Cementless hip arthroplasty in the treatment of patients with femoral head necrosis.

Treatment of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head focuses on pain relief and improved function of the hip. Total hip arthroplasty remains an effective tool for the treatment of patients with end-stage osteonecrosis with collapse of the femoral head, although there is a greater risk for failure. The aim of the current study was to assess the long-term survival of cementless total hip arthroplasties in 28 patients (36 hips) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (Steinberg Stage V and Stage VI) with an average followup of 11.2 years (range, 10-15 years). There were 19 women and nine men with an average age of 51.4 years (range, 28-65 years). A threaded titanium cup CST (Conical Screwed Titanium) was used in all patients and different cementless femoral components were used depending on the optimal fit in the femoral canal as assessed during preoperative templating. No serious complications were encountered postoperatively. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with the Merle d'Aubigné and Postel scale. After cementless total hip arthroplasty, the average pain score improved 3.6 points, walking ability improved 1.6 points, and range of motion improved 1 point. Two patients had thigh pain. Radiographic evaluation on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the proximal femur was excellent in 10 hips postoperatively. No heterotropic ossification was observed, although proximal femoral atrophy was seen in 15 hips. Clinical and radiologic findings did not correlate. There were two revisions of the acetabular implants in one patient with bilateral idiopathic osteonecroses and total hip replacement. Overall, survival of the prostheses was 93.4% at the average followup of 11.2 years.

Risk factors for idiopathic scoliosis: review of a 6-year prospective study.

This study identified factors associated with the prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis and curve evolution in schoolchildren from northwestern and central Greece. A total of 85,627 children aged 9-15 years were screened for scoliosis. A subset of children with curves of at least 10 degrees underwent clinical and radiographic follow-up. The total population screened and the cohort followed for curve progression were evaluated according to factors associated with curve evolution. The prevalence of scoliosis was 1.7%, with most cases appearing at ages 13 and 14 years and small scoliotic curves (10 degrees-19 degrees) being most prevalent (prevalence 1.5%). Prevalence was associated with gender; age; and magnitude, apex, and direction of the curve. Progression of the curve occurred in 14.7% of 839 children, while 27.4% demonstrated spontaneous improvement of at least 5 degrees. A high risk of curve progression was associated with the following: sex--girls, curve pattern--right thoracic and double curves in girls and right lumbar in boys, maturity--girls before the onset of menses, age--time of pubertal growth spurt, and curve magnitude--curves > or = 30 degrees. Although only a small percentage of scoliotic curves undergo progression, the pattern of the curve according to curve direction and the sex of the child plays a significant role in the ability to identify which curves will progress.

Assessment of curve progression in idiopathic scoliosis.

In a 5-year prospective study on idiopathic scoliosis, an attempt was made to elucidate the natural history of the disease and to determine which factors contribute to curve progression. A total of 85,622 children were examined for scoliosis in a prospective school screening study carried out in northwestern and central Greece. Curve progression was studied in 839 of the 1,436 children with idiopathic scoliosis of at least 10 degrees detected from the school screening program. Each child was followed clinically and roentgenographically for one to four follow-up visits for a mean of 3.2 years. Progression of the scoliotic curve was recorded in 14.7% of the children. Spontaneous improvement of at least 5 degrees was observed in 27.4% of them, with 80 children (9.5%) demonstrating complete spontaneous resolution. Eighteen percent of the patients remained stable, while the remaining patients demonstrated nonsignificant changes of less than 5 degrees in curve magnitude. A strong association was observed between the incidence of progression and the sex of the child, curve pattern, maturity, and to a lesser extent age and curve magnitude. More specifically, the following were associated with a high risk of curve progression: sex (girls); curve pattern (right thoracic and double curves in girls, and right lumbar curves in boys); maturity (girls before the onset of menses); age (time of pubertal growth spurt); and curve magnitude (> or = 30 degrees). On the other hand, left thoracic curves showed a weak tendency for progression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study strongly suggest that only a small percentage of scoliotic curves will undergo progression. The pattern of the curve according to curve direction and sex of the child was found to be a key indicator of which curves will progress.

Versatility of TSRH spinal instrumentation system. Experience in 67 patients with trauma and spinal deformities.

We evaluated the effectiveness of the TSRH (Texas Scottish Rite Hospital) spinal instrumentation system in treating patients with spinal deformities and trauma to the spine. 38 patients (29 women) with spinal deformities and 29 (13 women) with trauma to the spine underwent fusion using the TSRH implant system. In patients with idiopathic scoliosis, the amount of curve correction achieved varied depending on the curve pattern, where patients with single thoracic (type III) or single extended thoracic (type IV) curves showed an improvement of 54% and 63%, respectively, compared to patients with King type II curves in which correction averaged only 45%. We found the TSRH spinal system to be effective for correcting the scoliotic curve. The fact that no neurologic complications were observed and that patients demonstrated a rapid ability to stand and walk as compared to the lengthy immobilization required with more traditional methods, suggests that the TSRH system is superior for scoliotic curve correction.

Total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis and degenerative osteoarthritis of the hip.

Although several studies of various treatment modalities have been reported during the past decade, osteonecrosis of the femoral head remains a difficult therapeutic problem. Total hip replacement which is reserved for patients showing collapse of the femoral head, usually shows poorer results in patients with osteonecrosis compared with those with osteoarthritis. Uncemented total hip arthroplasty was performed on 29 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head and 29 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. After a mean followup of 7.6 years and 7.1 years for the two groups of patients, only one failure was observed in one patient with osteonecrosis. Clinical evaluation after cementless total hip arthroplasty in both groups of patients revealed improvement in all parameters. Postoperatively, pain improved from 1.4 to 5.1, walking ability from 3.4 to 5.3, and range of motion from 4.5 to 5.5 in patients with osteonecrosis, and pain improved from 1.2 to 5.3, walking ability from 3.2 to 5.4, and range of motion from 3.1 to 4.7 in patients with osteoarthritis. Thigh pain was observed postoperatively in only two and three patients treated for osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis, respectively. The present results using cementless arthroplasty seem to be somewhat better than those reported for cemented arthroplasty in patients suffering from osteonecrosis. The clinical and radiographic findings after noncemented arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head and in patients with degenerative arthritis of the hip were similar in the two groups.

Complete versus incomplete nonviable amputations of the thumb. Comparison of the survival rate and functional results.

81 patients with 84 complete (55) or incomplete (29) nonviable amputations of the thumb were studied to compare the survival rate and functional results between the two groups. 3 of these patients had bilateral thumb amputations. Of the 55 completely amputated thumbs, 43 survived (78 percent), while of the 29 incomplete nonviable amputations, 25 were salvaged (86 percent). Excluding patients with an amputation at the level of or distal to the interphalangeal (IP) joint, motion at the IP joint which did not exceed 40 degrees flexion even when a secondary procedure was done, did not show a statistical difference between the 2 groups. Average two-point discrimination was 14 mm for patients with complete amputations and 11 mm for patients with incomplete nonviable amputations. We conclude that incomplete nonviable amputations of the thumb are associated with a higher survival rate and better sensibility than complete thumb amputations, while motion at the IP joint does not differ between the two groups of patients.