We report the results of the use of the Long Gamma Nail in the treatment of complex proximal femoral fractures in our hospital. All patients at one hospital treated with the Long Gamma Nail were reviewed. Information collected included the age, sex, type of injury, fracture classification, intra-operative complications, post-operative complications, and survival of the implant and patient. One hundred nails were reviewed which were inserted in 97 patients. 70 patients were followed up for 1 month or more and their mean follow up was 8 months (range 3 months to 6 years). The mean age was 74 (range 16–98). Twenty were inserted into femurs with metastatic malignancy and four patients were victims of poly-trauma. The average length of the operation was 2 hours 22 minutes. Blood transfusion was required in 74% and on average was 2.5 units. There were 7 significant complications. Five patients underwent revision, 2 to Total Hip Arthroplasty after proximal screw migration and 2 patients required exchange nailing. There was one broken nail and two peri-prosthetic fractures at the tip of the nail. Success was defined as achievement of stability of fracture until union or death; this was achieved in 15% of cases. The mortality was 7% at 30 days and 17% at one year. One death was directly related to the nail and the rest due to medical co-morbidities. Complication rate fell with increasing experience in the unit. The training of surgeons had no detrimental effect on outcome. Complex proximal femoral fractures including pathological lesions, subtrochanteric fractures and pertrochanteric fractures with subtrochanteric extensions are difficult to treat, with all implants having high failure rates. The long gamma nail allows early weight bearing and seems effective in treating these difficult fractures. Furthermore the majority of these unstable fractures tend to occur in the very elderly with osteoporosis and other
Introduction. Post-operative gait abnormalities are recognized following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Despite global improvement in functional outcome, gait abnormality persists for a decade or more. In this study 3-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) was performed using a portable system with Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to quantify this abnormality. Methods. The gait of 55 patients with monarthrodial hip arthrosis was measured pre-operatively and at one year post-surgery. Patients with
Introduction. Improvements in function after THA can be evaluated using validated health outcome surveys but studies have shown that PROMs are unreliable in following the progress of individuals. Formal gait lab analysis is expensive, time consuming and fixed in terms of location. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) containing accelerometers and gyroscopes can determine aspects of gait kinematics in a portable package and can be used in the outpatient setting (Figure 1). In this study multiple metrics describing gait were evaluated pre- and post THA and comparisons made with the normal population. Methods. The gait of 55 patients with monarthrodial hip arthrosis was measured pre-operatively and at one year post-surgery. Patients with
Study Purpose: To investigate whether the use of reinfusion drains and post-operative autogenous blood transfusion reduces the rate of allogeneic blood transfusion after primary total knee replacement in our unit. Methods: A prospective audit was carried out over a 14-week period. Patients received either a reinfusion drain, a suction drain or no drain according to surgeon preference. Post-operative allogeneic blood transfusion criteria were based on clinical indication rather than an absolute haemoglobin level. Results:127 consecutive patients underwent total knee replacement during the study period. Patients were matched between the three groups for age,
Aims. To devise a simple clinical risk classification system for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (PTKR) to facilitate risk and cost estimation, and aid pre-operative planning. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed a series of consecutive PTKRs performed by the senior author. A classification system was devised to take account of principal risk factors in PTKR. Four groups were devised: 1) Non complex PTKR (CP0): no local or systemic complicating factors; 2) CPI: Locally complex: Severe or fixed deformity and/or bone loss, previous bony surgery or trauma, or ligamentous instability; 3) CPII Systemic complicating factors:
Introduction: Dr Foster data presents mortality rate for fracture neck of femur in acute trusts. We assessed the accuracy of this data in an acute trust in England for a nine-month period. Methods: Fifty-seven patients (17.2%) died due to fracture NOF during our review period according to Dr Foster. Medical notes were retrospectively analysed in detail. There were 20 males with a mean age of 84.5yrs (64–100) and 37 females with a mean age of 85.7yrs (57–100). Data analysis included time and day of admission, admission ward, senior orthopaedic review, anaesthetic review, ASA grade, time to surgery, grade of anaesthetist and operating surgeon, type of anaesthesia, time of anaesthesia and surgery, type of surgery, post-op recovery and cause of death. Results: Seven patients died before their planned surgery due to extensive
