Hans Fredin

Primary Anterior Dislocation of the Shoulder in Young Patients. A Ten-Year Prospective Study*

Two hundred and forty-five patients who had had 247 primary anterior dislocations of the shoulder were followed for ten years in a multicenter study at twenty-seven Swedish hospitals. The ages of the patients at the time of the dislocation ranged from twelve to forty years. The patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups: immobilization with the arm tied with a bandage to the torso for three to four weeks after reduction of the dislocation; use of a sling, which was discontinued after the patient was comfortable; or immobilization for various durations. At the ten-year follow-up evaluation, no additional dislocation had occurred in 129 shoulders (52 per cent). Recurrent dislocation necessitating operative treatment had developed in fifty-eight shoulders (23 per cent): thirty-four (34 per cent) of the ninety-nine shoulders in patients who were twelve to twenty-two years old, sixteen (28 per cent) of the fifty-seven shoulders in patients who were twenty-three to twenty-nine years old, and eight (9 per cent) of the ninety-one shoulders in patients who were thirty to forty years old. Twenty-four (22 per cent) of the shoulders that had had at least two recurrences during the first two or five years seemed to have stabilized spontaneously without operative intervention at ten years. Dislocation of the contralateral shoulder occurred in association with sixteen (16 per cent) of the ninety-nine shoulders in patients who were twelve to twenty-two years old, twelve (21 per cent) of the fifty-seven shoulders in patients who were twenty-three to twenty-nine years old, and only three (3 per cent) of the ninety-one shoulders in patients who were thirty to forty years old. The type and duration of the initial treatment had no effect on the rate of recurrence. Radiographs, made for 185 shoulders at the time of the primary dislocation, demonstrated an evident Hermodsson (Hill-Sachs) lesion in ninety-nine shoulders (54 per cent); this finding was associated with a significantly worse prognosis with regard to recurrence than was no evident lesion (p < 0.04). Radiographs made for 208 shoulders at the ten-year follow-up examination were evaluated for post-dislocation arthropathy. Twenty-three shoulders (11 per cent) had mild arthropathy and eighteen (9 per cent) had moderate or severe arthropathy. Some of the shoulders that had arthropathy had had no recurrence.

Low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) as prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism after total hip replacement.

BACKGROUND The risk of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total hip replacement is known to be high. However, the optimal duration of prophylaxis with anticoagulant agents after this procedure is unknown. We sought to determine whether one month of anticoagulant therapy with the low-molecular-weight heparin enoxaparin is more effective than enoxaparin therapy given only during the hospitalization for surgery. METHODS Two hundred sixty-two patients undergoing total hip replacement received enoxaparin during their hospitalizations (average stay, 10 to 11 days). They were then randomly assigned to receive enoxaparin or placebo (131 patients each). Blinded outpatient therapy (or placebo) was continued long enough that the total treatment period, inpatient plus outpatient, was one month for each patient. Bilateral ascending phlebography was performed 19 to 23 days after discharge, with deep-vein thrombosis as the primary end point. Distal and proximal thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and hemorrhage were also recorded, as were deaths. RESULTS Venography was adequate in 116 patients in the placebo group and 117 in the enoxaparin group. We observed 43 episodes of deep-vein thrombosis and 2 episodes of pulmonary embolism in the placebo group, but only 21 episodes of deep-vein thrombosis and no episodes of pulmonary embolism in the enoxaparin group (incidence of thromboembolism, 39 percent and 18 percent, respectively; P<0.001). The difference in the incidence of proximal deep-vein thrombosis was also significant (24 percent and 7 percent in the placebo and enoxaparin groups, respectively; P<0.001). Six enoxaparin groups, respectively; P<0.001). Six patients in the enoxaparin group and one patient in the placebo group had hematomas at their injection sites. No patients died or had major complications. CONCLUSIONS There were significantly fewer venous thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing elective hip replacement when prophylaxis with enoxaparin was given for a total of one month, rather than only during the hospitalization.

Nonoperative treatment of primary anterior shoulder dislocation in patients forty years of age and younger : A prospective twenty-five-year follow up

BACKGROUND During 1978 and 1979, we initiated a prospective multicenter study to evaluate the results of nonoperative treatment of primary anterior shoulder dislocation. In the current report, we present the outcome after twenty-five years. METHODS Two hundred and fifty-five patients (257 shoulders) with an age of twelve to forty years who had a primary anterior shoulder dislocation were managed with immobilization (achieved by tying the arm to the torso with use of a bandage) or without immobilization. All 227 living patients (229 shoulders) completed the follow-up questionnaire, and 214 patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. RESULTS Ninety-nine (43%) of 229 shoulders had not redislocated, and seventeen (7%) redislocated once. Thirty-three recurrent dislocations had become stable over time (14.4%), and eighteen were considered to be still recurrent (7.9%). Sixty-two shoulders (27%) had undergone surgery for the treatment of recurrent instability. Immobilization after the primary dislocation did not change the prognosis. Only two of twenty-four shoulders with a fracture of the greater tuberosity at the time of the primary dislocation redislocated (p < 0.001). When shoulders with a fracture of the greater tuberosity were excluded, forty-four (38%) of 115 shoulders in patients who had been twelve to twenty-five years of age at the time of the original dislocation and sixteen (18%) of ninety shoulders in patients who had been twenty-six to forty years of age had undergone surgical stabilization. At twenty-five years, fourteen (23%) of sixty-two shoulders that had undergone surgical stabilization were in patients who subsequently had a contralateral dislocation, compared with seven (7%) of ninety-nine shoulders in patients in whom the index dislocation had been classified as solitary (p = 0.01). Gender and athletic activity did not appear to affect the redislocation rate; however, women had worse DASH scores than men did (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS After twenty-five years, half of the primary anterior shoulder dislocations that had been treated nonoperatively in patients with an age of twelve to twenty-five years had not recurred or had become stable over time.

