The primary aim of this study is to quantify and compare outcomes following a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius in elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) who are managed conservatively versus with surgical fixation (open reduction and internal fixation). Secondary aims are to assess and compare upper limb-specific function, health-related quality of life, wrist pain, complications, grip strength, range of motion, radiological parameters, healthcare resource use, and cost-effectiveness between the groups. A prospectively registered (ISRCTN95922938) randomized parallel group trial will be conducted. Elderly patients meeting the inclusion criteria with a dorsally displaced distal radius facture will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to either conservative management (cast without further manipulation) or surgery. Patients will be assessed at six, 12, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks post intervention. The primary outcome measure and endpoint will be the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) at 52 weeks. In addition, the abbreviated version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire, pain score (visual analogue scale 1 to 10), complications, grip strength (dynamometer), range of motion (goniometer), and radiological assessments will be undertaken. A cost-utility analysis will be performed to assess the cost-effectiveness of surgery. We aim to recruit 89 subjects per arm (total sample size 178).Aims
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Aims. Bacteriophages infect, replicate inside bacteria, and are released from the host through lysis. Here, we evaluate the effects of repetitive doses of the Staphylococcus aureus phage 191219 and gentamicin against haematogenous and early-stage biofilm implant-related infections in Galleria mellonella. Methods. For the haematogenous infection, G. mellonella larvae were implanted with a Kirschner wire (K-wire), infected with S. aureus, and subsequently phages and/or gentamicin were administered. For the early-stage biofilm implant infection, the
The aim of this study was to explore parents’ experience of their child’s recovery, and their thoughts about their decision to enrol their child in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of surgery versus non-surgical casting for a displaced distal radius fracture. A total of 20 parents of children from 13 hospitals participating in the RCT took part in an interview five to 11 months after injury. Interviews were informed by phenomenology and analyzed using thematic analysis.Aims
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Hand trauma, consisting of injuries to both the hand and the wrist, are a common injury seen worldwide. The global age-standardized incidence of hand trauma exceeds 179 per 100,000. Hand trauma may require surgical management and therefore result in significant costs to both healthcare systems and society. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common following all surgical interventions, and within hand surgery the risk of SSI is at least 5%. SSI following hand trauma surgery results in significant costs to healthcare systems with estimations of over £450 per patient. The World Health Organization (WHO) have produced international guidelines to help prevent SSIs. However, it is unclear what variability exists in the adherence to these guidelines within hand trauma. The aim is to assess compliance to the WHO global guidelines in prevention of SSI in hand trauma. This will be an international, multicentre audit comparing antimicrobial practices in hand trauma to the standards outlined by WHO. Through the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network (RSTN), hand surgeons across the globe will be invited to participate in the study. Consultant surgeons/associate specialists managing hand trauma and members of the multidisciplinary team will be identified at participating sites. Teams will be asked to collect data prospectively on a minimum of 20 consecutive patients. The audit will run for eight months. Data collected will include injury details, initial management, hand trauma team management, operation details, postoperative care, and antimicrobial techniques used throughout. Adherence to WHO global guidelines for SSI will be summarized using descriptive statistics across each criteria.Aims
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The aim of this study was to explore clinicians’ experience of a paediatric randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing surgical reduction with non-surgical casting for displaced distal radius fractures. Overall, 22 staff from 15 hospitals who participated in the RCT took part in an interview. Interviews were informed by phenomenology and analyzed using thematic analysis.Aims
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Proper preoperative planning benefits fracture reduction, fixation, and stability in tibial plateau fracture surgery. We developed and clinically implemented a novel workflow for 3D surgical planning including patient-specific drilling guides in tibial plateau fracture surgery. A prospective feasibility study was performed in which consecutive tibial plateau fracture patients were treated with 3D surgical planning, including patient-specific drilling guides applied to standard off-the-shelf plates. A postoperative CT scan was obtained to assess whether the screw directions, screw lengths, and plate position were performed according the preoperative planning. Quality of the fracture reduction was assessed by measuring residual intra-articular incongruence (maximum gap and step-off) and compared to a historical matched control group.Aims
