Aims. Trauma & Orthopaedic (T&O) surgery has come under scrutiny for lagging behind other medical specialties in promoting gender and cultural equity and diversity within their workforce. The proportions of female, ethnic minority, and sexual and gender minority individuals within orthopaedic membership bodies are disproportionate to the populations they serve. The aim of this study is to report the findings of a national workforce survey of demographics and working patterns within T&O in Scotland. Methods. A questionnaire devised by a working group was delivered by the Client Analyst and Relationship Development (CARD) group. Utilizing a secure third party ensured anonymity for all respondents. Data were recorded and analyzed by the CARD group. Results. A total of 353 responses were recorded, representing 71% of the known workforce. Overall, 261 respondents (74%) identified as male, 85 (24%) female, and seven (2%) preferred not to say. For specialist trainee (ST)3 to ST6, 148 (42%) were female, and for ST7 to ST8, 131 (37%) were female. In total, 226 of all respondents (64%) were white-British, 35 (10%) were white-European, and 92 (26%) were of an ethnic minority background. A total of 321 of respondents (91%) identified as heterosexual, 14 (4%) preferred not to say, and 18 (5%) identified as LGBTQ+ or preferred to self-describe. Conclusion. This is the largest national workforce survey in contemporary surgical literature. The findings demonstrate a greater proportion of female surgeons overall compared to other studies in T&O. This proportion of females was highest among more junior trainees. The Scottish T&O workforce is more ethnically diverse than the demographics of the population it serves. This study suggests that T&O in Scotland is an evolving speciality in terms of equality and diversity, and is making positive progress. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(1):103–108

Aims. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic, socioeconomic, and educational factors associated with core surgical trainees (CSTs) who apply to and receive offers for higher surgical training (ST3) posts in Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O). Methods. Data collected by the UK Medical Education Database (UKMED) between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2019 were used in this retrospective longitudinal cohort study comprising 1,960 CSTs eligible for ST3. The primary outcome measures were whether CSTs applied for a T&O ST3 post and if they were subsequently offered a post. A directed acyclic graph was used for detecting confounders and adjusting logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs), which assessed the association between the primary outcomes and relevant exposures of interest, including: age, sex, ethnicity, parental socioeconomic status (SES), domiciliary status, category of medical school, Situational Judgement Test (SJT) scores at medical school, and success in postgraduate examinations. This study followed STROBE guidelines. Results. Compared to the overall cohort of CSTs, females were significantly less likely to apply to T&O (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.46; n = 155/720 female vs n = 535/1,240 male; p < 0.001). CSTs who were not UK-domiciled prior to university were nearly twice as likely to apply to T&O (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.85; n = 50/205 vs not UK-domiciled vs n = 585/1,580 UK-domiciled; p < 0.001). Age, ethnicity, SES, and medical school category were not associated with applying to T&O. Applicants who identified as ‘black and minority ethnic’ (BME) were significantly less likely to be offered a T&O ST3 post (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.97; n = 165/265 BME vs n = 265/385 white; p = 0.034). Differences in age, sex, SES, medical school category, and SJT scores were not significantly associated with being offered a T&O ST3 post. Conclusion. There is an evident disparity in sex between T&O applicants and an ethnic disparity between those who receive offers on their first attempt. Further high-quality, prospective research in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period is needed to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in T&O training. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(8):697–707

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) for congenital hip dysplasia (CDH) presents a challenge. In high-grade CDH, key surgical targets include cup placement in the anatomical position and leg length equality. Lengthening of more than 4 cm is associated with sciatic nerve injury, therefore shortening osteotomies are necessary. We present our experience of different shortening osteotomies including advantages and disadvantages of each technique. 89 hips, in 61 pts (28 bilateral cases), for high CDH were performed by a single surgeon from 1997 to 2022. 67 patients were female and 22 were male. Age ranged from 38 to 68 yrs. In all patients 5–8cm of leg length discrepancy (LLD) was present, requiring shortening femoral osteotomy. 12 patients underwent sequential proximal femoral resection with trochanteric osteotomy, 46 subtrochanteric, 6 midshaft, and 25 distal femoral osteotomies with simultaneous valgus correction were performed. All acetabular prostheses were placed in the true anatomical position. We used uncemented high porosity cups. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. All osteotomies healed uneventfully except 3 non-unions of the greater trochanter in the proximal femur resection group. No femoral shaft fractures in proximally based osteotomies. No significant LLD compared to the unaffected or reconstructed side. 2 patients suffered 3 and 5 degrees malrotation of the femur in the oblique sub-trochanteric group. 3 patients suffered transient sciatic nerve palsies. Shortening femoral osteotomies in the treatment of DDH are necessary to avoid injury to the sciatic nerve. In our series, we found transverse subtrochanteric osteotomies to be the most technically efficient, versatile and predictable in their clinical outcome, due to the ability to correct rotation and preserve the metaphyseal bone integrity, allowing for better initial stem stability. Distal femoral osteotomies allowed for controllable correction of valgus knee deformity

