Acta orthopaedica
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Higher cartilage wear in unipolar than bipolar hemiarthroplasties of the hip at 2 years: A randomized controlled radiostereometric study in 19 fit elderly patients with femoral neck fractures.
Background and purpose - The use of unipolar hemi-arthroplasties for femoral neck fractures is increasing in some countries due to reports of higher reoperation rates in bipolar prostheses. On the other hand, it has been proposed that bipolar hemiarthroplasties have clinical advantages and less cartilage wear than unipolar hemiarthroplasties. We compared cartilage wear between bipolar and unipolar hemiarthroplasties using radiostereometric analyses (RSA), in patients aged 70 years or older. ⋯ Median EQ-5D Index Score was 0.73 (0.52-1.00) in the unipolar group and 1.00 (0.74-1.00) in the bipolar group (p = 0.01). Median EQ-5D VAS was 70 (50-90) in the unipolar group and 89 (70-95) in the bipolar group (p = 0.03) Interpretation - Patients with unipolar hemiarthroplasties had higher proximal cartilage wear and lower functional outcomes. Unipolar hemiarthroplasties should be used with caution in ambulatory, lucid patients.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
No increase in readmissions or adverse events after implementation of fast-track program in total hip and knee replacement at 8 Swedish hospitals: An observational before-and-after study of 14,148 total joint replacements 2011-2015.
Background and purpose - Fast-track care programs in elective total hip and knee replacement (THR/TKR) have been introduced in several countries during the last decade resulting in a significant reduction of hospital stay without any rise in readmissions or early adverse events (AE). We evaluated the risk of readmissions and AE within 30 and 90 days after surgery when a fast-track program was introduced in routine care of joint replacement at 8 Swedish hospitals. Patients and methods - Fast-track care programs were introduced at 8 public hospitals in Västra Götaland region from 2012 to 2014. ⋯ Almost half of the readmissions occurred without any AE identified. There was no statistically significant difference concerning readmissions or AE when comparing the programs. Interpretation - Implementation of a fast-track care program in routine care of elective hip and knee replacement is effective in reducing hospital stay without increasing the risk of readmissions or adverse events within 90 days after surgery.
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Observational Study
Minimal important change values for the Oxford Knee Score and the Forgotten Joint Score at 1 year after total knee replacement.
Background and purpose - Interpreting changes in Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) following total knee replacement (TKR) is challenged by the lack of methodologically rigorous methods to estimate minimal important change (MIC) values. We determined MIC values by predictive modeling for the OKS and FJS in patients undergoing primary TKR. Patients and methods - We conducted a prospective cohort study in patients undergoing TKR between January 2015 and July 2016. ⋯ Spearman's correlations between the anchor and the change score were 0.56 for OKS, and 0.61 for FJS. Adjusted predictive MIC values (95% CI) for improvement were 8 (6-9) for OKS and 14 (10-18) for FJS. Interpretation - The MIC value of 8 for OKS and 14 for FJS corresponds to minimal improvements that the average patient finds important and aids in our understanding of whether improvements after TKR are clinically relevant.
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Background and purpose-Nonunion is common in femoral fractures. Previous studies suggested that the systemic immune response after trauma can interfere with fracture healing. Therefore, we investigated whether there is a relation between peripheral blood cell counts and healing of femur fractures. ⋯ The peripheral blood-count curves of total leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets were all statistically significantly lower in patients with nonunion, coinciding with significantly higher CRP levels during the first 2 weeks after trauma in these patients. Interpretation-Patients who developed femoral nonunion after major trauma demonstrated lower numbers of myeloid cells in the peripheral blood than patients with normal fracture healing. This absent rise of myeloid cells seems to be related to a more severe post-traumatic immune response.
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Background and purpose - Cutibacterium acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, is often isolated from deep tissues of the shoulder. It is recognized as an important causative agent of foreign-material associated infections. However, the incidence and significance of its detection in tissues from patients without clinical evidence for infection is unclear. ⋯ Samples were positive irrespective of clinical signs of infection. Therefore, detection of C. acnes in this clinical setting is of questionable clinical significance. The high positivity rate in asymptomatic patients discourages routine sampling of material in cases without clinical evidence for infection.