Comparison of fit and fill between anatomic stem and straight tapered stem using virtual implantation on the ORTHODOC workstation

Primary total hip arthroplasty using a short bone-conserving stem in young adult osteoporotic patients with Dorr type C femoral bone

BACKGROUND

Dorr type C femoral bone exhibits a wide, stovepipe-shaped femoral canal, and thin cortices in the proximal femur. Dorr C bone combined with severe osteoporosis is an important challenge in primary hip arthroplasty. In this study, we assessed the effects of short metaphyseal fitting cementless stems on preformatted primary total hip arthroplasties in young adult osteoporotic patients with this femoral presentation.

METHODS

A total of 42 hip arthroplasties were performed in 35 young patients (range 20 to 36 years) using a short Tri-lock bone preservation metaphyseal-fitting cementless femoral component between 2012 and 2017. The mean age at surgery of the 27 male (33 hips) and 8 female (9 hips) patients was 27.5 years (range 20.3 to 35.8 years). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 20.2 kg/m2 (range, 16.8-23.2 kg/m2). According to Dorr's criteria, all 42 femora were classified as type C bone and all femurs suffered from severe osteoporosis (Singh index ≤ 3).

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 5.5 years (range 3.0 to 8.0 years). The clinical and functional results improved for the Harris hip score, WOMAC, and UCLA activity scores. The Harris Hip score improved from 48.0 ± 8.0 (range 38.0 to 61.0) preoperatively to 87.0 ± 9.0 (range 77.0 to 92.0) at 12 months after surgery and 91.0 ± 8.0 (range 85.0 to 98.0) at final follow-up. The preoperative UCLA activity score was 3.0 ± 0.5 points (range, 1.0-4.0 points), which significantly improved to 7.5 ± 0.7 points (range 6.0 to 8.0 points) at the final follow-up. No patient exhibited thigh pain at the final follow-up. The mean stem-to-canal fill percentages were 97% ± 2.1% (anteroposterior view at midstem). For stem alignment, 40 hips (95.2%) of the femoral stem were positioned neutrally to 3° of varus with reference to the femoral shaft axis. The remaining two were positioned at 4° varus to 4° valgus. Radiographic evaluation showed good osteointegration of the implants in follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the tapered-wedge design and proximal porous coating, the shortened tapered conventional stem can achieve reliable stability through neck filling and metaphyseal fixation, which does not depend on the isthmus hoop stress. This stem was suitable in severe osteoporotic patients with type C bones in young adults who presented with a correspondingly straightened femoral canal with a wide isthmus and thin cortex.

Current concepts in robotic total hip arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

Total hip replacement provides mostly fair functional and clinical results. Many factors play an essential role in hip stability and long-term outcomes. Surgical positioning remains fundamental for obtaining accurate implant fit and prevent hip dislocation or impingement. Different categories of robotic assistance have been established throughout the previous years and all of the technologies target accuracy and reliability to reduce complications, and enhance clinical outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An overview is proposed over the principles of robotic assistance in hip arthroplasty surgery. Accuracy, reliability, management of the bone stock, clinical outcomes, constraints and limits of this technology are reported, based on recent literature.

RESULTS

Potential advantages regarding pre-operative planning accuracy, cup positioning, maintenance of the center of rotation, preservation of an adequate bone stock nay clinical short- and mid-term outcomes are balanced with some reported disadvantages and limits like hip anatomical specificity, cost-effectiveness, engineering dependence.

DISCUSSION

The use of robotic-assisted THA presents clear and evident benefits related to accurate implant positioning and maintenance of a minimal bone while allowing. For some authors, an early improvement in functional results and patient's recovery. This technology demonstrated a shorter surgical time and a short learning curve required to optimize its use and this technology presents promising outcomes and results and potential use in routine clinical application but its limitation of use is still present especially the cost of the robot, the need for the presence of an engineer during the surgery, its availability of use in all hospitals as well as the difficulty presented in dysplastic or dysmorphic hip joints.

Primary total hip arthroplasty using an uncemented Wagner SL stem in elderly patients with Dorr type C femoral bone

Background

The purpose of this study was to review retrospectively the primary total hip arthroplasties operated upon with the cementless Wagner Self-Locking stem in patients with type C femoral bone.

Methods

Twenty-eight total hip arthroplasties were performed in 25 patients aged ≥ 60 years using a cementless Wagner Self-Locking femoral component between 2006 and 2011. According to Dorr’s criteria, all 28 femora were classified as type C bone. All patients were treated with THA using a cementless Wagner cone prosthesis. Clinical and radiologic evaluations were performed on all patients.

Results

Mean follow-up period was 125 ± 10.5 months (range 96 to 156 months). Average Harris hip score pre-operatively was 46 ± 9 (range 39 to 62) and at the last follow-up was 90 ± 9 (range 83 to 98). The stem to canal fill is calculated as percentages on the operative side at three distinct levels: just below the lesser trochanter, at midstem, and 1 cm above the tip of the component on anteroposterior radiograph. The mean proximal stem-to-canal fill percentages were 97% ± 2.1%, 95% ± 3.5%, and 88% ± 2.6%, respectively (anteroposterior view) and 92% ± 2.2%, 86% ± 1.9%, and 83% ± 2.5%, respectively (lateral view). Radiographic evaluation demonstrated good osteointegration of the implants in the follow-up.

