B. Stöckl

Revision rates after total joint replacement: CUMULATIVE RESULTS FROM WORLDWIDE JOINT REGISTER DATASETS

In a systematic review, reports from national registers and clinical studies were identified and analysed with respect to revision rates after joint replacement, which were calculated as revisions per 100 observed component years. After primary hip replacement, a mean of 1.29 revisions per 100 observed component years was seen. The results after primary total knee replacement are 1.26 revisions per 100 observed component years, and 1.53 after medial unicompartmental replacement. After total ankle replacement a mean of 3.29 revisions per 100 observed component years was seen. The outcomes of total hip and knee replacement are almost identical. Revision rates of about 6% after five years and 12% after ten years are to be expected.

Navigation improves accuracy of rotational alignment in total knee arthroplasty

Successful total knee arthroplasty is dependent on the correct alignment of implanted prostheses. Major clinical problems can be related to poor femoral component positioning, including sagittal plane and rotational malalignment. A prospective randomized study was designed to test whether an optical navigation system for total knee arthroplasty achieved greater implantation precision than a nonnavigated technique. The primary variable was rotation of the femoral component in the transverse plane, measured from postoperative radiographs and computed tomography images. Sixty-four patients were included in the study. All patients received the Duracon total knee prosthesis. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group C patients had conventional total knee arthroplasty without navigation; Group N patients had total knee arthroplasty using a computer-assisted knee navigation system. Analysis showed that patients in Group N had significantly better rotational alignment and flexion angle of the femoral component than patients in Group C. In addition, superior postoperative alignment of the mechanical axis, posterior tibial slope, and rotational alignment was achieved for patients in Group N. The use of a navigation system provides improved alignment accuracy, and can help to avoid femoral malrotation and errors in axial alignment.

EARLY MIGRATION PREDICTS LATE ASEPTIC FAILURE OF HIP SOCKETS

We report a prospective, stratified study of 60 PCA-cups and 60 RM-polyethylene cups which have been followed for a median time of 90 months, with annual radiography. The radiological migration of cups was measured by the computer-assisted EBRA method. A number of threshold migration rates from 1 mm in the first year to 1 mm in five years have been assessed and related to clinically determined revision rates. A total of 28 cups showed a total migration of 1 mm or more within the first two years; 13 of these cups have required revision and been exchanged. The survival curves of cups which had previously shown early migration were considerably different from those without early migration. For cups with a migration of less than 1 mm within the first two years the mean survival at 96 months was 0.96 +/- 0.02; for migrating cups, it was 0.63 +/- 0.11 (log-rank test, p=0.0001; chi-square value=39.4). Early migration is a good predictor for late loosening of hip sockets.

The prediction of failure of the stem in THR by measurement of early migration using EBRA-FCA

We report the ten-year results for three designs of stem in 240 total hip replacements, for which subsidence had been measured on plain radiographs at regular intervals. Accurate migration patterns could be determined by the method of Einzel-Bild-Roentgen-Analyse-femoral component analysis (EBRA-FCA) for 158 hips (66%). Of these, 108 stems (68%) remained stable throughout, and five (3%) started to migrate after a median of 54 months. Initial migration of at least 1 mm was seen in 45 stems (29%) during the first two years, but these then became stable. We revised 17 stems for aseptic loosening, and 12 for other reasons. Revision for aseptic loosening could be predicted by EBRA-FCA with a sensitivity of 69%, a specificity of 80%, and an accuracy of 79% by the use of a threshold of subsidence of 1.5 mm during the first two years. Similar observations over a five-year period allowed the long-term outcome to be predicted with an accuracy of 91%. We discuss the importance of four different patterns of subsidence and confirm that the early measurement of migration by a reasonably accurate method can help to predict long-term outcome. Such methods should be used to evaluate new and modified designs of prosthesis.

Accuracy of EBRA-FCA in the measurement of migration of femoral components of total hip replacement

Several methods of measuring the migration of the femoral component after total hip replacement have been described, but they use different reference lines, and have differing accuracies, some unproven. Statistical comparison of different studies is rarely possible. We report a study of the EBRA-FCA method (femoral component analysis using Einzel-Bild-Röntgen-Analyse) to determine its accuracy using three independent assessments, including a direct comparison with the results of roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA). The accuracy of EBRA-FCA was better than +/- 1.5 mm (95% percentile) with a Cronbachs coefficient alpha for interobserver reliability of 0.84; a very good result. The method had a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 78% compared with RSA for the detection of migration of over 1 mm. This is accurate enough to assess the stability of a prosthesis within a relatively limited period. The best reference line for downward migration is between the greater trochanter and the shoulder of the stem, as confirmed by two experimental analyses and a computer-assisted design.