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Although there are various pelvic osteotomies for acetabular dysplasia of the hip, shelf operations offer effective and minimally invasive osteotomy. Our study aimed to assess outcomes following modified Spitzy shelf acetabuloplasty. Between November 2000 and December 2016, we retrospectively evaluated 144 consecutive hip procedures in 122 patients a minimum of five years after undergoing modified Spitzy shelf acetabuloplasty for acetabular dysplasia including osteoarthritis (OA). Our follow-up rate was 92%. The mean age at time of surgery was 37 years (13 to 58), with a mean follow-up of 11 years (5 to 21). Advanced OA (Tönnis grade ≥ 2) was present preoperatively in 16 hips (11%). The preoperative lateral centre-edge angle ranged from -28° to 25°. Survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis, using conversions to total hip arthroplasty as the endpoint. Risk factors for joint space narrowing less than 2 mm were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.Aims
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This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the induced membrane technique for treating infected bone defects, and to explore the factors that might affect patient outcomes. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases between 1 January 2000 and 31 October 2021. Studies with a minimum sample size of five patients with infected bone defects treated with the induced membrane technique were included. Factors associated with nonunion, infection recurrence, and additional procedures were identified using logistic regression analysis on individual patient data.Aims
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Olecranon fractures are usually caused by falling directly on to the olecranon or following a fall on to an outstretched arm. Displaced fractures of the olecranon with a stable ulnohumeral joint are commonly managed by open reduction and internal fixation. The current predominant method of management of simple displaced fractures with ulnohumeral stability (Mayo grade IIA) in the UK and internationally is a low-cost technique using tension band wiring. Suture or suture anchor techniques have been described with the aim of reducing the hardware related complications and reoperation. An all-suture technique has been developed to fix the fracture using strong synthetic sutures alone. The aim of this trial is to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of tension suture repair versus traditional tension band wiring for the surgical fixation of Mayo grade IIA fractures of the olecranon. SOFFT is a multicentre, pragmatic, two-arm parallel-group, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial. Participants will be assigned 1:1 to receive either tension suture fixation or tension band wiring. 280 adult participants will be recruited. The primary outcome will be the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at four months post-randomization. Secondary outcome measures include DASH (at 12, 18, and 24 months), pain, Net Promotor Score (patient satisfaction), EuroQol five-dimension five-level score (EQ-5D-5L), radiological union, complications, elbow range of motion, and re-operations related to the injury or to remove metalwork. An economic evaluation will assess the cost-effectiveness of treatments.Aims
Methods
Trained immunity confers non-specific protection against various types of infectious diseases, including bone and joint infection. Platelets are active participants in the immune response to pathogens and foreign substances, but their role in trained immunity remains elusive. We first trained the innate immune system of C57BL/6 mice via intravenous injection of two toll-like receptor agonists (zymosan and lipopolysaccharide). Two, four, and eight weeks later, we isolated platelets from immunity-trained and control mice, and then assessed whether immunity training altered platelet releasate. To better understand the role of immunity-trained platelets in bone and joint infection development, we transfused platelets from immunity-trained mice into naïve mice, and then challenged the recipient mice with Aims
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To fully verify the reliability and reproducibility of an experimental method in generating standardized micromotion for the rat femur fracture model. A modularized experimental device has been developed that allows rat models to be used instead of large animal models, with the aim of reducing systematic errors and time and money constraints on grouping. The bench test was used to determine the difference between the measured and set values of the micromotion produced by this device under different simulated loading weights. The displacement of the fixator under different loading conditions was measured by compression tests, which was used to simulate the unexpected micromotion caused by the rat’s ambulation. In vivo preliminary experiments with a small sample size were used to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the whole experimental scheme and surgical scheme.Aims
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Temporary epiphysiodesis (ED) is commonly applied in children and adolescents to treat leg length discrepancies (LLDs) and tall stature. Traditional Blount staples or modern two-hole plates are used in clinical practice. However, they require accurate planning, precise surgical techniques, and attentive follow-up to achieve the desired outcome without complications. This study reports the results of ED using a novel rigid staple (RigidTack) incorporating safety, as well as technical and procedural success according to the idea, development, evaluation, assessment, long-term (IDEAL) study framework. A cohort of 56 patients, including 45 unilateral EDs for LLD and 11 bilateral EDs for tall stature, were prospectively analyzed. ED was performed with 222 rigid staples with a mean follow-up of 24.4 months (8 to 49). Patients with a predicted LLD of ≥ 2 cm at skeletal maturity were included. Mean age at surgery was 12.1 years (8 to 14). Correction and complication rates including implant-associated problems, and secondary deformities as well as perioperative parameters, were recorded (IDEAL stage 2a). These results were compared to historical cohorts treated for correction of LLD with two-hole plates or Blount staples.Aims