Mortality following revision hip surgery for periprosthetic fracture (PPF) has been reported to be as high as 60% at 5 years. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality rate for PPF revisions, compared to revision for aseptic loosening or infection at our tertiary referral centre. Revision arthroplasty procedures performed for PPF, aseptic loosening or infection between January 2014 and December 2015 at our institution were identified using a prospectively collected PPF referral database and locally collected NJR data. Comparisons were made between the 3 groups for baseline demographics, admission to higher-level care, length of stay, complications, and Kaplan-Meier failure (mortality) at 1 & 5 years post-operative (with log-rank test for equality). There were 37 PPF, 71 infected and 221 aseptic revisions. PPF had a higher proportion of females (65% vs. 39% in infection and 53% in aseptic; p = 0.031) and grade 3 and 4 ASA patients (p = 0.006). Median time to surgery from injury for PPF was 8 days (95% CI, 6–16). Single-stage procedures were performed in 84% of PPF, 42% of infection and 99% of aseptic revisions (p < 0.001). 19% of PPF revisions required HDU admission, 1% in the aseptic group and none in the infection group (p<0.001). Median length of stay was significantly different (PPF 10; infection 14; aseptic 8 days (p < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of 1-year mortality were: PPF = 0%; infection = 2.8% (0.7–11.1%); aseptic = 0.9% (0.2–3.5%). 5-year mortality estimates were: PPF = 17.1% (8–34%), infection = 8.7% (4–18.3%), aseptic = 12% (8.4–17%). Log-rank test of equality was not significant, p=0.833. Despite the PPF group having an average delay to surgery of 8 days, higher ASA grades and more admissions to HDU there was no significant difference in mortality rates between the groups at 1 and 5 years postoperatively. Using a coherent MDT approach with dedicated healthcare professionals this service demonstrates a low post operative mortality rate which merits further investment and development

Introduction:. The robot-assisted cementless total hip arthroplasty has theoretical advantages of providing better fit and mechanical stability of the stem. However, no previous study has been reported on a short stem implantation using surgical robot. We compared early clinical and radiographic results between robotic milling and manual rasping in short stem total hip arthroplasty. Materials & Methods:. We designed a prospective randomized controlled trial to determine whether robot-assisted short stem total hip arthroplasty improves the implant position represented by stem alignment, leg length equality, and reduces the intraoperative and early postoperative complications. A total of 40 patients were enrolled with informed consents and randomly assigned to robotic milling group (20 hips) and manual rasping group (20 hips) by means of a computer-generated random number table. There were no statistically significant differences in the demographics of the patients between the two groups. Results:. Total operation time of the robotic milling group was significantly longer than that of the manual rasping group (p = 0.015) with average 8.8 minutes registration time and average 11.1 minutes milling time. There was no significantly difference in total blood loss between the two groups. The robotic milling group showed superior results on stem alignment and leg length equality compared with the manual rasping group. Only in the manual rasping group, there were 2 intraoperative femoral fractures. No complications such as infection, nerve palsy or dislocation encountered in both groups. Conclusions:. Robotic-assisted short stem total hip arthroplasty has advantages in increased accuracy of stem alignment and leg length equality, and also helps reduce the potential risk of intraoperative femoral fracture

