Pathological fractures in predicting clinical outcomes for patients with osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Studies reported contradictory results for the prognostic significance of a pathological fracture in osteosarcoma patients. The aim of this study is to report the outcomes for a cohort of patients with osteosarcoma who presented with and without pathological fractures and to identify the prognostic importance of pathological fracture in predicting outcomes and influences on survival. METHODS: Data of patients with osteosarcoma were retrospectively reviewed. Between March 1992 and June 2014, a total of 268 patients with osteosarcoma were included in this analysis, of whom 34 (12.7%) with fractures at diagnosis or sustained after chemotherapy and 234 (87.3%) without fracture. All patients were treated with approaches that integrated chemotherapy and surgical resections to maximal extent of all sites whenever feasible. The association between potential prognostic factors and survival for these patients were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in overall survival, progression free survival, and disease free survival between osteosarcoma patients with pathological fractures and without fracture. The patients without fracture had a 5-year survival of 50% and 10-year survival of 21%, in contrast to 37% (5-year) and 22% (10-year) in patients with fractures. Lung metastasis was the significant predictor for the presence of fractures. Advanced stage (III) of tumor, lung metastasis, poor response to chemotherapy, and local recurrence were associated increased risk for death in all osteosarcoma patients. CONCLUSION: Pathological fracture is not a predictor of worse survival in this study. Further studies with matched cases are needed to confirm our observations.

Total Hip Arthroplasty for Patients Who Have Ankylosing Spondylitis: Is Postoperative Irradiation Required for Prophylaxis of Heterotopic Ossification?

Postoperative radiation for prevention of heterotopic ossification (HO) has been proven effective for the patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) after total hip arthroplasties (THA). This study aims to evaluate the effect of postoperative radiation in HO formation following THA in patients with AS. We retrospectively reviewed 129 hips from 91 patients with AS receiving primary THA from July 2004 to December 2012. There were total 38 patients (53 hips) did not receive postoperative prophylaxis in Group I. Moreover, 53 patients (76 hips) received postoperative single-fraction radiotherapy of 500 cGy in Group II. After a minimum 12-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in HO formation between the two groups (P=0.210). This study suggests that postoperative radiation may not be necessary in Asian patients.

Acremonium species combined with Penicillium species infection in hip hemiarthroplasty: a case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate that Acremonium and Penicillium species are being increasingly recognised in periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old male with liver cirrhosis and bilateral hip hemiarthroplasties complained of persistent right hip pain. Bone scan was suspicious for right hip septic arthritis. Laboratory studies revealed an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; 127 mm/h) and C-reactive protein (CRP; 16.171 mg/L). At surgery caseous necrosis with a yellowish appearance around the hip was noted. Intraoperative cultures were positive for Acremonium and Penicillium species 2 weeks after inoculation. After 4 months of fluconazole monotherapy a successful revision right total hip arthroplasty was performed, the patient is walking without assistance at 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We reported a prosthetic hip infection due to Acremonium and Penicillium species. Removal of the prosthesis, antifungal therapy, and re-implantation after 4 months were successful.

Population-based epidemiology of postoperative venous thromboembolism in Taiwanese patients receiving hip or knee arthroplasty without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.

INTRODUCTION: Population-based evaluation on the incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been reported for Asians receiving arthroplasty. In Taiwan, thromboprophylaxis was not commonly applied for patients. The population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the epidemiology, and to determine the risk factors VTE for patients receiving hip or knee replacement without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively acquired patients' data from National Health Insurance databases representing more than 99% of about 23 million Taiwanese citizens. The primary outcome was the incidence of composite symptomatic VTE within 28d ays after receiving hip or knee replacement surgery. RESULTS: During 2002 to 2006, there were 114,026 patients undergoing hip (n=61,460) or knee (n=52,566) replacement surgery. The occurrence rate of overall postoperative VTE was 0.44%. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was four in 10,000 patients receiving hip replacement or seven in 10,000 individuals undergoing knee replacement. The weekly cumulative incidence of VTE was persistently rising up to 28 days after surgery. Dramatic increase in risk of post-surgical VTE was associated with prior disease history of PE (p<0.001 for hip replacement, p=0.01 for knee replacement) or DVT (p=0.004 for hip replacement, p<0.001 for knee replacement). Prior claim of congestive heart failure was an independent risk factor associated with patients receiving knee arthroplasty (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Life-threatening PE occurred and increased cumulatively up to 28 days after hip or knee arthroplasty in Asians. Proper prophylaxis for patients with the exposure of high risks needs to be scrutinized.

