Aims

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) can be managed effectively with non-surgical interventions when diagnosed early. However, the likelihood of surgical intervention increases with a late presentation. Therefore, an effective screening programme is essential to prevent late diagnosis and reduce surgical morbidity in the population.

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are challenging complications following arthroplasty. Staphylococci are a frequent cause of PJI and known biofilm producers.

Reoperations for PJI of the hip or knee between 2012 and 2015 performed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital were identified. Medical records were reviewed, and clinical parameters recorded for patients whose intraoperative bacterial isolates had been stored at the clinical laboratory. Staphylococcal strains isolated from reoperations due to first-time PJI were characterised by their ability to form biofilms using the microtiter plate test.

The study group included 49 patients (70 bacterial strains) from first-time PJI, whereof 24 (49%) patients had recurrent infection. Strong biofilm production was significantly associated with recurrent infection. Patients infected with strong biofilm producers had a five-fold increased risk for recurrent infection.

Strong biofilm production was significantly associated with increased antimicrobial resistance and PJI recurrence. This underscores the importance of determining biofilm production and susceptibility as part of routine diagnostics in PJI. Strong staphylococcal biofilm production may have implications on therapeutic choices and suggest more extensive surgery. Furthermore, despite the increased biofilm resistance to rifampicin, results from this study support its use in staphylococcal PJI.

Infected hip prosthesis, a devastating complication of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) can lead to a serious condition. We report here the treatment outcome of our method of two-stage revision THA for infected hip arthroplasty using a temporary antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer for the period between resection and reimplantation. Between 1996 and 2000, we performed two-stage revision THA using a temporary antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer on eight hips in eight patients with infected hip arthroplasty including hemiarthroplasty, with the infection presenting itself between four days and 19.4 years after last operation. There were four females and four males, with a mean age of 67 years (58 to 72). The mean period of follow-up was 2.5 years (0.3 to 4.3). Cementless THA was implanted as the second srage procedure. Bone defects were restored with frozen allografts. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the hip score of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA hip score). The duration of follow-up was 33.9 months (range, 8 to 55 months). The mean JOA hip score at follow-up improved from 32.6 (19 to 74) to 77.1 (59 to 96). The mean interval period was 10.3 weeks (range, 6 to 19 weeks). Seven patients with infected hip arthroplasty successfully received implantation by two-stage cement-less revision THA. One patient with MRSA infection had a recurrence after four months of revision of THA. However, the two-stage procedure using a vancomicin-impregnated bone cement spacer and beads implantation successfully treated this patient 14 months after the first revision of THA. No recurrence of infection was found at 42 months of follow-up. These results suggest that two-stage revision THA using a temporary antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer is a useful technique for infected hip arthroplasty

Satisfaction with care is important to both patients and to those who pay for it. The Net Promoter Score (NPS), widely used in the service industries, has been introduced into the NHS as the ‘friends and family test’; an overarching measure of patient satisfaction. It assesses the likelihood of the patient recommending the healthcare received to another, and is seen as a discriminator of healthcare performance. We prospectively assessed 6186 individuals undergoing primary lower limb joint replacement at a single university hospital to determine the Net Promoter Score for joint replacements and to evaluate which factors contributed to the response.

Achieving pain relief (odds ratio (OR) 2.13, confidence interval (CI) 1.83 to 2.49), the meeting of pre-operative expectation (OR 2.57, CI 2.24 to 2.97), and the hospital experience (OR 2.33, CI 2.03 to 2.68) are the domains that explain whether a patient would recommend joint replacement services. These three factors, combined with the type of surgery undertaken (OR 2.31, CI 1.68 to 3.17), drove a predictive model that was able to explain 95% of the variation in the patient’s recommendation response. Though intuitively similar, this ‘recommendation’ metric was found to be materially different to satisfaction responses. The difference between THR (NPS 71) and TKR (NPS 49) suggests that no overarching score for a department should be used without an adjustment for case mix. However, the Net Promoter Score does measure a further important dimension to our existing metrics: the patient experience of healthcare delivery.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:622–8.

