Evaluation and Management of Failed Hemiarthroplasty

A Case of a Failed Hemiarthroplasty of the Hip Treated by an Extended Trochanteric Osteotomy

Hip bipolar hemiarthroplasty, a widely employed surgical intervention for managing hip fractures and degenerative hip diseases, can pose significant challenges when revisions become necessary due to complications such as implant loosening, instability, or breakage. This case report presents the intricate management of a 58-year-old male who presented with worsening left hip pain a decade after undergoing hip replacement surgery. Despite a thorough preoperative assessment ruling out infection, intraoperative complexities included the necessity for extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) to address a broken stem and associated metallosis. Successful revision surgery was meticulously executed, incorporating techniques for implant removal, femoral shaft augmentation, and postoperative rehabilitation. The ensuing discussion explores the multifaceted aspects of failed hemiarthroplasty, emphasizing the critical roles of surgical precision, judicious patient selection, and ongoing research endeavors aimed at refining surgical strategies to optimize patient outcomes. This case underscores the imperative of a multidisciplinary approach and the continued imperative for advancements in surgical methodologies for effectively managing revision hip arthroplasty cases, thus enhancing the quality of patient care in this intricate clinical domain.

Surgical Approach and Dislocation Risk After Hemiarthroplasty in Geriatric Patients With Femoral Neck Fracture With and Without Cognitive Impairments-Does Cognitive Impairment Influence Dislocation Risk?

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether there is an association between surgical approach and dislocation risk in patients with cognitive impairment compared with those without cognitive impairment treated with hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Large, multicenter health system.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

One thousand four hundred eighty-one patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures. 828 hips met inclusion criteria, 290 (35.0%) were cognitively impaired, and 538 (65.0%) were cognitively intact.

INTERVENTION

Hemiarthroplasty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Prosthetic hip dislocation.

RESULTS

The overall dislocation rate was 2.1% (17 of 828), 3.4% (10 of 290) in the cognitively impaired group, and 1.3% (7 of 538) in the cognitively intact group with a median time to dislocation of 20.5 days (range 2-326 days), 24.5 days (range 3-326 days), and 19.0 days (range 2-36 days), respectively. In the entire cohort, there were no dislocations (0 of 58) with the direct anterior approach (DA); 1.1% (6 of 553) and 5.1% (11 of 217) dislocated with the modified Hardinge (MH) and posterior approaches (PA), respectively. In the cognitively impaired group, there were no dislocations with the DA (0 of 19); 1.5% (3 of 202) and 10.1% (7 of 69) dislocated with the MH and PA, respectively. In the cognitively intact group, there were no dislocations (0 of 39) with the DA; 0.85% (3 of 351) and 2.7% (4 of 148) dislocated with the MH and PA, respectively. There were statistically significant associations between surgical approach and dislocation in the entire cohort and the cognitively impaired group when comparing the MH and PA groups. This was not observed in the cognitively intact group. Patients who dislocated had 3.2 times (95% CI 1.2, 8.7) ( P = 0.0226) the hazard of death compared with patients who did not dislocate. Dislocation effectively increased the risk of death by 221% (HR 3.2 95% CI 1.2, 8.7) ( P = 0.0226).

CONCLUSIONS

In this patient population, the PA has a higher dislocation rate than other approaches and has an especially high rate of dislocation when the patients were cognitively impaired. The authors of this study suggest careful consideration of surgical approach when treating these injuries.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcomes of Total Hip Replacement for Failed Hemiarthroplasty

Aim

Our study aims to analyze the outcomes of conversion total hip replacement (THR) done for failed hemiarthroplasty.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 104 consecutive patients who underwent conversion THR for failed hemiarthroplasty between January 2012 and December 2018. The patient's records were analyzed for demographic information, index surgery details, preoperative functional status, and perioperative complications. Patients were analyzed according to the various modes of failure of hemiarthroplasty. The radiographs were analyzed for any progressive osteolysis, cup migration and stem subsidence. All the patients were evaluated using the modified Harris hip score (HHS) for clinical outcome. Complications, revision or reoperation in the follow-up period was recorded.

Results

A total of 73 patients were included in the study for final analysis after exclusion criteria. The average follow-up was 48.2 ± 29.6 months. There was a significant improvement in mean HHS from 38.5 ± 9.1 preoperatively to 80.9 ± 4.3 at the last follow-up (p < 0.05). The different modes of failure had no statistically significant difference in the postoperative Harris hip score (p = 0.393). None of the patients had progressive radiolucent lines more than 2 mm or significant subsidence in the final follow-up compared to the initial postoperative radiograph. There was one deep infection, one patient had grade 2 heterotopic ossification, intraoperative calcar fracture was fixed with cerclage wiring in 11 patients, and postoperative periprosthetic fracture in two patients was treated with plate osteosynthesis. There were no neurovascular complications or dislocation during the follow-up.

Conclusion

Conversion THR for failed hemiarthroplasty is a challenging procedure and results in good functional outcome and provides reliable pain relief. Conversion THA for septic loosening by two stage revision have comparable postoperative outcomes like THA for aseptic loosening. Caution is required owing to high incidence of peri-prosthetic fracture during conversion THA. Dislocation rate is negligible even with smaller head provided the prosthesis is implanted in the proper orientation and adequate soft tissue balancing is achieved.

Modern cemented Furlong hemiarthroplasty: Are dislocations rates better?

BACKGROUND

Dislocation following hip hemiarthroplasty is a major complication with increased mortality and morbidity. Data looking at dislocation following contemporary bipolar stems are lacking in literature.

