Coronal Knee Alignment and Tibial Rotation in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Study of Patients with End-Stage Osteoarthritis.

Several studies have found a relationship between the rotational anatomy of the distal femur and the overall coronal lower limb alignment in knees with osteoarthritis (OA). Less is known about the rotation of the proximal tibia, especially in the context of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), where one of the goals of the surgery is to achieve the appropriate component-to-component rotation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the coronal alignment of the lower extremity and the relative proximal tibial rotation. A prospective cohort study of patients with an end-stage OA scheduled for TKA was conducted. All patients underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan and a standing X-ray of both lower limbs. A relative femorotibial rotation was measured separately for mechanical and kinematic alignment. A statistically significant correlation was found between the tibial varus and the external tibial rotation (p < 0.001). Out of 14 knees with high tibial varus (>5°), 13 (93%) and 7 (50%) knees had >10° of femorotibial rotation for the mechanical and kinematic alignment landmarks, respectively. In order to keep the component-to-component rotation within the 10° margin, more internal rotation of the tibial component is required in knees with higher tibial varus.

Mobile wireless monitoring system for prehospital emergency care.

BACKGROUND: Latest achievement technologies allow engineers to develop medical systems that medical doctors in the health care system could not imagine years ago. The development of signal theory, intelligent systems, biophysics and extensive collaboration between science and technology researchers and medical professionals, open up the potential for preventive, real-time monitoring of patients. With the recent developments of new methods in medicine, it is also possible to predict the trends of the disease development as well the systemic support in diagnose setting. Within the framework of the needs to track the patient health parameters in the hospital environment or in the case of road accidents, the researchers had to integrate the knowledge and experiences of medical specialists in emergency medicine who have participated in the development of a mobile wireless monitoring system designed for real-time monitoring of victim vital parameters. Emergency medicine responders are first point of care for trauma victim providing prehospital care, including triage and treatment at the scene of incident and transport from the scene to the hospital. Continuous monitoring of life functions allows immediate detection of a deterioration in health status and helps out in carrying out principle of continuous e-triage. In this study, a mobile wireless monitoring system for measuring and recording the vital parameters of the patient was presented and evaluated. Based on the measured values, the system is able to make triage and assign treatment priority for the patient. The system also provides the opportunity to take a picture of the injury, mark the injured body parts, calculate Glasgow Coma Score, or insert/record the medication given to the patient. Evaluation of the system was made using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). In particular we measured: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, intention to use, patient status and environmental status. METHODS: A functional prototype of a developed wireless sensor-based system was installed at the emergency medical (EM) department, and presented to the participants of this study. Thirty participants, paramedics and doctors from the emergency department participated in the study. Two scenarios common for the prehospital emergency routines were considered for the evaluation. Participants were asked to answer the questions referred to these scenarios by rating each of the items on a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Path coefficients between each measured variable were calculated. All coefficients were positive, but the statistically significant were only the following: patient status and perceive usefulness (ß = 0.284, t = 2.097), environment (both urban a nd rural) and perceive usefulness (ß = 0.247, t = 2.570; ß = 0.329, t = 2.083, respectively), and perceive usefulness and behavioral intention (ß = 0.621 t = 7.269). The variance of intention is 47.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The study results show that the proposed system is well accepted by the EM personnel and can be used as a complementary system in EM department for continuous monitoring of patients' vital signs.

Results of total hip arthroplasty using a bionic hip stem.

PURPOSE: The trabecular-orientated bionic hip stem was designed to mimic the natural force transmission through the femur in total hip arthroplasty, resulting in supposedly longer prosthesis survivability. The aim of this study was to compare the second-generation bionic hip stem to a standard uncemented hip stem. METHODS: A group of 18 patients (21 hips) who underwent total hip arthroplasty with a bionic stem (bionic group) was compared with a historic group of 12 patients (12 hips) treated with standard anatomic hip stem (control group). During the first year after the procedure, the densitometric measurements of the bone around the prosthesis were taken. Radiographic and clinical assessments were additionally performed preoperatively and at the three month, six month, one year and three year follow-ups in the bionic group. RESULTS: In the bionic group, one patient was revised for aseptic loosening and 16 patients (19 hips) were available to the final follow-up. A significant decrease of bone mineral density was found in Gruen zones 3, 4 and 5 in the bionic group, and in zone 7 in both groups. The bionic group had a significantly higher bone mineral density in Gruen zone 1 at the one year follow-up. At the final follow-up, all prostheses were radiologically stable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Provided that a good implant position is achieved, comparable short-term results can be obtained using a bionic stem. Still, a decrease of bone mineral density in Gruen zone 7 occurred in both groups. Further studies are required to determine survivability of the bionic stem.

Long term results of operative treatment of knee osteochondritis dissecans.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of an unstable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion results in a high percentage of acceptable outcomes at long-term follow-up. METHODS: Eight patients who had been treated with ORIF for unstable knee OCD lesions were identified. Long-term outcomes were assessed with a Subjective Knee Evaluation Form and Knee Examination Form of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC 2000) and an OCD specific Hughston rating scale. RESULTS: All lesions were healed and stable to arthroscopic probing at 3 months. At the average follow-up of 14.8 years (range 12-21 years), the mean IKDC subjective score was 80.9. In IKDC examination form, six patients reached group A (normal) and two patients reached groups B (near normal) and C (abnormal), respectively. According to Hughston criteria, three patients were rated excellent, three good, one fair, and one poor. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend aggressive attempts to preserve articular cartilage in OCD.

