Extended trochanteric osteotomy facilitates femoral reconstruction in revision total hip arthroplasty. This study examined the outcome of extended trochanteric osteotomy combined with a proximally porous-coated calcar replacement prosthesis during revision total hip arthroplasty. Forty-five cases were reviewed with an osteotomy union rate of 98%. No femoral component was loose radiographically, and none were revised for loosening. These findings indicate excellent short-term clinical and radiographic results can be achieved with an extended trochanteric osteotomy and proximally porous-coated calcar replacement prosthesis.

We identified patient and surgeon factors associated with patellar component failure in a series of 8530 TKAs performed in 5640 patients using the same posterior cruciate ligament-retaining TKA with all-polyethylene patellar components between January 1983 and December 2003. Patellar failure was defined as loosening, fracture, or patellar revision. All infections were excluded. Statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression was used to determine the risk of patellar failure. Followup averaged 7.0 years (range, 2–22 years). Patellar component loosening occurred in 4.8% of TKAs (409 knees). Patellar fracture was identified in 5.2% of TKA (444 knees). Twenty-five patellae were revised (0.3%). TKA performed with a lateral release and patients with a body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m2 were at the greatest risk of patellar loosening and fracture, respectively. Male gender, preoperative varus alignment of greater than 5°, and large patellar component size also predicted a higher risk of patellar fracture. Medial patellar component position, tibial component thickness of greater than 12 mm, preoperative valgus alignment of 10° or more, and preoperative flexion of 100° or more predicted patellar loosening. An awareness of these factors that predict patellar failure after TKA may help determine the relative indications for TKA and influence surgical technique, especially when using this prosthesis.

During 2002 and 2003, 1438 patients underwent a complete medical history and physical by the same hospital-based prescreening program before elective total joint arthroplasty to determine the benefits of this preoperative examination. Sixty percent of patients were female. Mean age was 67.5 years. New diagnoses established as a result of this prescreening program included coronary artery disease (0.12%), congestive heart failure (0.6%), valvular heart disease (3.2%), cardiac dysrhythmia (4.4%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7.2%), cancer (9.6%), hypertension (55.8%), gastrointestinal disorder (37.1%), diabetes mellitus (12.1%), and urinary tract infection (2.2%). Forty-five (2.5%) patients were deemed unacceptable surgical candidates. Patients identified with an increased risk of perioperative cardiac problems were those with a preoperative diagnosis of valvular heart disease (P = .0077), congestive heart failure (P = .0093), or diabetes mellitus (P=.0187).

Two different methods for femoral component rotation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were compared with regard to the need for lateral retinacular release and 3-year follow-up knee society scores of both patellofemoral function and 3-year radiographs of the patella. The posterior condylar axis was used in 1322 consecutive primary TKAs, and the transepicondylar axis (TEA) was used in 1059 consecutive primary TKA. A significant decrease in lateral retinacular release was observed from 56.9% (752 knees) using the posterior condylar axis down to 12.3% (130 knees) using the TEA. No significant differences in knee society scores were observed between the 2 groups with regard to stair climbing, pain, patella radiographs, or range of motion. Routine use of the TEA is recommended for determining femoral component rotation in TKA.

Large-diameter femoral heads have emerged as a common treatment for recurrent dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Despite the reported biomechanical advantages of jumbo femoral heads, clinical evidence is lacking. The purpose of this study is to report a series of consecutive patients who underwent hip revision with a jumbo femoral head for recurrent dislocation after THA.

