Extremely Low Transfusion Rates: Contemporary Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties.

BACKGROUND: Considerable blood loss which requires transfusion is frequently reported after total hip and knee arthroplasties (THA and TKA). The purpose of this study is to review the transfusion rates in contemporary THA and TKA with optimized perioperative protocols including minimized surgical trauma and optimal perioperative patient care. METHODS: This retrospective study included 1442 consecutive patients receiving either a primary THA or a TKA from the same high-volume surgeon between January 2008 and December 2015. Demographics and surgical data were collected from patients' journals. Estimated blood loss, decline in hemoglobin, and use of transfusion were registered. RESULTS: One (0.0013%) THA and 3 (0.0044%) TKAs required blood transfusion postoperatively. Average measured bleeding was 253 mL ± 142 and 207 mL ± 169 in THA and TKA, respectively. Average decline in hemoglobin was 23.5 g/L ± 11.4 and 22.9 g/L ± 11.6 for THA and TKA, respectively. CONCLUSION: In contemporary THA and TKA, perioperative protocols and patient optimization can decrease the rate of blood transfusion to near zero.

Posterior stabilized component increased femoral bone loss after total knee replacement. 5-year follow-up of 47 knees using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

After total knee replacement (TKR) bone mineral density (BMD) commonly decreases behind the anterior flange of the femoral component, which may increase the risk for supracondylar fracture. Our aim was to evaluate if changes in femoral design and joint area constraint had any effect on the postoperative bone remodeling in the distal femur. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 47 knees up to 5 years after operation with the AMK (DePuy, Johnson and Johnson Leeds, UK) TKR. The knees had been randomly allocated to receive a flat or a concave tibial insert with retention of the posterior cruciate ligament when preoperative deformity was less severe, and either a concave or a posterior-stabilized (PS) insert with resection of the posterior cruciate ligament when deformity was more pronounced. The most pronounced relative reduction (15-38%) in bone mineral density (BMD) was seen posterior to the anterior flange. There were no significant differences in relative change in BMD between flat and concave inserts. Knees operated with PS inserts had more reduction posterior to the flange than knees with concave inserts in the subgroup with more advanced preoperative deformity (23% and 38% respectively). Use of posterior stabilized insert may increase the risk of supracondylar fracture compared to concave insert in knees with advanced preoperative deformity.

Influence of polyethylene constraint on tibial component fixation in total knee arthroplasty: follow-up report after 5 years.

The influence of articulating surface design of AMK total knee prosthesis (DePuy, Johnson & Johnson) on migration and radiographic outcome at 5 years was evaluated. The knees were randomly allocated to receive a flat or a concave insert with retention of the posterior cruciate ligament when preoperative deformity was less severe and either a concave or a posterior-stabilized insert with resection of the posterior cruciate ligament when deformity was more pronounced. In 64 knees, migration was measured with radiostereometry. The posterior-stabilized component displayed more varus-valgus tilting than the concave insert. Other statistically significant differences in migration were not seen. Radiolucent lines were frequently seen without differences between prosthesis groups.

Stepwise introduction of a bone-conserving osseointegrated hip arthroplasty using RSA and a randomized study: I. Preliminary investigations--52 patients followed for 3 years.

BACKGROUND: We developed a total hip system using osseointegration guidelines, a metaphyseal-loading proximal femoral replacement in the retained neck and a dual-geometry titanium shell in the acetabulum. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial was undertaken in 52 patients (53 hips), using the cemented Spectron stem and cementless Harris-Galante II cup as control implants (24 patients in experimental group, 29 control patients). Clinical measures of Harris Hip Score (HHS), pain score and radiostereometric analysis (RSA) at regular intervals for up to three years were used to monitor progress. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in HHS and pain score; the stability of the cementless experimental implant was also comparable to that of the cemented controls by RSA. 3 revisions were required for migration in the experimental group and 1 was required for component dislocation in the control group. INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate the practicality of osseointegration of titanium implants, but suggest that current performance is inadequate for clinical introduction. However, the stable fixation achieved in the retained neck in the majority of patients is indicative of osseointegration. This finding will encourage technical and design improvements for enhancement of clinical osseointegration and should also encourage further study. Periprosthetic osteolysis might be avoided by the establishment and maintenance of direct implant-bone connection: "osseointegration".

Stepwise introduction of a bone-conserving osseointegrated hip arthroplasty using RSA and a randomized study: II. Clinical proof of concept--40 patients followed for 2 years.

