Background

Magnetic resonance arthrography is the current method of choice for investigating patients with a clinical diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement prior to performing hip arthroscopy. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of this investigation by comparing the findings of MR arthrogram with those found at arthroscopy, with reference to labral tears and chondral damage.

Background

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) may be a predisposing factor in progression of osteoarthritis. The use of hip arthroscopy is in its infancy with very few studies currently reported. Early reports show favourable results for treatment of young patients with FAI. This prospective study over a larger age spectrum represents a significant addition to this expanding field of minimally invasive surgery.

The aim of this study was two-fold; firstly, to investigate the construct validity of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score in patients following injuries to the upper and lower limbs, and to confirm that DASH score does not measure disability solely attributed to the upper limb. Secondly, to create a modified DASH questionnaire (M2 DASH) with fewer questions that can discriminate clearly between disabilities due to problems at the upper limb, and is more specific to the upper limb.

Patients were asked to fill in the DASH questionnaire in a fracture clinic following ethical approval. This included upper limb injuries (79), lower limb injuries (61) and control subjects (52). The median DASH scores for the three groups were 57, 16 and one respectively. The DASH scores varied significantly between the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis: p< 0.001); the scores for the upper limb group were higher than the lower limb group, and the scores for the lower limb group was higher than the control group (Mann-Whitney: p< 0.001). The M2 DASH questionnaire was developed using questions specific to the upper limb and included questions 1–4, 6, 13–17, 21–23 and 26–30. The median M2 DASH scores for the three groups were 50, 7 and 0 respectively. The revised questionnaire score was then calculated for the upper limb group and a correlation study showed good correlation between the two questionnaires.

Our study shows that the original DASH questionnaire is not specific for the upper limb. This has important implications in measuring response in injuries and disease that involve both upper and lower limbs. We have devised a revised questionnaire that we suggest is referred to as M2 DASH questionnaire. The M2 DASH questionnaire has the advantage of being more specific for the upper limb than the DASH questionnaire.

Templating of preoperative radiographs is routinely recommended prior to knee arthroplasty. We performed this study to assess the reproducibility and accuracy of the templates for three commonly used knee implants (PFC, Kinemax, Scorpio). Six lower limb surgeons templated 10 patients for each of the three designs. The inter and intra-observer reliability and accuracy was calculated. There was marked variation in the reliability of the templating with the tibial insert scoring better than the femoral and the Kinemax being the most reproducible of the three. In general, the intra-observer scores (κ= 0.57–0.81) were better than the inter-observer ones (κ= 0.21–0.60). The Scorpio was the most accurately templated of the three implants, with the percentage correlating with what was actually implanted ranging from 55–62% for the femur and 72–75% for the tibia, with no templated sizes more than 1 size different from the actual implant. The other implants ranged from 38–42% for the femur and 53–58% for the tibia with both having up to 3% more than 1 size difference from the actual implant. We believe that the use of templating in total knee arthroplasty should be interpreted with caution and we urge the development of more accurate prosthesis sizing techniques.

Literature searches are commonly performed by medical professionals when carrying out research and during study of a particular topic. Traditionally this was performed manually in a library using a system called index medicus, developed in the early years of the 20th century, and was an arduous task. Over recent years, this has commonly been performed online using electronic search engines, which has drastically reduced the difficulty and time involved in performing a thorough literature search.

Electronic versions of index medicus began in 1964 and were termed MEDLARS. Medline was developed soon after and for many years available on CD-ROM within libraries. In 1997, PUBMED became free to all online, incorporating Medline. (1) Use of online electronic search engines has increased enormously over recent years. In 1996 7 million searches were performed per annum, increasing to 400 million searches per annum in 2001. (1)

The researcher has the ability online to identify articles dating back to 1966, some 39 years of published research and articles to digest.

We performed a retrospective study of 100 medical professionals in a busy district general hospital in the UK with the purpose of identifying how retrospective many of the searches were.

Results showed only 29% of subjects researched papers more than 15 years old, with 65% of subjects only looking at papers 10 years old or younger.

Our study shows that many researchers are now ignoring articles beyond a certain age, and as a result much important research is being largely ignored and possibly repeated.