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The objective of this systematic review was to describe trapeziectomy outcomes and complications in the context of osteoarthritis of the base of the thumb after a five-year minimum follow-up. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to guide study design, and 267 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. After exclusion criteria application, 22 studies were included, involving 728 patients and 823 trapeziectomies. Outcomes included pre- and postoperative clinical and radiological characteristics. Complications and revisions were recorded.Aims
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Antibiotic resistance represents a threat to human health. It has been suggested that by 2050, antibiotic-resistant infections could cause ten million deaths each year. In orthopaedics, many patients undergoing surgery suffer from complications resulting from implant-associated infection. In these circumstances secondary surgery is usually required and chronic and/or relapsing disease may ensue. The development of effective treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections is needed. Recent evidence shows that bacteriophage (phages; viruses that infect bacteria) therapy may represent a viable and successful solution. In this review, a brief description of bone and joint infection and the nature of bacteriophages is presented, as well as a summary of our current knowledge on the use of bacteriophages in the treatment of bacterial infections. We present contemporary published in vitro and in vivo data as well as data from clinical trials, as they relate to bone and joint infections. We discuss the potential use of bacteriophage therapy in orthopaedic infections. This area of research is beginning to reveal successful results, but mostly in nonorthopaedic fields. We believe that bacteriophage therapy has potential therapeutic value for implant-associated infections in orthopaedics. Cite this article:
To explore the effect of different types of articulating antibiotic-loaded cement spacers in two-stage revision for chronic hip prosthetic joint infection (PJI). A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 36 chronic PJI patients treated with different types of articulating antibiotic-loaded cement spacers between January 2014 and December 2017. The incidence of complications and the therapeutic effects of different types of antibiotic-loaded articulating cement spacers were compared.Aims
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To determine the impact of COVID-19 on orthopaediatric admissions and fracture clinics within a regional integrated care system (ICS). A retrospective review was performed for all paediatric orthopaedic patients admitted across the region during the recent lockdown period (24 March 2020 to 10 May 2020) and the same period in 2019. Age, sex, mechanism, anatomical region, and treatment modality were compared, as were fracture clinic attendances within the receiving regional major trauma centre (MTC) between the two periods.Aims
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The aim of this study is to report the results of a case series of olecranon fractures and olecranon osteotomies treated with two bicortical screws. Data was collected retrospectively for all olecranon fractures and osteotomies fixed with two bicortical screws between January 2008 and December 2019 at our institution. The following outcome measures were assessed; re-operation, complications, radiological loss of reduction, and elbow range of flexion-extension.Aims
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Aims. Describe a statistical and economic analysis plan for the Distal Radius Acute Fracture Fixation Trial 2 (DRAFFT2) randomized controlled trial. Methods. DRAFFT2 is a multicentre, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial. It compares surgical fixation with
Our retrospective analysis reports the outcome of patients operated for slipped capital femoral epiphysis using the modified Dunn procedure. Results, complications, and the need for revision surgery are compared with the recent literature. We retrospectively evaluated 17 patients (18 hips) who underwent the modified Dunn procedure for the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Outcome measurement included standardized scores. Clinical assessment included ambulation, leg length discrepancy, and hip mobility. Radiographically, the quality of epiphyseal reduction was evaluated using the Southwick and Alpha-angles. Avascular necrosis, heterotopic ossifications, and osteoarthritis were documented at follow-up.Aims
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Methicillin-resistant Rats underwent intestinal colonization with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged MRSA by gavage and an intra-articular wire was then surgically implanted. After ten days, the presence of PJI was determined by bacterial cultures of the distal femur, joint capsule, and implant. We excluded several other possibilities for PJI development. Intraoperative contamination was excluded by culturing the specimen obtained from surgical site. Extracellular bacteraemia-associated PJI was excluded by comparing with the infection rate after intravenous injection of MRSA or MRSA-carrying neutrophils. To further support this theory, we tested the efficacy of prophylactic membrane-permeable and non-membrane-permeable antibiotics in this model.Aims
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