Fusion following failed total ankle replacement.

Although mid- to long-term results after total ankle replacement have improved because of available second- and third-generation devices, failure of total ankle replacement is still more common compared with total hip replacement and total knee replacement. The portfolio of available total ankle replacement revision component options is small. Furthermore, the bone stock of the tibiotalar region is scarce making it difficult and in some situations impossible to perform revision total ankle replacement. In these cases tibiotalar and tibiotalocalcaneal fusions are valuable options. This article describes which surgical procedures should be performed depending on the initial situation and gives detailed advice on surgical technique, postoperative care, and clinical results.

Fibrin sealants in orthopaedic surgery: practical experiences derived from use of QUIXIL® in total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty is associated with a significant postoperative blood loss even without any form of perioperative anticoagulation. METHODS: The potential role of QUIXIL(®), a fibrin sealant used in orthopaedic surgery to control blood loss and avoid blood transfusions in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty was evaluated in a prospective randomized trial with twenty-four patients diagnosed with primary osteoarthritis of the knee. RESULTS: Results showed that application of 2 ml QUIXIL(®) adds costs to treatment without reducing the number of transfused red blood cell counts and postoperative haemoglobin loss. However, significant lower levels of postoperative fluid loss (P = 0.026) was detected in QUIXIL(®) treated patients. CONCLUSION: Regarding cost effectiveness and benefit no indication for the use of 2 ml QUIXIL(®) fibrin sealant in standard knee arthroplasty could be proofed statistically.

An implant-free double-bundle reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: operative technique and influence on tibiofemoral kinematics.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament is a standard surgical procedure in sports traumatology. The widespread replacement method using hamstring tendons has an important shortcoming namely delayed or missing bony healing in contrast to patellar tendon grafts where implant-free fixation is established by using the adjacent bone blocks. The purpose of this study was to describe a new implant-free surgical procedure using hamstring tendon grafts and to analyse the influence on tibiofemoral kinematics in vitro. METHODS: Nine human knee specimens with arthroscopically transected anterior cruciate ligaments were mounted on a dynamic knee simulator and weight-bearing muscle-loaded knee flexions were simulated while a robotic universal force sensor system was used to provide external tibial loads. Three different loading conditions were simulated including partial body weight only, an additional 50 N anterior tibial force or an additional Five Nm of internal rotational torque. After reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using a tibial bone block hybrid technique these three trials were repeated. The kinematics was measured with an ultrasonic measuring system and different loading and ligament conditions were examined. Graft tunnel placement was verified by computed tomography. FINDINGS: Our fixation method achieved stability to anterior tibial drawer force whereas internal tibial rotation did not change before and after the reconstruction. Computed tomography confirmed anatomical graft and tunnel placement. INTERPRETATION: The presented operative procedure is technically feasible and leads to reproducible results concerning knee joint kinematics and graft placement.

In vitro measurement of intraarticular pressure in the ankle joint.

Ankle joint affections and injuries are common problems in sports traumatology and in the daily routine of arthroscopic surgeons. However, there is little knowledge regarding intraarticular loads. Pressures on the ankle were determined in a dynamic model on 8 cadaver specimens, applying forces to tendons of the foot over the stance phase under vertical loading. A characteristic course of loading in the tibiotalar joint with a rapid increase upon heel contact was observed. It increased gradually to reach a maximum after 70% of the stance phase, during the push-off phase. The major torque in the ankle joint is located anterolaterally. A dynamic loading curve of the ankle joint can be demonstrated. These observations explain phenomena such as the appearance of osteophytes on the anterior tibia in the case of ankle osteoarthritis and the relatively low incidence of posterior tibial edge fragments in the case of trimalleolar ankle fracture. Furthermore, the medial side of the talus is less loaded compared to the lateral side, which appears relevant to the treatment of osteochondrosis dissecans.

Long-term results for the uncemented Zweymuller/Alloclassic hip endoprosthesis. A 15-year minimum follow-up of 320 hip operations.

