODS: This study compares the use of bipolar sealing and conventional electrocautery in 71 consecutive patients. The experimental and control groups were matched for age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and preoperative hemoglobin. Variables of interest included blood loss, transfusion requirements, and operative characteristics. RESULTS: In comparison to patients treated with conventional electrocautery, those treated with the bipolar sealer were 35% less likely to require transfusion. The median number of transfusions per case was also significantly lower in the experimental group. Hemoglobin change, total blood loss, and length of stay were not significantly different between the groups. The experimental group had longer operative times. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar sealing shows promise as a blood loss reduction tool in simultaneous bilateral TKA. The marginal savings attributed to reduced transfusion rates with use of the bipolar sealer did not exceed the additional per-case expense of using the device. The decision to use the device with the goal of less blood loss must come with the additional expense associated with its use.

Seven-year Results of a Tapered, Titanium, Hydroxyapatite-Coated Cementless Femoral Stem in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Aseptic loosening of cemented hip prostheses is recognized as a long-term problem, and especially in males and younger patients. Much energy has been focused on developing new prostheses that are designed for cementless fixation. We evaluated the performance of and periprosthetic bone response to a tapered, titanium, hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated femoral hip prosthesis at a minimum of 7 years of follow-up after treatment with primary total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients and 86 hips were included in the study. There were 35 men and 43 women; the mean age at the time of the operation was 59 years (range, 41 to 81 years). We used a tapered, titanium (Ti6Al4V), HA-coated femoral implant. We evaluated the patients at a minimum of 7 years of follow-up after treatment with primary total hip arthroplasty. Clinical evaluation was performed using the scoring system and the hip scores were assigned according to the level of pain, the functional status and the range of motion. The patients who refused to return, but who did forward X-rays for review after being contacted were questioned by phone about the functional status of their hip. Radiographic follow-up was performed at six weeks, at three, six and twelve months and yearly thereafter. All the available radiographs were collected and assessed for implant stability, subsidence, osseointegration, osteolysis, stress shielding and evidence of periprosthetic lucency. RESULTS: Eighty-six hips (78 patients) were available for review at follow-up of greater than 7 years. In 11 of the 86 cases, acetabular failure required revision of the acetabular component, but the femoral stem survived and it was available for long-term evaluation. The radiographs were obtained at 7-year follow-up for another 20 hips, but the patients would not come in for the 7-year clinical evaluation. Therefore, a phone interview was conducted to assess any change in the functional status at a minimum of 7 years. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical fixation of a tapered, titanium, HA-coated femoral implant was excellent in this study. This femoral design provided reliable osseointegration that was durable at a mean of 7 years follow-up.