BACKGROUND: We have developed a bone-conserving commercially pure titanium hip replacement system using osseointegration principles: a metaphyseal loading proximal femoral component affixing into the retained neck and metaphysis only, leaving the femoral canal untouched. The acetabular cup closely fits a dual-geometry cavity, avoiding stress protection at the dome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After extensive laboratory and clinical pilot trial investigations, the surface-engineered implants were submitted to a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial involving 40 patients (40 hips), in which they were compared to the cemented Spectron femoral component and cementless Trilogy cup as control implant. The following clinical measures were used to monitor progress at regular intervals for the first 2 postoperative years: radiostereometric analysis (RSA), Harris Hip Score, pain score, WOMAC, and SF-36. RESULTS: After 2 years of follow-up, no statistically significant differences were seen between the groups concerning rotation or translation along the cardinal axes. The patients receiving the Gothenburg osseointegrated titanium (GOT) system had significantly higher Harris Hip Score at 6 months, suggesting more rapid recovery. WOMAC, SF-36 and pain analysis were similar for the first 2 postoperative years. INTERPRETATION: Our RSA data suggest that osseointegration was achieved for all patients receiving the GOT hip system. This bone-conserving prosthesis may provide a good alternative, especially for young and active patients.

Aseptic loosening, not only a question of wear: a review of different theories.

Today, aseptic loosening is the most common cause of revision of major arthroplasties. Aseptic loosening accounts for more than two-thirds of hip revisions and almost one-half of knee revisions in Sweden. Several theories on the cause of aseptic loosening have been proposed. Most of these theories, however, are based on empiric observations, experimental animal models or anecdotal cases. In this review, we discuss the most common theories concerning aseptic loosening. It emerges from this review that aseptic loosening has a multifactorial etiology and cannot be explained by a single theory.

Minimally invasive surgery vs conventional exposure using the Miller-Galante unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a randomized radiostereometric study.

Forty-one patients were randomized to a cemented Miller-Galante unicompartmental (Zimmer, Warsaw, Ind) knee arthroplasty inserted with either minimally invasive surgery or with a standard exposure. Clinical data and conventional radiographs were recorded and patients were followed with radiostereometric analysis to measure migration rate of the tibial component. The rehabilitation of patients operated through a small incision was faster, and there was a significant difference in days of hospitalization (P = .03). No statistical significant difference was found between the 2 groups regarding clinical or radiographic data. The Hospital for Special Surgery score was 96 and 92, respectively, for the minimally invasive surgery and conventional group at 2 years. The limb alignment was equal in both groups with a mean femorotibial axis of 182 degrees after surgery. The rate of migration for tibial components was very small, with a maximal total point motion of 0.8 mm for both groups after 2 years follow-up.

Improved tibial cutting accuracy in knee arthroplasty.

Initial stability and development of long-term fixation for cementless tibial components at the knee both depend on the accuracy of fit between implanted components and prepared bone surfaces. Tibial surfaces prepared for total knee replacement with conventional saw-blades and guides were shown by Toksvig-Larsen to vary by over 2 mm, from a flat surface at the point of maximum variation, and all points varied with a standard deviation of up to 0.4 mm. Surface cutting errors are caused by flexion of the saw-blade and blade angulation from the ideal alignment, due to poor guidance or control by the saw-block or guide. Most conventional knee instrumentation relies on flat surface or slotted cutting blocks, constraining the moving saw-blade against one or two guide surfaces. Improved cutting action was achieved by constraining the saw from the pivot point of the blade, and controlling motion of this constraint with parallel action slides. Using this saw-guide and an improved saw-blade, tibial cuts were made in mock arthroplasty procedures on twenty four cadaveric tibiae in mortuo. Analysis of Variance and Tukey's HSD test showed that the improved saw technique yielded significantly better flatness (p < 0.03) and greatly improved roughness (p < 0.0005).

Long-term results of a cementless knee prosthesis with a metal-backed patellar component: clinical and radiological follow-up with histology from retrieved components.

Aseptic loosening of cemented knee arthroplasties has encouraged development of uncemented fixation. The Miller-Galante I (MG I) prosthesis was designed to achieve permanent stability through ingrowth into a titanium fiber mesh. Thirty-five knees in 30 patients with MG I knee replacements have been followed clinically and radiologically with a mean follow-up of 12 years. Twenty knees were revised with a mean follow-up of 5 years. Patellofemoral problems, especially avulsion of the polyethylene from the metal-backed patella and in some cases severe metallosis, have been the main reason for revision. Metal-backed patellar component should be avoided. In addition, instability has been a problem. However, the fixation of the components has been excellent, with a high degree of osseous ingrowth displayed at histological analysis of retrieved components. The clinical and radiological results after revision are in most cases good, despite the femoral component having been left in situ.

A novel liner locking mechanism enhances retention stability.

