arthroplasty

Total hip arthroplasty

indications

·      disabling hip pain

·      functional impairment

·      significant arthritis on radiographs

Joint

Degenerative

·      primary

·      childhood

·      SUFE

·      CDH

·      Perthes

·      trauma

·      fracture

·      dislocation

·      metabolic

·      Paget’s

·      AVN

Inflammatory

·      RA

·      ankylosing spondylitis

Other

·      infective

·      septic arthritis

·      osteomyelitis

·      tuberculosis

·      old fusion or pseudarthrosis

·      failed reconstruction

·      tumour

·      proximal femur

·      acetabulum

Patient

·      elderly

·      thin

·      relatively inactive

·      low functional demands

·      no major medical illnesses

·      failed nonoperative treatments

contraindications
Absolute

·      active sepsis

·      hip joint

·      remote

·      neuropathic joint

·      insufficiency of abductors

·      massive bone loss

Relative

·      past history of osteomyelitis

·      medical condition that precludes anaesthesia or rehabilitation

·      young patient

·      high-demand activities

preoperative evaluation
Patient

General

·      general health

·      mobility

·      life expectancy

·      fitness for anaesthetic

·      cardiopulmonary

·      urinary status

·      eradicate UTI

·      perform TURP before THR

·      drugs

·      cease NSAIDs and aspirin

Hip

·      examine hip

·      abductor strength

·      leg length

·      contractures

·      examine other joints

·      knee

·      foot

·      check peripheral vascular status

·      check skin

·      eliminate open lesions and sepsis

·      eliminate other causes of pain

·      spine

·      trochanteric bursitis

·      intra-abdominal problem

Education and advice

·      informed consent

·      autologous blood

·      rehabilitation

·      home modifications

X-rays

Requirements

·      AP pelvis and lateral of hip

·      AP and lateral of proximal femoral shaft

Assessment

·      acetabular bone defects

·      femoral canal size

·      other deformities

·      templating

Equipment

·      choose prosthesis

·      choose tentative sizes

·      ensure equipment available

technique
Approach

·      personal preference

·      common options are

·      posterior (Southern)

·      lateral (Hardinge)

·      transtrochanteric (Charnley)

Preparation

Cup

·      define true floor

·      may need to remove curtain osteophytes

·      depth of reaming variable

·      trade-off between medialisation and preservation of subchondral bone

Stem

·      leave some cancellous bone

·      shock absorber

·      allows cement interdigitation

Orientation

Stem

·      anatomical anteversion

·      in neutral or slight valgus

Cup

·      anatomical anteversion

·      completely covered by bone

·      accept more vertical orientation

special cases
Degenerative arthritis

Preoperative

·      cease NSAIDs

Intraoperative

·      prepping and draping difficulties from contracture

·      may require adductor tenotomy first

·      must remove acetabular osteophytes before dislocation

·      need to remove curtain osteophytes from fovea to expose true floor

·      reaming sclerotic floor may be difficult

·      must medialise cup to allow lateral coverage

Postoperative

·      often large and heavy with difficulty mobilising

Rheumatoid arthritis

Preoperative

·      cease NSAIDs

·      perioperative IV hydrocortisone if steroid dependent

Intraoperative

·      anaesthetic problems with mouth opening and neck involvement

·      care with skin during prepping and manipulation because of fragility

·      gentle dislocation with increased risk of fracture

·      problems of acetabular protrusio

·      gentle acetabular retraction and reaming to prevent damage or penetration

·      careful femoral preparation to prevent perforation

Postoperative

·      difficulty mobilising with multiple joint involvement

·      increased risk of infection

Avascular necrosis

Postoperative

·      increased failure rate (40% at 10 yrs)

·      due to cause of AVN

·      alcohol

·      corticosteroids

Paget’s disease

Intraoperative

·      sharp reamers and broaches for hard bone

·      excessive bleeding

·      large bowed femoral shaft that requires large component, large distal occluder and multiple packages of cement

