Measured flexion following total knee arthroplasty.

Postoperative flexion is an important factor in the outcome of total knee arthroplasty. Although normal activities of daily living require a minimum of 105° to 110° of flexion, patients from non-Western cultures often engage in activities such as kneeling and squatting that require higher flexion. The desire to achieve greater flexion serves as the driving force for prosthetic modifications, including high-flexion designs.

Surface roughness of femoral head prostheses after dislocation.

The effects of damaged femoral heads on long-term wear in total hip arthroplasties are not well known. In the study reported here, we compared the surface roughness of dislocated femoral heads, retrieved at time of revision, with that of heads revised for reasons other than dislocation. The dislocated heads, including 6 cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr), 2 oxidized zirconium, and 2 alumina (ceramic) heads, were compared with nondislocated Co-Cr and ceramic heads.

Cementless femoral fixation in total hip arthroplasty.

Cementless femoral fixation by means of bone ingrowth has been successful in total hip arthroplasty in patients with sufficient bone quality. Consistent bone ingrowth and resultant long-term success involve many factors, including surgical technique, initial mechanical stability achieved at time of implantation, stem design and material, and implant surface. One potential method for achieving faster, more consistent initial bone ingrowth is use of the osteoconductive ceramic hydroxyapatite.

Intrathecal narcotics for obstetric analgesia in a community hospital.

Objective: Our objective was to establish whether intrathecal narcotics for obstetric analgesia offer an adequate and cost-effective alternative to epidural analgesia with minimal side effects in our small, semirural community hospital with limited anesthesia coverage.

Study Design: Low-risk patients at > or = 35 gestational weeks in active labor were offered intrathecal narcotics. A retroactive chart review of every patient receiving an intrathecal injection was compared with a chart review of the next consecutive low-risk patient who did not receive an intrathecal narcotic.