Distal femoral arthroplasty for native knee fractures : results from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry

Single-stage internal fixation with knee arthroplasty: a novel approach for concurrent knee osteoarthritis and distal femoral fracture

This study investigates the clinical outcomes of single-stage internal fixation combined with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for treating distal femoral fractures with concurrent knee osteoarthritis (OA). We report a case of a 68-year-old female patient who sustained a displaced distal femoral spiral fracture (AO/OTA type A1.2) and severe knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade IV). The patient underwent single-stage surgery involving locked compression plating for fracture fixation and primary TKA. Postoperatively, the patient was allowed immediate weight-bearing and aggressive rehabilitation. At 4-year follow-up, the patient demonstrated significant functional improvement, with an Oxford Knee Score of 36.8 and a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score of 1.9. Radiographs showed no implant loosening and normal knee alignment. This case highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of single-stage internal fixation combined with TKA for elderly patients with osteoporotic distal femoral fractures and knee OA, offering a promising treatment option for such complex cases.

Dorsal cortex line is more reliable than transepicondylar axis for rotation in revision total knee arthroplasty with severe bone loss

Aims

The transepicondylar axis is a well-established reference for the determination of femoral component rotation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, when severe bone loss is present in the femoral condyles, rotational alignment can be more complicated. There is a lack of validated landmarks in the supracondylar region of the distal femur. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between the surgical transepicondylar axis (sTEA) and the suggested dorsal cortex line (DCL) in the coronal plane and the inter- and intraobserver reliability of its CT scan measurement.

Methods

A total of 75 randomly selected CT scans were measured by three experienced surgeons independently. The DCL was defined in the coronal plane as a tangent to the dorsal femoral cortex located 75 mm above the joint line in the frontal plane. The difference between sTEA and DCL was calculated. Descriptive statistics and angulation correlations were generated for the sTEA and DCL, as well as for the distribution of measurement error for intra- and inter-rater reliability.

Results

The external rotation of the DCL to the sTEA was a mean of 9.47° (SD 3.06°), and a median of 9.2° (IQR 7.45° to 11.60°), with a minimum value of 1.7° and maximum of 16.3°. The measurements of the DCL demonstrated very good to excellent test-retest and inter-rater reliability coefficients (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.80 to 0.99).

Conclusion

This study reveals a correlation between the sTEA and the DCL. Overall, 10° of external rotation of the dorsal femoral cortical bone to the sTEA may serve as a reliable landmark for initial position of the femoral component. Surgeons should be aware that there are outliers in this study in up to 17% of the measurements, which potentially could result in deviations of femoral component rotation.

[High revision rates and mortality after treatment of periprosthetic distal femur fractures with a distal femur replacement : An analysis from the EPRD]

BACKGROUND

Periprosthetic distal femoral fractures (PDFF) are challenging injuries, as mostly geriatric patients with serious comorbidities are affected. Revision to a distal femoral replacement (DFR) is often the best option in very distal fractures, poor bone stock and/or loose total knee replacement. Data on outcome after these surgeries is limited.

OBJECTIVES

This study was initiated to analyze the outcome after distal femoral replacement for periprosthetic distal femoral fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD) were analyzed. From a total of 43,945 revision knee replacement surgeries in the registry, 629 patients could be identified with a PDFF in which a DFR was used for revision. The mean age was 79.1 years, and 84.1% were female. Revisions and mortality were analyzed and compared with patient groups with a similar procedure (revision total knee arthroplasty) or similar general condition (fracture hip replacement). To make the groups more comparable, matched-pair-analyses were performed that included age, gender, BMI and comorbidities as matching parameters.

RESULTS

Within 1 year after surgery 17.1% of the patients died and 10.4% were revised. Within 4 years 35.5% died and 22.3% were revised. Revision rates were lower in elective knee revisions (1 year 6.0%, 4 years 16.8%). Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) accounted for 50% of all revisions, resulting a PJI rate of 7.3%. Mortality after DFR was similarly high as after fracture hip arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

After DFR for PDFF every third patient died, and every fifth patient needed revision within 4 years after surgery, which demonstrates the severity of this injury. Efforts should be undertaken to provide optimal treatment to these high-risk patients to reduce unfavorable outcomes. Surgeries should be well prepared and performed as early as possible in hospitals with adequate experience.