·      problems of acetabular protrusio

Postoperative

·      no increased heterotopic bone formation

·      no increased loosening

Fused hip

Preoperative

·      fused hip may exacerbate LBP or ipsilateral knee pain

·      fused hip does not compromise THR on other side

·      conversion should not be undertaken lightly

Intraoperative

·      difficulty prepping and draping

·      should perform trochanteric osteotomy

·      may require adductor and psoas tenotomy

·      identify sciatic nerve

·      avoid excessive tension on nerve with lengthening

Septic arthritis

Preoperative

·      ensure no infection

·      no drainage

·      no sequestrum on x-ray

·      normal ESR and CRP

Intraoperative

·      abandon procedure if infection identified

CDH

Preoperative

·      do not embark lightly

·      technically very difficult

·      only perform if degenerative disease causing significant functional impairment

Intraoperative

·      adductor tenotomy required

·      sciatic nerve liable to injury

·      approach

·      stretching with leg lengthening

·      may need to abandon if

·      insufficient pelvic bone stock

·      abductors insufficient

·      acetabulum

·      must identify true acetabulum

·      may need bone graft for superior defect

·      femur

·      orientation difficult because of marked anteversion

·      difficulty reaming because of canal narrowness and anterolateral bowing

·      small components required

Pseudarthrosis

Preoperative

·      if performed for infection, ensure no infection

·      no drainage

·      no sequestrum on x-ray

·      normal ESR and CRP

·      traction may pull proximal femur level with acetabulum

Intraoperative

·      adductor tenotomy required

·      sciatic nerve may be encased in scar

·      significant soft tissue release required

·      femur may have to be shortened to allow reduction

Postoperative

·      do not expect restoration of ROM or leg legnth

·      risk of recurrence of infection (if performed for infection)

Protrusio acetabulae

Types

Primary

·      Otto pelvis (arthokatadysis)

Secondary

·      existing prosthesis

·      septic arthritis

·      central fracture-dislocation

·      Paget’s disease

·      inflammatory arthritis

·      osteomalacia

Principles

·      place hip centre in anatomic location to restore biomechanics

·      use intact peripheral rim for component fixation

·      reconstruct defects with bone graft

Preoperative

·      define acetabular defect with appropriate imaging

Intraoperative

·      sciatic nerve should be identified as closer to joint

·      trochanteric osteotomy may be required for exposure

·      dislocation may be very difficult

·      first try removing portion of posterior acetabulum

·      may have to ostoeomise neck in situ

·      significant soft tissue release from femur needed

·      do not ream medially or use centering hole

·      remove cartilage and soft tissue with curette

·      enlarge rim only with reamer

·      use one or more techniques to prevent medial migration

·      take care not to create peripheral defect

·      use wire mesh in floor

·      graft floor with morsellised bone or bone wafers

·      cement metal ring to margins of acetabulum

·      use large cup with flange

results
Cemented

·      90% 10 year survival rate

·      most common problem is loosening

Complications
Infection

·      goal is incidence of < 1%

·      decreased with

·      prophylactic antibiotics

·      ultra-clean air

Deep venous thrombosis

·      without prophylaxis

·      DVT occurs in 40-70%

·      fatal PE occurs in 2%

Loosening, osteolysis and wear

·      most significant and common complication

·      due to particle disease

Heterotopic ossification

·      common (60%)but not usually problematic (1-5%)

·      increased risk with

·      previous HO

·      hypertrophic arthritis

·      ankylosing spondylitis

·      prophylaxis wtih

·      indocid

·      low-dose radiation

Dislocation

·      occurs in 2-3% of cases

Mechanism

·      two positions

1.   flexion, adduction and internal rotation

·      causes posterior dislocation

·      more common (80%)

·      occurs when rising from low chair

2.   extension, adduction and external rotation

·      causes anterior dislocation

Predisposing factors

Preoperative

·      prior hip surgery

·      revision THR

Intraoperative

·      approach

·      posterior approach (affects cup orientation)

