Aims

The Cartiva synthetic cartilage implant (SCI) entered mainstream use in the management of first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthritis following the positive results of large trials in 2016. Limited information is available on the longer-term outcomes of this implant within the literature, particularly when independent from the originator. This single-centre cohort study investigates the efficacy of the Cartiva SCI at up to five years.

Objectives

Cartiva synthetic cartilage implant (SCI) is licenced for use in management of symptomatic hallux rigidus in several countries including the UK. As for now, there are no independent comparative series for treatment of hallux rigidus utilising polyvinyl alcohol implants.

Background

Patient reported outcome and experience measures have been a fundamental part of the NHS. We used PROMS2.0, a semi-automated web-based system, which allows collection and analysis of outcome data, to assess the patient reported outcome/experience measures for scarf+/− akin osteotomy for hallux valgus.

Introduction

The Mobility™ prosthesis [Depuy] is the most extensively used TAR in the UK, though there are few published results. We present our complete experience of the Mobility prosthesis in a diverse population.

The most important determinant of treatment of malleolar fractures is stability. Stable fractures have an intact deep deltoid ligament and do not displace with functional treatment. If the deep deltoid/medial malleolar complex is disrupted, the talus is at risk of displacement.

We developed clinical criteria for potential instability and applied them to a prospective series of patients. Criteria included: a medial clear space of < 4mm; medial tenderness, bruising or swelling; a fibular fracture above the syndesmosis; a bimalleolar or trimalleolar fracture; an open fracture; a high-energy fracture mechanism. Patients with a medial clear space of < 4mm and none of these criteria were considered to have stable fractures, while those with a medial clear space of > 4mm were considered to have a displaced fracture.

We studied 152 consecutive skeletally mature patients with undisplaced, potentially unstable malleolar fractures treated by the senior author between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 2007. Patients were treated in a below-knee walking cast (136 patients) or a functional ankle brace (16 patients) for six weeks. Weight bearing was encouraged throughout. Weight bearing radiographs were obtained at one week and six weeks. Displacement was defined as talar displacement with a medial clear space > 4mm. Demographic, clinical and radiological data were collected prospectively.

There were 88 male and 64 female patients, with a median age of 43 years. Criteria for possible instability were: medial tenderness, 115 patients; proximal fibular fracture, 29 patients; bimalleolar fracture, 17 patients; other criteria, 15 patients. Three fractures displaced (risk of displacement 2.0%, 95% CI 0.4–5.7%). All displaced within the first week and were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. One bimalleolar fracture developed a symptomatic medial malleolar non-union which was treated by percutaneous screw fixation (risk of non-union 5.9%, 95% CI 0.1%–28.7%). All the other fractures achieved clinical union by 8 weeks.

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.

Purpose Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) have been one of the major pathogens responsible for prosthetic joint infections, and are showing increasing multiple-antibiotics resistance. Intact cell mass spectrometry (ICMS), based on the analysis of bacterial surface proteins, has been recognised as a new technique for identification of micro-organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of ICMS for species level identification of clinical CNS isolates.

Method A total of 50 CNS strains from revision joint replacement operations were studied. ICMS and commercial identification kits were used for identification of those CNS. The commercial kits were used following the manufacturer’s recommendations. For ICMS, single colonies were smeared onto five spots on a sample slide. After drying, a 1 μl of aliquot of matrix solution was added to each spot. Analysis of strains was performed using a Kompact MALDI 2 linear, time of flight mass spectrometer and 3-ns pulse width nitrogen laser light. Combined spectra were constructed from 100 shots at each spot on the sample slide.

Results In this study, the commercial kit did not require any special equipment, but required overnight incubation and could not identify at least seven strains. On the other hand, the ICMS method was rapid, accurate and highly reproducible. The mass: charge spectra produced by ICMS contained potential biomarker peaks that could be used for species level identification.

Conclusions ICMS has the potential as a powerful tool for species level identification of clinical CNS isolates in terms of rapidity, accuracy and cost effectiveness. This study suggested that ICMS is a possible new method of identifying causative organism in infected joint replacements.

Introduction This prospective study was carried out to assess the outcome of manipulation of the shoulder with interscalene block as a treatment for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Materials and Methods 31 patients underwent manipulation under general anaesthesia and interscalene block followed by intra-articular glenohumeral injection of steroid and local anaesthetic. Physiotherapy was started on the day of surgery. Shoulder function was assessed with range of movement, Constant score and DASH score (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) by specialist upper limb physiotherapists, pre-operatively, and post-operatively at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.

Results The DASH score improved from a mean of 60.1 pre-operatively to a mean of 24.1 at final follow up. Constant scores improved from a mean of 34.4 pre-operatively to 65.8. The mean improvement in Constant scores was 31.5 points. Pre-operative range of movement (expressed as a percentage of the total ROM of the unaffected side) was 51.5%. The mean post-operative ROM was 85.4%. External rotation improved from 41.7% of the unaffected side preoperatively to 77.7% at final review. Abduction improved from 47.4% to 85.4% and forward flexion improved from 59.1% to 90%. No patients required further manipulation.

Discussion All outcome measures improved following treatment. These improvements were sustained at 12 months follow-up. In particular external rotation, which was the most restricted movement preoperatively, was seen to improve and this improvement was maintained throughout follow-up.

Conclusion We conclude that manipulation of the shoulder under interscalene block and general anaesthetic for adhesive capsulitis results in a sustained improvement in function and movement.

Aim: This prospective study was carried out to assess the outcome of manipulation of the shoulder as a treatment for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Method: 31 patients were followed prospectively for twelve months after shoulder manipulation for adhesive capsulitis. All patients underwent manipulation under general anaesthetic and scalene block followed by intra-artificial gleno-humeral injection of steroid and local anaesthetic. Postoperative physiotherapy was started on the day of surgery. Shoulder function was assessed with range of movement, Constant and Murley score and DASH score (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand by specialist upper limb physiotherapists, pre-operatively, and post – operatively at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results: The DASH score improved from a mean of 60.1 (range 27–98) pre-operatively to a mean of 24.1 (range 5–83) at final follow up. Constant scores improved from a mean of 34.4 (range 16–51) pre-operatively to 65.8 (range 35–88). The mean improvement in Constant scores was 31.5 points.

Pre-operative range of movement (expressed as a percentage of the total ROM of the unaffected side) was 51.5 % (range 23.8–67.2). The mean postoperative ROM was 85.4% (range 56.2 – 99.3). External rotation improved from 41.7% (range 23.5 – 81.5) of the unaffected side preoperatively to 77.7% (range 44.1 – 105.3) at final review. Abduction improved from 47.4 % (range 23.3 – 70.6) to 85.4% (range 49.7 – 100) and forward flexion improved from 59.1% (range 33.5 – 73.9) to 90o (range 64.3 – 100.6). No patients required further manipulation.

Conclusion: All outcome measure improved following treatment. These improvements were sustained at 12-month follow up. In particular, external rotation which was the most restricted movement pre-operatively was seen to improve and this improvement was maintained throughout follow-up. We conclude that manipulation of the shoulder under inter-scalene block and general anaesthetic for adhesive capsulitis results in a sustained improvement in function and movement.