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BackgroundBetween 7% and 15% of patients are dissatisfied after total hip arthroplasty (THA). To assess predictors and postoperative determinants of satisfaction and expectation fulfilment one year after (THA).MethodsBefore THA surgery, 132 patients from three tertiary care centres and their surgeons were interviewed to assess their expectations using the Hospital for Special Surgery Total Hip Replacement Expectations Survey (THR survey). One year after surgery, patients (n = 123) were contacted by phone to complete a questionnaire on expectation fulfilment (THR survey), satisfaction, functional outcome (Womac), and health-related quality of life (SF 12). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.ResultsPreoperative predictors of satisfaction were a good mental wellbeing (adjusted OR 1.09 [1.02; 1.16], p = 0.01) and optimistic surgeons expectations (1.07 [1.01; 1.14], p = 0.02). The main postoperative determinant of satisfaction was the fulfilment of patient’s expectations (1.08 [1.04; 1.12], p < 0.001). Expectation fulfilment could be predicted before surgery by young age (regression coefficient −0.55 [−0.88; -0.21], p = 0.002), good physical function (−0.96 [−1.82; -0.10], p = 0.03) and good mental wellbeing (0.56 [0.14; 0.99], p = 0.01). Postoperative determinants of expectation fulfilment were functional outcome (−2.10 [−2.79; -1.42], p <0.001) and pain relief (−14.83 [−22.38; -7.29], p < 0.001).ConclusionTo improve patient satisfaction after THA, patients’ expectations and their fulfilment need to be carefully addressed. Patients with low mental wellbeing or physical function should be identified and specifically informed on expected surgical outcome. Surgeons’ expectations are predictive of satisfaction and information should aim to lower discrepancy between surgeons’ and patients’ expectations.

In this study we randomised 140 patients who were due to undergo primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to have the procedure performed using either patient-specific cutting guides (PSCG) or conventional instrumentation (CI). The primary outcome measure was the mechanical axis, as measured at three months on a standing long-leg radiograph by the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle. This was undertaken by an independent observer who was blinded to the instrumentation. Secondary outcome measures were component positioning, operating time, Knee Society and Oxford knee scores, blood loss and length of hospital stay. A total of 126 patients (67 in the CI group and 59 in the PSCG group) had complete clinical and radiological data. There were 88 females and 52 males with a mean age of 69.3 years (47 to 84) and a mean BMI of 28.6 kg/m(2) (20.2 to 40.8). The mean HKA angle was 178.9° (172.5 to 183.4) in the CI group and 178.2° (172.4 to 183.4) in the PSCG group (p = 0.34). Outliers were identified in 22 of 67 knees (32.8%) in the CI group and 19 of 59 knees (32.2%) in the PSCG group (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference in the clinical results (p = 0.95 and 0.59, respectively). Operating time, blood loss and length of hospital stay were not significantly reduced (p = 0.09, 0.58 and 0.50, respectively) when using PSCG. The use of PSCG in primary TKA did not reduce the proportion of outliers as measured by post-operative coronal alignment.

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ObjectivesAnalysis of discrepancies between patient and surgeon expectations before total hip arthroplasty (THA) should enable a better understanding of motives of dissatisfaction about surgery, but this question has been seldom studied. Our objectives were to compare surgeons' and patients' expectations before THA, and to study factors which affected surgeon-patient agreement.Methods132 adults (mean age 62.8+/−13.7 years, 52% men) on waiting list for THA in three tertiary care centres and their 16 surgeons were interviewed to assess their expectations using the Hospital for Special Surgery Total Hip Replacement Expectations Survey (range 0–100). Patients' and surgeons' answers were compared, for the total score and for the score of each item. Univariate analyses tested the effect of patients' characteristics on surgeons' and patients' expectations separately, and on surgeon-patient differences.ResultsSurgeon and patient expectations' mean scores were high (respectively 90.9+/−11.1 and 90.0+/−11.6 over 100). Surgeons' and patients' expectations showed no systematic difference, but there was little agreement on Bland and Altman graph and correlation coefficient was low. Patients had higher expectations than surgeons for sports. Patients rated their expectations according to trust in physician and mental quality of life, surgeons considered disability. More disabled patients and patients from a low-income professional category were often “more optimistic” than their surgeons.ConclusionSurgeons and patients often do not agree on what to expect from THA. More disabled patients expect better outcomes than their surgeons.

W e compared and quantified the modes of failure and patterns of wear of 11 Mittelmeier and 11 Ceraver-Ostal retrieved alumina-alumina hip prostheses with reference to the corresponding clinical and radiological histories.Macroscopic wear was assessed using a three-dimensional co-ordinate measuring machine. Talysurf contacting profilometry was used to measure surface roughness on a microscopic scale and SEM to determine mechanisms of wear at the submicron level.The components were classified into one of three categories of wear: low (no visible/measurable wear), stripe (elliptical wear stripe on the heads and larger worn areas on the cups) and severe (macroscopic wear, large volumes of material lost). Overall, the volumetric wear of the alumina-alumina prostheses was substantially less than the widely used metal and ceramic-on-polyethylene combinations. By identifying and eliminating the factors which accelerate wear, it is expected that the lifetime of these devices can be further increased. The long-term effects of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear debris and the resulting osteolysis are well documented and have prompted renewed interest in alternative materials for total hip arthroplasty (THA). The alumina-alumina bearing couple was introduced in 1970, 1 but has been used only in small numbers compared with standard metal-on-UHMWPE designs. Laboratory tests and simulator studies have demonstrated the low friction and wear of this prosthesis, but concerns remain about its performance in vivo. Published clinical studies have already established the safety and the good tribological performance of this couple, 2-5 but there are doubts about the long-term performance of aluminaalumina THAs. The most common reasons for revision have been loosening of one or both components. The mechanisms which have led to this loosening have not yet been satisfactorily explained and therefore clinical and retrieval studies are needed to assess the performance of these prostheses in vivo. It is still unclear what role, if any, wear and wear debris play in their long-term performance or indeed if wear is a factor in the loosening process. Our aim was to establish the wear patterns and rates of wear of two different alumina-alumina prostheses to allow future improvements in design and materials. Patients and MethodsExplants. We studied two series of explants from centres in the UK and France. The UK series consisted of 11 explanted bearing couples from a 16-year series of Mittelmeier THAs implanted between 1980 and 1996 at Bradford Royal Infirmary by Mr A. Nevelos. The French series consisted of 11 explanted Ceraver-Osteal bearings implanted between 1977 and 1988 at the Hospital St Louis, Paris, by Professor L. Sedel and Professor Witvoet. Design of the prosthesis. The Mittelmeier Autophor (Ceramtec AG, Plochingen, Germany) design consisted of an externally threaded truncated cone socket made of monolithic alumina ceramic which was screwed into an underreamed acetabulum to articulate with a 32 or 38 mm modular he...

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