Cerclage wire fixation of trochanteric osteotomies in complex hip revision: our experience and comparison with cable-plate fixation.

INTRODUCTION: Osteotomy of the greater trochanter is a commonly used procedure in complex revision hip arthroplasty in order to achieve a wide exposure to the femoral stem and acetabular components. There is no clinical evidence in favour of a specific fixation method. The aim of this study was to compare cable-plate with figure-of-eight cerclage wire fixation in patients requiring a trochanteric "slide" osteotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, 51 greater trochanteric "slide" osteotomies in complex acetabular revision arthroplasties were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 28 hips were fixed with 1 of 2 cable-plate systems (Dall-Miles staple, Stryker or Cable-Ready plate, Zimmer) and 23 with a figure-of-eight cerclage wire.Consolidation, osteolysis, migration of greater trochanter, bursitis of the trochanteric area, Trendelenburg gait and removal of osteosynthesis material were studied at 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: Both groups showed good union rates. The lysis rate was similar with 32% in the cable-plate group versus 29% in the cerclage wire group (p = 0.084). 43% of the hips with cable-plate and 22% of the cerclage wire had trochanteric migration (p = 0.297). Pain at the greater trochanter was less frequent in the cerclage wire group (9%) as compared to the cable-plate group (43%) (p = 0.007). Implant removal was more frequent in the cable-plate group (4 vs. 0 patients). Trendelenburg gait was found in 3 patients in the cerclage wire group as compared to 10 in the cable-plate group (p = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: The cerclage wiring had superior clinical outcomes with similar radiographic results. The authors recommend the use of figure-of-eight cerclage wire when fixing a greater trochanteric "slide" osteotomy in complex revision hip arthroplasty.

High Rate of Fusion but High Complication Rate After Knee Arthrodesis for Infected Revision Total Knee Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Knee arthrodesis is a demanding technique regarding difficulties to achieve bone fusion, control of infection and its associated complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if knee arthrodesis should still be indicated after failed revision total knee replacement. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 45 patients. Age, gender, follow-up, pathogens, Charlson comorbidity index, time from primary arthroplasty to arthrodesis, number of previous procedures, surgical technique, functional capability assessed by the SF-12 score, limb-length discrepancy after arthrodesis, presence of radiographic knee fusion, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of operation was 72 years. 29% of patients were men, 71% were women, and the mean follow-up was 8.5 years. The average Charlson comorbidity index was 4.5. The most common microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus epidermidis (29%), Staphylococcus aureus (22%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15%). In 20% of patients, no microorganism was identified, and in 37% of patients the infection was polymicrobial. Time from primary total knee arthroplasty to arthrodesis was 55 months, and patients underwent a mean of 3.9 previous surgeries. The surgical technique used was an intramedullary long nail in 95.5%. Functionally, 93.3% of patients walked with weight bearing. The SF-12 was higher after arthrodesis (p < 0.05). Mean limb length discrepancy was 2.4 cm. Among the group treated with long intramedullary nailing, 91.1% obtained tibiofemoral fusion. Complications occurred in 37.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Knee arthrodesis with a long intramedullary nail after failed infected revision total knee replacement has a high rate of fusion, but the complication rate is high.

Incidence of and risk factors for femoral fractures in the gap between hip and knee implants.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the incidence of interprosthetic femoral fractures and describe risk factors for them. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2015, we selected patients who were carrying two implants (hip and knee) in the same femur. We collected demographic and clinical data and performed a radiological evaluation to analyse the gap between implants-the femoral canal area and total femoral area-in the axial plane. We defined interprosthetic fracture as that corresponding to a Vancouver type C fracture and types 1 and 2 according to the Su classification. RESULTS: We studied 68 patients who had total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and 44 patients who had total hip arthroplasty (THA); 24 patients an intramedullary nail. We found six interprosthetic fractures (8.8 %), all in patients with a non-cemented THA. There was a tendency towards statistical difference (p = 0.08). Patients with an additional implant at the proximal femur were statistically less likely to have an interprosthetic fracture (p = 0.04). In radiological results, we found more interprosthetic fractures in patients who had an increased femoral canal area in the axial plane just distal to the tip of the hip implant. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying risk factors for this specific type of fracture may facilitate their prevention. Better implant stability and the presence of a gap between stems in a lower canal zone appear to hinder the occurrence of interprosthetic fractures.

Monoterapia con cefotaxima en el primer episodio febril en pacientes con cáncer y neutropenia / Cefotaxime monotherapy in the firs episode of fever in cancer patients with neutropenia

La presencia de neutropenia y fiebre en pacientes con cáncer son reconocidos factores de riesgo de sepsis que apoyan el uso empírico de terapia antimicrobiana. Entre junio y setiembre de 1992, llevamos a cabo un estudio clínico abierto y no controlado para evaluar la eficacia terapéutica de la cefotaxima (1 g. IV cada 8 horas por 7 días) en 41 primeros episodios febriles (temperatura oral mayor de 38.5o) en pacientes elegibles con cáncer con neutropenia inducida por quimioterapia (menos de 1000 neutrófilos/ml). La eficacia terapéutica fue definida como una disminución de la fiebre por más de 4 días y ausencia total de infección. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 48.3 años;46.4 por ciento de los pacientes fueron varones; 73.2 por ciento tuvieron cáncer de mama, ovario o linfoma; el promedio de la cifra de neutrófilos fue de 530.7 neutrófilos/ml. La eficacia terapeutica global fue de 80.5 por ciento (33/41.95 por ciento; CI:68.4-92.6 por ciento): la remisión de la fiebre fue demostrada al tercer día y el tratamiento fue continuado hasta la salida de neutropenia. No se observaron efectos secundarios por la cefotaxima. La eficacia terapéutica en los casos microbiológicamente documentados (Pseudomona aureginosa, E. coli, stafilococos, streptococos, Acinetobacter sp.) fue 75.0 por ciento (15/20; CI:56.0-94.0 por ciento; 2 casos de Pseudomonas y un caso de Stafilococo coagulasa negativo) fue 80.0 por ciento (18/21; CI: 70.7-99.9 por ciento) en casos bacteriológicamente no confirmados. Sólo 5 pacientes fueron clasificados como falla al tratamiento, con un recuento de leucocitos de menos de 1000/ml (3 pacientes con menos de 500/ml y 2 con cifras entre 500 a 1000/ml). Estos resultados sugieren que la monoterapia con cefotaxima es un tratamiento altamente efectivo para el primer episodio febril en pacientes con cáncer y neutropenia.