Primary Ceramic-on-ceramic Total Hip Arthroplasty Using a 32-mm Ceramic Head With a Titanium-alloy Sleeve

Background

Modern ceramic-on-ceramic bearings have become attractive alternatives to conventional polyethylene in total hip arthroplasty (THA) as a result of their low wear and minimal particle production. However, 28-mm heads in ceramic-on-ceramic bearing couples have been associated with ceramic fracture. To address these issues, 32-mm and larger ceramic heads with a titanium-alloy sleeve have been introduced, although limited data are available on their durability and clinical outcomes.

Questions/purposes

We determined (1) the survivorship of the primary ceramic-on-ceramic THA using a 32-mm ceramic head with a titanium-alloy sleeve at a minimum followup of 5 years; (2) Harris hip scores; (3) the incidence of ceramic fracture and noisy hip; and (4) the proportion of hips showing radiographic evidence of osteolysis.

Methods

From November 2005 to August 2009, we performed 301 ceramic-on-ceramic THAs using a 32-mm ceramic head with a titanium-alloy sleeve in 270 patients. Of these, 12 patients (12 hips [4%]) died from problems unrelated to surgery and 13 patients (15 hips [5%]) were lost during followup before a minimum of 5 years had been reached, leaving 245 patients who had 274 THAs with a minimum followup of 5 years (mean, 6.5 years; range, 5–9 years) in this retrospective analysis. During the study period, 30% (301 of 997 hips) were performed with this articulation based on the operating surgeon’s discretion. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 55 years (range, 16–82 years). All operations were performed at a single center. All of the ceramic implants were hot isostatic-pressed, laser-marked, proof-tested third-generation alumina. We determined the implant survival, Harris hip scores, incidence of ceramic fracture or noisy hips (based on a questionnaire), and presence of osteolysis.

Results

The survival rate of ceramic-on-ceramic bearings in primary THA using a 32-mm ceramic head with a titanium-alloy sleeve was 98% (95% confidence interval, 96%–100%) at 9 years. The Harris hip score improved from a mean of 47 points preoperatively to 93 points at last followup. One ceramic head fractured at 6 years postoperatively. No ceramic liners fractured. Audible hip clicking and squeaking were identified in four hips and one hip, respectively. Osteolysis was detected in three hips, but none had symptoms.

Conclusions

Primary ceramic-on-ceramic THA using a 32-mm ceramic head with a titanium-alloy sleeve has a survivorship of 98% at 9-year followup. Nevertheless, surgeons should be aware of the potential risks of ceramic fracture, noise, and osteolysis associated with the use of a ceramic head with a titanium-alloy sleeve.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study.     

What MRI Findings Predict Failure 10 Years After Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement?

Background

Magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) with radial cuts is presently the best available preoperative imaging study to evaluate chondrolabral lesions in the setting of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Existing followup studies for surgical treatment of FAI have evaluated predictors of treatment failure based on preoperative clinical examination, intraoperative findings, and conventional radiography. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined whether any preoperative findings on MRA images might be associated with failure of surgical treatment of FAI in the long term.

Questions/purposes

The purposes of this study were (1) to identify the preoperative MRA findings that are associated with conversion to THA, any progression of osteoarthritis, and/or a Harris hip score of < 80 points after acetabuloplasty and/or osteochondroplasty of the femoral head-neck junction through a surgical hip dislocation (SHD) for FAI at a minimum 10-year followup; and (2) identify the age of patients with symptomatic FAI when these secondary degenerative findings were detected on preoperative radial MRAs.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 121 patients (146 hips) who underwent acetabuloplasty and/or osteochondroplasty of the femoral head-neck junction through SHD for symptomatic anterior FAI between July 2001 and March 2003. We excluded 35 patients (37 hips) with secondary FAI after previous surgery and 11 patients (12 hips) with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. All patients underwent preoperative MRA to further specify chondrolabral lesions except in 19 patients (32 hips) including 17 patients (20 hips) who presented with an MRI from an external institution taken with a different protocol, 10 patients with no preoperative MRA because the patients had already been operated on the contralateral side with a similar appearance, and two patients (two hips) refused MRA because of claustrophobia. This resulted in 56 patients (65 hips) with idiopathic FAI and a preoperative MRA. Of those, three patients (three hips) did not have minimal 10-year followup (one patient died; two hips with followup between 5 and 6 years). The remaining patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at a mean followup of 11 years (range, 10–13 years). Thirteen pathologic radiographic findings on the preoperative MRA were evaluated for an association with the following endpoints using Cox regression analysis: conversion to THA, radiographic evidence of any progression of osteoarthritis, and/or a Harris hip score of < 80. The age of the patient when each degenerative pattern was found on the preoperative MRA was recorded.