·      head size

·      no evidence

·      theory - 22 mm head has higher dislocation rate because impinges earlier and stretches capsule less

·      leg length inequality

·      no evidence

·      theory - short limb decreases abductor tension

·      component orientation

·      cup out of acetabular safe zone

·      is 15+/-10o anteversion and 40+/-10o abduction (from horizontal)

·      excessive femoral anteversion

Postoperative

·      range of motion

·      increased mobility (with capsular stretching and component levering)

Aetiology

1.   compromised soft tissue envelope with muscle imbalance

·      nonunion of trochanteric osteotomy

·      effective shortening of limb

·      neuromuscular disorders with abductor weakness

2.   malposition of components

·      acetabular retroversion

·      posterior approach

3.   impingement of components or bone

·      cement

·      osteophytes

4.   extremes of position

·      trauma

·      confusion

Prevention

Imbalance

·      preoperative planning with templating to maintain leg length and offset

·      recreation of leg length equality with avoidance of effective shortening

·      excessive deepening of femoral neck

·      excessive bone resection from femoral neck

·      varus position of femoral component

·      avoidance of or careful reattachment of trochanteric osteotomy

Malposition

·      careful patient positioning

·      adequate exposure

·      care with posterior approach

·      careful anterior retraction of femur

·      anterior capsule release to assist anterior femoral displacement

·      repair of posterior structures

·      removal of osteophytes from acetabulum to aid in orientation

·      use of anatomical landmarks rather than cup holder only

·      careful orientation with

·      cup anteverted 10-15o

·      cup inclined 45-55o from vertical

·      stem in slight anteversion

·      can assess degree of cup version on x-ray

·      superimposition of wire in cup means neutral

·      ellipse means version

·      angling of tube until wires supermiposed indicates amount and direction of version

·      orientation of liner lip into position of maximal benefit

·      usually posterosuperior

·      cementing of femoral component in same position as trial reduction

·      inadvertent shortening with varus or distal migration

·      removal of loose bodies from acetabulum

Impingement

·      removal of osteophytes and cement

·      removal of excess bone when acetabulum deepened

·      osteotomy and lateralisation of trochanter when posteriorly displaced

·      eg. CDH

·      avoidance of excessively horizontal cup which impinges in flexion

·      correct orientation of liner lip to prevent impingement

·      assess on trial reduction

Extremes of position

·      preoperative education

·      abduction pillow

·      knee immobiliser with confused patients

·      postoperative education

Timing

Early

·      within 6 weeks

·      represents majority of dislocations

·      usually due to malposition of hip before adequate

·      muscle control

·      soft tissue healing

·      minimal chance of recurrence

Late

·      after 6 weeks

·      represents majority of recurrent dislocations

·      usually  due to increase in ROM and activity that manifests unrecognised

·      impingement

·      component malposition

·      usually recurrent

·      40% require revision surgery

Treatment

Early

·      reduction under analgesia and muscle relaxation or GA

Late

·      first episode treated with reduction

·      recurrence treated with abduction brace or cast

·      20o flexion, abduction and ER

·      for 6 weeks

·      repeated dislocations treated with revision

·      procedure depends on cause

·      impingement

·      removal of osteophytes or cement

·      effective shortening

·      longer neck if modular

·      revision of stem if not modular

·      malposition

·      augmentation of polyethylene lining

·      revision of malpositioned component

·      abductor insufficiency

·      no obvious cause

·      trochanteric osteotomy and advancement

·      revision to bipolar component

·      constrained socket design (if can accept increased loosening)

·      failure or unreliable patients (noncompliant, alcoholic, drug abusers)

