Is Retention of the Acetabular Component at Revision Surgery a Long-Term Solution?

Background: Acetabular retention in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be advantageous, yet long-term survival data is limited. Thus, we investigated long-term survivorship of retained acetabular components in revision THA with analysis of rerevision rate, instability risk, and clinical outcomes. Methods: We reviewed 98 hips with polyethylene wear and/or osteolysis that were revised with retained acetabular components. Acetabular inclination and anteversion were measured from prerevision radiographs. A retrospective chart review was performed, collecting outcomes of interest including Harris hip score, instability events, and rerevision surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the risk of revision over time. Predictors of survival including acetabular component position were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. Results: Average follow-up was 13 years (range, 5-24). Survivorship rates at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 89.7%, 81.6%, 70.8%, and 63.8%, respectively. There was improvement in average Harris hip score (61 to 76, P < .0001). There was a 9% rate of dislocation, and 6 hips (6%) were rerevised for recurrent instability. Overall, there were 23 (23%) rerevisions at an average of 6.1 years with the most common reasons being instability (6%) and aseptic loosening (6%). Use of conventional polyethylene was the only identified independent predictor of rerevision (P = .025). Conclusions: Retention of a well-fixed acetabular component in revision THA provides acceptable long-term outcomes with a 15-year survivorship of 71%. Instability and aseptic loosening were the most common reasons for rerevision. Surgeons may consider retaining the acetabular component at revision surgery if the implant is well-fixed and well-positioned.

Prevalence and Morphology of the Coracoclavicular Joint: An Osteological Study of 2,724 Subjects Using Univariable and Multivariable Logistic Regression Analyses.

Background: The coracoclavicular joint (CCJ) is an anomalous articulation between the surfaces of the inferior clavicle and superior coracoid and its etiology is controversial. Reportedly, symptomatic patients demonstrate significant functional limitations including shoulder abduction loss and potential for brachial plexus compression and impingement. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of CCJ across age, gender and ethnicity, and to identify clinically useful morphological characteristics. Methods: 2,724 subjects with intact clavicles and scapulae from the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection were evaluated for the presence of CCJ. Logistic regression was used to determine the effect of age, height, gender, and race on prevalence of CCJ. 354 clavicles with CCJ were measured for size and location of the CCJ facet. Results: CCJ was observed in 9% of subjects. CCJ was more prevalent in African-Americans (12%) than Caucasian-Americans (6%) (p < 0.001) and more prevalent in females (11%) than males (8%) (p = 0.055). Facet location along clavicle length was consistent (average 25%, range 15-35%). But, facet location along clavicle width varied (average 60%, range 10-90%), with males having a more posterior location. For every 10-year increase in age, facet elevation (p = 0.001) and surface area (p < 0.001) increased. Conclusions: CCJ prevalence was 9% in our large osseous population, found more commonly in African-Americans and females. Facet location is predictable with respect to clavicle length, but less so along clavicle width. The clavicular facet may develop at some point in life and continue to grow in size after its appearance. Clinical Relevance: Presence of a CCJ represents a potential overlooked source of anterior shoulder pain and supracoracoid impingement. Epidemiologic and morphological characteristics presented in our study can aid in the identification, clinical understanding, and surgical excision of a symptomatic CCJ. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Differences in Failure Mode Between Simple and Mattress Suture Configuration in Arthroscopic Bankart Repairs: A Cadaveric Study.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations disrupt the anteroinferior labrum (Bankart lesion), leading to high rates of instability and functional disability, necessitating stabilization. PURPOSE: To investigate modes and locations of repair failure between simple and horizontal mattress suture configurations after arthroscopic Bankart repair using suture anchors in a cadaveric model. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: A total of 48 fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders from 48 specimens underwent creation of Bankart lesions from either the 3:00 to 6:00 o'clock position on the right glenoid or the 6:00 to 9:00 o'clock position on the left glenoid. Shoulder laterality between specimens was alternated and randomized to either simple or mattress suture repair configurations. In each shoulder, anchors were placed on the glenoid at the 3:00, 4:30, and 6:00 o'clock positions on the right or 6:00, 7:30, and 9:00 o'clock positions on the left and were secured via standard arthroscopic knot-tying techniques. Specimens were tested in the supine anterior apprehension position using a servohydraulic testing machine that was loaded to failure, simulating a traumatic anterior dislocation. After dislocation, open inspection of specimens was performed, and failure mode and location were documented. Differences in failure mode and location were compared using nominal multivariate generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Simple suture repairs most frequently failed at the labrum, while mattress suture repair failed at the capsule. Regardless of configuration, repairs failed most commonly at the 3:00 o'clock position on the right shoulder and 9:00 o'clock position on the left shoulder. Compared with mattress suture repairs, simple suture repairs failed at a significantly higher rate at the 6:00 o'clock position. CONCLUSION: Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation after arthroscopic Bankart repair in a cadaveric model resulted in simple suture configuration repairs failing most commonly via labral tearing compared with capsular tearing in mattress repairs. Both repair configurations failed predominately at the anterior anchor position, with simple suture repairs failing more commonly at the inferior anchor position. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horizontal mattress suture configurations create a larger area of repair, decreasing the risk of repair failure at the labrum. The extra time required for mattress suture placement at the inferior anchor position is used effectively, resulting in lower biomechanical failure rates.

Hip-Spine Syndrome: Is There an Association Between Markers for Cam Deformity and Osteoarthritis of the Lumbar Spine?

PURPOSE: To examine a large osteological collection to assess the relations between the well-described means of quantifying cam deformities of the proximal femur-alpha angle (AA) and anterior femoral neck offset (AFNO)-and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. METHODS: AA and AFNO were measured on paired femurs of 550 well-preserved cadaveric skeletons by use of standardized cephalocaudal digital photographs. Degenerative disease of these specimens' lumbar spines was graded from 0 to 4 with a validated grading system. Proximal femurs showing obvious arthritic changes such as lipping or osteophytes were excluded. Correlations between AA and spine osteoarthritis (SOA), as well as between AFNO and SOA, were evaluated by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The average age for the skeletons was 47.8 ± 16.2 years. There were 456 male and 94 female specimens. The mean AA and AFNO were 52.4° ± 11.4° and 6.8 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. The average SOA score was 2.1 ± 0.9 (0 in 31 specimens, 1 in 82, 2 in 287, 3 in 106, and 4 in 44). There was a significant correlation between increasing AA and SOA (standardized ß = 0.061, P = .041). There was also a significant correlation between decreasing AFNO and SOA (standardized ß = -0.067, P = .025). There was a strong correlation between age and SOA (standardized ß = 0.582, P < .0005). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important insight into the understanding of the hip-spine connection. Although it has no way of showing a causative or clinically significant relation, this study did show that the cam-type deformity markers of increasing AA and decreasing AFNO were significantly associated with SOA in a large osteological collection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical and biomechanical studies to assess whether cam deformity in the younger individual may contribute to the accelerated development of SOA in later life are warranted.