Results

The following MRI findings were associated with one or more of our predefined failure endpoints: cartilage damage exceeding 60° of the circumference had a hazard ratio (HR) of 4.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6–5.6; p = 0.003) compared with a damage of less than 60°, presence of an acetabular rim cyst had a HR of 4.1 (95% CI, 3.1–5.2; p = 0.008) compared with hips without these cysts, and presence of a sabertooth osteophyte had a HR of 3.2 (95% CI, 2.3–4.2; p = 0.013) compared with hips without a sabertooth osteophyte. The degenerative pattern associated with the youngest patient age when detected on preoperative MRA was the sabertooth osteophyte (lower quartile 27 years) followed by cartilage damage exceeding 60° of the circumference (28 years) and the presence of an acetabular rim bone cyst (31 years).

Conclusions

Preoperative MRAs with radial cuts reveal important findings that may be associated with future failure of surgical treatment for FAI. Most of these factors are not visible on conventional radiographs or standard hip MRIs. Preoperative MRA evaluation is therefore strongly recommended on a routine basis for patients undergoing these procedures. Findings associated with conversion to arthroplasty, radiographic evidence of any progression of osteoarthritis, and/or a Harris hip score of < 80 points should be incorporated into the decision-making process in patients being evaluated for joint-preserving hip surgery.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.

     

Total hip arthroplasty for bilaterally ankylosed hips

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of bilateral total hip arthroplasties (THAs) with special regard to angle of cup position in patients with bilaterally ankylosed hips. Twenty-four ankylosed hips were converted to THAs in 12 patients. Their mean age was 36 years and they were followed up for more than 3 years (average, 11 years). The mean Harris hip score increased from 55.4 to 82.3 points. Osteolysis and loosening were found in 3 and 2 hips, respectively. Eleven cups of 24 hips (46%) were outside the safe ranges of Lewinnek. Overall outcome after bilateral conversion of bilaterally ankylosed hips to THA was favorable, but the fused position of the contralateral limb had the tendency to define the direction of the malposition of the acetabular cup.     

Similar Clinical Outcomes for THAs With and Without Prior Periacetabular Osteotomy

Introduction

Some patients opt to undergo conversion to a THA for continued pain or progression of hip arthritis after periacetabular osteotomy. Whether patients are at greater risk for postoperative complications, revision THA, poor clinical outcomes, or compromised radiographic results after periacetabular osteotomy is debatable.

Questions/purposes

When compared with a matched cohort of patients who underwent THAs for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) without previous periacetabular osteotomy, we asked whether a THA after a periacetabular osteotomy has (1) a higher complication rate, (2) a higher likelihood of resulting in revision THA, (3) comparable improvements in Harris hip score, and (4) comparable radiographic results.

Patients and Methods

A multicenter retrospective review of 562 patients undergoing 645 periacetabular osteotomies was performed. Twenty-three hips in 22 patients underwent a THA after periacetabular osteotomy. The patients were matched for age, sex, and BMI with 23 hips in 23 patients with DDH undergoing THA without a history of periacetabular osteotomy. Minimum followup for both groups of patients was 2 years (mean, 10 ± 4 years and 6 ± 4 years, respectively). Comparisons were made to answer the study questions based on a retrospective review from prospectively maintained registries of clinical and radiographic information at two participating centers.

