A case of an atraumatic implant failure after primary rotating-hinge total knee arthroplasty

Rotating-hinge knee implants are fully constrained knee prostheses commonly used for revision total knee arthroplasty. Nevertheless, rotating-hinge devices have been increasingly utilized in primary setting. Complications are inevitable in orthopedic surgery, however, implant breakage after RHK arthroplasty has been rarely described in medical literature. We present a rare case of 70-year-old Caucasian, male patient who suffered an atraumatic femoral stem breakage in a primary NexGen ® Rotating Hinge Knee (Zimmer-Biomet ® , Warsaw, IN, USA).

Implant Breakage Risk for Modular Fluted Tapered Stems in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty at 5-Year Follow-Up

Background: Modular stems in revision total hip arthroplasties allow diaphyseal fixation and optimal restoration of the architecture of the proximal femur. Several studies report metaphyseal implant breakage in the mid- to long-term and therefore a huge impact on survivorship. We aimed to evaluate a specific design of uncemented modular fluted tapered stems (MFT) to analyze survivorship and clinical and radiological outcomes.Methods: In a retrospective study, we identified 99 patients who had surgery using the same design of MFT implant between 2012 and 2014. Patients were mainly male in 53% and mean age was 73 years. Indications were 33 aseptic loosening, 24 periprosthetic fractures, 23 periprosthetic joint infection, 1 instability and 18 were complex primary arthroplasties. Survivorship, complications and clinical outcomes, were assessed. Mean follow-up was 5 years.Results: There was no implant breakage. At 5-year follow-up, the survivorship free of revision for aseptic loosening and free of revision for any reason of the femoral stem were 100% and 99%, respectively. At last follow-up, they were 94% and 81%, respectively. Six implants were revised. A mean stem subsidence of 6 mm was noted in 9 cases; 1 was revised for aseptic loosening. The Harris hip score was 89. The risk of revision was significantly higher for shorter diaphyseal implants (p=0.026).Conclusion: At mid-term follow-up of 5 years, the MFT studied reported an excellent survivorship and clinical outcomes with no specific complications. Unlike literature reports, no specific complications occurred with this design. Satisfying clinical outcomes and limited subsidence are consistent with previous reports though.Level of evidence: IV – Case series

Factors Associated With Reoperation After Silicone Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthroplasty in Patients With Inflammatory Arthritis

Background: Silicone metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint arthroplasty has a high revision rate. It has been suggested that the preoperative degree of ulnar drift and radial wrist deviation influences the durability of MCP silicone arthroplasties. The goal of this study was to evaluate what factors are associated with reoperation after silicone MCP arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all adult patients who underwent MCP silicone arthroplasty between 2002 and 2016 at one institutional system for inflammatory arthritis. After manual chart review, we included 73 patients who underwent 252 arthroplasties. Fingers treated included 66 index, 67 long, 60 ring, and 59 small fingers. Results: The overall reoperation rate was 9.1% (N = 23). Indications for reoperation were implant breakage (n = 11), instability (n = 4), soft tissue complications (n = 4), infections (n = 3), and stiffness (n = 1). There was a trend that patients who underwent single-digit arthroplasty had higher rates of revision (19% vs 3.5%, P = .067). Radiographic follow-up demonstrated joint incongruency in 50% of cases, bone erosion in 58% of cases, and implant breakage in 19% of cases. There was a trend toward higher rates of revision in patients without preoperative MCP joint subluxation (19% vs 6.7%, P = .065) The 1-, 5-, and 10-year implant survival rates were 96%, 92%, and 70%, respectively. Revision surgery occurred at <14 months in 15 patients (65%) and after 5 years in 8 (35%) patients. Conclusions: Revision surgery after silicone MCP arthroplasty appears to be bimodal. Patients with greater hand function preoperatively may be at higher risk of revision surgery.

The Timing of Spinal Fusion in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

102 cases of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis seen over a period of 5 years were studied. 59 patients who were treated surgically and followed up for a minimum of 48 months, fell into one of two groups: Group I — those operated on within 3 years following the adolescent growth spurt, and Group II — those who were operated on at or after skeletal maturity. 35 patients were treated by Harrington instrumentation and posterior fusion and 24 by Harrington instrumentation, segmental sublaminar wiring and posterior fusion. In 7 patients anterior release was performed initially. In Group I, the extent of deformity correction and elimination of the rib hump were better, and complications such as neurological deficit, hook dislodgement and implant breakage were encountered less frequently. Harrington instrumentation, segmental sublaminar wiring and posterior fusion gave better results than instrumentation and fusion. Our results suggest that surgical correction should be done within 3 years following growth spurt, i.e. 14 to 16 years of age.

Customized Staple Fixation in Hand and Wrist Surgery

Fixation of small bones in the adult and the child’s hands remains a challenge. The authors present a technique of bone fixation using customized staples made intraoperatively from K-wires (0.9–1.6 mm in diameter). Their specific purpose was to provide axial alignment and rotational stability for carpal bone fixation and for epiphysiodesis in phalanges. This technique was used in 14 cases (11 adult and three paediatric). No bone shattering, implant breakage, implant loosening or infection occurred. As K-wires are quite malleable, custom sized and shaped staples which follow the bone contours could be made to give a more exact fixation. All cases had satisfactory outcomes, achieving the preoperative objectives of bony fixation. This method is safe, precise and technically easy. It is also relatively cheap and only requires simple, standard instruments.