Khaled J. Saleh

Predictors of wound infection in hip and knee joint replacement: results from a 20 year surveillance program

Background. Deep wound infection (DWI) in total knee (TKA) and total hip (THA) arthroplasty has been shown to highly correlate with superficial surgical site infection (SSSI). Although several studies have reported hospital factors that predispose to SSSI, patient factors have not been clearly elucidated.

OSTEOINDUCTIVE GROWTH FACTORS IN PRECLINICAL FRACTURE AND LONG BONE DEFECTS MODELS

Fracture healing is a specialized form of the reparative process that the musculoskeletal system undergoes to restore skeletal integrity. This biologic process is a consequence of a complex cascade of biologic events that result in the restoration of bone tissue, allowing for the resumption of musculoskeletal function. Several growth-promoting substances have been identified at the site of skeletal injury and appear to play a physiologic role in fracture healing. This article reviews the effects of these osteoinductive growth factors on bone healing as elucidated by both preclinical in vivo fracture and diaphyseal defect healing models.

The Lapidus procedure as salvage after failed surgical treatment of hallux valgus: A prospective cohort study

Background: Recurrent hallux valgus is a relatively common, yet challenging, condition for both the patient and the surgeon. The literature on the treatment of recurrent hallux valgus is sparse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the functional outcome and patient satisfaction following the Lapidus procedure for the treatment of recurrent hallux valgus deformity.Methods: Twenty-four patients with a total of twenty-six symptomatic recurrences of hallux valgus after previous procedures for treatment of the deformity were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included prior fusion procedures on the foot or ankle, a previous Keller or Mayo procedure, insulin-dependent diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or peripheral neuropathy. A visual analog pain scale and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale were administered preoperatively, at six months postoperatively, and yearly thereafter. Weight-bearing radiographs were also made preoperatively; at six weeks, three months, six months, and one year postoperatively; and yearly thereafter. Patient satisfaction was assessed at the latest follow-up evaluation.Results: At twenty-four months, the mean score according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale had increased from 47.6 to 87.9 points, the mean score according to the visual analog pain scale had improved from 6.2 to 1.4, the mean hallux valgus angle had improved from 37.1° to 17.1°, and the mean intermetatarsal angle had improved from 18° to 8.6°. The patients were very satisfied after 77% of the twenty-six procedures, satisfied after 4%, and somewhat satisfied after 19%; no patient was dissatisfied. There were no cases of hallux varus. Complications included three nonunions, all of which occurred in smokers, and two superficial wound infections.Conclusion: In appropriately selected patients, the Lapidus procedure is a reliable and effective operation after failed surgical treatment of hallux valgus.Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series [no, or historical, control group]). See p. 2 for complete description of levels of evidence.

Economic evaluation in total hip arthroplasty: Analysis and review of the literature

We performed a bibliographic search of MEDLINE databases from January 1966 to July 2002 to identify English language articles that contained either cost or economic in combination with total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the abstract or title. Each study was then critically reviewed for content, technique, and adherence to established healthcare economic principles. Only 81 of the 153 studies retrieved contained actual economic data. Only 6% of studies adhered to established criteria for a comprehensive health care economic analysis. Although the number of publications regarding economic evaluation of THA is on the rise, the methodologic quality of many of these studies remains inadequate. Future studies should employ sound healthcare economic techniques to properly evaluate and assess the true social and economic value of THA.

Quantifying the extent of femoral head involvement in osteonecrosis.

Background: There are numerous methods for quantifying the extent of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. However, there is no consensus regarding which method is the most reliable. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and prognostic accuracy of three commonly used methods for quantifying the extent of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.Methods: Thirty-nine hips in twenty-five patients who had stage-I or II osteonecrosis of the femoral head, according to the grading system of the Association Research Circulation Osseous, were independently examined on two separate occasions by three observers of different specialty backgrounds and experience. Each observer used three methods to quantify the extent of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: (1) the index of necrotic extent, (2) the modified index of necrotic extent, and (3) the percentage of femoral head involvement. The interobserver and intraobserver agreement was determined for each method, and the ability of each method to predict the time to subchondral collapse was analyzed statistically.Results: There was significantly valid agreement among the observers for all three methods (p < 0.001 for all three). The correlation coefficients demonstrated substantial agreement among raters when they measured the index of necrotic extent and the percent involvement and nearly perfect agreement when they measured the modified index of necrotic extent. Survivorship analysis revealed that the percent involvement (p < 0.05), index of necrotic extent (p < 0.007), and modified index of necrotic extent (p < 0.04) were prognostically significant predictors of subchondral fracture.Conclusions: Our results indicate that the index of necrotic extent, modified index of necrotic extent, and estimation of the percentage of involvement of the femoral head are reproducible and reliable methods for quantitatively evaluating the extent of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. We believe that the three methods can be utilized with confidence. Furthermore, they are clinically useful for identifying hips at greatest risk for subchondral collapse.

Comparison of commonly used orthopaedic outcome measures using palm‐top computers and paper surveys

Introduction: Measuring patient‐perceived outcomes following orthopaedic procedures have become an important component of clinical research and patient care. General and disease‐specific outcomes measures have been developed and applied in orthopaedics to assess the patients perceived health status. Unfortunately, paper‐based, self‐administered instruments remain inefficient for collecting data because of: (a) missing data (b) respondent error, and (c) the costs to administer and enter data.