Pulmonary embolism following total knee arthroplasty in Taiwanese patients.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism is a relatively uncommon, but serious, postoperative complication of hip and knee arthroplasty; however, little information is available about the prevalence of pulmonary embolism in Taiwan. METHODS: We report here a series of five patients who sustained a symptomatic pulmonary embolism after undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). These patients were identified during a retrospective study of 1768 patients carried out between January 2007 and January 2010. RESULTS: Five (0.28%) patients who sustained a symptomatic pulmonary embolism after TKA were identified in a series of 1768 patients. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography angiography findings in four patients and an increased d-dimer level in one patient. All the patients were women, with a mean age of 68.0 years (range 64-76 years). The average body mass index of these patients was 32.6 kg/m(2) (24-38 kg/m(2)). Four patients underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA, and one patient who was undergoing unilateral TKA also underwent revision TKA for a previously treated contralateral knee. None of the patients had a history of pulmonary embolism, and none was given prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism. The time at which pulmonary embolism occurred ranged from 2 to 8 days in five patients. After treatment, no patient had died by the end of the follow-up period. These case reports highlight the equal incidence of pulmonary embolism after TKA in Taiwanese and Western populations. CONCLUSION: Steps to prevent pulmonary embolism should be undertaken in selected patients, such as these patients with a high body mass index and simultaneous bilateral TKA.

Extensively porous-coated stems for femoral revision: reliable choice for stem revision in Paprosky femoral type III defects.

Between January 1999 and August 2008, ninety-six femoral revisions were performed with extensively porous-coated stems in Paprosky type III femoral defects (89 type IIIA and 7 type IIIB defects). Seven type IIIB defects with a mean canal of 16.5 mm were observed; 6 defects achieved stable bone ingrowth and 1 achieved stable fibrous condition. Average postoperative Harris Hip Score was 92.3±8 (range, 77-100), and all scores improved postoperatively. At a mean follow-up of 65.7 months, 92 stems achieved bone ingrowth, and 1 stem (type IIIB) achieved a stable fibrous condition. Three patients died from causes unrelated to the surgery during follow-up. The most frequent diagnosis for revision of the femoral component was loosening of the cementless stem (53 patients; 55.2%), followed by status after a Girdlestone procedure (21 patients; 21.8%), after total hip arthroplasty with acetabular wear (10 patients; 10.4%), loosening of the cemented stem (7 patients; 7.3%), and periprosthetic fracture (5 patients; 5.2%). The authors performed 65 total hip arthroplasty revisions, 23 femoral component revisions, and 8 revisions of femoral components with cemented liners in patients with well-fixed acetabular shells. Extensively porous-coated stems in femoral revision for Paprosky type III femoral defects provided good mid-term durability.

High-grade osteosarcoma treated with hemicortical resection and biological reconstruction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Wide excision with a 2-3 cm safe margin is widely-accepted in treating high-grade osteosarcoma. However, a wider margin sacrifices more healthy bone and may jeopardize joint function. We hypothesize that our innovative hemicortical resection for such tumors leads to better joint function without higher recurrence rate. METHODS: Between August 2002 and April 2007, six patients of high-grade osteosarcoma were treated with hemicortical resection and biological reconstruction. RESULTS: Five tumors were located around the knee and one was located in the distal tibia. The mean tumor size was 20.5 cm(3). The bone defects were reconstructed using recycled autograft in four cases (one by extracorporeal irradiation; three by liquid nitrogen) and structural allograft in two. In an average follow-up of 52 months (24-96), all patients survived without local recurrence or metastasis. All bone grafts incorporated well without mechanical failure or infection. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 97.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Hemicortical resection for high-grade osteosarcomas located eccentrically in the long bones may be a reliable technique leading to good joint function by preserving surrounding healthy tissues. The functional outcome was encouraging, although long-term follow-up is mandatory to validate. With the advancement of chemotherapy and radiographic three-dimensional imaging, the safe margin in wide excision of high-grade osteosarcoma may be narrowed down in light of joint surface preservation.

Deep vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty in asian patients without prophylactic anticoagulation.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an important complication following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the incidence of DVT is generally underestimated due to subclinical or minor symptoms and signs. In Western countries, prophylactic agents against DVT are administered routinely after TKA. However, in Asia, no regular prophylaxis is generally given to patients undergoing TKA. This article presents a prospective study evaluating the incidence of DVT in 724 consecutive Taiwanese patients who underwent TKA without prophylactic anticoagulation therapy. Of these, 328 patients (45.3%) showed positive Homan's sign with calf swelling >3 cm. Ultrasonographic examination revealed the overall incidence of DVT to be 8.6% (62/724). The incidence of DVT was significantly higher in women (P=.035), in patients who underwent bilateral TKA (P=.002), and in patients with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m(2) (P=.026). The incidence of DVT appeared to be increased in patients with higher tourniquet time; however, the difference was not statistically significant. In all of the suspected cases of DVT, the symptoms subsided after the administration of enoxaparin with uneventful follow-up. No patient developed pulmonary embolism. Our results showed a relatively high incidence of DVT in an Asian population following TKA. We therefore consider that following TKA, prophylactic anticoagulation therapy should be administered to high-risk patients.