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Biomedical subjects

Bernard F Morrey

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard F Morrey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Reconstruction for persistent instability of the elbow after coronoid fracture-dislocation.

The results of reconstruction for chronic instability after coronoid fracture have not been previously described. Patients with persistent instability after coronoid fracture-dislocation were assessed after reconstruction. A satisfactory outcome was considered to be present based on the Mayo Elbow Performance Score and on the patient's willingness to repeat the operation. The length of follow-up was a minimum of 2 years, averaging over 5 years. Overall, 13 of 21 patients (62%) were classified as having a successful outcome objectively, and 17 of 21 (81%) were classified as having a successful outcome subjectively. The duration of the delay to definitive treatment was closely associated with the ultimate outcome (P < .01), as the outcome of only 1 of 7 elbows with a delay greater than 7 weeks was classified as an objective success. Of the patients, 19 had a fractured radial head, 11 of which were initially treated with a radial head excision; none was subsequently reconstructed. Sixteen patients were treated with a hinged external fixator. Of the elbows, 13 remained reduced whereas 8 had variable amounts of anterior or posterior instability. Two failures were ultimately reconstructed with a total elbow arthroplasty. Instability that persists after the initial unsuccessful management of a coronoid fracture and an elbow dislocation is a difficult problem to salvage with subsequent reconstruction. This experience emphasizes the need for better reconstructive options and especially underscores the need for appropriate initial management of this difficult injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Revision total elbow arthroplasty for prosthetic fractures.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of total elbow arthroplasty components are uncommon, and the literature provides little guidance regarding the management and outcomes of treatment of these complications. The goal of this report was to investigate the prevalence and management of fractures of ulnar and humeral components following total elbow arthroplasty and to review our experience with cement-within-cement reconstruction for revision following such fractures. METHODS: Between 1979 and 2003, twenty-four patients with a total of twenty-seven fractured total elbow arthroplasty components (seventeen ulnar and ten humeral) of different designs presented to our institution. Twenty-six implants underwent subsequent revision elbow arthroplasty at our institution. Fourteen of those revisions were done with a cement-within-cement technique, and twelve, with traditional methods. Twenty-one patients (twenty-three implants) were available for final follow-up, and data that had been acquired prospectively and entered into the institutional arthroplasty database were reviewed retrospectively. At the time of final follow-up, the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) was calculated and preoperative, postoperative, and most recent radiographs were examined for bone loss, bushing wear, and integrity of the bone-cement interface. RESULTS: The prevalences of humeral and ulnar component fracture following primary total elbow arthroplasties performed at our institution were 0.65% and 1.2%, respectively. At a mean of 5.1 years following revisions for those fractures, the MEPS was excellent for eight patients, good for five, fair for six, and poor for two. The average MEPS was 82 points following the revision total elbow arthroplasties done with the cement-within-cement technique and 78 points following the revisions done with the traditional method of cement removal and insertion of a revision component. Complications included seven intraoperative cortical perforations; five nerve injuries, two of which were permanent; three triceps avulsions; and one deep infection. CONCLUSIONS: Implant fractures following total elbow arthroplasty are uncommon. They occur for several reasons, such as notch sensitivity, component design, and high stresses due to bone deficiency. Revision techniques, such as cement-within-cement reimplantation, are reliable for relieving pain and restoring function; however, the rate and spectrum of complications are a cause for concern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Associated injuries complicating radial head fractures: a demographic study.

