Knee arthrodesis for failed total knee arthroplasty

The use of arthrodesis to salvage failed total knee arthroplasty is reviewed in nine patients. Prosthetic failure was due to infection in six cases, aseptic loosening in two cases, and instability in one case. The techniques of arthrodesis included six Hoffman external fixators, two fluted intramedullary rods (3M-Orthopedic Products Division, St Paul), and one pulsing electromagnetic field stimulator. Arthrodesis was successful in eight of nine patients, averaging 5.4 months to union. All eight patients resumed a painfree functional level of activity. Meticulous surgical technique and appropriate method of arthrodesis are emphasized.     

The outcome of failed knee arthrodesis following total knee arthroplasty

After failure of total knee arthroplasty, arthrodesis was attempted in 120 cases, and unsuccessful in 25 (21%). Failure of arthrodesis was defined as nonunion persisting one year after arthrodesis or reoperation to obtain union. The number of attempts at arthrodesis ranged from one to four. The most frequent reasons for reoperation were persistent pain and instability. Most failures were caused by poor apposition owing to bone loss. Union was obtained in ten knees (average follow-up period, 44.5 months), but not in 11 (average, 35.3 months).     

Knee arthrodesis following total knee arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis

Twenty-seven knees in 23 patients, all with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and failed total knee arthroplasty, were treated by arthrodesis. Twenty of the 27 knees were solidly fused. A fusion aligned in 7 degrees +/- 5 degrees of valgus and knee flexion from zero to 30 degrees was associated with the highest rate of arthrodesis, the lowest rate of progression of disease in other joints, and the highest functional scores. Stable fixation using either internal or external fixation gave the most predictable rate of arthrodesis. Persistent sepsis and bone stock losses were associated with failure of arthrodesis, even under the best circumstances. All of the 20 successfully arthrodesed knees were completely functional.     

One-staged contralateral or ipsilateral total hip and total knee arthroplasty

One-staged ipsilateral and contralateral total hip and total knee arthroplasties were compared. A total of 103 patients underwent a 1-staged total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty between January 1975 and July 1997 (67 contralateral and 36 ipsilateral patients). No prostheses were found to be loose or revised. The contralateral group had a 10.5% hip dislocation rate, and the ipsilateral group had an 8.3% hip dislocation rate. Most of the patients were discharged home (contralateral, 66%; ipsilateral, 56%). There was no significant difference in survival between the contralateral and ipsilateral groups. There was only 1 death within 3 months of the operation. The severity of these patients' deformity may necessitate these procedures be done at 1 operation with consideration of mortality and morbidity risks.     

Knee fusion with intramedullary rods for failed total knee arthroplasty

Knee fusion was obtained after failed total knee arthroplasty with the aid of internal fixation by use of intramedullary rods. The method has been used in eight cases, including difficult situations characterized by morbid obesity, segmental fractures, and loss of bone stock. In these cases, stability would have been difficult to obtain with conventional methods of external fixation, compression, or casting. Stability was achieved quickly with an intramedullary rod in eight cases; fusion was obtained in seven.     

Cemented long-stem revision total knee arthroplasty

From 1981 to 1989, 38 cemented, posterior, stabilized, revision, total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were performed at the authors' institution using the stemmed kinematic stabilizer prosthesis of a single design. The mean clinical follow-up after the index procedure was 10.1 years. The Knee Society pain score averaged 17 points before revision and improved to 51 points at last follow-up, and the function score averaged 48 points before revision and improved to 57 at last follow-up. Ten-year component survival free of revision or removal for any reason was 96.7%; 11-year component survival free of revision for aseptic loosening was 95.7%. Cemented stem fixation in revision TKA provides good clinical results with durable fixation at an average of 10 years' follow-up.     

Use of an intramedullary rod in knee arthrodesis following failed total knee arthroplasty

A retrospective review was conducted of 20 consecutive patients (10 men and 10 women) with failed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who underwent arthrodesis using an intramedullary rod. Average patient age was 70.5 years. One patient was lost to follow-up, and the remaining 19 patients were evaluated an average of 4.5 years postoperatively (range: 1-24 years). Three patients without infections achieved a solid arthrodesis without complications. In 16 patients, the indication for fusion was an infection, and 12 of these patients had an uncomplicated postoperative course and achieved a solid arthrodesis. Of the remaining 4 patients, 1 required revision for a nonunion, 1 a skin graft, and 2 had recurrence of their infections in the postoperative period. Both patients had positive cultures at attempted arthrodesis. One patient underwent debridement at 3 months, and a solid fusion was obtained. The other patient required rod removal and currently has a nonunion, uses a brace, and is on suppressive antibiotic treatment. An intramedullary rod is the ideal fixation choice for knee arthrodesis in patients with a failed, noninfected TKA; however, in patients with an infection, the infection must be eradicated prior to rod use.     

