While advanced technology, increased medical knowledge and improved surgical technique has improved patient outcomes in total joint arthroplasty, prosthetic joint infection still remains one of the leading causes of increased healthcare costs, medical resources and societal burdens in orthopaedic care. Two stage arthroplasty revision remains the gold standard for treatment of prosthetic joint infection. Proponents of single stage revision arthroplasty for infection argue that it results in lower healthcare costs while improving patient reported functional outcomes and with equivalent success rates. Here we review the history of single stage revision arthroplasty, discuss the key principles, highlight the indications and contraindications, and review the reported outcomes with a focus on future developments of single stage revision arthroplasty for hip and knee periprosthetic joint infections.

Introduction:Controversy exists on the ideal type of fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Noncemented fixation has been theorized to improve patient outcomes and longevity of implantation without increased risk of aseptic loosening or radiolucent lines. We sought to compare (1) patient-reported outcomes, (2) survivorship, and (3) revision rates for all-cause and aseptic loosening in a noncemented tantalum total knee with its cemented counterpart.Methods:Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines were searched using a combination of keywords “trabecular metal,” “tantalum knee,” “total knee arthroplasty,” and “cementless trabecular.” Patient demographics such as age, sex, and body mass index were collected. Outcomes such as Knee Society Scores (KSSs), revisions, and radiolucent lines were recorded for analysis.Results:Four randomized controlled trials involving 507 patients with an average 5-year follow-up were eligible for meta-analysis. No differences were observed in any demographics such as age, sex, body mass index, nor preoperative KSS. Patients in the cemented cohort improved from preoperative KSS 46.4 to postoperative KSS 90.4 while the tantalum cohort improved from 46.4 to 89.3. No statistical difference was observed in postoperative KSS mean difference between groups. Six patients from the tantalum group underwent revision with one patient for aseptic loosening. Twelve patients from the cemented group underwent revision with four patients for aseptic loosening. No statistical difference was observed between rates of revision, aseptic loosening, or radiolucent line development.Discussion:Patient-reported outcomes improved postoperatively in both groups. No differences were detected between the cemented and noncemented TKAs in patient-reported outcomes, revision rates, or radiolucent line development. Noncemented tantalum fixation seems equivalent to cemented TKA survivorship. Longer term follow-up of these randomized controlled trials may provide a clearer understanding whether a difference exists.

The following article examines the implementation and controversy that surround climate change education and the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In order to fully understand why NGSS and climate change education continue to generate significant public debate, one must examine the work of both climate advocates and detractors. Therefore, this paper first examines the manner in which climate change continues to remain a debatable topic of discussion throughout American classrooms despite overwhelming scientific consensus. After, it explores how the debate over climate change stems from differing ethical cornerstones. Moreover, it delves into the oppositional perspective on climate change implementation by exploring the work of Truth in Texas Textbooks (TTT). Subsequently, it introduces and analyzes the creation and implementation of NGSS and discusses how adoption of NGSS and stronger levels of opposition to TTT is responsive policy that remains a necessary step to challenging global issues created by climate change.

No abstract

No abstract