Effect of restoration of combined offset on stability of large head THA.

Improvements in bearing technology have resulted in a reduction in wear and larger femoral heads to reduce dislocation rates. We retrospectively reviewed 668 primary THAs (580 patients) inserted with 32 mm or 36 mm femoral heads (1/2003-6/2007) performed through a posterior approach with posterior repair. Patients received a questionnaire assessing instability and dislocations. We compared clinical and radiographic data between patients with and without dislocations. Follow-up averaged 3.4 years (range 2-6.6 years). The dislocation rate was 1.3% (9/668). Decreasing the combined postoperative offset (lateral offset + medial offset measurements) and using acetabular cups larger than 58 mm in outer diameter increased the risk of dislocation. A majority of the hips that dislocated had negative combined offset and abduction angles in the upper and lower quartiles of all hips studied. Appropriate positioning should be used to minimise dislocation risk in THAs inserted with large femoral heads.

The validity of self-report as a technique for measuring short-term complications after total hip arthroplasty in a joint replacement registry.

This study evaluated concordance between self-reports and surgeon assessments of short-term complications. A total of 3976 primary total hip arthroplasty patients consented for an institutional registry (5/2007-12/2008); 3186 (80.1%) completed a 6-month survey; 137 (4.4%) reported deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, major bleeding, fracture, or dislocation. Patients reporting complications were called. Positive predictive values and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for patient self-report were measured, using surgeon assessment for comparison: pulmonary embolism, 88.9% (95% CI, 78.4%-99.4%); dislocation, 81.1% (95% CI, 75.9%-86.5%); fracture, 73.7% (95% CI, 63.8%-83.5%); deep venous thrombosis, 69.7% (95% CI, 61.9%-77.5%); major bleeding, 32.0% (95% CI, 19.4%-44.5%); any bleeding, 88.0% (95% CI, 75.3%-99.9%). Of 97 confirmed complications, 64.95% presented to outside institutions. Registry data on self-reported complications may overcome limitations of traditional methods, but data should be interpreted cautiously. Concordance was high for PE and dislocation but low for major bleeding.

Relationship between demographic variables and preoperative pain and disability in 5945 total joint arthroplasties at a single institution.

Using a prospective institutional registry, 5945 total joint arthroplasty patients were evaluated for the following preoperative variables: sex, age, living situation, pain (visual analog scale), and activity level (lower extremity activity scale). Univariate analysis was performed with χ(2), t test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Patient age was inversely correlated with visual analog scale and lower extremity activity scale scores (P < .0001). Whereas total hip arthroplasty was performed as equally in women and men, total knee arthroplasty was more frequent in women. Women were more likely to live alone, experience severe pain, and have limited activity (P < .0001). Patients who lived alone were more likely to experience severe pain or limited activity (P < .0001). Women and patients who live alone experience more pain and disability before surgery, potentially placing them at risk for inferior surgical outcomes.

Short-term coagulation complications following total knee arthroplasty: a comparison of patient-reported and surgeon-verified complication rates.

Data from 3278 patients from a prospective patient-centered total joint registry was used to investigate the rates of complications in the first 6 months following primary total knee arthroplasty. All patients reporting deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), or major bleeding were identified through patient self-reporting. Complications were verified by a review of imaging records and direct communication with patients by a surgeon. Surgeon-verified rates of DVT, PE, and major bleeding were 1.52%, 0.49%, and 0.34%, respectively. When compared with the complication rates as reported by patients, concordance was 86.2% for DVT, 84.2% for PE, and 36.7% for major bleeding. More than half (54.5%) of the complications were diagnosed and treated at the original operative hospital, and 45.5% were diagnosed and treated at other institutions.

Ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty: incidence of instability and noise.

BACKGROUND: Alternative bearing materials in THA have been developed to reduce the incidence of osteolysis. Alumina-on-alumina bearings exhibit extremely low wear rates in vitro, but concerns exist regarding component impingement with the potential for dislocation and the occurrence of noise. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined generation of squeaking and the relationship between squeaking and component position. METHODS: We prospectively entered 436 alumina-on-alumina, cementless, primary THAs in 364 patients into our institutional database. All procedures were performed with the same surgical technique and the same implant. We obtained Harris Hip scores and a noise questionnaire and assessed radiographic component position and loosening. We determined the difference in abduction angle between squeakers and nonsqueakers. Minimum followup was 2 years (average, 3.5 years; range, 2.0-6.2 years). RESULTS: The mean Harris hip score increased from 51.9 preoperatively to 94.4 at latest followup. Six hips underwent reoperation: four hips (1.1%) for dislocation and two (0.53%) for periprosthetic fracture after trauma. The incidence of noise of any type was 11%, with the most common type of noise being clicking or snapping. Squeaking was reported by 1.9% of patients, with no patient being revised for this phenomenon. We found no association between component position and squeaking. CONCLUSIONS: At average 3 years followup, 98% of ceramic-on-ceramic THAs did not require a revision, with 1.1% of hips having been revised for dislocation. Fewer than 2% of patients reported hearing an audible squeak, with no association found between component position and squeaking. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Factors that impact expectations before total knee arthroplasty.

This study examined the effect of patient attributes on expectations before total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 1943 patients completed an Expectations Survey before TKA. Demographics, surgical history, baseline Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Lower Extremity Activity Scale score were obtained. On univariate analysis, expectations (mean score, 77.6) correlated with SF-36 General Health, age, SF-36 Vitality, KOOS Quality-of-Life, and Lower Extremity Activity Scale. Living alone and history of joint arthroplasty were associated with significantly lower expectations, whereas male sex and white race were associated with higher expectations. On multivariate regression analysis, age, living situation, history of joint arthroplasty, SF-36 General Health, and KOOS Quality-of-Life remained significant predictors of expectations. Our results suggest that high, possibly unrealistic, expectations of TKA are common and should be moderated to maintain patient satisfaction.

Historical perspective on two-stage reimplantation for infection after total hip arthroplasty at Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City.

In this article, we report on our use of a 2-stage exchange in managing infected total hip arthroplasties (THAs) at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. This protocol involves resection arthroplasty, 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics to obtain a minimum "postpeak" serum bactericidal titer (SBT) of 1:8, and reimplantation. Over the past 20 years, we have conducted several studies showing the effectiveness of this treatment. Since our previous report was published in 1994, prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms has increased significantly. In 2008, we set out to determine if 2-stage exchange remains an effective treatment for newer pathogens, many of which are MDR. The overall eradication rate was 95% (80/84 hips). All 21 MDR pathogens implicated in the infected THAs were eradicated. We conclude that 2-stage exchange with a standard 1:8 minimum SBT remains an effective treatment even when resistant infections are involved.

Modern treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty with a 2-stage reimplantation protocol.

The purpose of this study was to determine if 2-stage reimplantation for the treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still effective for treating contemporary pathogens, many of which are multidrug resistant (MDR). The medical records of all cases of infected TKAs from April 1998 to March 2006 were retrospectively reviewed for data on infecting organism and success of treatment. Of 72 patients (75 knees), with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up, who completed the protocol, the infection was eradicated in 90.7% (68/75 knees). Thirty-one (91.2%) of 34 of MDR infections and 42 (91.3%) of 46 of non-MDR infections were successfully treated. These results support previous studies that demonstrated the effectiveness of a 2-stage reimplantation protocol with a standard 1:8 minimal bactericidal titer for treating infections after TKA, including MDR organisms.