Sarunas Tarasevicius

A comparison of outcomes and dislocation rates using dual articulation cups and THA for intracapsular femoral neck fractures.

Total hip arthroplasty for intracapsular femoral neck fractures (FNF) is associated with a greater risk of dislocation. Dual articulation systems in this group of patients may provide better implant stability and a reduced dislocation rate. The aim of our study was to investigate FNF patients treated with dual articulation cups (DAC) and conventional THA and compare their clinical results at four months and one year after surgery. Our study compared femoral neck fracture patients treated with either DAC or conventional THA during two different time periods. Before surgery and during follow-up, the patients answered questions regarding their mobility, pain and usage of walking aids. Additionally at four-month and one-year follow-ups EQ-5D and HOOS questionnaires were applied for those patients qualifying for functional and quality of life analysis. Out of 125 femoral neck fracture patients 58 were treated with DAC and 67 with conventional THA. At four months and one year follow-up the HOOS and EQ-5D results did not differ significantly between DAC and conventional THA. Five hips in the THA group were revised for recurrent dislocation and two had a single dislocation. One year after surgery, the functional result of DAC and conventional THA are comparable but DAC have a lower risk of dislocation.

Moderate varus/valgus malalignment after total knee arthroplasty has little effect on knee function or muscle strength 91 patients assessed after 1 year

Background and purpose — Postoperative muscle strength and component alignment are important factors affecting functional results after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We are not aware of any studies that have investigated the relationship between them. We therefore investigated whether coronal malalignment of the mechanical axis and/or of individual implant components would affect knee muscle strength and function 1 year after TKA surgery. Patients and methods — We included 120 consecutive osteoarthritis (OA) patients admitted for TKA. Preoperative active range of motion (ROM) of the knee, patient age, sex, and BMI were recorded and the Knee Society score (KSS) and knee joint extensor/flexor muscle strength were assessed. At 1-year follow-up, the mechanical and coronal component alignment was measured from a postoperative long standing radiograph, and ROM, KSS, and muscle strength measurements were taken in 91 patients. Functional outcome and muscle strength measurements were compared between normally aligned and malaligned TKA groups. Results — 29 of 91 TKAs were malaligned, i.e. they deviated more than 3° from the neutral mechanical axis. 18 femoral components and 15 tibial components were malaligned. Before surgery, the malaligned and normally aligned groups were similar regarding sex distribution, BMI, ROM, KSS, and muscle strength. At the 1-year follow-up, the differences between the groups regarding knee joint function and muscle strength were small, not statistically significant, and barely clinically relevant. Interpretation — Moderate varus/valgus malalignment of the mechanical axis or of individual components has no relevant clinical effect on function or muscle strength 1 year after TKA surgery.

Long-Term Femoral Bone Remodeling After Cemented Hip Arthroplasty With the Müller Straight Stem in the Operated and Nonoperated Femora

We investigated the cortical bone changes in 35 patients with total hip arthroplasty operated on only for osteoarthritis with more than 10 years of follow-up and with nonrevised femoral components and without radiologic signs of loosening. The mean follow-up was 16 ± 5 years. The thicknesses of femoral cortices were measured medially and laterally at 6 levels from the first postoperative and the last follow-up x-rays. A comparison with 10 patients who had a nonoperated contralateral hip was performed. We found a significant decrease in cortical thicknesses in total hip arthroplasty. The cortical thinning was significant at all periprosthetic levels but less expressed distally. Prosthetic femora were associated with greater cortical thinning as compared with the contralateral nonoperated femora, exceeding that caused by natural aging.

Excellent long-term results of the Müller acetabular reinforcement ring in primary total hip arthroplasty.

Background and purpose — The original Müller acetabular reinforcement ring (ARR) shows favorable medium-term results for acetabular reconstruction in total hip arthroplasty, where it is used when the acetabular bone stock is deficient. However, there are no data regarding long-term survival of the device. We therefore investigated long-term survival and analyzed radiological modes of failure. Patients and methods — Between 1984 and 2002, 321 consecutive primary arthroplasties using an ARR were performed in 291 patients. The mean follow-up time was 11 (0–25) years, and 24 hips were lost to follow-up. For survival analysis, we investigated 321 hips and the end of the follow-up was the date of revision, date of death, or the last patient contact date with implant still in situ. Radiological assessment was performed for 160 hips with a minimum of 10 years of follow-up and with radiographs of sufficient quality. It included evaluation of osteolysis, migration, and loosening. Results — 12 ARR THAs were revised: 1 isolated ARR revision for aseptic loosening, 4 revisions of the ARR and the stem for aseptic loosening, 6 for infection, and 1 for recurrent dislocation. The cumulative revision rate for all components, for any reason, at 20 years was 15% (95% CI: 10–22), while for the ARR only it was 7% (95% CI: 4–12) for any reason and 3.4% (95% CI: 1–9) for aseptic loosening. 21 (13%) of 160 ARR THAs examined had radiological changes: 7 had osteolysis but were not loose, and 14 were radiologically loose but were not painful and not revised. Interpretation — Our data suggest that the long-term survival of the ARR is excellent.