Aim

The number of operatively treated clavicle fractures has increased over the past decades. Consequently, this has led to an increase in secondary procedures required to treat complications such as fracture-related infection (FRI). The primary objective of this study was to assess the clinical and functional outcome of patients treated for FRI of the clavicle. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the healthcare costs and propose a standardized protocol for the surgical management of this complication.

The ossific nucleus in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. A study of relative ossific nuceus size in hips treated in the Pavlik harness and its predictive value in treatment outcome. Purpose. To assess the value of measuring relative ossific nucleus (ON) size difference in Developmental Dysplasia of the hip (DDH) as a potential predictor of outcome of hips treated in the Pavlik Harness. Study Design. Prospective study of all unilateral cases (n=68) of DDH identified in Southampton by dynamic ultrasound and treated in a Pavlik harness studying changes in relative ON size and acetabular indices over a mean follow up period of 3.6 years. Results. All cases responding to the Pavlik harness showed a progressive correction of ON size difference. Initial ON size difference was not associated with any difference in acetabular index at the date of last follow-up. Ultrasound grading of dysplasia did not affect the rate of normalisation of ON size difference. Conclusion and clinical relevance. In patients responding to treatment of DDH in a Pavlik harness, ON size difference was not found to be a useful prognostic indicator of outcome

Dual mobility (DM) components are increasingly used to prevent and treat dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Intraprosthetic dissociation (IPD) is a known rare complication of these implants and has reportedly decreased with modern implants. The purpose of this paper is to report the diagnosis and treatment of modern DM IPD.

1453 DM components were implanted between 2010 and 2021. 695 in primary and 758 in revision THA. 49 hips sustained a dislocation of the large head and 5 sustained an IPD at presentation. 6 additional IPD occurred at the time of reduction of large head. The average age was 64, 54% were female and the mean follow-up was three years. Of the 11 IPD, 8 had a history of instability, 5 had abductor insufficiency, 4 had prior lumbar fusion, and 3 were conversions from fracture.

The overall IPD incidence was 0.76%. Ten of the 11 DM IPD were missed at initial presentation or at the time of reduction, and all were discharged with presumed reduction. The mean time from IPD to surgical treatment was 3 weeks. One patient died with an IPD at 5 months. A DM head was reimplanted in six, two underwent revision of the acetabular component with exchange of DM head, and four were revised to a constrained liner. The re-revision rate was 55% at a mean 1.8 years. None of the patients who underwent cup revision required subsequent re-revision while half of the constrained liners and exchange of DM heads required re-revision.

The overall rate of DM dislocation or IPD is low. It is critical to identify an IPD on radiographs as it was almost universally missed at presentation or when it occurred iatrogenically. For patients presenting with IPD, the surgeon should consider acetabular revision and conversion to a constrained liner or a larger DM, with special attention to removing impinging structures that could increase the risk of re-dislocation.

In late presenting developmental Dysplasia of hip there is controversy as to the most appropriate method of treatment. The purpose of study was to determine the outcome following the non-operative and operative treatment for late presenting developmental dysplasia of hip.

Retrospective study. Inclusion criteria – (1) Unilateral DH (2) Diagnosed 6 months or more after birth (3) Minimum follow up of 2 years after treatment. 41 patients matched the inclusion criteria. 32 patients attended the follow-up clinic. Patients were divided into non-operative and operative group. Outcome instruments used include activities scale for kids (ASK), physical component of SF36 v2, centre edge angle and severin classification system, all validated scoring systems.

32 patients with mean follow-up of 7 (2–12_ years. Mean age at the time of follow-up was 9 (range 2.7 – 15) years. In our series, 15 patients received non-operative and 17 patients received operative treatment. On ASK, conservatively treated hips scored 72% and surgically treated hips scored 69%. (P-Value = > 0.05). On SF36 v2, mean value of physical function score (PFS) for both non-operative and operative group were 57.58 respectively (P Value > 0.05). Centre edge angle (CEA) of non-operative and operative group were compared with their contra-lateral normal sides (P Value > 0.05). According to Severin classification system, 7 hips were grade I, 8 were grade II in the non operative group and in operative group, 10 were grade II, 5 were grade III and 2 were grade IV. There were no major complications and only one (3%) hip developed avascular necrosis of hip.

