Failure of tibial bone grafting for femoral head necrosis

We treated 20 hips with femoral head necrosis in 16 patients using the Phemister tibial bone grafting procedure. After a mean follow-up of 3 years, the Harris hip score had improved in 15 out of 18 hips, however without radiographic improvement. In 2 hips, an arthrodesis and an arthroplasty were per-formed. We concluded that the aim of our treatment was not achieved

Trochanteric osteotomy versus posterolateral approach: function the first year post surgery. A pilot study

Background: Although no prospective studies have compared functional results of trochanteric osteotomy and a non-trochanteric approach, most surgeons feel that trochanteric osteotomy is outdated in simple hip arthroplasty. Reasons not to perform an osteotomy include the fear of longer rehabilitation and worse (final) functional outcome. METHOD: This prospective study examines differences in rehabilitation between posterolateral and trochanteric approach one year post-surgery using questionnaires (WOMAC, SF-36, HHS) and functional tests (walking, climbing stairs, rising from sitting, and strength tests). Of the 109 patients 24 had a trochanteric osteotomy: the selected approach was based on the surgeon's preference. The trochanteric osteotomy group included more patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. Before the start of the study no power analysis was performed. Results: Data from the questionnaires showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3, 6 and 12-months follow-up. At 3-months follow-up patients in the trochanteric osteotomy group scored lower on the functional tests. This difference had disappeared at 6 and 12-months follow-up, except for abduction force which remained lower in the trochanteric osteotomy group in patients with a non union of the TO. Conclusion: For simple hip arthroplasty an approach without osteotomy seems a logical choice. Although the power of this study is low, in experienced hands trochanteric osteotomy seems to give good functional results at 6-12 months post surgery if trochanteric union is obtained. Therefore, one should not hesitate to perform an osteotomy in difficult cases

Femoral revision surgery with impaction bone grafting

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of revision of the femoral component of a total hip replacement using impaction bone grafting. Femoral revision with an impacted allograft was performed on 29 patients (31 hips). In all, 21 hips (68%) had grade III or IV femoral defects according to the Endo-Klinik classification. A total of 11 patients (12 hips) died before the ten-year follow-up period. Of the remaining patients, 18 patients (19 hips) were followed for 10 to 15 years; three further patients died during this time. None of the 31 stems underwent further revision of their stem. However, four stems showed extensive subsidence (> 15 mm). One of these patients had a femoral fracture that required fixation. Three other patients had a femoral fracture, two of which required fixation and the other was treated conservatively. Patients with a femoral fracture and/or severe subsidence had significantly more grade IV defects (six of seven hips; p = 0.004). One patient needed a closed reduction for dislocation. Impaction allografting in revision hip surgery gives good long-term results for femora with grades I

Bracing patients with idiopathic scoliosis: Design of the Dutch randomized controlled treatment trial

Background. The effectiveness of bracing patients with IS has not yet been convincingly established due to a lack of RCTs. Some authors suggest that their results confirm that bracing is effective; others conclude that the effectiveness of bracing is doubtful or recommend a RCT. The aim of this study was to establish whether bracing patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) in an early stage will result in at least 5 degrees less mean progression of the curvature compared to the control group after two years of follow-up. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was designed. Eligible patients are girls and boys in the age group 8-15 years whose diagnosis of IS has been established by an orthopedic surgeon, who have not yet been treated by bracing or surgery, and for whom further growth of physical height is still expected based on medical examination and maturation characteristics (Risser ? 2). The Cobb angle of the eligible patient should either be minimally 22 and maximally 29 degrees with established progression of more than 5 degrees, or should be minimally 30 and maximally 35 degrees; established progression for the latter is not necessary. A total of 100 patients will be included in this trial. The intervention group will be treated with full-time Boston brace wear; the control group will not be braced. Every four months, each patient will have a physical and an X-ray examination. The main outcomes will be the Cobb angle two years after inclusion and health-related quality of life. Discussion. The results of this trial will be of great importance for the discussion on early treatment for scoliosis. Furthermore, the result will also be important for screening for scoliosis policies. Trial registration. Nederlands Trialregister ISRCTN36964733

No added value for Computer-Assisted surgery to improve femoral component positioning and Patient Reported Outcomes in Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty; a multi-center randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS) has proven to improve the accuracy in several orthopedic procedures. Therefore we used this technique to evaluate femoral component positioning in Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty (HRA). The aim of this study was to evaluate imageless CAS compared to manually implanted femoral components and subsequently evaluates Patient Related Outcome Measures (PROMs). We hypothesized that the use of CAS optimizes the position of the femoral component and improves PROMs. METHODS: This is a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial of two groups. In the CAS group guiding of the femoral component was done with imageless navigation. In the Conventional (control) group the femoral component was placed manually according to the preplanned position. The primary outcome measure consists of a maximum of 3 degrees difference between the postoperative Stem Shaft Angle (SSA) and preplanned SSA. Secondary outcome measures consist of the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (HOOS), the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients were randomized, 61 in the CAS group and 61 in the conventional group. There was no significant differences in accuracy of femoral implant position. The mean difference between the postoperative- and preplanned SSA was - 2.26 and - 1.75 degrees (more varus) respectively in the CAS and Conventional group. After surgery both groups show significant improvement in all PROMs compared to the baseline measurements, with no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: Our cohort indicates no benefit for the use of CAS in accuracy of placement of the femoral component in HRA compared to manual implantation. There are no clinical differences in PROMs after 1 year follow up. This study showed no added value and no justification for the use of CAS in femoral component positioning in HRA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered at ClinicalTrails.gov ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ) on the 25th of October 2006: NCT00391937. LEVEL OF INCIDENCE: Level IIb, multicenter randomized controlled trial