High revision rates and mortality after distal femoral replacement for periprosthetic distal femoral fractures: analysis from the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD)

PURPOSE

This study was initiated to analyze the outcome after distal femoral replacement (DFR) for periprosthetic distal femoral fractures (PDFF).

METHODS

Data from the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD) were analyzed. A total of 626 patients could be identified with a DFR for PDFF. Mean age was 78.8 years, and 84.2% were female. Revisions and mortality were analyzed and compared with patient groups with a similar procedure (revision total knee arthroplasty) or similar general condition (fracture total hip arthroplasty, hip hemiarthroplasty). Matched-pair-analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Within one year after surgery, 13.2% of the patients had died and further 9.4% were revised. Within four years, 32.7% had died and 19.7% were revised. Revisions were nearly twice as high as in the comparison groups. Periprosthetic infection (PJI) was the most frequent cause for revision, resulting in a PJI rate of 12.8%, which was lower in the comparison groups. Mortality after DFR was as similar high as after fracture hip arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

PDFF are a serious injury, and the necessary surgical treatment has a high risk of complications. Every third patient after DFR for PDFF had died and every fifth patient needed revision within 4 years after surgery. Efforts should be undertaken to provide optimal treatment to these high-risk patients to reduce unfavorable outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

REGISTRATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS

As this is a registry-derived study of data of the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD), no registration was performed.

Single staged buttress plating with constrained knee arthroplasty for distal femur fractures in the elderly

Treatment options for distal femur fractures include open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), arthroplasty, or a hybrid of both. We present a 76 year old female with left knee pain secondary to known osteoarthritis, known lateral condyle insufficiency fracture, and an acute medial condyle fracture. In order to solve the acute and chronic problems in a single procedure, a combined ORIF and constrained condylar knee (CCK) arthroplasty was performed. Arthroplasty alone would have required a highly constrained distal femur replacement, and ORIF alone would have caused prolonged immobilization and continued morbidity from unaddressed chronic problems. We chose a CCK as a less constrained implant would not have protected our ORIF which contained the medial collateral ligament attachment. This technique avoids the complications of ORIF alone, and avoids the known complications of increased constraint in total knee arthroplasty.

Megaprosthesis in Non-Oncologic Settings-A Systematic Review of the Literature

Modular megaprostheses (MPs) are commonly used after bone-tumor resection, but they can offer a limb salvage solution in massive bone defects. The aim of this systematic review of the Literature is to provide a comprehensive data collection concerning the use of MPs in non-oncologic cases, and to provide an overview of this topic, especially from an epidemiologic point of view. Three different databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant articles, and further references were obtained by cross-referencing. Sixty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on cases of MP in non-oncologic cases. A total of 2598 MPs were retrieved. Among these, 1353 (52.1%) were distal femur MPs, 941 (36.2%) were proximal femur MPs, 29 (1.4%) were proximal tibia MPs and 259 (10.0%) were total femur MPs. Megaprostheses were most commonly used to treat periprosthetic fractures (1158 cases, 44.6%), in particular in the distal femur (859, 74.2%). Overall, complications were observed in 513 cases (19.7%). Type I (soft tissue failures) and type IV (infection) according to the Henderson classification were the most frequent (158 and 213, respectively). In conclusion, patients with severe post-traumatic deformities and/or significant bone loss who have had previous septic complications should be considered as oncologic patients, not because of the disease, but because of the limited therapeutic options available. The benefits of this treatment include relatively short operative times and immediate weight-bearing, thus making MP particularly attractive in the lower limb.

Surgical approaches to periprosthetic femoral fractures for plate fixation or revision arthroplasty

Periprosthetic femoral fractures are increasing in incidence, and typically occur in frail elderly patients. They are similar to pathological fractures in many ways. The aims of treatment are the same, including 'getting it right first time' with a single operation, which allows immediate unrestricted weightbearing, with a low risk of complications, and one that avoids the creation of stress risers locally that may predispose to further peri-implant fracture. The surgical approach to these fractures, the associated soft-tissue handling, and exposure of the fracture are key elements in minimizing the high rate of complications. This annotation describes the approaches to the femur that can be used to facilitate the surgical management of peri- and interprosthetic fractures of the femur at all levels using either modern methods of fixation or revision arthroplasty.