On a medium term follow-up, despite some radiological abnormalities, most of the patients achieved good functional results following both non-operative treatments for late presenting DDH. There was no statistically significant difference in the development of hips either treated conservatively or surgically. Long term follow up studies are required in order to establish the true outcome of late presenting DDH treated either conservatively or surgically.

Aim. was to analyze infections after bone tumour surgery. Method. 1463 patients treated from 1976 to 2007 were analized: 1036 with resection and prostheses in the lower limbs, 344 with resection and prostheses in the upper limbs, 83 with surgery for sacral tumours. Infections were analyzed for time of occurrence (“postoperative” in the first 4 weeks from surgery, “early” within 6 months, and “late” after 6 months), microbic agents, treatment, outcome. Results. In lower limbs, infections occurred in 80 cases (7.7%): generally monomicrobial, caused by gram positives, postoperative in 9, early in 12, late in 59 cases. Treatment was “two stage” in 73, “one stage” in 4, primary amputation in 3. Revisions for infection were successful in 63 patients (79%), while 17 patients were amputated (21%). In upper limbs, infections occurred in 20 cases (5.8%): generally monomicrobial, caused by gram positives (88.5%), postoperative in 2 cases, early in 7, late in 11. “Two stage” treatment was attempted in all cases, but only in 3 prosthesis was re-implanted, since the cement spacer yelded similar function. No infections were observed in 28 intralesional excisions of sacral giant cell tumours. Infection occurred in 23/52 resected sacral tumours (44%) (Three patients died postoperatively were excluded from this group): postoperative in 16 cases and early in 7, caused by gram negatives in 62% and multimicrobial in 74%. Surgical debridements associated with antibiotic therapy according to coltures cured infection in all cases. Conclusion. Infection is a severe complication in orthopedic oncology. Its incidence in the extremities (7.7% and 5.8%) is lower than after sacral surgery (44%). It is influenced by chemotherapy and by the presence of foreign bodies. Infections were mostly late, monomicrobial, gram positive in extremities, while early, multimicrobial and gram negative in sacral surgery

CECS is an exercised induced condition that causes pain, typically in the lower limbs, and is relieved by rest. It is often seen in military personnel significantly restricting their duties. Conservative treatment is rarely successful and patients often require surgical decompression by fasciotomy or fasciectomy. All IMP (intramuscular pressure) tests (n=286) carried out between December 2007 and October 2010 on patients with suspected CECS in the anterior compartment of the lower leg were reviewed. The treatment and outcomes of those referred for surgery were analysed. Pre- and post-surgery military medical grading for leg function was extracted from the medical records system. Independent t-tests compared differences between patients that had surgery or did not. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared grades before and after surgery. According to the diagnostic criterion, 80% of patients undergoing IMP testing had CECS. Of these, 179 (68%) patients underwent surgery, 17 (9%) of these were for recurrent symptoms. Almost all decompressions were bilateral (95%). The majority of operations (121) were fasciectomies of the anterior compartment only and were performed by 2 surgeons. The remaining operations (58) were performed by 6 surgeons and were fasciotomies of both anterior and lateral compartments. The mean time from testing to surgery was 24 (median 11) weeks. There were 23 (13%) complications other than recurrence including 16 wound infections, 6 seromas and 1 haematoma. Pre- and post-surgery grading was available for 67% of patients. These patients had significantly better leg function after surgery (Z=−3.67, p<0.001). Of these, 47% improved, 38% showed no improvement and 15% had a poorer outcome had. Those who had a fasciectomy were significantly more likely to improve than those who had a fasciotomy (p=0.023, rho=−1.96). Our results demonstrate that patients generally improve lower limb function following surgical decompression. However, 53% showed no improvement or deteriorated in their medical grading. In addition, there is a high diagnosis rate for CECS following IMP measurement. This may reflect the poor validity of the diagnostic criterion or this could be due to good clinical selection for testing. Furthermore, fasciectomy shows a greater correlation with improved outcome than fasciotomy. There is a need to develop more accurate diagnostic criteria and to evaluate the benefits of standardising surgical technique

