Greater activity, better range of motion and higher quality of life following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a comparative case-control study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to provide a matched cohort comparison of clinical and functional outcome scores, range of motion and quality of life following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The hypothesis was that patients receiving UKA report better results than comparable patients who receive conventional TKA.

METHODS

Clinical and functional results of 35 patients with medial end-stage osteoarthritis who had received a fixed-bearing UKA were compared with the results of 35 matched patients who had received a TKA from the same manufacturer by the same surgeon. Outcome scores were measured before surgery and at final follow-up using Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), range of motion (ROM) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The Knee Society Score (KSS) was assessed at final follow-up. The mean observation period was 2.3 years in both groups.

RESULTS

The preoperative knee scores had no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Postoperatively, however, UKAs performed significantly better regarding TAS and ROM (4 vs. 3 and 118.4 vs. 103.7, respectively). The results of the SF-36 showed significantly better results for the UKA group in the mental component summary score and in the subscale of social function.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that UKA is associated with higher activity level, higher quality of life, and greater ROM when compared with TKA on comparable patients. Prolonged clinical follow-up in a larger patient cohort with a randomised-controlled study design would be beneficial to confirm these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Malnutrition as predictor of poor outcome after total hip arthroplasty

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and correlation with poor post-operative outcome in the elderly undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Hypothesis

Patients with PEM would have inferior post-operative outcome after THA.

Materials and method

We retrospectively evaluated the nutritional status of 220 hospitalized patients undergoing THA, 65 years and older. PEM was assessed using serum albumin and total lymphocyte count (TLC). Studied outcome parameters were length of pre-operative and post-operative stay, complications up to six months after surgery and 12-month mortality. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from medical records from the hospital database.

Results

The prevalence of PEM among patients undergoing THA was 12.3% (27/220). Patients with PEM were significantly older (mean age 81.3 ± 7.0, p < 0.001), had a lower BMI (24.7 ± 4.1 kg/m 2, p = 0.022), and showed more comorbid conditions (mean CCI 2.8 ± 2.0, p = 0.002) compared with well-nourished patients (age 75.6 ± 6.2, BMI 26.8 ± 4.3 kg/m 2, CCI: 1.7 ± 1.7). Length of pre-operative stay differed significantly (p < 0.001) between PEM (median 7, range 1–36 days) and non PEM (median 1, range 1–22 days). In the PEM group, 12 (44.4%) patients had post-operative complications within six months after OP and 15 (7.8%) patients in the non PEM group (HR = 6.3, 95% CI 1.7–23.1).

Conclusion

We observed a higher post-operative complication rate for malnourished patients undergoing elective THA. These results underline the importance of pre-operative nutritional assessment in the elderly. Therefore, serum albumin and TLC are valuable clinical markers of PEM and the post-operative outcome.

Abdominal metastases of primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that about one third of patients with primary localized extremity soft tissue sarcoma (eSTS) will develop metastatic disease, abdominal metastases (AM) and retroperitoneal metastases (RM) constitute rare events. There is no clear consensus on how to achieve follow-up on patients with primary localized eSTS following curative resection, especially regarding the surveillance of potential AM/RM.

AIM

To systematically analyse incidence, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of AM/RM in eSTS patients.

METHODS

In this systematic review, 899 studies available in PubMed and published between 2000 and 2018 were screened, identifying 17 original articles focused on AM or RM in eSTS. Article selection was based on the PRISMA guidelines, using the search terms (abdominal metastasis AND soft tissue sarcoma) and (soft tissue sarcoma metastasis abdomen). All studies published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2018 were screened. Further articles were identified by cross-searching article references, with the final search date being February 18, 2019. Due to limited data and the different reporting techniques used, the present review focused on descriptive analysis of the included studies.

RESULTS

Of the 17 studies included, six original articles reported on incidence ± diagnosis, therapy and outcome in AM and RM, whilst three original and eight case reports focused on diagnostic pathway, therapeutic procedures or outcomes without allowing conclusions regarding incidence of AM and RM. According to the former six studies, incidence of AM ranged from 0.9%-5.6% in patients with miscellaneous histological subtypes, and up to 12.1% in patients with myxoid liposarcoma. The most common histological subtypes that developed AM or RM were (myxoid) liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, but also rare subtypes such as epithelioid sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour had been reported to develop AM/RM. Surgery for AM/RM was performed in five of eight case-reports (62.5%) and in 20.8%-100.0% of original articles. In particular, patients with hepatic metastases undergoing metastasectomy had a survival benefit compared to patients treated with chemotherapy or best supportive care (> 3 years vs < 6 mo).

CONCLUSION

Patients with eSTS should undergo surveillance with abdominal ultrasonography/computed tomography, or even whole-body-magnetic resonance imaging to detect AM/RM at an early stage.

Similar revision rates in clinical studies and arthroplasty registers and no bias for developer publications in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

Our aim was to assess the outcome with respect to cumulative revision rates of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) by comparing published literature and arthroplasty registry data. Our hypothesis was that there is a superior outcome of UKA described in dependent clinical studies compared to independent studies or arthroplasty registers.

METHODS

A systematic review of all clinical studies on UKA in the past decade was conducted with the main endpoint revision rate. Revision rate was calculated as "revision per 100 component years (CY)". The respective data were analysed with regard to a potential difference of the percentage of performed revision surgeries as described in dependent and independent clinical studies. Clinical data were further compared to arthroplasty registers in a systematic search algorithm.

RESULTS

In total, 48 study cohorts fulfilled our inclusion criteria and revealed 1.11 revisions per 100 CY. This corresponds to a revision rate of 11.1% after 10 years. No deviations with regard to revision rates for UKA among dependent and independent clinical literature were detected. Data from four arthroplasty registers showed lower survival rates after 10 years compared to published literature without being significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of UKA in dependent and independent clinical studies do not differ significantly and are in line with arthroplasty register datasets. We cannot confirm biased results and the authors recommend the use of UKAs in properly selected patients by experts in their field.

Influence of body mass index on health-related quality of life after surgical treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures. A retrospective 7-year follow-up study

Morbid obesity is associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), increased morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the correlation between obesity and complex distal radius fractures (DRF). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of being overweight on postoperative HRQOL after surgically treated intra-articular DRF. Fifty-three patients were included in this retrospective study with 7 years' mean follow-up (mean 7.2±0.4, range 6.4-7.9 years) after volar plating of an intra-articular DRF (AO-type C). All patients were categorized by their body mass index (BMI) into two study groups: group 1 (normal weight) with a BMI<25 (n=24); group 2 (obese) with a BMI≥25 (n=29). HRQOL and functional outcomes were assessed through range of motion (ROM) and four different scores - the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), the disability of arm and shoulder score (DASH), the Gartland and Werley score and the Castaing score - along with X-rays to measure volar tilt, radial inclination, radial length and articular congruity. All HRQOL assessments and clinical outcomes were correlated to BMI by comparing group 1 versus group 2. There was no difference in terms of postoperative ROM. The group of normal weight patients achieved slightly better but non-significant results for the Gartland and Werley score. No differences were seen in the DASH score or SF-36. There were also no differences regarding the Castaing score. Overall, normal and obese patients had no significant differences their HRQOL and functionality after volar plating of DRF.