Faculty Bibliography

Complex primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) is defined as primary THA in patients with compromised bony or soft-tissue states, including but not limited to dysplastic hip, ankylosed hip, prior hip fracture, protrusio acetabuli, certain neuromuscular conditions, skeletal dysplasia, and previous bony procedures about the hip. Intraoperatively, provisions must be made for the possible use of modular implants and/or bone grafts. In this article, we review the principles of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of patients requiring a complex primary THA

Humeral head osteonecrosis is a progressive disease that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Core decompression is a viable treatment option for early-stage cases. Most surgeons perform core decompression by arthroscopically visualizing the necrotic area of bone and using a cannulated drill to take a core. Several attempts are frequently needed to reach the proper location. In the hip multiple passes are associated with complications. We describe the use of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial drill guide to precisely localize the area of necrotic bone. Diagnostic arthroscopy is performed to assess the areas of osteonecrosis. Core decompression is performed by use of an ACL tibial guide, brought in through the anterior or posterior portal to precisely localize the necrotic area in preparation for drilling. Under image intensification, Steinmann pins are advanced into the area of osteonecrosis. Once positioned, several 4-mm cores are made. We treated 3 patients with this technique, and all had immediate pain relief. The use of the ACL guide allows precise localization of the area of humeral head involvement and avoids multiple drillings into unaffected areas. Initial indications are that arthroscopic-assisted core decompression with an ACL guide is an effective alternative to previously used methods

A web-based survey was developed to evaluate joint arthroplasty surgeon's preferences for the return to sporting activities after total hip arthroplasty. This survey listed 30 groups of activities (37 specific sports) and was sent to all members of the Hip Society and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. All surgeons were asked to grade each activity as follows: allow, allow with experience, not allowed, or undecided. Results were computed using a power analysis, Z test, and chi(2) test to determine statistical significance. There were a total of 549 responses giving an overall response rate of 72%, with 93% (92/99) of the Hip Society members and 72% (522/727) of American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons members responding to the survey. Consensus guidelines and postoperative timing for the return to specific activities are presented

The type II Monteggia (posterior) lesion is a rare injury which is sometimes associated with ulnohumeral instability. We have reviewed 23 of 28 patients with this injury. A clinical and radiographic assessment was undertaken at follow-up. Functional outcome scores, including the Broberg and Morrey Index and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder or Hand (DASH), were used. The results from the six patients with associated posterior ulnohumeral dislocation were compared with 17 without ulnohumeral injury. Those with dislocation had reduced movement of the elbow and had outcome scores indicative of greater disability compared to those without associated dislocation

OBJECTIVE: To compare the fixation stability in the femoral head with sliding hip screw versus helical blade designs for unstable, intertrochanteric hip fractures. METHODS: A simulated, unstable intertrochanteric hip fracture was created in six pairs of cadaveric femurs. One of each pair was treated using an intramedullary nail with a sliding hip screw (ITST) for femoral head fixation and the other was treated with a nail with a helical blade (TFN). Each specimen was cyclically loaded with 750N vertical loads applied for 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 cycles. Measurements for femoral head displacement, fracture fragment opening and sliding were made. Specimens were then loaded to failure. RESULTS: There was significantly more permanent inferior femoral head displacement in the ITST samples compared to the TFN samples after each cyclic loading (all p values<0.05). There was significantly more permanent fracture site opening and inferior displacement in the ITST group compared with the TFN group at 1000 and 10,000 cycles (p<0.05). Final loads to failure were not significantly different (p=0.51) between the two treatment groups. Nine specimens demonstrated fracture extension into the anteromedial cortex and subtrochanteric region and three specimens, which had an ITST implant, demonstrated a splitting fracture of the femoral head. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that fixation of the femoral head with a helical blade was biomechanically superior to fixation with a standard sliding hip screw in a cadaveric, unstable intertrochanteric hip fracture model

