BackgroundThe increasing number of total hip arthroplasties (THAs) performed in younger patients will inevitably generate larger numbers of revision procedures for this specific group of patients. Unfortunately, no satisfying revision method with acceptable survivorship 10 years after revision has been described for these patients so far.Questions/purposesThe purposes of this study were to (1) analyze the clinical outcome; (2) complication rate; (3) survivorship; and (4) radiographic outcome of cemented revision THA performed with impaction bone grafting (IBG) on both the acetabular and femoral sides in one surgery in patients younger than 55 years old.MethodsDuring the period 1991 to 2007, 86 complete THA revisions were performed at our institution in patients younger than 55 years. In 34 of these 86 revisions (40%), IBG was used on both the acetabular and femoral sides in 33 patients. Mean patient age at revision surgery was 46.4 years (SD 7.6). No patient was lost to followup, but three patients died during followup. None of the deaths were related to the revision surgery. The mean followup for the surviving hips was 11.7 years (SD 4.6). We also analyzed complication rate.ResultsThe mean Harris hip score improved from 55 (SD 18) preoperatively to 80 points (SD 16) at latest followup (p = 0.009). Six hips underwent a rerevision (18%): in four patients, both components were rerevised; and in two hips, only the cup was revised. Patient 10-year survival rate with the endpoint of rerevision for any component for any reason was 87% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67%–95%) and with the endpoint of rerevision for aseptic loosening, the survival rate was 97% (95% CI, 80%–100%). In total six cups were considered radiographically loose, of which four were rerevised. Three stems were radiographically loose, of which none was rerevised.ConclusionsIBG is a valuable biological revision technique that may restore bone stock in younger patients. Bone stock reconstruction is important, because these patients likely will outlive their revision implants. Bone reconstruction with impaction grafting may facilitate future revisions.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, therapeutic study.

This study aimed to evaluate the intra- and interobserver agreement for both fracture classification according to Schatzker and treatment plan of tibial plateau fractures using plain radiographs alone and with computed tomography (CT) scans. The study was carried out prospectively to assess the impact of an advanced radiographic study on the agreement of treatment plan and fracture classification of tibial plateau fractures. Eight experienced observers (six surgeons and two radiologists) classified 15 tibial plateau fractures with plain radiographs and CT scans and set up a treatment plan. Agreement was measured using kappa coefficients. Using plain radiographs alone, the mean interobserver kappa coefficient for classification was 0.47, which decreased to 0.46 after addition of CT scans. Using plain films alone for formulating a treatment plan, the mean interobserver kappa coefficient was 0.40, which decreased to 0.30 after addition of CT scans. The mean intraobserver kappa coefficient for fracture classification using plain radiographs was 0.60, which decreased to 0.57 with addition of CT scans. The mean intraobserver kappa coefficient for treatment plan based on plain radiographs alone was 0.53, which decreased to 0.45 after addition of CT scans. In contrast with other recent publications, there is no increase in inter- and intra-agreement of a CT scan compared to plain radiographs for the classification and treatment plan in tibial plateau fractures. Routine CT scanning of the knee for tibial plateau fractures is not supported by this study.

Femoral cement-in-cement revisions are attractive if the cement bone mantle is well fixed. However, most available cemented stems are too long to fit in the existing cement mantle. We evaluated the medium-term outcomes of the 125 mm short tapered polished stem (Exeter Short Revision Stem (SRS)) with a 44 mm offset specifically designed to facilitate cement-in-cement revisions of hip arthroplasties. The Exeter SRS was clinically and radiographically evaluated in 24 consecutive femoral cement-in-cement revisions (11 men, 13 women) between July 2005 and February 2008 after a mean follow-up of six years (5-7). The mean age at operation was 67 years (54-83). No hip was lost to follow-up, but two patients (two hips) died. None of the deaths were related to the surgery. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was performed. Four femoral components (17%) were removed for septic loosening after a mean of 2.4 years (0.8-4.9). Three of these hips were revised again in a two-stage revision, and one was converted to a permanent excision arthroplasty. The probability of survival with re-revision for any reason was 82% (95% CI: 58-93) and survivorship with aseptic loosening as the endpoint was 100% at six years. There were no additional radiological failures. The Exeter Short Revision Stem is a valuable option for simplifying cement-in-cement revisions. Despite the short stem length, at mid-term there were no signs of instability or aseptic loosening.

This study shows that, due to restoring the bone stock, even successive acetabular reconstructions using IBG and a cemented cup are possible with satisfying 10 years survivorship.