The incidence of implant fractures after knee arthroplasty

Implant breakage after shoulder arthroplasty: a systematic review of data from worldwide arthroplasty registries and clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Implant breakage after shoulder arthroplasty is a rare complication after aseptic loosening, infection or persistent pain, resulting in malfunction of the components requiring revision surgery. This correlates with a high burden for the patient and increasing costs. Specific data of complication rates and implant breakage are available in detailed arthroplasty registries, but due to the rare occurrence and possibly underestimated value rarely described in published studies. The aim of this systematic review was to point out the frequency of implant breakage after shoulder arthroplasty. We hypothesized that worldwide arthroplasty registry datasets record higher rates of implant breakage than clinical trials.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database were utilized for this systematic review using the items "(implant fracture/complication/breakage) OR (glenoid/baseplate complication/breakage) AND (shoulder arthroplasty)" according to the PRISMA guidelines on July 3rd, 2023. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were conducted according to the Cochrane standards. Case reports and experimental studies were excluded to reduce bias. The breakage rate per 100,000 observed component years was used to compare data from national arthroplasty registries and clinical trials, published in peer-reviewed journals. Relevant types of shoulder prosthetics were analyzed and differences in implant breakage were considered.

RESULTS

Data of 5 registries and 15 studies were included. Rates of implant breakage after shoulder arthroplasty were reported with 0.06-0.86% in registries versus 0.01-6.65% in clinical studies. The breakage rate per 100,000 observed component years was 10 in clinical studies and 9 in registries. There was a revision rate of 0.09% for registry data and 0.1% for clinical studies within a 10-year period. The most frequently affected component in connection with implant fracture was the glenoid insert.

CONCLUSION

Clinical studies revealed a similar incidence of implant failure compared to data of worldwide arthroplasty registries. These complications arise mainly due to breakage of screws and glenospheres and there seems to be a direct correlation to loosening. Periprosthetic joint infection might be associated with loosening of the prosthesis and subsequent material breakage. We believe that this analysis can help physicians to advise patients on potential risks after shoulder arthroplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

First-time revision knee arthroplasty using a hinged prosthesis : temporal trends, indications, and risk factors associated with re-revision using data from the National Joint Registry for 3,855 patients

AIMS

The aim of this study was to identify variables associated with time to revision, demographic details associated with revision indication, and type of prosthesis employed, and to describe the survival of hinge knee arthroplasty (HKA) when used for first-time knee revision surgery and factors that were associated with re-revision.

METHODS

Patient demographic details, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, indication for revision, surgical approach, surgeon grade, implant type (fixed and rotating), time of revision from primary implantation, and re-revision if undertaken were obtained from the National Joint Registry data for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man over an 18-year period (2003 to 2021).

RESULTS

There were 3,855 patient episodes analyzed with a median age of 73 years (interquartile range (IQR) 66 to 80), and the majority were female (n = 2,480, 64.3%). The median time to revision from primary knee arthroplasty was 1,219 days (IQR 579 to 2,422). Younger age (p < 0.001), decreasing ASA grade (p < 0.001), and indications for revision of sepsis (p < 0.001), unexplained pain (p < 0.001), non-polyethylene wear (p < 0.001), and malalignment (p < 0.001) were all associated with an earlier time to revision from primary implantation. The median follow-up was 4.56 years (range 0.00 to 17.52), during which there were 410 re-revisions. The overall unadjusted probability of re-revision for all revision HKAs at one, five, and ten years after surgery were 2.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2 to 3.3), 10.7% (95% CI 9.6 to 11.9), and 16.2% (95% CI 14.5 to 17.9), respectively. Male sex (p < 0.001), younger age (p < 0.001), revision for septic indications (p < 0.001) or implant fracture (p = 0.010), a fixed hinge (p < 0.001), or surgery performed by a non-consultant grade (p = 0.023) were independently associated with an increased risk of re-revision.

CONCLUSION

There were several factors associated with time to first revision. The re-revision rate was 16.2% at ten years; however, the risk factors associated with an increased risk of re-revision could be used to counsel patients regarding their outcome.Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(1):47-55.

Early Tibial Component Fractures in a Cementless, 3D-Printed, Titanium Implant

Fracture of the tibial baseplate in total knee arthroplasty is a rare occurrence, particularly in short- and mid-term follow-up. This case series documents the first known report in the literature of fatigue fracture of a cementless, 3D-printed, highly porous titanium tibial component. We recommend regular follow-up visits with radiographs to confirm adequate total knee arthroplasty component positioning and alignment.