Choice of approach, but not femoral head size, affects revision rate due to dislocations in THA after femoral neck fracture: results from the Lithuanian Arthroplasty Register.

PurposeHip dislocation after arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures (FNF) remains a serious complication. The aim of our study was to investigate FNF patients treated with THA, with a special focus of comparing the effect of surgical approach and femoral head size on the risk of revision for dislocation.MethodsData were derived from the Lithuanian Arthroplasty Register, and we calculated the cumulative revision rates after surgery. For survival analysis, we used revision due to dislocation as an end-point. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse the influence of various covariates (age, gender, femoral head size, surgical approach).ResultsA total of 8,813 primary THAs were registered from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013, of which 1,412 were due to FNF: 899 involved 28-mm femoral heads and the remaining 513 received 32-mm heads. The posterior approach was used in 1,156 cases and the anterolateral approach in 256.. At the end of the follow-up period, 74 hips had been revised for recurrent dislocation. Cox regression adjusting for age, gender and head size showed that the posterior approach had 2.3-times [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0–5.0, pu2009=u20090.04] greater risk of revision for dislocationConclusionsWe conclude that in order to reduce the early dislocation rate in FNF patients treated with THA, it is more effective to use the anterolateral approach than it is to select a femoral head size of 32xa0mm instead of 28xa0mm.

Femoral neck fractures in Lithuania and Sweden. The differences in care and outcome

PurposeHip fractures constitute a serious and common health problem from both individual and public health perspectives. Unified data collection and comparison between countries is recognised as an effective tool for care improvements. However, the variation in patients’ demography, treatment methods and other local cultural aspects in different countries should be considered. The aim of our study was to compare femoral neck fracture patients treated in Kaunas and Lund, concerning functional outcome and quality of life.MethodsWe investigated 99 patients treated by arthroplasty in Kaunas Clinics and 117 patients in Lund University Hospital. Patients were investigated according to the National Swedish Hip Fracture Register model and were followed up for a period of fourxa0months after the injury. The patient’s place of residence, mobility, complaints of pain and additional hospital stay were recorded. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of life.ResultsPatients in Kaunas were significantly younger, had lower ASA grade and were more mobile before trauma and at four moths follow-up. However, when comparing quality of life at four months follow-up between the institutions, Lund patients reported significantly better self care, felt less pain and discomfort, and had less symptoms of anxiety and depression.ConclusionsThe difference observed in quality of life rating between institutions might be related to local cultures of the countries and should be considered when comparing the data.

Short-term outcome after total hip arthroplasty using dual-mobility cup : report from Lithuanian Arthroplasty Register

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to investigate how the use of dual-mobility cups (DMCs) affected the risk of revision due to dislocation as well as overall risk of revision compared with a conventional total hip arthroplasty (THA) system in the short term.MethodsA total of 12,657 primary THAs were registered from the start of 2011 to the end of 2014. 620 THAs were with DMCs. For comparison, we included all registered THAs with Exeter cup and a cemented Exeter stem combined with 28-mm femoral head. Patients were followed up with respect to revision and/or death until 1 January 2016. For survival analysis, we used revision as an endpoint. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse the influence of various covariates (age, gender, surgical approach, THA model and pre-operative diagnosis).ResultsOf the 620 dual-mobility THAs and 2170 Exeter THAs, 100 had been revised. The overall unadjusted cumulative revision rate (CRR) for any reason of revision at five years after surgery was 3.9% in the dual-mobility group and 5.2% in the Exeter group. Cox regression analysis, adjusting for age, gender, THA type, surgical approach and pre-operative diagnosis, showed that the risk of revision was less in patients operated with DMCs and in patients having their operation for osteoarthritis.ConclusionThe DM implant had a lower short-term complication rate than a conventional well defined THA. Low dislocation rate suggests that it is a good choice for high risk patients.

