Long term results of the Bicontact D stem in dysplastic osteoarthritis: a 10-15 year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the Bicontact D stem with a minimum 10 year follow-up that focused on patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). METHODS: One hundred five patients with osteoarthritis due to DDH who underwent primary THA were included in this study. The mean final follow-up period was 12.7 ± 1.2 years (range 10-15 years). All cases were evaluated both clinically and radiographically, and Kaplan-Meier survivorship was determined as stem revision for any reason as the end point. RESULTS: Modified Harris hip score averaged 89.0 ± 1.1 (range 60-98) at the final follow-up. The survivorship was 99.0% (95% confidence interval 93.4-99.9%) at 15.0 years, and only one hip with a well-fixed stem required stem revision due to recurrent dislocations. Cortical hypertrophy (CH) was observed in 40 of 105 hips (38.1%), and stress shielding (SS) progressed to grade 3 or 4 in six hips (6 of 105 hips: 5.7%) during the study period. Among the six hips with progressed SS, Dorr type C proximal femoral geometry was seen in five hips. CONCLUSION: This study of 105 THAs using the Bicontact D stem that focused on DDH patients with a minimum 10 year follow-up period achieved satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes. Dorr type C proximal femoral geometry could be considered a risk factor for progressed SS.

Radiological Evaluation of the Relationship Between Cortical Hypertrophy and Stress Shielding After Total Hip Arthroplasty Using a Cementless Stem.

BACKGROUND: Unloading of the proximal medial femoral cortex is usually associated with an increased bone strain at the distal part of the prosthesis, which may cause distal femoral cortical hypertrophy (CH). The objective of this study was to determine the factors that may be considered a predisposition to distal femoral CH and its effect on the stress shielding (SS) or durability of the fixation of the stem. METHODS: A total of 240 total hip arthroplasties were performed between January 2006 and December 2016, with all hips implanted with a Bicontact stem. The minimum follow-up period was more than 2 years, and the mean follow-up period was 7.2 years. The radiographic outcome was assessed on an anteroposterior hip radiograph. CH and SS were assessed on postoperative radiographs in the Gruen zone. We defined CH that appeared in zone 3 or 5 as 'the focal type' and defined CH that appeared in zones 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 as 'the diffuse type.' SS followed the procedures from the Engh classification. RESULTS: CH was found in 72 hips (30% of the 240 hips), the focal type was found in 23 hips (9.6% of the 240 hips), and the diffuse type was found in 49 hips (20.4% of the 240 hips). SS was found in 41 hips (17.1% of 240 hips), including 32 hips with SS, which was found after the development of CH. One hip was from the focal-type CH and 31 hips were from the diffuse-type CH. SS, which is typically found in Engh classification types 1 and 2 developed in 13 hips, and SS, which is widely seen in Engh classification types 3 and 4 developed in 19 hips. All 19 hips with progressed SS were found after the diffuse-type CH had developed. In addition, among the 19 hips with progressed SS, Dorr type A was found in 0 hips, Dorr type B in 8 hips, and Dorr type C in 11 hips. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of our radiological evaluation, development of the diffuse-type CH after total hip arthroplasty using Bicontact stems is one of the critical causes of the later development of SS and could be predicted to progress to SS. To prevent the development of the diffuse-type CH, the indication to choose a Bicontact stem for a Dorr type C with osteoporotic bone should be considered.

New combined anteversion technique in hybrid THA: cup-first procedure with CT-based navigation.