Four hundred seven primary total hip arthroplasties were performed using a cemented, direct compression molded all-polyethylene acetabular component. Based on a double-blinded randomization schedule, one group received acetabular cups with cement spacers made from polyethylene integrated into the cup, whereas the other group received the same acetabular cups with the polyethylene spacers removed. Patients were followed up for an average of 6.5 years. During this follow-up period, there were 3 revisions for acetabular cup loosening and 40 acetabular cups that had a global radiolucent line at least 1 mm wide. Acetabular cups with polyethylene spacers were found to have a significantly higher initial rate of failure (P <.0380) when compared with cups without cement spacers. Yet, polyethylene spacers resulted in a significantly thicker and more uniform cement mantle in zones 1, 2, and 3 ( P <.0001). Cups initially placed at an angle of 45.0 degrees to 50.5 degrees had the highest survival rate compared with all possible angle ranges (P <.0158).

Proximal femoral fracture is a relatively common occurrence during total hip replacement (THR). The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with proximal femoral fracture during THR and report the outcome of the femoral prosthesis in uncemented and cemented THR. Risk factors examined included surgical approach, patient demographics of age, sex, and body mass index type of femoral component fixation, and types of fracture treatment. 3089 hips were examined with up to 14-year follow-up (mean, 4.7 years). 2295 (74%) femoral stems were cemented and 794 (26%) were uncemented. 82 hips had a proximal femoral fracture for an incidence 2.7%. Uncemented stem insertion had a significantly higher fracture rate at 6.9% compared with cemented stems at 0.8% (P < .0001). Risk factors for proximal femoral fractures include anterolateral approach (P < .0001), uncemented femoral component fixation (P < .0001), and female sex (P = .0016). Treatment with cerclage wiring was the most common treatment and long-term femoral component stability was unaffected by the fracture for uncemented hips (P = .9694). For cemented femoral stems, the stem survival rate was significantly decreased in hips with a proximal fracture compared with those without (93.3% vs. 97.1%) at 7-year follow-up (P < .0001). This study identifies an “at risk” population based on surgical approach, sex, and the use of uncemented components for proximal femoral fracture during THA. Treatment with cerclage wiring in combination with tapered titanium proximally circumferentially coated implants yielded excellent clinical and radiographic results at mean of 4.7 years (range, 0.3-14 years) follow-up.

This study compared the morbidity, mortality, and outcomes of 900 simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasties in 450 patients and 450 unilateral total hip arthroplasties. Pulmonary complications were significantly higher in the simultaneous bilateral group (1.6% vs 0.7%; P < .0312). Fourteen (3.1%) patients in the simultaneous bilateral group and 18 (4%) patients in the unilateral group died within the first postoperative year. Patients with mortality in the first postoperative year were significantly older (69.8 vs 62.3 years; P < .0012). Long-term patient survival, the prosthetic survival, and functional outcomes were not significantly different between groups. Simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty has advantages where both hips are symptomatic and has less risk in younger patients with understanding of the increased risk of pulmonary complications.

Between June 1987 and March 1997, 57 total knee replacements were done in 53 patients with at least 5° hyperextension deformity as measured on physical examination. The average recurvatum measured 11° (range, 5°–20°). No cases of major ligamentous instability, neuromuscular disease, or inflammatory arthropathy were identified before surgery. Before surgery, Knee Society knee, function, and pain scores averaged 41 points, 41 points, and 13 points, respectively. A posterior cruciate-retaining prosthesis was implanted in all patients. The followup averaged 4.5 years (range, 3–10 years). Knee, function, and pain scores improved to 81 points, 78 points, and 43 points, respectively. Postoperative extension averaged 0° (neutral) (range, 10° hyperextension–10° contracture). Only two (3.5%) knees had a hyperextension deformity after surgery. Both deformities measured 10° and were in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of osteoarthritis. At final followup, no knee replacement was revised for any reason. In addition, only one case of a progressive radiolucent line greater than 1 mm (tibial Zone 7) was observed. Although the etiology of a hyperextension deformity should be elucidated before surgery, its presence does not preclude a well-functioning total knee replacement.