Introduction. Historically, amputation or rotationplasty were the treatment of choice in skeletally immature patients. The introduction of expandable endoprostheses in the late 1980s offered the advantages of limb-salvage and limb length equality at skeletal maturity and a promising alternative with improved cosmetic results and immediate weight bearing. Objective. to describe the Rizzoli experience in reconstruction with three different types of expandable prostheses in growing children with malignant bone tumors of the femur, assess the outcome of limb salvage in these patients, analyze survival and complications related to these prostheses used over time. Materials and Methods. Between 1996 and 2010, 39 expandable implants were used in 32 children (16 boys and 16 girls; mean age, 9 years at initial surgery) with bone sarcomas of the femur treated with limb salvage using expandable prostheses. The most common diagnosis was osteoblastic osteosarcoma; all children were classified as having a stage IIB lesion and had preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. The minimally invasive Kotz Growing prosthesis was used in 17 cases (10 primary implant and 7 revision after failure of non-invasive Repiphysis®), the non-invasive Repiphysis® in 15 cases and Stanmore® expandable prostheses in 7 cases. The mean follow-up was 48 months. Functional evaluation and survival analysis of the children and implants were performed. Results. The rate of implant-related complications was 51.3%; 9 prostheses (23%) were revised because of aseptic loosening, infection and breakage. The mean total lengthening was 26 mm (4 to 165 mm) achieved by 78 procedures (2.4 procedures/patient). Three of the nine children who reached skeletal maturity had limb length equality and six discrepancy of 15–30 mm. The survival of the children was 94% and 76% at 24 and 72 months. The survival of the primary prostheses was 90% and 70% at 24 and 72 months. Survival was significantly higher only for the Kotz compared to the Repiphysis® prostheses (p= 0.026). The mean MSTS score was excellent (79%) without a significant difference between the type of prostheses (p= 0.934). Conclusions. In the growing children expandable prostheses are viable reconstruction options with good and excellent oncological and functional outcome, and limb-length equality at skeletal maturity. Mechanical failures including aseptic loosening and breakage, dysfunction of the expansion mechanism, contractures especially around the knee, dislocation and infection were the most common; some designs have been associated with an unacceptably high inherent risk of complications. However, the non-invasive systems are associated with high complications and failure rates. Early experience is promising, but further study is warranted to determine long-term structural integrity of these newer designs