Knee arthrodesis after infected total knee arthroplasty using the Ilizarov method

Numerous treatments have been proposed for infected total knee arthroplasty. In selected patients, a knee arthrodesis is a well-recognized salvage procedure. However, there are no reports in the literature discussing the treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty using the Ilizarov method. The authors reviewed their experience with this technique in infected total knee arthroplasty, presenting six patients (four women, two men) treated between 1992 and 1998. The average age was 56.6 years (range, 23-70 years) and the mean number of previous surgical procedures was seven (range, 4-10 procedures). From the time of frame removal, the patients were followed up for a mean of 34.2 months (range, 12.4-87.5 months). Full weight-bearing was allowed 1 week after surgery if half-pins were used and after a mean of 2.6 months if Kirschner wires were used. Of the five patients who have completed treatment, all have obtained a stable knee arthrodesis after a mean external fixation time of 6.8 months without additional surgical procedures or bracing. All of the patients were satisfied with the treatment. The authors recommend knee arthrodesis by the Ilizarov method for infected total knee arthroplasty, particularly in patients with extensive bone loss, significant limb shortening or axial deformity or both, active infection, or previous failed arthrodesis.     

Periprosthetic fracture between a constrained total knee arthroplasty and a long-stem total hip arthroplasty: treatment with a novel device

Supracondylar fracture of the femur occurred in a patient with a well-fixed constrained condylar total knee arthroplasty and an 8-in total hip femoral revision component. This unusual fracture was treated with a novel interpositional femoral intramedullary device that connected the total knee to total hip arthroplasty. The result was good at 5 years, with healed fracture and no loosening or osteolysis of either component.     

Knee arthrodesis performed with intramedullary nailing technique in failed total knee replacement--a preliminary report]

Knee arthrodesis is the method of choice in treatment of failed total knee replacement. It is recommended when revisory total knee replacement is impossible. The authors present 2 cases of knee fusions using intramedullary nails after prosthesis loosening (1 aseptic, 1 septic). In both cases good results were achieved, with no complications observed during convalescence.     

Salvage arthrodesis for failed total ankle arthroplasty

Background and purpose Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has gained popularity in recent years. If it fails, however, salvage arthrodesis must be reliable as a rescue procedure. We therefore investigated the clinical, radiographic, and subjective outcome after salvage arthrodesis in a consecutive group of patients, and concentrated on the influence of the method of fixation on union rate and on salvage in inflammatory joint disease.

Patients and methods Between 1994 and 2005, salvage arthrodesis was performed on 18 ankles (18 patients). Diagnosis was inflammatory joint disease (IJD) in 15 cases and osteoarthritis (OA) in 3. Tibio-talar fusion was performed in 7 ankles, and tibio-talocalcaneal fusion in 11. Serial radiographs were studied for time to union. Clinical outcome at latest follow-up was measured by the AOFAS score, the foot function index (FFI) and by VAS scores for pain, function, and satisfaction.

Results Blade plates were used in 7 ankles (4 IJD, 3 OA); all united. Nonunion developed in 7 of the 11 rheumatic ankles stabilized by other methods. 11 patients (8 fused ankles, 3 nonunions) were available for clinical evaluation. Their mean AOFAS score was 62 and mean overall FFI was 70. VAS score for pain was 20, for function 64, and for satisfaction 74. The scores were similar in united and non-united ankles.

Interpretation Blade plate fixation is successful in salvage arthrodesis for failed TAA. A high nonunion rate was found after salvage ankle arthrodesis in IJD with other methods of fixation. Clinical results were fair to good.     

Contralateral total hip arthroplasty or ipsilateral total knee arthroplasty in patients who have a long-standing fusion of the hip

We studied the cases of twenty patients who had had an ipsilateral total knee arthroplasty or a contralateral total hip arthroplasty, or both, long after one hip had been fused in an acceptable position. Between 1972 and 1986, we performed twenty-one total joint arthroplasties (on thirteen hips and eight knees) and followed two additional patients (one hip and one knee) in whom the operation had been performed elsewhere. The average age of the patients at the time of arthroplasty was fifty-seven years (range, thirty-one to eighty-one years), and the average time from arthrodesis to arthroplasty was thirty-two years (range, eleven to fifty-four years). The results of eighteen of the twenty-three arthroplasties were evaluated at an average of seven years and nine months postoperatively. Four of the remaining five patients, who were followed for an average of eight years, died of a cause that was unrelated to the arthroplasty. After the hip arthroplasty, five hips were rated excellent; five, good; one, fair; and three, poor. Each hip that had a poor result was revised twice for mechanical loosening. Three hips for which the result was not considered poor had progressive radiolucency. After the knee arthroplasty, three knees were rated excellent; four, good; one, fair; and one, poor (because of infection). Seven knees were manipulated a total of fifteen times. Only one patient had progressive symptomatic radiolucency, nine years after the insertion of a posterior stabilized prosthesis. Clinically important ligamentous instability was not encountered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Wear and osteolysis around total knee arthroplasty

