Risk factors for revision surgery due to dislocation within 1 year after 111,711 primary total hip arthroplasties from 2005 to 2019: a study from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register

Background and purpose: Dislocation of a hip prosthesis is the 3rd most frequent cause (after loosening and infection) for hip revision in Norway. Recently there has been a shift in surgical practice including preferred head size, surgical approach, articulation, and fixation. We explored factors associated with the risk of revision due to dislocation within 1 year and analyzed the impact of changes in surgical practice. Patients and methods: 111,711 cases of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register were included (2005-2019) after primary THA with either 28 mm, 32 mm, or 36 mm femoral heads, or dualmobility articulations. A flexible parametric survival model was used to calculate hazard ratios for risk factors. Kaplan-Meier survival rates were calculated. Results: There was an increased risk of revision due to dislocation with 28 mm femoral heads (HR 2.6, 95% CI 2.0-3.3) compared with 32 mm heads. Furthermore, there was a reduced risk of cemented fixation (HR 0.6, CI 0.5-0.8) and reverse hybrid (HR 0.6, CI 0.5-0.8) compared with uncemented. Also, both anterolateral (HR 0.5, CI 0.4-0.7) and lateral (HR 0.6, CI 0.5-0.7) approaches were associated with a reduced risk compared with the posterior approach. The time-period 2010-2014 had the lowest risk of revision due to dislocation. The trend during the study period was towards using larger head sizes, a posterior approach, and uncemented fixation for primary THA. Interpretation: Patients with 28 mm head size, a posterior approach, or uncemented fixation had an increased risk of revision due to dislocation within 1 year after primary THA. The shift from lateral to posterior approach and more uncemented fixation was a plausible explanation for the increased risk of revision due to dislocation observed in the most recent time-period. The increased risk of revision due to dislocation was not fully compensated for by increasing femoral head size from 28 to 32 mm.publishedVersio

Antibiotic-loaded bone cement in prevention of periprosthetic joint infections in primary total knee arthroplasty: A register-based multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial (ALBA trial)

Introduction The current evidence on the efficacy of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) in reducing the risk of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) after primary joint reconstruction is insufficient. In several European countries, the use of ALBC is routine practice unlike in the USA where ALBC use is not approved in low-risk patients. Therefore, we designed a double-blinded pragmatic multicentre register-based randomised controlled non-inferiority trial to investigate the effects of ALBC compared with plain bone cement in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods and analysis A minimum of 9,172 patients undergoing full-cemented primary TKA will be recruited and equally randomised into the ALBC group and the plain bone cement group. This trial will be conducted in Norwegian hospitals that routinely perform cemented primary TKA. The primary outcome will be risk of revision surgery due to PJI at 1-year of follow-up. Secondary outcomes will be: risk of revision due to any reason including aseptic loosening at 1, 6, 10 and 20 years of follow-up; patient-related outcome measures like function, pain, satisfaction and health-related quality of life at 1, 6 and 10 years of follow-up; risk of changes in the microbial pattern and resistance profiles of organisms cultured in subsequent revisions at 1, 6, 10 and 20 years of follow-up; cost-effectiveness of routine ALBC versus plain bone cement use in primary TKA. We will use 1:1 randomisation with random permuted blocks and stratify by participating hospitals to randomise patients to receive ALBC or plain bone cement. Inclusion, randomisation and follow-up will be through the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register. Ethics and dissemination The trial was approved by the Western Norway Regional Committees on Medical and Health Research Ethics (reference number: 2019/751/REK vest) on 21 June 2019. The findings of this trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Trial registration number NCT04135170.publishedVersio

No detrimental effect of ligament balancing on functional outcome after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective cohort study on 129 mechanically aligned knees with 3 years’ follow-up

Background and purpose — In the classical mechanical alignment technique, ligament balancing is considered a prerequisite for good function and endurance in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, it has been argued that ligament balancing may have a negative effect on knee function, and some authors advocate anatomic or kinematic alignment in order to reduce the extent of ligament releases. The effect of the trauma induced by ligament balancing on functional outcome is unknown; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate this effect. Patients and methods — 129 knees (73 women) were investigated. Mean age was 69 years (42–82), and mean BMI was 29 (20–43). Preoperatively 103 knees had a varus deformity, 21 knees had valgus deformity, and 5 knees were neutral. The primary outcome measure was the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Secondary outcome measures were the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and patient satisfaction (VAS). All ligament releases were registered intraoperatively and outcome at 3 years’ follow-up in knees with and without ligament balancing was compared Results — 86 knees were ligament balanced and 43 knees were not. Ligament-balanced varus knees had more preoperative deformity than varus knees without ligament balancing (p = 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in outcomes between ligament-balanced and non-ligament-balanced knees at 3 years’ follow-up. No correlation was found between increasing numbers of soft tissue structures released and outcome. Interpretation — We did not find any negative effect of the trauma induced by ligament balancing on knee function after 3 years

