comparison of postoperative gait parameters after total ankle arthroplasty and ankle fusion: A systematic review.

Ankle pathology, such as severe arthritis, often necessitates surgical intervention to restore mobility and alleviate pain. Two commonly performed procedures for end-stage ankle disease are ankle fusion (AF) and total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). This review aims to compare the impact of AF and TAA on postoperative gait parameters. An extensive search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases was conducted with the use of the keywords ("ankle arthrodesis" OR "ankle fusion") AND ("ankle replacement" OR "ankle arthroplasty") AND "gait." Clinical studies in terms of postoperative gait parameters were included in this review. At least one of the following gait parameters, included in gait analysis, should be researched: spatiotemporal variables and joint kinematics and kinetics. An initial search revealed 221 studies. After the removal of duplicates and screening of titles,10 studies (7 prospective and 3 retrospective case series) were included for qualitative analysis. In the majority of studies, there is no significant difference in spatiotemporal parameters, such as walking speed, cadence, stance duration, step length, and stride length among AF and TAA patients. Postoperative sagittal ankle ROM, mainly maximum ankle dorsiflexion angle is significantly higher in TAA patients, while results concerning hip and knee ROM are variable. The comparison of AF and TAA in terms of postoperative gait parameters has shown variable results. In the majority of studies, there is no significant difference in spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters among AF and TAA patients. Further high-quality prospective studies are needed to fully elucidate the comparison of postoperative gait parameters.

Optimizing Hip Replacement Procedure in Cerebral Palsy-Related Spastic Hip Dysplasia: A Case Report.

Cerebral palsy (CP) often results in severe hip issues, disrupting musculoskeletal development and mobility due to problems such as dislocations and contractures, aggravated by spasticity and heightened muscular tone. While total hip arthroplasty (THA) is required in CP patients, the procedure carries high risks due to concerns about dislocation and wear. This study explores a method of intraoperative navigation to precisely execute preoperative strategies for spinopelvic alignment and optimal cup placement. We discuss a case of a 22-year-old male CP patient with bilateral hip dislocations who experienced significant discomfort, impeding mobility and affecting his performance as a Paralympic rower. He underwent bilateral hip replacement surgeries, guided by preoperative gait analysis and imaging, with navigation aiding in accurate acetabular component placement and correction of excessive femoral anteversion using a modular stem. The patient achieved excellent stability in both standing and rowing postures. Overall, computer navigation enhances complex hip repair by facilitating intraoperative data collection and precise execution of preoperative plans. This approach may extend the lifespan of prostheses, particularly by achieving precise acetabular component placement based on spinopelvic alignment principles, thereby offering significant benefits for CP patients undergoing THA.

Staged correction of varus knee and lateral thrust in an achondroplastic (ACH) juvenile patient who underwent limb lengthening with IM nails: tips for proper timing and prioritisation of procedures.

We present the case of a fifteen-year-old achondroplastic (ACH) woman who requested to have her femurs lengthened by intramedullary nails. She had undergone bilateral tibial lengthening at the age of eleven and presented with a varus deformity of the right lower limb, lateral thrust of the right knee and valgus deformity of the left lower limb. We performed deformity analyses based on mechanical axis measurements, and we came with a staged surgical plan. In ACH adolescences, correction of bony deformity needs to encounter continuous fibula growth dynamics. Lateral knee thrust was corrected by gradual distal translation of the fibula head via an Ilizarov frame and the amount of translation we decided clinically. Tibial lengthening and valgus osteotomy of the distal femur accentuate lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex laxity. In patients with ACH, tibial lengthening and valgus osteotomy of the distal femur-if needed-should precede LCL complex tightening, and femoral lengthening should follow.

Delayed presentation of bilateral central hip protrusio acetabuli: evidence-based management.

This is a case of a previously healthy 51-year-old man who sustained bilateral central hip dislocations following a sudden presentation of epileptic seizures. The patient was initially treated conservatively for a period of 9 months. On presentation, he had gross disability due to stiffness in both hips and left peroneal nerve paresis. Through minimally invasive direct anterior approaches, bilateral total hip arthroplasties were performed using tripolar head articulations. These were cemented into a biologic acetabular buttress constructed out of autologous bone graft. The femoral heads and necks were used as plugs and pressed into the acetabular defects, putting the medial acetabular walls under tension. At 24 months' follow-up, there was a good clinical outcome, and the acetabular walls remodelled bilaterally. In conclusion, in traumatic protrusio acetabuli, a functional, biologic reconstruction of the acetabular wall can be facilitated with the application of distraction osteogenesis (tension-stress) principles while using minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Combination of Calcium Hydroxyapatite Antibiotic Carrier with Cement Spacers in Peri-Prosthetic Knee Infections.

BACKGROUND: Forty-six patients (38 females and 8 males) with infected knee arthroplasties were included in this study. In 31 patients (group A) an antibiotic-impregnated articulating spacer was used, whereas in 15 patients (group B) a combination of spacer and antibiotic carrier was used. METHODS: All patients were reviewed weekly with laboratory examinations (white blood cell count [WBC], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP]) prior to re-implantation. At a mean follow-up of 36 mo (range, 8-60 mo) no patient was lost to follow-up or had died. RESULTS: White blood cell count and ESR showed no differences at any time interval. C-reactive protein values had a statistically significant difference between the two groups after the second week (third week p = 0.042) and group B had significantly lower CRP values at every checkpoint thereafter. The re-infection rate was 16.12% in group A and 6.6% in group B (p = 0.192).

Inferior subluxation of the fibular head following tibial lengthening with a unilateral external fixator.

BACKGROUND: Inferior subluxation of the proximal part of the fibula has been reported to occur with distraction osteogenesis of the tibia; however, the clinical sequelae of this subluxation are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate inferior subluxation of the proximal part of the fibula and its possible clinical implications in patients who had undergone tibial lengthening by distraction osteogenesis with use of a unilateral external fixator. METHODS: Thirty tibiae in seventeen patients with a variety of conditions underwent tibial lengthening by distraction osteogenesis with use of a unilateral external fixator and were followed clinically and radiographically for a mean of two years and ten months (range, two to four years). Ten patients were female and seven were male. Their mean age at the time of the surgery was seventeen years (range, eight to twenty-five years). The mean tibial lengthening was 8.1 cm (range, 3.5 to 13 cm). RESULTS: An inferior shift of the fibular head in relation to the tibia was evident in all cases. The shift, which ranged from 0.4 to 3.3 cm, was proportionally related to the amount of tibial lengthening. This type of subluxation is probably attributable to the tension that is exerted by the intact interosseous membrane during the distraction as well as to the tension of the regenerated bone of the fibula and the fact that the fibula itself is not fixed or directly lengthened by the external fixator. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that inferior subluxation of the fibula is a common phenomenon in patients undergoing tibial lengthening by distraction osteogenesis with use of a unilateral external fixator. However, no clinical symptoms or findings related to the inferior subluxation of the fibula were found in our series.