PURPOSE: Combined anteversion (CA) technique (stem-first procedure) is generally accepted as the optimal technique to attain an appropriate CA value in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, cup anteversion is strongly influenced by the native femoral anteversion. Accordingly, anterior protrusion of the cup in the acetabulum might occur. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the achievement of the optimal CA while avoiding anterior cup protrusion and examine the significance of our new CA technique with cup-first procedure in hybrid THA. METHODS: Seventy-nine hybrid THAs with the cup-first procedure used a CT-based navigation system for cup positioning. In the preoperative planning, cup anteversion was aimed at approximately 20°. However, in actuality, sufficient cup coverage in the original acetabulum based on individual anatomy is given priority over cup placement based on CT-based planning to ensure adequate cup coverage. The target stem anteversion was determined following Widmer's mathematical formula (37.3 = femoral stem anteversion × 0.7 + cup anteversion). Cemented stem was inserted according to the target stem anteversion angle. RESULTS: Regarding the assessment of overall alignment, the calculated Widmer's CA values during surgery and postoperative CT evaluation were 34.1° ± 6.0° (range 20.7°-51.2°) and 35.1° ± 6.7° (range 21.6°-50.7°). There were 72 hips (91.1%) within 25°-50° of CA. Cup protrusion length averaged 2.0 mm ± 2.6 mm (0-8.8 mm) in the axial view and 0.4 mm ± 1.0 mm (0-3.6 mm) in the sagittal view. Cup protrusion length of more than 5 mm was indicated in 10 hips, and no hips observed more than 10 mm. CONCLUSION: Our new CA technique (cup-first procedure) with hybrid THA was able to achieve optimal CA value while avoiding anterior cup protrusion.

Acetabular reconstruction for primary and revision total hip arthroplasty using Kerboull-type acetabular reinforcement devices-case-control study with factors related to poor outcomes of surgery.

Kerboull-type acetabular support rings (KT) and allogenic bone graft were used for severe periacetabular bone loss with primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this case-control study is to evaluate the risk factors related to poor outcomes of surgery.Sixty patients underwent primary THA and revision THA using allogenic bone graft with KT for large acetabular deficiency. These patients were retrospectively evaluated postoperatively and followed-up by radiograph. The minimum follow-up period was 4 years and averaged 7 years. A radiological failure was defined by the following criteria:Expected risk factors were defined as female, age >75 years, body mass index (BMI) >25%, medical history of hypertension, renal failure, liver steatosis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cardiac infarction, smoking, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery (AAOS) classification III or IV, bleeding>500 mL, time of surgery >3hours, high hip center-type KT, inclination of KT >45 degrees, screw angle >25 degrees, morselized bone graft, Kawanabe's classification stage 3 or 4 and revision surgery. Nineteen hips (31.6%) revealed radiological failure according to our criteria, and revision THA was performed in 2 hips (3.3%). In the statistical analysis, morselized bone graft and high hip center-type KT were identified as factors of poor outcomes of surgery.

Influence of Spinopelvic Alignment on Pelvic Tilt after Total Hip Arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of spinopelvic parameters and hip contracture on change in the pelvic tilt (PT) after Total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: One hundred patients (15 male and 85 female) who underwent THA were included in this prospective study. Radiographic data were obtained preoperatively and 1 year after THA. Radiographic parameters included sagittal anterior pelvic plane (APP), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), sacral slope (SS), pelvic inclination (PI), and lumbar lordosis angle (LL). The APP was defined as the angle between the anterior pelvic plane and the vertical plane. A positive value indicates pelvic retroversion. Postoperative changes in PT were divided into three groups: the PA group (pelvic anteversion, ΔAPP < -5°), the PR group (pelvic retroversion, ΔAPP > 5°), and the PT group (minimal change, ΔAPP ≤ ± 5°). The Kruskal-Wallis test and the Steel-Dwass test were used to compare the preoperative and postoperative spinopelvic parameters among the three groups. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between ΔAPP and spinopelvic parameters. RESULTS: Minimal change in pelvic tilt was observed in 59% of patients, while pelvic anteversion was observed in 16% of patients and pelvic retroversion was observed in 25% of patients. There were no significant changes in the spinopelvic parameters, including TK, LL, SVA, LL, SS, and APP after THA. The Femoral angle (FA) was significantly decreased after THA (P < 0.001). Preoperative APP was significantly more retroverted in the PA group than the PR group, and the PT group (6.8 ± 12.2, 0.2 ± 9.9, -8.3 ± 8.3, P < 0.001). Preoperative SS, PI-LL, and PI were significantly smaller in the PA group than the PT group and the PR group. A significant negative correlation was identified between preoperative APP and ΔAPP (r = -0.418, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Approximately 60% of the patients did not have any marked change in PT after THA. Preoperative APP was the only predictive factor associated with marked anterior or posterior change in PT.