Introduction: With the introduction of out-patient waiting time targets, there has been increasing pressure on clinics to accommodate both new referrals and follow-up patients. Departments have found it increasingly difficult to continue long-term follow-up of patients post arthroplasty.

We have piloted a new system of purely therapist led clinics and assessed this with an anonymous patient survey.

Method: Since 2005 and following a training program for the therapists involved, 110 arthroplasty patients have passed through the new clinics. They are seen at 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months and then 3, 5 and 10 years. Their ROM, stability and XRAY findings are documented and each patient completes Oxford Knee, SF 12 and WOMAC scores. If there are problems at any stage they are seen in the surgeon led clinic.

Results: 69% of patients responded to the survey and in general they were very satisfied with the new system. 75% felt that been seen by the therapist alone still fully addressed their needs with 79% having an overall impression of either excellent or very good. The patients rated the therapists professionalism, assessment and information delivery as good to excellent in over 80%.

Conclusion: We feel that with the introduction of this new system, we will be able to continue long-term follow-up of all our patients post arthroplasty. With their regular assessments and scoring we will be able to monitor the success of their replacements and theoretically identify early any problems.

Introduction: Stainsby’s procedure for correction of severe claw toe deformity is a relatively new procedure in foot and ankle surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate our early experience in a single institution.

Method: Between 1998 and 2002 we reviewed retrospectively 17 patients who had severe claw toe deformity who had undergone Stainsby’s procedure. All patients had lesser toe involvement. The records and radiographs were reviewed and the subjective assessment by telephone interview.

Results: Eleven females and six males were included. There were 21 feet and 42 toes with four bilateral feet involvement. Mean age of 56.7 years (range 40–78) and median follow-up was 28 months (range 8–48). Ten feet in nine patients undergone single lesser toe correction and 11 feet in eight patients undergone multiple toe correction were reviewed. Five patients (29.4%) with six feet suffered rheumatoid arthritis (RA); four patients (23.5%) with six feet suffered cavus deformity and the remaining eight patients (47.1%) with nine feet had isolated toe pathology. All patients were presented with shoe wear problem with 16 (94.1%) patients had pain related to callosities. Sixteen (94.1%) patients were satisfied with the results; two patients had persistent metatarsalgia. Forty (95.2%) toes had good alignment and two (4.8%) toes had recurrent asymptomatic clawing. Fifteen (88.2%) patients had unlimited daily activities. Eleven (64.7%) patients are able to have normal foot wear, four (23.5%) require insole support and two (11.8%) required soft padding only. Complications included sensory alteration in two patients who had multiple lesser toe correction and seven patients had superficial wound infection. There was no statistical difference in results related to number of toes operated on and association with RA.

Conclusion: Stainsby’s procedure remains a versatile surgical technique when dealing with severe claw toe deformity. It gives very good correction with high patients’ satisfaction rate and a low complication rate. We recommend this surgical technique, as one of the armamentarium foot and ankle surgeons should acquire.

Introduction The historical degradation of polyethylene produced a direct relationship between contact stress and wear in knee prostheses(1). However, with the recent introduction of stabilised polyethylene and designs with reduced contact stress, the significance of this relationship has not been re-assessed. The purpose of this study was to analyse the contact mechanics of three currently available knee designs (two rotating platform and one fixed bearing) prior to and after long term simulator wear testing.

Materials and Methods Implants (six of each design) were loaded with 2600N at flexion angles of 0°, 30° and 60°. Contact areas were measured using Fuji Pre-scale pressure sensitive film, which was scanned and digitised using Image Pro Plus software.

Results The average contact stresses of the worn knee components are shown in Figure 1. Previously reported wear results for the three designs are shown in Figure 2 (1,2). Stresses reduced slightly following wear testing.

Conclusion The three designs tested produced stresses below the elastic limit of the polymer at all flexion angles. The two rotating platform designs had significantly reduced stress compared to the fixed bearing design. Both rotating platform designs tested de-couple the rotation and produce reduced cross-shear compared to the fixed bearing design. It is postulated that both low stress and reduced cross-shear are important in reducing the wear of knee prostheses.

From mid-1992 to 2000 and in conjunction with our paediatric department, we have run a screening program to detect congenital orthopaedic abnormalities. Over this period, we have been referred 245 patients with a provisional diagnosis of clubfeet, of these 54 or 22% were true CTEV (78 feet) giving an incidence in the general population of 0.18% while the rest were diagnosed as having simple postural clubfoot (0.6%).

