Faculty Bibliography

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting the short-term outcome of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and develop a multivariate regression equation to predict the short-term outcome of primary THA. Prospectively collected data for 101 primary THAs performed at a single institution were used in this study. Twelve independent variables were analyzed via correlation and multivariate regression analyses. Correlation analyses showed that three variables significantly influenced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) physical function (PF) score at minimum follow-up of 1 year: preoperative WOMAC PF score (P < .0001), sex (GN, P = .0159), and the presence of preoperative comorbidities (CMB, P = .0246). Multivariate regression analysis yielded the following equation: Outcome = PF0.45 - GN9 + CMB8 + 62, which can be used to predict the general short-term outcome of primary THA.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stiffness of 3 different constructs for the fixation of comminuted Vancouver B1 periprosthetic femoral shaft fractures: a single lateral locking plate, a single lateral locking plate plus an anterior strut allograft, and a lateral locking plate plus an anterior locking plate. The axial stiffness, lateral bending stiffness, and torsional stiffness of 10 synthetic periprosthetic femur fracture models were tested. Differences in stiffness between constructs were determined with a 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. Fixation technique was found to have a significant effect for all loading modalities (P < .0001). A lateral locked plate plus an anterior locked plate was significantly stiffer than the allograft that in turn was significantly stiffer than the single plate (P < .0001).

From April 2006 to May 2007, 261 patients undergoing primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty were offered voluntary participation in a one-on-one preoperative educational program. Length of stay (LOS) and inpatient data were monitored and recorded, prospectively. Education participants enjoyed a significantly shorter LOS than nonparticipants for both total hip arthroplasty (3.1 +/- 0.8 days vs 3.9 +/- 1.4 days; P = .0001) and total knee arthroplasty (3.1 +/- 0.9 days vs 4.1 +/- 1.9 days; P = .001).

A tip-apex distance (TAD) of greater than 25 mm has been shown to be an accurate predictor of lag screw cut-out when sliding hip screws (SHS) are used to treat peritrochanteric (PT) hip fractures. The purpose of this study was to determine which factors, including TAD, correlated with successful clinical outcomes of PT hip fractures surgically treated with intramedullary (IM) devices. A total of 192 patients were included in this retrospective study. The TAD values of this cohort were radiographically analysed at a mean follow-up of 13 months. This was correlated with limited functional status and the rate of revision for implant failure or inability to achieve fracture union. Only 82 patients had adequate follow-up to fracture union or definitive failure. There were 46 intertrochanteric (IT) hip fractures and 36 subtrochanteric (ST) fractures. Overall, seven patients (8.5%) went on to experience lag screw cut-out. The average TAD of the patients who did not cut-out was 18 mm, compared to 38 mm for those who did (p = 0.012). All patients who cut-out had IT fractures (p = 0.017). The percentage of cut-outs correlated directly to both the severity of IT fractures and the TAD. Using a cutoff of 25 mm there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of lag screw cut-out (p < 0.001). As in sliding hip screws, surgeons should strive for a TAD less than 25 mm when using IM devices in the treatment of PT hip fractures to help avoid lag screw cut-out.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA), an effective treatment for patients with end-stage arthritic hip conditions, provides dramatic pain relief, enhances mobility, and restores function.The success of THA in older patients, in concert with improvements in techniques and biomaterials, has stimulated demand for this procedure in younger, more active patients hoping to regain full activity. Although young age remains a relative contraindication to THA, the weight of this factor has diminished. Several investigators have reported results of low-friction arthroplasty in young patients. Unfortunately, the value of these studies is limited because of heterogeneous hip pathology in the younger groups, particularly given that preoperative pathology has proved to significantly affect implant survival. In this review of the literature, we focus on THA survival in young, active patients with a preoperative diagnosis of noninflammatory osteoarthritis.

