Changes in strain patterns after implantation of a short stem with metaphyseal anchorage compared to a standard stem: an experimental study in synthetic bone

Short stem hip arthroplasties with predominantly metaphyseal fixation, such as the METHA® stem (Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany), are recommended because they are presumed to allow a more physiologic load transfer and thus a reduction of stress-shielding. However, the hypothesized metaphyseal anchorage associated with the aforementioned benefits still needs to be verified. Therefore, the METHA short stem and the Bicontact® standard stem (Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) were tested biomechanically in synthetic femora while strain gauges monitored their corresponding strain patterns. For the METHA stem, the strains in all tested locations including the region of the calcar (87% of the non-implanted femur) were similar to conditions of synthetic bone without implanted stem. The Bicontact stem showed approximately the level of strain of the non-implanted femur on the lateral and medial aspect in the proximal diaphysis of the femur. On the anterior and posterior aspect of the proximal metaphysis the strains reached averages of 78% and 87% of the non-implanted femur, respectively. This study revealed primary metaphyseal anchorage of the METHA short stem, as opposed to a metaphyseal-diaphyseal anchorage of the Bicontact stem

A short stem with metaphyseal anchorage reveals a more physiological strain pattern compared to a standard stem : an experimental study in cadavaric bone

The proposed advantages of short stem hip arthroplasties are bone preserving strategies and less soft tissue damage. Bone preserving strategies do not only include a more proximal resection of the femoral neck, but especially for short stem hip arthroplasties with predominantly metaphyseal fixation a presumed more physiologic load transfer and thus a reduction of stress-shielding. However, the hypothesized metaphyseal anchorage associated with the aforementioned benefits still needs to be verified. Unfortunately, mid- to long-term clinical studies are missing. Methods: Therefore, the METHA short stem as a short stem with proposed metaphyseal anchorage and the Bicontact® standard stem were tested biomechanically in three pairs of cadaveric femora while strain gauges monitored their corresponding strain patterns. Results: For the METHA stem, the strains in all tested locations including the region of the calcar were similar to conditions of cadaver without implanted stem. The Bicontact stem showed approximately half of strain of the non-implanted cadaveric femura with slightly increasing strain from proximal to distal. Conclusions: Summarizing, the current study revealed primary metaphyseal anchorage of the METHA short stem and a metaphyseal-diaphyseal anchorage of the Bicontact stem

The Influence of Tribological Pairings and Other Factors on Migration Patterns of Short Stems in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Over the last decade, the number of short stem total hip arthroplasty procedures has increased. Along with the possible benefits associated with short stems is a smaller implant-bone contact surface, which may have a negative influence on primary stability and impair osseointegration. Previous studies observed migration of short stems, especially within the first three months. The variables that influence migration in short stem hip implants remain unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to associate the migration of short stems with its possible influencing variables. Migration data from two different short stem studies were retrospectively analyzed. Migration within the first two postoperative years was determined by model-based Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. Migration was correlated to bearing couple, type and size of stem, size of acetabular cup, and age, gender, weight, and height of patients using a multiple factor analysis. Eigenvalue analysis explained 80.7% of the overall variance for the first three dimensions. The four most dominant variables in the first dimension were weight, stem size, acetabular cup size, and patient height (correlations of 0.81, 0.80, 0.71, and 0.70, resp.). None of the analyzed parameters (bearing couple, type and size of stem, size of acetabular cup, and age, gender, weight, and height of patients) affected the migration pattern of short stem THA with primary metaphyseal fixation

Heterogenität und weitere Herausfordrungen in der Hochschul-Lehre

Im Rahmen der BMBF-Ausschreibung zu "Bessere Studienbedingungen und mehr Qualität in der Lehre" wurde das Projekt BEST4HEL (Bessere Studienbedingungen und Qualität in der Lehre für die Hochschule Emden/Leer) bewilligt und damit die Gelegenheit geschaffen, vor Ort in den Fachbereichen für aktuelle hochschuldidaktische Fragestellungen Lösungen entwickeln und erproben zu können. Die großen Themen dazu waren die Verbesserung der Studieneingangsphase, die Verbesserung der Studierendenmotivation, eine individualisierte Betreuung und Beratung und die Weiterbildung der Lehrenden

Impact of a preceding radiotherapy on the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic melanoma: a multicenter retrospective cohort study of the DeCOG

Background Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is an essential treatment option in melanoma. Its outcome may be improved by a preceding radiation of metastases. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a preceding radiotherapy on the clinical outcome of ICI treatment. Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients who received anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) or anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) ICI with or without preceding radiotherapy for unresectable metastatic melanoma. ICI therapy outcome was measured as best overall response (BOR), progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Response and survival analyses were adjusted for confounders identified by directed acyclic graphs. Adjusted survival curves were calculated using inverse probability treatment weighting. Results 835 patients who received ICI (anti-CTLA-4, n=596; anti-PD-1, n=239) at 16 centers were analyzed, whereof 235 received a preceding radiotherapy of metastatic lesions in stage IV disease. The most frequent organ sites irradiated prior to ICI therapy were brain (51.1%), lymph nodes (17.9%) and bone (17.9%). After multivariable adjustment for confounders, no relevant differences in ICI therapy outcome were observed between cohorts with and without preceding radiotherapy. BOR was 8.7% vs 13.0% for anti-CTLA-4 (adjusted relative risk (RR)=1.47; 95% CI=0.81 to 2.65; p=0.20), and 16.5% vs 25.3% for anti-PD-1 (RR=0.93; 95% CI=0.49 to 1.77; p=0.82). Survival probabilities were similar for cohorts with and without preceding radiotherapy, for anti-CTLA-4 (PFS, adjusted HR=1.02, 95% CI=0.86 to 1.25, p=0.74; OS, HR=1.08, 95% CI=0.81 to 1.44, p=0.61) and for anti-PD-1 (PFS, HR=0.84, 95% CI=0.57 to 1.26, p=0.41; OS, HR=0.73, 95% CI=0.43 to 1.25, p=0.26). Patients who received radiation last before ICI (n=137) revealed no better survival than those who had one or more treatment lines between radiation and start of ICI (n=86). In 223 patients with brain metastases, we found no relevant survival differences on ICI with and without preceding radiotherapy. Conclusions This study detected no evidence for a relevant favorable impact of a preceding radiotherapy on anti-CTLA-4 or anti-PD-1 ICI treatment outcome in metastatic melanoma