No benefits of minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty via Watson-Jones approach: A retrospective cohort study

Revision of Failed Short Stems in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background: The current literature lacks studies which evaluate the failure of short stems in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Therefore, the present clinical investigation reported our experience with the failure of short stems in THA, evaluating the causes of failure, survivorship, and the clinical outcomes of revision arthroplasty. Methods: The present study was performed according to the STROBE guidelines. This study was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Humanitas Clinical Institute, Milan, Italy, between 2017 and 2022. All patients who underwent revision surgery of a previously implanted THA using a short stem were prospectively included in the present study. Surgeries were performed with patients in lateral position, using a minimally invasive posterolateral approach. The outcomes of interest were to report information on the type and survivorship of implants used for the revision surgery and evaluate the clinical outcomes and the rate of complications. The following patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used for the clinical assessment were the Western Ontario McMaster Osteo-Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and related subscales of pain, stiffness, and function, and the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: Data from 45 patients were retrieved. Of them, 31% (14 of 45 patients) were women. The mean age was 63.7 ± 13.9 years. The mean length of the implant survivorship was 6.2 ± 5.7 years. In total, 58% (26 of 45 patients) underwent revision of all components, 36% (16 of 45 patients) revised only the stem, and 1% (3 of 45 patients) received a two-stage revision. The mean length of the follow-up was 4.4 ± 1.5 years. The cup was revised in 58% (26 of 45) of patients. At 4.4 ± 1.5 years of follow-up, the WOMAC score was 3.5 ± 1.3 and the VAS was 1.2 ± 1.3. In total, 9% (4 of 45) of patients experienced minor complications. One patient used a walking aid because of reduced function. One patient evidenced muscular hypotrophy. Two patients experienced hip dislocations. All two dislocations were managed conservatively with repositioning in the emergency room under fluoroscopy. No patient needed additional revision surgery or experienced further dislocations. Conclusions: Revision surgery is effective and safe when a short stem THA fails. At approximately four years of follow-up, all patients were highly satisfied with their clinical outcomes. Despite the relatively high number (9%), complications were of a minor entity and were successfully managed conservatively.

Mid-term results of cemented hip arthroplasties through the direct anterior approach in the lateral decubitus position: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Reports show a high complication rate when starting with the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) in a supine position for hip arthroplasty. The DAA with the patient in lateral decubitus position may avoid this problem because it supposedly provides better visibility, especially on the femoral side. However, this approach did show a rather high complication rate during the adoption of the approach at 1 year follow up in our previous report. We were interested what the overall 7 year survival estimate would be and whether improvement could be seen with growing experience.

METHODS

A cohort of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty right from the start of applying the DAA in lateral decubitus position was analysed.

RESULTS

In total 175 hip prostheses (162 patients) were evaluated. The 7-year survival estimate was 95.1%, 95 CI: 91.8-98.4%. In 6 of 8 revisions there was aseptic loosening of the stem. By dividing the cohort into 3 consecutive groups in time we did not see a significantly improving revision rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, the adoption of the direct anterior approach in lateral decubitus position caused a relatively low 7-year survival estimate without an apparent decrease with growing experience, however given the low number of cases further research is needed to investigate the long-term risk of adopting a new approach.

Antithrombotic prophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty: a level I Bayesian network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several clinical investigations have compared different pharmacologic agents for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, no consensus has been reached. The present investigation compared enoxaparin, fondaparinux, aspirin and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) commonly used as prophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty (THA). A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed, setting as outcomes of interest the rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and major and minor haemorrhages.

METHODS

This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension statement for reporting systematic reviews incorporating network meta-analyses of healthcare interventions. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing two or more drugs used for the prophylaxis of VTE following THA were accessed. PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were accessed in March 2023 with no time constraint.

RESULTS

Data from 31,705 patients were extracted. Of these, 62% (19,824) were women, with age, sex ratio, and body mass index (BMI) being comparable at baseline. Apixaban 5 mg, fondaparinux, and rivaroxaban 60 mg were the most effective in reducing the rate of DVT. Dabigatran 220 mg, apixaban 5 mg, and aspirin 100 mg were the most effective in reducing the rate of PE. Apixaban 5 mg, ximelagatran 2 mg and aspirin 100 mg were associated with the lowest rate of major haemorrhages, while rivaroxaban 2.5 mg, apixaban 5 mg and enoxaparin 40 mg were associated with the lowest rate of minor haemorrhages.

