Stefan Eggli

Long-term Results of Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair An Analysis of Isolated Tears

From 1984 through 1986 we performed 54 arthroscopic meniscal repairs on patients with anterior cruciate ligament-stable knees. We evaluated the repair results of 52 of these patients at an average followup of 7.5 years. In 40 patients the meniscal repairs had not failed and these patients were examined clinically and radio- graphically ; in 25 cases, magnetic resonance imaging was also performed. Significantly more failures (P ≤ 0.05) occurred when the rim width of the tear was greater than 3 mm and when the tear was repaired with resorbable sutures. Conversely, the following factors were found to favorably influence meniscal healing (P > 0.05): time from injury to surgery less than 8 weeks, patient age less than 30 years, tear length less than 2.5 cm, and tear in the lateral meniscus. The overall failure rate after 7.5 years was 27% (14 of 52); 64% (9 of 14) of the failures occurred in the first 6 months after repair. The clinical and radiographic evaluation of the success fully repaired knees showed that 90% (36 of 40) had normal knee function; the remaining 10% (4 patients) had nearly normal knee function. Magnetic resonance imaging, however, showed a persisting grade 3 or 4 lesion in 96% (24 of 25) of the successfully repaired menisci and is therefore not reliable in assessing me niscal healing.

The value of preoperative planning for total hip arthroplasty

To analyse the value and accuracy of preoperative planning for total hip replacement (THR) we digitised electronically and compared the hand-sketched preoperative plans with the pre- and postoperative radiographs of 100 consecutive primary THRs. The correct type of prosthesis was planned in 98%; the agreement between planned and actually used components was 92% on the femoral side and 90% on the acetabular side. The mean (± SD) absolute difference between the planned and actual position of the centre of rotation of the hip was 2.5 ± 1.1 mm vertically and 4.4 ± 2.1 mm horizontally. On average, the inclination of the acetabular component differed by 7 ± 2° and anteversion by 9 ± 3° from the preoperative plans. The mean postoperative leg-length difference was 0.3 ± 0.1 cm clinically and 0.2 ± 0.1 cm radiologically. More than 80% of intraoperative difficulties were anticipated. Preoperative planning is of significant value for the successful performance of THR.

Influence of Preoperative Functional Status on Outcome After Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND International registries with large, heterogeneous patient populations provide excellent research opportunities for studying factors that influence treatment outcomes after total hip arthroplasty. In the present study, we used a European multinational database to investigate whether there is an association between three functional variables (preoperative pain, mobility, and motion) and functional outcome. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study on preoperative and follow-up clinical data that were prospectively entered into the International Documentation and Evaluation System European hip registry between 1967 and 2002. The inclusion criteria for this study were an age of more than twenty years, an underlying diagnosis of osteoarthritis, and a Charnley class-A functional designation at the time of surgery. A total of 12,925 patients (13,766 total hip arthroplasties) who met these criteria were entered into the analysis. Three functional variables (pain, mobility, and motion) that were assessed preoperatively were evaluated postoperatively at various follow-up examinations for a maximum of ten years. RESULTS Six thousand four hundred and one patients could walk longer than ten minutes preoperatively; of these, 57.1% had a walking capacity of more than sixty minutes at the time of the most recent follow-up. In comparison, 6896 patients had a preoperative walking capacity of less than ten minutes and only 38.9% of these patients could walk more than sixty minutes at the time of the most recent follow-up. The difference was significant (p < 0.01). Similarly, 10,375 patients had a preoperative hip flexion range of >70 degrees ; of these, 74.7% had a flexion range of >90 degrees at the time of the most recent follow-up. In comparison, 2793 patients had a preoperative hip flexion range of <70 degrees and only 62.6% of these patients had a flexion range of >90 degrees at the time of the most recent follow-up. The difference was also significant (p < 0.01). Lasting, complete, or almost complete pain relief was achieved by >80% of the patients following total hip arthroplasty regardless of their preoperative categorization of pain. CONCLUSIONS Patients with poor preoperative walking capacity and hip flexion are less likely to achieve an optimal outcome with regard to walking and motion. In contrast, there is no correlation between the preoperative pain level and pain alleviation, which is generally good and long-lasting after total hip arthroplasty.

Demographic factors affecting long-term outcome of total hip arthroplasty.

We report the outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in a cohort of patients with complete long-term radiographic and clinical followup information from our database of more than 48,000 primary hip replacements. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of various demographic factors and patient comorbidity (Charnley classification) on the long-term outcome of THA. The cohort was comprised of 25,990 total hip replacements (THRs) in 10,243 (46.6%) men and 11,754 (53.4%) women with a median age of 66 years (range, 20–96 years) at the time of arthroplasty. Our study confirmed that THA has an impressive efficiency and reliability in alleviating pain and improving function for almost all of the patients. Furthermore, the results are enduring with more than 90% of patients being satisfied with the outcome at 15 years. Clinical outcome measures reach their maximum at 2 to 5 years after arthroplasty and thereafter they decline gradually. Furthermore, patient age, gender, body mass index, and main diagnosis all have an influence on specific functional parameters. The Charnley classification has the most profound effect on the overall functional status of patients.