The patellar component of total knee replacement is the most frequent source of nonseptic complications after total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of the current study was to review the radiographic factors associated with loosening of all-polyethylene patellar components. Four thousand five hundred eighty-three cases of Anatomic Graduated Components total knee replacements were performed at the authors' institution during the past 15 years. Radiographs were reviewed and loosening was defined as global radiolucency or component migration. Four thousand two hundred eighty-seven allpolyethylene patellar components were implanted. There were 180 (4.2%) loose all-polyethylene patellar components. The mean time to loosening was 2.6 years (+/- 1.75 years). Fifteen (0.3%) patellar components required revision. Five radiographic features were associated with failure. The incidence and mean time of appearance were recorded: (number; incidence; time) (1) Bone-cement radiolucency, n = 174, 96.7%, 1.4 years; (2) increased density, n = 118, 65.6%, 1.8 years; (3) trabecular collapse of the bone, n = 160, 88.9%, 2.3 years; (4) patella fracture and fragmentation, n = 133, 73.9%, 2.5 years; and (5) lateral subluxation of the residual patella bone, n = 146, 81.1%, 2.9 years. Lateral retinacular release was associated with an increased rate of patellar loosening. Loosening of the allpolyethylene patella component is an avascular process strongly associated with lateral retinacular release and for which the patient infrequently requires revision surgery.

As the number of total knee arthroplasties performed each year in the United States continues to increase, knowledge of long-term prosthetic performance and implant durability is paramount. A selection of the best total knee replacement system for a given patient should be based on long-term followup studies reviewing, among other parameters, survivorship and complications. The importance of such long-term data should not be underestimated.

This controlled study compared the strength and porosity of 48 polymethylmethacrylate cement-implant constructs prepared with open bowl versus vacuum mix technique. Forty-eight blast finished stainless steel rods of 13 mm diameter were implanted with centralizers into 17-mm inner diameter tubes that had been retrograde filled with polymethylmethacrylate cement. The eight cement preparations used were open bowl and vacuum mixed Simplex, Osteobond, Zimmer Dough Type, or Palacos R. Six replications of each condition were performed. The tubes were maintained at 37° C. Each tube was cut transversely into five segments. The center three segments were used for data analysis: pushout strength, cycles to failure, and interface porosity analysis. Rod pushout data showed there was no significant difference between open bowl and vacuum mixed samples when all cement brands were combined. Mean sheer force for Palacos R vacuum mixed samples was greater than open bowl (634 ± 47 versus 423 ± 171), whereas the force for the Zimmer Dough Type cement open bowl was greater than that of the vacuum mixed samples (901 ± 71 versus 705 ± 82). Cycles to failure data did not show significant differences when open bowl and vacuum mixed samples were compared when cements were analyzed individually or combined. Image analysis of cement-implant interfaces showed that vacuum mixing reduced void area significantly compared with open bowl mixing in the Palacos R and Osteobond preparations. Vacuum mixing does not appear to reduce cement prosthesis interface porosity or improve its mechanical properties in all cements.

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the authors' 15-year experience with the Anatomic Graduated Components total knee replacement. This is a report of the survivorship of 4583 Anatomic Graduated Component total knee arthroplasties. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed with the end point defined as radiographic loosening, revision, or both. This end point was subdivided into the best case scenario in which it was assumed that all the patients lost to followup were doing well throughout the study and a worst case scenario in which it was assumed that all patients lost to followup had failed results at their last clinic visit. There were six (0.18%) femoral, 21 (0.46%) tibial, and 180 (4.2%) all-polyethylene patellar component failures secondary to aseptic loosening. All femoral components and 90% of the tibial components were revised; however, only 15 patellar components were revised. The clinical survival rate with revision of one or more of the components was 98.86% at 15 years. Despite having nearly flat-on-flat geometry and retaining the posterior cruciate ligament, which should increase the stresses in the polyethylene and at the bone-cement interface, this total knee replacement has proved to have minimal wear and excellent longevity with time. The authors think this is a result of the direct compression molded polyethylene articulation and the nonmodular configuration that incorporates metal backing on the tibial component and eliminates back-sided tibial component polyethylene wear.

