Ihab El-Desouky

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) with ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) was created to minimise wear debris and aseptic loosening. A decade ago, a meta-analysis showed a 10-year survival rate of just 89%. Based on the excellent tribology of the current CoC, significant improvement of implant survivorship is expected. In patients younger than 60, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess 10-year survival and complications after using current primary CoC THA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Virtual Health Library, and Cochrane Library were used to scan for published trials that met the inclusion criteria until January 2019. The qualified studies were subjected to a systematic review and proportional analysis, and the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included in a comparison meta-analysis.

RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included 156 findings. The total number of hips was 2278. Nine studies were cohort, and four were RCTs between ceramic and polyethylene cups. The analysis revealed an average age of 44 years (range 24-54). The 10-year survival 96% (95% CI; 95.4-96.8%), aseptic loosening rate 0.516. (95% CI; 0.265-0.903), ceramic fracture rate 0.620 (95% CI; 0.34-1.034) and squeaking rate 2.687 (95% CI; 1.279-4.593). A comparison meta-analysis revealed the risk ratio (RR) for revision was 0.27 (95% CI; 0.15-0.47), and for aseptic loosening 0.15 (0.03-0.70) favouring CoC, while RR for component fracture was 1.62 (95% CI; 0.27-9.66) favouring the polyethylene.

CONCLUSION: In patients under sixty, current CoC THAs are correlated with better 10-year outcomes than before and have high survivorship rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I.

INTRODUCTION: Failure to neutralize the different physiological forces acting on the inferior as well as the superior regions of the pubic symphysis, the long healing time, is blamed for the repeated failures of conventional superior symphyseal plating.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A three years prospective case series study between January 2017 and December 2019 was done, to evaluate the radiological and the functional outcomes, using Matta/Tornetta and Majeed criteria respectively, of the combination of trans-symphyseal cross-screws configuration and superior symphyseal plate in Tile-type B1 pelvic injuries.

RESULTS: Thirty patients, 18 with anteroposterior compression type II and 12 with type III, with a mean follow-up of 20 months ±5 were included. Radiologically, 26 (86.6%) cases showed an excellent, one (3.3%) good and three (10%) fair outcome. Clinically, excellent outcome in 26 (86.6%) cases, good in two (6.6%) cases, and fair in two (6.6%). Intra-operative drill bit breakage occurred in three (10%) cases and was the only reported technical complication. Significant re-displacement was reported in three (10%) cases.

CONCLUSION: The open trans-symphyseal cross-screws for fixation of the superior symphyseal plate is a simple, efficient, and safe technique with the biomechanical advantages of an extra-fixation point to the inferior symphysis together with a long and a strong bony anchorage.

INTRODUCTION: Supercutaneous (external) fixation with locking plate is utilized for fixation of long bone fractures. One retrospective study for open reduction and supercutaneous fixation of the calcaneus is reported. We prospectively evaluated the use of this method of fixation combined with percutaneous reduction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2014 and June 2015, 32 displaced calcaneus fractures in 30 patients were stabilized with percutaneous reduction and super-cutaneous fixation. They were 24 males and six females. The mean age was 37.9±5.7 years (21-55). All cases were closed. The time to surgery, complications, radiographic alignment, and time to radiographic union were recorded. Clinical results at the final follow-up were assessed by evaluating Bohler's angles for the radiographic alignment, and the system of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) for the functional outcome.

RESULTS: According to the Sanders' classification, two cases were type II, 17 cases were type III and 13 cases were type IV. The preoperative average Bohler's angle was 10.57°±4.8. The postoperative X-ray films demonstrated that the average Bohler's angle improved to 29.07°±5.9 (p<0.001). At the time of radiologic healing (about 3 months), the plates and screws were removed under general anesthesia. The average follow-up was 13.2 months (11-18). Four cases (type IV) showed mal-union and heel pain. According to (AOFAS) rating, the fine score was 87.1±17.1 points.

CONCLUSION: Super-cutaneous fixation with percutaneous reduction of calcaneal fracture is an effective method in type II and III and can be effective with type IV but with less favorable results.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical fixation is the standard management of the subtrochanteric fractures. Proximal femoral locked plating (PF-LCP) provides a strong construct for fixation with a high success rate. However, some studies reported implant failure due to loss of the postero-medial bone support and recommended an anatomical reduction. Other studies reported excellent to good results with indirect (biological) fixation without anatomical reduction. In this study, we reviewed the short-term clinical results of PF-LCP fixation for subtrochanteric fractures using both conventional and biological fixation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty six patients (34 males and 12 females) with comminuted subtrochanteric fractures were included aged between 18 and 74 (mean 44.3 years). They were treated in a single-blind random manner by either conventional (open, direct) or biological (indirect) reduction method and internal fixation with PF-LCP. Intra-operative variables including; duration of surgery, blood loss, fluoroscopy time and any complications were recorded. Post-operative differences including; duration of healing, implant failure, complications and the final clinical outcome by Harris Hip Score (HHS) were documented.

RESULTS: 44 cases continued to the final follow-up (23 of the open fixation group and 21 of the biological fixation group). Patients of open group demonstrated greater blood loss (756±151 vs. 260±39ml; P<0.0001), longer operative times (129±16.9 vs. 91±8min; P<0.0001) and incisions (s) length (20.4±3 vs. 13.4±1cm; P<0.0001). More patients needed blood transfusion in open group (11 patients vs. six in closed group; P<0.0001). Patients of biological group demonstrated longer fluoroscopy time (80.9±7.3 vs. 47.2±5.8sec.; P<0.0001). For each group, one case of implant failure was recorded. Low patient compliance was a detrimental factor for the implant failure in both cases. No much difference was demonstrated for the healing rate (open group; 18.3±3.7 vs. biological group16.5±4 weeks; P<0.058) and for the functional outcome (open group; excellent/good: 54%/37%, biological group; excellent/good: 57%/33%; P=0.766).

CONCLUSION: PF-LCP provided a strong construct for fixation of the comminuted subtrochanteric fractures either by open or biological techniques. Low patient compliance is an influential factor for implant failure in both types.