A Comparison of Oral vs Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Staggered Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: All previous studies comparing the blood sparing efficacy oral and intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) in total knee arthroplasty have involved two or more patient cohorts, outcomes of which may be limited by inter-individual variability in human drug response. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if both oral and intravenous preparations of TXA are equivalent at reducing blood loss in the same patients undergoing staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty. Methods: 40 patients undergoing staggered bilateral total knee replacement were recruited. They received 2 g of oral TXA 2 hours preoperatively for the first knee and 1 g of bolus intravenous TXA 15 minutes before skin incision for the second knee. 7 patients were excluded for protocol deviation, leaving 33 participants for the study. The second knee was operated within 5-6 days of the first knee. The primary outcome was reduction in hemoglobin. Equivalence was tested with a two one-sided test (TOST) and a P < 0.05 indicated equivalence between oral and intravenous modes of TXA administration. Results: The mean reduction in hemoglobin was similar between oral and intravenous mode of TXA administration (2.18 and 2.16 g/dl respectively, P<0.0001, equivalence). There was no significant difference in the total hemoglobin loss and total red blood cell volume loss {(104 and 102 g, P=0.86) and (865 and 863 ml, P=0.53) respectively}. Conclusion: Oral and intra venous TXA have equal blood sparing properties in patients undergoing staggered bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Suboptimal patellofemoral alignment is associated with poor clinical outcome scores after primary total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Proper patellofemoral alignment is an important goal in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Acceptable patellar alignment is defined as patellar tilt less than or equal to 5° and patellar displacement less than or equal to 5 mm. Previous studies reported an incidence of post-operative patellar malalignment in TKA from 7 to 35%. However, correlation between patellar malalignment and clinical outcome after TKA remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of patellar tilt and displacement on the clinical outcome of TKA. METHODS: A retrospective review of 138 primary TKAs with a minimum of 2 year follow-up is reported. Pre-operative and post-operative mechanical axis, patellar tilting angle and patellar displacement were measured. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the knee functional scores including the Knee Society Score (KSS), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at final follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-two (30%) primary TKAs had suboptimal patellofemoral alignment with a patellar tilt angle greater than 5° or lateral patellar displacement of more than 5 mm. There was no statistical difference in pre-operative mechanical axis, pre-operative patellar tilt angle, or pre-operative lateral patellar displacement between the primary TKAs with proper patellofemoral alignment and those with suboptimal alignment. Patients with post-operative patellar tilt or displacement had clinically significant reductions in KSS, KOOS, and WOMAC when compared with patients without post-operative patellar tilt or displacement. The odds of having a fair or poor post-operative result, an odds ratio of 3.4 (95% CI 1.6-7.2) for KSS, 6.4 (95% CI 2.9-14.2) for KOOS, and 5.9 (95% CI 2.6-13.5) for WOMAC, were associated with suboptimal patellofemoral alignment. CONCLUSION: Establishing proper patellofemoral alignment remains an essential goal of primary TKA. There is a strong association between suboptimal post-operative patellofemoral alignment and poor clinical outcome scores after primary TKA.

Congenital Quintus Valgus: An Extremely Rare Anomaly: A Case Report.

CASE: We present an unusual case of unilateral congenital quintus valgus of the left foot (congenital lateral deviation of the fifth [little] toe) in a 1.5-year-old boy. The child had no other congenital malformations. Radiographs revealed the abnormal presence of 2 accessory phalangeal ossicles in the fourth web space, leading to lateral deviation of the fifth toe. Remarkably, the ossicles of the middle and distal phalanges of the fifth toe were absent. Surgical excision of the accessory ossicles was performed, and correction of the deformity was achieved. CONCLUSION: Congenital quintus valgus, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported in the medical literature. Physicians must be aware of the possibility of such a condition while treating congenital malformations of the foot.

Combined Dorsal and Ulnarward Carpometacarpal Dislocation Associated with Open Fracture of the Base of First Metacarpal and Severe Degloving Injury.

We report a rare case of dislocation of second to fourth carpometacarpal (CMC) joints of the right hand with combined dorsal and ulnarward displacement of the second to fourth digits and fracture of the shaft of the first metacarpal associated with degloving injury. These injuries were diagnosed early and treated successfully with closed reduction and internal fixation using Kirschner wires. The functional outcome was good at follow-up at 5 years. A high index of suspicion is required to successfully diagnose and treat this condition.

Complete Atlantooccipital Assimilation with Basilar Invagination and Atlantoaxial Subluxation Treated Non-Surgically: A Case Report.