Osteolysis induced by wear debris of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene has emerged as a significant problem after total knee arthroplasty. The generation of polyethylene wear and the development of osteolysis around total knee arthroplasty are caused by a combination of patient, implant, and surgical factors. Activity level over time may be the most important patient factor affecting the loads placed on a total knee replacement, but it is the most difficult to manage. Multiple factors related to the manufacturing of the polyethylene implant influence the extent of wear, and surgeons should be cautious in considering enhanced polyethylenes pending results of further investigations. The optimal design of the articular bearing surface remains controversial but needs to be considered with respect to the stresses imparted on component-bone and modular tibial backside interfaces. Surgical factors, including restoration of alignment and ligament balance, are important for long-term durability of the implant. Methods of measuring the wear of total knee implants are still evolving. Thus, when confronted with a worn total knee implant and developing osteolysis, the surgeon should consider each of these factors in selecting the best management option to eliminate the source of debris and minimize the potential for wear and osteolysis following revision.     

Treatment of juxtaarticular nonunion fractures at the knee with long-stem total knee arthroplasty

A retrospective study of ten patients with juxtaarticular nonunions at the knee treated with long stem total knee arthroplasty was performed. The average age of the patients was 76 years old, with an average follow-up of 36 months. The nonunions were present for an average of 36 months. There were six patients in the series with prior total knee arthroplasty. Clinical union was achieved in all ten patients. All patients improved their ambulatory status. Range of motion improved from an average preoperative range of 40 degrees to an average postoperative range of 85 degrees. Complications occurred in three of ten patients, with one being a postoperative infection. Surgical techniques are described to aid in treatment of difficult juxtaarticular nonunion fragments.     

全髋置换术后假体周围骨溶解

假体置换术后周围骨溶解是关节置换术后的并发症之一,全髋置换术后假体周围骨溶解一旦发生,会严重影响髋关节的功能与稳定性,因此需要对全髋置换术后假体周围骨溶解的机制有充分的认识,在诊断上还没有一个统一的标准,有必要对术后的关节功能进行评分.二磷酸盐在防治全髋置换术后假体周围骨溶解方面有积极意义,但仍未广泛应用于临床.本文以髋关节置换为切入点,对假体周围骨溶解作简要综述.     

Revision of failed total hip arthroplasty

Ninety-seven revisions of total hip replacements are reviewed with a median time of observation of 47 months. Satisfactory pain relief was obtained in 86%. There were six complete failures which were reduced to three by further surgery. One hip became infected and was excised. In 12 cases the revisions were complicated by peroperative fractures and in five by dislocations. Radiographic analysis disclosed a high percentage of periarticular ossification and 25 cases of radiographic loosening of the femoral implant.     

人工髋关节置换术失败原因分析

目的 对人工髋关节置换术后失败的病例进行分析。总结经验，提高人工髋关节置换术的长期疗效。方法 １９９６年１１月～１９９９年４月共进行人工髋关节翻修手术３５例（３６髋），根据前次手术失败的原因进行分组并分析。结果 根据病例统计，在同一失败病例中，失败的原因往往不止一个，最常见的原因是假体松动、假体周围骨溶解，共２４例次，其次为人工股骨头引起髋臼磨损７例次，假体置入位置不良６例次，人工髋关节脱位３例次，术后感染３例次，假体股骨西柄断裂２例次。结论 人工髋关节置换术作为髋关节重建的一种有效的治疗方法而得到广泛的应用。其长期可靠的疗效与严格掌握手术指征，假体的适当选择和手术中正确操作有关。     

Radiohumeral arthrodesis for salvage of failed total elbow arthroplasty

Ulnohumeral arthrodesis is the standard technique for elbow fusion. The geometry and surface area of the distal humerus and proximal ulna enhance the chances of fusion while maintaining some wrist motion. A case of a patient with multiple failed elbow procedures in which the standard ulnohumeral fusion was not possible is presented. A radiohumeral arthrodesis was performed in an attempt to obtain a stable, nonpainful elbow. After complete healing of the fusion, the patient was able to use the arm for most functions. This technique is presented as an option for salvage failed elbow arthroplasty in the face of significant bone loss.