Graeme Holt

Outcome After Sequential Hip Fracture in the Elderly

BACKGROUND Hip fracture is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. As the risk factors for hip fracture often persist after the original injury, patients remain at risk for sequential fractures. Our aim was to report the incidence, epidemiology, and outcome of sequential hip fracture in the elderly. METHODS Data were collected during the acute hospital stay and at 120 days after admission from twenty-two acute orthopaedic units across Scotland between January 1998 and December 2005. These data were analyzed according to two separate time periods: by six-month intervals up to eight years after the primary fracture and by twenty-day intervals for the first two years after the primary fracture. RESULTS The risk of sequential fracture was highest in the first twelve months, affecting 3% of surviving patients and decreasing to 2% per survival year thereafter. Survival to twelve months after sequential fracture was 63% compared with 68% for those with a single fracture (p = 0.03). Sequential hip fracture was also associated with greater loss of independent mobility and changes in residential status compared with single fractures. CONCLUSIONS Sequential hip fracture is a relatively rare injury. Individuals who sustain this injury combination have poorer outcomes both in terms of survival and functional status. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Exeter technique can lead to a lower incidence of leg-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty

We evaluated an operative technique, described by the Exeter Hip Unit, to assist accurate introduction of the femoral component. We assessed whether it led to a reduction in the rate of leg-length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 100 patients undergoing THA were studied retrospectively; 50 were undertaken using the test method and 50 using conventional methods as a control group. The groups were matched with respect to patient demographics and the grade of surgeon. Three observers measured the depth of placement of the femoral component on post-operative radiographs and measured the length of the legs. There was a strong correlation between the depth of insertion of the femoral component and the templated depth in the test group (R = 0.92), suggesting accuracy of the technique. The mean leg-length discrepancy was 5.1 mm (0.6 to 21.4) pre-operatively and 1.3 mm (0.2 to 9.3) post-operatively. There was no difference between Consultants and Registrars as primary surgeons. Agreement between the templated and post-operative depth of insertion was associated with reduced post-operative leg-length discrepancy. The intra-class coefficient was R ≥ 0.88 for all measurements, indicating high observer agreement. The post-operative leg-length discrepancy was significantly lower in the test group (1.3 mm) compared with the control group (6.3 mm, p < 0.001). The Exeter technique is reproducible and leads to a lower incidence of leg-length discrepancy after THA.

The Ethical and Practical Challenges of Patient Noncompliance in Orthopaedic Surgery

A fifty-five-year old man attends a trauma follow-up clinic six weeks after undergoing primary repair of a zone-II finger flexor tendon laceration. The patient has a history of substance abuse and has been noncompliant with postoperative treatment. He has not attended any postoperative outpatient or physiotherapy appointments, he removed his splint immediately on discharge, and he admits to moving the finger freely without restrictions, against advice. On examination it is evident that the patient has sustained a rupture of the tendon repair. Does the history of noncompliance with initial treatment affect decisions regarding the further management of this patient? The term compliance relates to the degree of constancy and accuracy with which an individual patient follows a prescribed treatment. Patient noncompliance is a common problem across all specialties and presents a major obstacle to safe, effective, and efficient health-care delivery. In this article, we discuss the risk factors for noncompliance, the difficult ethical and medico-legal dilemmas posed by this issue, and mechanisms for potential solutions to this common problem.

Pre-operative analysis of lower limb coronal alignment — A comparison of supine MRI versus standing full-length alignment radiographs

BACKGROUND In this study we compare the results of pre-operative standing full-length alignment (SFLA) radiographs with supine MRI assessment of the lower limb alignment prior to MRI based patient specific total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS Imaging was performed in 45 knees (45 patients). Assessment of SFLA radiographs was performed by three independent assessors. Inter-observer correlation was high and so the mean values were calculated. This data was then compared to MRI alignment data used to create the patient specific cutting jigs. RESULTS The range of alignment on SFLA radiographs ranged from +25° to -13° versus +20° to -11° with MRI. The mean difference between techniques was 2° (range 0-8°, SD ± 3°). Supine MRI under-estimated the degree of deformity in 31/45 (69%) cases. In 25/45 (56%) cases the supine MRI result was within ±2° of the value on SFLA radiographs, 31/45 (69%) were within ±3° and 38/45 (84%) within ±5°. There was no correlation between the degree of varus/valgus deformity and the magnitude of the difference between imaging modalities (Spearmans r(2)=0.02, p=0.41). CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study would indicate that supine MRI underestimates the degree of deformity at the knee joint, a conclusion which may be important for pre-operative planning or follow-up of corrective osteotomy or TKA.

Revision hip replacement with retention of the acetabular component for intrapelvic cup migration

I ntrapelvic cup migration is a rare but serious complication after loosening of a total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although rare, the frequency of this complication is increasing, mainly because of increasing life expectancy, the growing number of prosthetic implantations, and the greater frequency of mechanical loosening after THA. Revision total hip replacement in patients with displaced intrapelvic migration of the acetabular component is a complex problem that poses several challenges to the operating surgeon while placing patients at a higher risk for complications such as neurovascular injury, involvement of pelvic organs, and potentially death. Revision surgery using a multidisciplinary approach and either a retroperitoneal or a transperitoneal approach have been described. To our knowledge there are only few cases in the literature of revision hip surgery for a migrated intrapelvic cup for which the hip has been revised leaving the original acetabular cup in situ. Informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Aseptic Lymphocyte-Dominated Vasculitis-Associated Lesion as Early as Six Weeks After Total Hip Replacement

Case: A 40-year-old man who underwent total hip replacement on the left side with a metal-on-metal (MOM) implant reported swelling at the operative site within 6 weeks of the arthroplasty. Tissue sampled during the revision arthroplasty showed an aseptic lymphocyte-dominated vasculitis-associated lesion (ALVAL). Conclusion: ALVAL is a widely recognized complication of MOM hip implants and needs to be considered early, even in completely asymptomatic patients with normal metal ion levels and normal radiographs.