Aims: he purpose of this study was to determine whether autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in patients with articular cartilage defects of the knee resulted in patients returning to pre-injury levels of work and physical activities.

Methods: 133 consecutive patients from January 2001 to December 2002 underwent ACI at our institution. A telephone and postal questionnaire was conducted to ascertain a detailed occupational and leisure activity profile in this cohort of patients. For each job held for at least 2 months, we asked whether an average working day had involved any of the ten specified physical activities. Similarly, for each sport that had been played more than 5 times a year, we asked the age the sporting activities had began and whether they were able to return to these sports after surgery. Occupation for each patient was given a 3 digit code according to the Standard Occupational Classification System 2000 and hence determined whether the work performed was manual or non-manual.

Results: 97 patients responded to the questionnaire. There were 53 females and 44 males and the mean age at the time of operation was 34.5 (range 14 to 49). Category 6 (Personal Services Occupations) was the most common occupation pre-operatively, whereas category 4 (Administrative and Secretarial Occupations) was the most common post-operatively. 7% of patients’ work involved kneeling or squatting and this figure rose to 12%, 4 years following surgery. 42% of patients had to make some form of modification to their work (usually less physical or more office based). 47% of patients were able to return to at least one of the sports they played pre-injury.

Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate that patients are able to return to work and resume sporting activity following autologous chondrocyte implantation.

Aims: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate hemiplevis replacements in patients with periacetabular tumours in terms of the functional results and implant survivorship of the prosthesis. The second aim was to evaluate the complications and how they might be prevented in the future.

Methods: Case notes, hospital databases and radiographs were reviewed in 51 patients treated in a 16 year period with a custom made hemipelvis replacement (Stanmore Implants Worldwide). There were 13 deaths and 4 were lost to follow up. Of the remaining 34 patients there were 18 males and 16 females with a mean age of 48.6 (range 14 – 71).

Results: At a mean follow-up of 78 months (range 7 – 204), 70% of patients were still alive and the most common diagnosis was chondrosarcoma (17 cases). There were 2 cases of prosthesis failure and 22 of the 34 patients had one or more complications (12 cases of infection (8 deep and 4 superficial), 4 nerve palsies, 2 dislocations and 7 others). 13 patients had to have a second operation. The mean MSTS score was 63.8% and the TESS score was 59.8%

Conclusion: Infection was the most common complication and was the most significant reason for reoperation. This method of reconstruction is associated with a high morbidity rate and should be performed only at specialist centres, but the functional and oncological outcomes are satisfactory.