Antibiotic prophylaxis after total joint replacements.

Objectives: To review the latest evidence on antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with total joint replacements to prevent prosthesis infections.

Data Sources: Literature search of Medline and PubMed until June 2009.

Study Selection: Studies of patients with total joint replacements from around the world, studies concerning antibiotic prophylaxis, as well as chemoprophylaxis guidelines from orthopaedic associations were searched.

Effect of strontium-containing hydroxyapatite bone cement on bone remodeling following hip replacement.

It is uncertain whether the use of bioactive bone cement has any beneficial effect on local bone adaptation following hip replacement. In this study, twelve goats underwent cemented hip hemiarthroplasty unilaterally, with either PMMA bone cement or strontium-containing hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) bioactive bone cement. Nine months later, the femoral cortical bones at different levels were analyzed by microhardness testing and micro-CT scanning.

The morphology and lattice structure of bone crystal after strontium treatment in goats.

Strontium (Sr) compounds have become increasingly popular in osteoporosis treatment. As a bone seeking element, 98% of Sr deposits in bone and teeth after oral ingestion. However, the quality of new bone after Sr deposition is yet to be extensively investigated.

Strontium-calcium coadministration stimulates bone matrix osteogenic factor expression and new bone formation in a large animal model.

Strontium (Sr) has become increasingly attractive for use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by concomitantly inhibiting bone resorption and enhancing bone formation. Strontium shares similar chemical, physical, and biological characteristics with calcium (Ca), which has been widely used as a dietary supplement in osteoporosis. However, the effects of Sr-Ca coadministration on bone growth and remodeling are yet to be extensively reported.

Why are we still using pre-operative skin traction for hip fractures?

We performed a prospective randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of pre-operative skin traction for proximal femoral fractures in 311 patients. We found a significant difference in pain score on the evening of admission and the first morning after admission between the groups with traction compared the group without. However, there was no corresponding increase in analgesic requirement during this period.