Purpose: Aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of infection in orthopaedic oncology after major surgical procedures for bone tumors. Materials and Methods: We included patients with primary sacral tumors treated by major surgical procedure and patients with bone tumors of the upper and lower limb treated by resection and prosthetic reconstruction. Demographic data, surgery, adjuvant treatments, type of reconstruction were analyzed. Special attention was given to the infection: incidence, classification, microbic agents, treatment and outcome. Infections in the first 4 weeks were considered “postoperative”, those in the first 6 months were judged “early”, while “late” those diagnosed after 6 months. Overall 1462 patients treated in one institution from 1076 to 2007. Were considered 1036 patients with tumors of the lower limb, 344 patients with tumors of the upper limb and 82 sacral tumors. Univariate analysis with Kaplan-Meier actuarial curves was used in evaluating risk factors and implant survival to infections. Results: In the lower limb, infection occurred in 80 cases (7.7%). Most frequent bacteria were gram positive. Infection was postoperative in 9 cases, early in 12, late in 59 cases and generally monomicrobial. Surgical treatment was “two stage” in 73 patients, “one stage” in 4 and primary amputation in 3 cases. Revisions for infection were successful in 63 pts (79%), while 17 pts were amputated (21%). In the upper limb, in 20 patients (5.8%) a revision for deep infection was required. Two infections were postoperative, 7 early and 11 late. S. Epidermidis and S. Aureo were the most frequent bacteria causing infection (45%). “Two stage” treatment of infection was performed, but a new prostheses was implanted in 3 cases. In 17 the spacer was never removed. In the sacrum, no deep infections were observed after intralesional excision for giant cell tumors. In 23/52 resections (44%) for chordoma (3 pts. died postoperatively and were excluded), infection occurred: in 16 patients postoperatively, in 7 within 6 months. Bacteria causing infection were mostly gram negative: in 74% of cases infection was multiagent. Surgical treatment consisted in one or more surgical debridements with antibiotics therapy according to coltures: infection healed in all cases. Conclusion: Infection is a severe complication in prosthetic reconstructions for tumors of the upper and lower limb. Its incidence in the extremities (7.7% and 5.8%) is lower than after sacral surgery (44%). Infections are mostly late, monomicrobial and caused by gram positive in extremities, while early, multimicrobial and caused by gram negative in the sacrum

Purpose of the study

To review the primary bone tumours of the spine treated at our unit.

Liposarcomas (LPS) are the most common soft tissue malignant tumor with a reported annual incidence of 2.5 per million people. The latest histopathologic classification of liposarcomas identifies three main groups: well-differentiated LPS; myxoid-round cell LPS; pleomorphic LPS. Dedifferentiated LPS is considered as a subgroup of well-differentiated LPS where there is an area of transition from a low grade to a high grade non lipogenic lesion (typically MFH or fibrosarcoma). The purpose of the present study was a retrospective review of the data of 146 consecutive patients affected by liposarcoma, with the aim to correlate the outcome of patients with treatment modalities and prognostic factors.

There were 89 males and 57 females with an average age of 54 years (range 16–92). The tumor grading following Broders criteria showed a low grade lesion in 48% of cases and a high grade lesion in 52% of cases. The histologic pattern showed a well differentiated liposarcoma in 25 patients (17%). The most frequent histologic finding was a myxoid liposarcoma in 55 cases (38%) while a round cell component of variable rate was seen in 22 cases (15%). A pleomorphic LPS was observed in 32 cases (22%). Dedifferentiated liposarcoma occurred only in 3 cases (2%). Surgery alone was performed in 31% of cases while chemotherapy (adriamycin and ifosfamide) and/or radiationtherapy were associated in 69% of cases. Brachytherapy was performed in 50 cases. Surgical margins resulted radical in 4 (2.5%) of cases, wide in 89 (61%), marginal in 45 (31%) and intralesional in 8 (5.5%) of cases.

