Increasing the accuracy of information provided through X-Rays maximises pre-operative planning. Aim of this project is to determine the necessity of calibration probes that would improve the accuracy of pre-operative templating. This is a retrospective study involving leg length and pelvis X-Rays performed across the NHS Lanarkshire from 01/03/2023 until 31/04/2024.

A total of 87 leg length X-Rays were identified, 18 had a calibration probe present. Leg length was measured on each and the X-Rays were calibrated against the existing probe. In 66.7% of cases there was a major leg length discrepancy of over 2cm between the pre-calibrated and post-calibrated X-Rays. Pelvic X-Rays of 80 patients that underwent total hip replacement were reviewed. Preoperative templating was compared to the implants inserted. An average of 1.94 discrepancy in the size of the acetabular implant was identified whilst in 30 cases the size of the femoral stem was incorrect by at least 1 size. Magnification of 119.7% on X-Rays was found to provide the most accurate templating. Seventy seven cases of pelvic X-Rays before and after hip hemiarthroplasty were also reviewed. The implant head was templated incorrectly in 74% of cases and the stem in 51%. It was identified that pelvic X-Ray magnification of 121.7% would provide the most accurate results.

X-Rays with no calibration probes provide inaccurate measurements leading to faulty preoperative planning. Standardised use of a calibration sphere is strongly suggested and whenever that is not available, we suggest magnification of 121%.

Aims

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to elective orthopaedic services. The primary objective of this study was to examine changes in functional scores in patients awaiting total hip arthroplasty (THA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Secondary objectives were to investigate differences between these groups and identify those in a health state ‘worse than death’ (WTD).

In the vast majority of patients, the anatomical and mechanical axes of the tibia in the coronal plane are widely accepted to be equivalent. This philosophy guides the design and placement of orthopaedic implants within the tibia and in both the knee and ankle joints. However, the presence of coronal tibial bowing may result in a difference between these two axes and hence cause suboptimal placement of implanted prostheses. Although the prevalence of tibial bowing in adults has been reported in Asian populations, to date no exploration of this phenomenon in a Western population has been conducted. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of coronal tibial bowing in a Western population.

This was an observational retrospective cohort study using anteroposterior long leg radiographs collected prior to total knee arthroplasty in our high volume arthroplasty unit. Radiographs were reviewed using a Picture Archiving and Communication System. Using a technique previously described in the literature for assessment of tibial bowing, two lines were drawn, each one third of the length of the tibia. The first line was drawn between the tibial spines and the centre of the proximal third of the tibial medullary canal. The second was drawn from the midpoint of the talar dome to the centre of the distal third of the tibial medullary canal. The angle subtended by these two lines was used to determine the presence of bowing. Bowing was deemed significant if more than two degrees. The position of the apex of the bow determined whether it was medial or lateral. Measurements were conducted by a single observer and 10% of measurements were repeated by the same observer and also by two separate observers to allow calculation of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

A total of 975 radiographs consecutively performed in the calendar years 2015–16 were reviewed, 485 of the left leg and 490 of the right. In total 399 (40.9%) tibiae were deemed to have bowing more than two degrees. 232 (23.8%) tibiae were bowed medially and 167 (17.1%) were bowed laterally. The mean bowing angle was 3.51° (s.d. 1.24°) medially and 3.52° (s.d. 1.33°) laterally. Twenty-three patients in each group (9.9% medial/13.7% lateral) were bowed more than five degrees. The distribution of bowing angles followed a normal distribution, with the maximal angle observed 10.45° medially and 9.74° laterally. An intraobserver ICC of 0.97 and a mean interobserver ICC of 0.77 were calculated, indicating excellent reliability.

This is the first study reporting the prevalence of tibial bowing in a Western population. In a significant proportion of our sample, there was divergence between the anatomical and mechanical axes of the tibia. This finding has implications for both the design and implantation of orthopaedic prostheses, particularly in total knee arthroplasty. Further research is necessary to investigate whether prosthetic implantation based on the mechanical axis in bowed tibias results in suboptimal implant placement and adverse clinical outcomes.

The aim of this study was to determine if patient reported outcome scores for arthroscopic meniscectomy are adversely affected by the degree of knee osteoarthritis or patient body mass index (BMI).

All patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy within the NHS in Scotland between 6th February and 29th April 2012 were audited as part of the Scottish Government Musculoskeletal Knee Arthroscopy Audit and were eligible for inclusion within this study. A total of 270 patients returned both their pre-operative and post-operative EuroQol 5Q5D5L descriptive questionnaire and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Scores. Patients were stratified according to BMI, degree of osteoarthritis, history of injury, and duration of knee symptoms.

Pre-operative to post-operative EuroQol index scores [0.642±0.253 to 0.735±0.277, median±SD] and Knee injury and Osteoarthrtis Outcome Scores [44.63±18.78 to 62.28±24.94, median±SD] improved across all patients (p<0.0001). This was irrespective of degree of BMI, history of injury, or duration of symptoms. There was no such improvement in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Those patients with a BMI >35 kg/m2 had lower post-operative scores than the pre-operative scores of those of BMI <30 kg/m2.

Arthroscopic meniscectomy is beneficial regardless of patient BMI, duration of symptoms, history of injury, or in the presence of mild arthritis.

Post-operative pain is well recognised in patients undergoing shoulder surgery. With the recent advances in arthroscopic shoulder surgery over the last decade, a larger number of cases are being performed in day surgery units. These procedures are generally performed under general anaesthetic with either an interscalene or suprascapular nerve block or local anaesthetic infiltration.

The aim of our prospective audit was to investigate the adequacy of analgesia provided for patients, undergoing day case arthroscopic shoulder procedures in a rural district general hospital, to ensure best medical care and to tailor certain procedures to appropriate analgesic pathways in the future.

Fifty consecutive patients, who underwent day case arthroscopic shoulder surgery, were contacted by telephone one week post surgery, to assess their post-operative pain scores and analgesic requirements.

Patients who received a nerve block were found to have a significantly longer duration of pain relief (p < 0.001). These patients also had significantly less pain performing their usual activities of daily living in the immediate post-operative period (p = 0.05), compared to patients who only had local anaesthetic infiltration. There was no trend found between the type of procedure and post-operative pain scores.

Our audit has confirmed that nerve blocks provide longer pain relief, but has also highlighted the need to take into consideration pre-operative pain and pain perception to enable analgesia to be tailored.

The Exeter Trauma Stem (ETS) is a monoblock unipolar prosthesis currently in use throughout various orthopaedic departments. It can be a useful procedure for specialty trainees in developing modern cementation techniques in hip arthroplasty. We propose that in order for this procedure to be a valid training tool that, as well as having a standardized surgical approach and operative technique, outcomes should be easily assessed and should be similar if performed by either a trainee or consultant.

All ETS procedures carried out at our institution from January 2009 until September 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Patient demographics and operative details were recorded from patient notes. Radiographic evaluation involved the Barrack cementation grading system, Dorr's criteria, stem alignment and leg length measurement.

There was no significant difference in operative time between ETS performed by consultant or by specialty trainee. On postoperative x-ray, cement mantles were Barrack grade A or B in 55.6% (trainees) versus 61.9% (consultants). Stem alignment was neutral in 50% and varus in 50% of cases for trainees, versus 28.6% and 71.4% of cases for consultants. In total, 69.2 % of patients had lengthening of the operated limb with a mean increase of 10.4mm (2–25) for trainees and 9.3mm (2–18) for consultants.

Both trainees and consultants can attain a good cement mantle. However, from our results stem alignment is less accurate by trainees with half being placed in varus. Our results highlight the difficulty of obtaining correct leg length positioning with the ETS with trainees and consultants having similar discrepancies.

The ETS is a useful procedure for orthopaedic trainees to attain adequate skills in modern cementation techniques with similar post-operative radiographic outcomes to consultants. The tendency for trainees to be less accurate with stem positioning could be improved with supervision or careful pre-operative templating.

Introduction

Acute renal dysfunction (ARD) following orthopaedic surgery is known to increase morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of new acute post-operative renal dysfunction between two cohorts of elective orthopaedic surgical patients receiving either cefuroxime or a combination of gentamicin and flucloxacillin as prophylactic antibiotic regimes. The study was initiated following a change in antibiotic prophylaxis within our unit from cefuroxime to gentamicin and flucloxacillin.