Management of proximal tibial stress fracture associated with advanced knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Tibial stress fracture associated with knee osteoarthritis is an unusual and difficult clinical scenario. There is no clear existing treatment guideline for this uncommon clinical disease. The aim of this study is to review the impact of various treatment options for patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis associated with proximal tibial stress fracture. METHODS: The study was performed using the databases of PubMed and Scopus. Methodological index for non-randomized studies score was used to evaluate the included studies' bias. The concluded data included the treatment approach, reported outcome measure, and time to fracture union. The literature search was started in December 2021 and accomplished at January 2022. A narrative description of the different methods and comparison of their results were done. RESULTS: Out of total assessed 69 studies, 9 studies were included in our review. The commonest treatment approach used was total knee arthroplasty by long tibial stem extension. The mean preoperative knee society score and knee functional score were 30.62 and 23.17, respectively. The mean postoperative knee society knee score was 86.87, while the functional score was 83.52. The average reported time to achieve fracture union was 4 months (ranging 2.07-5.50 months). CONCLUSION: The optimal clinical outcome for treating either acute or mobile tibial stress fracture in patients with advanced knee osteoarthritis can be achieved with long stem total knee arthroplasty. However, due to heterogeneity of data, comparison of different treatment options for chronic proximal tibial stress fracture mal-union/non-union coexisting with knee osteoarthritic and such inferences need to be judged cautiously.

Medial tibial bone resorption following total knee arthroplasty comparing a traditional with a kinematic design.

BACKGROUND: New total knee prostheses are being designed to improve clinical outcome, survivorship and patient satisfaction following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A new knee system was developed with improvements in patellofemoral joint, trochlear geometry, polyethylene formulation and tibial baseplate. Aim of this study was to compare the newer kinematic knee system with its existing predecessor knee system in terms of clinical outcome, revision rates, radiographic outcomes specifically medial tibial bone resorption. METHODS: The prospective matched-pair study included 88 TKA surgeries using newer kinematic design knee prostheses, performed between January 2015 and December 2016, out of which 82 patients were available for final follow-up. The control cohort of 82 traditional TKA prosthesis was matched in terms of age, gender and body mass index. All surgeries were performed by the single surgeon using medial parapatellar arthrotomy and posterior stabilized implants were used. Clinical outcomes were assessed using knee society score, range of motion (ROM), anterior knee pain and crepitation. Radiological examinations included recording of radiolucent lines and medial tibial bone resorption. RESULTS: At the 5-year follow-up, no significant differences were noted in terms of mean knee society score (93.3 ± 6.6 vs 94.2 ± 8.1), knee function score (88.5 ± 10.5 vs 89.1 ± 11.2) and ROM. The incidences of anterior knee pain and crepitation were lower in the newer group (8.5% vs 21.9% and 14.6% vs 32.9%, respectively) compared to the traditional prosthesis group. No cases of aseptic loosening were observed in either cohort. No significant difference was seen in terms of radiolucent lines (29.3% vs 26.8%) and medial tibial resorption (2.43% in each group) incidences. CONCLUSIONS: At the 5 years follow-up no significant differences were noted between the two groups in terms of clinical and radiological outcomes, except the former proved to be better for anterior knee pain and crepitation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

The application of low-dose dexamethasone in total knee arthroplasty: finding out the best route and dosage schedule.

BACKGROUND: The use of dexamethasone as additive to multimodal analgesic regimen in total knee arthroplasty has been well established, but the most suitable route, effectiveness, safety and dose schedule of low-dose dexamethasone is not known. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial to investigate and compare the analgesic and antiemetic effects and safety of low-dose (8 mg) dexamethasone introduced as periarticular injection or intravenous (as a single dose or in two divided doses of 4 mg separated by 24 h) in unilateral total knee arthroplasty patients. RESULTS: The single dose intravenous administration as well as the periarticular administration of dexamethasone had similar mean visual analogue scores which were significantly lower than divided dose group at 24 and 48 h postoperatively. The rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lowest among single intravenous dose group and highest among interval dose group at 24 h, while no difference was noted at 48 h. No significant differences were noted in terms of knee flexion angle at 48 h and modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score at 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: Single low-dose intravenous dexamethasone is the most appropriate dose which can safely be given to TKA patients and is only moderately associated with rise in blood sugar not causing any significant complication. Alternatively, periarticular infiltration of low-dose dexamethasone can produce equivalent analgesic effect as SDIV in first 24 h without causing significant blood sugar rise and wound complications, but its antiemetic effect remains subtle. Therefore, it is recommended to further study the combination of intraoperative periarticular and postoperative intravenous dexamethasone for their possible additive effect.

Analysis of clinical and radiological outcomes of long tibial stemmed total knee arthroplasty in knee osteoarthritis complicated by tibial stress fracture.