In 10 cases (6.8%) a local recurrence occurred and in 33 cases (22.6%) a metastatic lesion was observed. Local recurrence were treated with surgical excision in 7 cases and with amputation in 3 cases. At an average follow up of 55 months, 68.5% of patients were continuosly disease free, 6.8% were disease free after local recurrence or metastasis excision or both, 4.8% were alive with disease, 14.4% were dead of the disease, 5.5% were dead of other cause. Eleven patients (7%) underwent an amputation, in 5 cases as first surgical procedure, in 3 cases after a local recurrence and in 3 cases for complications of the radiationtherapy. Local control was significantly correlated with the type of surgery at presentation and with surgical margins. Overall survival was significantly correlated with surgical margins, with grading and with the histotype of the tumor.

In the present series of soft tissue liposarcoma the combined treatment allowed limb salvage in 93% of cases (7% of amputations). Virgin lesions at presentation and free surgical margins resulted positive prognostic factors for local control. The histotype of the tumor, grading, and surgical margins resulted significative prognostic factors in survival, with round-cell and pleomorphic and high grade lesions showing the worse prognosis.

Aim: To identify tumour and treatment factors significant for both local control and survival for patients with chondrosarcoma of the pelvis.

Method: The features of all patients with non metastatic chondrosarcoma of the pelvis treated at a tertiary treatment centre between 1971 and 2001 with more than 2 years of follow-up were analyzed.

Results: There were 106 patients with a median age of 44. There were equal numbers of male and female patients in the group. The median size of the tumours was 12cm. 47 tumours were grade 1, 37 were grade 2 and 22 were grade 3. Treatment involved hindquarter amputation in 33 and excision with or without reconstruction in 73. Clear margins (wide or better) were achieved in 34 cases. The excision was marginal in 30 cases and intralesional or contaminated in 37. Local recurrence arose in 39 patients and was related to adequate margins of excision (p=0.03) and grade (p=0.01). Overall survival was 72% at 5 years, 56% at 10 years and 46% at 15 years. Survival was strongly related to grade (p=0.08) but survival beyond 5 years was most strongly related to the adequacy of the excision margins.

Conclusion: Tumour grade is the most important prognostic factor for chondrosarcoma of the pelvis but the ability to obtain clear margins of excision influences both local control and the prospects for long term survival.

Introduction. Proximal tibial fractures frequently present in combination with other injuries which also have to be treated surgically. Recent publications do not consider isolated proximal tibial fracture (mono-injury) and combined injuries which include tibial fractures as two seperate medical entities. We therefore asessed the influence of additional injuries on treatment and outcome of the proximal tibial fractures. Methods. We admitted 84 patients which were consecutively treated in our department from 01.01.2007 to 31.12.2009. Only C1 to C3 fractures (x-ray, ct-scan), according to AO classification with subsequent open reduction and internal plate osteosynthesis were included. Additionally we looked for additional injuries cause by the accident, numbers of operations and strategie of operative treatement, traumaspecific vs. postsurgical complications and inpatient days. At the follow-up investigations one year post surgery, Lysholm- and WOMAC-Score as well as Tegner-Activity-Index were used. Results. The study includes 84 patients with 85 proximal tibia-C-fractures. Four fractures were classified as C1, 15 as C2 and 66 as C3. In 57 cases there was an isolated tibial fracture (I), 27 patients had combined injuries (C). The average age was 51,2 (I) and 55,4 (C), the gender ratio 36m/21f (I) versus 15m/12f (C). In 39 cases people had a recreational accident, 27 persons were involved in traffic accidents, 11 persons suffered from occupational injuries and 7 people got injured in their domestic environment. The average number of surgery the patients underwent was 2,32 (I) against 2,34 (C). Osteosynthesis was performed in 46% (I) vs. 50% (C) in one operation, subse-quently the other patients needed further surgical treatement. Autogen or allogen bonegrafts respectively artificial bone was used in 49,1% (I) vs. 42,8% (C). Traumaspecific problems such as compartment-syndrome or vessel-/nerve-injury occured in 31,6% (I) vs 25% (C), postsurgical complications appeared in 28% (I) vs 33,3% (C). The hospitalisation was 24 (I) vs 45 (C) days. Until the end of 2009, 54% of the patients could be included in our follow up, the average follow up was 15 months. The Lysholm-Score was 66,61 (I) vs 56,75 (C), the Tegner-Activity-Index was 4 (I) vs 1,41 (C), the WOMAC A was 90,2 (I) vs 68,6 (C), the WOMAC B was 77,6 (I) vs 65 (C) and the WOMAC C was 88,2 (I) vs. 72,9 (C). Conclusion. Concerning AO-Classification, complication rates and treatment data, both groups seem to be almost indentical in this study. In comparison to this we found a difference in the knee-joint-scores one year after trauma. Our figures show, that additional injuries do have a considerable influence in pain, stability and activity level of the knee/patient one year after trauma

