15 research outputs found
Impact of bone quality on surgical decision-making in total hip arthroplasty: a qualitative analysis in the UK
Introduction For total hip arthroplasty (THA) to be successful, surgeons need to make several decisions ranging from implant choice to impaction force. It is unclear, however, whether and how bone quality affects surgeon’s decision-making and how surgeons evaluate bone quality.
Objectives This inductive/deductive qualitative hybrid study aims to explore the impact of bone quality on the decision-making of surgeons performing elective primary THA. This study will evaluate: (1) whether surgeons consider bone quality as an important factor for surgical decision-making; (2) how bone quality influences surgical decision-making; and (3) how surgeons assess bone quality preoperatively and intraoperatively.
Design This is a qualitative study, involving inductive/deductive hybrid thematic analysis.
Setting Semistructured interviews were conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams and on hospital premises.
Participants Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit consultant orthopaedic surgeons specialised in elective lower limb arthroplasty.
Results 10 surgeons from eight centres in the UK were interviewed. Thematic saturation was achieved after eight interviews. 5 main themes and 13 subthemes were identified. Bone quality impacted decisions around preoperative planning, surgical procedure, implant choice, concerns of iatrogenic injury and hip biomechanics. Many surgeons (7/10) described changing surgical procedure based on their intraoperative assessment of bone quality. There was consensus that cemented femoral fixation is superior in patients with poor bone quality and on the importance of assessing radiographs preoperatively. There was, however, a lack of consensus on optimal acetabular fixation method, the radiographs metrics used to measure bone quality and attitudes towards current guidelines.
Conclusions Bone quality has a significant impact on the decision-making of experienced arthroplasty surgeons, though there are significant limitations and divergence in current methods of assessing bone quality. Further work to identify intraoperative and preoperative imaging metrics that correlate with bone mechanical properties could enhance surgical decision-making
IP277 VTE Risk Assessment Scoring in Day Surgery Patients: U.S. and U.K. Perspectives on Risk Stratification
Robotic Assistance Enables Inexperienced Surgeons to Perform Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasties on Dry Bone Models with Accuracy Superior to Conventional Methods
Robotic systems have been shown to improve unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) component placement accuracy compared to conventional methods when used by experienced surgeons. We aimed to determine whether inexperienced UKA surgeons can position components accurately using robotic assistance when compared to conventional methods and to demonstrate the effect repetition has on accuracy. Sixteen surgeons were randomised to an active constraint robot or conventional group performing three UKAs over three weeks. Implanted component positions and orientations were compared to planned component positions in six degrees of freedom for both femoral and tibial components. Mean procedure time decreased for both robot (37.5 mins to 25.7 mins) ( = 0.002) and conventional (33.8 mins to 21.0 mins) ( = 0.002) groups by attempt three indicating the presence of a learning curve; however, neither group demonstrated changes in accuracy. Mean compound rotational and translational errors were lower in the robot group compared to the conventional group for both components at all attempts for which rotational error differences were significant at every attempt. The conventional group's positioning remained inaccurate even with repeated attempts although procedure time improved. In comparison, by limiting inaccuracies inherent in conventional equipment, robotic assistance enabled surgeons to achieve precision and accuracy when positioning UKA components irrespective of their experience
The Diagnostic Utility and Clinical Impact of After-Hours CT Scans of the Abdomen and Pelvis Investigating Abdominal Pain
Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility and impact on clinical management of after-hours CT scans investigating abdominal pain in surgical patients. Methods. After-hours CT A/P reports investigating the acute surgical abdomen were compared with clinical outcomes and histopathological findings to assess sensitivity and specificity of CT reporting. Comparisons between CT reports and clinical notes were made. CT scans were categorised as having direct effects on clinical management, ruling out a serious pathology, ruling out a nonserious pathology, or having no effect. Discrepancies between information in case-notes and information provided to radiologists were also analysed. Results. 79 clinical notes were located. After-hours CT demonstrated 91% sensitivity and 82% reporting specificity using clinical outcomes as the standard. In the 26 patients with histopathological findings, CT reports demonstrated 91% sensitivity. In 79.7% of cases, CT scanning had an impact on management. In 35.4% of cases, an indication for scanning was not documented with variation in clinical information in 8.9% of cases. Discussion. This study demonstrates after-hours CT A/P reports result in significant impacts on clinical management of surgical patients with acute abdominal pain. Improvements in providing information when requesting scans are however needed to facilitate accurate reporting
Robotic Assistance Enables Inexperienced Surgeons to Perform Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasties on Dry Bone Models with Accuracy Superior to Conventional Methods
Robotic systems have been shown to improve unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) component placement accuracy compared to conventional methods when used by experienced surgeons. We aimed to determine whether inexperienced UKA surgeons can position components accurately using robotic assistance when compared to conventional methods and to demonstrate the effect repetition has on accuracy. Sixteen surgeons were randomised to an active constraint robot or conventional group performing three UKAs over three weeks. Implanted component positions and orientations were compared to planned component positions in six degrees of freedom for both femoral and tibial components. Mean procedure time decreased for both robot (37.5 mins to 25.7 mins) (P=0.002) and conventional (33.8 mins to 21.0 mins) (P=0.002) groups by attempt three indicating the presence of a learning curve; however, neither group demonstrated changes in accuracy. Mean compound rotational and translational errors were lower in the robot group compared to the conventional group for both components at all attempts for which rotational error differences were significant at every attempt. The conventional group’s positioning remained inaccurate even with repeated attempts although procedure time improved. In comparison, by limiting inaccuracies inherent in conventional equipment, robotic assistance enabled surgeons to achieve precision and accuracy when positioning UKA components irrespective of their experience
Increasing reaming depth enhances implant stability whilst minimising bone strain
Aims
Increasing acetabular component press fit size can increase primary stability but introduces
excessive periacetabular strain during impaction which can lead to fractures. An optimal
outcome following cementless acetabular component impaction is maximal primary implant
stability with minimal periacetabular bone strain. The aim of this study is to investigate whether
a simple modification to surgeon’s reaming technique can achieve this desirable outcome.
Methods
A custom drop rig simulated impaction strikes seating acetabular components of either 1mm
or 2mm interference fit into synthetic sawbones with cavities reamed to either a true
hemisphere or a hemisphere with an enhanced reaming depth of 2mm or 4mm. Synthetic bone
strain was recorded using strain gauges and push-out tests conducted to assess implant stability.
Polar gaps were measured using optimal trackers.
Results
Compared to a true hemispherical cavity, enhancing the reaming depth significantly increased
the primary stability of the implant whilst reducing both the periacetabular strain and strain
deterioration for both 1mm and 2mm interference fit cups. A 4mm reaming depth enhanced
primary stability of 1mm press fit cups to a level almost equivalent to a 2mm press fit albeit
reducing strain to the bone. Enhancing reaming depth did not significantly affect polar gap.
