Short-term outcomes of outpatient surgery for total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: We developed an accelerated clinical pathway involving outpatient surgery for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who are healthy enough for early discharge. METHODS: Between March 2014 and April 2015, 89 TKAs were performed at a single institution by a single orthopaedic surgeon. 31 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. All patients received 2 g tranexamic acid and 750 mg cefuroxime sodium intravenously 30 minutes prior to surgery. A multimodal protocol for perioperative pain management was used for all patients. RESULTS: 31 patients (three male, 28 female), with a mean age of 67 (range 49-78) years, who underwent TKA were enrolled in this study. The mean length of hospital stay was 28.7 (range 16-49) hours and mean duration of surgery was 92 (range 75-128) minutes. Combined spinal epidural anaesthesia was performed for 23 (74.2%) patients and general anaesthesia was used in 8 (25.8%) patients. Among the 31 patients, 23 (74.2%) patients were discharged within 23 hours of surgery. CONCLUSION: Early discharge of patients following outpatient surgery for TKA was not associated with any procedure-related complications among the selected patients up to three months postoperatively.

Total hip arthroplasty for acetabular fractures: "Early Application".

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional and clinical results of early total hip arthroplasty performed to treat acetabulum fracture. METHODS: Evaluation of 17 patients who were diagnosed with acetabulum fracture and treated with early total hip arthroplasty between January 2008 and October 2013 was performed. In all, 14 patients were male, and 3 were female, with mean age of 52 years (range: 29-80 years). Time elapsed between trauma and operation was mean of 13 days (range: 2-21 days). Observation period was average of 48.2 months (range: 24-70 months). Mean Harris Hip Score was 89.6 (range: 70-100). RESULTS: In 13 patients, score was good or excellent. Total of 7 of 10 patients had returned to their pre-trauma jobs. Mean length of time for return to work was determined to be 7.2 months (range: 1.5-24 months). Of the total, 9 (52.9%) patients were diagnosed with heterotopic ossification according to Brooker Classification. CONCLUSION: After acetabulum fracture, early total hip arthroplasty with the correct indications and appropriate patient can result in functional, pain-free hip joint with the advantages of early mobilization, early return to work, and decrease in reoperation risk. Heterotopic ossification prophylaxis should be considered in the presence of 1 or more risk factors, such as a head injury, high-energy trauma, or associated musculoskeletal injuries.

Short-term results of the management of severe bone defects in primary TKA with cement and K-wires.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of cement and kirschner wire augmentation in the management of bone defects in primary TKA. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (10 male, 14 female; mean age: 66 years) with uncontained unilateral medial tibial articular bone defect who underwent TKA between 2010 and 2014 were included in this study. The average follow up time was 33.7 months. Patients were divided to two groups according to the size of the bone defect (Group 1: <20 mm, Group 2: >20 mm). The tibial defect was reconstructed by using cement and K-wires. We used posterior stabilized prosthesis with no tibial stem extension. RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative lower extremity mechanical axis in Group I was in a mean varus of 15° and mean varus of 3°, respectively (p < 0.001). The preoperative and postoperative lower extremity mechanical axis in Group 2 was in a mean varus of 20° and mean varus of 3° respectively in Group II (p < 0.001). None of the patients neither suffered from failure of K-wires nor loosening. CONCLUSION: The use of cement and K-wires augmentation appears to be a simple and cost-effective treatment option for the tibial bone defects in primary TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic study.

The Effect of Dislocation Type (Crowe Types I-IV) on Pelvic Development in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Radiologic Study of Anatomy.

Classification of hip pathology in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) helps in appropriate placement of implants during total hip arthroplasty. We examined preoperative unilateral and bilateral pelvic radiographs of 57 patients (114 hips) undergoing total hip arthroplasty because of DDH. Both sides of the pelvis were visually separated into 3 areas for comparison. When area ratios of hips with Crowe types II, III, and IV DDH were compared with ratios for healthy hips, values in hips with DDH were significantly low for the iliac wings, significantly high for the acetabular regions, and significantly low for the ischial area. Using a line crossing the healthy hip's teardrop and parallel to a line joining the distal sacroiliac joints is useful for calculating limb-length discrepancy.