Introduction. There is no consensus on the ideal pain management strategy following total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study sought to identify immediate changes in the hospital course of patients undergoing primary THA following implementation of a rapid recovery anesthesia and multimodal management of pain (RAMP) protocol. For this study, rapid recovery anesthesia describes the use of preoperative non-narcotic medication in conjunction with neuraxial anesthesia techniques confined to the operating room only. The multimodal pain regimen consists of pre- and post-operative high dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), gabapentin, and antiemetics with or without intraoperative periarticular anesthetic injection. We hypothesized that the implementation of a RAMP protocol would lead to decreased reported pain scores, decreased narcotic use, and a shorter hospital stay in patients undergoing primary THA. Methods. This retrospective cohort study performed at a multi-surgeon high-volume institution reviewed the records of 81 consecutive patients who underwent primary THA utilizing traditional anesthesia and an opioid-dependentpain management techniques between June to September 2014 compared to 78 patients who underwent primary THA after implementation of the RAMP protocol between November 2014 to February 2015. The length of stay (LOS), pain scores, narcotic use, and other clinical data were recorded for each study group. Equality of variance was confirmed prior to statistical analysis using t-test for equality of means. Results. There was no significant difference in the demographics, body mass index, ASA classification, or Charleson Comorbidity Index between the two cohorts. The average LOS was significantly shorter after implementation of the RAMP protocol with a mean of 2.10 ± 1.1 days versus 2.89 ± 1.0 days. Total amount of narcotics used was significantly less with the RAMP protocol (Fig 1). Patient reported pain scores were improved throughout the hospital stay with patients receiving the RAMP protocol reporting significantly less pain beginning the morning of POD 1 (Fig 2). No significant decrease in kidney function was seen following the use of high dose NSAIDs (p=0.18). Conclusions. The implementation of a RAMP protocol in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty has resulted in an immediate shorter length of stay with less narcotics use and improved reported pain scores. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating a statistically significantly shorter length of stay associated with a multimodal pain protocol. This study supports the benefits of broad implementation a RAMP protocol for total hip arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION. Use of a novel ligament gap balancing instrumentation system in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) resulted in femoral component external rotation values which were higher on average, compared to measured bone resection systems. In one hundred twenty knees in 110 patients the external rotation averaged 6.9 degrees (± 2.8) and ranged from 0.6 to 12.8 degrees. The external rotation values in this study were 4° and 2° larger, respectively, than the typical 3° and 5° discrete values that are common to measured resection systems. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of these greater external rotation values for the femoral component on patellar tracking, flexion stability and function of two different TKA implant designs. METHODS. In the first arm of the study, 120 knees in 110 patients were consecutively enrolled by a single surgeon using the same implant design (single radius femur with a medial constraint tibial liner) across subjects. All patients underwent arthroplasty with tibial resection first and that set external rotation of the femoral component based upon use of a ligament gap balancing system. Following ligament tensioning / balancing, the femur was prepared. The accuracy of the ligament balancing system was assessed by reapplying equal tension to the ligaments using a tensioning bolt and torque wrench in flexion and extension after the bone resections had been made. The resulting flexion and extension gaps were then measured to determine rectangular shape and equality of the gaps. Postoperative Merchant views were obtained on all of the patients and patellar tracking was assessed and compared to 120 consecutive total knee arthroplasties previously performed by the same surgeon with the same implant using a measured resection system. In the second arm of the study, 100 unilateral knees in 100 patients were consecutively enrolled. The same instrumentation and technique by the same surgeon was used, but with a different implant design (single radius femur without a medial constraint tibial liner). RESULTS. Rectangular flexion and extension gaps were obtained within ± 0.5mm in all cases. Equality of the flexion and extension gaps was also obtained within ± 0.5mm in all cases. Merchant views of the total knee arthroplasties showed central patellar tracking with no tilt or subluxation in 90% of the ligament gap balanced knees and 74% of the measured resection knees. Arthrofibrosis resulting in a closed manipulation under anesthesia was required in 6% of the knees with single radius femurs and medial constaint tibial liners, but only in 1% of the single radius femur knees without medial constraint liners. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. External rotation values are higher on average, when ligament tensioning / balancing is employed with this novel system compared to measured resection systems. In this study this resulted in consistent matching of the flexion gap to the extension gap and better patellar tracking. These findings suggest that limiting the surgeon to discrete rotation values may be at odds with where the femur “desires” to be, given soft tissue considerations for each patient. Also, even with ideal soft tissue balancing, TKA implant design can have a significant affect on the outcome measure of development of arthrofibrosis

Introduction. Paediatric tibial fractures, unlike femoral fractures do not have much potential for overgrowth. In simple factures of the tibial shaft treated non-operatively the major problems are shortening and malunion. In complex injuries with extensive soft tissue disruption and bone loss, the long-term aim of reconstruction is to achieve union with a fully functional limb without limb-length inequality. Methods. Four children (Age range 6-12 years) who sustained high-energy grade III open fractures of the tibia were treated with acute shortening and bone transport. Any soft tissue reconstructive and secondary grafting procedures for delayed union were recorded. The children were prospectively followed up to fracture union. Distraction ostegenesis proceeded until limb length equality was achieved and the regenerate allowed to consolidate. Results. Three children had grade 3B injuries, 2 requiring flap reconstruction. One had a grade 3A injury. Mean acute shortening was 4.4cm (Range 2-9cm). Distraction osteogenesis was used to achieve limb-length equalisation. 2 children required secondary bone graft procedures to achieve union. At 3 years from injury, all children had overgrowth of the injured leg averaging 2cm. Discussion. Despite achieving equal limb lengths at the end of distraction osteogenesis the injured tibia overgrew by a mean of 2cm at three years post injury. This would suggest that even in the presence of extensive soft tissue trauma, as seen in these high energy injuries, the increased blood flow associated with metaphyseal corticotomy stimulates epiphyseal activity resulting in overgrowth. The value of stopping adjustments just short of achieving limb length equality to allow for expected overgrowth in the injured tibia merits further investigation