·      removal of components

Neurovascular

Extrapelvic nerves

Sciatic nerve

·      incidence is

·      1% in primary THR

·      3% in revision THR

·      5% in CDH and other leg lengthening procedures

·      mechanisms of injury

·      direct injury during exposure

·      injudicious retraction

·      stretching during extremes of positioning of leg

·      damage from reamers, diathermy

·      damage from wires, sutures

·      thermal damage from cement

·      stretching with leg lengthening

·      compression by haematoma, esp. if anticoagulated

·      postoperative dislocation

·      prevented by exposure of nerve with

·      revision surgery

·      external rotation deformity

·      protrusio acetabulae

·      CDH

·      recovery

·      majority of palsies are partial

·      most recover significantly or completely (80%)

·      main persistent symptom is causalgia (30%)

·      prevention

·      warn patient

·      care during difficult cases

·      treatment

·      immediate exploration in complete lesion or painful lesion for obvious cause

·      exploration after 6 weeks in incomplete lesion

·      foot drop splint

Peroneal nerve

·      peroneal branch of sciatic nerve may be damaged as above

·      more vulnerable than tibial branch

·      more fixed, more exposed and less connective tissue

·      may occur postoperatively

·      straps from abduction pillow

·      pressure with external rotation of extremity

Femoral nerve

·      mechanisms of injury

·      stretching from manipulation and leg lengthening

·      retractors over anteroinferior lip of acetabulum

·      cement extrusion anteromedially

·      transacetabular screws in anterior quadrants

·      compression by haematoma

Intrapelvic neurovascular structures

·      damage occurs with

·      positioning of retractors

·      screws to fix uncemented cup to acetabulum

·      intrapelvic intrusion or removal of cement

Quadrants

·      floor may be divided into quadrants by 2 lines

·      line A from ASIS to posterior fovea

·      line B perpendicular to linea A

·      forms 4 quadrants

·      anterosuperior

·      anteroinferior

·      posterosuperior

·      posteroinferior

Screws

·      screws may penetrate neurovascular structures

·      may not be immediately appreciated

·      significant intrapelvic bleeding may occur before diagnosis made

·      should avoid certain quadrants with screws

1.   PS and PI

·      contain best bone stock

·      relatively safe

·      long screws may endanger superior and inferior gluteal neurovascular structures and sciatic nerve

2.   AS and AI

·      screws endanger external iliac (esp. AS) and obturator (esp. AI) neurovascular structures

·      little protective interposition of soft tissue

·      poor bone stock

3.   pole of acetulum

·      endangers obturator NV bundle

Cement

·      damage may be due to

·      thrombi from heat of polymerisation

·      kinking or occlusion from bolus

·      erosion with false aneurysm from spicule

·      avulsion due to adhesions at removal

·      should avoid cement intrusion into pelvis

·      wire mesh cement restrictor with Charnley approach

·      wire mesh in floor with acetabular defect

·      care must be taken during intrapelvic cement removal

·      required in revision for infection

·      define vascular relationships with angiography, CT or MRI

·      may require separate intrapelvic exposure

External iliac vessels

·      injury occurs during all phases

·      injury to EIA more common

·      anatomy

·      EIA is anterior division of bifurcation of common iliac artery at L5-S1 disc

·      runs down medial border of psoas

·      some psoas interposed between itself and intrapelvic surface of anterior column

·      EIV accompanies artery

·      mechanisms of injury

·      positioning with preexisting atherosclerosis with thrombosis or plaque embolism

·      retractors over anterior lip of acetabulum over rather than under protective psoas

·      damage during reaming or drilling of anchoring holes (esp. to EIV)

·      cement extrusion into pelvis with heat damage or direct compression

·      laceration with transacetebular screws due to drill, depth gauge or screw in anterior quadrants

·      delayed injury due to socket migration

·      delayed injury from cement from spicules or vessel erosion

·      tearing of vessels with removal of cement during revision

Femoral vessels

·      most commonly injured

·      anatomy

·      CFA is continuation of EIA as passes under inguinal ligament

·      passes anterior to hip joint capsule

·      separated from it by psoas

·      CFV is medial to artery

·      mechanisms of injury (similar to above)

