Factors Influencing the Valgus Cut Angle-during Total Knee Arthroplasty-in Indian Population.

The number of total knee arthroplasties performed in India and the world is increasing exponentially. The valgus cut angle (VCA) of the distal femur decides the final alignment achieved in the coronal plane. Little data are available regarding the ideal value for an Indian population and there is little consensus whether to use a single value for all knees or to individualize the angle for each patient. The parameters that can influence the value of this angle have not been evaluated thoroughly.Standard long leg X-ray (orthoscanogram) was used to calculate the VCA in 302 lower limbs (160 patients). Only Indian patients were included in the study; knees with bowed femurs were excluded. VCA, femoral length, medial hip offset, neck shaft angle, and hip knee ankle angle were measured manually. Demographic data such as gender, height, and weight were extracted from hospital charts. The correlation of VCA with the various parameters was evaluated using Pearson's correlation and its significance assessed using the independent Student's 't' test.The average VCA was 7.4 degrees (range: 4-11 degrees). Age, gender, height, hip knee ankle angle (alignment) and body mass index (BMI) had no influence on the VCA. The neck shaft angle (r = -0.520, p = < 0.0001) and hip medial offset (r = 0.223, p = < 0.0001) were the only two parameters significantly and independently influencing the value of VCA. There is a wide variation in the value of VCA in the Indian population. Choosing a fixed VCA will lead to significant number of knees aligned outside the ideal 0- to 3-degree hip knee ankle angle. The neck shaft angle and the medial hip offset are the only two factors that influence the VCA. The patients' height, preoperative deformity, gender, and BMI had no influence on the VCA.

Factors Affecting the Outcome of Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures Managed With Proximal Femoral Nail Anti-Rotation 2: A Prospective Outcome Study in Elderly Indian Population.

Background The proximal femoral nail anti-rotation Asia (PFNA 2) is an implant designed for unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures in Asians as the PFNA was designed for Caucasians and had various complications when applied to the Asian population due to the femoral geometrical mismatch. This study observes the functional outcomes and complications associated with PFNA 2 in unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly Indian population. Methods Sixty-one above 60 years old patients with an unstable intertrochanteric fracture who were operated with PFNA 2 were included in this prospective observational study. They were followed up for one year. The functional and radiographic evaluations were done at 6, 12, 20 weeks, and the functional outcome was evaluated at the end of one year. Association of age, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade, AO Foundation classification, osteoporosis to the functional outcome of modified Harris hip score (MHHS) was evaluated. Results Type A2 fractures demonstrated a statistically higher-good reduction than Type A3 (Student t-test, P < 0.05). The difference in mean surgical duration in Type A3 (45.47 minutes) and Type A2 (40.30 minutes) was statistically significant (Student t-test, P < 0.05). Mean blood loss was 110.66 ml (SD = 48.40 ml). MHHS at 6, 12, 20 weeks, and one year were 40.37, 63.93, 79.03, and 82.34, respectively. At the end of the year, 46 (82.1%) patients achieved good scores, eight (14.3%) achieved fair scores, and two (3.5%) achieved poor scores. There was one case of nonunion and medial migration of the helical blade. The mortality rate was 6.55% at the end of one year. Conclusion A good reduction was associated with a better functional outcome. PFNA 2 is an efficient implant in managing unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly Indian patients with good outcomes, low morbidity rates, and mortality. Implant mismatch was not a problem in the Indian population. However, large multi-centric studies with a larger sample size are required. Moreover, achieving a good reduction cannot be over-emphasized in unstable intertrochanteric fractures, especially in the elderly, to achieve a good functional outcome.

Outcome of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in octogenarians with tricompartmental osteoarthritis: A longer followup of previously published report.

BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has specific indications, producing excellent results. It, however, has a limited lifespan and needs eventual conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It is, therefore, a temporizing procedure in select active young patients with advanced unicompartmental osteoarthritis (UCOA). Being a less morbid procedure it is suggested as an alternative in the very elderly patients with tricompartmental osteoarthritis (TCOA). We performed UKA in a series of 45 octogenarians with TCOA predominant medial compartment osteoarthritis (MCOA) and analyzed the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five octogenarian patients with TCOA predominant MCOA underwent UKA (19 bilateral) from January 2002 to January 2012. All had similar preoperative work-up, surgical approach, procedure, implants and postoperative protocol. Clinicoradiological assessment was done at 3-monthly intervals for the first year, then yearly till the last followup (average 72 months, range 8-128 months). Results were evaluated using the knee society scores (KSS), satisfaction index [using the visual analogue scale (VAS)] and orthogonal radiographs (for loosening, subsidence, lysis or implant wear). Resurgery for any cause was considered failure. RESULTS: Four patients (six knees) died due to medical conditions, two patients (three knees) were lost to followup, and these were excluded from the final analysis. Barring two failures, all the remaining patients were pain-free and performing well at the final followup. Indications for resurgery were: medial femoral condyle fracture needing fixation subsequent conversion to TKA at 2 years (n=1) and progression of arthritis and pain leading to revision TKA at 6 years (n=1). CONCLUSION: UKA has shown successful outcomes with regards to pain relief and function with 96.4% implant survival and 94.9% good or excellent outcomes. Due to lower demands, early rehabilitation, less morbidity, and relative short life expectancy, UKA can successfully manage TCOA in the octogenarians.