Biomedical subjects

R A Balderston

Publications and source records attributed to R A Balderston.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

Arthroscopic management of the patellar clunk syndrome following posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.

The patellofemoral articulation in total knee arthroplasty can give rise to postoperative complications, such as patellar fracture, subluxation, or dislocation. The accumulation of hypertrophic fibrous tissue at the superior margin of the patellar button can give rise to catching or "clunking" of the extensor mechanism. Open surgical excision of this mass is successful in alleviating symptoms but runs the risk of infection and wound complications and delays postoperative mobilization. Arthroscopic resection with motorized instrumentation is highly successful, offers less risk of infection, and allows rapid postoperative mobilization.

Aged↗

PubMed1989

Long-term results of lumbar spine surgery complicated by unintended incidental durotomy.

Unintended incidental durotomy is not an infrequent complication of spinal surgery (incidence, 0.3-13% reported). Although prompt repair is advocated, little has been written regarding any consequences of primarily repaired durotomies on long-term patient outcome. A retrospective review of 450 patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery revealed 17 cases (4%) of incidental durotomy, recognized intraoperatively and repaired primarily. These patients were evaluated at long-term follow-up (mean, 25.1 months); and their results were compared with controls matched for age, diagnosis, procedure, and length of follow-up. No differences of statistical significance could be identified in comparing the outcomes of the two groups. Incidental durotomy, when recognized and repaired intraoperatively, does not increase perioperative morbidity or compromise final result.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Pulmonary embolism after hip or knee replacement: postoperative changes on pulmonary scintigrams in asymptomatic patients.

Serial pulmonary imaging has proved to be effective in the evaluation of patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. A clinical dilemma arises in asymptomatic patients whose postoperative pulmonary images differ from the preoperative images. The authors prospectively evaluated 403 patients with serial imaging to determine the significance of changed postoperative images in asymptomatic patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty. Twenty-two (5.5%) patients had significant changes on postoperative images. Seventeen were asymptomatic; all but one underwent pulmonary angiography. Documented pulmonary emboli were demonstrated in 100% of patients whose postoperative images changed to indicate a high probability of pulmonary embolism, 71% whose images changed to a moderate probability, and 0% whose images changed to indeterminate probability. Overall, pulmonary emboli occurred in 76% of all asymptomatic patients with significantly change postoperative images. Asymptomatic pulmonary embolism is a significant occurrence after total hip or knee repair, and a changed lung scan with appropriate clinical evaluation is an accurate indicator of pulmonary emboli in asymptomatic postarthroplasty patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

The patellar clunk syndrome. A complication of posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.

Patellofemoral pain due to an unusual suprapatellar fibrous nodule developed in three patients after posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty. Each patient had a "catch" or "clunk" associated with pain on extension of the knee. At revision, a prominent fibrous nodule was found at the junction of the proximal patellar pole and the quadriceps tendon. The pathogenesis of this proximal fibrous nodule may involve impingement of the anterosuperior edge of the intercondylar notch area of the femoral component into the proximal quadriceps tendon or may involve impingement of the patellar prosthesis itself on the quadriceps tendon. Roentgenographic examination revealed an abnormally proximal placement of the patellar prosthesis on the patella. Surgical removal of the fibrous nodule resolved the symptoms. Revision of the patellar prosthesis may be necessary.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Surgical management of sciatica involving anomalous lumbar nerve roots.

Twenty patients with sciatica associated with anomalous lumbar nerve roots were reviewed with an average follow-up of 26.3 months. All patients had predominantly leg pain and their nerve root anomaly was known preoperatively. Overall success rate was 65% but was increased to 80% in patients with concurrent disk herniation. Improved results of surgical decompression were most consistently associated with concurrent disk herniation whereas other factors such as more extensive decompression were less strongly correlated. Surgery should only be offered with these results in mind.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Depth of intraspinal wire penetration during passage of sublaminar wires.

A major concern with the use of sublaminar wires for segmental spinal instrumentation is the risk of neurologic compromise associated with repeated passage of wires through the epidural space. Because of the inability to visualize the wire tip during its sublaminar passage, the surgeon is unable to appreciate the depth of wire penetration (DOWP). The purpose of this investigation was to determine, through direct measurement, the depth of intraspinal penetration during the passage of sublaminar wires. Using their model, the authors have been able to define the optimal parameters for safe wire passage. Careful attention to maintaining contact between the wire tip and the under-surface of the lamina, using a wire of optimal configuration, will result in minimal DOWP and reduce the possibility of neurologic compromise.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Treatment of the septic hip with total hip arthroplasty.