Unstable Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures : A Clinical Investigation

Objective: To evaluate fracture patterns in bicondylar tibial plateau fractures and their impact on treatment strategy. Design: Prospective data analysis with documentation of initial injury and treatment strategy, computed tomography scans, conventional x-rays, long-term evaluation of radiographs, and functional assessments. Setting: Level 1 regional trauma center. Patients: Prospective data acquisition of 14 consecutive patients (10 male and 4 female) with a bicondylar tibial plateau fracture (AO Type C). Intervention: Application of a stepwise reconstruction strategy of the tibial plateau starting with the reposition and fixation of the posteromedial split fragment using a 3.5 buttress plate, followed by reposition and grafting of the lateral compartment and lateral fixation with a 3.5 plate in 90 degree to the medial fixation device. Main Outcome Measurements: All patients were evaluated with full-length standing film, standardized x-rays, Lysholm score for functional assessment, and patients self-appraisal. Results: Most of the complex bicondylar fractures follow a regular pattern in that the medial compartment is split in a mediolateral direction with a posteromedial main fragment, combined with various amounts of multifragmental lateral compartment depression. The technique introduced allows for accurate and stable reduction and fixation of this fracture type. The final Lysholm knee score showed an average of 83.5 points (range: 64.5-92). Conclusions: Complex bicondylar tibial plateau fractures follow a regular pattern, which is not represented in existing 2-dimensional fracture classifications. A 2-incision technique starting with the reduction of the posteromedial edge results in accurate fracture reduction with low complication rates and excellent knee function.

Bilateral total hip arthroplasty: one stage versus two stage procedure.

The purpose of this study was to determine if any differences existed in the early complication rate, short term clinical outcome, and total length of hospital stay between patients who had bilateral total hip arthroplasty performed under a single anesthetic (during 1 patient visit to the operating room) and patients who had the procedure performed under 2 anesthetics (during 2 patient visits to the operating room). Patients operated on bilaterally were divided into 3 groups: Group A (1 stage procedure)-hips that were operated on simultaneously (128 hips); Group B (2 stage procedure)-surgeries performed less than 6 weeks apart (126 hips); and Group C (2 stage procedure)-surgeries performed between 6 weeks and 6 months apart (256 hips). All patients were evaluated after an average followup of 1.5 years. There were no differences in operative, early local, or general complications among the 3 groups. In particular, no higher incidence of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis was found in the 1 stage group. Preoperatively, very stiff hips (total range of motion < 50 °) gained significantly more motion in the 1 stage group than in the 2 stage groups, whereas hips with better preoperative motion (total range of motion > 50 °) improved the most in Group B, without a significant difference occurring between Groups A and C. The degree of pain reduction was the same in all groups, but patients in the 1 stage group had a significantly better capacity for walking after their procedure. Average total hospital stay was 5 to 6 days less for the patients in Group A than those in the other groups, which, combined with using the operating room only once, resulted in a reduction of overall hospital costs by more than 30% when using the 1 stage procedure.

Obesity, age, sex, diagnosis, and fixation mode differently affect early cup failure in total hip arthroplasty: a matched case-control study of 4420 patients.

BACKGROUND Studies about the influence of patient characteristics on mechanical failure of cups in total hip replacement have applied different methodologies and revealed inconclusive results. The fixation mode has rarely been investigated. Therefore, we conducted a detailed analysis of the influence of patient characteristics and fixation mode on cup failure risks. METHODS We conducted a case-control study of total hip arthroplasties in 4420 patients to test our hypothesis that patient characteristics of sex, age, weight, body mass index, and diagnosis have different influences on risks for early mechanical failure in cemented and uncemented cups. RESULTS Women had significantly reduced odds for failure of cups with cemented fixation (odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.83; p = 0.002) and uncemented fixation (odds ratio = 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 0.81; p = 0.0003) compared with that for men (odds ratio = 1). Each additional year of patient age at the time of surgery reduced the failure odds by a factor of 0.98 for both cemented cups (odds ratio = 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 0.99; p = 0.016) and uncemented cups (odds ratio = 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 0.99; p = 0.0002). In patients with cemented cups, the weight group of 73 to 82 kg had significantly lower failure odds (odds ratio = 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 0.98) than the lightest (<64 kg) weight group or the heaviest (>82 kg) weight group (odds ratios = 1.00 and 1.07, respectively). No significant effects of weight were noted in the uncemented group. In contrast, obese patients (a body mass index of >30 kg/m(2)) with uncemented cups had significantly elevated odds relative to patients with a body mass of <25 kg/m(2) (odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.91) for early failure of the cups compared with an insignificant effect in the cemented arm of the study. Compared with osteoarthritis as the reference diagnosis (odds ratio = 1), developmental dysplasia (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.28 to 0.97) and hip fracture (odds ratio = 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.16 to 0.92) were significantly protective in cemented cups. CONCLUSIONS Female sex and older age have similarly protective effects on the odds for early failure of cemented and uncemented cups. Although a certain body-weight range has a significant protective effect in cemented cups, the more important finding was the significantly increased risk for failure of uncemented cups in obese patients. Patients with developmental dysplasia and hip fracture were the only diagnostic groups with a significantly decreased risk for cup failure, but only with cemented fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Revision surgery in pelvic discontinuity: an analysis of seven patients.

