Background

Malnutrition has been suggested to increase the risk of falls in frail elderly. It has been hypothesised that elderly, orthopaedic trauma patients may be malnourished. We conducted an observational study to identify if this was the case.

Cementoplasty, like vertebroplasty, is a technique whereby Polymetylmethacrylate is placed into a bone lesion either percutaneouly or by surgery under image intensifier guidance.

Although there have been few studies with regard to cementoplasty percutaneously, there is no series in the literature to support the open surgical technique as a palliative procedure. In our series we describe four patients (1male and 3 females, age range 63-83) with metastatic bone cancer who have benefited from an open surgical procedure. The four patients presented to our hospital between January 2004 and December 2006. They all had gradually worsening hip pain at the time of presentation and pelvic radiographs revealed osteolytic lesions in the acetabulum. A 5 centimetre longitudinal incision proximal to the greater trochanter was made and the malignant lesion identified using the image intensifier. The malignant tissue was curetted and sent for microscopy, culture, sensitivity and histopathology and the remaining void filled with bone cement (via a gun or by hand) under x-ray control. Radiographs were taken in all patients post-operatively and were referred for adjuvant radiotherapy. All patients had immediate relief of pain and were able to mobilise within 48 hours. Two patients died within 6 weeks post-operatively due to complications from their primary malignancy (lung). One patient died at three months due to unknown primary. One patient remained pain free and fully ambulatory at one and a half years post surgery (breast primary).

This procedure can be recommended for patients with metastatic bone disease as it provides adequate pain control and improves the quality of life in this group of patients. These patients need a multi-disciplinary approach to their care, but as orthopaedic surgeons, we can make a significant impact to such patients and their families.

Objective: The deltoid ligament is an important stabilising structure in the ankle joint. We hypothesised that ultrasound can be used to allow early clinical assessment of ankle fracture stability accurately and quickly in Weber B and C ankle fractures thereby negating the need to perform arthrograms intra-operatively.

Method: A total of 20 patients were recruited prospectively. Consent was obtained prior to surgery. Patients with Weber B or C fractures requiring surgery were recruited prospectively. Following induction of anaesthesia, ultrasound examination was performed, followed by an arthrogram under fluoroscopic screening. Operating surgeons were blinded to results. Radiographs, ultrasound and arthrographic findings were compared by a panel of orthopaedic surgeons of varying grades (2 Consultants, 2 Specialist Registrars).

Results: There was 95% correlation between ultrasound and arthrogram findings. Ultrasound accurately diagnosed rupture with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 100%. Kappa scores for ultrasound identification of deltoid rupture was 0.8.

Conclusion: We feel ultrasound exam to be a powerful adjunct tool in the management and operative planning of ankle fractures. Its versatility means it can be used in Emergency Departments and Trauma Clinics to assess ankle stability without causing the patient excessive pain and requiring an anaesthetic.

Aim: A study to compare bone remodeling (BMD changes) around the femoral component of a cemented and uncemented THR using DXA scan and Finite element analysis and to check the predictive value of remodelling simulations as a pre-clinical implant testing tool.

Methods: Twenty patients were recruited, ten for each implant type (Exeter and ABG-II). All volunteers underwent unilateral hip replacement. No patient had any metabolic bone disease or were on medication that would alter BMD. Each patient had a preopera-tive CT scan of the hip, in order to provide 3D bone shape and density data needed to construct a computer model. Each patient’s changes of BMD over a period of 12 months postoperatively were evaluated in a series of 4 follow-up DXA scans taken at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months post-op. For the computer simulation, Finite Element (FE) models of the affected femur were constructed for each patient and BMD changes predicted using strain adaptive bone remodelling theory. These patients were clinical followed up to access the hip scores (Merle d’Aubigne Postel)

Results: All the patients were Charnely group A and had excellent postoperative hip scores (average pain 5.5, walking 5.4 and range of motion 5.3) The Exeter stem DXA results show bone resorption in Gruen zone 3 (2.8% on average) and 4 (3.3%) whereas there is a tendency for bone deposition at regions 1, 6 and 7 (2% on average). The ABG-II stem results show bone resorption developing at regions 7 and 4 (6% and 2% respectively) and some bone formation at region 6 (2%). The simulation results have a tendency to overestimate amounts of bone resorption (20% at region 7 for the ABG-II, 12% at region 3 for the Exeter).

Conclusion: A comparison of the remodelling around a cemented and a non-cemented hip implant show important differences in the emerging patterns of adaptation. To our knowledge, very few published studies provide information on bone remodelling around cemented stems, and compare the results to those of an uncemented stem. Additionally, the simulation results suggest that these formulations can reproduce realistic patterns of bone adaptation. This study aims at providing the means for comparison and subsequent improvement of the accuracy of the simulations and thus helps develop a hip prosthesis that would led to least bone resorption.