No medium-term advantage of electrochemical deposition of hydroxyapatite in cementless femoral stems: 5-year RSA and DXA results from a randomized controlled trial

Background and purpose — Hydroxyapatite has been used for a long time as an adjunct to enhance cementless fixation. The benefit of this is still debated, but new methods of hydroxyapatite deposition have emerged, offering possible gains. In order to investigate this further, we compared the migration pattern and periprosthetic bone remodeling in a cementless femoral stem with either electrochemically deposited hydroxyapatite—called Bonemaster (BM)—or a conventional plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coating. Patients and methods — 55 hips were randomized to either BM or HA cementless femoral stems. Patients were followed with radiostereometry (RSA), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), radiographic measurements, and hip questionnaires for 5 years. Results — For both stems, migration occurred mainly as subsidence and retroversion during the first 3 months. The BM group had a higher retroversion rate of 0.17° per month during this period, as compared to 0.06° per month for the HA group (p = 0.006). Thereafter, there was almost no movement in any direction for both stem types. Bone resorption occurred mainly during the first year, and subsequently decreased to a rate close to what is seen in normal ageing. The greatest total decrease occurred in Gruen zones 1 and 7, similar in the groups at 5 years. There was a slightly higher resorption rate in Gruen zone 7 from 2 to 5 years in the BM group (1.3% per year; p = 0.04), but in a magnitude that would scarcely affect stem stability or survival. Interpretation — There were no clinically relevant differences between the 2 stems regarding stability or periprosthetic bone loss at 5 years. Electrochemically deposited HA does not appear to affect fixation or bone remodeling when compared to conventional plasma spraying at 5 years. Thus, at this point, Bonemaster appears to be safe

CT-based radiostereometric analysis for assessing midfoot kinematics: precision compared with marker-based radiostereometry

Background and purpose: 3-dimensional midfoot motion is hard to evaluate in clinical practice. We present a new computed tomography (CT)-based radiostereometric analysis (CT-RSA) technique to examine in vivo midfoot kinematics during single-leg stance and compare it with marker-based radiostereometry (RSA). Patients and methods: 8 patients were examined with bilateral non- and full-weight-bearing CT images of the midfoot. 1st tarsometatarsal motion was analyzed using a surface-registration technique (CT-RSA). As all patients had unilateral tantalum markers in the 1st cuneiform (C1) and 1st metatarsal (M1), comparison of precision with markerbased RSA was performed. CT-RSA precision was evaluated with surface registration of both C1–M1 bone and C1–M1 tantalum markers, while RSA precision was determined with C1–M1 markers only. Additionally, to remove motion bias, we evaluated intrasegmental CT-RSA precision by comparing proximal with distal part of M1. Results: Under physical load, the primary movement for the 1st tarsometatarsal joint was M1 dorsiflexion (mean 1.4°), adduction (mean 1.4°), and dorsal translation (mean 1.1 mm). CT-RSA precision, using surface bone or markers, was in the range of 0.3–0.7 mm for translation and 0.6–1.6° for rotation. In comparison, RSA precision was in the range of 0.4–0.9 mm for translation and 1.0–1.7° for rotation. Finally, intrasegmental CT-RSA precision was in the range of 0.1–0.2 mm for translation and 0.4–0.5° for rotation. Conclusion: CT-RSA is a valid and precise, non-invasive method to measure midfoot kinematics when compared with conventional RSA

Identification of femoral head center of bipolar hemiarthroplasy in radiostereometric analysis with elementary geometrical shape models.