Introduction: Paediatric tibial fractures, unlike femoral fractures do not have much potential for overgrowth. In simple factures of the tibial shaft treated non-operatively the major problems are shortening and malunion. In complex injuries with extensive soft tissue disruption and bone loss, the long-term aim of reconstruction is to achieve union with a fully functional limb without limb-length inequality. Methods: Four children who sustained high-energy grade III open fractures of the tibia were treated with acute shortening and bone transport. Any soft tissue reconstructive and secondary grafting procedures for delayed union were recorded. The children were prospectively followed up to fracture union. Distraction ostegenesis proceeded until limb length equality was achieved and the regenerate allowed to consolidate. Discussion: Despite achieving equal limb lengths at the end of distraction osteogenesis the injured tibia overgrew by 1–2cm at three years post injury. This would suggest that even in the presence of extensive soft tissue trauma, as seen in these high energy injuries, the increased blood flow associated with metaphyseal corticotomy stimulates epiphyseal activity resulting in overgrowth. The value of stopping adjustments just short of achieving limb length equality to allow for expected overgrowth in the injured tibia merits further investigation

INTRODUCTION. Use of a novel ligament gap balancing instrumentation system in total knee arthroplasty resulted in femoral component external rotation values which were higher on average, compared to measured resection systems. In one hundred twenty knees in 110 patients the external rotation averaged 6.9 degrees (+/− 2.8) and ranged from 0.6 to 12.8 degrees. The external rotation values in this study were 4° and 2° larger, respectively, than the typical 3° and 5° discrete values that are common to measured resection systems. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of these greater external rotation values for the femoral component on patellar tracking and flexion instability. METHODS. One hundred twenty knees in 110 patients were consecutively enrolled by a single surgeon using the same implant across subjects. All patients underwent arthroplasty with tibial resection first and that set external rotation of the femoral component based upon use of a ligament gap balancing system. Following ligament tensioning/balancing, the femur was prepared. The accuracy of the ligament balancing system was assessed by reapplying equal tension to the ligaments using a tensioning bolt and torque wrench in flexion and extension after the bone resections had been made. The resulting flexion and extension gaps were then measured to determine rectangular shape and equality of the gaps. Postoperative Merchant views were obtained on all of the patients and patellar tracking was assessed and compared to 120 consecutive total knee arthroplasties previously performed by the same surgeon with the same implant using a measured resection system. RESULTS. Rectangular flexion and extension gaps were obtained within +/− 0.5mm in all cases. Equality of the flexion and extension gaps was also obtained within +/− 0.5mm in all cases. Merchant views of the total knee arthroplasties showed central patellar tracking with no tilt or subluxation in 90% of the ligament gap balanced knees and 74% of the measured resection knees. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. External rotation values are higher on average, when ligament tensioning/balancing is employed with this novel system compared to measured resection systems. In this study this resulted in consistent matching of the flexion gap to the extension gap and better patellar tracking. These findings suggest that limiting the surgeon to discrete rotation values may be at odds with where the femur “desires” to be, given soft tissue considerations for each patient

Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), also known as club foot or talipes is a common congenital disorder. Parents are using the Internet more and more as a source of information about health care. Unfortunately, the quality of health care information on the Internet varies. This study looked at information available to parents using two instruments for judging the equality of information on the internet. The top five search engines were searched on Google. Three of these were also included in the top 50 sites in Ireland so these 3 sites were used. The phrases CTEV and club foot were searched from all 3 platforms. Websites were then scrutinized using the HON code and the DISCERN tool. 54 organic sites were found for the 3 search engines using the key word club foot. For the key word CTEV 55 matches were returned for the three search engines. 4 websites displayed the HON code. Using the discern tool CTEV websites had a mean score of 60 with a standard deviation of 17. While club foot had a mean score of 56.8 with a standard deviation of 13. Max score 80. Large volumes of information are available to parents on the Internet. Often parents find comfort in sharing experiences and feel empowered by learning about their children's illnesses. However, information provided on the interned can also be ambiguous and disingenuous. Practitioners should be aware of a number of key websites that parents can be directed towards