Introduction. Following National patient safety alert on cement use in hip fracture surgery, we investigated the incidence and pattern of 72 hours peri-operative mortality after hip fracture surgery in a District General Hospital. Methods. We reviewed all patients who had hip fracture surgery between 2005-April, 2010. We recorded demographic variables, type of fracture, implant used,
Objectives: To determine the effect of an Orthogeriatric team (OGT) upon patient management pre-operatively after its incorporation into a regional trauma centre of a district general hospital in the UK. Design: Prospective audit covering all patients admitted with a fractured hip for surgery one year before and one year after the establishment of an OGT. Method: A total of 288 fractured hips were operated on during February 2004 to February 2005. From February 2005 the OGT was created, consisting of a Staff Grade and 2 Senior House Officers (junior residents), assisted part-time by a consultant. Patients were medically managed and optimised for theatre; 301 patients underwent surgery in the 1st year from Feb 2005 to 2006. The data was collected prospectively from admission, and entered onto a database. Results: Before the set up of the OGT only one-quarter (25%) of patients were operated on within 24hours compared to almost one-half of patients (44%) under the care of the OGT. Of the patients waiting more than 24hours, delay while waiting for special tests was similar but there was a significant difference in the percentages of patients delayed due to lack of theatre time and poor medical condition. Only 5% of patients under the care of the OGT were delayed due to
A review of total hip replacements (THR) performed in Palmerston North between 1991–2000 has identified a group of postoperative patients in whom recurrent dislocation has been previously deemed untreatable because of
We examined the effect of age, gender, body mass index (BMI),
Introduction and aims: Surgical decompression for lumbar stenosis entails a risk of iatrogenic instability. Consequently, laminectomy has been largely superseded by the more conservative procedure of fenestration, but the decompression may be compromised. We describe an additional technique of undercutting laminectomy, which conserves stability while maximising decompression, and the results are presented. Method: Forty-nine patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were treated by fenestration, medial facetectomy and removal with curved osteotomes of the ventral aspect of the lamina superior to the involved facets together with the attached ligamentum flavum. The results were assessed at a mean follow-up period of three years and four months using walking distance and a pain analogue scale as outcome measures, and surgical complications were recorded. The radiological results were assessed in 25 patients by measurement on MRI scan of the spinal canal cross-sectional area pre- and post-operatively. Results: Ten patients had undercutting laminectomy at one level, 19 at two levels, 14 at three levels and four at four levels.
INTRODUCTION. Revision knee arthroplasty is increasing and in 2010 constituted 6% of knee replacements done in the UK according to the National Joint Registry. 1. Infection was the 2nd most common cause accounting for 23% of the revision burden. 1. Two-stage revisions are considered the gold standard with success rates from 80–100%. 2. Single-stage revisions are becoming increasingly popular at certain centers with reported benefits of reduced “down-time” for the patient and a decreased financial burden. OBJECTIVES. The senior author (DSB) has been performing single-stage revisions for infections for over 10 years. We were interested in seeing the success rate for this method and possibly identify factors that would portend a poorer result. METHODS. We performed a retrospective review of all single-stage revisions performed at our hospital by the senior author (DSB) from January 2001 to December 2010. In total, 340 revision knee arthroplasties were performed. Of these, 13 (4%) single-stage revisions for infections were identified. The case records of these cases were reviewed and details of the revision as well as medical co-morbidities were assessed to see if any of these factors correlated to a poor outcome. In all, there were 8 women: 5 men with a mean age of 70.9 years (range 49–80 years). 1 case was lost to follow-up and 2 died from unrelated conditions. The mean duration of follow-up for the remaining 10 patients was 4.9 years (range from 1.5 to 7 years). RESULTS. All patients presented with knee pain along with swelling (30%), stiffness (30%), instability (8%). 2 patients had a chronic discharging sinus. Most patients (92%) had at least 1
This review examines the future of total hip arthroplasty, aiming to avoid past mistakes