The technical aspect and clinical outcome of seven patients with pelvic discontinuities in acetabular revision surgery after a mean followup of 96 months were analyzed. The surgical treatment consisted of three consecutive steps beginning with mechanical stabilization of the two acetabular columns, followed by bony acetabular reconstruction by filling the osteolytic defect with allograft chips covered with autologous bone to achieve a contained defect after healing of the autograft, and anchorage of the cup using an acetabular reinforcement ring (five with a hook, two without a hook). Complications included a partial ischial nerve lesion, one intraoperative femoral shaft fracture, and one recurrent dislocation. One patient had revision surgery 12 months after the first revision surgery because of aseptic loosening, and in one patient two prominent screws had to be removed. The clinical improvement according to the Harris hip score was 40.1 points on average (preoperative, 33 points; postoperative, 73.1 points). At the final followup all acetabular components were stable and the pelvic discontinuity had healed. Despite the technical feasibility of such revisions and the acceptable clinical results, the complication rate is high. Early diagnosis of acetabular loosening to minimize the osteolytic loss of bone stock is important.

Mid-term results of transphyseal anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND Optimal therapy for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in the paediatric population still provokes controversy. Although conservative and operative treatments are both applied, operative therapy is slightly favored. Among available surgical techniques are physeal-sparing reconstruction and transphyseal graft fixation. The aim of this study was to present our mid-term results after transphyseal ACL reconstruction. METHODS Fifteen young patients (mean age=12.8±2.6, range=6.2-15.8 years, Tanner stage=2-4) with open physis and traumatic anterior cruciate rupture who had undergone transphyseal ACL reconstruction with unilateral quadriceps tendon graft were prospectively analyzed. All children were submitted to radiological evaluation to determine the presence of clearly open growth plates in both the distal femur and proximal tibia. Postoperatively, all patients were treated according to a standardized rehabilitation protocol and evaluated by radiographic analysis and the Lysholm-Gillquist and IKDC 2000 scores. Their health-related quality of life was measured using the SF-12 PCS (physical component summary) and MCS (mental component summary) questionnaires. RESULTS Mean postoperative follow-up was 4.1 years. Mean Lysholm-Gillquist score was 94.0. Thirteen of the 15 knees were considered nearly normal on the IKDC 2000 score. The mean SF-12 questionnaire score was 54.0±4.8 for SF-12 PCS and 59.1±3.7 for SF-12 MCS. No reruptures were observed. Radiological analysis detected one knee with valgus deformity. All patients had a normal gait pattern without restrictions. CONCLUSION Transphyseal reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament shows satisfactory mid-term results in the immature patient.

Dynamic Intraligamentary Stabilization (DIS) for treatment of acute anterior cruciate ligament ruptures: case series experience of the first three years

BackgroundIn recent years, the scientific discussion has focused on new strategies to enable a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to heal into mechanically stable scar tissue. Dynamic intraligamentary stabilization (DIS) was first performed in a pilot study of 10 patients. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether DIS would lead to similarly sufficient stability and good clinical function in a larger case series.MethodsAcute ACL ruptures were treated by using an internal stabilizer, combined with anatomical repositioning of torn bundles and microfracturing to promote self-healing. Clinical assessment (Tegner, Lysholm, IKDC, and visual analogue scale [VAS] for patient satisfaction scores) and assessment of knee laxity was performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. A one-sample design with a non-inferiority margin was chosen to compare the preoperative and postoperative IKDS and Lysholm scores.Results278 patients with a 6:4 male to female ratio were included. Average patient age was 31 years. Preoperative mean IKDC, Lysholm, and Tegner scores were 98.8, 99.3, and 5.1 points, respectively. The mean anteroposterior (AP) translation difference from the healthy contralateral knee was 4.7 mm preoperatively. After DIS treatment, the mean 12-month IKDC, Lysholm, and Tegner scores were 93.6, 96.2, and 4.9 points, respectively, and the mean AP translation difference was 2.3 mm. All these outcomes were significantly non-inferior to the preoperative or healthy contralateral values (p < 0.0001). Mean patient satisfaction was 8.8 (VAS 0–10). Eight ACL reruptures occurred and 3 patients reported insufficient subjective stability of the knee at the end of the study period.ConclusionsAnatomical repositioning, along with DIS and microfracturing, leads to clinically stable healing of the torn ACL in the large majority of patients. Most patients exhibited almost normal knee function, reported excellent satisfaction, and were able to return to their previous levels of sporting activity. Moreover, this strategy resulted in stable healing of all sutured menisci, which could lower the rate of osteoarthritic changes in future. The present findings support the discussion of a new paradigm in ACL treatment based on preservation and self-healing of the torn ligament.