UNLABELLED: Treatment of radial head fractures may be complicated because of the presence of associated lesions. However, little is known about the frequency or relevance of associated lesions in different types of radial head fractures. We studied the demographics of radial head fractures focusing on associated lesions in 333 adults from 1997 to 2002. The mean age of the patients was 45 years (range, 18-82 years). Two hundred twenty-three (67%) patients had Mason Type 1 fractures, 46 patients had Mason Type 2 (14%) fractures, and 64 patients had Mason Type 3 (19%) fractures. One hundred eighteen of 333 patients (39%) had associated fractures or soft tissue injury. Fifty-three (16%) patients had coronoid fractures, and 45 patients (14%) had elbow dislocations. Two hundred thirty-five (71%) patients had nonoperative treatment, which failed in six (3%) patients. Sixty-six (20%) patients had open reduction and internal fixation, which failed in six (9%) patients. Resection was used in 20 (6%) patients, and radial head replacement was used in 31 (9%) patients, one of which was revised. The ligamentous injury required surgical repair or reconstruction in 44 patients. A concurrent coronoid fracture was the most common associated injury prompting referral to this tertiary medical center. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, Level IV (case-control study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Total elbow arthroplasty after interposition arthroplasty for elbow arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Interposition arthroplasty is an option for the treatment of arthritis of the elbow. Conversion to a total elbow arthroplasty can be considered later, when the patient reaches a suitable age. We investigated the results of conversion of an interpositional elbow arthroplasty to a semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasty in a series of patients. METHODS: The results of twelve consecutive linked semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasties in twelve patients who had had a prior interposition arthroplasty for the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the elbow were evaluated at an average of ten years postoperatively. The average age at the time of the total elbow arthroplasty was fifty years, and the average interval from the interposition arthroplasty to the total elbow arthroplasty was 9.9 years. Pain and elbow performance as measured with the Mayo Elbow Performance Score were assessed in a retrospective chart review and an evaluation of questionnaires, and postoperative radiographs were reviewed. RESULTS: At the time of the latest follow-up, postoperative pain was rated as mild or none in ten of the twelve patients, and the result was rated as subjectively satisfactory in ten patients. The average Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 32.1 points (range, 10 to 70 points) preoperatively to 80.4 points (range, 40 to 100 points) postoperatively (p < 0.001). According to these objective criteria, there were three excellent, six good, one fair, and two poor results. All of the elbows were stable following the arthroplasty. Radiographs demonstrated a well-fixed prosthesis in all but one patient who had extensive osteolysis at the site of the humeral component. One other patient had radiographic evidence of bushing wear. Both of these patients required revision procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasty can be performed successfully in patients with a prior interposition arthroplasty. Reliable pain relief and a satisfactory result can be achieved in most patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Impaction grafting in revision total elbow arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Revision total elbow arthroplasty is often undertaken in patients who have severe osteolysis of both the distal part of the humerus and the proximal part of the ulna. To deal with such bone loss, we have adopted the practice of impaction grafting, which has become a well-established technique in the proximal part of the femur. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of twelve patients who had undergone revision total elbow arthroplasty with impaction grafting between 1993 and 1997. There were eight women and four men with a mean age of fifty-seven years. All patients were followed for at least two years (range, twenty-five to 113 months), with an average duration of follow-up of seventy-two months. Seven of the patients had an initial diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and five had posttraumatic arthritis. Impaction grafting was undertaken during the initial revision in three of the patients, whereas the remaining nine patients had undergone at least one prior revision without impaction grafting. Four patients had impaction grafting on the ulnar side alone, six had it on the humeral side alone, and two underwent impaction grafting of both the humerus and the ulna. Six allograft struts were placed to span structural defects in five patients. RESULTS: At the time of the latest follow-up, eight of the elbow prostheses were intact after the index impaction grafting procedure. Two elbows had been revised because of loosening, and another had been revised because of a fracture of the ulnar component. A fourth patient had undergone a resection arthroplasty because of infection. The eight remaining patients demonstrated marked radiographic improvement in bone quality in the region of the impaction graft without clinical symptoms of loosening. At the time of the last follow-up, after an additional revision in three elbows, there were five excellent, four good, and three fair results. CONCLUSIONS: Impaction grafting is a reliable technique for treating osteolysis in patients undergoing revision total elbow arthroplasty; however, complications can occur, and a high percentage of patients need additional surgery.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed2005