CONCLUSION

Administration of apixaban 5 mg demonstrated the best balance between VTE prevention and haemorrhage control following THA. Level of evidence Level I, network meta-analysis of RCTs.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of supercapsular percutaneously-assisted approach total hip arthroplasty versus conventional posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis was aimed to compare the postoperative clinical outcomes between the supercapsular percutaneously assisted total hip (SuperPATH, SP) and conventional posterior/posterolateral approach (PA) for total hip arthroplasty in patients who have failed conservative treatment for hip-related disorders.

METHODS

PRISMAP guidelines were followed in this systematic review. CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science databases and the reference list grey literature were searched for studies according to the search strategy. Endnote (version 20) was used to screen the searched studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criterias and extract the data from the eligible studied. RR and 95% CI were used for dichotomous variables and MD and 95% CI were used for continuous variables. All analyses and heterogeneity of outcomes were analysed by Review Manage (version 5.4). Publication bias of included studies was analysed by Stata (version 16.0).

RESULTS

Thirty-six randomized control studies were included. Compared to PA group, SP group had a shorter incision length, less intraoperative blood loss, a shorter length of hospital stay and do activities earlier. Hip function (HHS) was significantly improved within three months postoperatively. Pain of hip (VAS) was significantly reduced within one month postoperatively. The state of daily living (BI) was significantly improved within three months. Patients' overall health status (SF-36) improved significantly postoperatively. There was no difference in postoperative complications between the two approaches. PA had a shorter operative time and a higher accuracy of prosthesis placement.

CONCLUSION

The advantages of SuperPATH include accelerated functional recovery and less trauma associated with surgery. However, it required a longer operative time and implantation of the prosthesis was less accurate than that of PA.

Efficacy of ibuprofen and indomethacin as prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification: a comparative study

The prophylactic action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in heterotopic ossification (HO) was first described following analgesic therapy with indomethacin. Following that evidence, several compounds have been successfully used for prophylaxes of HO. Ibuprofen has been also proposed for the prevention of HO following THA. The present study compared the administration of ibuprofen for three weeks versus indomethacin as prophylaxis for HO following primary THA. In all THA procedures, pre- and post-operative protocols were conducted in a highly standardized fashion. The type of HO prophylaxis (indomethacin 100 mg/daily or ibuprofen 100 mg/daily) was chosen according to a chronological criterion: from 2017 to 2019 indomethacin was used, whereas from 2019 to 2022 ibuprofen was administered. In case of allergy or intolerance to NSAIDs, no prophylaxis was performed, and patients were included as a control group. All patients who underwent an anteroposterior radiography of the pelvis at a minimum of 12 months following THA were considered for inclusion. On admission, the age and sex of the patients were recorded. Moreover, the causes of osteoarthritis and the date of surgery were recorded. The grade of HO was assigned by a blinded assessor who was not involved in the clinical management of the patients. The modified Brooker Staging System was used to rate the efficacy of the interventions. Data from 1248 patients were collected. 62% (767 of 1248 patients) were women. The mean age was 67.0 ± 2.9 years. The mean follow-up was 21.1 ± 10.8 months. In the ibuprofen group, 73% of patients evidenced Brooker 0, 17% Brooker I, and 10% Brooker II. In the indomethacin group, 77% of patients evidenced Brooker 0, 16% Brooker I, 6% Brooker II. No patient in the ibuprofen and indomethacin group developed Brooker III or IV. In the control group, 64% of patients evidenced Brooker 0, 21% Brooker I, 3% Brooker II, and 12% Brooker III. No patient in the control group developed Brooker IV HO. Concluding, three weeks of administration of ibuprofen demonstrated similar efficacy to indomethacin in preventing HO following primary THA. The prophylaxis with ibuprofen or indomethacin was more effective in preventing HO compared to a control group who did not receive any pharmacological prophylaxis.