Forty-three patients, 23 with definite infection and 20 with probable infections before total hip arthroplasty (THA), were compared to 41 matched uninfected patients. The 43 infected patients were treated by 45 operative procedures: eight Girdlestone resections, 12 revisions of total hips, and 25 conversions from infected nontotal hip surgery to total hip arthroplasties. (Two revision THAs were converted to Girdlestones). The average follow-up period was 38.8 months, with a range of six-118 months. The statistically significant negative prognosticators were gross sepsis at surgery, number of previous operations, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The type of infecting organism did not affect the outcome. The prosthesis survival rate for total hip arthroplasties revised for sepsis was 83%. The prosthesis survival rate for other infected hips treated by total hip arthroplasty was 100%. All groups except Girdlestone resections improved postoperatively. While Girdlestone resection offered acceptable pain relief, total hip arthroplasty provided unequivocally superior function (p = 0.0001).

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Conversion total hip replacement. Review of 140 hips with greater than 6-year follow-up study.

The authors compared 140 conversion with 433 primary total hip arthroplasties with a 40-month minimum follow-up period. All replacements were performed with a transtrochanteric technique. No conversion total hip arthroplasty had prior cementation. Pain was the indication for surgery. The average number of prior operations was 1.3 and the average number of months to total hip arthroplasty was 65.4. The patient characteristics for the two groups were similar. The overall results were uniformly good to excellent (94% or better) at greater than 6-year mean follow-up in both groups. The authors review important differences between the two groups. None of the differences are statistically significant. The overall results of conversion total hip arthroplasty were good to excellent, and the presence of a preoperative infection did not significantly alter the clinical results. The absence of prior bone cement in conversion total hip arthroplasty is proposed to explain these findings.

Hip Prosthesis↗

PubMed1986

Aseptic loosening after total hip arthroplasty. Incidence, clinical significance, and etiology.

Three hundred forty-one consecutive Charnley total hip arthroplasties were reviewed after a 3-10-year follow-up period to correlate the radiographic signs of aseptic loosening to clinical outcome, femoral cementing technique, and epidemiologic patient characteristics. High-grade femoral demarcation at the bone-cement interface (75-100%) correlated with a significantly higher incidence of unsatisfactory follow-up clinical scores. The incidence of high-grade femoral bone-cement demarcation and the associated radiographic signs of aseptic loosening had a direct correlation with the quality of the femoral cementing technique (P less than .01). Trochanter nonunion or trochanter separation demonstrated a highly significant correlation with high-grade femoral bone-cement demarcation (P less than .001). Patients having secondary total hip arthroplasty for failed cup arthroplasty or endoprosthesis had a higher rate of unsatisfactory pain and function scores, compared with those having arthroplasties performed after failed internal fixation. Male patients or patients with a high activity level demonstrated a twofold greater incidence of high-grade femoral demarcation (P less than .05). Patient weight by itself did not demonstrate any effect on radiographic outcome.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1986

Fusion to the sacrum for nonparalytic scoliosis in the adult.

This study is a retrospective review of 43 adult patients with idiopathic or congenital scoliosis who had spinal fusion from T11 or above to the sacrum. This study was prompted by the frustrations of the treating surgeons in attempting long fusions from the thoracic spine to the sacrum. Of 25 patients treated with a single-stage posterior fusion only 28% had a good result with a single procedure. Failures were due to pseudarthrosis, decompensation, or loss of lumbar lordosis. Ten patients treated with posterior fusion and subsequent 6-month augmentation had a 70% success rate. Eight patients treated with anterior followed by posterior fusion had a 75% success rate. The ideal answer to this clinical problem has not yet been found.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Technique for achievement and maintenance of reduction for severe spondylolisthesis using spinous process traction wiring and external fixation of the pelvis.

A technique is described for achievement and maintenance of reduction for severe spondylolisthesis in conjunction with reconstructive surgery. Spinous-process traction wires exert a posterior and cephalad force on the lumbar spine, while Hoffman pins anchored to the ilium rotate the sacrum in an anterior and caudad direction. Once maximum reduction is achieved, the patient is kept supine for 3 months with pins and traction wires incorporated in a plaster cast. At follow-up, two patients demonstrated excellent correction of slip angle and a solid fusion.

Adult↗