Total hip and total knee arthroplasties (n = 951) were retrospectively reviewed to determine the cost-effectiveness of routine pathologic examination of surgical specimens in primary total hip and total knee replacements. Discrepancies between the postoperative diagnosis and the final pathologic diagnoses were recorded. Of the 951 cases reviewed, 27 (2.8%) noted conflicting postoperative and pathologic diagnosis. In all cases, the discrepancy was between a postoperative diagnosis of osteoarthritis and pathologic diagnosis of avascular necrosis. No new cases of neoplasia or inflammatory arthropathy were noted based on the pathologic interpretation. Sixteen of these discrepancies (5.1%) and were noted in total hip arthroplasties, and 11 (1.7%) were noted in total knee arthroplasties. In no case was postoperative medical or surgical treatment altered. Based on this review, strong consideration should be given to the elimination of routine pathologic evaluation of surgical specimens during primary joint arthroplasty, leaving this pathologic evaluation optional, at the discretion of the orthopaedic surgeon, rather than mandatory.

All patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), revision TKA, primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), and revision THA between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1996, were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence of fatal pulmonary emboli. All TKA patients received 1,000 U of intravenous heparin sodium before the tourniquet was inflated and an additional 500 U of intravenous heparin sodium before the inflation of the second tourniquet during bilateral TKA. All THA patients received 1,000 U of intravenous heparin sodium at the time of the skin incision and 500 U of intravenous heparin sodium before preparation of the femoral canal. The overall incidence of fatal pulmonary emboli was extremely low (TKA, 0.096%; THA, 0.16%). With this regimen of intravenous intraoperative heparin, postoperative aspirin, thromboembolic disease hose, and early ambulation, there is no risk of postoperative bleeding, it is inexpensive, and there is no concern on how long to keep the patients on this regimen postoperatively. We recommend this regimen for the prevention of fatal pulmonary emboli after total joint arthroplasty.

Background: The outcome of total knee replacement after high tibial osteotomy remains uncertain. We hypothesized that the results of total knee replacement with or without a previous high tibial osteotomy are similar. Methods: The results of a consecutive series of thirty-nine bilateral total knee arthroplasties performed with cement at an average of 8.7 years after unilateral high tibial osteotomy were reviewed. There were twenty-seven men and twelve women. Preoperatively, the knee scores according to the system of the Knee Society were similar for all of the knees; however, valgus alignment and patella infera were more common in the knees with a previous high tibial osteotomy. Bilateral total knee replacement was staged in seven patients and was simultaneous in thirty-two patients. The results of the total knee arthroplasties were retrospectively reviewed with respect to the knee and function scores according to the system of the Knee Society, the radiographic findings, and the complications. Results: Intraoperatively, no notable differences were identified in the number of medial, lateral, or lateral patellar releases required. However, less lateral tibial bone was resected in the group with a previous high tibial osteotomy (average, 3.3 millimeters) than in the group without a high tibial osteotomy (average, 7.5 millimeters). The average duration of follow-up was 7.5 years (range, three to sixteen years) in the group with a previous high tibial osteotomy and 6.8 years (range, two to ten years) in the group without a high tibial osteotomy. At the time of the final follow-up, the knee and function scores were similar for the two groups (89.0 and 81.0 points, respectively, for the group with a previous high tibial osteotomy, and 89.6 and 83.9 points, respectively, for the group without a high tibial osteotomy). Although more knees were free of pain in the group without a previous high tibial osteotomy (thirty-six) than in the group with a previous osteotomy (thirty-three), this difference was not found to be significant with the numbers available (p = 0.4810). Knee alignment and stability, femoral and tibial component alignment, and range of motion also were similar in both groups postoperatively. One all-polyethylene tibial component was revised in the high tibial osteotomy group. Two knees in each group required manipulation. There were no deep infections. Conclusions: While patients with a previous high tibial osteotomy may have important differences preoperatively, including valgus alignment, patella infera, and decreased bone stock in the proximal part of the tibia, the present study suggests that the clinical and radiographic results of primary total knee arthroplasty in knees with and without a previous high tibial osteotomy are not substantially different. In our relatively small group of patients, the previous high tibial osteotomy had no adverse effect on the outcome of the subsequent total knee replacement.