Evaluating the Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen in Multimodal Analgesia After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain is a significant concern of patients before surgery. Multimodal pain management is an effective method of pain control after major orthopedic surgery. Acetaminophen is the most commonly used analgesic for the management of pain. It was hypothesized that 1000 mg of intravenous acetaminophen (IA) dosed every 6 hours would significantly reduce the postoperative pain score at rest and the opioid consumption volume in patients who would undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) when compared to a control group. METHODS: A single-center, prospective, open-label randomized control study was conducted. A total of 97 patients undergoing unilateral primary THA were divided into 2 groups: the study group (IA) (n = 45) and the control group (n = 52). The study group received administered IA after surgery, while the control group received only a standard pain control. Both groups received a preoperative femoral nerve block and postoperative intravenous fentanyl citrate. The primary outcome was the evaluation of the pain score at rest 24 hours after surgery. The pain score was measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. The primary outcome of this study was analyzed using generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: The IA group had a significant improvement in Numerical Rating Scale score at rest 24 hours after THA compared to the control group (-0.91, 95% confidence interval -1.56 to -0.26, P = .006), suggesting a positive effect of IA usage for pain relief. The total fentanyl citrate consumption after surgery for 24 hours was significantly lower in the IA group than those of the control group (52.07 ± 7.64 vs 57.83 ± 12.44 mg, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Postoperative administration of IA significantly reduced the postoperative pain score and opioid consumption volume after primary THA. IA was useful as one role of multimodal pain management after THA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

Total hip arthroplasty using stem-first technique with navigation: the potential of achievement of the optimal combined anteversion being a risk factor for anterior cup protrusion.

PURPOSE: In the combined anteversion (CA) technique for total hip arthroplasty (THA) with a cementless stem, cup anteversion is strongly influenced by the native femoral anteversion. It is hypothesized that in cases with large native femoral anteversion, cup anteversion can be decreased, and anterior cup protrusion from the anterior edge of the acetabulum could occur due to the achievement of optimal CA. In this study, the accuracy of CA in THA with the CA technique using imageless navigation and the relationship between the protrusion of the anterior edge of cup and optimum CA was retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients (104 hips) who underwent primary THA by the CA technique using image-free navigation were enrolled in the study. The femoral stem was placed following the individual femoral anteversion so that the target cup anteversion could be determined following a mathematical formula (37 = femoral stem anteversion × 0.7 + cup anteversion). Results The resulting CA values effectively achieved accurate CA with 39.49 ± 5.03° postoperatively. On the other hand, anterior cup protrusion was measured by computed tomography image. A cup protrusion length of more than 3 mm was indicated for 60 cases (57.7%). All included patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 as protrusion positive and Group 2 as protrusion negative. In Group 1, preoperative femoral anteversion and postoperative stem anteversion were significantly higher, while postoperative cup anteversion was significantly lower. However, the postoperative CA value indicated no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The CA (stem-first) technique with image-free navigated THA could effectively achieve accurate CA. On the other hand, a large number of cases revealed anterior cup protrusion due to the low cup anteversion.

Subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy concomitantly performed with revision total hip arthroplasty: A case report.