Purpose: Chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis of the femur is still a great challenge for medical treatment. Bacterial colonization after multi-fragment fractures often complicates and extends bone healing. Muti-modal management including hyperbaric oxygenotherapy and frequent lavage and debridement as well as use of systemically and locally applied antibiotics are needed to eradicate infection.

This study introduces our treatment regime for chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis of the femur and presents our results.

Material and Method: We reviewed 24 patients with posttraumatic osteomyelitis after femoral shaft fractures treated at our trauma center. We analyzed the bacterial spectrum, changes in bacterial spectrum during treatment, numbers of operative revisions and hyperoxygenotherapy cycles, as well as over all hospitalisation time, and outcome concerning bone healing.

Results: Staphylococci were the most frequently found bacteria at first revision, followed by Enterobacter species. Average length of treatment was 8.3 (1–29) months.

An average of 11.5 (2–32) operative revisions including intramedullar debridement were performed, additionally 10 patients underwent a mean of 29 (3–81) hyperoxygenotherapy cycles.

Re-Infection after treatment occured in 7 cases, in 2 patients amputation was needed to eradicate infection.

Conclusions: Our results show, that the chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis of the femur is an insistent disease that needs to be treated interdisciplinary over a long period of time. Our treatment regime produces satisfying results. Individual solutions are necessary to reach an infection-free status.

Aims: Retrospective study of management and outcome of periprosthetic femoral fractures, in a lower limb reconstruction, reference centre. Methods: 144 fractures over a period of 20 years were reviewed. The Vancouver system was used to classify the fractures. The prosthesis length was measured pre and post operatively. The use of impaction grafting technique to compensate for inadequate bone quality of the surrounding bone was assessed (type B3 fractures). The use of Dall/Miles, DCP and Mennen plates also assessed. Healing was deþned using radiological and clinical criteria. Chi-square test with p< 0.05 was used for the analysis of the results. Results: When the Vancouver system was applied 2.85% of the fractures were classiþed as type A, 87.2% as type B and 10% as type C. Within type B group 13.2% were subtype B1, 12% subtype B2 and 62% subtype B3. Better healing achieved when the revision stem was bypassing the most distal fracture line (p=0.005). Better healing achieved when impaction grafting was used for B3 fractures (p=0,0001). 1 out of 6 Mennen, 4 out of 16 Dall/Miles and 2 out of 20 DCP plates used failed. Overall 68% healing, 5% non-union, 1% infection, 24% re-fracture rate at 12 months follow up. Conclusion: Impaction grafting could compensate for the inadequate bone in type B3 fractures. Revision stem should bypass the most distal fracture line to achieve healing. DCP plates do better than Dall/Miles. Mennen plates have got special indications.

The management of peri-prosthetic fracture following total hip arthroplasty is difficult, requiring expertise in both trauma and revision surgery. With rising numbers of patients in the population living with hip prostheses in situ, their frequency is increasing, and controversy remains over their ideal management. The objective of this study was to review all peri-prosthetic fractures at a single institution to identify injury and treatment patterns, and their associated clinical outcomes.