One thousand, one hundred forty-six Anatomic Graduated Component total knee arthroplasties performed between 1987 and 1989 were used to investigate the effects of patellar thickness alone or coupled with lateral retinacular release on initial patellar complications and maximal flexion. Lateral release was found not to be statistically significant regarding radiolucency, patellar prosthesis loosening, or an increase or decrease in flexion. However, total knee arthroplasties in which a lateral release was done, which either saved the superior lateral genicular artery or sacrificed the superior lateral genicular artery, were found to increase the incidence of initial patellar fractures and/or loosening (complications within 1 year) when compared with total knee arthroplasties in which a lateral release was not performed. There was no statistical difference in failure rates regarding fractures and/or loosening of the patella between lateral releases in which the superior lateral genicular artery was saved and the lateral releases in which the superior lateral genicular artery was sacrificed. A difference in postoperative patellar thickness compared with preoperative patellar thickness was found not to be significant to initial patellar fracture and/or loosening, patellar fracture alone, patellar loosening alone, radiolucency, the need for a lateral release, or to an increase or decrease in flexion. Lateral release and patellar thickness had no significant effect on patellar fracture and/or loosening.

Proximal femoral cortical bone remodeling was evaluated radiographically about a 1 piece cemented titanium alloy femoral prosthesis implanted with modern cement techniques and was compared with one described previously in which early cement techniques and a stainless steel stem were used. Two hundred twenty-six total hip replacements (196 patients) were observed for an average of 6.3 years (range, 5-10 years). Analysis of all hips revealed that the ratio of cortical thickness to that of the overall femoral bone diameter did not change significantly about the periprosthetic bone throughout the length of the study. Cortical hypertrophy and atrophy occurred at rates similar to those seen with the early cement techniques. Distal fusiform cortical hypertrophy and the formation of osteosclerotic (reactive) lines at the bone cement interface occurred at approximately half the rate using modern cement techniques. In addition, cortical atrophy was associated with the formation of these reactive lines, the occurrence of osteolytic lesions, and progressive bone cement interface radiolucencies. Although periprosthetic cortical atrophy occurred at rates similar to those reported previously, important differences were noted between the findings of this study and the earlier study; these differences most likely were a result of cement technique or the prosthesis.

One hundred fifteen patients who underwent total hip replacement for osteonecrosis between June 1972 and April 1990 were divided into 3 groups according to the cause of the disorder: (1) osteonecrosis secondary to alcoholism (21 patients), (2) osteonecrosis secondary to hypersteroidism (29 patients), and (3) idiopathic osteonecrosis (65 patients). To determine the differences in short and long term arthroplasty failure rates, these 3 patient groups were compared with a group of 202 patients who received total hip replacement for osteoarthritis. Statistical analyses were carried out on the following definitions of failure: loosening of the acetabular component, loosening of the femoral component, and revision arthroplasty. Radiolucency and postoperative pain scores also were evaluated. A significant difference in the rate of failure because of loosening of the femoral component was found among the 4 groups. Likewise, a significant difference was found among the 4 groups in all revisions or loosenings or both. However, only the comparison between the idiopathic osteonecrosis and osteoarthritic groups showed a significant difference with survival analysis. Second generation cement technique was as significant as any variable relating to failure. The authors conclude that total hip arthroplasty is an equally viable treatment for the 3 types of osteonecrosis examined in this study; however, failure might be more imminent in studies where larger numbers are needed.