Elementary geometrical shape (EGS) models are useful in radiostereometric analysis (RSA) on hip stems because tantalum markers attached to the stems can be omitted. In order to create an EGS model of a femoral stem, the center of the femoral head has to be identified. The contour of the femoral head is recommended to be used. However, the contour of the femoral head cannot be detected exclusively by computer if it is combined with a bipolar head or a metal cup. We therefore hypothesized that the contour of the outer head of bipolar hemiarthroplasty can be included in the EGS model as well as the femoral head contour. We calculated the time required for the detection of the contour, the precision of analysis and the stem micromotion at 2 years using the two different methods in the same picture set and compared the results. The detection of the bipolar head contour was 10 times faster than that of the femoral head contour. The precision for subsidence was 0.16mm in EGS RSA with the femoral head contour, and 0.15mm with the bipolar head contour (p=0.68). The precisions were comparable and clinically acceptable. There was no significant difference between the results of the 2-year micromotion with the two different methods. We conclude that this new method is applicable to measure stem micromotion of hemi-arthoplasty with EGS RSA and the method facilitates the Radiostereometric analysis

No radiological and clinical advantages with patient-specific positioning guides in total knee replacement: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background and purpose — Although the use of patient-specific positioning guides (PSPGs) in total knee replacement (TKR) in theory is promising, the technique has not yet proven its superior- ity compared with the conventional method. We compared radio- logical alignment and clinical outcome between TKR performed with the use of PSPGs and the conventional operation method. Patients and methods — 3 hospitals participated in a prospec- tive trial. 109 patients were randomized to either the conventional method or to the use of PSPGs. Postoperatively a full-length standing anteroposterior radiograph and a postoperative CT scan were taken. On the CT scan the alignments were measured for both the femoral and tibial components in the frontal, sagit- tal, and axial plane. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Eurocol-5D-3L (Eq5D) descriptive system and visual analogue scale (VAS), a pain score (NRS), and range of motion (ROM) were recorded preoperatively, and at 3 months, 1, and 2 years. The operation time and length of hospital stay were recorded. Results — 90 patients were available for postoperative CT mea- surements. A statistically significant difference was found between the conventional TKR instrumentation and the use of PSPGs for the frontal femoral (mean (SD) 0.6° (1.7) vs. –0.3° (2.2), CI 0.08 to 1.69) and tibial (–0.3° (1.5) vs. 0.9° (2.1), CI –1.98 to –0.44) compo- nent angles and for the tibial alignment in the sagittal plane (–3.8° (3.0) vs. –2.2° (2.5), CI –2.72; –0.42). The proportions of outliers were similar between the groups as well as the hip–knee–ankle angle, the KOOS sub scores, the Eq5D, pain (NRS), ROM, opera- tion time, and length of hospital stay. Interpretation — The use of PSPGs requires a preoperative CT scan or MRI and the guides have an additional cost. As this study was not able to prove any extra benefit of the use of PSPGs we recommend the conventional operation method for TKR

Early migration of a medially stabilized total knee arthroplasty : a radiostereometric analysis study up to two years

Aims Medial pivot (MP) total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were designed to mimic native knee kinematics with their deep medial congruent fitting of the tibia to the femur almost like a ball-on- socket, and a flat lateral part. GMK Sphere is a novel MP implant. Our primary aim was to study the migration pattern of the tibial tray of this TKA. Methods A total of 31 patients were recruited to this single-group radiostereometric analysis (RSA) study and received a medial pivot GMK Sphere TKA. The distributions of male patients versus female patients and right versus left knees were 21:10 and 17:14, respectively. Mean BMI was 29 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 27 to 30) and mean age at surgery was 63 years (95% CI 61 to 66). Maximum total point motions (MTPMs), medial, proximal, and anterior translations and transversal, internal, and varus rotations were calculated at three, 12, and 24 months. Patient-reported outcome measure data were also retrieved. Results MTPMs at three, 12, and 24 months were 1.0 mm (95% CI 0.8 to 1.2), 1.3 mm (95% CI 0.9 to 1.7), and 1.4 mm (0.8 to 2.0), respectively. The Forgotten Joint Score was 79 (95% CI 39 to 95) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score obtained at two years was 94 (95% CI 81 to 100), 86 (95% CI 75 to 93), 94 (95% CI 88 to 100), 69 (95% CI 48 to 88), and 81 (95% CI59 to 100) for Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Sport & Recreation, and Quality of Life, respectively. Conclusion In conclusion, we found that the mean increase in MTPM was lower than 0.2 mm between 12 and 24 months and thus apparently stable. Yet the GMK Sphere had higher migration at one and two years than anticipated. Based on current RSA data, we therefore cannot conclude on the long-term performance of the implant, pending further assessment