Blood Transfusion and our Immune System after Knee Replacement Surgery

Major injury affects our body's ability to fight infections; our immune system. During total knee replacement surgery, blood lost during the operation is sometimes collected so that it can be given back to the patient afterwards as a transfusion. In this research project, patients having knee replacement surgery had their blood examined for signs that cells that fight infection were present. They compared the blood of patients who had their own blood transfused back and those that didn't. They found that patients who had their own blood transfused back had more signs that cells fighting infection were present. Post-traumatic Immunosuppression is Reversed by Anti-coagulated Salvaged Blood Transfusions; Deductions from studies of Immune Status after Knee Arthroplasty (2014) Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 177(2) 509-520, Professor Gordon Bannister, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bristol

Bone Cements in Hip Replacement Surgery

Bone cement is used in some hip replacement surgery in the space between the metal implant and the bone. If a hip replacement needs to be revised (re-done), new cement can be used on top of the older cement. This research study compared different bone cements and showed that certain brands of cement and ways of preparing the older cement improved the strength of the resulting revision (re-do) hip replacement. Cement brand and preparation effects cement-in-cement mantle shear strength (2015) Hip International, 25(1) 67-71, Miss Alana Pentlow, Trainee Orthopaedic Surgeon, Bristol