Aims

We aim to evaluate the usefulness of postoperative blood tests by investigating the incidence of abnormal results following total joint replacement (TJR), as well as identifying preoperative risk factors for abnormal blood test results postoperatively, especially pertaining to anaemia and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is an increasingly common and safe way of treating joint disease. Robust preoperative assessment improved intraoperative techniques and holistic rehabilitation contribute to an uneventful postoperative period. Despite there being evidence against the utility of postoperative blood tests, it is still often part of routine practice. We aim to evaluate the usefulness of these tests by investigating their incidence following TJA as well as identifying preoperative risk factors for abnormal blood test results postoperatively especially pertaining to anaemia and acute kidney injury (AKI).

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who had elective TJA between January and December 2019 at a tertiary centre. An independent student's t-test and Fisher's exact test was used to compare variables between the normal and abnormal postoperative results groups. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to identify risk factors for an abnormal blood test result. Analyses of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to determine cut off values that could be suggestive of abnormal test results postoperatively.

The study included 2721 patients with a mean age of 69 of which 46.6% were males. Abnormal postoperative bloods were identified in 444 (16.3%) patients. We identified age (≥65 years), female gender, ASA ≥ 3 as risk factors for developing abnormal postoperative blood tests. Preoperative haemoglobin (≤ 127 g/dL), haematocrit (≤ 0.395L/L) and potassium (≤ 3.7 mmol/L) were noted as cut-offs that could be predictive of postoperative anaemia or AKI respectively.

The costs outweigh the benefits of ordering routine postoperative blood tests in TJA patients. Clinicians should risk stratify their patients and have a lower threshold for ordering blood tests in patients with one or more of the risk factors we have identified. These risk factors are age (≥65 years), females, ASA ≥ 3, preoperative haemoglobin (≤ 127 g/L), haematocrit (≤ 0.395L/L), and potassium (≤ 3.7 mmol/L).

Background

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a common problem affecting 10–25% of the population. Physiotherapy, anti-inflammatories, corticosteroid injections and surgery have all been described in the management of GTPS, all with limited, temporal success. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been proposed as a potential management option for this difficult presentation.

DDH incidence falls from 5–20 per 1000 at birth to 1–2 per 1000 by 3 weeks. Some patients present late and frequently require surgical intervention. If the hip cannot be contained without tension, these children undergo open reduction +/− a femoral shortening, varus and derotation osteotomy. Salter’s osteotomy, may be performed either at index surgery or later in the presence of persisting acetabular dysplasia. Our aim was to see if we could predict which cases of persistent DDH would require both femoral and pelvic surgery to contain the affected hip, using a single plain AP radiograph of the pelvis in the outpatient setting.

We performed a retrospective study of all children older than 18 months with persistent DDH of one or both hips, over the last 5 years, who had undergone femoral and/or pelvic surgery to contain the hip. Plain AP pelvic radiographs were standardised according to the method described by Tonnis. From these radiographs the acetabular indices and child’s age in months, were recorded. Syndromic and children with non-standard x-rays were excluded.

Thirty nine hips (34 female, 5 male), age range of 18–102 months, formed our study group. 53% of hips having femoral surgery later required pelvic surgery for persisting acetabular dysplasia. Examining the data in these cases, the difference between the acetabular index of the normal and affected hip was always greater than 20 degrees and the child’s age in months.

Using this method we conclude that it is possible to predict which cases of persistent DDH will require pelvic surgery to fully contain the affected hip and that this can be done with one AP pelvic radiograph in the outpatient clinic. The benefit is avoidance of unnecessary pelvic osteotomies, and being able to determine the cases which should have a pelvic osteotomy at index procedure.

Introduction; Distal tibial physeal fractures are the commonest cause of growth arrest and deformity secondary to failure to achieve and maintain an accurate reduction. Our study compared assessment of displacement and screw placement using X-ray alone compared to CT scans. Methods; 62 consecutive fractures over a 4 year period were used. Displacement was measured on 18 Salter Harris III and IV fractures by 7 surgeons separately using X-rays alone. These measurements were compared to those made from the CT scans. Screw placement was drawn onto tracings of outlines of of single cuts of CT scans by 4 surgeons seperately for all 62 fractures using X-rays alone. This was repeated one week later using the CT scans. Ideal screw placement was considered to perpendicularly bisect the fracture line. Differences between the ideal and observer measurements were analysed using the paired t-test. Results; The surgeons were incorrect in determining whether there was more or less than 2mm of displacement in 33.3 Ð 50% of cases (mean = 38.9%) . There was a statistically signiþcant difference (p < 0.0001) in accuracy of screw insertion point and direction between using X-rays and Ct scans for all surgeons and fracture types. Conclusions; We recommend that CT scans are essential for accurate pre-operative assessment of distal tibial physeal fractures.

Low energy hip dislocation in children is an uncommon injury (0.335% of injuries ) which represents a true orthopaedic emergency.

Case 1 ; A 6 year old girl attended hospital non-weightbearing with right thigh pain after slipping whilst attempting to kick a football. The leg was shortened and internally rotated with no neurovascular deficit. Radiographs revealed a posterior dislocation of the right hip. A closed reduction was undertaken in theatre within four hours. She was immobilised in a hip spica for 6 weeks. At six month review she was pain free and back to full activities. Radiographs showed no abnormality.

Case 2 ; A 5 year old boy attended A+E non-weight-bearing with right lower leg and knee pain having done the splits playing football. Examination of knee and lower leg showed pain but nil else. Radiographs of the knee were normal. He was discharged with a diagnosis of possible ACL rupture. He re-attended 2 days later with immobility and increasing pain. Examination showed a 2cm leg length discrepancy. Radiographs revealed a posterior hip dislocation. He underwent a closed reduction in theatre. He progressed well under regular review until 5 months post-injury. He had increasing pain and decreasing range of movement. Radiographs showed trans-epiphyseal avascular necrosis. He therefore underwent a varus de-rotation osteotomy. One year on he has returned to full activities. He has a mild decreased range of movement. Radiographs show a flattened epiphysis and a united osteotomy.

Hip dislocation requires less trauma in children due to ligamentous laxity and a soft pliable acetabulum. Overall 64% are low energy and 80% are posterior dislocations. Complications include AVN, arthritis, nerve palsy and recurrent dislocation. AVN is 20 times more common if reduction is after 6 hours.

This report highlights the importance of thorough examination, accurate diagnosis and early treatment of paediatric hip dislocation.

Introduction

Distal tibial physeal fractures are the commonest cause of growth arrest and deformity secondary to failure to achieve and maintain an accurate reduction. Our study compared assessment of displacement and screw placement using X-Ray alone compared to CT scans.

Method

Sixty-two consecutive fractures over a four-year period were used. Displacement was measured on 18 Salter Harris III and IV fractures by seven surgeons separately using X-rays alone. These were compared to measurements from the CT scans. Screw placement was drawn onto outlines of single cuts of CT scans by four surgeons for all 62 fractures using X-Rays alone. This was repeated one week later using the CT scans. Ideal screw placement was considered to perpendicularly bisect the fracture line. Differences between the ideal and observer measurements were analysed using the paired t-test.

Results

The surgeons were incorrect in determining whether there was more or less than 2mm of displacement in 33.3 – 50% of cases (mean = 38.9% ). There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001) in accuracy of screw placement between using X-Rays and CT scans for all surgeons.

Conclusions

We recommend that CT scans are essential for accurate pre-operative assessment of distal tibial physeal fractures.