Treatment of Infected Hip Arthroplasty

The clinical outcomes of a consecutive series of deep total joint infections treated with a prosthesis retaining protocol were reviewed. The treatment of deep periprosthetic joint infections is challenging. In recent years, two-stage exchange arthroplasty has emerged as the gold standard for successful elimination of infection. With success rates averaging 82% to 96%, this treatment method has both the highest and most consistent rate of infection eradication. Another alternative in the treatment of the deep periprosthetic infection is the single-stage exchange arthroplasty. Successful eradication of infection after single-stage exchange arthroplasty has been reported to average from 60% to 83% after total hip infections. While both the single and two-stage exchange arthroplasty are viable treatment options, they are associated with negative factors such as they are time consuming, expensive, and may entail a 6- to 12-week period with a minimally functioning extremity after prosthesis removal. This paper reports the general principles of management, the treatment of acute infection occurring in the postoperative period or later, and the treatment of chronic infection by exchange arthroplasty or resection arthroplasty

Multiple dimensions of health locus of control in a representative population sample: ordinal factor analysis and cross-validation of an existing three and a new four factor model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Based on the general approach of locus of control, health locus of control (HLOC) concerns control-beliefs due to illness, sickness and health. HLOC research results provide an improved understanding of health related behaviour and patients' compliance in medical care. HLOC research distinguishes between beliefs due to Internality, Externality powerful Others (POs) and Externality Chance. However, evidences for differentiating the POs dimension were found. Previous factor analyses used selected and predominantly clinical samples, while non-clinical studies are rare. The present study is the first analysis of the HLOC structure based on a large representative general population sample providing important information for non-clinical research and public health care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The standardised German questionnaire which assesses HLOC was used in a representative adult general population sample for a region in Northern Germany (N = 4,075). Data analyses used ordinal factor analyses in LISREL and Mplus. Alternative theory-driven models with one to four latent variables were compared using confirmatory factor analysis. Fit indices, chi-square difference tests, residuals and factor loadings were considered for model comparison. Exploratory factor analysis was used for further model development. Results were cross-validated splitting the total sample randomly and using the cross-validation index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A model with four latent variables (Internality, Formal Help, Informal Help and Chance) best represented the HLOC construct (three-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 9.55; RMSEA = 0.066; CFI = 0.931; SRMR = 0.075; four-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 8.65; RMSEA = 0.062; CFI = 0.940; SRMR = 0.071; chi-square difference test: p < 0.001). After excluding one item, the superiority of the four- over the three-dimensional HLOC construct became very obvious (three-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 7.74; RMSEA = 0.059; CFI = 0.950; SRMR = 0.079; four-dimensional model: normed chi-square = 5.75; RMSEA = 0.049; CFI = 0.965; SRMR = 0.065; chi-square difference test: p < 0.001). Results were confirmed by cross-validation. Results based on our large community sample indicated that western general populations separate health-related control-beliefs concerning formal and informal assistance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Future non-clinical HLOC studies in western cultures should consider four dimensions of HLOC: Internality, Formal Help, Informal Help and Chance. However, the standardised German instrument needs modification. Therefore, confirmation of our results may be useful. Future research should compare HLOC structure between clinical and non-clinical samples as well as cross-culturally.</p

The Relationships among Hope, Pain, Psychological Distress, and Spiritual Well-Being in Oncology Outpatients

OBJECTIVE: Limited research in Taiwan and Europe suggest that hope is inversely correlated with certain dimensions of the pain experience. However, the relationship between hope and pain among oncology outpatients in the United States has not been evaluated. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between hope and cancer pain, after accounting for key psychological, demographic, and clinical characteristics. DESIGN: We enrolled a convenience sample of 78 patients who were receiving concurrent oncologic and symptom-focused care in a comprehensive cancer center. Patient demographic and clinical information was obtained from patient report and medical record review. Patients completed the Herth Hope Index, the Brief Pain Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Steinhauser Spiritual Concern Probe. RESULTS: Levels of hope were not associated with age, gender, or the presence of metastatic disease. Herth Hope Index scores were negatively correlated with average pain intensity (p=0.02), worst pain intensity (p<0.01), pain interference with function (p<0.05), anxiety (p<0.01), and depression (p<0.01), and were positively correlated with spiritual well-being scores (p<0.01). However, after controlling for depression and spiritual well-being with regression analysis, the relationship between pain intensity and hope was no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: While an association exists between the patients' experience of pain and levels of hope in this study, adjustment for depression and spiritual well being eliminates the relationship initially observed. Although the causal relationships have yet to be determined, in our study hope had a stronger connection to psycho-spiritual factors, than to pain experiences or severity

Revision after early aseptic failures in primary total knee arthroplasty

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cases of early aseptic failures presented during the first 5-year follow-up in a group of 981 primary total knee arthroplasty (primary TKA). Predisposing factors as well causes of failures and postoperative complications in different groups of aseptic failures were re-assessed and compared to a control group. A retrospective and cohort study compared one group of 944 primary TKA without surgical revision (890 patients) (Group A) with 22 primary TKA (22 patients) (Group B) that had revision TKA secondary to aseptic failure during the first five years follow-up. The cases of isolated patellar button replacement (n = 8) and infection (n = 7) were not considered in this study. All patients underwent a systematic assessment that included clinical and radiographic examinations, and IKS scores. Aseptic failure was more prevalent at the first 2-year follow-up (63%). TKA loosening (n = 11) and undiagnosed pain (n = 7) were considered the most frequent modes of failures, and laxity (n = 1) was a very rare early cause of failure. The aseptic failure group was characterized as average 5 years younger with a greater number of previous knee surgeries, lower IKS scores improvement, and more postoperative pain compared to control group, despite the fact that the aseptic failure group showed a prevalence of cases during the first 2-year follow-up. Inside this group, the undiagnosed pain group had lower improvement of IKS scores, a remarkable prevalence in prior surgical procedure (71%) and a minor mean interval between primary and revision TKA (11.6 months)