Obturator vessels

·      anatomy

·      artery, vein and nerve traverse lateral wall together

·      separated from quadrilateral plate by obturator internus

·      lie at superolateral aspect of obturator foramen

·      exit pelvis via obturator canal

·      mechanisms of injury

·      laceration with screws in anterior inferior quadrant

·      retractor under transverse acetabular ligament

Superior gluteal vessels

·      anatomy

·      SGA is branch of posterior division of internal iliac artery

·      vein and nerve travel with artery

·      close to posterior column as exit superior sciatic notch

·      pass above piriformis

·      mechanisms of injury

·      laceration with screw near sciatic notch

Inferior gluteal and internal pudendal vessels

·      anatomy

·      terminal branches of anterior division of internal iliac artery

·      exit pelvis between piriformis and coccygeus

·      close to posterior column near ischial spine

·      internal pudendal artery re-enters pelvis through lesser sciatic notch

·      inferior gluteal vessels pass under piriformis

·      mechanism of injury

·      excessively long screws through posterior column

Treatment

1.   intraoperative

·      vascular surgeon

·      retroperitoneal approach

·      clamping of internal iliac vessels

2.   postoperative

·      angiography

·      transcatheter embolisation

Femoral fractures

Intraoperative

·      increased incidence with press-fit components

·      depend on intimate apposition of bone and metal

·      act like splitting wedge

·      fractures may occur during

·      dislocation

·      reaming or broaching

·      impaction of component

·      removal of cement or ingrown components during revision

Prevention

·      during dislocation

·      adequate exposure

·      only one person manipulating femur

·      if difficulty, complete soft tissue release and removal of marginal acetabular osteophytes

·      if stiff joint or intrapelvic protrusion, division of neck in situ and piecemeal removal of femoral head

·      during femoral preparation

·      preoperative templating of component size

·      use of reamers before broaching to remove endosteal bone

·      gentle broaching with pause if failing to advance

·      sufficient broaching for easy prosthesis insertion

·      during component insertion

·      gentle impaction with pause if failing to advance

Treatment

·      vertical split not beyond lesser trochanter

·      protected weight bearing

·      cerclage wire

·      vertical split beyond lesser trochanter

·      cerclage wires

·      longer-stemmed femoral component

·      perforation of shaft

·      repeated preparation of medullary canal

·      longer-stemmed femoral component to bypass defect

·      plug lesion with wire or strut graft if cemented

·      bone graft lesion if uncemented

·      internal fixation

·      cementless

·      complete exposure with broach or component in place

·      removal of implant and insertion of one size smaller

·      application of cerclage wire

·      cemented

·      anatomic reduction of fracture held with bone holding forceps or cerclage wire to prevent extrusion of cement between fracture fragments

Postoperative

·      occur due to

·      bone damage at time of surgery (eccentric reaming, perforation, fracture)

·      osteolysis

·      trauma

Classification

·      type I

·      proximal to tip with no distal extension

·      type II

·      from proximal portion to distal to tip

·      type III

·      entirely distal to tip

Treatment

·      type I

·      treat conservatively if prosthesis intact

·      revision with long-stemmed component with cerclage wires if prosthesis loosens once fracture heals

·      type II

·      usually treat as type I but assume loosening will occur

·      can treat as type III if noncemented or predominantly distal

·      type III

·      traction or cast brace if can maintain reduction

·      internal fixation with Ogden plate or long plate for most fractures

Leg length discrepancy

Problem

·      ideal is to have equal leg lengths

·      patient can tolerate up to 5 mm

·      likely to be symptomatic if > 10 mm

·      but should be last priority after

·      pain relief

·      stability

·      mobility

·      average discrepancy is 1 cm

·      lengthening occurs because of

·      correction of contracture

·      correction of protrusio

·      inadequate neck resection

·      excessively long or valgus neck

·      excessive lengthening may cause

·      sciatic nerve palsy

·      impaired abductor function with abductor lurch

·      short-leg limp

·      low back pain

·      theoretical decreased prosthesis longevity

·      disgruntled patient

Solution

Explanation

·      warn patient of risk of discrepancy

·      explain that

·      minor differences of little consequence

·      may need to sacrifice leg length equality for stability

Preoperative assessment

·      measure leg length preoperatively

·      distinguish true from apparent discrepancy

·      assess patient’s perception of leg lengths

Preoperative planning

·      perform AP pelvis with magnification marker

·      measure leg length difference by distance from lesser tuberosity to ischium