Development, test reliability and validation of a classification for revision hip arthroplasty

The objective of the study was to develop a valid and reliable classification system for failed hip arthroplasties. The study uses research principals derived from multi‐attribute utility theory and consensus group techniques. The development of the severity measure was done in two phases. Phase I of the study included: (a) questionnaire development, (b) submission of the questionnaire to the respondents, (c) data synthesis of the responses and item reduction, and (d) classification development and inter‐observer reliability testing. Phase II included: (a) resubmission of the instrument to the respondents for suggestions/feedback. (b) instrument revision by the co‐investigators based on the respondents second feedback, and (c) inter‐observer reliability testing and intraoperative validity testing of the instrument. The questionnaires sought to capture expert opinion as to what clinical determinants obtained preoperatively (during patient interview, physical exam and review of plain radiographs – AP pelvis and hip lateral) that would in their clinical experience reveal intraoperative severity. There was an 80% (16/20) response rate from the outside experts invited to participate in the study. Based on item reduction and test‐retest analysis, a five‐grade radiographic classification for the acetabulum as well as the femur was developed. This system was then reviewed by 13 of the initial outside experts (16, 80%) who participated in the first round. Inter‐rater reliability testing of the final format of the classification revealed a weighted kappa statistic value of 0.88 between the two‐blinded raters (inter‐rater reliability) and 0.87 between the blinded raters and the reference standard (intraoperative validity). We conclude that the study developed a reliable and valid radiographic classification system for failed hip arthroplasty.

Total Knee Arthroplasty After Varus Osteotomy of the Distal Part of the Femur

Background: There is little information in the literature regarding the outcome of total knee arthroplasty following distal femoral varus osteotomy. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the intermediate-term results of total knee arthroplasty following distal femoral varus osteotomy.Methods: The study group consisted of nine consecutive patients (eleven knees) who had had a total knee arthroplasty following varus osteotomy of the distal part of the femur. The average age of the patients was forty-four years (range, fifteen to seventy years) at the time of the arthroplasty. The results were evaluated with use of the Knee Society score preoperatively and after a mean duration of follow-up of 5.1 years. Radiographs made preoperatively and at the time of follow-up were evaluated for alignment in the coronal plane.Results: The mean Knee Society knee score was 35 points before the arthroplasty and 84 points after the arthroplasty. The mean Knee Society function score was 49 points before the arthroplasty and 68 points after the arthroplasty. The mean interval between the femoral osteotomy and the total knee replacement was fourteen years (range, two to thirty-two years). A constrained prosthesis was required in five of the eleven knees. Two knees had an excellent result, five had a good result, and four had a fair result. The mean arc of motion improved from 81.8° to 105.9°. The mean radiographic alignment was 3.6° of valgus (range, 7° of varus to 18° of valgus) before the arthroplasty and 3.3° of valgus (range, 1° of valgus to 6° of valgus) at the time of the latest follow-up. There were no infections or wound complications.Conclusion: Total knee arthroplasty following distal femoral varus osteotomy decreases pain and improves knee function, but the procedure is technically demanding and is associated with inferior results when compared with those of primary arthroplasty performed in a patient without a prior femoral osteotomy. In the present series, the use of an intramedullary femoral alignment guide increased the tendency to place the femoral component in relative varus angulation (that is, in <5° of valgus). We recommend checking the alignment of the femoral component with an extramedullary guide in knees that have had a previous distal femoral varus osteotomy.Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series [no, or historical, control group]). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Lapidus Procedure as Salvage After Failed Surgical Treatment of Hallux Valgus

BACKGROUNDnRecurrent hallux valgus is a relatively common, yet challenging, condition for both the patient and the surgeon. The literature on the treatment of recurrent hallux valgus is sparse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the functional outcome and patient satisfaction following the Lapidus procedure for the treatment of recurrent hallux valgus deformity.nnnMETHODSnTwenty-four patients with a total of twenty-six symptomatic recurrences of hallux valgus after previous procedures for treatment of the deformity were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included prior fusion procedures on the foot or ankle, a previous Keller or Mayo procedure, insulin dependent diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or peripheral neuropathy. A visual analog pain scale and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale were administered preoperatively, at six months postoperatively, and yearly thereafter. Weight-bearing radiographs were also made preoperatively; at six weeks, three months, six months, and one year postoperatively; and yearly thereafter. Patient satisfaction was assessed at the latest follow-up evaluation.nnnRESULTSnAt twenty-four months, the mean score according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale had increased from 47.6 to 87.9 points, the mean score according to the visual analog pain scale had improved from 6.2 to 1.4, the mean hallux valgus angle had improved from 37.1 degrees to 17.1 degrees, and the mean intermetatarsal angle had improved from 18 degrees to 8.6 degrees. The patients were very satisfied after 77% of the twenty-six procedures, satisfied after 4%, and somewhat satisfied after 19%; no patient was dissatisfied. There were no cases of hallux varus. Complications included three nonunions, all of which occurred in smokers, and two superficial wound infections.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn appropriately selected patients, the Lapidus procedure is a reliable and effective operation after failed surgical treatment of hallux valgus.

Lessons learned from the hip and knee musculoskeletal outcomes data evaluation and management system.

In 1994 the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons established an outcomes initiative. The Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System had two goals: (1) to create validated patient-based functional health questionnaires that would become the gold standard for musculoskeletal research, and (2) to collect data from practicing orthopaedists using these instruments. We assessed the adequacy of the hip and knee portion of the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System data collection process to learn how to improve these processes. Database elements included demographic and clinical information and health and well-being scales. Only 715 records or 578 patients of the initial 2419 records (30%) had complete baseline and followup information for either hip or knee replacement procedure. Only 17% of the patients who had a knee replacement and 20% of the patients who had a hip replacement returned for followup between 7 and 9 months. The Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System achieved its goal regarding the development of validated questionnaires, but the data collection component did not. The project’s implementation and management were flawed. This experience offers the field of orthopaedics valuable lessons that can be applied to future large-scale data collection efforts.