Custom-made hinged total knee arthroplasties in the context of extra-articular deformity: a case series.

PURPOSE: Treatment of secondary knee osteoarthritis with a significant extra-articular deformity can be challenging. In such cases, an osteotomy or a custom-made hinged knee arthroplasy (CMH) are treatment options. However, there are limited data on the outcomes of using CMHs. Thus, the aim of this retrospective study was to assess the clinical results and subjective outcomes of CMHs. METHODS: We reviewed 9 CMHs (Endo-Model, LINK) in 7 patients with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Upon the last follow-up, we evaluated MA, stability and range of movement (ROM). Oxford Knee Score (OKS) was used to evaluate patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: The average age upon surgery was 61 years (48-76 years), and the follow-up period was 66 months. There were no early complications. Two CMHs were revised, one due to aseptic loosening and one due to late-onset haematogenic infection. Pre-operatively, MA varied from 18° (average 11°) valgus-deformity to 30° (average 17°) varus-deformity. Post-operatively, 7/9 (78%) of patients achieved better MA. Upon follow-up, the average OKS was 41/48, and ROM was 113°. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with CMHs achieved good clinical and patient-reported outcomes. There were no early reoperations, and revision rate was relatively low. Overall, CMH could be considered for low-demand patients with increased operative risks.

Outcomes of Triggering the Emergency Response Team at a High-Volume Arthroplasty Center.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emergency Response Teams have been employed by hospitals to evaluate and manage patients whose condition is rapidly deteriorating. In this study, we aimed to assess the outcomes of triggering the Emergency Response Teams at a high-volume arthroplasty center, determine which factors trigger the Emergency Response Teams, and investigate the main reasons for an unplanned intensive care unit admission following Emergency Response Team intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We gathered data by evaluating all Emergency Response Team forms filled out during a 4-year period (2014-2017), and by assessing the medical records. The collected data included age, gender, time of and reason for the Emergency Response Teams call, and interventions performed during the Emergency Response Teams intervention. The results are reported as percentages, mean ± standard deviation, or median (interquartile range), where appropriate. All patients were monitored for 30 days to identify possible intensive care unit admissions, surgeries, and death. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 72 (46-92) years and 40 patients (62%) were female. The Emergency Response Teams was triggered a total of 65 times (61 patients). The most common Emergency Response Team call criteria were low oxygen saturation, loss or reduction of consciousness, and hypotension. Following the Emergency Response Team call, 36 patients (55%) could be treated in the ward, and 29 patients (45%) were transferred to the intensive care unit. The emergency that triggered the Emergency Response Teams was most commonly caused by drug-related side effects (12%), pneumonia (8%), pulmonary embolism (8%), and sepsis (6%). Seven patients (11%) died during the first 30 days after the Emergency Response Teams call. CONCLUSION: Although all 65 patients met the Emergency Response Teams call criteria, potentially having severe emergencies, half of the patients could be treated in the arthroplasty ward. Emergency Response Team intervention appears useful in addressing concerns that can potentially lead to unplanned intensive care unit admission, and the Emergency Response Teams trigger threshold seems appropriate as only 3% of the Emergency Response Teams calls required no intervention.

The usefulness of MRI and arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of soft-tissue injuries associated with split-depression fractures of the lateral tibial condyle.

The role of arthroscopy in the treatment of soft-tissue injuries associated with proximal tibial fractures remains debatable. Our hypothesis was that MRI over-diagnoses clinically relevant associated soft-tissue injuries. This prospective study involved 50 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for a split-depression fracture of the lateral tibial condyle (AO/OTA type B3.1). The mean age of patients was 50 years (23 to 86) and 27 (54%) were female. All patients had MRI and arthroscopy. Arthroscopy identified 12 tears of the lateral meniscus, including eight bucket-handle tears that were sutured and four that were resected, as well as six tears of the medial meniscus, of which five were resected. Lateral meniscal injuries were diagnosed on MRI in four of 12 patients, yielding an overall sensitivity of 33% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11 to 65). Specificity was 76% (95% CI 59 to 88), with nine tears diagnosed among 38 menisci that did not contain a tear. MRI identified medial meniscal injuries in four of six patients, yielding an overall sensitivity of 67% (95% CI 24 to 94). Specificity was 66% (95% CI 50 to 79), with 15 tears diagnosed in 44 menisci that did not contain tears. MRI appears to offer only a marginal benefit as the specificity and sensitivity for diagnosing meniscal injuries are poor in patients with a fracture. There were fewer arthroscopically-confirmed associated lesions than reported previously in MRI studies.

Factors predicting the development of early osteoarthritis following lateral tibial plateau fractures: mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of 73 operatively treated patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The indications for operative treatment of lateral tibial plateau fractures are still controversial. The objective of this study was to determine whether residual articular surface depression and valgus malalignment of plated lateral tibial plateau fractures at medium-term follow-up affect the clinical and radiographic outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A chart review of patients with operatively treated (AO type B3.1) tibial plateau fractures that were admitted to our level I trauma center between 2002 and 2008 was performed. Out of 123 patients, 73 were available to participate in a clinical and radiographic follow-up examination. The mean follow-up time was 54 months. Patients were clinically assessed and completed the Lysholm knee score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Maximal articular surface depression, radiological mechanical axis, and degree of posttraumatic osteoarthritis were evaluated from standing radiographs. RESULTS: Patients with valgus malalignment of 5° or greater at follow-up developed more advanced osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3-4) than patients with a normal mechanical axis (p = 0.006). Similarly, patients with articular depression greater than 2 mm at follow-up also developed more advanced osteoarthritis compared to patients with a depression of 2 mm or less (p = 0.001). The degree of valgus malalignment or articular depression had no effect on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index or Lysholm scores. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative articular congruity and normal mechanical axis of the lower leg after plate fixation in lateral tibial plateau fractures seem to have a role in prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis but does not appear to predict clinical outcome at medium-term follow-up. The role of initial dislocation and associated cartilage damage in the development of osteoarthritis following these fractures is still unknown.

RSA applications in monitoring of fracture healing in clinical trials.

Radiostereometric analysis (RSA) was originally developed as a method for performing highly accurate three-dimensional measurements in vivo over time from sequential radiographs. Since its introduction over twenty years ago, the RSA method has proven itself as a powerful tool with numerous orthopaedic applications. RSA has been used extensively in studies of prosthetic fixation and has been shown to be the method of choice for these studies. RSA has, however, also been successfully applied to a limited number of studies examining fracture healing, namely in fractures of the radius, ankle, tibial plateau, trochanter and femoral neck, as well as studies of bone healing following spinal fusion and tibial osteotomies. RSA follow-up of a fracture will provide definitive demonstration of the exact time of union, i.e. the achievement of fracture stability. This information can be invaluable in randomized clinical trials of fracture treatment. Phantom model studies have proven useful for effective preoperative planning and interpretation of RSA results. The RSA method is a highly accurate, precise and safe objective method for studying fracture healing in clinical trials. The RSA method may serve as a scientific tool to accurately evaluate the significance of supporting novel biomaterials for the early stability and the rate of healing in fractures.