Orthopaedic adult reconstruction subspecialists are sued for alleged medical malpractice at a rate over twice that of the physician population as a whole, and the rate appears disproportionately high in the first decade of practice. The overall risk of a malpractice claim is related to years spent in practice. After 30 years in an adult reconstruction practice, the cumulative rate of being sued at least once is over 90%. Previous investigations suggest factors such as practice setting and size, fellowship training, years in practice, volume, and location of practice correlate with malpractice risk. In contrast, we were unable to identify any relationship between the type, size, or location of practice, fellowship training, or surgery volume and the risk of an adult reconstruction surgeon being named as a defendant in a malpractice suit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, economic and decision analysis. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often experience a difficult recovery due to severe postoperative pain. Using a multimodal pain management protocol, a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of patient-selected music on reducing perceived pain. Thirty patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA were enrolled and randomized into the music group (15 patients) or the control group (15 patients). Postoperative pain scores, assessed with the visual analog scale, indicated the music group experienced less pain at 3 and 24 hours postoperatively than did the nonmusic group (at 3 hours: 1.47+/-1.39 versus 3.87+/-3.44, P=.01; at 24 hours: 2.41+/-1.67 versus 4.03+/-2.89, P=.04). Intraoperative music provides an inexpensive nonpharmacological option to further reduce postoperative pain.

Fixed-bearing, medial unicondylar knee arthroplasties were performed in 33 knees (32 patients). We report a minimum 2-year follow-up, with a mean follow-up of 3 years. Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis reported 97% survivorship at a mean follow-up of 38 months. Average preoperative Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores improved significantly from 40+/-22 to 92+/-15 (P<.0001). Average preoperative Knee Society knee and function scores improved significantly from 52+/-7 to 90+/-9 (P<.0001) and from 48+/-16 to 84+/-17 (P<.0001), respectively. In addition, average Short Form-12 Physical Component scores significantly increased. Overall stiffness and physical function assessed via the WOMAC index also exhibited significant improvement. Of note, all categories of the WOMAC Index and the Knee Society scores experienced statistically significant improvements at 3-month follow-up, indicating a rapid return to improved function and diminished pain.

The Displaced Femoral (neck fracture) Arthroplasty Consortium for Treatment and Outcomes study is a prospective, multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing hemiarthroplasty to total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in previously independent patients. Primary outcomes were measured at 6, 12, and 24 months with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Harris Hip Score and the Timed "Up & Go" Test. Forty subjects were enrolled. At 24 months, THA patients had significantly less pain on the SF-36 subscale than hemiarthroplasty patients (54.8 +/- 7.9 vs 44.7 +/- 10.5, P = .04) and scored significantly better on the SF-36 mental health subscale (54.9 +/- 9.4 vs 40.9 +/- 10.3, P = .006). Total hip arthroplasty patients also had superior WOMAC function scores (81.8 +/- 10.2 vs 65.1 +/- 18.1, P = .03). Significant differences in outcomes, without a significantly greater incidence of complications, suggest THA is a valuable treatment option for the active elderly hip fracture population.

OBJECTIVES: The Displaced Femoral (neck fracture) Arthroplasty Consortium for Treatment and Outcomes (DFACTO) study compared total hip arthroplasty (THA) to hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures. DESIGN: This study was designed as a prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: The study was conducted in five US academic and private medical centers. PATIENTS: Patients were composed of independent, mentally competent individuals, >50 years old who suffered a displaced femoral neck fracture without existing arthritis at the hip. Forty-one patients were enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional outcomes and quality of life were assessed at 6 and 12 months post-fracture using the SF-36, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Harris Hip Score, and the Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG test). RESULTS: Groups were equivalent at baseline in terms of age, comorbid conditions, and functional status. At 6 months, there were no significant differences between the groups using the outcome measures or overall rates of complications. There was one dislocation in the THA group (5.8% of patients). At 12 months, the THA group reported significantly less pain (53.2 +/- 10.2) than the hemiarthroplasty group (42.4 +/- 11.5) using the SF-36 (p = 0.02). Using the TUG Test, we observed a greater proportion of THA patients remain functionally independent 1 year after surgery compared the hemiarthroplasty group (p = 0.08, controlling for age and sex). CONCLUSIONS: These differences in pain and functional outcomes suggest THA is a viable treatment option for the active elderly displaced femoral neck fracture population.