Conclusion
Enhancing cavity reaming depth is a simple technique to increase the implant primary stability
of press fit uncemented acetabular cups whilst avoiding any excess in periacetabular strain and
the associated fracture risk
Primary Gallbladder Lymphoma in a Male Patient with No Risk Factors Detected Incidentally by CT Colonography
Primary gallbladder lymphoma, although rare, usually presents in females with symptoms mimicking cholecystitis. We present a rare case of primary gallbladder in an 81-year-old male with no risk factors whose only symptom was weight loss. Routine blood tests including liver function tests were unremarkable. A CT colonography was carried out to exclude colonic malignancy. Unilateral gallbladder wall thickening and lymphadenopathy were incidentally detected and confirmed by ultrasound and a decision for the patient to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy and intraoperative cholangiogram was made. Histology confirmed extranodal marginal zone lymphoma with follow-up staging and biopsy of the bone marrow not demonstrating spread. Cholecystectomy was therefore deemed curative and no adjuvant therapy was necessary. Thickening of the gallbladder wall on any imaging with or without symptoms should not be ignored or assumed to be cholecystitis, even in males with no risk factors. In these patients urgent cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram is indicated with histology and haematology follow-up
Comparison of Gait Biomechanics in Patients with and without Knee Osteoarthritis during Different Phases of Gait
Background This study aimed to characterise knee adduction angles (KAA) and knee adduction moments (KAM) and compare this with foot centre of pressure (COP) in volunteers with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods A total of 108 participants were recruited; 84 had no known pathology, 18 had medial knee OA, and six had lateral knee OA. Linear regression was used to determine correlations between the normalised COP, KAM, and KAA during each phase of gait for all participants. Results The first phase of gait demonstrated significant differences between groups for all measures: KAA in all phases, COP in phases one and two, and KAM in phase one only. Conclusion The largest mechanical changes are seen in the first phase of gait in osteoarthritic patients. Although COP is an easy to measure tool, it is not as sensitive as KAA and did not demonstrate a significant difference between healthy and medial OA patients. </jats:sec
5 year follow up of a hydroxyapatite coated short stem femoral component for hip arthroplasty: a prospective multicentre study
Short stem, uncemented femoral implants for hip arthroplasty are bone conserving achieving stability through initial metaphyseal press-fit and biological fixation. This study aimed to evaluate the survivorship, mid-term function and health related quality of life outcomes in patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA) with a fully hydroxyapatite coated straight short stem femoral component with up to 5 years follow-up. 668 patients were recruited to a multicentre study investigating the performance of the cementless Furlong Evolution® stem for THA. 137 patients withdrew at various time points. The mean follow-up was 49 months. Clinical (Harris Hip Score (HHS), radiographic and patient-reported outcome measures—Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D), were recorded pre-operatively and at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 3 year and 5 year follow ups. At 5-year follow-up, 12 patients underwent revision surgery, representing a cumulative revision rate of 1.8%. Median OHS, HHS and EQ5D scores improved significantly: OHS improved from a pre-operative median of 21 (IQR 14–26) to 47 (IQR 44–48) (p < 0.001). HHS improved from 52 (IQR 40–63) to 98 (IQR 92–100) (p < 0.001) and EQ5D improved from 70 (IQR 50–80) to 85 (IQR 75–95) (p < 0.001). This fully HA-coated straight short femoral stem implant demonstrated acceptable mid-term survivorship and delivered substantial improvements in function and quality of life after THA
The relationship between radiographic metrics and mechanical properties of the proximal femur
Background: Bone mechanical properties, including strength and stiffness, influence intraoperative fracture risk and implant stability in hip arthroplasty. Surgeons frequently utilize radiographic metrics to evaluate bone quality and inform surgical strategies. This study investigates the correlation between radiographic bone metrics and mechanical properties of the femoral neck.
Methods: Femoral neck cortical bone samples from 23 patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasty were subjected to mechanical compression testing to measure elastic modulus and ultimate strength. Density was also measured. Radiographic metrics, including cortical thickness index, canal flare index, canal-bone ratio, and canal-calcar ratio, were determined from preoperative radiographs. The correlations between these metrics and bone mechanical properties were analysed using linear regression, with intra- and inter-observer reliability assessed.
Results: Analysis included 19 of the 23 participants. Whilst cortical thickness index measurements demonstrated a weak positive correlation with bone density (R2 = 0.291; p = 0.013) and ultimate strength (R2 = 0.279; p = 0.015), canal-bone ratio showed a weak negative correlation with both factors (R2 = 0.291; p = 0.013 and R2 = 0.279; p = 0.015, respectively). Both cortical thickness index and canal-bone ratio demonstrated excellent inter and intra-observer reliability. Neither canal flare index nor canal-calcar ratio correlated with any mechanical properties, and none of the radiographic metrics correlated with elastic modulus.
Conclusions: Cortical thickness index and canal-bone ratio correlate weakly with bone strength and density, but not with elastic modulus. Given their limited utility, radiographs should be used with caution in surgical decision-making regarding impaction force and implant fixation strategy