Atlantooccipital assimilation is a partial or complete congenital fusion between the atlas and the base of the occiput. Most patients with atlas assimilation are asymptomatic, but some may present with neurological problems such as myelopathy. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with neck and occipital pain, episodic neck stiffness, and dizziness. Medical imaging revealed complete atlantooccipital assimilation associated with basilar invagination, atlantoaxial subluxation, and predisposing anterior spinal cord compression. The patient was treated non-operatively with medications, cervical interferential therapy, and a rigid cervical orthosis.

Outcome of 4 Surgical Treatments for Wear and Osteolysis of Cementless Acetabular Components.

BACKGROUND: Loosening and periprosthetic osteolysis are some of the most common long-term complications after hip arthroplasty. The decision-making process and surgical treatment options are controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 96 acetabular revisions (91 patients) performed between 2002 and 2012, with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up and a mean of 5.7 years of follow-up. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Harris Hip Score. The size and location of osteolytic lesions were evaluated using the preoperative radiographs; healing of the defects was categorized using a standardized protocol. RESULTS: Thirty-three (34.4%) hips had isolated liner exchanges (ILEs), 10 (10.4%) hips had cemented liners into well-fixed shells (CLS), 45 (46.9%) hips had full acetabular revisions (FARs), and 8 (8.3%) hips had revision with a roof ring/antiprotrusio cage (RWC). All procedures showed significant improvement in Harris Hip Score after revision (P ≤ .001). Fifteen patients had moderate residual pain (pain score ≤20): 8 (24%) ILE, 3 (30%) CLS, and 4 (9%) FAR. Complete bone defect healing after grafting was lower with acetabular component retention procedures (ILE and CLS; 27%) compared with full acetabular component revision procedures (FAR and RWC; 57%). Fifteen patients underwent reoperation: 3 ILE, 1 CLS, 8 FAR, and 3 RWC. CONCLUSION: Acetabular component retention demonstrates a low risk of reoperation; however, residual pain and limited potential for bone graft incorporation are a concern. FAR is technically challenging and may have an elevated risk of reoperation; however, higher degrees of bone graft incorporation and satisfactory clinical outcome can be expected.

Giant Osteolipoma Fixed to the Greater Trochanter of the Femur in a Seventy-Year-Old Elderly Woman.

A lipoma containing mature osseous elements is called osteolipoma. This article describes a giant osteolipoma fixed to the periosteum of the greater trochanter of the femur. A seventy-year-old woman presented with a large subcutaneous mass in the right buttock which had been present for six years. On local examination, a giant mass that was ovoid, firm, non-tender, well demarcated, subcutaneous, and relatively fixed to the greater trochanter was palpated in the right buttock. A medical imaging and fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) bone scan revealed a large lipomatous and metabolically active lesion arising from the periosteum of the greater trochanter of femur. The excisional mass of 17 × 8 × 7 cm3 was well encapsulated and had an osseous basal portion. Cut sections of the mass revealed mainly yellow fatty tissue surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule with numerous interlacing thin lamellar bony structures. The definitive pathological diagnosis was osteolipoma without evidence of malignancy. No recurrence was observed at eight months follow-up. Osteolipoma with an osseous basal portion is rare. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice and the prognosis is good. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an unusual giant osteolipoma fixed to the periosteum of the greater trochanter of the femur.

Elevated Body Mass Index Is Associated With Early Total Knee Revision for Infection.

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects over half a billion people worldwide, including one-third of men and women in the United States. Obesity is associated with higher postoperative complication rates after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It remains unknown whether obese patients progress to revision TKA faster than nonobese patients. METHODS: A total of 666 consecutive primary TKAs referred to an academic tertiary care center for revision TKA were retrospectively stratified according to body mass index (BMI), reason for revision TKA, and time from primary to revision TKA. RESULTS: When examining primary TKAs referred for revision TKA, increasing BMI adversely affected the mean time to revision TKA. The percent of referred TKAs revised by 5 years was 54% for a normal BMI, 64% for an overweight patient, 71% for an obese class I patient, 68% for an obese class II patient, and 73% for a morbidly obese patient. There was a significant difference in time to revision TKA between patients with normal BMI and elevated BMI (P = .005). There was a significant increase in early revision TKA for infection in patients with an elevated BMI (54%, 74/138) when compared with the normal BMI patients (24%, 8/33, P < .003, relative risk ratio = 2.3, absolute risk = 30%, number needed to treat = 3.3). There was no significant increase in acute, early, midterm, or late revision TKA for aseptic loosening and/or osteolysis, instability, stiffness, or other causes between patients with normal BMI and elevated BMI. CONCLUSION: An elevated BMI is a risk factor for early referral to a tertiary care center for revision TKA. Specifically, orthopedic surgeons should convey to overweight and obese patients that they have at least a 130% increased relative risk and a 30% absolute risk of revision TKA for an early infection if referred for revision TKA. Patient expectations and counseling as well as reimbursement should account for the greater risks when performing a TKA on patients with an elevated BMI.

