Hydroxyapatite coating does not improve uncemented stem survival after total hip arthroplasty!: An analysis of 116,069 THAs in the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association (NARA) database

Background and purpose — It is still being debated whether HA coating of uncemented stems used in total hip arthroplasty (THA) improves implant survival. We therefore investigated different uncemented stem brands, with and without HA coating, regarding early and long-term survival. Patients and methods — We identified 152,410 THA procedures using uncemented stems that were performed between 1995 and 2011 and registered in the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association (NARA) database. We excluded 19,446 procedures that used stem brands less than 500 times in each country, procedures performed due to diagnoses other than osteoarthritis or pediatric hip disease, and procedures with missing information on the type of coating. 22 stem brands remained (which were used in 116,069 procedures) for analysis of revision of any component. 79,192 procedures from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were analyzed for the endpoint stem revision. Unadjusted survival rates were calculated according to Kaplan-Meier, and Cox proportional hazards models were fitted in order to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of revision with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results — Unadjusted 10-year survival with the endpoint revision of any component for any reason was 92.1% (CI: 91.8–92.4). Unadjusted 10-year survival with the endpoint stem revision due to aseptic loosening varied between the stem brands investigated and ranged from 96.7% (CI: 94.4–99.0) to 99.9% (CI: 99.6–100). Of the stem brands with the best survival, stems with and without HA coating were found. The presence of HA coating was not associated with statistically significant effects on the adjusted risk of stem revision due to aseptic loosening, with an HR of 0.8 (CI: 0.5–1.3; p = 0.4). The adjusted risk of revision due to infection was similar in the groups of THAs using HA-coated and non-HA-coated stems, with an HR of 0.9 (CI: 0.8–1.1; p = 0.6) for the presence of HA coating. The commonly used Bimetric stem (n = 25,329) was available both with and without HA coating, and the adjusted risk of stem revision due to aseptic loosening was similar for the 2 variants, with an HR of 0.9 (CI: 0.5–1.4; p = 0.5) for the HA-coated Bimetric stem. Interpretation — Uncemented HA-coated stems had similar results to those of uncemented stems with porous coating or rough sand-blasted stems. The use of HA coating on stems available both with and without this surface treatment had no clinically relevant effect on their outcome, and we thus question whether HA coating adds any value to well-functioning stem designs.publishedVersio

Form and Finish of Implants in Uncemented Hip Arthroplasty : Effects of Different Shapes and Surface Treatments on Implant Stability

The design of an uncemented hip arthroplasty implant affects its long-term survival. Characteristics such as the form and the finish of the implant are crucial in order to achieve the best possible conditions for long-term implant survival. In this thesis we hypothesized that different shapes of stems and cups used in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), and their finish with hydroxyapatite (HA) coating affect implant stability and thus long-term survival. In 2 prospective cohort studies the clinical outcome, the stability measured with radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and the periprosthetic changes in bone mineral density (BMD) measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were investigated in 2 uncemented THA implants – the CFP stem and the TOP cup. In 3 register studies the effect of HA coating on uncemented THA implants used in primary and revision arthroplasty was investigated. Both implants investigated in the prospective cohort studies showed an excellent short-term clinical outcome with good primary stability, but neither their novel form nor the finish with HA protected the implants from the proximal periprosthetic demineralization that usually occurs around other uncemented THA implants. The register studies revealed that HA coating on cups used in primary and revision THA is a risk factor for subsequent revision of the implant. The use of HA coating on the stem in primary THA did not affect long-term survival. Additionally, the shape of an implant plays a crucial role for implant stability and survival. In conclusion, this thesis highlights that the finish of implants with HA coating does not prevent periprosthetic proximal femoral bone loss and can even enhance the risk of revision of both primary and secondary cups. Importantly, the shape of uncemented THA implants affect their stability, showing that the implant form is a crucial factor for the long-term survival

Form and Finish of Implants in Uncemented Hip Arthroplasty : Effects of Different Shapes and Surface Treatments on Implant Stability

The design of an uncemented hip arthroplasty implant affects its long-term survival. Characteristics such as the form and the finish of the implant are crucial in order to achieve the best possible conditions for long-term implant survival. In this thesis we hypothesized that different shapes of stems and cups used in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), and their finish with hydroxyapatite (HA) coating affect implant stability and thus long-term survival. In 2 prospective cohort studies the clinical outcome, the stability measured with radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and the periprosthetic changes in bone mineral density (BMD) measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were investigated in 2 uncemented THA implants – the CFP stem and the TOP cup. In 3 register studies the effect of HA coating on uncemented THA implants used in primary and revision arthroplasty was investigated. Both implants investigated in the prospective cohort studies showed an excellent short-term clinical outcome with good primary stability, but neither their novel form nor the finish with HA protected the implants from the proximal periprosthetic demineralization that usually occurs around other uncemented THA implants. The register studies revealed that HA coating on cups used in primary and revision THA is a risk factor for subsequent revision of the implant. The use of HA coating on the stem in primary THA did not affect long-term survival. Additionally, the shape of an implant plays a crucial role for implant stability and survival. In conclusion, this thesis highlights that the finish of implants with HA coating does not prevent periprosthetic proximal femoral bone loss and can even enhance the risk of revision of both primary and secondary cups. Importantly, the shape of uncemented THA implants affect their stability, showing that the implant form is a crucial factor for the long-term survival

Form and Finish of Implants in Uncemented Hip Arthroplasty : Effects of Different Shapes and Surface Treatments on Implant Stability

