Background: Constrained condylar knee (CCK) prosthesis are common used for revision surgery but can also help surgeons to improve implant stability in primary knee arthroplasty, in fact in severe knee arthrosis with serious deformity associated with a significant instability a more constrained articulation is required. With introduction of second generation of semi-constrained prosthesis, rate of complication is real decreased and a good survival rate and functional score results is showed. In this paper we write about our experience using CCK in primary knee arthroplasty.Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2015, 28 second-generation semi-constrained knee arthroplasties were performed as a first implant. Two different types of implants were used: 10 constrained condylar knee (CCK Zimmer) and 18 TC3 (DePuy Johnson & Johnson). All patients were over 75 years old (mean 81.75) with a severe deformity and clinical evaluations at 2-, 6-, 12-month after surgery and every year performed. X-rays at 6, 12 months and then annually was planned with an average follow-up of 31.28 (range 6-48) months.Results: No patients were lost during the follow-up. The mean functional knee society score (KSS) improved from 30 points preoperatively to 92.1 points at the last follow-up. All patients recovered full extension during follow-up and no radiolucent lines were showed at X-ray control. There were no deep infections or peri-prosthetic fractures.Conclusions: Second generation semi-constrained knee prosthesis represent safe and practical treatment in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in case of severe deformity that can't be managed with accurate soft tissue release, especially in elderly patients.

Purpose: Surgical hip dislocation is commonly performed in orthopaedic surgery for several pathologies that often present risk of avascular necrosis (AVN) of femoral head. Observation of blood spilling out from a drill hole, performed in the head after dislocation, has been proposed as a predictive test for AVN. No data have been published about test reliability. Study’s aim was to evaluate the correlation between ‘bleeding sign’ and AVN in surgical dislocation for elective disease and for acetabular fractures.Methods: All patients meeting the indication for surgical dislocation were included in this prospective study. Patients with follow-up shorter than 8 months were excluded. Intra-operative assessment of head vascularity was performed in 44 patients through the ‘bleeding sign’: a 2.0-mm drill hole carried out on the head during surgery. A positive bleeding test was considered an immediate appearance of active bleeding. Development of AVN was considered the main outcome. Necrosis group criteria were detection of type II, III or IV X-ray according to Ficat classification.Results: Forty-four patients with selected acetabular fractures, slipped capital femoral epiphysis and femoral head deformity were enrolled. Mean age was 25 years and mean follow-up was 36 months. Thirty-eight patients presented positive intra-operative bleeding sign and six demonstrated no bleeding. Sensitivity for the ‘bleeding sign’ was 97%, specificity was 83%, positive predictive value was 97%, negative predictive value was 83% and accuracy was 95% (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Bleeding after head drilling is a reliable test for AVN in patients who undergo a surgical hip dislocation.

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