Measuring long radiographs affects the positioning of femoral components in total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate if preoperative measurements of the femoral valgus angle (FVA) affected the mechanical alignment, individual component positions and clinical outcome in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods120 patients were randomized into two groups. In one group (control), a fixed FVA for the intramedullary femoral guide was set at 7°, whereas in the other group (measured) FVA was measured preoperatively on long hip–knee–ankle radiographs, and the angle for the distal femoral cut was set accordingly. Preoperatively and 1xa0year after TKA, range of motion (ROM) and Knee Society Score (KSS) were assessed. Postoperatively, the coronal alignments of the components and the mechanical alignment were measured comparing the rate of outliers which deviated more than 3° from the neutral mechanical axis.Results104 patients remained for the radiological analysis (52 in each group). There were no significant differences either in the mean preoperative or postoperative mechanical alignment, or femoral or tibial component alignment; also, there were no differences in the number of postoperative mechanical axis or tibial component alignment outliers. However, the number of femoral component alignment outliers was significantly higher in the control group. 97 patients were available for clinical outcome analysis. Preoperatively, the groups did not differ significantly with respect to KSS or ROM. The postoperative ROM and KSS functional subscale scores were similar between the groups. However, there was slightly but significantly better postoperative KSS objective subscale score in the measured group.ConclusionsPreoperative FVA measurement and following femoral distal cut adjustments did not affect overall leg alignment postoperatively, while positioning of femoral component was improved together with minor improvements in objective KSS subscale scores.

The analysis of posterior soft tissue repair durability after total hip arthroplasty in primary osteoarthritis patients

Background and purpose The posterior soft tissue repair is 1 of the preventing factors for dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of our study was to analyse THA patients with posterior soft tissue repair in terms of suture durability, time of suture failure and correlate the changes in leg length and offset postoperatively to suture durability. Methods A total of 37 consecutive THA patients operated for osteoarthritis were included in the study. The posterior repair included reattaching the piriformis, conjoined tendons and posterior capsule to the greater trochanter through 2, 2 mm drill holes with 2 grasping stitches. A metal indicator wire was stitched into the piriformis tendon at distance of 1 cm from the greater trochanter after the prosthesis had been implanted and the joint reduced. Anteroposterior radiographs were taken immediately after the patients returned from the operating theatre to the intensive care unit, the next day after mobilisation, and at the 5th day of stay and at 3 months postoperatively. Results Out of 37 THA hips, 6 (16%) had failed immediately after surgery, 25 (68%) at the 1st postoperative day after mobilisation, 2 (5%) at the 5th postoperative day, and 1 (3%) repairs had failed at 3 months after THA. In the remaining 3 hips no failure occurred. Interpretation We conclude that posterior soft tissue repair in THA often fails and suggest that new posterior soft tissue repair methods be developed.

Outcomes and mortality after hip fractures treated in Kazakhstan

INTRODUCTIONnPatients with hip fractures are usually treated operatively in Western Europe. However, in Mid-Asia different indications are used to decide whether this patient is suitable for operative treatment and those are related to specific traditions and rules in hospital. Thus, traditions and surgeon/patient fears seem to affect treatment choices in hip fractures and subsequent outcomes. The aim of our study was to investigate patients with hip fractures and compare outcome at 1-year follow-up in the operated and nonoperated patient groups.nnnMETHODSnAll patients over 50 years old who sustained a hip fracture, between January 2014 and December 2014, were included. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at 1-year follow-up, using questionnaires from National Swedish Hip Fracture Register and quality of life (Euroqol EQ-5D).nnnRESULTSnOut of 398 included patients, 299 were operated on and 99 were not. 344 patients remained for our analysis before the end of 1-year follow-up. 51 patients (65%) deceased in the nonoperated group as compared to 55 (21%) in the operated group, p<0.001. Out of 27 patients in the nonoperated group hip function was evaluated at 1-year follow-up, 11 (41%) were walking independently or using 1 stick, as compared to 192 (91%) in the operated group.nnnCONCLUSIONSnWe conclude that nonoperative treatment of hip fracture patients is associated with higher mortality and worse functional outcome as compared to those who were treated operatively. We therefore advocate operative treatment of the hip fracture in the vast majority of cases.