RATIONALE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) concomitant with subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy for Crowe type IV dysplastic hip has been reported. However, the combination of subtrochanteric femoral osteotomy and revision THA has only been mentioned in one case report. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 67-year-old female had a history of congenital dislocation of both hips. DIAGNOSES: Right hip was diagnosed the aseptic loosening of THA with extremely high replacement of the acetabular component. INTERVENTIONS: Revision THA concomitant with subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy using a cement stem was performed. Before the revision surgery, primary THA with subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy was performed on the opposite side. Regarding leg length, the actual leg length of the affected side was 9 mm longer, and the subjective leg length discrepancy was 45 mm shorter in the affected limb due to pelvic obliquity. Subtrochanteric osteotomy was performed with an amount of osteotomy equal to the amount of distal translation of the hip center to the original acetabulum. OUTCOMES: As a result, pelvic obliquity improved, and the subjective leg length discrepancy disappeared after revision surgery. LESSONS: The combination of subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy with revision THA resulted in a satisfactory outcome.

Comparison of Continuous Femoral Nerve Block with and Without Combined Sciatic Nerve Block after Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Study.

In association with the growing interests in pain management, several modalities to control postoperative pain have been proposed and examined for the efficacy in the recent studies. Various modes of peripheral nerve block have been proposed and the effectiveness and safety have been examined for each of those techniques. We have described our clinical experiences, showing that continuous femoral nerve block could provide a satisfactory analgesic effect after total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedure. In this study, we compared the effectiveness and safety of continuous femoral nerve block with and without sciatic nerve blockade on pain control after THA. Forty patients scheduled for THA were included in the study and randomly divided into 2 groups. Postoperative analgesic measure was continuous femoral nerve block alone, while the identical regimen of continuous femoral nerve block was combined with sciatic nerve block. The amount of postoperative pain was evaluated in the immediate postoperative period, 6 hours, and 12 hours after surgery. Moreover, postoperative complications as well as requirement of supplemental analgesics during the initial 12 hours after surgery were reviewed in the patient record. The obtained study results showed that the supplemental sciatic nerve blockade provided no significant effect on arrival at the postoperative recovery room, while the NRS pain score was significantly reduced by the combined application of sciatic nerve blockade at 6 and 12 hours after surgery. In the investigation of postoperative analgesiarelated complications, no major complication was encountered without significant difference in complication rate between the groups.

Treatment strategy for amyloid hip arthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The number of hemodialysis patients has been progressively increasing in our country. On the other hand, chronic hip arthropathy associated with long-term hemodialysis is a devastating problems affecting patients' quality of life. In our previous study, we proposed a classification system for radiological abnormalities seen in hemodialysis-related hip lesions. The purpose of the study was to propose the surgical strategy for hip disorders caused by long-term hemodialysis. METHODS: Patients with a history of hemodialysis for more than 10 years, 191 hip lesions in 165 consecutive patients who visited our institute due to hip symptoms. Various abnormalities were identified in 116 out of 191 hips. A retrospective assessment of the patient record and radiographs was performed for the included subjects examining the natural course of the disease process as well as the results of surgical treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-six hip lesions (69.0%) were conservatively managed at the time of the initial visit. Surgeries were performed for 75 hips (64.7%) during the study period. Among those, surgical treatment was indicated for 40 hips at the time of the initial visit. On the other hand, surgeries were performed for 35 hips during the subsequent follow-up period due to progression of the disease process. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the analysis of our surgical experiences by the retrospective chart review, we have established a flowchart of the treatment strategy for chronic hip arthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients. STUDY DESIGN: This study is retrospective clinical study.

