Total femoral replacement for salvage of periprosthetic fractures.

Patients with complex periprosthetic fracture patterns of the femur may ultimately require amputation. Some authors have described the use of mega-endoprostheses as a salvage procedure. This study reports functional outcome, complications, and implant and patient survival after total femoral replacement (TFR) for salvage of periprosthetic fracture of the femur. A prospective database of 20 consecutive patients who underwent TFR for salvage of a periprosthetic fracture was compiled. Patient demographics, mobility information, and preoperative and postoperative Short Form 12-item Survey (SF-12) and 1-year Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) data were recorded. Postoperative complications were obtained from the hospital database and patient medical notes. One patient was lost to follow-up and was excluded from analysis. The study included 8 men and 11 women, with a mean age of 68.4 years. No significant difference was noted in the prefracture physical (4.4; P=.13) or mental (0.3; P=.78) component scores of the SF-12 compared with 1-year scores. The TESS at 1 year was 69%. However, patients were more likely to require a walking aid postoperatively (P<.0001). One-fourth of the patients had a postoperative medical complication. In addition, 1 patient had a dislocation and 2 patients had a periprosthetic infection. The implant survival rate was 86% at 10 years; however, the 10-year mortality rate was 58%. Although TFR for salvage of a periprosthetic fracture of the femur offers good functional outcome and implant survival, it is at the expense of postoperative complications, and TFR is associated with a high long-term mortality rate.

The pediatric fracture of the scaphoid in patients aged 13 years and under: an epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the scaphoid are uncommon in the pediatric population. Despite their rarity, a significant number of children are referred to the fracture clinic for a suspected scaphoid fracture. The aim of this study was to report on the current incidence, pattern of injury, and the long-term outcomes following this injury in the pediatric population. METHODS: Analysis of all pediatric scaphoid fractures presenting to a tertiary pediatric hospital (aged 13 y and under) over a 5-year period was performed. The case notes, radiographs, and other imaging studies for these patients were reviewed. Long-term functional outcome was assessed using Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients of the 838 (6.7%) referred for a suspected scaphoid fracture were identified as having a confirmed diagnosis of a scaphoid fracture, giving an average annual incidence of 11 per 100,000. This group consisted of 39 boys (70%) and 17 girls (30%). The average age of incidence in boys was 12.2 years and in girls was 10.3 years (P<0.001). No scaphoid fractures were observed in boys below the age of 11 years and in girls below the age of 9 years. The most common type of fracture was a distal pole fracture (45 patients). One patient sustained a proximal pole fracture and went on to develop a nonunion. The duration of treatment in cast was shorter in distal pole fractures than in other types (P<0.001). At a mean follow-up of 70 months (range, 46 to 104 mo), 60% reported no limitation or impact when reporting a range of daily functional activities (mean DASH score=3.0). CONCLUSIONS: There is a suggestion that the overall incidence of scaphoid fractures in the pediatric population is increasing, but children aged 13 years and under continue to maintain a distinct fracture pattern when compared with adolescents and adults. The majority involves the distal third of the scaphoid and carries a good prognosis with conservative management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, Level 4.

Estimating the transfusion risk following total knee arthroplasty.

Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are likely to receive a blood transfusion, which may increase the risk of complications and prolong hospital stay. Considerable variation exists in transfusion practice among orthopedic surgeons following elective TKA. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between preoperative risk factors and the requirement for blood transfusions in patients undergoing a total hip or knee arthroplasty, but few have focused on transfusion risk in those specifically undergoing TKA.The authors performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of 2281 patients undergoing unilateral TKA in a district general hospital over a 10-year period. Multiple regression analysis models were used to identify risk factors associated with postoperative blood transfusion. A predictive model was created based on the regression coefficients and factor levels. The risk of transfusion was independently predicted by the patients' age at surgery (P<.001), preoperative hemoglobin (P<.001), weight (P=.009) and lateral retinacular release (P<.001). The preoperative variables of age, hemoglobin, and weight were incorporated into a model to provide an estimation of the transfusion risk. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 74% (95% confidence interval, 70%-77.5%). This study identifies risk factors independently associated with the risk of requiring a blood transfusion following TKA. The predictive model stratifies the risk according to the individual patient in the preoperative setting, allowing preventative measures to take place preoperatively. It also helps in the counseling of patients at high risk of requiring a postoperative blood transfusion.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair and capsular shift for recurrent anterior shoulder instability: functional outcomes and identification of risk factors for recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic Bankart repair and capsular shift is a well-established technique for the treatment of anterior shoulder instability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following arthroscopic Bankart repair and capsular shift and to identify risk factors that are predictive of recurrence of glenohumeral instability. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database consisting of 302 patients who had undergone arthroscopic Bankart repair and capsular shift for the treatment of recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. The prevalence of patient and injury-related risk factors for recurrence was assessed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the predicted probability of recurrence within two years. The chief outcome measures were the risk of recurrence and the two-year functional outcomes assessed with the Western Ontario shoulder instability index (WOSI) and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scores. RESULTS: The rate of recurrent glenohumeral instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair and capsular shift was 13.2%. The median time to recurrence was twelve months, and this complication developed within one year in 55% of these patients. The risk of recurrence was independently predicted by the patient's age at surgery, the severity of glenoid bone loss, and the presence of an engaging Hill-Sachs lesion (all p < 0.001). These variables were incorporated into a model to provide an estimate of the risk of recurrence after surgery. Varying the cutoff level for the predicted probability of recurrence in the model from 50% to lower values increased the sensitivity of the model to detect recurrences but decreased the positive predictive value of the model to correctly predict failed repairs. There was a significant improvement in the mean WOSI and DASH scores at two years postoperatively (both p < 0.001), but the mean scores in the group with recurrence were significantly lower than those in the group without recurrence (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified factors that are independently associated with a higher risk of recurrence following arthroscopic Bankart repair and capsular shift. These data can be useful for counseling patients undergoing this procedure for the treatment of recurrent glenohumeral instability and individualizing treatment options for particular groups of patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic level I. See Instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Range of flexion after primary TKA: the effect of soft tissue release and implant design.

Range of motion following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a crucial measure of clinical outcome. The purpose of this randomized, controlled study was to determine which factors are predictive of postoperative range of flexion. Fifty-six patients received either a standard or a high-flexion design NexGen Legacy Posterior-Stabilized TKA (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana). The relationship between preoperative flexion, intraoperative flexion, and range of flexion 1 year postoperatively was determined. The influence of soft tissue release and the type of femoral component was also investigated. A significant correlation existed between preoperative flexion, intraoperative flexion, and maximum flexion 1 year postoperatively. Patients who had a preoperative range of flexion less than the mean range of flexion for the overall group gained flexion, whereas patients with a preoperative range of flexion greater than the mean range of flexion lost flexion. The degree of soft tissue release performed and the type of implant used had no influence on maximum flexion at 1 year. The principal predictive factor of postoperative range of flexion, regardless of the degree of soft tissue release or implant design, is the preoperative and intraoperative range of flexion.

Autogenous bone grafting of uncontained bony defects of tibia during total knee arthroplasty a 10-year follow up.

Autogenous bone grafting of uncontained tibial bony defects was carried out in 18 patients during a cemented total knee arthroplasty. American Knee Society scores were used to compare the results of the grafted group with those of a control group of 132 total knee arthroplasty patients without a significant tibial bony defect. The patients were followed up for 10 years. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean knee scores of the 2 groups at the preoperative assessment. Postoperative results were comparable between the 2 groups, indicating a significant and similar improvement in the knee scores of the grafted and control groups. Autogenous bone grafting is an easy and reproducible method of dealing with uncontained tibial bony defects during a total knee arthroplasty.