The design of an uncemented hip arthroplasty implant affects its long-term survival. Characteristics such as the form and the finish of the implant are crucial in order to achieve the best possible conditions for long-term implant survival. In this thesis we hypothesized that different shapes of stems and cups used in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), and their finish with hydroxyapatite (HA) coating affect implant stability and thus long-term survival. In 2 prospective cohort studies the clinical outcome, the stability measured with radiostereometric analysis (RSA), and the periprosthetic changes in bone mineral density (BMD) measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were investigated in 2 uncemented THA implants – the CFP stem and the TOP cup. In 3 register studies the effect of HA coating on uncemented THA implants used in primary and revision arthroplasty was investigated. Both implants investigated in the prospective cohort studies showed an excellent short-term clinical outcome with good primary stability, but neither their novel form nor the finish with HA protected the implants from the proximal periprosthetic demineralization that usually occurs around other uncemented THA implants. The register studies revealed that HA coating on cups used in primary and revision THA is a risk factor for subsequent revision of the implant. The use of HA coating on the stem in primary THA did not affect long-term survival. Additionally, the shape of an implant plays a crucial role for implant stability and survival. In conclusion, this thesis highlights that the finish of implants with HA coating does not prevent periprosthetic proximal femoral bone loss and can even enhance the risk of revision of both primary and secondary cups. Importantly, the shape of uncemented THA implants affect their stability, showing that the implant form is a crucial factor for the long-term survival

Low accuracy in preoperative tissue biopsies for diagnosing chronic periprosthetic joint infection : an observational retrospective single-centre study

Objective Diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) can be challenging. The ability to distinguish between septic and aseptic failure of a joint prosthesis is crucial for treatment strategy optimisation and prognosis prediction. Preoperative tissue cultures are included in many diagnostic algorithms; however, studies report different degrees of concordance (63%-85%) with intraoperative cultures. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of tissue biopsies in the preoperative diagnostic process with the 2018 International Consensus Meeting criteria as a reference and to describe the concordance between microbiological findings in pre- and intraoperative biopsies. Methods This observational retrospective study included 44 patients requiring revision surgery of a total hip or knee arthroplasty, where the diagnostic workup included biopsies of periprosthetic tissue. The accuracy of preoperative biopsies was calculated, and concordance between microbiological findings in pre- and intraoperative biopsies was described. Results The accuracy was 59%, with a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 79%. Full concordance between microbiological findings in pre- and intraoperative biopsies was found in 64% of the cases. Conclusion An open biopsy of periprosthetic tissue cannot reliably confirm or exclude PJI, and, therefore, should not be performed

Patient-related factors associated with superficial surgical site infection and progression to a periprosthetic joint infection after elective primary total joint arthroplasty : a single-centre, retrospective study in Sweden

Objectives: Superficial surgical site infection (SSSI) may increase the risk of serious complications such as periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study aims to identify patient-related risk factors associated with SSSI and investigate their correlation with the progression of PJI. Design: In this retrospective study, 1191 elective hip and knee prostheses were included. Patients were interviewed 3-5 months after surgery to answer questions about the postoperative period. Patient records were reviewed to determine whether there had been any documentation of wound-healing difficulties or whether antibiotics were prescribed to treat an infection related to arthroplasty surgery. Setting: Uppsala University Hospital, patients treated between November 2008 and December 2012. Participants: The study population comprised 433 knees and 758 hips. Outcome measures: We studied patient-related risk factors (joint, age, sex, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, body mass index (BMI), smoking, diabetes and rheumatic disease) to determine whether they were associated with (1) SSSI and (2) the progress from SSSI to PJI. Results: 84 (7%) patients of the total cohort developed SSSI. This infection progressed to a PJI in 24 (29%) of the patients. Factors with increased adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) for SSSIs were knee surgery (1.7; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.7), age >= 65 years (1.7; 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.8), BMI >= 30 (1.9; 95% CI: 1.0 to 3.4) and ASA classification >= 3 (1.7; 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.9). ASA classification >= 3 was the only factor showing a significant progression from SSSI to PJI (aRR=3.3; 95% CI: 1.0 to 10.3). Conclusions: The risk of progressing from an SSSI to a PJI is high. Older patients, patients with obesity, and those with a high ASA classification considered for elective total knee arthroplasty seem to have an increased risk of developing SSSI. Patients with a high ASA classification seem to have an increased risk of progressing from SSSI to PJI

Continuous periprosthetic bone loss but preserved stability for a collum femoris-preserving stem : follow-up of a prospective cohort study of 21 patients with dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry and radiostereometric analysis with minimum 8 years of follow-up.

Background and purpose - We previously described a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) in the calcar region 2 years after insertion of the collum femoris-preserving (CFP) stem, but the implants were stable. Now we have examined the long-term changes in periprosthetic BMD and stability of the CFP stem. Patients and methods - We conducted a minimum 8-year follow-up of 21 patients from our original investigation. We examined periprosthetic BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and implant stability by radiostereometric analysis (RSA). Results - Between 2 and 8 years 1 stem was revised due to aseptic loosening. Between 2 and 8 years we found a 14% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-19) reduction in BMD in Gruen zone 6 and 17% (CI 6-28) in Gruen zone 7. From baseline the reduction in BMD was 30% (CI 23-36) in Gruen zone 6, 39% (CI 31-47) in Gruen zone 7, and 19% (CI 14-23) in Gruen zone 2. Between 2 and 8 years, RSA (n = 17) showed a mean translation along the stem axis of 0.02mm (CI -0.02 to 0.06) and a mean rotation around the stem axis of 0.08° (CI -0.26 to 0.41). From baseline mean subsidence was 0.07 mm (CI -0.16 to 0.03) and mean rotation around the stem axis was 0.23° (CI -0.23 to 0.68) at 8 years. Interpretation - There was continuous loss of proximomedial BMD at 8 years while the CFP stem remained stable. Proximal periprosthetic bone loss cannot be prevented by this stem