Background

Large bone loss and frequently irradiated existing bone make reconstructing metastatic and other nonprimary periacetabular tumors challenging. Although existing methods are initially successful, they may fail with time. Given the low failure rates of porous tantalum acetabular implants in other conditions with large bone loss or irradiated bone, we developed a technique to use these implants in these neoplastic cases where others might fail.

Description of Technique

After local tumor curettage, a large uncemented tantalum shell (sometimes with tantalum augments) was fixed to remaining bone using numerous screws. When substantial medial bone loss was present, an antiprotrusio cage was placed over the top of the cup and secured to remaining ilium and ischium.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients who underwent THAs for neoplastic bone destruction with the described technique. Their mean age was 60 years (range, 22–80 years). We recorded pain and ambulatory status, pain medication use, and Harris hip scores. We assessed for progressive radiolucent lines and component migration on followup radiographs. Eleven of the 20 patients died at a mean of 17 months after surgery. The minimum followup for surviving patients was 26 months (mean, 56 months; range, 26–85 months).

Results

Harris hip scores improved from a mean 32 preoperatively to a mean 74 postoperatively. We observed no cases of progressive radiolucent lines or component migration. Complications included one perioperative death, two superficial infections, one deep vein thrombosis, and one dislocation.

Conclusion

Our initial experience has made tantalum reconstruction our preferred method for dealing with major periacetabular neoplastic bone loss. Additional studies comparing this technique with alternatives are required.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Purpose

Limited data exist regarding the long-term results or risk factors for failure after two-stage reimplantation for periprosthetic knee infection. The purpose of this retrospective review was to investigate infection-free implant survival and identify variables associated with reinfection after this procedure. Furthermore, a staging system was evaluated as a possible prognostic tool for patients undergoing two-stage reimplantation of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

In this level II, retrospective prognostic study, 368 patients with infected TKA treated with a two-stage revision protocol at our institution between 1998 and 2006 were reviewed. Patients who developed recurrent infection and an equal number of patients randomly selected for the control group were analysed for risk factors associated with treatment failure.

Results

At the most recent follow-up, 58 (15.8%) patients had developed reinfection after the two-stage reimplantation. The median time to reinfection was 1,303 days (3.6 years), with follow-up time ranging from six to 2,853 days (7.8 years). The strongest positive predictors of treatment failure included chronic lymphoedema [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–4.48; p = 0.02),and revision between resection and definitive reimplantation (HR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.20–3.79; p = 0.01, whereas patients treated with intravenously administered Cefazolin had a significant reduction in recurrent infection rate (HR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.25–0.90; p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Our findings should be of help in counselling patients regarding their prognosis when faced with two-stage exchange for infected TKA and provide a basis for future comparisons.

Objective

Study 90-day cardiac and thromboembolic complications and all-cause mortality following total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA).

Method

In a population-based cohort of all Olmsted County residents who underwent a THA or TKA between 1994 and 2008, we assessed 90-day occurrence and predictors of cardiac complications (myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia or congestive heart failure), thromboembolic complications (deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE)) and mortality.

Results

Among the Olmsted County THA and TKA cohorts, 90-day complication rates were as follows: cardiac, 15.8% and 6.9%; thromboembolic, 4.9% and 4.0%; and mortality, 0.7% and 0.4%, respectively. Unadjusted frequency of cardiac/thromboembolic events differed by history of prior respective event. In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses, ASA class III–IV (OR, 6.1, 95% CI:1.6, 22.8) and higher Deyo-Charlson comorbidity score (OR, 1.2, 95% CI:1.0,1.4) were significantly associated with odds of 90-day cardiac event post-THA in patients with no known prior cardiac event. In those with known prior cardiac disease, ASA class III–IV (OR, 4.4, 95% CI:2.0, 9.9), male gender (OR, 0.5, 95% CI:0.3,0.9) and history of thromboembolic disease (OR, 3.2; 95% CI:1.4,7.0) were significantly associated with odds of cardiac complication 90-day post-THA. No significant predictors of thromboembolism were found in THA patients.