Use of Real-World Data for Enhancing Model Credibility: Applications to Medical Device Development

Evaluating the credibility of computational models used in medical device development is increasingly important as medical devices become more complex and modeling takes on a more critical role in the device development process. While bench-testing based comparisons are common for assessing model credibility and have many advantages, such as control over test specimens and the ability to quantify outputs, the credibility assessments performed with bench tests often do not evaluate the clinical relevance of key aspects of model form (such as boundary conditions, constitutive models/properties, and geometries) selected when simulating in vivo conditions.

Real-world data (outcomes data generated through clinical use of a device) offer an opportunity to assess the applicability and clinical relevance of a computational model. Although real-world data are frequently less controlled and more qualitative than benchtop data, real-world data are often a direct assessment of a particular clinical complication and therefore of high clinical relevance. Further, real-world data have the potential to reveal failure modes not previously identified in pre-clinical failure modes analysis, thereby motivating testing advancements. To review the use of clinical data in medical device modeling, this paper presents a series of examples related to tibial tray fracture that incorporate varying levels of benchtop data and real world data when evaluating model credibility. The merits and drawbacks of the credibility assessment for each example are discussed in order to provide practical and actionable guidance on the use of real world data for establishing and demonstrating model credibility.

High rates of implant fracture of a generic polished tapered femoral stem

OBJECTIVES

Cemented polished tapered stems have demonstrated excellent long-term outcomes. Based on this concept, many generic tapered stems have been released into the market. The aim of this study was to evaluate implant-related complications of 1 specific stem design.

METHODS

Between 2010 and 2017, 315 total hip replacements were performed using a Fortress stem (Biotechni, La Ciotat, France). Patient records and radiology were retrospectively reviewed for implant-related complications. A failure analysis was performed on the failed Fortress stems in order to determine the cause of premature failure.

RESULTS

7 (2.2%) patients sustained a fracture of the neck of the implant after a mean of 5 years (range 50-81 months). All fractures were atraumatic, originating at the introducer inlet of the stem. All fractured occurred in obese patients (BMI >33 kg/m²) with a small sized prosthesis. Of these, there were 5 135° and 2 125° stems. Fracture risk was 23% (7/30) for patients with a small sized stem and a BMI >30 kg/m². All cases were revised using a cement-in-cement technique or a cementless modular revision stem. Failure analysis on the retrieved stems revealed a stress riser at the bottom of the introducer inlet.

CONCLUSIONS

An alarmingly high rate of early implant fractures was seen using this specific type of cemented stem, particularly when using smaller implant sizes in obese patients. Although based on a proven design, a specific modification led to a stress riser in the neck area, which resulted in a high incidence of implant failure. This series underlines the importance of a stepwise introduction into the market of new orthopaedic devices even when based on established concepts. Generic stems may not behave as the original stem upon which it was designed.

A case of an atraumatic implant failure after primary rotating-hinge total knee arthroplasty

Rotating-hinge knee implants are fully constrained knee prostheses commonly used for revision total knee arthroplasty. Nevertheless, rotating-hinge devices have been increasingly utilized in primary setting. Complications are inevitable in orthopedic surgery, however, implant breakage after RHK arthroplasty has been rarely described in medical literature. We present a rare case of 70-year-old Caucasian, male patient who suffered an atraumatic femoral stem breakage in a primary NexGen ® Rotating Hinge Knee (Zimmer-Biomet ® , Warsaw, IN, USA).

Bladder perforation by orthopedic implants 26 years after limb-sparing surgery for left proximal femoral chondrosarcoma: A case report

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A patient underwent limb-sparing surgery for left proximal femoral chondrosarcoma.

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Bladder perforation by staples occurred 26 years after limb-sparing surgery.

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No reports describe staple migration into the bladder after limb-sparing surgery.

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Bladder injury is possible in patients with urinary symptoms after pelvic surgery.

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Implant complications may occur even after a long postoperative period.

Introduction

The need for implant use during orthopedic surgeries has been increasing. Accordingly, increased implant failures have been reported. However, bladder perforation remains a rare complication after orthopedic surgery. Although a few reports have described bladder perforation after total hip arthroplasty, no previous studies have reported the migration of staples into the bladder after limb-sparing surgery.

Presentation of case

A 65-year-old patient underwent limb-sparing surgery to remove a chondrosarcoma in the left proximal thigh. Twenty-six years after surgery, a staple that had been used to fix artificial ligaments to the pubis migrated to perforate the bladder, resulting in painful urination. The staple was removed, and her symptoms improved.

Discussion

In this case, bladder perforation by the staple resulted in painful urination. The bladder perforation was not detected until 26 years after the initial surgery.