·      mark current centre of hip joint

·      template socket and mark new centre of hip joint

·      template stem and assess effect on leg length and offset

·      choose prosthesis and level of resection to recreate leg length

Intraoperative

·      check for pistoning at trial reduction

·      place pin superior to acetabulum after exposure

·      measure distance from pin to point on lateral proximal femur

·      place leg in same position for subsequent measurements

·      recreate leg length with any desired correction at trial reduction

Postoperative assessment

·      assess leg length

·      discuss discrepancy with patient

·      reassure that perceived difference will often fade with time

·      suggest shoe raise if discrepancy poorly tolerated

·      consider revision if

·      recurrent dislocation

·      profound functional impairment

Wound problems

Haematoma

·      problem is

·      dehiscence

·      wound infection

·      prevented with

·      cease NSAIDs and aspirin 1 week preop

·      careful haemostasis

·      drains

·      careful monitoring of warfarin if used

·      treated with

·      prophylactic antibiotics

·      drainage in theatre if excessive pain or dehiscence

Trochanteric nonunion

·      advantages of trochanteric osteotomy

·      better exposure

·      easier orientation of components

·      improved abductor power with advancement

·      disadvantages of trochanteric osteotomy

·      increased operative trauma

·      bursitis

·      nonunion

·      proximal migration of trochanter

·      high incidence of nonunion (5%)

·      nonunion causes problems

·      weak abductors with Trendelenburg gait

·      increased risk of dislocation

·      pain from bursa over broken ends

·      greater incidence if migration > 2 cm

·      no ideal solution

·      numerous proposed techniques

·      chevron osteotomy

·      trochanteric slide with continous abductor, bone and vastus

·      different configurations of multiple wire reattachments

·      cable-clamp system

·      osteotomy usually reserved for

·      traditional Charnley technique

·      difficult revision

·      femoral shortening where distal advancement required

·      protrusio acetabulae

·      CDH

·      conversion of arthrodesis

Thigh pain

·      activity related anterior thigh pain

·      occurs in 15% of patients

·      usually does not interfere with activity

·      much more common with noncemented compnents

·      may be due to

·      inadequate fixation of uncemented femoral component

·      modulus mismatch with large rigid femoral component

Urinary problems

·      problems of

·      UTI and haematogenous seeding of prosthesis

·      postop retention

·      prevented by

·      screen for history of recurrent UTI or prostatism

·      routine MSU

·      delay surgery until UTI eliminated

·      TURP before THR

·      prophylactic gentamicin with history of recurrent UTI

·      IDC on induction with history of hesitancy or retention and spinal or epidural anaesthetic

·      low threshold for IDC insertion postop (unable to void after 8 hrs)

·      prophylactic gentamicin with postoperative IDC insertion

Revision hip arthroplasty

indications

·      loosening

·      infection

technique
Exposure

·      wide exposure

·      removal of all pseudocapsule

·      exposure of entire proximal femur

·      exposure of entire circumference of acetabulum

·      trochanteric osteotomy often used to aid exposure

Removal

Acetabulum

·      often removed intact with curved gouge

·      may need to be split and removed in pieces

·      cement removed piecemeal with curved gouges

Femur

·      stem often easily removed

·      problems with

·      retained distal stem

·      cement

Stem

·      drill with high-speed drill

·      insert extraction device

Cement

·      light and irrigation device

·      special osteotomes, chisels and grabbers

·      cement split radially and then removed

·      can use high-speed burr

·      may require distal window

Reimplantation

·      unclear whether cemented or cementless prosthesis

bone defects
Acetabulum

Classification

Cavitatory (contained)