Results

With the numbers available, there was no difference in complication or revision rates between the two groups (p = 0.489 and 1.000, respectively); however, a post hoc power analysis showed our study was underpowered to detect a difference in the rate of postoperative complications or revision THA. There was marked improvement in Harris hip score with THA after periacetabular osteotomy (p < 0.001) and THA for DDH (p < 0.001), but there was no difference (p = 0.265) in the Harris hip score at final followup between either group. The acetabular component was placed at a mean of 17° more retroversion during THA after periacetabular osteotomy compared with THA for DDH (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

This study did not detect any differences in the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing THA after periacetabular osteotomy done with a modern abductor-sparing approach when compared with a matched cohort undergoing THA for DDH. However, even with patients tallied across two high-volume centers during nearly 15 years, our study was underpowered to detect potentially important differences between the THA after periacetabular osteotomy group and the THA for DDH group. The data in this report are suitable as pilot data for future studies and for systematic reviews. Larger multicenter studies are needed to understand how the technical challenges of THA after periacetabular osteotomy affect postoperative complications and revision THA.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.     

Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients With Osteogenesis Imperfecta

BackgroundOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) comprises a spectrum of disorders that result in bone fragility. This presents unique challenges when performing total joint arthroplasty in patients with OI. The purpose of this study is to determine the survivorship and clinical outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with OI.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed our institution’s total joint registry from 1969 to 2018 for all primary THAs in patients with a history of OI. There were 11 patients (13 hips) with a mean follow-up of 13 years (range 6-20). Survivorship free of component revision was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Patient-reported clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris Hip Scores.ResultsAt final follow-up, the status of the implant was known in all 13 hips. One patient (1 hip) was deceased. Four hips (31%) underwent revision surgery at a mean of 9 years (range 5-17). Survivorship free of component revision was 52% at 20 years. Mean Harris Hip Scores at final follow-up were fair (75, 47-97), but significantly improved compared to available preoperative scores (P = .0015). No intraoperative complications occurred during the 13 primary THAs.ConclusionTHA in patients with OI is associated with high revision rates and low survivorship at long-term follow-up. Although this is a very challenging patient population, THA provided these patients with improved functional outcomes. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the largest series of primary THA in patients with OI reported in the literature and therefore provides surgeons with important data regarding the expected outcomes following THA in this unique patient population.Level of EvidenceLevel IV.     

Clinical Outcomes,Metal Ion Levels,Lymphocyte Profiles,and Implant Survival Following Five Different Bearings of Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Mean 10-year Follow-up Study

BackgroundDifferent bearings have been used in total hip arthroplasty (THA), but the long-term performance is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences when comparing THAs with 5 different bearings at a long-term follow-up of more than 10 years.MethodsFrom January 2010 to May 2012, 101 THA patients (134 hips) were divided into metal-on-metal group (MoM, 31 hips), metal-on-polyethylene group (MoP, 23 hips), ceramic-on-metal group (CoM, 21 hips), ceramic-on-ceramic group (CoC, 33 hips), and ceramic-on-polyethylene group (CoP, 26 hips). The mean follow-up period was 10.3 years. The Harris hip score (HSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores (WOMAC), range of motion (ROM), blood cell count, and liver-kidney function were measured. Serum and urine metal ion levels were measured using high-resolution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and a blood lymphocytes analysis was counted by flow cytometry.ResultsNo difference was observed in the HSS, WOMAC, ROM, blood cell count, or liver-kidney function among any of the 5 groups. Metal ion levels were significantly elevated in metal-containing bearings. Flow cytometry showed that no differences were found. Revision was performed due to pseudotumor in 3 patients. The implant survival rate was 96.7% and 93.3% for the MoM and CoC groups, which was significantly lower compared with other groups.ConclusionsMetal ion levels were elevated significantly in metal-containing bearings, especially in MoM THA patients. The implant survival rate was significantly lower in CoC and MoM THAs, which was mainly due to pseudotumor formation.Level of EvidenceTherapeutic Level II.     