Conclusions

Based on the long-straight cylindrical tapered stem design, the cementless Wagner SL stem can achieve reliable stability by close apposition of the stem and wide stovepipe femoral canal from metaphysis to diaphysis in type C bone.

Comparison of periprosthetic bone remodeling after implantation of anatomic and tapered cementless femoral stems in total hip arthroplasty: A prospective cohort study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Current total hip arthroplasty (THA) implant usage trends favor cementless fixation, and plenty studies have demonstrated that numbers of cementless femoral stems are associated with excellent long-term survivorship and functional outcomes. Various types of cementless femoral stems have been developed and utilized in multiple applications, including straight, tapered, anatomic, customized, short, and even neck stems. All of these designs aimed to achieve maximal primary stability and promote osseointegration. Nevertheless, stress-shielding and periprosthetic bone loss continue to occur and remain critical issues in promoting long-term survivorship of THA. Considering anatomic and tapered stems are the most popular cementless designs today, this prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the effect of stem design on stress-shielding and periprosthetic bone remodeling after implantation of an anatomic stem with proximal fixation (Ribbed Hip system; Waldemar Link, Hamburg, Germany) and the direct comparison to a fully coated tapered stem (LCU Hip system; Waldemar Link).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study will comprise patients who receive primary unilateral THA with the Ribbed anatomic hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated stem or LCU tapered fully HA-coated stem. The changes in periprosthetic bone mineral density after insertion of Ribbed and LCU stem prostheses will be assessed by means of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the periprosthetic region of interest according to Gruen and colleagues. Standard anteroposterior and lateral plain radiography will be performed for qualitative assessment of the periprosthetic bone remodeling. The following items will be analyzed or measured on follow-up radiographs to compare with the initial appearance on the radiographs taken immediately postoperatively: cortical thickness in each Gruen zone, fitness of the distal stem within the isthmus, femoral stem alignment, radiolucent line, reactive line, periosteal bone reactions, and subsidence. Biologic fixation and stability of the cementless implant will be evaluated using Engh grading scale, and heterotopic ossification will be graded according to Brooker classification. Furthermore, Harris hip score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Score will also be assessed for postoperative functional evaluation. These radiologic and clinical assessments will be taken postoperatively, at 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after surgery.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University Ethics Committee. The study results will be disseminated at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

STUDY REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn): ChiCTR1800017841.

Morphometric Evaluation of Korean Femurs by Geometric Computation: Comparisons of the Sex and the Population

We measured 28 parameters of 202 femurs from Koreans by an automated geometric computation program using 3D models generated from computed tomography images. The measurement parameters were selected with reference to physical and forensic anthropology studies as well as orthopedic implant design studies. All measurements were calculated using 3D reconstructions on a computer using scientific computation language. We also analyzed sex and population differences by comparison with data from previous studies. Most parameters were larger in males than in females. The height, head diameter, head center offset, and chord length of the diaphysis, most parameters in the distal femur, and the isthmic width of the medullary canal were smaller in Koreans than in other populations. However, the neck-shaft angle, subtense, and width of the intercondylar notch in the distal femur were larger than those in other populations. The results of this study will be useful as a reference for physical and forensic anthropology as well as the design of medical devices suitable for Koreans.

Computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery and robotic surgery in total hip arthroplasty

Various systems of computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) were reviewed. The first clinically applied system was an active robotic system (ROBODOC), which performed femoral implant cavity preparation as programmed preoperatively. Several reports on cementless THA with ROBODOC showed better stem alignment and less variance in limb-length inequality on radiographic evaluation, less incidence of pulmonary embolic events on transesophageal cardioechogram, and less stress shielding on the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis than conventional manual methods. On the other hand, some studies raise issues with active systems, including a steep learning curve, muscle and nerve damage, and technical complications, such as a procedure stop due to a bone motion during cutting, requiring re-registration and registration failure. Semi-active robotic systems, such as Acrobot and Rio, were developed for ease of surgeon acceptance. The drill bit at the tip of the robotic arm is moved by a surgeon's hand, but it does not move outside of a milling path boundary, which is defined according to three-dimensional (3D) image-based preoperative planning. However, there are still few reports on THA with these semi-active systems. Thanks to the advancements in 3D sensor technology, navigation systems were developed. Navigation is a passive system, which does not perform any actions on patients. It only provides information and guidance to the surgeon who still uses conventional tools to perform the surgery. There are three types of navigation: computed tomography (CT)-based navigation, imageless navigation, and fluoro-navigation. CT-based navigation is the most accurate, but the preoperative planning on CT images takes time that increases cost and radiation exposure. Imageless navigation does not use CT images, but its accuracy depends on the technique of landmark pointing, and it does not take into account the individual uniqueness of the anatomy. Fluoroscopic navigation is good for trauma and spine surgeries, but its benefits are limited in the hip and knee reconstruction surgeries. Several studies have shown that the cup alignment with navigation is more precise than that of the conventional mechanical instruments, and that it is useful for optimizing limb length, range of motion, and stability. Recently, patient specific templates, based on CT images, have attracted attention and some early reports on cup placement, and resurfacing showed improved accuracy of the procedures. These various CAOS systems have pros and cons. Nonetheless, CAOS is a useful tool to help surgeons perform accurately what surgeons want to do in order to better achieve their clinical objectives. Thus, it is important that the surgeon fully understands what he or she should be trying to achieve in THA for each patient.