This study aims to assess prospectively whether measurement of perioperative Troponin T is a useful predictor of potential morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery for fractured neck of femur.

All patients aged 65 years and over presenting with a fractured neck of femur over a 4-month period were initially included. Exclusion criteria were renal failure, polymyositis and conservative fracture management. Troponin T levels were measured on admission, day 1 and 2 post-surgery. According to local protocol, a level of >0.03ng/mL was considered to be raised. Outcome measures adverse were cardiorespiratory events (myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, unstable angina, major arrhythmias requiring treatment and pulmonary embolism), death and length of inpatient stay.

108 patients were recruited after application of the exclusion criteria. 42 (38.9%) showed a rise in Troponin T >0.03ng/mL in at least one sample. Of these, 25 (59.5%) sustained at least outcome complication, as opposed to 7 (10.6%) from the group with no Troponin T rise (p<0.001). The mean length of stay was 25.7 days for patients with elevated Troponin T levels, compared with 18.3 days in the normal group (p<0.012). There were 9 deaths in the raised Troponin group (21.4%), and 5 (7.6%) in the group with no rise (p<0.05).

The principal causes of early death after hip fracture surgery are cardiac failure and myocardial infarction. Troponin T is a sensitive enzymatic marker of myocardial injury. The association between raised Troponin and hip fractures has not previously been made. In our series, 38.9% showed a perioperative Troponin rise. This was significantly associated with increased morbidity, mortality and longer hospitalisation. Many hip fracture patients appear to be having silent cardiorespiratory events, contributing significantly to perioperative morbidity.

We recommend measurement of Troponin levels in all such patients to identify this risk and initiate appropriate treatment.

This study aims to assess prospectively whether measurement of peripoperative Troponin T is a useful predictor of potential morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery for fractured neck of femur.

All patients aged 65 years and over presenting with a fractured neck of femur over a 4-month period were initially included. Exclusion criteria were renal failure, polymyositis and conservative fracture management. Troponin T levels were measured on admission, day 1 and 2 post surgery. According to local protocol, a level of > 0.03ng/mL was considered to be raised. Outcome measures adverse were cardiorespiratory events (myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, unstable angina, major arrhythmias requiring treatment and pulmonary embolism), death and length of inpatient stay.

108 patients were recruited after application of the exclusion criteria. 42 (38.9%) showed a rise in Troponin T > 0.03ng/mL in at least one sample. Of these, 25 (59.5%) sustained at least outcome complication, as opposed to 7 (10.6%) from the group with no Troponin T rise (p< 0.001). The mean length of stay was 25.7 days for patients with elevated Troponin T levels, compared with 18.3 days in the normal group (p< 0.012). There were 9 deaths in the raised Troponin group (21.4%), versus 5 (10.6%) in the group with no rise (p< 0.05).

The principle causes of early death after hip fracture surgery are cardiac failure and myocardial infarction. Troponin T is a sensitive enzymatic marker of myocardial injury. The association between raised Troponin and hip fractures has not previously been made. In our series, 38.9% showed a perioperative Troponin rise. This was significantly associated with increased morbidity, mortality and longer hospitalisation. Many hip fracture patients appear to be having silent cardiorespiratory events, contributing significantly to perioperative morbidity. We recommend measurement of Troponin levels in all such patients to identify this risk and initiate appropriate treatment.

Introduction: The principle causes of early death after hip fracture surgery are cardiac failure and myocardial infarction. Troponin T is a sensitive and specific enzymatic marker of myocardial injury. This study aims to assess prospectively whether Troponin T may be used as a predictor of morbidity and mortality in admissions with fractured neck of femur.

Methods: All patients aged 65 years and over presenting with a fractured neck of femur over 4 months were included. Exclusion criteria of polymyositis, renal failure and conservative fracture management were applied. Troponin T levels were measured on admission, and days 1 and 2 post surgery. According to local protocol, a level of > 0.03ng/mL was considered to be raised. Outcome measures were defined as adverse cardiorespiratory events (myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, unstable angina, major arrhythmias requiring treatment and pulmonary embolism), death and length of inpatient stay.

Results: 108 patients were recruited over the 4 months. 42 (38.9%) showed a rise in Troponin T > 0.03ng/mL in at least one sample. Of these, 25 (59.5%) sustained at least one of the outcome complications including death, as opposed to 7 (10.6%) from the group with no Troponin rise (p< 0.001). The mean inpatient stay was 25.7 days for patients with elevated Troponin T levels, compared with 18.3 days in the normal group (p< 0.012). There were 9 deaths in the raised Troponin group (21.4%), and 5 (10.6%) in the group with no rise (p< 0.05).

