Background Many patients undergoing TKA have both knee and ankle pathology, and it seems likely that some compensatory changes occur at each joint in response to deformity at the other. However, it is not fully understood how the foot and ankle compensate for a given varus or valgus deformity of the knee. Questions/purposes (1) What is the compensatory hindfoot alignment in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA)? (2) Where in the hindfoot does the compensation occur? Methods Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009, one surgeon (JJC) obtained full-length radiographs on all patients undergoing primary TKA (N = 518) as part of routine practice; patients were analyzed for the current study and after meeting inclusion criteria, a total of 401 knees in 324 patients were reviewed for this analysis. Preoperative standing long-leg AP radiographs and Saltzman hindfoot views were analyzed for the following measurements: mechanical axis angle, Saltzman hindfoot alignment and angle, anatomic lateral distal tibial angle, and the ankle line convergence angle. Statistical analysis included two-tailed Pearson correlations and linear regression models. Intraobserver and interobserver intraclass coefficients for the measurements considered were evaluated and all were excellent (in excess of 0.8).Results As the mechanical axis angle becomes either more varus or valgus, the hindfoot will subsequently orient in more valgus or varus position, respectively. For every degree increase in the valgus mechanical axis angle, the hindfoot shifts into varus by À0.43°(95% confidence interval [CI], À0.76°to À0.1°; r = À0.302, p = 0.0012). For every degree increase in the varus mechanical axis angle, the hindfoot shifts into valgus by À0.49°(95% CI, À0.67°to À0.31°; r = À0.347, p \ 0.0001). In addition, the subtalar joint had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.848, r 2 = 0.72, p \ 0.0001) with the Saltzman hindfoot angle, whereas the anatomic lateral distal tibial One of the authors certifies that he (AA) has or may receive payments or benefits, during the study period an amount USD 100,000 to USD 1,000,000 from Arthrex (Naples, FL, USA), an amount less than USD 10,000 from Arthrosurface (Franklin, MA, USA), and an amount USD 100,000 to USD 1,000,000 from MTP Solutions (Logan, UT, USA). One of the authors certifies that he (JJC) has or may receive payments or benefits, during the study period an amount more than USD 1,000,001 from DePuy (Warsaw, IN, USA) and an amount less than USD 10,000 from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (Riverwoods, IL, USA). All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 1 editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 1 neither advocates nor endorses the use of any treatment, drug, or device. Readers are encouraged to always seek additional information, including FDAapproval status, of any drug or device prior to clinical use. Each aut...

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is generally considered to be one of the most successful orthopedic surgical procedures. THA patients continue to experience symptoms, most commonly pain, which prevent their return to full function and activity. Possible causes include failure of fixation, instability and damage to soft tissues, associated with the trauma of the surgical procedure. Choosing the optimal surgical approach can minimize these risks and therefore improve the outcome of THA. Surgical approaches in THA include anterior, lateral [anterolateral (Hardinge) and direct lateral (Watson-Jones)], posterior (posterolateral and posterior) and posterior-2 techniques. However, there is no current consensus regarding which approach is the most suitable. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the postoperative outcomes and complications among THA approach and identify which approach is the best for THA. We searched all RCT studies that compared intra-operative and postoperative outcomes of anterior, lateral [anterolateral (Hardinge) and direct lateral (Watson-Jones)], posterior (posterolateral and posterior) and posterior-2 approaches for THA from the PubMed and Scopus databases up to February 1, 2017. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers. A network meta-analysis was applied to assess treatment outcomes. Probability of being the best treatment was estimated using surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA). Fourteen RCTs (N = 1017 patients) met inclusion criteria. Interventions were anterior (N = 233 patients), lateral (N = 334 patients), posterior (N = 405 patients) and posterior-2 (N = 45 patients) approaches. A network meta-analysis showed that effects of anterior approach were higher to lateral, posterior and posterior-2 approaches with the pooled mean postoperative within 1 month and last follow-up of HHS of 2.56 (95% CI - 0.79, 5.91), 4.80 (95% CI 1.33, 8.26), 10.80 (95% CI 2.10, 19.49) and 6.40 (95% CI 0.72, 12.09), 2.22 (95% CI - 3.21, 7.66), 4.22 (95% CI - 6.81, 15.25), respectively. For VAS, lateral approach was lower to anterior, posterior and posterior-2 approaches. In terms of complication, posterior approach was the lowest risk with RR of 0.39 (95% CI 0.19, 0.81), 0.57 (95% CI 0.21, 1.57) and 1.74 (95% CI 0.36, 8.33) when compared to anterior, followed by lateral and posterior-2 approaches. Results of SUCRA indicated anterior and lateral approaches were the first and second ranks for postoperative HHS and VAS score, while posterior and lateral approaches were the first and second ranks for postoperative complications. We recommended using lateral approach that has an acceptable postoperative pain, function and complications (second rank for all outcomes) as a surgical technique for THA.

BackgroundRecently, a number of studies using intra-articular application of tranexamic acid (IA-TXA), with different dosage and techniques, successfully reduced postoperative blood loss in total knee replacement (TKR). However, best of our knowledge, the very low dose of IA-TXA with drain clamping technique in conventional TKR has not been yet studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and dose-response effect of two low-dose IA-TXA regimens in conventional TKR on blood loss and blood transfusion reduction.MethodsBetween 2010 and 2011, a triple-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted in 135 patients undergoing conventional TKR. The patients were allocated into three groups according to intra-articular solution received: Control group (physiologic saline), TXA-250 group (TXA 250 mg), and TXA-500 group (TXA 500 mg). The solution was injected after wound closure followed by drain clamping for 2 hours. Blood loss and transfusion were recorded. Duplex ultrasound was performed. Functional outcome and complication were followed for one year.ResultsThere were forty-five patients per groups. The mean total hemoglobin loss was 2.9 g/dL in control group compared with 2.2 g/dL in both TXA groups (p > 0.001). Ten patients (22%, control), six patients (13%, TXA-250) and none (TXA-500) required transfusion (p = 0.005). Thromboembolic events were detected in 7 patients (4 controls, 1 TXA-250, and 2 TXA-500). Functional outcome was non-significant difference between groups.ConclusionsCombined low-dose IA-TXA, as 500 mg, with 2-hour clamp drain is effective for reducing postoperative blood loss and transfusion in conventional TKR without significant difference in postoperative knee function or complication.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01850394.