Clavicle fractures are common, yet debate exists regarding which patients would benefit from conservative versus operative management. Traditionally shortening greater than 2cm has been accepted as an indicator for surgery. However, clavicle length varies between individuals. In a cadaveric study clavicle shortening greater than 15% was suggested to affect outcomes. There is no clinical correlation of this in the literature. In this study we investigate outcomes following middle third clavicle fractures and the effect of percentage shortening on union rates. We identified a consecutive series of adults with primary midshaft clavicle fractures presenting to our institution from April 2015-March 2017. Clinical records and radiographs were reviewed to elicit outcomes. Time to union was measured against factors including; percentage shortening, displacement, comminution and smoking. Statistical significance was calculated.Abstract
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Operative management of distal humerus fractures is challenging. In the past, plates were manually contoured intraoperatively, however this was associated with high rates of fixation failure, nonunion and metalwork removal. Anatomically pre-contoured distal humerus locking plates have since been developed. Owing to the rarity of distal humeral fractures, literature regarding outcomes of anatomically pre-contoured locking plates is lacking and patient numbers are often small. The purpose of this study is to investigate the outcomes of these patients. We retrospectively identified patients with distal humeral fractures treated at our institution from 2009–2018. Inclusion criteria were patients with a distal humeral fracture, who underwent two-column plate fixation with anatomically pre-contoured locking plates. Clinical records and radiographs were reviewed to elicit outcome measures, including range of motion, complications and reoperation rate.Abstract
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Assess and report the functional and post-operative outcomes of complex acute radial head fractures with elbow instability treated by arthroplasty using an uncemented modular anatomic prosthesis. Over a 3-year period (2007–2010), 21 patients (mean age 51.9 years) were treated primarily with modular radial head arthroplasty (mean follow up of 27.1 months). Data was collected retrospectively using clinical notes, operation documentation and prospectively using validated scoring systems namely the Oxford Elbow Index, Quick DASH and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score. Associated elbow fractures, ligamentous injury and short to mid term post-operative outcomes including radiographic assessment were recorded.Purpose
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Since described by Kashiwagi in 1978, the Outerbridge - Kashiwagi procedure (OK procedure) has been used to treat osteoarthritis of the elbow when simple measures have failed. Despite being used for 20 years, there have been surprisingly few series. The aim of this study was to assess the medium to long term results of the OK procedure and to analyse the preoperative and operative findings to identify features which predict a good outcome. A consecutive series of 43 patients (44 elbows) underwent ulnohumeral debridement (OK procedure) for osteoarthritis of the elbow. Their mean age was 57 years (range 24 – 85 years) with one female patient. 35 patients (36 elbows) were reviewed after a mean follow up of 39 months (range 12 – 71 months). Overall, 81% of patients were satisfied with 12 good, 19 fair and 5 poor outcomes. The mean arc of flexion/extension (p=0.001), pain score (p=0.002) and locking (p=0.003) were significantly improved but a significant number of patients developed rest pain (p<
0.0001). There was a complication rate of 17% (2 ulna nerve entrapment, 1 ulna nerve neuropraxia which resolved completely, 1 superficial wound infection, 1 wound haematoma and 1 myocardial infarction). The reoperation rate was 8% (2 revision OK procedures and 1 ulna nerve decompression). Patients with symptoms for less than 2 years, considerable preoperative pain or cubital tunnel syndrome had a significantly increased chance of a good outcome. The absence of preoperative locking was associated with a significantly increased chance of a poor outcome. Joint space narrowing on radiographs or presence of posterior loose bodies at operation was associated with an increased chance of a good outcome but these were not statistically significant. A history of trauma, the preoperative range of movement and Xray score did not predict outcome.
