Introduction: Proximal tibia stress fractures with knee osteoarthritis pose a challenging situation. We evaluated the radiological and functional outcome of one-stage total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and long stem for patients with varied grades of knee arthritis and proximal tibia stress fractures. Methods: We analysed 20 patients from April 2012 to March 2017 with proximal tibia stress fractures associated with knee osteoarthritis of varied grades. Out of 20 patients, five were acute fresh fractures. The mean age was 64 years (range, 52–78) which includes three men and 17 women. Previous surgery in the same limb, rheumatoid arthritis, valgus deformity were excluded. All patients were treated with posterior stabilised TKA with long stem, of which, four patients had screw augmentation for medial tibial bone defect and two patients with malunited fracture at stress fracture site required osteotomy, plating and bone grafting. Two patients had two level stress fracture of tibia in the same leg.Results: The mean follow-up period was 28 (range, 6–60) months. The mean tibiofemoral angle improved from 18.27° varus to 1.8° valgus. The mean knee society score improved from 21.9 (range, −10 to 45) to 82.8 (range, 15–99) [p < 0.05]. The mean Knee Society functional score improved from 15.5 (range, −10 to 40) to 76.8 (range, 10–100) [p < 0.05]. All fractures got united at the last follow-up. One patient had infection and wound dehiscence at six months for which debridement done and had poor functional outcome.Conclusion: TKA with long stem gives excellent outcome, irrespective of severity of arthritis associated with stress fracture. By restoring limb alignment and bypassing the fracture site, it facilitates fracture healing. Early detection and prompt intervention is necessary to prevent the progression to recalcitrant non-union or malunion.

Purpose The aim of our study is to compare the efficacy of adductor canal block (ACB), periarticular local infiltration (PLI) and both combined (ACB + PLI) in multimodal pain management after TKA. Methods This is a prospective, randomized controlled double-blinded study undergoing primary unilateral TKA. They were randomized into three groups with fifty patients in each group: ACB alone (30 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine), PLI alone (30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine in 20 ml of normal saline), and both combined (ACB + PLI). The primary outcome studied was pain using visual analog score (VAS) in postoperative days (POD) 1 and 2. The secondary outcomes estimated were the ambulation capacity, the knee range of motion, need for rescue analgesia and length of hospital stay. ResultsThe mean VAS score was significantly lower at rest and after mobilization in the combined group (3.51 at POD 1, 2.04 at POD 2), compared with either alone group (ACB = 4.70, 2.86 versus PLI = 4.39, 3.41 at POD 1 and 2 respectively after mobilization, p < 0.001). The ambulation capacity (combined = 103.3 steps versus ACB = 98.1 and PLI = 95.2 steps, p = 0.04) and the knee range of motion (arc of motion 106.7 degrees versus ACB = 104.9 and PLI = 102.2 degrees, p = 0.004) were significantly higher in the combined group compared to the other groups. There was no significant difference in the length of stay between the groups (p = 0.12). Conclusion Adductor canal block combined with periarticular local infiltration provides better pain relief, good range of motion, quicker rehabilitation, and reduced opioid consumption.

Background We aim to report the consecutive patients diagnosed with osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) following recovery from COVID-19 disease and elucidate the unique features of ONFH associated with COVID-19. Methods Consecutive 22 patients (39 hips) recovered from COVID-19 and presented with ONFH from November 2020 to October 2021 were included. All the patients received corticosteroids as a supportive treatment during COVID-19. Patients were classified into two types based on the type of presentation, namely classic ONFH and rapidly destructive coxarthrosis (RDC) depending on radiographs, MRI, inflammatory markers and hip aspiration findings. Harris hip score was used to evaluate the functional outcome before and after treatment. Results The mean time to diagnose of ONFH from the onset of hip symptoms was 39.3 days (range 10–90 days). The average duration of onset of hip symptoms after COVID 19 infection was 7.5 months (range 3 – 11 months). The average cumulative dose of methylprednisolone equivalent was 811 mg (range 200–2100 mg) and the average duration of steroid intake was 2.8 weeks. There was significant elevation in the inflammatory markers in RDC group compared to classic ONFH ( p < 0.05). The Harris hip score improved from 63.6 ± 23.2 at presentation to 82.6 ± 9.6 after treatment ( p < 0.05). Three patients had features of RDC. Among the three patients with RDC, two patients had rapid progression of ONFH and underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). The third patient is awaiting a THA. Conclusion ONFH after COVID-19 can have a varied presentation. While the most common presentation is like classical ONFH, some patients can have an acute and aggressive presentation with rapid destruction. They have features like elevated serological markers and extensive periarticular bone and soft tissue edema. A low cumulative dose of steroids in our patients suggests that the COVID-19-associated vasculitis may play a role in the pathogenesis of ONFH.

Aims The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of culture-negative periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) when adequate methods of culture are used, and to evaluate the outcome in patients who were treated with antibiotics for a culture-negative PJI compared with those in whom antibiotics were withheld. Methods A multicentre observational study was undertaken: 1,553 acute and 1,556 chronic PJIs, diagnosed between 2013 and 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Culture-negative PJIs were diagnosed according to the Muskuloskeletal Infection Society (MSIS), International Consensus Meeting (ICM), and European Bone and Joint Society (EBJIS) definitions. The primary outcome was recurrent infection, and the secondary outcome was removal of the prosthetic components for any indication, both during a follow-up period of two years. Results None of the acute PJIs and 70 of the chronic PJIs (4.7%) were culture-negative; a total of 36 culture-negative PJIs (51%) were treated with antibiotics, particularly those with histological signs of infection. After two years of follow-up, no recurrent infections occurred in patients in whom antibiotics were withheld. The requirement for removal of the components for any indication during follow-up was not significantly different in those who received antibiotics compared with those in whom antibiotics were withheld (7.1% vs 2.9%; p = 0.431). Conclusion When adequate methods of culture are used, the incidence of culture-negative PJIs is low. In patients with culture-negative PJI, antibiotic treatment can probably be withheld if there are no histological signs of infection. In all other patients, diagnostic efforts should be made to identify the causative microorganism by means of serology or molecular techniques. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(1):183–188.

No abstract