Conversion Total Hip Arthroplasty After Previous Transtrochanteric Rotational Osteotomy for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

The results of conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA) after failed transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy (TRO) are still controversial. We retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with ONFHs who had been treated previously by TRO and were later converted to THAs (conversion group). We made a matched control group of 18 primary THAs for ONFH done by same hip surgeon (PTHA group). There was an improvement in the Harris hip score and WOMAC score at the final follow-up but the improvement was not statistically significant between the two groups. Only internal rotation was significantly better in the PTHA group than in the conversion group. THA after TRO provides satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes with no significant increase in perioperative morbidity in comparison with that in the primary THA.     

Cancellous impaction bone grafting of acetabular defects in complex primary and revision total hip arthroplasty

The reconstruction of major acetabular bone defects during revision, conversion, and primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) is challenging. We reviewed a consecutive series of 168 THAs (108 revisions, 8 conversions, and 52 primary THAs) performed by 1 surgeon (S.B.G.) between 1997 and 2008 using impaction bone grafting for acetabular reconstruction. Autograft, cancellous allograft croutons, and demineralized bone matrix were used to fill bone defects as needed. The acetabular bone deficiency was classified according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: type I, segmental deficiency with significant rim defect; type II, cavitary defects medially or posteriorly; type III, combined cavitary and segmental deficiency; type IV, pelvic discontinuity; and type V, arthrodesis. According to this method, 56 hips had type I, 31 hips had type II, 48 hips had type III, and 27 hips had type IV deficiencies. Of the 168 patients, 19 subsequently died of causes unrelated to the THA, and 11 were lost to follow-up. All patients had at least 2 years of follow-up. Average Harris Hip Score improved from 45.5±17.9 preoperatively to 81.1±16.5 postoperatively (P<.05) for revision THAs, from 40.0±11.3 preoperatively to 85.0±12.8 postoperatively (P<.05) for conversion THAs, and from 42.3±14.9 preoperatively to 85.0±12.0 postoperatively (P<.05) for primary THAs. All impaction grafted bone (allograft, autograft, or a combination) incorporated radiographically, thus restoring bone stock. Complications included 1 early infection, which was managed successfully with debridement and liner exchange, and 2 late infections that were managed successfully with staged revision. Two revisions required subsequent re-revision for late loosening. Two hip dislocations occurred, 1 of which required surgical treatment to place a constrained liner.     

Low Reinfection Rates But a High Rate of Complications in THA for Infection Sequelae in Childhood: A Systematic Review