Motor nerve palsy following primary total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Nerve palsy is a potentially devastating complication following total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify risk factors for, and the prognosis associated with, a motor nerve palsy following primary total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Between 1970 and 2000, 27,004 primary total hip arthroplasties were performed at our institution. Forty-seven patients (0.17%) with postoperative motor nerve dysfunction were identified by a review of the complications log of a total joint database. The medical record of each patient provided the data for this study. The average age of the patients was fifty-seven years at the time of surgery. The patients had serial clinical examinations for a minimum of two years, or until neurologic recovery or death. The nerve palsies were classified as complete or incomplete, and only patients with objective motor weakness were included in the study. The limb lengths were measured on preoperative and postoperative radiographs, and those data were then compared with the limb lengths in a matched cohort of patients who had not sustained a nerve injury after a primary total hip arthroplasty. The extent of neurologic recovery, the need for braces or walking aids, and the use of medications for neurogenic pain were evaluated. RESULTS: There were twenty-nine complete motor nerve palsies (sixteen peroneal, eleven sciatic, and two femoral) and eighteen incomplete motor nerve palsies (fourteen peroneal, three sciatic, and one femoral). A preoperative diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip (p = 0.0004) or posttraumatic arthritis (p = 0.01), the use of a posterior approach (p = 0.032), lengthening of the extremity (p < 0.01), and cementless femoral fixation (p = 0.03) were associated with a significantly increased odds ratio for the development of a postoperative motor nerve palsy. Of the twenty-eight patients with a complete palsy who were available for follow-up, only ten (36%) had complete recovery of motor strength, which took an average of 21.1 months. Seven of the eighteen patients with an incomplete palsy fully recovered their preoperative strength. Twenty-one patients required walking aids, and fifteen required permanent use of an ankle-foot orthosis. Five patients required daily medication for chronic neurogenic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Motor nerve palsy is uncommon following primary total hip arthroplasty. A preoperative diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip or posttraumatic arthritis, the use of a posterior approach, lengthening of the extremity, and use of an uncemented femoral implant increased the odds ratio of sustaining a motor nerve palsy. The majority of the motor nerve deficits in our series, whether complete or incomplete, did not fully resolve.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Polyethylene wear after total elbow arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Articular wear is considered to be a possible long-term complication of the use of stemmed, coupled elbow replacements with the capacity to correct deformity and restore function. There have been no reports on this topic, to our knowledge. METHODS: A review of the results of 919 replacements with the semi-constrained linked Coonrad-Morrey total elbow implant, performed between 1981 and 2000, revealed that twelve patients (1.3%) had undergone an isolated exchange of the articular bushings as a result of polyethylene wear. The status of these patients was assessed clinically and radiographically. RESULTS: The mean age of the twelve patients at the time of the initial total elbow replacement was forty-four years compared with a mean age of sixty-two years in the overall group (p < 0.001). Seven of the twelve patients had posttraumatic arthritis, and five had rheumatoid arthritis. Nine patients had extensive deformity. The group consisted of seven women and five men, and ten patients had involvement of the right dominant elbow. The mean age at the bushing revision was fifty-two years, and the bushings were revised at an average of 7.9 years after implantation. All twelve patients reported pain, and five reported crepitus or a squeaking sound. None had extensive osteolysis. The mean duration of follow-up after the bushing exchange was sixty-five months. The mean arc of motion improved from 89 degrees before the surgery to 109 degrees after it. Three of the twelve patients underwent an additional articular revision at fifty-three, fifty-four, and 136 months after the initial bushing exchange. At the time of final follow-up, all twelve patients had functioning elbows. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated bushing exchange can be a successful revision procedure in patients with a semi-constrained linked total elbow prosthesis. Younger patients with a posttraumatic condition and/or severe pre-existing deformity are at greater risk for the development of excessive bushing wear. Patients should be cautioned against exceeding the recommended activity and lifting restrictions.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Triceps insufficiency following total elbow arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, the indications for total elbow arthroplasty have increased. One complication that is well recognized but is poorly described in the literature is insufficiency of the extensor mechanism involving complete or partial rupture, or avulsion, of the triceps tendon. We therefore reviewed the records of patients who had undergone surgery for the treatment of triceps insufficiency following total elbow arthroplasty to determine the management options and outcomes of intervention for this problem. METHODS: The records on 887 total elbow arthroplasties performed between 1982 and 2001 were assessed to identify patients who had undergone a subsequent procedure on the triceps. Patients in whom triceps insufficiency developed after débridement for infection were excluded, leaving sixteen elbows in fourteen patients. A Mayo Elbow Performance Score was calculated and elbow extension strength against gravity was measured at the time of final follow-up. RESULTS: There were seven male and seven female patients. The mean age was fifty-four years. The mean duration of follow-up after the triceps reconstruction was sixty-seven months. Three basic techniques were used to repair or reconstruct the extensor mechanism; these included direct suture in seven elbows, anconeus rotation in four, and use of an Achilles tendon allograft in four. The capacity to extend against gravity was restored to fifteen of the sixteen elbows. According to the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, eleven elbows had an excellent outcome, three had a good outcome, and two were considered a clinical failure. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with triceps insufficiency following total elbow arthroplasty, it is possible to reconstruct the triceps mechanism with a procedure appropriately selected on the basis of tissue quality, tendon retraction, and the status of the olecranon.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2005