A case report of multiple fractures with arterial vasospasm associated with ergotamine use.

Vasospasm that develops in association with ergotamine use is a rarely seen but well-understood complication. A case is presented here of multiple fractures in which arteriospasm affecting all the arteries of the lower limb on the same side occurred 10 days post-trauma. In this case, the arteriospasm resulting from ergotamine addiction and high doses of ergotamine, which may be confused with post-traumatic angiospasm, was treated with a marcaine infusion by epidural catheter and heparin, iliomedin and nitronal infusion intravenously. This clinical condition should be borne in mind for all trauma cases determined to have arterial vasospasm, and the use of ergotamine must be queried when taking the anamnesis from the patient.

Acetabular reconstruction by impacted cancellous allografts in cementless total hip arthroplasty revision.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the primary and secondary stability, where 100% or virtually 100% of the uncemented acetabular component contacted with impacted cancellous allografts, focusing especially on the amount of graft used and rim contact. METHODS: Fifteen cases of acetabular reconstruction using impacted cancellous allografts and cementless porous-coated component in which 100% or virtually 100% of the component contacted only with the allograft were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 97.5 (range: 58 to 130) months after revision. The Harris hip score was used to evaluate clinical results. Radiographic evaluations were done using standard anteroposterior views obtained at the final follow-up. RESULTS: Two patients underwent re-revision. The mean Harris hip score of the remaining 13 patients was 88.3±11.9 (range: 68 to 100) at the final follow-up. Early postoperative radiographs showed mean angle of inclination of 45° (range: 30° to 55°). There was a mean migration of 6.2±7.8 (range: 0 to 29) mm and the migration amount did not differ according to rim contact (p=0.054). There was no correlation between migration and amount of graft used (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between migration and follow-up time (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results imply that 50% host bone contact is not absolutely necessary to form a stable construct while restoring the centre of hip rotation.

[The effect of tibial lengthening on gastrosoleus muscle function: an electrophysiological study].

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the changes in electrophysiological characteristics of the contraction forces of the gastrosoleus complex due to stretching in experimental tibial lengthening. METHODS: Distraction histiogenesis was performed in 22 guinea pigs weighing 600 to 800 g. Following the application of a semicircular external fixator and right tibial osteotomy, distraction was applied at a rate of 0.25 mm two times a day for 15 days without a latency period. The animals were randomized to two groups. In the study group, a foot plate preventing ankle plantar flexion was affixed to the external fixator, while ankle motions were unrestricted in the control group. On days 5, 10, and 15, the posterior tibial nerve was stimulated with a nerve stimulator at a constant frequency. Gastrosoleus muscle contractions were measured with a transducer and contraction forces were recorded. RESULTS: On day 5, muscle contraction forces measured in the study group were much higher than the control group (p<0.05). On day 10, however, muscle contraction forces showed a rapid decline in the study group and, at the end of the study, muscle contraction forces decreased by 81% compared to the baseline values (p<0.05). Yet, throughout the study period, muscle contraction forces were always higher than the control group (p<0.05). In addition, the rate of the decrease in muscle strength slowed down after day 10 in the study group, and gastrosoleus function and strength were much better preserved. Equinus deformity developed progressively in the ankles of the control animals whose muscle contraction forces also showed significant decreases during the experiment (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In clinical applications of tibial lengthening, the strength of the gastrosoleus complex should be preserved to prevent equines deformity and maintain ankle functions. This can be achieved through gradual stretching of the muscle during distraction. If there is shortening before surgery or muscle stiffness is expected during lengthening, measures should be taken before distraction osteogenesis and muscle length should be preserved.