Acetabular liner retention of a novel design of liner locking was evaluated in static and cyclic endurance modes. The locking mechanism combines geometric form and accurate machining to give high conformity to the acetabular shell and minimise relative motion against the metal shell, minimising debris generation and escape or ingress. Using amended test liners with integral coupling, mean static pullout strength was determined to be 399+/-53 N and lever-out strength 28.03+/-2.8 N m. Cyclic loading of 5 N m for up to 10 million cycles caused no significant reduction in strength, no detectable fretting wear, and the sealing mechanism prevented particle access between the cup interior and the "effective joint space". The stability measured ensures secure and reliable in vivo retention of the liner, comparable with extant component designs using other liner locking mechanisms.

Kinematics of three variations of the Freeman-Samuelson total knee prosthesis.

The effect of changes in the articulating surfaces on the kinematics of the Freeman-Samuelson total knee replacement was evaluated. Twenty-two patients (22 knees) (median age, 69 years) were randomized to a standard design with a fixed polyethylene bearing, a design with a mobile bearing, or a new design with a spherical medial femoral condyle with a fixed bearing. The patients were studied with radiostereometry and film-exchangers at 0 degrees nonweightbearing and during active weightbearing extension from 45 degrees to 15 degrees. The center of the tibial tray with a mobile-bearing prosthesis occupied a more anterior position than observed in the designs with a fixed bearing. The medial femoral condyle center had a more posterior position in the standard design than in the design with a spherical medial condyle. From a distally displaced position at 45 degrees, the medial condylar center displaced a mean of 1.8 mm proximally during extension in the standard design and had a constant position in the meniscal design. In the spherical design the medial condyle was displaced proximally at 45 degrees and displaced a mean of 1.6 mm distally during extension. The reduced anteroposterior and proximodistal translations in the meniscal design are compatible with improved congruency between the components. The design with a spherical medial condyle stabilized anteroposterior motions, but showed more pronounced proximodistal displacement medially than did the other two designs.

Effect of submicron polyethylene particles on an osseointegrated implant: an experimental study with a rabbit patello-femoral prosthesis.

In a rabbit model of a weight bearing, articulating prosthetic joint we repeatedly injected submicron particles of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene (UHMWPE) produced in a hip simulator. The contralateral knee with the same prosthesis was injected with carrier (NaCl) without UHMWPE. Histomorphometrical studies on undecalcified cut and ground sections at 26 and 42 weeks involved quantifications of the entire bone to metal contact and the bone area around each implant. We found no statistically significant differences between test and control groups, and the UHMWPE debris did not induce any significant osteolysis, indicating that an osseointegrated implant with a sealed interface may not be affected by UHMWPE debris or progress to aseptic loosening.

Does sodium fluoride in bone cement affect implant fixation? Part I: bone tissue response, implant fixation and histology in nine rabbits.

The addition of sodium fluoride to poly (methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement may theoretically improve the fixation of joint replacement. This hypothesis was tested in an animal model using nine mature healthy lop-eared rabbits. A femoral prosthesis was inserted in both knees to resurface the patellofemoral articulation. The same acrylic cement, with and without sodium fluoride, was randomised between the two sides for prosthetic fixation. Two screw shaped implants machined from cured rods of either cement were also inserted bilaterally into the proximal tibia. Qualitative and quantitative histomorphometry of the bone tissue response surrounding the cement in the femur and the intact tibial implants revealed similar results regardless of sodium fluoride addition. Six weeks after surgery removal, torque did not significantly differ between the two sides. Our findings indicate that addition of sodium fluoride to PMMA has little effect on implant stability and bone remodeling in rabbits in the short-term.

Does sodium fluoride in bone cement affect implant fixation. Part II: evaluation of the effect of sodium fluoride additions to acrylic bone cement and the fixation of titanium implants in ovariectomized rabbits.

Bone integration of threaded implants made of cured polymethylmethacrylate containing sodium fluoride or commercially pure (c.p.) titanium were studied in normal and estrogen deficient New Zealand white rabbits. Nine had been ovariectomized through laparoscopy and nine served as controls. Four weeks after the ovariectomy two threaded implants made of cured bone cement with or without sodium fluoride addition were inserted in each tibia. One threaded commercially pure titanium implant was inserted in each patello-femoral joint flush to the cartilage. Six weeks after implant insertion measurement of the peak removal torque necessary to loosen the implants and light microscopical histomorphometrical investigations of tissue integration were performed. In the ovariectomized rabbits addition of sodium fluoride to the cement resulted in increased area of bone in the threads (p=0.04), but no corresponding effect could be noted in the controls. The removal torque was lower in the ovariectomized rabbits compared to the non-ovariectomized when comparing implant with sodium fluoride addition (p=0.02). The bone tissue response and the removal torque of the titanium implants were not influenced by ovariectomy in these rabbits.