We describe herein a modified technique for reconstruction of chronic rupture of the quadriceps tendon in a patient with bilateral total knee replacement and distal realignment of the patella. The surgery involved the application of a Dacron graft and the ‘double eights’ technique. The patient achieved satisfactory results after surgery and we believe that this technique of reconstruction offers advantages over other methods.
The safety of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. The objective of the current study was to investigate perioperative morbidity and mortality rates within 30 days of simultaneous bilateral TKA. A detailed analysis of medical, surgical and anaesthesia records of 183 consecutive patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty between 2002 and 2006 was performed. The mean age of the patients was 67.6 years old. More than 80% had one or more co-morbidities, but none of them had ASA score greater than class 2. The mean hospital stay was 10 days, and the mean surgical time 156 minutes. Less than half of the patients (42.6%) required blood transfusion. The rate of perimorbidity was 15.3 % and there was no mortality in this series. We believe that simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty is a safe and cost effective option for our patients, provided that patients are selected and informed appropriately.
We report on the medium term outcome of five patients (ten hips) who underwent one stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty. Both Harris Hip Scores and Oxford Hip Scores improved postoperatively as did range of motion. There was no radiographic evidence of loosening in any hip arthroplasty involved in this study, however one revision surgery was needed due to periprosthetic fracture. There were no increased medical complications. Based on our limited experience, we believe that one stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty is safe in selected patients.
The incidence of pseudoaneurysm after total hip arthroplasty is extremely rare. The most common mechanism of vascular injury is due to direct trauma during the operative procedure and most reported cases are acute in a presentation. We report an unusual case of pseudoaneurysm of the external iliac artery, presenting 6 years after initial surgery, and occurring following septic loosening of total hip arthroplasty. This case highlights the importance of prompt recognition of infection of total hip arthroplasty, and also indicates the need for prompt and appropriate treatment for these infections.
In 1977, a female patient, aged 31y, presented with histiocytosis X in the right pelvis and was treated with radiotherapy. She presented again in 1999 at the age of 53y with a similar problem at the same location this time also involving the acetabulum. The affected right hip was treated with cemented total hip replacement. Two years postoperatively, the patient was pain free with no evidence of local recurrence or loosening of implant, thus demonstrating that total hip replacement is a viable treatment option for histiocytosis involving the hip.