Six year results of the Rebalance mobile bearing total ankle replacement.

BACKGROUND: We report the outcomes of a prospective consecutive series of 267 total ankle replacements (TARs) using a new mobile bearing Rebalance® prosthesis. METHODS: Between April 2011 and December 2018, 267 consecutive Rebalance® prostheses were implanted in 255 patients at 3 different centers. Estimated survival curves with 95% confidence intervals were produced with the Kaplan-Meier method. 110 ankles were followed for at least 5 years and clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed in 92 of these ankles. RESULTS: Twenty-one ankles were revised at a mean of 34 (7-60) months. The estimated survival was 90% (95% CI 86-95) at 5 years and 88.3% (95% CI 83.-94 at 6 years. The ankles followed for at least 5 years demonstrated a median Likert score of 1 (1-4). Radiolucent zones were detected in 14% and osteolytic cysts in 3%. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of the Rebalance prosthesis conforms with other reports of similar designs. The satisfaction rate was high. Radiological zones and osteolytic cysts were found at a lower rate than usually reported for mobile bearing TARs. These results favour further use of this implant.

Use of a trabecular metal implant in ankle arthrodesis after failed total ankle replacement.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Arthrodesis after failed total ankle replacement is complicated and delayed union, nonunion, and shortening of the leg often occur-especially with large bone defects. We investigated the use of a trabecular metal implant and a retrograde intramedullary nail to obtain fusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 13 patients with a migrated or loose total ankle implant underwent arthrodesis with the use of a retrograde intramedullary nail through a trabecular metal Tibial Cone. The mean follow-up time was 1.4 (0.6-3.4) years. RESULTS: At the last examination, 7 patients were pain-free, while 5 had some residual pain but were satisfied with the procedure. 1 patient was dissatisfied and experienced pain and swelling when walking. The implant-bone interfaces showed no radiographic zones or gaps in any patient, indicating union. INTERPRETATION: The method is a new way of simplifying and overcoming some of the problems of performing arthrodesis after failed total ankle replacement.

The AES total ankle replacement: A mid-term analysis of 93 cases.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies concerning specific total ankle arthroplasties. This study reports mid-term survival data for the AES prosthesis. METHODS: Ninety-three AES ankle arthroplasties were performed by the senior authors. The mean follow-up was 3.5 years. The 5-year survivorship and also the number of simultaneous procedures, reoperations, additional procedures and revisions are analyzed. RESULTS: The 5-year survivorship with revision for any reason as end-point was 90%. Simultaneous procedures were performed in 25 patients, deltoid release and subtalar fusion being the most common. There were seven revisions, one due to loosening, and two due to infection, instability and fractures, respectively. Twenty-seven reoperations or additional procedures were performed in 23 patients with a procedure for malleolar impingement being the most common reoperation, and correction of hindfoot varus being the most common reason for an additional procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The AES total ankle replacement seems to be a reasonably safe procedure in experienced hands.

Selective diagnostic nerve root block for the evaluation of radicular pain in the multilevel degenerated cervical spine.

In patients with radiculopathy due to degenerative disease in the cervical spine, surgical outcome is still presenting with moderate results. The preoperative investigations consist of clinical investigation, careful history and most often magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine. When MRI shows multilevel degeneration, different strategies are used for indicating which nerve root/roots are affected. Some authors use selective diagnostic nerve root blocks (SNRB) for segregating pain mediating nerve roots from non-pain mediators in such patients. The aim of the present study is to assess the ability of transforaminal SNRB to correlate clinical symptoms with MRI findings in patients with cervical radiculopathy and a two-level MRI degeneration, on the same side as the radicular pain. Thirty consecutive patients with cervical radiculopathy and two levels MRI pathology on the same side as the radicular pain were studied with SNRBs at both levels. All patients underwent clinical investigation and neck and arm pain assessment with visual analogue scales (VAS) before and after the blocks. The results from the SNRBs were compared to the clinical findings from neurological investigation as well as the MRI pathology and treatment results. Correlation between SNRB results and the level with most severe degree of MRI degeneration were 60% and correlation between SNRB results and levels decided by neurological deficits/dermatome radicular pain distribution were 28%. Twenty-two of the 30 patients underwent treatment guided by the SNRB results and 18 reported good/excellent outcome results. We conclude that the degree of MRI pathology, neurological investigation and the pain distribution in the arm are not reliable parameters enough when deciding the affected nerve root/roots in patients with cervical radiculopathy and a two-level degenerative disease in the cervical spine. SNRB might be a helpful tool together with clinical findings/history and MRI of the cervical spine when performing preoperative investigations in patients with two or more level of degeneration presenting with radicular pain that can be attributed to the degenerative findings.