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient outcomes after treatment of lower-extremity fractures associated with blister formation and to assess complications after soft-tissue treatment using a prospective protocol. DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Level I trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Between September 1999 and September 2003, 47 patients who had sustained a closed lower-extremity fracture with early development of fracture blisters in the zone of injury were followed. Blisters were characterized as either avoidable or unavoidable with respect to surgical incisions, and characteristics such as number, size, blood filled or clear filled, and the presence of an intact roof were documented. INTERVENTION: All blisters were unroofed, and antibiotic cream (silver sulfadiazine, Silvadene, King Pharmaceuticals Inc.) was applied twice daily until the blister bed had re-epithelialized. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Fracture union and the development of wound or skin complications. Patient satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome of the treatment regimen was assessed through telephone survey at 23-month minimum follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients presented with a single blister, and 19 had multiple blisters. Blister size averaged 9.7 cm. Twenty-two patients had blood-filled blisters, 20 had clear-filled blisters, and five had a combination of the two. Fracture patterns included 17 ankle fractures (OTA 44), 13 tibial plateau fractures (OTA 41), five tibial-shaft fractures (OTA 42), eight calcaneus fractures (OTA 45), and four pilon fractures (OTA 43). Mean delay in definitive surgical care was 7.7 days (range 0 to 20 days). The average delay of surgery for ankle fractures was 6 days (range 0 to 18 days), which was significantly less than the delay for calcaneus fractures (12 days, range 4 to 19 days, P < 0.02) and tibial plateau fractures (11 days, range 0 to 20 days, P < 0.02). Thirty-seven of the 45 patients (82.3%) available for follow-up at a mean of 27 weeks (range 14 to 35) had an uncomplicated postoperative course, and fracture union was achieved in 43 of 45 cases (95.6%). The soft-tissue complication rate associated with the standardized treatment regimen was 13.3% (6/45 cases), with three cases of minor soft-tissue breakdown, one superficial infection, and two major complications directly related to the presence of fracture blisters. Both major complications involved full-thickness skin breakdown occurring directly at the base of fracture blisters in patients with diabetes. The skin breakdown required further surgery in both cases. Including the two patients who developed nonunion, the overall complication rate for the treatment cohort was 17.7% (8/45 cases). At a mean follow-up of 51.9 months (range 23 to 73), three patients in the cohort had expired. Of the 42 patients available for evaluation, 28 patients (67%) were reachable for a telephone survey to assess satisfaction with the outcome of the fracture and soft-tissue management. Patients rated their satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance of their lower extremities after the standardized treatment regimen on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 representing very satisfied), with a mean of 9.07 (range 5 to 10). Six patients reported scarring at the sites of previous fracture blisters, all of which occurred after blistering of the blood-filled subtype. The presence of scarring significantly decreased patient satisfaction with cosmesis and overall treatment (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of fracture blisters with a silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) regimen proved to be successful in minimizing soft-tissue complications by promoting re-epithelialization in all nondiabetic patients. At long-term follow-up, patients were generally satisfied with the cosmetic outcome of the treatment regimen. Postoperative scarring, which was more common with blood-filled blisters, significantly impacted patient satisfaction. We urge caution when planning to make a surgical incision around an area of both full-thickness (blood-filled) and partial-thickness (clear-filled) fracture blisters in diabetic patients because the zone of injury might extend beyond the borders of the fracture blister

Postoperative medical complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may occur in patients of any age. However, percentage of adverse events increases with increasing patient age and can cause significant morbidity and even mortality. It is important that the orthopedist identify risk factors and symptoms and be knowledgeable in the treatment of nonsurgical postoperative complications. Nonsurgical complications after THA and TKA include pulmonary embolism, fat embolism syndrome, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, postoperative delirium, cerebrovascular accident, urinary retention, urinary tract infections, and deep vein thrombosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hybrid femoral fixation with bioabsorbable interference screws (BioRCI; Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Andover, MA) and EndoButton CL (Smith & Nephew Endoscopy) fixation. METHODS: Biomechanical testing of 3 different fixation techniques was performed by use of porcine hind-limb distal femurs and mature bovine extremity common extensor tendons. Two independent testing sessions were examined. The first testing session (group A) compared femoral fixation via the EndoButton CL device (n = 6) with femoral fixation via the EndoButton CL device with the addition of a BioRCI screw (n = 6). The second testing session (group B) compared femoral fixation via BioRCI screws alone (n = 6) with femoral fixation via the EndoButton CL device with the addition of a BioRCI screw (n = 6). The femur-graft complex was cyclically loaded between 50 and 250 N at 1 Hz for 1,000 cycles. After cycling, the amount of graft slippage was determined by measuring the change in grip-to-grip distance. The complex was then loaded to failure at 1 mm/s, and the ultimate tensile strength, stiffness, and mode of failure were determined. RESULTS: In group A the addition of an interference screw to the EndoButton CL fixation increased the ultimate tensile strength (1,364.7 +/- 102.4 N for EndoButton CL alone v 1,449.3 +/- 94.4 N for combined technique, P = .035) and stiffness (195.5 +/- 12.1 N/mm for EndoButton CL alone v 307.3 +/- 54.9 N/mm for combined technique, P = .004) and decreased the amount of graft slippage (2.6 +/- 0.5 mm for EndoButton CL alone v 2.0 +/- 0.3 mm for combined technique, P = .017). In group B the addition of the EndoButton CL device to interference screw fixation significantly increased the ultimate tensile strength (643.5 +/- 148.4 N for BioRCI screws alone v 1,290.3 +/- 254.4 N for combined technique, P = .004) but had no effect on stiffness (315.7 +/- 38.9 N/mm for BioRCI screws alone v 341.5 +/- 64.0 N/mm for combined technique, P = .267) or graft slippage (2.7 +/- 1.0 mm for BioRCI screws alone v 2.0 +/- 0.6 mm for combined technique, P = .087). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that hybrid femoral fixation of double-looped gracilis-semitendinosus grafts via the EndoButton CL device and a bioabsorbable interference screw is stronger than interference or EndoButton CL fixation alone with respect to ultimate tensile strength, stiffness, and slippage. The addition of an interference screw to suspensory fixation via the EndoButton CL device increased the ultimate tensile strength from 1,360 N to 1,450 N, improved reconstruction stiffness from 200 N/mm to 300 N/mm, and decreased the amount of graft slippage resulting from cyclic loading from 2.6 mm to 2.0 mm. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The hybrid fixation of the EndoButton CL device and an interference screw is a stronger and stiffer construct than either device alone and allows for aperture fixation, which may translate into better clinical results