Accuracy of Component Orientation and Leg Length Adjustment in Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Image-free Navigation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of implant orientation and leg length in total hip arthroplasty (THA) with an image-free navigation system based on a comparison of the intraoperative navigation and postoperative CT evaluations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 111 patients (118 hips) who underwent THA using the current version of the image-free navigation system constituted the basic study population. Subsequently, a total of 101 patients (108 hips) meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected as study subjects for the analysis. THA was performed using an image-free navigation system that was capable of adjusting both the prosthetic position and leg length. Postoperative CT examination was performed for all study subjects, and the prosthetic position and leg length were measured on CT images using the image analysis software. Subsequently, the intraoperative navigation results and the corresponding values obtained from the postoperative CT measurements were compared to test the accuracy of the navigation system. RESULTS: The average discrepancies between the intra- and postoperative assessments were 6.8°, 3.7°, and 5.7° for cup anteversion, cup inclination, and stem anteversion, respectively. The corresponding value in leg length averaged 4.1 mm. CONCLUSION: Average discrepancies between the intra- and postoperative measurements were less than 10° in all prosthetic alignment parameters and less than 5 mm in leg length. Intraoperative assessments with the use of the image-free navigation in THA could afford satisfactory result.

Comparison of Complications Following Revision of Metal-on-Metal Versus Metal-on-Polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty.

The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of patients who required revision and the rate of early complications after revision for metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (MOM THA) and metal-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasty (MOP THA). Matched cohorts were selected by retrospective review from a single-center database of revision THAs for failed MOM and MOP THAs from 2010 to 2014. A total of 140 hips in 140 patients comprised the study population; 39 revisions were performed for failed MOM THAs (MOM group), and 101 revisions were performed for failed MOP THAs (MOP group). Data included patient demographics, reason for revision, type of revision procedure, any complication within 90 days after surgery, admission type, and discharge disposition. Primary diagnosis, time from primary THA to revision, operative time, blood loss, and length of stay were reviewed. The analysis showed the time from the index primary procedure to first revision was earlier (P=.01) in the MOM group despite no significant intergroup differences in age, gender, primary diagnosis, or body mass index. Surgical morbidity, as indicated by operative time, blood loss, and length of stay, was lower in the MOM group. The stem was retained more often in the MOM group. There was no significant difference between the groups in overall complication rate. These findings indicate that when performed at an earlier time period before extensive soft tissue reaction to metal ions, revision following MOM THA is not associated with an increased complication rate compared with revision following MOP THA. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(1):e164-e169.].

Assessment of Accuracy and Reliability in Acetabular Cup Placement Using an iPhone/iPad System.

Implant positioning is one of the critical factors that influences postoperative outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Malpositioning of the implant may lead to an increased risk of postoperative complications such as prosthetic impingement, dislocation, restricted range of motion, polyethylene wear, and loosening. In 2012, the intraoperative use of smartphone technology in THA for improved accuracy of acetabular cup placement was reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of an iPhone/iPad-guided technique in positioning the acetabular cup in THA compared with the reference values obtained from the image-free navigation system in a cadaveric experiment. Five hips of 5 embalmed whole-body cadavers were used in the study. Seven orthopedic surgeons (4 residents and 3 senior hip surgeons) participated in the study. All of the surgeons examined each of the 5 hips 3 times. The target angle was 38°/19° for operative inclination/anteversion angles, which corresponded to radiographic inclination/anteversion angles of 40°/15°. The simultaneous assessment using the navigation system showed mean±SD radiographic alignment angles of 39.4°±2.6° and 16.4°±2.6° for inclination and anteversion, respectively. Assessment of cup positioning based on Lewinnek's safe zone criteria showed all of the procedures (n=105) achieved acceptable alignment within the safe zone. A comparison of the performances by resident and senior hip surgeons showed no significant difference between the groups (P=.74 for inclination and P=.81 for anteversion). The iPhone/iPad technique examined in this study could achieve acceptable performance in determining cup alignment in THA regardless of the surgeon's expertise. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(4):e621-e626.].