Comparison of radiographic measurements of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty in two different approaches / 中国矫形外科杂志

[Objective]Measuring the preoperative and postoperative radiography of the patients with hip resurfacing arthroplasty to see if there are any differences in the orientation of acetabular and femoral components when two different approaches were adopted.[Method]According to the approaches adopted,72 hips resurfaced were divided into two groups.26 hips of 21 patients with Harding lateral approaches were in Group AIn group B,46 hips of 44 patients were operated using modified Gibson approach,which the femoral head were dislocated posteriorly.The radiographic measurements included:(1)preoperative femoral neck-shaft angle and postoperative femoral component stem-shaft angle of;(2)abduction angle of acetabular component;(3)femoral component offset;(4)preoperative acetabular anteversion angle and postoperative acetabular component anteversion angle;(5)femoral component lateral offset;(6)femoral component lateral deviation angle.[Result]The mean abduction angle ofacetabular component was 37.7? in Group Aand 44.4? in Group B.The mean anteversion angle of acetabular component was 21.6? in Group A and 152? in Group B.The femoral component stem-shaft angle was 139.5? in Group A and 140.5?in Group B.[Conclusion]There were some statistical differences in the acetabular component orientation of hip resurfacing arthroplasty when two different approaches were adoptedComparing with Group B,Group A was located less abductedly and more antevetedly in the orientation of acetabular component.

Tibio-talocalcaneal arthrodesis as a primary procedure using a retrograde intramedullary nail: a retrospective study of 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Arthrodesis of the ankle joint using screws or external fixation is often a demanding procedure, notably in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We investigated whether tibio-talocalcaneal arthrodesis with the use of an intramedullary nail is a safe and simple procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 25 ankles (25 patients) at median 3 (1-7) years after tibio-talocalcaneal arthrodesis because of rheumatoid arthritis. All had been operated on by retrograde insertion of a retrograde nail. 5 types of nail had been used. Complications, functional outcome scores, and patient satisfaction were determined and the radiographs evaluated for healing. RESULTS: All but 1 ankle had a radiographically healed arthrodesis. We recorded 3 deep infections, all healed--in 2 cases after extraction of the nail--and the arthrodesis healed in all 3 patients. The average functional scores at follow-up were high, considering that the patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. 23 patients were satisfied with the outcome. We found a correlation between the functional scores and the general activity of the disease expressed as a Health Assessment Questionnaire score. INTERPRETATION: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, tibio-talocalcaneal arthrodesis with a retrograde intra-medullary nail results in a high rate of healing, a high rate of patient satisfaction, and relatively few complications.

Ankle arthrodesis by compression screws in rheumatoid arthritis: primary nonunion in 9/35 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Today, percutaneous or open arthrodesis of the ankle, using one or several screws for fixation, is a common method for treatment of the rheumatic ankle. However, there is very little information in the literature on the reliability of the method. METHODS: We performed a retrospective radiographic and clinical study on 35 ankles of 35 patients. Function was evaluated using the Mazur and AOFAS scores. For evaluation of activity of the rheumatic disease, we used the HAQ score. RESULTS: 31 ankles had healed--26 at the first attempt and 5 after repeat arthrodesis. There was no difference between 13 cases operated on percutaneously and 22 cases operated on with open technique with respect to radiographic healing. Mean AOFAS total score was 56 of possible 86 points. The AOFAS total score correlated with the severity of the rheumatic disease. 20 patients were satisfied with the result, 12 were somewhat satisfied and 3 patients were dissatisfied although the ankle in 2 of these 3 patients had fused. INTERPRETATION: The use of compression screws for fusion of the rheumatic ankle does not appear to give acceptable results regarding healing and function.