Risk factors for liner wear and head migration in total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful orthopaedic surgical procedure, and its longevity depends on bearing components and implant fixation. Optimizing polyethylene and ceramics has led to improved wear parameters and contributed to improved long-term outcomes. The present systematic review investigated whether time span from implantation, patient characteristics and performance status exert an influence on liner wear and head migration in THA. This study was conducted in conformity to the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. All the clinical investigations which reported quantitative data on the amount of liner wear and head migration in THA were considered. Only studies which reported quantitative data at least on one of the following patient characteristics were suitable: mean age, mean BMI (kg/m2), sex, side, time span between the index THA and the last follow-up (months) were eligible. A multiple linear model regression analysis was employed to verify the association between patient characteristics and the amount of liner wear and/or head migration. The Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to assess the association between variables. Data from 12,629 patients were considered. The mean length of the follow-up was 90.5 ± 50.9 months. The mean age of patients at surgery was 58.4 ± 9.4 years, and the mean BMI was 27.2 ± 2.5 kg/m2. 57% (7199 of 12,629 patients) were women, and in 44% (5557 of 12,629 patients) THAs were performed on the left. The mean pre-operative Harris hip score was 46.5 ± 6.0 points. There was evidence of a moderate positive association between the amount of liner wear and the time elapsed between the index surgery to the follow-up (P = 0.02). There was evidence of a moderate positive association between the amount of head migration and the time elapsed between the index surgery to the follow-up (P = 0.01). No further statistically significant association was found. The time elapsed between the index surgery to the follow-up was the most important factor which influence the head migration and liner wear in THA. Patients' characteristics and preoperative physical activity did not influence the amount of head migration and liner wear.

In primary total hip arthroplasty, the direct anterior approach leads to higher levels of creatine kinase and lower levels of C-reactive protein compared to the posterolateral approach: a propensity score matching analysis of short-term follow-up data

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study compares the invasiveness of the direct anterior approach (DAA) and the posterolateral approach (PLA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) by assessing three widely used inflammation-related serum markers in the first ten post-operative days.

METHODS

The database of our institution was mined for primary THAs conducted by the DAA or the PLA from February 2020 to June 2022. Demographics and creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells were compared. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) analysis (1:1 ratio) was conducted based on multiple variables.

RESULTS

PSM analysis yielded 44 pairs of DAA and PLA patients. CK was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the DAA than in the PLA group on postoperative day (POD) 2, 5 and 10. The POD2, POD5 and POD10 CK/preoperative CK ratio was 12.9, 5.0 and 0.8 in DAA and 8.8, 3.3 and 0.6 in PLA (p = 0.017, p = 0.012 and p = 0.025, respectively). The POD2, POD5 and POD10 CRP/preoperative CRP ratio was 95.1, 65.6 and 22.8 in PLA and 34.7, 23.3 and 8.9 in DAA (p < 0.001, p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

PSM analysis of early postoperative CK and CRP values demonstrated that the DAA should be considered as a less stressful approach, not as a muscle-sparing or a minimally invasive THA approach.

Value of closed suction drainage in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery of the ankle joint: a prospective randomised study

INTRODUCTION

Closed suction drainage is an established procedure in arthroscopic surgery. It is intended to reduce the retention of wound and irrigation fluids, which form the basis for postoperative swelling, pain, and infection. However, currently, there is no scientific review of the actual benefit of this procedure.

METHODS

Between 2020 and 2021, 84 patients (53 males, 31 females; mean age: 42 years) were prospectively randomised into this study. The patients underwent arthroscopic surgery of the ankle joint with (group A) or without (group B) insertion of a closed suction drain (42 patients per group). Assessments included upper ankle swelling using the figure-of-eight-20 method, pain preoperatively and 48 h postoperatively, and unexpected events within 6 weeks postoperatively.

RESULTS

The measurements performed 48 h postoperatively showed a mean circumferential increase of 1.38 cm (1.48 and 1.28 cm in groups A and B, respectively; p > 0.05) in all patients. The mean pain at rest, assessed using the visual analogue scale (maximum 10 points), was 2.7 and 2.4 in groups A and B, respectively (p > 0.05). Overall, two minor complications occurred: residual swelling in group A and persistent limitation of movement in group B. The average length of hospital stay was 2.4 days (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the available data, the routine insertion of a closed suction drainage at the upper ankle does not offer any objective benefit and must be considered obsolete. From both a medical and an economic point of view, the decision to conduct this procedure should be justified on an individual basis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, prospective randomised trial.

Factors influencing the outcomes of minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review

Introduction

The present systematic review investigated possible factors which may influence the surgical outcome of minimally invasive surgery for total hip arthroplasty (MIS THA).

Methods

In January 2022, the Embase, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases were accessed. All the clinical trials investigating the clinical outcome of MIS THA were considered.

