Femoral component fracture is a rarely reported but devastating complication of total knee arthroplasty. It has occurred most frequently with Whiteside Ortholoc II replacements uncemented knee replacements. Presentation may be with acute pain, progressive pain or returning deformity. It occurs more commonly in the medial condyle of the femoral component. It is rarely seen in cemented replacements.

All currently available literature describing fractures of condylar replacements, both cemented and uncemented. Predisposing factors include varus deformity either pre or post operatively. The mechanism of failure is thought to be failure of the infiltration of bone into the replacement. This is often due to polyethylene wear or metallosis causing abnormal tissue reaction with or without osteolysis.

We present the case of a fractured Press Fit Condylar (PFC) cemented implant (DePuy, Johnson&Johnson, Raynham, Massachusettes, USA) affecting the medial condyle. To our knowledge this is only the third reported case of fracture in a PFC implant, and the first in a cemented PFC implant.

Our patient was a 64 year old male who presented with unresolving knee pain post total knee arthroplasty, caused by fatigue fracture of the medial condyle of the femoral component. This was identified as loosening on plain radiographs and replaced with a revision prosthesis with a good post operative result. Given our aging population and with the increase of joint arthroplasty, this case sheds light on a potentially under recognised and increasingly important cause of knee pain following arthroplasty.

Introduction: Pediatric radial neck fractures account for 5 to 10 % of all elbow fractures. Depending on the degree of radial head displacement either operative intervention or conservative treatment is recommended. Open reduction offers anatomic fracture fixation but compromises the vulnerable blood supply. Intramedullary nailing combines the advantages of closed reduction and stable internal fracture fixation. The purpose of the presented study was to evaluate the outcome of treatment of a series of pediatric radial neck fractures. Special contributions in our algorithm were made to the age dependant capacity for spontaneous fracture remodelling.

Materials and Methods: The medical data of all children with fractures of the radial head between 1999 and 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Fractures were classified according to the classification system described by Judet et al. Depending on the angulation of the fracture and on the age of the patient the treatment algorithm was defined. Type I fractures were treated conservatively and Type IV fractures operatively independent of age. Type III fractures in patients younger than 6 years of age were treated conservatively without reduction and Type II fractures were reduced in children older than 12 years of age. The functional outcome was graduated from excellent to poor according to the score of Linscheid and Wheeler.

Results: In our study 168 patients, 88 male and 80 female, were included. The average age of the patients was 9 years (range 3 to 16 years). There were 103 Type I injuries, 21 Type II, 30 Type III and 14 Type IV injuries. Conservative treatment was possible in 124 (73.8%) patients (103 Type I, 12 Type II, 9 Type III injuries). Operative intervention was performed in 44 (26.2%) patients (9 Type II, 21 Type III, 14 Type IV injuries). In 10 patients a K-wire was used to leverage the radial head percutaneous. Open fracture reduction was required in 4 patients. Necrosis of the radial head was found in 2 patients with open reduction. One child presented with hypoesthesia in the area of the superficial radial nerve. The latest follow up examination was performed after 26 months mean (range 11 months to 7 years). We found excellent results in 158 patients, good results in 5, fair in 3 and poor in 2 patients.

Discussion: An intact vascular supply to the radial head is essential to avoid complications. The iatrogenic impact to the nutritive vessels should be kept to a minimum. Closed fracture reduction and intramedullary nailing has improved the prognosis. Spontaneous fracture remodeling might successfully replace unnecessary maneuvers for fracture reduction. However, the proximal physis of the radius is responsible for only 20–30% of the growth of the radius and therefore spontaneous fracture remodeling is restricted. Following our treatment algorithm we found excellent results in the majority of cases.

Background: Fractures of the talus represent serious injuries of the foot skeleton. The most significant complications include osteonecrosis and posttraumatic mal-alignment with subsequent arthritis. The aim of our study was to compare treatment and outcome of fractures of the talus between children and adolescents.

Methods: From 1990 to 2005 24 patients (18 male, 6 female) presented with 25 fractures of the talus. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively. At follow-up the functional outcome was measured using the Foot-Function-Index.

Results: 9 patients were 12 years of age or younger, 15 patients presenting 16 talar fractures were older than 12 years. While the majority of fractures of the talus in children younger than 12 years of age were classified as Marti-Weber Type I and II fractures, more than two thirds of the fractures in patients older than 12 years were Marti-Weber Type III and IV fractures. Two thirds of the patients younger than 12 years were treated non-operatively while non-operative treatment was possible in only 3 talar fractures in adolescents. No necrosis at follow-up (mean period: 3.2 years, range 7 months to 8.4 years following end of treatment) was detected in children (< 12 a), while 5 patients older than 12 years developed persisting necrosis.

Conclusion: Even tough there is no apparent difference in the cause of the trauma leading to fractures of the talus adolescents present with more severe fractures of the talus compared to children younger than 12 years of age. Additionally we did not observe persistent osteonecrosis in patients less than 12 years old and the outcome is favorable in the majority of the cases irrespective of the mode of treatment.

Introduction: Peri-prosthetic fractures following hip resurfacing arthroplasty are difficult fractures to treat. The surgeon is faced with the task of either attempting to fix the fracture if feasible or revise the resurfacing implant to a conventional total hip replacement.

Method & Results: Here we report of a novel way of fixing a peri-prosthetic fracture following resurfacing hip arthroplasty using Polyaxial locking plate fixation. A 53 year old man sustained a intertrochanteric fracture below his resurfacing metal on metal hip prosthesis following a fall. He had his hip resurfaced 3 years back for osteoarthritis in another hospital. He underwent surgery to fix the fracture using a polyaxial locking plate with no post-operative complications. He was mobilised non-weight bearing for the initial six weeks and weight bearing as tolerated thereafter. He went on to union and was moblising without any problems in three months time. His follow-up x-rays at 8 months showed fracture healed with no evidence of prosthesis problems.