Conclusion

Our observations emphasize that implant complications may occur even after a long postoperative period, and the possibility of delayed bladder perforation from previous pelvic surgeries should be considered in patients presenting with urinary tract symptoms.

Bilateral Femoral Component Fractures After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty With Cruciate-Retaining Femoral Component

A 69-year-old male presented with atraumatic bilateral femoral component fractures at different time intervals after simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty using the cemented Biomet Ascent Knee System. The right and left knee implant fractures occurred 12 and 17 years after primary arthroplasty, respectively. This patient was notably tall (190.5 cm, 98th percentile) and maintained an active lifestyle before implant fractures. Sequential, bilateral knee implant fractures in a system with a previously acceptable track record suggest that biomechanics, patient characteristics, and surgical factors can significantly influence the risks for fracture of an implant.

Patient outcomes in Anteromedial osteoarthritis patients over 80 years old undergoing Oxford Unicompartmental knee Arthroplasty in China

Background

The use of Oxford Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA) has increased rapidly in both Western and Asian populations, with excellent functional outcomes and high patient satisfaction. While previous evidence regarding clinical outcomes and survival rates after Oxford UKA was based on studies in Western populations, the results may be different in Asian patients. The relevance of age for postoperative function after Oxford UKA also remains unclear. Hence, the aim of our study was to clarify the effectiveness and safety of Oxford UKA in Asian patients aged over 80 years.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed and included 195 patients (209 knees) who underwent an Oxford UKA between June 2015 and July 2018. We divided the patients into three groups by age: Group 1, 60–69 years; Group 2, 70–79 years; and Group 3, over 80 years. We used the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score and Western Ontario and McMaster (WOMAC) Universities Osteoarthritis Index score to evaluate the general condition of the patients’ knees before surgery and at last follow-up. We also recorded perioperative and short-term complications.

Result

Group 1 consisted of 60 patients (60 knees); Group 2, 70 patients (79 knees); and Group 3, 65 patients (70 knees). The mean follow-up was 21.34 ± 12.04, 22.08 ± 11.38, and 21.76 ± 10.20 months in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. At last follow-up, the patients in Group 3 showed lower function scores compared to groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05), but the HSS scores and the WOMAC scores were significantly improved in all three groups. In terms of perioperative and other complications, the three age groups did not differ significantly.

Conclusion

Oxford UKA is an effective and safe treatment for osteoarthritis, even in elderly patients in China. Elderly patients have lower knee function scores than younger patients. However, the knee joint pain of the elderly patients was relieved and function improved compared to the preoperative condition.

Fracture of the Femoral Component Caused by Insufficient Crimping after Modern Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Fracture of a femoral component after modern unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is very rare. Although this is not the first case on this subject, no study has reported insufficient crimping as the cause of femoral component loosening that led to breakage of a metallic component. A 69-year-old man underwent medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for right medial knee osteoarthritis. His early postoperative course was good; however, the 1-year postoperative radiograph showed an apparent radiolucent line around the femoral component, and he occasionally had right knee pain. However, he had been followed up conservatively because he had been doing well even while doing heavy agricultural work. At 8 years after surgery, because breakage of the femoral component was found, revision surgery was performed using bicruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty. The removed fractured femoral component revealed a thick cement mantle detached from the bone surface. The postoperative course of the patient after the revision surgery was excellent. We suggest that the causes of femoral component breakage include early implant loosening caused by uneven cement crimping of the femoral component to the bone and excessive loading stress as a result of heavy labour.

Implant fracture of the Regenerex® modular metal tibial component: A report of three cases

BACKGROUND

Implant fractures are a very rare complication in primary total knee replacement (TKR) surgery and with modern implant designs and improved metals these events have nearly been eliminated. In this case series we report three cases of tibial metal baseplate fractures in uncemented Regenerex® TKR.

METHODS

Cases originated from a prospective case series of 80 patients operated between 2013 and 2016. Five patients were pilot cases and 75 were participants in a prospective randomized double-blinded clinical trial that evaluated different adjuvant bone anti-resorptive medical therapies. All patients were treated with an uncemented press-fit Regenerex® Porous Titanium Construct tibial tray and matching cemented (Refobacin Bone Cement R) patella and femoral components (hybrid implant).

RESULTS

We report three cases of medial side metal baseplate fractures of a modular finned tibial stem. All three baseplate fractures were in male patients. Confirmed failure of the implant occurred after 10, 12 and 23 months, in situ, with a mean follow-up of 15 months (range 10-23).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the current case series we cannot make any causal inferences. Failures may represent a multifactorial process with a cascade of events with implant failure as the result. However, like in most other case reports of metal failures in the literature, the implant fractures in this report were located on the medial side of the tibial component in male patients.