Autogenic versus allogenic bone grafts in anterior lumbar interbody fusion

Between 1987 and 1993, 94 consecutive patients with painful spondylolisthesis underwent combined anterior and posterior fusion. The average age at operation was 40 years (range, 16-65 years). Posterior fusion was performed in all patients using pedicle screw systems, and anterior fusion was accomplished with autogenic or allogenic bone grafts. Patients retrospectively were assigned to two groups. In Group 1, anterior fusion was performed with autogenic bone grafts harvested from the iliac crest (n = 65; 146 segments) and in Group 2 allogenic bone grafts were taken from femoral heads (n = 39; 86 segments). The incidence of pseudarthrosis was evaluated on lateral tomograms 24 months after surgery. The mean clinical followup time was 4 years (range, 3-8 years). Pseudarthrosis was found in seven fused levels (3%) managed with autogenic bone grafts (Group 1) and in seven patients (8%) managed with allogenic bone grafts (Group 2). This incidence of pseudarthrosis was not significantly different between the two groups. Considering the possible complications associated with harvesting iliac crest bone, the use of allogenic bone appears justified.

Foot deformities in adolescents and young adults with spina bifida.

&NA; Spina bifida is generally accompanied by a high incidence of foot deformities. The goal of management is to achieve a plantigrade foot. Deformities are related to the level of the lesion. With thoracic lesions, the most frequent deformity is an equinus lesion (55%), a club foot with mid‐lumbar lesion (87%) and a calcaneal foot with sacral lesions (34%). No deformity was present in 56% of feet in sacral lesion children. Club foot surgery before the age of 2 years entails a high rate of recurrence (78%), necessitating redo surgery. A calcaneo‐valgus deformity developed in 45% of ambulating patients with sacral lesions requiring operative stabilization of the foot, Patients with sacral lesions were almost the only ones who remained ambulators. Ambulation was not seen to be related to foot deformities in adolescents and young adults.

Evaluation of accuracy and precision of bone markers for the measurement of migration of hip prostheses. A comparison of conventional measurements.

Our aim was to determine whether tantalum m arkers improved the accuracy and/or precision of methods for the measurement of migration in total hip replacement based on conventional measurements without mathematical correction of the data, and with Ein Bild Roentgen Analyse - Femoral Component Analysis (EBRA-FCA) which allows a computerised correction. Three observers independently analysed 13 series of roentgen-stereophotogrammetric-analysis (RSA)-compatible radiographs (88). Data were obtained from conventional measurements, EBRA-FCA and the RSA method and all the results were compared with the RSA data. Radiological evaluation was also used to quantify in how many radiographs the intraosseous position of the bone markers had been simulated. The results showed that tantalum markers improve reliability whereas they do not affect accuracy for conventional measurements and for EBRA-FCA. Because of the danger of third-body wear their implantation should be avoided unless they are an integral part of the method.

Migration of metal-on-metal versus ceramic-on-polyethylene hip prostheses.

In a prospective randomized study, 32 metal-on-metal prostheses and 29 ceramic-on-polyethylene prostheses of similar design were implanted in 59 patients. Radiolucency, cup migration, wear, and function were examined after a minimum of 2 years followup (followup rate, 87%). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether higher frictional torque of metal-on-metal will lead to a higher rate of early metal-on-metal cup loosening. A computer-assisted method was used for wear and migration measurements of the acetabular component. Metal-on-metal prostheses migrated in a craniocaudad direction significantly less than ceramic-on-polyethylene prostheses. The mean total migration for both types of prostheses exceeded 1.5 mm at 2 years. Clinically, no difference between the two prostheses regarding activity, pain, or range of motion was found at 2 years. As migration of metal-on-metal prostheses was not higher in comparison with ceramic-on-polyethylene prostheses, the expected higher frictional torque of metal-on-metal prostheses did not increase migration during short-term followup. The different debris produced by both bearings did not influence the short-term results of this study, but might cause different long-term results.

Evaluation of accuracy and precision of bone markers for the measurement of migration of hip prostheses

Our aim was to determine whether tantalum m arkers improved the accuracy and/or precision of methods for the measurement of migration in total hip replacement based on conventional measurements without mathematical correction of the data, and with Ein Bild Roentgen Analyse - Femoral Component Analysis (EBRA-FCA) which allows a computerised correction. Three observers independently analysed 13 series of roentgen-stereophotogrammetric-analysis (RSA)-compatible radiographs (88). Data were obtained from conventional measurements, EBRA-FCA and the RSA method and all the results were compared with the RSA data. Radiological evaluation was also used to quantify in how many radiographs the intraosseous position of the bone markers had been simulated. The results showed that tantalum markers improve reliability whereas they do not affect accuracy for conventional measurements and for EBRA-FCA. Because of the danger of third-body wear their implantation should be avoided unless they are an integral part of the method.