Quality of life and clinical outcome comparison of semitendinosus and gracilis tendon versus patellar tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an 11-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are still controversies about graft selection for primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Prospective, randomized long-term studies are needed to determine the differences between the graft materials. HYPOTHESIS: Eleven years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction there is no difference in functional outcome and quality of life between patients with patellar tendon or hamstring tendon autografts; however, the patients with patellar tendon autograft would have a higher prevalence of osteoarthritis. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: From June 1999 to March 2000, 64 patients were included in this prospective study. A single surgeon performed primary arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in an alternating sequence. In 32 patients, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed with hamstring tendon autograft (semitendinosus and gracilis [STG] group) while in the other 32 patients the reconstruction was performed with patellar tendon autograft (PT group). RESULTS: At the 11-year follow-up, no statistically significant differences were seen with respect to the Lysholm score and Short Form-36, KT-1000 arthrometer laxity testing, anterior knee pain, single-legged hop test, or International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) classification results. Positive pivot-shift test (1+) was significantly more frequent in the PT group (P = .036). Twenty-two patients (81%) in the STG group and 18 patients (72%) in the PT group were still at their preinjury level of activity. Graft rupture occurred in 2 patients from the STG group (6%) and in 4 patients from the PT (12%). Grade B and C abnormal radiographic findings were seen in 84% (21 of 25) of patients in the PT group and in 63% (17 of 27) of patients in the STG group (P = .008). CONCLUSION: Both hamstring and patellar tendon autografts provided good subjective outcomes and objective stability at 11 years. Positive pivot-shift test (1+) was significantly more frequent in the PT group. No significant differences in the rate of graft failure were identified. Patients with patellar tendon graft had a greater prevalence of osteoarthritis at 11 years after surgery.

Dynamic versus rigid stabilization for the treatment of disc degeneration in the lumbar spine.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. CLINICAL QUESTION: This study aimed to describe the outcome of stabilization surgery with dynamic instrumentation for degenerative disc disease. The results were compared with age- and gender-matched peers treated with traditional fusion with rigid instrumentation. If necessary, additional nerve elements decompression was undertaken in both groups. METHODS: This study analyzed the success rates of 25 patients aged 47.4 years (mean 95% confidence interval: 43.1-51.7) treated with stabilization of the involved vertebral dynamic unit(s) with either dynamic or rigid instrumentation with or without additional decompression. Clinical outcome was assessed with Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain, leg pain, and activity level. Satisfaction outcome was measured with Stauffer and Coventry overall satisfaction criteria and VAS for satisfaction. Health-related quality of life was estimated with Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires. Fusion rate and adjacent level(s) was checked with x-ray. Complications recorded in patients' files were evaluated and revision surgeries were stated as treatment failures. RESULTS: At the 4-year follow-up (range, 2-5 years) significant improvement was noted on some subjective parameters in both groups. No statistical differences were seen between the groups at final follow-up. Five patients (42%) in the rigid group and two patients (20%) in the dynamic group were rated good or excellent according to the overall Stauffer and Coventry satisfaction criteria. Radiologically, seven patients (58%) in the rigid group were undoubtedly fused and all the involved discs in the dynamic group continued to degenerate. Adjacent segments showed loss of disc height in both groups but only loss of upper adjacent discs in the rigid group was statistically significant. Two patients in the dynamic group and one patient in the rigid group required reoperation because of the pedicle screw misplacement. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate no significant difference between dynamic and rigid stabilization of the lumbar spine for patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). However, the study is underpowered and further studies on larger and homogeneous group of patients should be undertaken. [Table: see text].

Comparison of drainage techniques on prolonged serous drainage after total hip arthroplasty.

The aims of this study were to determine (1) whether the duration of closed suction drainage affects the occurrence and duration of prolonged serous drainage and (2) if closed suction drains could be omitted according to the wound and/or thigh appearance after unilateral primary total hip arthroplasty. One hundred thirty-nine patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty were randomized into 3 groups: 42 patients received no drainage, 46 patients received drainage for 24 hours, and 51 patients received drainage for 48 hours. No differences with respect to occurrence and duration of prolonged serous drainage were found between the 2 groups with drains. Although no prolonged serous drainage occurred, the swelling of the thigh was significantly greater (P < .001) and the occurrence of prolonged thigh pain was significantly higher (P = .01) in the group without drainage.

The effect of graft choice on functional outcome in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

A prospective, randomised, 5-year follow-up study was designed to compare the functional results between patellar tendon and hamstring tendon autografts after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Primary reconstruction was performed in 32 patients using the central third of the patellar ligament and in 32 patients using double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. All reconstructions were performed by a single surgeon, with identical surgical technique and rehabilitation protocol. Of the total 64 patients in the study, 54 (85%) were available for the 5-year follow-up. No statistically significant differences were seen with respect to Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) classification, clinical and KT-2000 arthrometer laxity testing, single-legged hop test and anterior knee pain. Graft rupture occurred in two patients (8%) in the patellar tendon group and in two patients (7%) in the hamstring tendon group; 23 patients (88%) in the patellar tendon group and 23 patients (82%) in the hamstring tendon group returned to their pre-injury activity level. Good subjective outcome and stability can be obtained by using either graft; no statistically significant differences were found in functional outcome between the grafts.

Long-term results after open Bankart operation for anterior shoulder instability. A 3- to 16-year follow-up.

The open Bankart procedure is still considered the gold standard for patients with recurrent posttraumatic anterior shoulder instability. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze long-term results after open Bankart procedure in 83 patients that were operated between 1987 and 2000 and to evaluate the rate of recurrent instability, level of function and range of motion. The mean follow-up time was 9 (3-16) years. The postoperative recurrence rate including subluxations was 12%. The mean Constant score was 77 and the mean Rowe score was 63. Average loss of external rotation in 90 degrees of abduction was 19 degrees . The results were disappointing in terms of stability and function. In the absence of longterm prospective studies on newer arthroscopic techniques, the decision on the reconstruction method must still be based on the surgeon's experience and the patient's choice.