The Journal of arthroplasty
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To assess the effect of extensive surgery and delayed mobilization on postoperative incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism, we reviewed the mortality rate in 1,294 patients undergoing 1,483 revisions of failed total hip arthroplasties, in which mobilization of the patients was delayed for up to 3 weeks. There were 6 deaths (mortality rate, 0.4%). All were submitted to autopsy; only 1 death was the result of pulmonary embolism. The results of our review do not support the view that more extensive surgery and delayed mobilization of the patient, as in revision of failed total hip arthroplasties, carries a high incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism.
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This study evaluated 5 currently used periprosthetic femoral shaft fracture fixation techniques to determine which technique provided the greatest fixation stability. Periprosthetic fractures in 30 synthetic femurs were fixed with a plate with cables, plate with proximal cables and distal bicortical screws (Ogden concept), plate with proximal unicortical screws and distal bicortical screws, plate with proximal unicortical screws and cables and distal bicortical screws, or 2 allograft cortical strut grafts with cables. These specimens were then tested in 3 physiologic loading modes. The plate constructs with proximal unicortical screws and distal bicortical screws or with proximal unicortical screws, proximal cables, and distal bicortical screws were significantly more stable in axial compression, lateral bending, and torsional loading than the other fixation constructs studied.