Placement of total knee arthroplasty components is typically controlled via resections that reference bony landmarks. For example, external rotation of the femoral component can be pre-determined by referencing the posterior condyles or the epicondylar axis. Such approaches exclude consideration of any potential effect of the collateral ligaments before resection are made. In addition, bone referencing instrumentation usually limits femoral component placement to discrete values of external rotation such as 3° or 5°. The purpose of the present study was to determine external rotation of the femoral component following use of a novel ligament balancing approach and to assess the accuracy of balancing the flexion and extension gaps with this ligament balancing system. One hundred twenty knees in 110 patients were consecutively enrolled by a single surgeon using the same implant across subjects. All patients underwent arthroplasty that set external rotation of the femoral component based upon use of a novel ligament balancing system. Following ligament tensioning/balancing, the femur was prepared. Thicknesses of the medial and lateral posterior condylar resections were measured and the difference between the two measurements was calculated. When placed into relation with the line formed by the distance between the midpoints of the distal condyles (reference line), the difference in the condylar resections gives the height of a right triangle. The arc tangent function was then used to calculate the resultant angle (external rotation) formed from the reference line and the hypotenuse. The average, range and standard deviation of the external rotation values was found. External rotation averaged 6.9° (+/−2.8°) and ranged from 0.6° to 12.8°. Fifty-four percent of femoral components were sized 3, 4 or 5. The external rotation values in this study were 4° and 2° larger, respectively, than the typical 3° and 5° discrete values that are common to measured resection systems. External rotation values are higher on average, when ligament tensioning/balancing is employed with this novel system compared to measured resection systems. Also, the standard deviation and range suggests that true femoral rotation varies greatly between patients. This finding suggests that limiting the surgeon to discrete rotation values may be at odds with where the femur “desires” to be, given soft tissue considerations for each patient. Future work includes determining whether there is a functional difference between measured resection and this ligament tensioning/balancing approach. The accuracy of the ligament balancing system was assessed by applying equal tension on the ligaments using a tensioning bolt and torque wrench in flexion and extension after the bone resections had been made. The resulting flexion and extension gaps were then measured to determine rectangular shape and equality of the gaps. Rectangular flexion and extension gaps were obtained within 0.5 mm in all cases. Equality of the flexion and extension gaps was also obtained within 0.5 mm 100% of the time. To the best of our knowledge, this system and technique has produced better accuracy balancing the flexion and extension gaps in total knee arthroplasty than has previous been reported

The technique involves inserting the femoral and acetabular components anterior to the posterior capsule and short rotators and posterior to the gluteus medius and minimus through an incision in the superior capsule. The surgery is performed with the femoral component instrumented before femoral neck osteotomy and head removal. The femur remains steady during the femoral instrumentation. Leverage retractors around the neck are easy to hold and to maintain exposure. The integrity of the capsule is used to assess length and offset. During the procedure the hip is never disarticulated, and the leg is never placed outside of the range of motion envelope of the normal hip. The technique has found astonishingly few users over the past ten years. Many surgeons are not aware of this technique and clinical results are scarce. The purpose of this paper is recall it to memory, to compare it with other less invasive procedures, and to report on some remarkable clinical results including stability, leg length and offset equality, component positioning, muscle force generation and complications

There is enough evidence to show that navigation improves precision of component placement and consistent and accurate restoration of limb alignment, allowing the surgeon to achieve the desired neutral or kinematic alignment. Computer-assisted TKA provides excellent information regarding gap equality and symmetry throughout the knee range of motion. Accurate soft-tissue balancing is facilitated by CAS. It allows precise, quantitative soft tissue release for deformities, especially in knees with severe flexion contractures and severe rigid varus and valgus deformities. It allows accurate restoration of joint line, and posterior femoral offset. Knee arthritis with complex extra-articular deformities and in-situ hardware can be tackled appropriately using computer navigation where conventional techniques may be inadequate. It also allows intra-articular correction for extra-articular deformities due to malunions and facilitates extra-articular correction in cases with severe extra-articular tibial deformities. In obese patients, where the alignment of the limb is difficult to assess, computer navigation improves accuracy and reduces the number of outliers. The ability to quantify the precise amount of bone cuts and soft tissue releases needed to equalise gaps and restore alignment, reduced blood loss, and reduced incidence of systemic emboli improves the safety of the procedure and hastens functional recovery of the patient. Recent evidence shows that the rate of revision especially in younger patients is reduced with navigation