BackgroundChildhood hip infections can result in serious sequelae during adulthood, including persistent pain, functional limitations, and premature THA. When THA is performed in patients who had hip joint infections during childhood, surgeons surmise these arthroplasties are at an increased risk of complications and incomplete recovery. However, the degree to which this is true is not well characterized and has varied across a large number of small, retrospective studies.Questions/purposes(1) What proportion of THAs performed in patients who had pediatric septic arthritis result in periprosthetic joint infection? (2) What are the Harris hip scores associated with these reconstructions? (3) What proportion of these patients develop complications after THA? (4) What proportion of patients undergo revision after these THAs?MethodsFor this systematic review, we searched the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and CINAHL (EbscoHost) electronic databases. We evaluated studies published in English between 1980 and 2020 that had a minimum of 10 patients (with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up) in whom sequelae of septic arthritis of the hip were treated with single-stage THA. We also evaluated studies reporting clinical outcomes by means of the Harris hip score, along with a radiographic assessment of the prosthesis. Updates of previous studies using the same database, case reports, surgical technique reports, systematic reviews, and expert opinions were excluded. No restrictions were applied regarding study design and loss to follow-up. A total of 430 studies were identified through the initial search, and 11 studies were included after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All but two studies, which included a historical control group, were retrospective case series. A total of 691 patients with a mean age of 45 years were involved. A total of 599 patients underwent cementless THAs, 84 patients underwent hybrid THA (cemented stems), and the remaining eight patients received a cemented THA. A total of 287 additional procedures were performed on the acetabulum, including autografting, allografting, and medial wall osteotomies; in three hips, tantalum augments were used. Three hundred thirty-five additional procedures were performed on the femora, including 223 shortening osteotomies and 112 greater trochanter osteotomies. The mean follow-up duration ranged from 5.5 to 15.2 years (minimum follow-up range 2-13 years). To assess the quality of the studies, we used the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies and the Assessment of Quality in Lower-limb Arthroplasty, for which a higher score represents a better study quality. The mean Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies score for case series was 9 of 16 (range 6-12), and 19 and 18 of 24 for the two comparative studies. The mean reporting quality of the Assessment of Quality in Lower Limb Arthroplasty score was 6 of 8 (range 3-8).ResultsBecause of loss to follow-up, which was not consistently reported in the source studies, we caution the reader that the estimates provided here likely underestimate the risks of adverse events and overestimate the mean hip scores. The pooled proportion of patients in whom infections developed was 1% (seven of 691 THAs). Considering only studies published in the past 10 years, the proportion was 0.7% (two of 276 THAs). The Harris hip score increased from a mean of 52 ± 6 points before THA to a mean of 88 ± 2 points after THA. The pooled proportion of complications, including sciatic nerve palsy, femoral nerve palsy, intraoperative periprosthetic fracture, deep venous thrombosis, and dislocation, was 11% (76 complications among 691 THAs). The pooled proportion of patients who underwent revision was 8% (53 revisions of any components for any reason among 691 THAs) at a mean follow-up interval of 9.1 ± 3 years.ConclusionIn THAs for sequelae of childhood septic arthritis, reinfections were uncommon, whereas generally, infection rates were slightly higher than those reported for conventional primary THAs. However, the duration of follow-up might have been insufficient to identify all patients in whom infections later developed, and the available data were not adequate to precisely detect the minimum quiescent period to avoid reinfections. Moreover, the studies in this systematic review were retrospective, and selection bias, transfer bias, and assessment bias likely influenced our findings. The general effect of these biases is to cause an underestimation of the harms of the intervention. Complications, especially intraoperative fracture and nerve palsy, were common in patients with the most-severe infections. Further data on this topic are needed, ideally from multicenter or registry studies with even longer follow-up durations.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, therapeutic study.     

Comparison of Complications in Single-incision Minimally Invasive THA and Conventional THA

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether single-incision minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA) is superior to conventional incision THA by comparing postoperative complication rates, Harris Hip Scores, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. Randomized, controlled trials comparing single-incision minimally invasive THA and conventional THA were reviewed. The methodological quality of each randomized, controlled trial was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale (Centre for Evidence-based Physiotherapy, The George Institute for Global Health, New South Wales, Australia). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to determine the quality of the evidence. Fourteen studies involving 1254 patients (1329 hips) were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 659 single-incision minimally invasive THAs (mean patient age, 63.9 years) and 670 conventional incision THAs (mean patient age, 65.0 years). A funnel plot of postoperative complication rates showed that a slight publication bias existed in the study.According to the meta-analysis, no significant statistical difference was observed in complication rates in no more than 3 postoperative years (odds ratio=1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.69 to 1.63; P=.79), in Harris Hip Scores in no more than 2 postoperative years (weighted mean difference=0.71; 95% confidence interval, -3.09 to 4.51; P=.71), and in WOMAC scores at 6 weeks postoperatively (weighted mean difference=-0.55; 95% confidence interval, -3.54 to 2.44; P=.72) between single-incision minimally invasive THA and conventional THA. Therefore, single-incision minimally invasive THA is not superior to conventional THA in early postoperative recovery, hip function, and complication rate.