Use of the G-guide for Measuring Stem Antetorsion During Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Implant positioning is one of the critical factors influencing postoperative outcomes in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Several studies have reported that the postoperative antetorsion (AT) measurement for the femoral stem inserted without navigation showed wide variability. The current authors developed a simple instrument, the Gravity-guide (G-guide), for intraoperative assessment of stem AT and adjustment. They evaluated the effectiveness of the G-guide with postoperative computed tomography (CT) examination. Ninety patients (96 hips) who underwent primary THA using the G-guide for stem adjustment were evaluated. The G-guide consists of 2 parts: one attached to the lower leg and the other attached to the handle of the rasp. The G-guide was used to evaluate the AT at the time of inserting the final rasp. In addition, the AT value in the G-guide evaluation system required correction by the angle obtained in the preoperative epicondylar view. Intraoperative stem AT was defined as the sum of the intraoperative G-guide value and the correction angle. Postoperative AT was evaluated by CT examination. The discrepancy between the intra- and postoperative measurements was 4.6°±4.1°. Acceptable accuracy with discrepancy of less than 5° and 10° was achieved in 66 (69%) hips and 85 (89%) hips, respectively. The use of the G-guide could effectively reduce the variability of stem anteversion compared with manual adjustment. This study proved the effectiveness of the newly developed G-guide system in intraoperative stem AT adjustment.

Accuracy of combined anteversion in image-free navigated total hip arthroplasty: stem-first or cup-first technique?

PURPOSE: In total hip arthroplasty (THA), combined anteversion (CA) is used as a parameter for assessment of overall prosthetic alignment. The purpose of this study was to comparatively examine the CA value in patients who underwent primary THA using the image-free navigation system either with a cup-first or stem-first technique. METHODS: Eighty-three hips undergoing primary THA using the OrthoPilot® image-free navigation system (B. Braun-Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) were included in this study. The patient population was divided into two groups depending on the procedure used: cup-first technique and stem-first technique. In the cup-first group, inclination and anteversion (AV) angles were targeted at 35-45° and 15-25°, respectively, while stem antetorsion (AT) was determined for each patient based on the amount of individual native femoral AT angle. In the stem-first group, the femur was prepared first with the target angle corresponding to the native femoral AT and the cup AV was decided considering the CA calculated with Widmer's formula (aiming at the optimal Widmer's CA of 37.3°). RESULTS: Better consistency in Widmer's CA values was attained in the stem-first group as indicated by the smaller SD values. In the assessment of overall alignment, Widmer's CA values were within the satisfactory range (37 ± 5°) in 41.9 and 92.3 % of the subjects in the cup-first group and the stem-first group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The stem-first technique with image-free navigated THA could effectively achieve accurate and consistent control of the CA value and thus is expected to improve the surgical outcome.

Histologic evaluation of the bone-ceramic interface of an alumina ceramic cup arthroplasty retrieved after 25 years in vivo.

A 47-year-old man underwent ceramic cup arthroplasty when he was 22 years old. Revision total hip arthroplasty was performed 25 years later because of limited range of motion without implant loosening. Histologic examination revealed that the femoral head and ceramic implant were well fixed through a thin fibrous membrane. The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that calcium and phosphorus were detected in the same peak pattern as cancellous bone in the bone-ceramic interface.

Surgical Treatment of Synovial Osteochondromatosis of the Hip Using a Modified-Hardinge Approach with a Z-Shaped Capsular Incision.

Synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip is a rare condition, and the surgical treatment approach for this condition requires complete removal of loose bodies combined with synovectomy. While these, procedures are generally accepted as the optimal treatment method, this is still controversial topic. Recent studies have reported that open surgical procedures remain acceptable for synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip. These procedures include the dislocation of the femoral head, and complications such as femoral head necrosis and bursitis or great trochanter non-union due to trochanteric osteotomy have been reported. The present study reports a modified technique for surgical dislocation through a Z-shaped capsular incision without trochanteric flip osteotomy for the treatment of synovial osteochondromatosis of the hip.