METHODS

Retrospective review of our prospective national hip fracture database over a two-year period. Group 1 comprised of consecutive patients receiving bipolar Furlong prosthesis (N222) while Group 2 was made up of a historical cohort (uncemented; N254). Clinical and radiological records were reviewed to determine dislocation rates, causes and associative factors of dislocations. Data were analysed using SPSS.

RESULTS

Following 476 hemiarthroplasties performed during the study period, 12 (2.5%) dislocations were reported (eight in Group 1; four in Group 2). There was no significant difference in dislocation rates (3.6% vs 1.6%) between groups (p = 0.159). Subgroup analysis of Group 1 demonstrated a significant difference in dislocations with Furlong cemented (6%) as compared with Furlong uncemented (0%) hemiarthroplasties (p = 0.024). Following dislocation, death rates increased to 8.3% from 1.7% in both groups.

CONCLUSION

There is a statistically significant increase in dislocation rate following use of cemented Furlong prosthesis when compared to similar uncemented prosthesis at the same treatment period. However, when compared to traditional uncemented prosthesis, there is no difference in dislocation rates.

Effect of Vertical and Lateral Offset Restoration on Clinical Outcomes in Intracapsular and Extracapsular Hip Fractures Undergoing Hemiarthroplasty

Objective

We aimed to investigate whether there is a change in the postoperative lateral and vertical femoral offset (FO) in patients who underwent bipolar straight stem hemiarthroplasty (SSHA) and calcar stem hemiarthroplasty (CRHA) and whether this change makes a difference in the comparison of both groups.

Material and methods

This study included 109 patients who met these criteria. Patients are divided into two groups according to treatment methods. There were 58 patients (group 1) who underwent SSHA due to intracapsular (AO type 31-B neck and 31-C head fracture) femur fracture, and there were 51 patients (group 2) who underwent CRHA due to extracapsular (AO type 31-A intertrochanteric) femur fracture. We analyzed femoral vertical and lateral femoral offset, Wiberg angle, and head-neck angle difference in both groups.

Results

The median age was significantly higher in the CRHA group (p=0.042). The Harris hip score (HHS) was significantly higher in the SSHA group (p=0.023). The femoral offset difference was 5 mm in the SSHA group, while it was significantly lower (-6 mm) in the CRHA group (p<0.001). The Wiberg angle difference did not differ significantly between patient groups (p=0.214). The limb length difference was found to be similar in both surgical groups (p=0.483).

Conclusions

The study results show that there was no negative correlation between clinical and radiological outcomes in the SSHA group, whereas there was a negative correlation between clinical and radiological outcomes in the CRHA group. It is very difficult to control vertical and lateral offset reconstruction, especially in extracapsular hip fractures reconstructed by hemiarthroplasty. Deficiencies in lateral and vertical stabilization restoration may be associated with poor clinical outcomes in CRHA patients. Orthopedic surgeries should be performed carefully when restoring leg length and femoral offset, especially calcar replacement hemiarthroplasties.

Outcomes and survivorship after conversion of failed hip hemiarthroplasty to total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. When compared to total hip arthroplasty (THA), higher revision rates have been reported for hemiarthroplasty (HA). Conversion of failed HA to THA can be complex, especially in the elderly population at risk for revision surgery complications. We report a single institution's experience with conversion of failed HA to THA at mid-term follow-up.

METHODS

We identified patients converted from failed HA to THA from 2006 to 2016. Clinical data including indication for index and conversion surgery, maintenance or revision of femoral component during conversion, operative time, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, and need for revision surgery were collected. Descriptive statistics were analysed in SPSS.

RESULTS

The cohort included 21 men and 39 women (mean age of 74.5 years). The mean follow-up after conversion HA to THA was 2.8 years. During conversion surgery, the femoral component was revised in 75.0% and retained in 25.0% of cases. After conversion HA to THA, the rate of major complications and re-revision at 2 years was 11.7% and 10.0%, respectively. Femoral revision versus retention did not affect complication rates (11.1% vs. 6.7%; p = 0.31) or re-revision rates (8.9% vs. 13.3%; p = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

In this high-risk population, mid-term follow-up demonstrated tolerable complication and re-revision rates, the majority of which were for instability. We observed high rates of femoral component revision during conversion THA, although this did not increase the likelihood of postoperative complications or need for future surgery.

Low rates of all-cause revision in displaced subcapital femoral neck fractures treated with hip hemiarthroplasty - a retrospective review of 4516 patients from a single institute

Background

Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is among the commonest fractures affecting the geriatric population. Hemiarthroplasty (HA) is a standard treatment procedure and has been performed by hip surgeons for decades. Recently, primary total hip replacement has proved advantageous for the treatment of such fractures.

The aim of this study is to retrospectively review all causes of failure of all patients who underwent HA in our institute and reevaluated whether HA remains a favourable choice of treatment for patients with displaced FNFs.

Methods

A total of 4516 patients underwent HA at our centre from 1998 to 2017. The HA implants included unipolar and bipolar prostheses. Patients diagnosed with displaced FNF, underwent primary HA initially, required second revision procedures, and followed up for a minimum of 36 months were included in this study. Data were collected and comprehensively analysed.

Results

In 4516 cases, 99 patients underwent second surgeries. The revision rate was 2.19%. Reasons for failure were acetabular wear (n = 30, 30.3%), femoral stem subsidence (n = 24, 24.2%), periprosthetic fracture (n = 22, 22.2%), infection (n = 16, 16.2%), and recurrent dislocation (n = 7, 7.1%). The mean follow-up period was 78.1 months. The interval between failed HA and revision surgery was 22.8 months.

Conclusion

HA has a low revision rate and remains a favourable choice of treatment for patients with displaced FNFs.

Levels of evidence

Level III, Retrospective Cohort Study, Therapeutic Study.