Results

Data from 9486 procedures were collected. Older age was moderately associated with greater Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (P = 0.02) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) (P = 0.009) at last follow-up, and shorter surgical duration (P = 0.01). Greater body mass index (BMI) at baseline was moderately associated with greater cup anteversion (P = 0.0009), Oxford Hip Score (OHS) at last follow-up (P = 0.04), longer surgical duration (P = 0.04), increased leg length discrepancy (P = 0.02), and greater rate of infection (P = 0.04). Greater VAS at baseline was weakly associated with greater VAS at last follow-up (P < 0.0001), total estimated blood lost (P = 0.01), and lower value of Harris Hip Score (HHS) (P = 0.0005). Greater OHS at baseline was associated with greater post-operative VAS (P = 0.01). Greater WOMAC at baseline was associated with lower cup anteversion (P = 0.009) and greater VAS (P = 0.02). Greater HHS at baseline was associated with shorter hospitalisation (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Older age and greater BMI may represent negative prognostic factors for MIS THA. The clinical outcome is strongly influenced by the preoperative status of patients.

Minimally invasive anterolateral approach versus direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty in the supine position: a prospective study based on early postoperative outcomes

BACKGROUND

Minimally anterolateral approach (MAA) and direct anterior approach (DAA) have been reported as beneficial for total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to their ability to reduce postoperative pain and lead to quicker rehabilitation by preserving muscle insertions. As there is an ongoing debate on the effect of these two approaches on early postoperative outcomes, this prospective study aimed to assess the difference in early clinical, radiological, and patient-reported outcomes between the two minimally invasive approaches.

METHODS

A total of 98 patients, 50 in the MAA group and 48 in the DAA group, were included in the study. Patients with complete data were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Clinical measurements, including the ability to climb stairs and walk, 6-min walk test (6MWT), the Forgotten Joint Scale (FJS-12), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) Hip scores, radiological evaluation, and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes and implant alignments between MAA and DAA groups. In regards to patient-reported outcomes, the FJS-12 was significantly higher in the MAA group compared to group DAA at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. However, there was no significant difference in the FJS-12 between the two groups 12 weeks after surgery. The differences also included shorter operative times (62.4 ± 9.05 min vs. 71 ± 8.01 min), less blood loss (132.6 ± 43.31 ml vs. 159.23 ± 37.25 ml), lower Hb drop (29.56 ± 8.02 g/L vs. 36.4 ± 7.12 g/L), and fewer blood transfusions in the MAA group (4.0% vs. 18.8%). The incidence of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) neuropraxia after surgery was 7 (14.6%) in the DAA group and 0 in the MAA group. One fracture was found in each group and managed conservatively.

CONCLUSION

MAA and DAA approach yielded excellent and similar early clinical outcomes. However, better patient-reported outcomes could be achieved by MAA THA. The MAA resulted in a safer approach associated with shorter operative times, less blood loss, lower Hb drop, fewer blood transfusions, and LFCN neuropraxia than DAA. A longer follow-up is needed to further examine differences between these procedures.

Minimally invasive anterolateral approach versus lateral transmuscular approach for total hip arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a minimally invasive (MI) approach is a commonly performed procedure, and several approaches are now being used clinically. The MI anterolateral (MIAL) approach is one of the MI approaches used in clinical practice. Whether the MIAL approach is superior to non-MI approaches remains controversial. To resolve this controversy, we performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of results of THA procedures that used the MIAL approach. We assessed whether the MIAL approach was superior to the lateral transmuscular (LT) approach in terms of operative time, operative blood loss, radiological parameters, and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a methodical search for all literature published on PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, and pooled data using the RevMan software. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We calculated the mean differences (MD) for continuous data with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each outcome.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included 6 studies. Pooled results indicated no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of operative time (MD = 5.13, 95% CI -2.49 to 12.75, p = 0.19), cup abduction angle (MD = 1.64, 95% CI -1.32 to 4.60, p = 0.28), and cup anteversion angle (MD = 0.75, 95% CI -1.09 to 2.59, p = 0.43). Operative blood loss was significantly greater in those who underwent THA via the MIAL approach than those who underwent THA via the LT approach (MD = 68.01, 95% CI 14.69 to 121.33, p = 0.01). The postoperative Harris hip score (HHS) assessed at the time of final follow-up was significantly higher in those who underwent THA via the MIAL approach than those who underwent THA via the LT approach (MD = 1.41, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.33, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the MIAL approach is superior to the LT approach in terms of clinical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level Ⅱ.