·      loss of bone from acetabular cavity

·      eg. protrusio

Segmental (uncontained)

·      complete loss of bone in supporting rim

·      may be

·      peripheral or medial

·      superior, inferior, anterior or posterior

·      eg. CDH

Combined

·      both segmental and cavitatory

Pelvic discontinuity

·      fracture of anterior and posterior columns

General

Planning

·      AP, lateral and Judet views

·      may require CT scan, incl. 3-D reconstruction

·      stereolithographic model very helpful

·      paul is a very nice person, and a great **** as well

Templating

·      choose appropriate size

·      estimate location of centre of rotation

Cavitatory

·      large defects filled with wafers of femoral head or allograft

·      small and remaining defects filled with morsellised graft

·      tightly impacted by using last sized reamer in reverse

·      intact peripheral rim used for support

Segmental

Central

·      managed as cavitatory defects

·      floor may need to be reinforced with wire mesh

·      may require protrusio ring if insufficient peripheral rim for support

Peripheral

·      can be disregarded if

·      small

·      anterior

·      superior or posterior rim

·      graft fashioned from femoral head

·      fixed with lag screws

·      may need to be reinforced with reconstrction plate

·      another option is to recreate defect with wire mesh

·      posterosuperior rim

·      need larger graft

·      can use distal femur

Femur

Classification of defects

Intraluminal

·      canal widened but cortex intact

·      eg. osteolysis

Cortical

·      isolated cortical defects

·      eg. perforation

Circumferential

·      complete defect

·      calcar (< 3 cm)

·      proximal femur (> 3 cm)

Structural allograft

Cortical strut allograft

·      strut cerclage wired over cortical defect

Large fragment proximal femoral allograft

·      proximal host femur split to good bone

·      distal host femur reamed to determine diameter

·      proximal femoral allograft then prepared

·      matching step cuts made in host femur and allograft

·      desired stem cemented into allograft

·      allograft-stem inserted into distal host femur

·      proximal host bone wrapped around allograft

·      cortical strut grafts wrapped around junction

·      held with cerclage wire

Morsellised allograft

Planning

·      identify sites of femoral bone loss

Templating

·      choose approximate component

·      determine position of distal plug

·      2 cm distal to most distal lytic area

Exposure

·      full exposure of proximal femur

·      removal of prosthesis and all cement

·      can leave distal plug if

·      not infected

·      more than 2 cm past planned plug location

Repair of defects

·      reconstitute femoral tube

·      with wire mesh and cerclage wire

·      may need to use reconstruction plate proximally

·      may prophylactically cerclage wire shaft if diaphysis flimsy

Packing

·      allografts from frozen femoral heads

·      morsellised in bone mill

·      should not be slurry

·      should not be washed

Distal occlusion

·      threaded intramedullary plug inserted on guide rod

·      if bone plug left, drilled and guide rod screwed in

Distal impaction

·      impacters tested to see maximum depth of insertion before abutment on canal

·      morsellised allograft inserted

·      impactor and slap hammer slid over guide wire

·      graft vigorously impacted to predetermined depth

·      continued by introducing more chips and using progressively larger impacters

·      stopped when level is 10 cm from tip of greater trochanter

Proximal impaction

·      appropriate proximal impactor equivalent to selected stem used

·      used to force chips against walls of canal

·      then larger distal impactor used

·      alternated until canal filled

·      should be firm neocanal

Trial reduction

·      guide rod withdrawn

·      trial stem inserted

·      depth of insertion marked

·      guide wire reinserted

·      proximal impactor driven in another 5 mm

·      to allow room for centraliser and cement

Cementing

·      low-viscosity cement used

·      cement pressurised into graft

·      stem inserted earlier than normal

Postoperative

·      touch weight-bearing for 3 weeks

·      then gradual increase over next 3 months

results

·      higher complication rate

·      infection

·      dislocation

·      intraoperative fracture

·      early failure