No abstract

We compared 25 consecutive cases of total knee arthroplasty performed through less invasive techniques with 25 cases of age and BMI matched cases of standard knee replacements. Early experience suggests functional recovery is earlier with less invasive technique as compared with open access. Patients in less invasive group had better knee flexion (an average of 116 degrees compared to 97 degrees ), walking ability and stair climbing at 6 months than those with standard technique at 6 months. At 2 years this difference was maintained to a lesser extent. More patients with less invasive group could kneel and could do "normal up and down" the stairs at 6 months and also at 2 years. There was no significant difference in alignment and component sizing between the two groups. This should translate to similar long term results after less invasive knee arthroplasty as after open access total knee arthroplasty.

No abstract

Clinical experience of learning a new technique of minimally surgery for total knee arthroplasty is presented. Close monitoring of the technique, pitfalls, learning tips, and tricks are discussed. A "learning phase" is identified as approximately 10 months or 21 knee replacements using minimally invasive technique. It took 50 operations before the surgical time equaled the open technique. There was no incidence of increased complications during the learning phase. Functional results such as stair climbing, walking distance, and walking with aids was significantly better after minimally invasive technique than after standard technique.

Massive bone loss is a problem frequently encountered during revision hip surgery. Several ways of addressing the bone loss in proximal femur have been described with varying results. We present our results with the use of a radial impaction grafting technique and a collared textured component. 107 consecutive cases of Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty, who underwent radial impaction grafting and had a textured collared implant inserted for femoral deficiencies were assessed. The average follow up was seven years and four months (3 to 11 years). All the patients experienced a significant improvement in the clinical scores. Oxford Hip scores improved from an average of 41.2 (30 - 56) to 19.3 (12 - 32). Harris Hip scores improved from an average of 40.8 (28 - 65) to 83.4 (60 - 99). There were no cases of subsidence at follow up. Using revision for any cause as the end point the survivorship at an average of 88.8 months was 93.8%. Three revisions were performed for deep infection within the first year. There were three cases of peri-prosthetic fractures distal to the tip of standard length stems at an average of 8.4 months after surgery. We recommend the use of morsellised allografts with radial impaction grafting and textured, collared stems for selected cases with Paprosky type II and type III femoral defects. We also recommend use of long stems bypassing the tip of the previous implant with impaction grafting to avoid peri-prosthetic fractures.