OBJECTIVE: Knee arthritis associated with tibial stress fractures represents an uncommon and difficult clinical scenario to treat. The use of long, fluted tibial extension rods has been vital in the management of such cases owing to immediate fracture stability and single-stage surgery without the need to open the fracture site. This study investigates clinical and radiological outcomes following total knee arthroplasty using a tibial extension stem in cases of knee osteoarthritis with tibial stress fracture. METHODS: From February 2015 to December 2020, 17 patients who had total knee arthroplasty implanted with a long stemmed tibial component were included in the study. Patient data were analyzed for knee range of motion, deformities, Knee Society score, knee function score, and time to fracture union in the pre- and postoperative periods. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 22.7 ± 11.68 months (range 12-60 months), and mean time to fracture healing was 10.23 ± 2.81 weeks (range 8-20 weeks). The preoperative mean fixed flexion deformity improved from 8.53 ± 3.43° to a mean of 0.29°, and knee flexion improved from 79.4 ± 13.90° to 125.29 ± 8.74° on postoperative assessment. The Knee Society score improved from a mean preoperative score of 18.94 ± 5.55 (range 8-28) to 89.41 ± 7.5 (range 74-102, p value < 0.001). Similarly, the knee function score improved significantly from a mean preoperative score of 15.5 ± 4.48 (range 8-26) to a mean of 85 ± 6.09 (range 72-94, p value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Total knee arthroplasty using long tibial extenders has been an effective and safe surgical option for patients with advanced osteoarthritis with tibial stress fractures.

Clinical and Surgical Insights on Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty in Ochronotic Arthropathy: A Case-based Review.

Introduction: Ochronotic arthropathy (OcA) is a consequence of alkaptonuria, a rare systemic-inherited metabolic disorder leading to accumulation of homogentisic acid in articular cartilage and subsequent early degeneration of the joints. Only few cases of OcA managed with bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been described in the literature so far. We aim to discuss surgical pearls, pitfalls, and clinical outcome of OcA of knees managed with simultaneous bilateral TKA. Case Presentation: The patient was a 52-year-old female presented to outpatient facility with severe bilateral knee pain and difficult ambulation. After clinical and radiological diagnosis of osteoarthritis, she was posted for bilateral TKA. During arthrotomy, blackening of articular cartilage, quadriceps and patellar tendon, and synovium was noted. Subchondral bone was free of pigmentation though, seemed osteopenic while taking bone cuts. Right knee was implanted with cruciate retaining components with ultracongruent insert; while on the left side, posterior stabilized components were used. Diagnosis of ochronosis was made retrospectively with characteristic subtle pigmentation of nails, palms, pinnae, and urine homogentisic levels. Two years follow-up of the patient remained satisfactory without any major complications. Conclusion: OcA may present with intra-operative surprise to the surgeon if not anticipated preoperatively. Simultaneous bilateral TKA is safe and effective treatment for end-stage arthritis. However, it is difficult to diagnose it preoperatively; a high clinical suspicion leads to meticulous assessment and counseling regarding potential anesthetic concerns, choice of implant, and possible intra-operative and post-operative complications reported sporadically though.

Stress Fracture of Isolated Middle Cuneiform Bone in a Trainee Physician: A Case Report and Review.

Stress fractures are chronic fatigue failure of bone from repetitive subthreshold loads. Insufficiency fractures occur in bones that are already osteopenic and fail to withstand normal loads over time. Stress fractures of cuneiform bones are extremely rare and usually reported to happen in athletes or recruits. We describe a case of middle cuneiform insufficiency fracture that occurred in a young trainee physician with severe hypovitaminosis D, who joined his training a few weeks before it happened. Magnetic resonance imaging remains the modality of choice of diagnosis of foot stress injuries because it detects even stress reactions with reasonable sensitivity. Cuneiform stress fractures, like other low-risk stress fractures, heal with immobilization only and do not require surgical intervention.

Disassembly of Components of a Monoblock Bipolar Hip Prosthesis Following Dislocation: A Case Report and Review on "Bottle Opener Effect".

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar hemiarthroplasty has been reliable and successful treatment for geriatric patients following neck of femur fractures. Dissociation/disassembly of bipolar prosthesis is a rare complication in which separation of outer head from inner head leads to failure of prosthesis and needs revision surgery. The disassembly though commonly seen after years of primary surgery as a result of polyethylene wear leading to fixed varus position of outer head but it can happen in an acute setting anytime in immediate or late post-operative period following posterior dislocation with closed reduction attempt. We describe a rare case of disassembly of monoblock (non-modular) bipolar prosthesis following attempt of closed reduction for posterior dislocation of the prosthesis. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 70-year-old male with 3 weeks prior bipolar hemiarthroplasty of hip joint, presented with posterior dislocation. While manipulation during closed reduction maneuvers, the outer head got locked behind acetabulum and component dissociation happened through bottle opener phenomena. The patient managed with revision surgery in the form of bipolar extraction and revision with total hip joint prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Disassembly of bipolar prosthesis is a rare and unforeseen complication which obviates for revision surgery. A modular bipolar prosthesis can be reassembled or can be managed with shell, liner, and head exchange with retention of femoral stem but it is impossible to reassemble a non-modular bipolar due to its characteristic locking mechanism. It is vital to look for proper orientation and stability of components, integrity of abductor mechanism and short external rotators, and restoration of horizontal and vertical offsets during revision.