Primary Ewing's Sarcoma of the Spine in a Two-Year-Old Boy.

Ewing's Sarcoma (ES) is a highly malignant bone tumour. It may involve any part of the skeleton but the most frequent parts are the ilium and diaphysis of femur and tibia (Alfeeli et al., 2005; Zhu et al., 2012). Primary ES of the spine is extremely rare (Yan et al., 2011). It accounts for only 3.5 to 14.9 percent of all primary bone sarcomas. The age of presentation ranges from 12 to 24 years (median 21 years) (Ferguson, 1999; Sharafuddin et al., 1992; Klimo Jr. et al., 2009). We report an unusual case of primary ES of the spine in a two-year-old boy, who presented to us with paraparesis and features of cauda equina syndrome. MRI scan showed a tumour mass arising from the pedicle of L4 vertebra invading the spinal canal. Tc-99 bone scan showed increased tracer uptake in L4 vertebra and normal tracer uptake elsewhere in the skeleton. After reaching the diagnosis of a space occupying lesion invading the lumber spinal canal, we performed a decompressive laminectomy and a biopsy was sent which confirmed the diagnosis of ES. Immunohistochemistry showed tumour cells staining positive for CD-99 (specific stain for ES). Gene testing showed an EWS-FLI 1 chimera. Surgery was followed by good improvement in motor signs. The child was then referred to a specialized oncotherapy centre for further treatment, radiation, and chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report primary ES of the spine at the age of two years.

Obesity is Associated With Early Total Hip Revision for Aseptic Loosening.

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects more than half a billion people worldwide, including one-third of men and women in the United States. Obesity is associated with higher postoperative complication rates after total hip arthroplasty (THA). It remains unknown whether obese patients progress to revision THA faster than nonobese patients. METHODS: A total of 257 consecutive primary THAs referred to an academic tertiary care center for revision THA were retrospectively stratified according to preoperative body mass index (BMI), reason for revision THA, and time from primary to revision THA. RESULTS: When examining primary THAs referred for revision THA, increasing BMI adversely affected the mean time to revision THA. The percentage of primary THAs revised at 5 years was 25% for a BMI of 18-25, 38% for a BMI of 25-30, 56% for a BMI of 30-35, 73% for a BMI of 35-40, and 75% for a BMI of greater than 40 (P < .001). The percentage of primary THAs revised at 15 years was 70%, 82%, 87%, 94%, and 100%, respectively (P < .001). A significant increase in early revision THA for aseptic loosening/osteolysis in obese patients (56%, 23/41) when compared with the nonobese patients (12%, 10/83, P < .001, relative risk ratio = 4.7). CONCLUSION: Preoperative BMI influences the time of failure of primary THAs referred to an academic tertiary care for revision THA as well as the mechanism of failure. Specifically, obesity increased in the relative risk of early revision THA due to aseptic loosening/osteolysis by 4.7 fold.

Comprehensive Operative Note Templates for Primary and Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Adequate preoperative planning is the first and most crucial step in the successful completion of a revision total joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability, adequacy and accuracy of operative notes of primary surgeries in patients requiring subsequent revision and to construct comprehensive templates of minimum necessary information required in the operative notes to further simplify re-operations, if they should become necessary. METHODS: The operative notes of 144 patients (80 revision THA's and 64 revision TKA's) who underwent revision total joint arthroplasty at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in the year 2013 were reviewed. We assessed the availability of operative notes and implant stickers prior to revision total joint arthroplasty. The availability of implant details within the operative notes was assessed against the available surgical stickers for adequacy and accuracy. Statistical comparisons were made using the Fischer-exact test and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The primary operative note was available in 68 of 144 revisions (47%), 39 of 80 revision THAs (49%) and 29 of 66 revision TKAs (44%, p = 0.619). Primary implant stickers were available in 46 of 144 revisions (32%), 26 of 80 revision THAs (32%) and 20 of 66 revision TKAs (30%, p = 0.859). Utilizing the operative notes and implant stickers combined identified accurate primary implant details in only 40 of the 80 revision THAs (50%) and 34 of all 66 revision TKAs (52%, p = 0.870). CONCLUSION: Operative notes are often unavailable or fail to provide the necessary information required which makes planning and execution of revision hip and knee athroplasty difficult. This emphasizes the need for enhancing the quality of operative notes and records of patient information. Based on this information, we provide comprehensive operative note templates for primary and revision total hip and knee arthroplasty.