BACKGROUND: Critical organ hypofunction and complications are common in elderly patients, so perioperative treatment becomes important for the success of total knee replacement (TKR).OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical perioperative complications of TKR in the patients over 70 years old. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of case data was performed at First Hospital of Gannan Medical University and People's Hospital of Peking University from January to December 2002.PARTICIPANTS: 109 patients (168 knees), including 29 males and 80 females, underwent TKR. Of them, 50 underwent single knee surgery, aged (74.2±15.1) years (range 70-85 years), and 59 underwent bilateral knee surgery, aged (73.4±13.2) years (range 70-85 years). In addition, 92 cases (84.4%) were obesity, and 88 were complicated by internal diseases. METHODS: The surgery was performed by the same operator. All patients underwent patellar replacement with Scorpio posterior stable knee prosthesis. Knee anterior median incision and medial patellar approach was applied, and anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments were excised during the surgery, osteophyma and corpus liberum of posterior articular capsule were cleared. Patellofemoral joint track was tested until meeting the requirements. The prosthesis was fixed using antibiotics mixed with bone cement, and the incision was sutured at flexed position.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Early complications following replacement; knee joint and functional evaluation.RESULTS: During surgery and 24 hours after replacement, 8 cases developed hypertension, 7 cases hypotension, and 6 cases arrhythmia. All patients safely passed the perioperative period under treatment of related departments. One case developed pulmonary embolism, 1 case deep infection, 3 cases pulmonary infection, 5 cases urinary system infection, 1 case rapid reduction of platelet caused by Subining, 1 case cognitive disturbance, and 1 case dislocation of knee joint (Charcot arthritis). According to standards of HSS, the knee joint scores were significantly improved from 26.1 prior to replacement to 82.0 at discharge, and function scores were significantly improved from 32.1 prior to replacement to 89.1 at discharge. During 12.4-month follow-up (range 3-22 months), 18 cases lost the follow up; the retention rate was 83.5%. Of 91 retention patients, knee pain disappeared or relieved, restored self-care ability, and no prosthesis loosening or infection was found. At the final follow up, the HSS knee joint scores were significantly improved from 82.0 at discharge to 85.4, and function scores were improved from 89.1 at discharge to 92.3 at discharge.CONCLUSION: Skilled operative technique and positive treatment of complication can effectively prevent perioperative infection, dislocation and other complications following total knee replacement.

ObjectiveTo investigate the sequelae and relative factors of sensation disorders of lateral skin of the incision after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to explore its effect on knee function.MethodsThirty-six patients (53 knees) who underwent TKA were continuously selected in this study.The length of the incision and the area of sensation disorders of skin around the incision were measured 1 week postoperatively.The area of sensation disorders of skin around the incision was measured again 1.5 years postoperatively,and the range of motion of the knee and the knee society score (KSS) were recorded.ResultsAll of the patients presented with objective hypesthesia of lateral skin of the incision.Twenty-six (72％) patients existed subjective numbness,whose areas of hypesthesia were larger than those of patients without subjective numbness.The average area of hypopselaphesia and average area of hypalgesia were(36.43±14.71) cm2 and (69.62±23.48) cm2,respectively.Both of them had positive correlation with the length of the incision (r=0.303,P=0.04; r=0.318,P=0.03).One and a half years postoperatively,besides 5 patients recovered completely,all other patients existed no hypopselaphesia,and the average area of hypalgesia was(8.55±4.56)cm2,which was statistically different with that 1 week postoperatively(t=2.553,P=0.012).The KSS score was lower in patients with subjective numbness than that in patients without subjective numbness (t=2.066,P=0.044).ConclusionThe hypesthesia of lateral skin of the incision is common after TKA,which can recover partially or completely over time.All patients should be advised of this complication as part of their informed consent before TKA.

Objective To investigate the clinical results of the primary total hip replacement (THR) and the secondary THR after failed internal fixation in the elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fracture so as to find the optimal treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly patients. Methods From April 2001 to April 2007,16 patients (Study Group) treated with a secondary THR after failed internal fixation and 20 patients (Control Group) treated with a primary THR were enrolled in the study and followed up. There were seven males and nine females, at average age of 66. 5 years (50-85 years) and with mean follow-up period of 58. 25 months (24-96 months) in the Study Group. There were six males and 14 females, at average age of 68.1 years (51-83 years) and with mean follow-up period of 49.50 months (24-70 months) in the Control Group. All patients were active and lucid before they suffered fractures. Blood loss and operation duration in THR were compared. Hip function (Harris score) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL, KPS index score) were assessed during the follow-up after THR. Results Operative duration was (115.63 ±34.35) minutes in Study Group and (91.25 ±15.80) minutes in Control Group (P<0.05). Blood loss was (546.86 ±377.04) ml in Study Group and (320.00 ±155.94) ml in Control Group (P<0.05). At follow up, Harris score and KPS index score were (87. 25 ±7. 53) points and (95. 00 ±5. 16) points respectively in Study Group, and (90.20±5.46) points and (96.00 ±0.73) points respectively in Control Group (P>0.05). There were no infections or re-operations in two groups, but with one death in each group during the follow-up. Conclusions THR is the optimal treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly patients.The secondary THR after failed internal fixation has higher risks in operation compared with the primary THR for a displaced femoral neck fracture in the elderly patient.