A follow-up study of 15 (15-17) years of 320 consecutive Zweymuller total hip arthroplasties is presented. Age at surgery was 67 (29-99) years. A total of 164 (51.3%) patients had died. Clinical and radiological examinations were available for 97 (30.3%), phone interviews and radiological examinations for 4 (1.3%) hips, and phone follow-ups for 49 (15.3%). There were 6 (1.9%) patients who were lost to follow-up. The Harris Hip Score results in a median value of 88. According to the Kaplan-Meier method, a survival rate of the cup/inlay of 98% (95% confidence interval, 95%-99%) after 17 years was achieved. For the stem/head, the survival rate was 98% (95% confidence interval, 94%-99%). In 95.2% of patients, no operative revision was required. The rate of aseptic loosening was 2% for the acetabular and 1% for the femoral component.

Influence of surgical experience on accuracy of acetabular cup positioning in total hip arthroplasty.

Acetabular cup positioning with respect to inclination and anteversion is important in total hip arthroplasty. Positioning affects wear, range of motion, dislocation, and aseptic loosening and is essential for the prognosis after surgery. In this study, we sought to determine the accuracy of surgeons' cup positioning and to test for any differences in accuracy among surgeons with different levels of surgical experience. Using a lateral transgluteal approach, 2 groups of surgeons with different levels of surgical experience positioned 85 cups. Fifty-nine percent of the cups were outside the safe zone of Lewinnek. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups.

Talonavicular arthrodesis or triple arthrodesis: peak pressure in the adjacent joints measured in 8 cadaver specimens.

BACKGROUND: Talonavicular arthrodesis is a differential indication for triple arthrodesis. Differences regarding intraarticular pressure loads on the adjacent joints have not been investigated to date, but they are of clinical relevance when considering long-term joint degeneration. METHODS: We used a dynamic foot model to measure intraarticular peak pressures with electronic sensors in 8 anatomical specimens in different areas of the ankle joint and in the naviculocuneiform joint. Force was applied to extrinsic tendons via cables attached to computer- regulated hydraulic cylinders. A ground reaction force was simulated in a tilting angle- and force-controlled translation stage. RESULTS: We measured significantly higher peak pressures in the ankle joint after triple arthrodesis (5.7 Mpa) than after talonavicular arthrodesis (5.2 Mpa), with differences especially in the anterior section (5.2 Mpa as compared to 4.6 Mpa). Centrally, the peak pressure was similar, at 4.6 MPa and 4.5 Mpa, respectively. In the posterior area, the peak pressure after triple arthrodesis was lower (4.1 MPa as opposed to 4.4 Mpa). After triple arthrodeses, we measured higher values laterally/medially in the ankle joint (5.5 MPa/4.6 Mpa) than after talonavicular arthrodesis (5.1 MPa/4.4 Mpa). In the naviculocuneiform joint, we again saw higher peak pressures after triple arthrodesis than after talonavicular arthrodesis. INTERPRETATION: Our findings from this cadaver study indicate a lower and more evenly distributed peak pressure load in the ankle joint after talonavicular arthrodesis than after triple arthrodesis; thus, mechanically, a selective arthrodesis appears to be more favorable. In contrast, triple arthrodesis leads to an increase in peak pressure in the ankle joint, which may in turn lead to joint degeneration.

Evaluation of complications of three different types of proximal extra-articular femur fractures: differences in complications, age, sex and surviving rates.

The comparability of studies of extra-articular proximal femur fractures is compromised by the lack of a widely accepted, simple classification system with clinical and prognostic relevance. The aim of the study is to define the complication profile as well as differences relating to age, gender and survival rate of simple trochanteric fractures, intertrochanteric comminuted and subtrochanteric fractures. Records of 335 consecutive patients were analysed. Patients had a median follow-up of 10 (1-56) months, and were treated operatively with three intramedullary nailing systems. Simple trochanteric fractures (n=67) show wound healing problems (1.5%). Median age is m/f 77(45-98) years/ 85(39-101), and two-year survival rate is m/f 50.3%/ 84.9%. Intertrochanteric comminuted fractures (n=204) show the highest complications (25%), 9.7% femoralhead perforations, 3.5% hardware related problems and 11.8% wound healing problems. Median age is m/f 75(41-94) years/ 85(54-100), survival rate is m/f 92.7%/ 66.5%. Complication rate is 17.0% in subtrochanteric fractures (n=64), no femoralhead perforation but 9.1% other hardware problems and 7.8% wound healing problems. Median age is m/f 72(24-91) years/ 83(38-99), survival rate is m/f 92.3%/ 67.9%. Females show higher complication rates compared to males (19% versus 10%). The three types of fractures show different patterns of complications, survival rates, age, and sex distribution.