Background. Humeral retroversion is variable among individuals, and there are several measurement methods. This study was conducted to compare the concordance and reliability between the standard method and 5 other measurement methods on Twodimensional (2D) computed tomography (CT) scans. Methods. CT scans from 21 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty (19 women and 2 men; mean age, 70.1 years [range, 42 to 81 years]) were analyzed. The elbow transepicondylar axis was used as a distal reference. Proximal reference points included the central humeral head axis (standard method), the axis of the humeral center to 9 mm posterior to the posterior margin of the bicipital groove (method 1), the central axis of the bicipital groove –30° (method 2), the base axis of the triangular shaped metaphysis +2.5° (method 3), the distal humeral head central axis +2.4° (method 4), and contralateral humeral head retroversion (method 5). Measurements were conducted independently by two orthopedic surgeons. Results. The mean humeral retroversion was 31.42° ± 12.10° using the standard method, and 29.70° ± 11.66° (method 1), 30.64°± 11.24° (method 2), 30.41° ± 11.17° (method 3), 32.14° ± 11.70° (method 4), and 34.15° ± 11.47° (method 5) for the other methods. Interobserver reliability and intraobserver reliability exceeded 0.75 for all methods. On the test to evaluate the equality of the standard method to the other methods, the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of method 2 and method 4 were different from the ICC of the standard method in surgeon A (p < 0.05), and the ICCs of method 2 and method 3 were different form the ICC of the standard method in surgeon B (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Humeral version measurement using the posterior margin of the bicipital groove (method 1) would be most concordant with the standard method even though all 5 methods showed excellent agreements

Initial treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury remains as controversial in 2023 as it was in the early 19th century, when Sir Astley Cooper and Sir Charles Bell debated the merits or otherwise of surgery to relieve cord compression. There has been a lack of high-class evidence for early surgery, despite which expeditious intervention has become the surgical norm. This evidence deficit has been progressively addressed in the last decade and more modern statistical methods have been used to clarify some of the issues, which is demonstrated by the results of the SCI-POEM trial. However, there has never been a properly conducted trial of surgery versus active conservative care. As a result, it is still not known whether early surgery or active physiological management of the unstable injured spinal cord offers the better chance for recovery. Surgeons who care for patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries in the acute setting should be aware of the arguments on all sides of the debate, a summary of which this annotation presents.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(4):347–355.

Aims

Our primary aim was to establish the proportion of female orthopaedic consultants who perform arthroplasty via cases submitted to the National Joint Registry (NJR), which covers England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Guernsey. Secondary aims included comparing time since specialist registration, private practice participation, and number of hospitals worked in between male and female surgeons.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common and debilitating knee injuries in professional athletes with an incidence in females up to eight-times higher than their male counterparts. ACL injuries can be career-threatening and are associated with increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in future life. The increased risk of ACL injury in females has been attributed to various anatomical, developmental, neuromuscular, and hormonal factors. Anatomical and hormonal factors have been identified and investigated as significant contributors including osseous anatomy, ligament laxity, and hamstring muscular recruitment. Postural stability and impact absorption are associated with the stabilizing effort and stress on the ACL during sport activity, increasing the risk of noncontact pivot injury. Female patients have smaller diameter hamstring autografts than males, which may predispose to increased risk of re-rupture following ACL reconstruction and to an increased risk of chondral and meniscal injuries. The addition of an extra-articular tenodesis can reduce the risk of failure; therefore, it should routinely be considered in young elite athletes. Prevention programs target key aspects of training including plyometrics, strengthening, balance, endurance and stability, and neuromuscular training, reducing the risk of ACL injuries in female athletes by up to 90%. Sex disparities in access to training facilities may also play an important role in the risk of ACL injuries between males and females. Similarly, football boots, pitches quality, and football size and weight should be considered and tailored around females’ characteristics. Finally, high levels of personal and sport-related stress have been shown to increase the risk of ACL injury which may be related to alterations in attention and coordination, together with increased muscular tension, and compromise the return to sport after ACL injury. Further investigations are still necessary to better understand and address the risk factors involved in ACL injuries in female athletes.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(2):94–100.