Femoral fracture following hip arthroplasty.

In 1,961 primary total hip arthroplasties performed during a 14-year period, 11 proximal ipsilateral femoral fractures occurred postoperatively. Seven were located distally to the tip of the femoral stem; none was a comminuted fracture. Six of the fractures were primarily revised with a long-stem prosthesis. The results after 5(1-8) years were good.

Influence of Surgical Approach on Dislocations After Charnley Hip Arthroplasty

Dislocations occurring in 3,199 Charnley total hip arthroplasties in two orthopaedic centers between 1979 and 1991 performed by either the transtrochanteric or posterior approach were studied. The incidence of dislocation within 2 years of surgery (2.8%), as well as the overall frequency (3.4%), did not differ between the two centers. Regardless of approach, there was a higher risk of dislocations for patients with osteoarthrosis. A logistic regression analysis, reflecting the differences in preoperative hip diagnoses and sex, indicated that the dislocation rate was not influenced by the surgical approach. More early dislocations were documented after the posterior approach, but without increases in the rates of recurrence or revision. Arthroplasties performed by less experienced surgeons through the posterior approach resulted in more dislocations.

Incidence of dislocation after hip arthroplasty: Comparison of different registration methods in 408 cases

We studied four different methods of registration of dislocations after total hip arthroplasty (THA) carried out at Malmö General Hospital during 1979-1988. Established registers failed to incorporate more than half of the dislocations and approximately one third of the patients, compared with a manual retrospective review of the original operating cords and the patient files. In 22 percent of the cases the first dislocation occurred more than one year postoperatively. Therefore different studies must use similar methods of registration concerning all details about dislocations in order to allow an adequate comparison of THA dislocation parameters.

Thromboprophylaxis in hip arthroplasty. Dextran with graded compression or preoperative dextran compared in 150 patients.

Totally, 150 patients, subjected to total hip arthroplasty, were randomly allocated into three prophylactic groups with either conventional dextran alone or with additional graded compression stockings or with additional preoperative administration of dextran. The overall frequency of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), as studied by radioactive fibrinogen uptake test and ascending phlebography of the operated on thigh was in the conventional dextran group 46 percent, the additional stockinged group 30 percent, and in the additional preoperative dextran group 52 percent. In the stockinged group, there was a lower frequency of DVT in the nonoperated on leg as well as, on an average, about 350 mL less peroperative bleeding as compared with the other two groups. No adverse reaction occurred from dextran administration. Increased and prolonged postoperative administration of dextran decrease the number of femoral DVTs.

Total hip Replacement in Congenital Dislocation of the Hip

Twenty cases of congenital dislocation of the hip were treated with total hip replacement. The hips were completely dislocated with the femoral head supported by a nearthrosis proximal to the original acetabulum. The concept was to reconstruct the hip with an acetabular cup at the site of the original acetabulum even if a portion of the proximal end of the femur had to be sacrificed in the process. The Harris prosthesis appears, in most instances, to be the most suitable type of prosthesis but it was concluded that the surgeon needs a selection or prostheses for this procedure. Nine-tenths of the patients were improved by the procedure and the complications could mostly be successfully dealt with. This type of surgery is justified in cases with special indications.

The Prognosis and Treatment of Dislocated Total Hip Arthroplasties with a 22 MM Head

We studied the risk of recurrent dislocation in 121 primary and 39 revision Charnley or Charnley hybrid total hip arthroplasties which had been treated for a primary dislocation between 1979 and 1995. Only 35% of these hips had no further dislocation or a revision for instability within one year. The rates of survival gradually declined with time or if a second, third or fourth dislocation occurred. The risk of recurrence was greater in men, but was not related to age, diagnosis, time of the first dislocation or whether the index operation had been a primary or a revision procedure. Operative treatment included 15 reoperations leaving intact components, 50 revisions, and permanent removal of the femoral stem in seven patients. The operation was successful in four patients with reoperations and in 36 who had an exchange procedure within two years. Treatment was successful in 35 of 49 hips in which it was possible to correct a technical error compared with 5 out of 16 hips in which malposition of the components was not seen (p = 0.007).

Muscular and neurologic function in patients with recurrent dislocation after total hip arthroplasty: a matched controlled study of 65 patients using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and postural stability tests.

Twenty-two patients with recurrent dislocation after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) were compared with 43 randomly selected, stratified THA patients without dislocation with regard to radiographic cup position; body composition of bone, fat, and muscle (lean body mass) as determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; strength in abduction and adduction; range of motion; balance; and vibration sense. Balance and sensitivity to vibration were impaired in the patients with dislocation. No differences were found in any other variables except a subset of tall men in the dislocation group.