ORTHOPAEDICS HORIZON SCANNING BULLETIN Volume 3 Issue 4

Metal-on-metal hip replacements data analysis

Source:  Lancet 2012,  379 (9822), pp 1199-1204

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication:  31 March 2012

Publication type:  Journal article

In a nutshell:  This article provides unequivocal evidence from the UK hip replacement database confirming that stemmed metal-on-metal (MOM) implants, especially those with larger head size and those implanted in women, have a substantially higher failure rate than those made from other materials.  The researchers concluded that MOM give poor implant survival and should not be implanted.  All patients with these implants should be carefully monitored, particularly young women implanted with larger diameter heads.  They supported larger diameter ceramic-on-ceramic implants.

Length of publication:  6 pages

Some important notes:  You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article.  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  Medical News Today

Internet-based technology for clinical outcome data collection and adverse event monitoring

Source:  Orthosupersite 

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Date of publication:  February 2012

Publication type:  News item

In a nutshell:  Three early adopters of such technology share their experience and expertise.

Length of publication:  1 web page

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:   Orthosupersite

Comparison of rotator cuff tear repair techniques

Source:  Arthroscopy,  2012, 28(2), pp188-195

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication:  February 2012

Publication type:  Journal article

In a nutshell:  4 different rotator cuff repair techniques were compared.  In conclusion, where there is sufficient tendon mobility, a diamondback double row repair is optimal for enhanced healing.

Length of publication:  8 pages

Some important notes:  You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article.  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  Orthosupersite

Use of strontium ranelate for osteoarthritis could reduce hip and knee replacements

Source:  HealthNews UK  

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Date of publication:  24 March 2012

Publication type:  News item

In a nutshell:  Findings of an international Phase III trial were presented at the European Congress on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.  It found that strontium ranelate reduced deterioration of knee joint cartilage by a third in patients with osteoarthritis.  It also led to a significant reduction in pain and improved mobility.  The results could change the way osteoarthritis is treated, slowing the development of the disease and reducing the need for joint replacement surgery.  A link to the presentation is given below.

Length of publication:  1 web page

Some important notes:  You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access the article below.  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  Osteoporosis International  2012; 23 (Suppl 2) S57-S84:OC3

Faster recovery after minimally invasive surgery in total knee arthroplasty

Source:  Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2012, March 30. [Epub ahead of print]

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication:  March 2012

Publication type:  Journal article

In a nutshell:  Investigates whether less soft tissue and muscle damage during minimally invasive surgery allows faster recovery after total knee arthroplasty in comparison with conventional techniques.

Some important notes:  You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article.  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy

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ORTHOPAEDICS HORIZON SCANNING BULLETIN Volume 3 Issue 3

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in joint replacement patients may be prevented by aspirin and mechanical prophylaxis

Source:  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication:  7 February 2012

Publication type:  Conference presentation

In a nutshell:  In this Japanese study presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), investigators performed a venography before and after knee or hip surgery on 1,500 patients. All patients used a foot pump and wore an elastic stocking immediately after surgery. In addition, each patient took a regular dose of aspirin beginning two days post-surgery. They concluded that aspirin and mechanical prophylaxis was safe and sufficient to prevent proximal DVT and PE in most TKA and THA patients, except some cases with very high risk of coagulation tendency.

Length of publication:  1 web page

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Leukocyte esterase reagent (LER) strips help diagnose periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)

Source:  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Follow this link for abstract[1] and abstract[2]

Date of publication:  7 – 9 February 2012

Publication type:  Conference presentations

In a nutshell: Two studies were presented to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in February 2012 on the use of LER strips.  Both identify LER strips as a rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive tool for the diagnosis of PJI.  However, its use may be limited by a third of tests being unreadable because of blood and debris in the synovial fluid.  It is suggested that additional multicenter studies are required before the reagent strip can be used in the clinic or intraoperative setting.

Length of publication:  1 web page each

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Continuous epicapsular infusion of anaesthetic is effective for post THA pain

Source:  Anesthesia & Analgesia (2012) 114 (2), 456-461

Follow this link for abstract

Date of publication:  February 2012

Publication type:  Journal article

In a nutshell:  The use of a special wound catheter to infuse a local anaesthetic directly into the joint of patients undergoing hip replacement yields significant and lasting improvements in postoperative pain control. Stopping the pain at the source produces lower pain scores, reduces morphine use with less nausea and vomiting. The beneficial effects of this technique are still present 3 months after surgery.

Length of publication:  6 pages

Some important notes:  You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article.  Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement:  OrthoSupersite