Each patient was assessed clinically and classified according to the Harrold and Walker scale as well as being checked for other congenital/neurological abnormalities. 83% of patients were seen within two weeks of referral. Initial management entailed strapping for 6 weeks with further periods of plaster immobilization (required by 46%). Those who failed to respond or who deteriorated underwent surgical correction with sub-talar release. A small percentage required secondary procedures such as Tibialis Anterior transfer, Tendoachillis release and revision.

Patients were continued in the program until at least 6 years of age. While there was a wide variation of other abnormalities in those with type 2 CTEV, those with type 3 had a high incidence of neurological conditions and in particular, arthrogryphosis (59%). These patients did worse and 55% required further surgery after the initial sub-talar release.

We would like to present the findings of an 8.5 year prospective study looking at the incidence of the condition, the frequency of other abnormalities and the results of conservative and surgical treatment for each grade.

Open reduction and internal fixation is the treatment of choice for patients with displaced fractures of the lateral and medial malleoli. Ideally, operative treatment restores sufficient stability to allow full mobility at the ankle joint. However, because of the necessity to protect the ankle from weight-bearing and other forces, we routinely immobilise the ankle in a below-knee cast because of our concerns about patient compliance. We carried out a prospective study to assess patient compliance with instructions on non-weight bearing following ORIF of ankle fractures.

All 30 patients at our hospital who were treated for an ankle fracture over a 14 month period were included in our study. 22 of these underwent ORIF. A below knee cast was applied in all cases, and patients were instructed not to put any weight on the injured limb. A pressure sensitive film (Fuji Prescale Film, Sensor Products Inc., NJ, USA) was incorporated into the cast beneath the heel pad. Patients were informed that this was being done to measure the pressure within the cast, for the purposes of a trial. The cast was changed (including the pressure sensitive film) at two-week intervals over a six week period, providing three separate measurements of pressure on the heel. The sole of the cast was also examined, to complement the findings on the pressure film. At each visit, the patients level of pain was assessed using a visual analogue score, and the wound (if present) was examined.

There was a remarkable variation in the amount of weight bearing performed by the patients in this study, but several trends could be observed. In most cases, patient compliance was greatest in the first four weeks following cast application, but patients tended to put significant weight on the limb in the 4–6 week period. Female patients tended to comply better than males. Patients with a history of alcohol or drug abuse complied poorly. Compliance was lower in those individuals with lower pain scores. Of interest, the degree of weight bearing did not significantly affect the radiological or clinical outcome at the 6-week mark in any case. We conclude that patient compliance with non-weight bearing is generally poor, although the effect of this poor compliance on the long-term outcome requires further study.

Background: Non-union of fractures is a common problem faced by orthopaedic surgeons. Although the basic processes of fracture healing have been better elucidated in recent years, in terms of their cellular and molecular biology, the pathogenesis of fracture non-union remains poorly understood.

Aims: To examine the pattern of cytokine expression in established non-unions, in particular the inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 and tumour necrosis factor alpha.

Materials and Methods: Tissue was taken from 7 non united fractures at the time of a surgical procedure aimed at effecting union. Part of the tissue was snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and a portion of the sample was processed for routine histology. Normal bone tissue was taken from the femoral shaft at the time of arthoplasty, to provide normal control tissue. Total RNA was extracted from the frozen tissue by means of a mortar and pestle and a modified phenol-chloroform extraction protocol. Cytokine expression patterns were examined using the Cytokine Gene Expression plate I (PE Biosystems) and analysed using the Sequence Detection Software and Microsoft Excel.

Results: A consistent pattern of cytokine expression was seen in all non-union tissue samples. There was marked suppression of interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 8, interleukin 10 and TNF-alpha when compared to resting bone. This environment is thus one where the stimulus for bone resorption is suppressed, with consequent loss of stimulation of bone formation (theory of “bone coupling”), directly and also possibly through interaction with prostaglandin production. In addition, collagen production is stimulated preferentially. These findings argue against the traditional definitions of fracture non-union, and suggest a possible adjunctive role for the administration of interleukins in the treatment of non-united fractures.