In TKA patients with no prior cardiac history, age >65 years (OR, 4.1, 95% CI:1.2, 14.0), and ASA class III–IV (OR, 2.8, 95% CI:1.1,6.8) and in TKA patients with known cardiac disease, ASA class III–IV (OR, 3.2, 95% CI:1.8,5.7) was significantly associated with odds of 90-day cardiac event. In TKA patients with no prior thromboembolic disease, male gender (OR, 0.5, 95% CI:0.2,0.9) and higher Charlson index (OR, 1.2, 95% CI:1.1,1.3) and in patients with known thromboembolic disease, higher Charlson index score (OR, 1.1, 95% CI:1.1,1.4) was associated with odds of 90-day thromboembolic event.

Conclusion

Older age, higher comorbidity, higher ASA class and prior history of cardiac/thromboembolic disease was associated with an increased risk of 90-day cardiac and thromboembolic complications.

Objective

To assess the association of specific comorbidities with periprosthetic fractures after primary total knee replacement (TKA)

Methods

We used the prospectively collected data in the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry from 1989-2008 on all patients who had undergone primary TKA. The outcome of interest was postoperative periprosthetic fractures during the follow-up. Main predictors of interest were comorbidities grouped from the validated Deyo-Charlson index. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses adjusted for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class, operative diagnosis and implant fixation. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

We included 17,633 primary TKAs with a mean follow-up of 6.3 years. The mean age was 68 years, 55% were women and mean BMI was 31. There were 188 postoperative periprosthetic fractures on postoperative day one or later; 162 fractures (86%) occurred postoperative day 90 day or later. In multivariable analyses that simultaneously adjusted for all comorbidities and other variables (age, gender, BMI, ASA, operative diagnosis, cement status), two conditions were significantly associated with increased hazard of postoperative periprosthetic fractures: peptic ulcer disease, hazard ratio of 1.87 (95% confidence interval:1.28, 2.75; p=0.0014); and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hazard ratio of 1.62 (95% confidence interval:1.10, 2.40; p=0.02).

Conclusions

Peptic ulcer disease and COPD are associated with higher risk of periprosthetic fractures after primary TKA. This may be related to the disease or their treatments, which needs further study. Identification of specific risk factor may allow for implementation of intervention strategies to reduce this risk.

We assessed whether higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with higher risk of moderate-severe knee pain 2- and 5-years after primary or revision Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). We adjusted for gender, age, comorbidity, operative diagnosis and implant fixation in multivariable logistic regression. BMI (reference, <25 kg/m2) was not associated with moderate-severe knee pain at 2-years post-primary TKA (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 25-29.9, 1.02 (0.75,1.39), p=0.90; 30-34.9, 0.93 (0.65,1.34), p=0.71; 35-39.9, 1.16 (0.77,1.74), p=0.47; ≥40, 1.09 (0.69,1.73), (all p-values ≥0.47). Similarly, BMI was not associated with moderate-severe pain at 5-year primary TKA and at 2- and 5-yr revision TKA follow-up. Lack of association of higher BMI with poor pain outcomes post-TKA implies that TKA should not be denied to obese patients for fear of suboptimal outcomes.

Background

A number of recent reports have described novel failure mechanisms of metal-on-metal bearings in total and resurfacing hip arthroplasty. Hip arthroplasties with metal-on-metal articulations are also subject to the traditional methods of failure seen with different bearing couples. There is currently little information in the literature to help guide timely clinical evaluation and management of these patients.

Questions/purposes

We therefore describe the (1) clinical presentations; (2) reasons for failure; (3) operative findings; and (4) histologic findings in patients with failed metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties.

Methods

We retrospectively identified all 37 patients (37 hips) with metal on metal total hip or resurfacing arthroplasties who underwent revision over the past 3 years at our institution. Relevant clinical, radiographic, laboratory, intraoperative, and histopathologic findings were analyzed for all patients.

Results

Of the 37 patients, 10 were revised for presumed hypersensitivity specific to the metal-on-metal articulation. This group included eight patients with tissue histology confirming chronic inflammation with lymphocytic infiltration, eight with aseptic loosening of a monoblock screwless uncemented acetabular component, two with iliopsoas impingement associated with a large-diameter femoral head, and three with femoral neck fracture after resurfacing arthroplasty; the remainder of the patients were revised for infection, instability, component malposition, and periprosthetic fracture.