Fifty-four peri-prosthetic fractures in 50 patients were reviewed to determine the relative frequency of fracture types, complication rates, and clinical outcomes. Patient data were obtained through review of the clinical notes and individual patient follow up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and Harris Hip Score (HHS).

The fractures were classified using the Vancouver system, the majority of which were type B 1 (20) or type B2 (10). The mean time to union for all fracture types was 4.6 months. A high non-union rate was seen amongst fractures fixed operatively. Fifteen percent of fractures went on to develop loosening following treatment, suggesting under-recognition at the time of injury. The average HHS was 73.1 and OHS 30.3 for all fracture types, at a mean follow up of 3.3 years. Of the 15 patients treated with revision surgery, the most common complication was dislocation (27%).

Treatment of patients with peri-prosthetic fractures requires recognition of the challenging nature of these injuries, their associated poor prognosis, and high complication rate.

Objective: The primary aim was to describe the epidemiology of the Holstein-Lewis humeral shaft fracture, its association with radial nerve palsy and the outcome regarding recovery from the radial nerve palsy and fracture healing. The secondary aim was to analyze the long-term functional outcome.

Setting: Six major hospitals in Stockholm County.

Design: Descriptive study. Retrospective assessment of radial nerve recovery and fracture healing. Prospective assessment of functional outcome.

Patients: All 27 patients with a 12A1.3 humeral shaft fracture according to the OTA classification satisfying the criteria of a Holstein-Lewis fracture in a population of 358 consecutive patients with 361 traumatic humeral shaft fractures.

Intervention: Nonoperative or operative treatment according to the decision of the attending orthopedic surgeon.

Main Outcome Measurements: Recovery of the radial nerve, fracture healing and functional outcome according to the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA).

Results: The Holstein-Lewis humeral shaft fracture constituted 7.5% of all humeral shaft fractures and was associated with an increased risk of acute radial nerve palsy compared to other types of humeral shaft fractures, 22% versus 8% (p< 0.05). The fractures of six of the seven operatively treated patients healed after the primary surgical procedure while one fracture healed after revision surgery. The fractures of all patients treated nonoperatively healed without any further intervention. All six radial nerve palsies (two patients treated nonoperatively and four operatively) recovered. The functional outcome according to the SMFA was good with no differences between the nonoperatively and operatively treated patients: SMFA dysfunction index 7.6 and 9.7, respectively, and SMFA bother index 6.1 and 6.8, respectively.

Conclusion: The Holstein-Lewis humeral shaft fracture was associated with a significantly increased risk of acute radial nerve palsy. The overall outcome regarding fracture healing, radial nerve recovery, and function is excellent regardless of the primary treatment modality, i.e. operative or nonoperative treatment. The indication for primary operative intervention in this fracture type appears to be relative.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) arising in the adductor compartment of the thigh are frequently large before clinical detection, posing particular challenges with surgical resection and associated with a high risk of wound complications. This study compares oncological and functional outcomes and complications following treatment of adductor compartment soft tissue sarcomas from three international centres with different treatment philosophies.

184 patients with new primary, non-metastatic, deep STS in the adductor compartment diagnosed between 1990 and 2001 were identified from the centres' local databases. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) was used to assess function in patients.

There were 94 male and 90 female patients, with ages ranging from 13 to 88 years (median age 57 years). The period of follow-up ranged from 1 to 162 months. The overall survival was 65% at 5 years and related to grade and size of the tumour. There was no difference in overall survival or systemic relapse between the three centres. There was however a significant difference in local control (28% LR in centre 1 compared to 10% in centre 2 and 5% in centre 3, which appeared to be principally related to the use of radiotherapy and surgical margins.)

66 patients (36%) from the three centres developed wound complications post-operatively and it was shown to be associated with high grade and large tumours (>10cm).

Functional scores averaged 78% but were significantly worse for patients with wound complications or high-grade tumours; however, they were not affected by timing of radiotherapy or use of prophylactic free muscle flaps.