No improvement in the post-TKA infection prognosis when the implant is not reimplanted: Retrospective multicentre study of 72 cases.

INTRODUCTION: For the surgeon and patient, permanent removal of an infected knee prosthesis is an unwelcome decision taken out of necessity because unfavourable local or general conditions may increase the likelihood of mechanical or infectious failure upon prosthesis reimplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine if permanent removal of an infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) implant controls the infection and prevents above-the-knee amputation when reimplantation turns out to be too risky. It was hypothesized that removal without reimplantation contributes to eradicating the infection and helps to avoid amputation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive patients who underwent TKA removal between 2000 and 2010 at 14 hospitals were reviewed. The TKA removal was followed by knee fusion in 29 cases or implantation of a permanent cement spacer in 43 cases. RESULTS: If failure is defined as clinically obvious recurrence of the infection, the survival rate was 65 ± 5% at 2 years; 44% of patients had a recurrence of the infection, 8% had undergone amputation and 19% presented with nonunion at the last follow-up. The male gender and the presence of multiple co-morbidities were predisposing factors for failure. DISCUSSION: Control of the infection is not guaranteed upon TKA implant removal; the success rate is lower than in cases of two-stage reimplantation. The outcomes in this study are worse than those of other published studies. This is likely due to the heterogeneity in the patient population and treatments, along with the presence of co-morbidities. This treatment option should be the last recourse before amputation.

Impact of late surgical intervention on heterotopic ossification of the hip after traumatic neurological injury.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) of the hip after injury to the central nervous system can lead to joint ankylosis. Surgery is usually delayed to avoid recurrence, even if the functional status is affected. We report a consecutive series of patients with HO of the hip after injury to the central nervous system who required surgery in a single, specialised tertiary referral unit. As was usual practice, they all underwent CT to determine the location of the HO and to evaluate the density of the femoral head and articular surface. The outcome of surgery was correlated with the pre-, peri- and post-operative findings. In all, 183 hips (143 patients) were included of which 70 were ankylosed. A total of 25 peri-operative fractures of the femoral neck occurred, all of which arose in patients with ankylosed hips and were associated with intra-articular lesions in 18 and severe osteopenia of the femoral head in seven. All the intra-articular lesions were predicted by CT and strongly associated with post-operative complications. The loss of the range of movement before ankylosis is a more important factor than the maturity of the HO in deciding the timing of surgery. Early surgical intervention minimises the development of intra-articular pathology, osteoporosis and the resultant complications without increasing the risk of recurrence of HO.

Total knee arthroplasty with limitations of flexion.

UNLABELLED: Does total knee arthroplasty (TKA) increase mobility in stiff knees, where flexion is restricted due to degenerative changes associated with osteoarthritis, inflammatory disease, hemophilia, or post-traumatic sequelae also affecting soft tissue? The results of one hundred twenty eight TKA from five specialized centers were retrospectively reviewed. Only knees with pre-operative flexion less than 90 degrees were included. Forty six of these also had severe flexion contracture (>20 degrees). As a result of the arthroplasty, the flexion increased by 23+/-17 degrees in group 1 (stiff flexion only, 82 cases), and by 17+/-15 degrees in group 2 (combined stiffness), in which the total range of motion (ROM) increased by 39+/-21 degrees. Improvements in mobility were greater in the cases with severe pre-operative stiffness. One-year functional results did not correlate with final flexion. Flexion at last follow-up did not depend on pre-operative flexion; however, in group 2, final postoperative ROM did correlate with pre-operative ROM. Complications concerned mainly those cases with severe stiffness, in which extensive quadriceps release was performed (two cases of skin necrosis, one infection and one rupture of the patellar tendon), or the patients of group 2 (one skin necrosis, two femoral fractures, one infection and one sciatic nerve palsy). Hemophilia was a factor of poor prognosis. Overall, TKA provided significant flexion gain. It often required tibial tuberosity osteotomy, to improve exposure and prevent injury to the extensor mechanism. Extensive quadriceps release should be reserved to post-traumatic cases with intact skin and no recent infection. TYPE OF STUDY: level 4 retrospective.

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with greater than 20 degrees flexion contracture.

UNLABELLED: Does total knee arthroplasty (TKA) correct the flexion contracture in knee stiffness associated with osteoarthritis, inflammatory disease, hemophilia or post-traumatic sequelae? The results of 107 TKAs from five specialized centers were retrospectively reviewed. Only knees with greater than or equal to 20 degrees flexion contracture on extension were included, 46 of which also had less than 90 degrees flexion. As a result of the arthroplasty, extension increased by 20+/-6 degrees in group 1 (flexion contracture only, n=61), and by 22+/-11 degrees in group 2 (combined stiffness, n=46), in which the total range of motion increased of 39+/-21 degrees. Overall, mean residual flexion contracture was 7+/-7 degrees. Improvements in mobility were greater in the cases with severe preoperative stiffness. One-year functional results correlated with final residual flexion contracture. Mobility at last follow-up did not depend on preoperative mobility, except in group 2, in which the final postoperative range of motion (ROM) correlated with preoperative ROM. Hemophilia was a factor of poor prognosis. Recovering full extension at end of surgery is mandatory, by first releasing the posterior capsule and the collateral ligaments from their osteophytes, and secondly by extending the distal femoral cut where necessary. TYPE OF STUDY: Level 4 retrospective.

[Peripheral and bone marrow plasmacytosis in dengue fever: report of a case]. / Plasmocytose sanguine et médullaire au cours de la dengue : une observation.

We report a case of dengue fever with plasma cells in the blood (3980 per cubic millimeter) and bone marrow (30%) in a 55-year-old woman hospitalized for fever, arthralgias and thrombocytopenia (66,000 per cubic millimeter) on returning from the West Indies. Serological testing confirmed the diagnosis. Plasmacytosis is rare in dengue fever and its frequency and correlation with the different forms of the disease remain to be determined.

[Survival of the cementless Bousquet dual mobility cup: Minimum 15-year follow-up of 437 total hip arthroplasties]. / Survie à 16,5 ans de recul moyen de la cupule, double mobilité, non scellée de Bousquet dans l'arthroplastie totale de hanche. Série historique de 437 hanches.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of a retrospective series of primary arthroplasty with a cementless dual mobility socket and a cemented Charnley type femoral component. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 437 hip replacements performed between 1984 and 1990, in 388 patients. The Bousquet's acetabular component, an original concept of cementless dual mobility socket has been used, associated with a cemented Charnley type femoral component. A clinical and radiologic analysis was done. RESULTS: The outcome is known for 345 hips (79%): 164 alive without revision at a mean of 16,5 years follow-up, 137 died without revision and 44 failures. Ninety-two (21%) were lost at follow-up. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 5-year survival rate, was 84,4%+/-4,5 with revision for any reason (infection, dislocation, osteolysis...) for end point. Revision, for aseptic loosening of femoral or acetabular component, was performed in 30 hips (6,8%). Five dislocations occurred and were revised: two early related to technical errors and three after 10 years or more of follow-up. The young age of the patients at the time of the index surgery was correlated with higher rate of aseptic loosening. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of revision for dislocation is very low in our series. This concept does not avoid wear, osteolysis and aseptic loosening, especially in young active patients but the long-term stability is confirmed. We recommend this type of prosthesis for patients over 70 years and for younger patients with high risk of dislocation Q.