Conclusions

Increased awareness of the modes of failure will bring to light the potential complications particular to metal-on-metal articulations while placing these complications into the context of failures associated with all hip arthroplasties. This novel clinical information should be valuable for the practicing surgeon faced with this patient population.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Management of large bone defects in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) usually has involved modular prostheses with metal augments, structural allografts, and megaprostheses. We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of treatment of major bone defects for 74 patients (79 knees) who had revision TKAs with structural allografts; nine patients were lost to followup before 5 years, leaving 65 patients (70 knees, or 88%) followed for a minimum of 5 years or until revision or death. Medical records, radiographs, patient surveys, and correspondence were used for all data. Sixteen patients (22.8%) had failed reconstructions and underwent additional revision surgery; eight of the 16 were secondary to allograft failure, three were secondary to failure of a component not supported by allograft, and five were secondary to infection. In patients not requiring revision surgery, the Knee Society score improved from 49 preoperatively to 87 postoperatively. We observed revision-free survival of 80.7% (95% confidence interval, 71.7–90.8) at 5 years and 75.9% (95% confidence interval, 65.6–87.8) at 10 years. Our data support the selective use of structural allograft for large cavitary defects encountered during TKA. However, the rates of complications and reoperations suggest efforts to improve results or develop more durable alternative methods are warranted for these challenging reconstructions.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) have been shown to be useful for diagnosis of prosthetic hip and knee infection. Little information is available on CRP and ESR in patients undergoing revision or resection of shoulder arthroplasties or spine implants.

Methods/Results

We analyzed preoperative CRP and ESR in 636 subjects who underwent knee (n = 297), hip (n = 221) or shoulder (n = 64) arthroplasty, or spine implant (n = 54) removal. A standardized definition of orthopedic implant-associated infection was applied. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to determine ideal cutoff values for differentiating infected from non-infected cases. ESR was significantly different in subjects with aseptic failure infection of knee (median 11 and 53.5 mm/h, respectively, p = <0.0001) and hip (median 11 and 30 mm/h, respectively, p = <0.0001) arthroplasties and spine implants (median 10 and 48.5 mm/h, respectively, p = 0.0033), but not shoulder arthroplasties (median 10 and 9 mm/h, respectively, p = 0.9883). Optimized ESR cutoffs for knee, hip and shoulder arthroplasties and spine implants were 19, 13, 26, and 45 mm/h, respectively. Using these cutoffs, sensitivity and specificity to detect infection were 89 and 74% for knee, 82 and 60% for hip, and 32 and 93% for shoulder arthroplasties, and 57 and 90% for spine implants. CRP was significantly different in subjects with aseptic failure and infection of knee (median 4 and 51 mg/l, respectively, p<0.0001), hip (median 3 and 18 mg/l, respectively, p<0.0001), and shoulder (median 3 and 10 mg/l, respectively, p = 0.01) arthroplasties, and spine implants (median 3 and 20 mg/l, respectively, p = 0.0011). Optimized CRP cutoffs for knee, hip, and shoulder arthroplasties, and spine implants were 14.5, 10.3, 7, and 4.6 mg/l, respectively. Using these cutoffs, sensitivity and specificity to detect infection were 79 and 88% for knee, 74 and 79% for hip, and 63 and 73% for shoulder arthroplasties, and 79 and 68% for spine implants.

Conclusion

CRP and ESR have poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of shoulder implant infection. A CRP of 4.6 mg/l had a sensitivity of 79 and a specificity of 68% to detect infection of spine implants.

We compared the clinical and radiographic results of two matched series of total hip arthroplasties, one with hydroxyapatite-coated femoral stems, the other with a similar but porous-coated femoral stem. The prevalence of radiographic osteolysis was 16% in hips with hydroxyapatite-coated stems and 43% in hips with porous-coated femoral stems. In hips with hydroxyapatite-coated stems, osteolysis was always limited to Gruen zones 1 and 7. In contrast, distal osteolysis was present around 26% of the porous-coated stems. At 7 years, the survival-free rate of distal osteolysis was 100% in hips with hydroxyapatite-coated stems but 90% in hips with porous-coated stems (p=0.04). Circumferential hydroxyapatite coating of the femoral component reduced the occurrence of osteolysis and eliminated distal osteolysis at 5–10 years of follow-up. In addition, hydroxyapatite coating did not alter the wear rate.