Distal humeral fractures treated with noncustom total elbow replacement. Surgical technique.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to review the cases of patients with a distal humeral fracture that was treated with a noncustom total elbow arthroplasty. We hypothesized that, on the basis of the functional and clinical outcome, total elbow replacement is a reliable option for the treatment of elderly patients with a severe, comminuted fracture of the distal part of the humerus. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed forty-nine acute distal humeral fractures in forty-eight patients who were treated with total elbow arthroplasty as the primary option. The average age of the patients was sixty-seven years. Forty-three fractures were followed for at least two years. According to the AO classification, five fractures were type A, five were type B, and thirty-three were type C. The average age of the forty-three patients was sixty-nine years and the average duration of follow-up was seven years. Fourteen patients died during the review period. Postoperative clinical function was assessed with use of the Mayo elbow performance score, and anteroposterior and lateral radiographs made at follow-up examinations were reviewed. RESULTS: At the latest follow-up examination, the average flexion arc was 24 degrees (range, 0 degrees to 75 degrees ) to 131 degrees (range, 100 degrees to 150 degrees ) and the Mayo elbow performance score averaged 93 of a possible 100 points. Heterotopic ossification was present to some extent in seven elbows, with radiographic abutment noted in two. Thirty-two (65%) of the forty-nine elbows had neither a complication nor any further surgery from the time of the index arthroplasty to the most recent follow-up evaluation. Fourteen elbows (29%) had a single complication, and most of them did not require further surgery. Ten additional procedures, including five revision arthroplasties, were required in nine elbows; five were related to soft tissue and five were related to the implant or bone. CONCLUSIONS: Complex distal humeral fractures should be assessed primarily for the reliability with which they can be reconstructed with osteosynthesis. When osteosynthesis is not considered to be feasible, especially in patients who are physiologically older and place lower demands on the joint, total elbow arthroplasty can be considered. This retrospective review supports a recommendation for total elbow arthroplasty for the treatment of an acute distal humeral fracture when strict inclusion criteria are observed.

Arthroplasty, Replacement↗
PubMed2005

The posttraumatic stiff elbow.

The development of joint contracture is a well-recognized complication of elbow injury. Precise causes of the propensity of this joint for ankylosis are understood poorly. Yet, treatment is emerging and therefore the indications and willingness on the part of the surgeon to address this problem is improving. Limited open procedures have emerged during the past several years that are safe and effective by improving arcs of motion of 50-70 degrees in approximately 80-90% of patients. For severe injuries that involve the articular surface, interposition arthroplasty is less documented but has been shown to be effective but constitutes one of the most challenging technical procedures. Joint replacement arthroplasty generally should not be considered as a treatment for posttraumatic stiffness unless the patient is older than 65 years. The experience with this procedure indicates that with linked semiconstrained implants, approximately 80% of patients will achieve a near functional arc of motion. Arthroscopic intervention shows the greatest activity of investigation and clinical expansion. The learning curve is defined by a concern of complications to the neural structures and the fear of this complication has limited the application but the emerging documentation of the safeness of this option also has been associated with improved effectiveness. Therefore, arthroscopic intervention for the stiff elbow, particularly those with soft tissue extrinsic involvement, is emerging as the treatment of choice in many instances. The investigation regarding the medical treatment of altering the tendency of the soft tissue to go through such intense contracture is in its infancy but suggests that this could be a long-term solution at least for many patients.

Ankylosis↗
PubMed2005

Soft-tissue balancing of the hip: the role of femoral offset restoration.