Discussion: The association between raised Troponin and hip fractures has not previously been made. Many patients appear to be having silent cardiorespiratory or related events, which may be a significant cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality. We propose measurement of Troponin levels as part of the standard perioperative screening for hip fracture patients to identify this risk and initiate appropriate treatment measures.

To investigate the proportion of dysplastic hips which are retroverted. We studied the radiographs of over seven hundred patients with dysplastic hips who had had a periacetabular osteotomy in the period 1984–1998. We excluded patients with neuromuscular dysplasia, Perthes’ disease of the hip, post-traumatic dysplasia and proximal focal femoral deficiency. We selected 232 radiographs of patients with congenital acetabular dysplasia. A number of parameters were measured including lateral centre-edge angle, anterior centre-edge angle, acetabular index of weight-bearing surface, femoral head extrusion index and acetabular index of depth to width. Also recorded were acetabular version and congruency between femoral head and acetabulum.

The lateral centre-edge angle of Wiberg had a mean value of 6.4° (SD 8.9°), the mean anterior centre-edge angle was 1.3° (SD 13.5°) and the acetabular index of weight-bearing surface of the acetabulum had a mean value of 24.5° (SD 9.7°). The majority (192, 82.8%) of acetabula were anteverted as might be expected. However, a significant minority (40, 17.2%) were retroverted. The mean anterior centre-edge angle in retroverted hips was 6.7° (SD 9.4°) compared with 0.4° (SD 13.3°) in anteverted hips.

The authors have shown that, in a typical group of patients with congenital acetabular dysplasia significant enough to warrant periacetabular osteotomy, the majority of hips as expected have anteverted acetabula. However, a significant minority are retroverted. This finding has an important bearing on the performance of the osteotomy. We have also found that most if not all the information required prior to and following periac-etabular osteotomy can be obtained from an orthograde view of the pelvis.

Introduction: Ideally any screening system should use a simple reliable test with good intraobserver reproducibility. This is important in DDH as once there is an established abnormality surgical intervention is frequently required. The aim of early detection (within six weeks) is to increase the number of children that may be treated nonoperatively. We have evaluated the effectiveness of our selective screening program by determining the late presentation rate of DDH in our region.

Methods: Between January 2001 and December 2003 we looked retrospectively at all patients presenting with DDH in our region. We recorded their age at scan and presentation, the Graf classification if recorded, their management, the presence of risk factors for DDH, referral source and presence of a positive clinical examination. All these were entered into a database and analyzed specifically with regard to patients presenting late.

Results: In the period between January 2001 and June 2002 prior to selective ultrasound screening (Group 1) there were 9441 live births and 26 cases of DDH (incidence of 2.75). There were 11 late presenters with an incidence of 1.12 per 1000 per year. Between July 2002 and December 2003 (Group 2) there were 9428 live births and 20 cases of DDH (incidence of 2.12). There were 3 late presenters with an incidence of 0.3 per 1000 per year.

Discussion: We have shown that a program of selective ultrasound screening in our region has decreased the number of children presenting late with DDH. It must be remembered however, that in the absence of any risk factors, clinical examination remains critical in identifying those with DDH in a selective screening program.

It is generally agreed that in acetabular dysplasia the acetabulum lies excessively anteverted. Although this is true for the majority of hips, we have found that in some patients with dysplastic hips, the acetabulum lies unexpectedly in retroversion.

Aim: To investigate the proportion of dysplastic hips which are retroverted.

Method: We studied the radiographs of over seven hundred patients with dysplastic hips and who had had a periacetabular osteotomy in the period 1984–1998. We excluded patients with neuromuscular dysplasia, Perthes disease of the hip, post-traumatic dysplasia and proximal focal femoral deficiency. We selected 232 radiographs of patients with congenital acetabular dysplasia. A number of parameters were measured including, lateral centre edge angle, anterior centre-edge angle, acetabular index of weight bearing surface, femoral head extrusion index and acetabular index of depth to width. Also recorded was acetabular version and congruency between femoral head and acetabulum.

Results: The lateral centre-edge angle of Wiberg had a mean value of 6.4° (SD 8.9°), the mean anterior centre-edge angle was 1.3° (SD 13.5°) and the acetabular index of weight bearing surface of the acetabulum had a mean value of 24.5° (SD 9.7°). The majority (192, 82.8%) of acetabula were anteverted as might be expected. However, a significant minority (40,17.2%) were retroverted. The mean anterior centre-edge angle in retroverted hips was 6.7° (SD 9.4°) compared with 0.4° (SD 13.3°) in anteverted hips.

Conclusion: The authors have shown that in a typical group of patients with congenital acetabular dysplasia, significant enough to warrant periacetabular osteotomy, the majority of hips as expected have anteverted acetabula. However, a significant minority are retroverted. This finding has an important bearing in the performance of the osteotomy.