The Journal of arthroplasty
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One thousand one hundred ninety patients underwent knee arthroplasty between January 2004 and July 1, 2007, and received an indwelling continuous infusion femoral catheter for postoperative ropivicaine pump infusion. Catheters were placed using electrical stimulation guidance. For the initial 469 patients (group 1), the continuous infusion ran for 2 to 3 days. ⋯ The overall complication rate was 1.5%, and the risk of permanent nerve injury was 0.2%. Patients should be made aware of these complications as part of the usual informed consent process before using this technique for postoperative pain control after knee arthroplasty. We did not observe fewer falls when the continuous infusion was stopped 12 hours after surgery.
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Injection of local anesthetic during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to aid postoperative pain relief. Reinfusion drains have also proven useful in decreasing allogenic blood transfusion. Combined use carries the risk of reinfusion of local anesthetic from drainage bag. ⋯ The average amount of ropivacaine reinfused was 1.9 mg, a fraction of the injected dose (150 mg), and venous plasma concentrations reached peaks of 0.5 to 1.5 microg/mL, well below demonstrated levels of toxicity. Patients tolerated the treatment well, with no adverse outcomes. This study demonstrates the safety of combining these 2 techniques in TKA.
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Although the posterior approach is the most commonly used for hip resurfacing, concerns remain in terms of risk of femoral neck fracture secondary to an osteonecrotic event. The purpose of this study was to look at the short-term results of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing done by the vascular-preserving surgical approach as developed by Ganz in 116 hip resurfacing arthroplasties performed in 106 patients (86 men, 20 women; mean age, 46.5 years; range, 19-62). ⋯ Two hips underwent conversion to total hip arthroplasty: one at 18 months for femoral loosening and one at 7 years for acetabular loosening. Although the trochanteric slide approach as developed by Ganz provides excellent exposure to the hip joint and preserves femoral head vascularity, it does carry some inherent morbidity in regard to the greater trochanter.
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A consecutive series of 40 periprosthetic femoral fractures, treated with revision hip surgery using the Oxford trimodular femoral stem, were retrospectively studied, with an average follow-up of 7.9 years. Fractures were classified according to the Vancouver classification. There were 5 type B1 fractures, 28 type B2, and 7 type C. ⋯ Clinical results were good with a mean Oxford hip score of 30 (hip score maximum, 48). Complications included 1 nonunion, 1 infection, 1 dislocation, and 2 aseptic loosening. The Oxford trimodular femoral component is a safe and reliable prosthesis for the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures with satisfactory medium-term results.
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Clinical and radiographic outcomes of 184 consecutive revision total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) placed with cemented components and press-fit fluted cementless stems were reviewed at average follow-up of 49 months. Revision was performed for septic failure in 53 of 184 knees, periprosthetic fracture in 10 of 184 knees, and aseptic failure in 121 of 184 knees. The press-fit cementless stems were placed to tightly contact the endosteum of the metadiaphyseal area of the femur and tibia. ⋯ Revision TKA with modular cementless stems provided excellent fixation with no revisions for aseptic loosening. Re-revision for sepsis was the dominant failure mechanism with an overall rate of 7%. Given the increasing prevalence of revision TKA, sepsis prevention strategies should receive increased attention.