Inadequate soft-tissue balancing is a major yet often underemphasized cause of failure for primary and revision total hip arthroplasty. Accordingly, contemporary cemented and cementless hip prostheses have been designed with consideration of this issue, and this has substantially increased the long-term survival of total hip replacements. Therefore, it is important for orthopaedic surgeons to be familiar with the rationale, biomechanical principles, and clinical implications associated with soft-tissue balancing of the hip as well as strategies to avoid inadequate soft-tissue balancing and systematic techniques to restore adequate soft-tissue tensioning during total hip arthroplasty.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗
PubMed2004

The effectiveness of polyethylene versus titanium particles in inducing osteolysis in vivo.

Bearing surface wear and periprosthetic osteolysis due to wear particles are among the most common reasons for joint replacement failure. A murine calvarial model of wear particle-induced osteolysis has been used to identify different biologic factors associated with this problem and to test nonsurgical methods of modulating the host response to particulate debris. This model has utilized titanium particles, however, in clinical practice the most common source of particulate debris is polyethylene particles from bearing surface wear. We now report a calvarial model of wear particle-induced osteolysis based on commercially available polyethylene particles. We found that compared to sham surgery osteoclast recruitment and bone resorption can be induced by introduction of the titanium particles or polyethylene particles. However, bone resorption was significantly higher with polyethylene particles compared to titanium particles (p=0.02). We consider the polyethylene based murine calvarial model of wear particle-induced osteolysis a reliable and clinically relevant tool to understand the host factors and potential pharmacologic interventions that can influence wear debris generated osteolysis. This model might serve as an extension of the well-established titanium based bone resorption model.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Results of reoperation for hip dislocation: the big picture.

Hip instability remains a costly complication of primary (3%) and revision (10%) procedures. In those with well-oriented components, instability may be anticipated in about 70% from advancement of the trochanter. Articular reorientation readily is affected by the use of modular cups with elevated rims. This has proven to be an effective strategy both to lessen the likelihood of an initial dislocation after both primary and revision procedures. It has also proven to be an effective strategy to treat the unstable implant, especially if cup orientation has been defined as the primary problem. Larger head sizes in the range of low-friction arthroplasty, such as 32 mm, are not any more stable than 22-mm diameter implants. Anatomic-sized heads as used in bipolar devices are effective in treating established instability in up to 90% of instances. The most popular current option is that of the constrained head/cup articulation. Good short-term results have revealed success in more than 90%. However, the effectiveness is design dependent, and the long-term effectiveness understandably is questioned as reports of mechanical failure begin to emerge.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗
PubMed2004

Allograft-prosthesis composite for revision of catastrophic failure of total elbow arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Revision of a failed total elbow arthroplasty is a challenging procedure, often associated with bone deficiency. The purpose of this investigation was to review our experience with a composite allograft-implant reconstruction for patients with a failed total elbow arthroplasty. METHODS: Thirteen patients (thirteen elbows) in whom a total elbow arthroplasty had failed, primarily as a result of loosening of the humeral or ulnar component, were operated on with use of an allograft-prosthesis composite; the composite was placed on the humeral side in four of these patients and on the ulnar side in nine. The delay between the last total elbow arthroplasty and the allograft-prosthesis-composite procedure averaged eight years. RESULTS: At an average of forty-two months after the revision, the Mayo Elbow Performance Score was excellent for four elbows, good for three, fair for one, and poor for five. Nine of the thirteen patients had no or only slight pain in the elbow. The mean arc of flexion was 97 degrees, with an average of 28 degrees (range, 0 degrees to 60 degrees ) of extension to 125 degrees (range, 100 degrees to 140 degrees ) of flexion. There were seven complications affecting seven elbows, and five of the seven required a revision procedure. Deep infection developed in four elbows, and the allograft-prosthesis composite had to be removed from three. Two nonunions occurred at the allograft-humeral junction. CONCLUSIONS: An allograft-prosthesis composite can be a valuable option in selected patients with a failed total elbow arthroplasty with massive bone loss. The union and implant survival rates are high. Deep infection remains the main complication. Hence, we recommend the pursuit of other revision options, such as strut graft reconstruction, whenever possible before resorting to the use of an allograft-prosthesis composite in the surgical treatment of a failed total elbow arthroplasty with massive bone loss.

Adult↗