Comparison of Continuous Femoral Nerve Block, Caudal Epidural Block, and Intravenous Patient-controlled Analgesia in Pain Control After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Thirty-six patients who underwent primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) were randomly allocated to 4 groups with different pain control protocols; continuous femoral nerve block (FNB group), single-shot caudal epidural block with morphine (EB group), intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with fentanyl (IV-PCA group), and systemic administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs group). Postoperative pain was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores and the analgesic effect was compared among the groups. The NRS upon arrival at the recovery room and 6 hours after surgery in the FNB, EB, and IV-PCA groups were significantly lower than that in the NSAIDs group. The amount of additional analgesics requested by the patient was smaller in the FNB, EB, and IV-PCA groups as compared to the NSAIDs group. Regarding the complications related to the analgesia, 5 of the 9 patients in the IV-PCA group complained nausea and vomiting and received antiemetic drugs. Delay in the rehabilitation process due to drowsiness was encountered in 3 patients in this group, while no patient in the FNB and EB groups suffered from delayed rehabilitation. Considering both the analgesic effect and the potential risk of complications, continuous femoral nerve blocks and caudal epidural blocks for are recommended for postoperative pain control after THA procedure.

Significance of preoperative 3D-CT angiography for localization of the femoral artery in complicated THA.

BACKGROUND: Major vascular injury is one of the most devastating complications in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Risk for intraoperative vascular injury is increased when the normal vascular anatomy is distorted by previous surgery or dislocation with displacement. Therefore, an appreciation of the vascular anatomy in relation to the anticipated surgical field is critical to avoid this complication during preoperative assessment for a complicated THA. METHODS: Preoperative three-dimensional (3D) CT angiography was performed for 24 complicated THAs when altered vascular anatomy around the acetabulum was suspected. When assessing the CT images, the presence of apparent proliferation of vessels close to the original acetabulum as well as a distance of <10 mm from the artery to the acetabulum was deemed a potential risk factor for intraoperative vascular injury. Additionally, the relationships of clinical characteristics and the presence of these risk factors were analyzed to identify the patient population at risk. RESULTS: The incidence of proliferation of collateral vessels was higher in patient groups with proximal femoral migration of 5 cm or more and multiple previous surgeries prior to the index THA. Moreover, in three ankylosed hips, lateral deviation of the main vascular trunk with an artery-acetabulum distance of <10 mm was identified in all cases. CONCLUSION: Preoperative 3D-CT angiography in cases of complicated THA revealed altered vascular anatomy which may increase the risk for intraoperative vascular injuries. Patient characteristics related to the risk for this complication were marked proximal femoral migration, multiple previous surgeries, and hip ankylosis. Preoperative image examination of the vascular anatomy is thought to help reduce the risk of inadvertent vascular injury in these complicated THA cases.

Fascia iliaca compartment block: its efficacy in pain control for patients with proximal femoral fracture.

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral fractures are common in elderly patients. Recently, use of regional blockade has gained popularity as a means of relieving pain among this patient population. Among the procedures, fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) is believed to be advantageous because of its safety and efficacy. METHODS: In this study fifty-six consecutive patients who sustained a proximal femoral fracture were assigned to two groups. For 31 patients in group 1, FICB was used to control pre and postoperative pain. FICB was performed by an orthopaedic resident on arrival of the patient at the hospital and in the immediate postoperative period. Systemic administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone was adopted for pain control for 25 patients in group 2. The severity of pain was assessed by use of a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Neither blockade-associated complications nor analgesic failure were encountered among patients who underwent FICB (group 1). In this group of patients, the mean preoperative VAS scores before FICB and at 10 min and 12 h after the blockade were 91, 31, and 36 respectively, indicating significant pain reduction. The corresponding values for group 2 patients were 92, 92, and 81. In addition, postoperative pain was also successfully managed by FICB with mean VAS scores at immediate, 6-h and 12-h time points of 15, 22, and 31 respectively, whereas the corresponding values for the group 2 patients were 62, 49, and 59. Consequently, significant differences in VAS scores were demonstrated between the groups in both the pre and postoperative periods. CONCLUSION: FICB is clinically safe and efficient, providing consistent analgesic effects irrespective of the performing doctor's experience of elderly patients with proximal femoral fracture.