Revision total hip arthroplasty using the Zweymuller femoral stem

Background: A variety of femoral stem designs have been reported to be successful in revision total hip arthroplasty without consensus as to optimal design. We evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes in a consecutive series of femoral revisions using a wedge-shape, tapered-stem design at medium and long-term follow-up. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective review of clinical and radiographic outcomes of twenty-eight consecutive femoral revisions arthroplasties, which were done using the Zweymuller femoral stem. Results: The mean follow-up was 7.4 years (range 2-15 years). No stem re-revision was necessary. All stems were judged to be stable by radiographic criteria at the most recent follow-up. The final mean Harris hip score was 90. There was no difference in Harris hip scores, implant stability, or radiological appearance (distal cortical hypertrophy or proximal stress shielding) of the implants between medium-term (mean 5.7 years) and long-term (mean 12.4 years) follow-up. Conclusions: We found the Zweymuller femoral stem design to be durable for revision hip arthroplasty when there is an intact metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction for adequate press-fit stability at surgery. © Springer-Verlag 2008

Identification of Degraded Land in the Canary Islands; Tests and Reviews

Degraded Land is an area that either by natural causes (fires, floods, storms or volcanic eruptions) or more by direct or indirect causes of human action, has been altered or modified from its natural state. Restoration is an activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem. It can be defined as the set of actions taken in order to reverse or reduce the damage caused in the territory. In the case of the Canary Islands there is a high possibility for the territory to suffer processes that degrade the environment, given that the islands are very fragile ecosystems. Added to this they are territories isolated from the continent, which complicates the process of restoring them. In this paper, the different types of common degraded areas in the Canary Islands are identified, as well as the proposed solutions for remediation, such as afforestation of agricultural land or landfill closure and restoration

Restauração do centro de rotação na artroplastia total do quadril minimamente invasiva Restoration of the rotation center in minimally-invasive total hip replacement

OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a dificuldade de se obter uma restauração satisfatória do centro de rotação , assim como, um bom posicionamento acetabular, no acesso minimamente invasivo posterior nas artroplastias totais do quadril não cimentadas. METODOS: Realizamos um estudo não randomizado comparativo prospectivo, com 64 pacientes submetidos a artroplastia total do quadril com o acesso minimamente invasivo posterior, realizado por um único cirurgião. Todos os pacientes incluídos no estudo apresentavam migração superior e lateral do centro de rotação do quadril em comparação com o quadril contralateral.Os critérios de exclusão foram: fratura do colo femoral, quadris displásicos tipos 2,3 e 4 segundo a classificação de Crowe e osteoartrose do quadril contralateral. Entre os 64 pacientes, 39 apresentaram um planejamento acetabular radiográfico igual ou menor que 50mm e 25 pacientes igual ou maior que 52 mm. Consideramos bom resultado os seguintes quesitos: inclinação acetabular entre 35 e 50 graus, componente acetabular coincidente com a estimativa pré-operatória com contato nas três zonas de DeLee e Charnley, abaixamento e medialização do centro de rotação em relação as medidas pré-operatórias e uma discrepância final do membro menor que 10 mm. RESULTADOS: Uma melhor restauração do centro de rotação foi observada nos pacientes com componentes acetabulares iguais ou menores que 50, p=0.04. Devemos destacar duas situações de risco ao usarmos o acesso minimamente invasivo posterior: colocação do componente acetabular em posição vertical ou lateral devido a preparo e fresagem insuficientes do osso hospedeiro, com piora do contato do implante na zona 1 acetabular. CONCLUSÃO: Propomos em pacientes cujo acetábulo previsto seja igual ou maior que 52 mm, o uso de acessos cirúrgicos convencionais.<br>PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate the challenges in obtaining a successful restoration of the rotation center as well as a good positioning of the acetabular component when using the minimally-invasive posterior approach for uncemented total hip replacement. METHODS: In a comparative non-random prospective study, 64 adult patients underwent elective total hip arthroplasty using the minimally-invasive posterior approach performed by one single surgeon. All patients included in this study had a superior and lateral migration of the rotation center of the hip in comparison to the normal contralateral hip. Patients were excluded from the study if they presented the following: diagnosis of femoral neck fracture, displasic hip types 2, 3 and 4 (Crowe's classification), osteoarthritis of the contralateral hip. Of the 64 patients in the study, 39 had a radiographic pre-op acetabular size planning equal or less than 50 mm and 25 patients had a radiographic pre-op acetabular size planning equal or more than 52 mm. We considered a good result the following goals: acetabular bend between 35 and 50 degrees, acetabular size according to the pre-op estimative with full contact in the three zones of DeLee-Charnley , a lower medial and vertical positioning of the rotation center in comparison with the pre-op values and a final limb discrepancy lower than 10 mm. RESULTS: A better restoration of the rotation center, as well as, excellent acetabular positioning was found in patients with smaller acetabular size (equal or less than 50), p=0, 04. We must draw attention to two risks when using the minimally-invasive posterior approach: a vertical acetabular position and a lateral position of the acetabular component increasing the risk of a poor contact in the zone 1 due to an insufficient reaming of the medial acetabular host bone. CONCLUSION: We propose standard surgical approaches in patients with larger anatomical measurements (acetabular planning size more than 50)