Discussion: There are various methods of treating a periprosthetic fracture of a well fixed resurfaced hip implant. The two types of management are open reduction and internal fixation and revision to a stemmed hip implant. These fractures can be fixed with cannulated hip screws, blade plate device or plating with screws avoiding the stem of the resurfacing prosthesis. We used the polyaxial locking plate device with good result thereby avoiding the need for revision surgery with its attendant risks. Using this implant is a useful alternative for these fracture patterns.

Introduction: Serum inflammatory markers are routinely used as pre assessment investigation before the revision hip surgery. Various investigations are used to aid in diagnosis of infection in the revision prosthetic hip replacement including aspiration, broad range PCR, bone scan and serum interleukin- 6.

Materials and Methods: 256 consecutive revision total hip replacements were assessed for the value of pre operative ESR and c-reactive proteins (CRP) in predicting the deep infections.

All patients were evaluated prior to surgery. The patients with coexisting inflammatory disease or peri-prosthetic fracture were also evaluated.

A hip was diagnosed as infected on the basis of positive intra operative microbiology samples three or more out of five and or histological evidence.

Results: Using the values of ESR > 35 mm/1st hour and CRP> 10mg/l, the positive predictive value (either/or) was 56% and the negative predictive value was 96%.

14 patients had an underlying inflammatory arthritis and 5 were peri prosthetic fractures. The inflammatory markers tended to be elevated in these patients. Excluding these 19 patients and using the same criteria, the positive predictive value was 65% and the negative predictive value was 97%

Discussion: We conclude that a CRP< 10 mg/l and ESR < 35 mm/1st hour are very useful in excluding infection(negative predictive value of 97%, excluding peri-prosthetic fractures and inflammatory joint disease). But raised inflammatory markers are less accurate in predicting infection.

Introduction: A posterior entry point, a neutral tip position and stem alignment are recommended for an even cement mantle and an optimal outcome in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Our aim was to highlight any differences between the two approaches in obtaining a neutral stem tip position, particularly in the saggital plane.

Methods: We examined the post op, digitised radiographs of 100 (50 each group) polished, tapered Exeter THA, inserted via the antero-lateral or posterior approaches. The stem tip position was defined as the distance, in millimetres, between the centre of the femoral canal and the centre of the stem tip, in both the coronal and saggital planes.

Results: There was a significant difference between the two approaches in the saggital stem tip position only (p= 0.01), but not in coronal tip position (p=0.1). When not in neutral, stems inserted by the antero-lateral approach showed a marked deviation towards the posterior cortex. This was not the case with the posterior approach.

Discussion: Our results illustrate that a neutral stem tip position in THA, and subsequently an even cement mantle, is significantly more difficult to obtain with an antero-lateral approach than a posterior approach. A posterior approach to the hip avoids the cuff of glutei that can lever the proximal stem anteriorally causing an anterior entry point and a posterior stem tip position. It also illustrates how the anatomy of the proximal femur in the saggital plane makes a neutral stem alignment difficult to achieve with either approach.

Introduction: Hip resurfacing has been increasingly used procedure for physiologically young and active patients. Wear properties of the implants are considered to be excellent. We present a case of tumor like swelling of the thigh following metal on metal hip resurfacing.

Case report: 56 year old lady underwent metal on metal hip resurfacing for idiopathic osteoarthritis of right hip. Implant size: 38 mm head with 44 mm cup.

After 18 months of successful surgery she presented with short duration (2 weeks) history of thigh swelling with pain and stiffness in hip and knee. Clinically gross circumferential swelling of right thigh from inguinal ligament to the knee joint. She had increased serum cobalt chromium levels. Aspiration of hip revealed high levels of cobalt and chromium. Biopsy and intra operative samples at revision revealed “no infection or tumor but non specific inflammatory reaction.”

The patient underwent revision surgery to ceramic-plastic bearing.(THR).

12 months post operative, the swelling has reduced with painless mobile hip and knee joints.

Discussion: The metal on metal hip resurfacing could have produced high metal ion wear reaction leading to swelling. Which could be because of small diameter prosthesis with valgus position of femoral component with open cup angle of 49 degrees.

Introduction: Metal on metal hip resurfacing is a bone conserving procedure with excellent medium term results. A retrospective audit of 150 consecutive Birmingham Hip resurfacings, performed by a single surgeon at a DGH was carried out.

Materials and Methods: We report 150 hip resurfacings implanted between June 2001 to June 2004. There were 99 male and 51 female hips. The mean age was 50.7 years (38–75years). Range of follow up was 6 months to 45 months (average 20.1 months)

Pre operative diagnosis was Osteoarthritis (n=135), osteonecrosis(n=8),traumatic(n=2),dysplasia(n=3),Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (n=1) and ankylosing spondylitis (n=1). Al hips were implanted via the posterior approach. Clinical assessment, by postal questionnaire, was by pre and post-operative Oxford Hip scores (OHS) and X-rays were reviewed.

Results: Range of follow up was 6 months to 42 months (average 20.1 months). No patient was lost to follow up. The mean pre operative Oxford hip score was 41 (r=27–56). The score was 15.1 (r=12–29) at the time of questionnaire.

Complications included: One femoral neck fracture at 3 months requiring revision to a stemmed “big ball” THR, one deep infection requiring early wash out with salvage of the hip prosthesis, (both the patients are now doing well. OHS 13 and 15 respectively) and one asymptomatic stress fracture of femoral neck, which healed without intervention (OHS 12).

There was one dislocation in a neuropathic hip requiring bracing. (OHS 29). There was one retained alignment pin needing removal. Otherwise patients were highly satisfied with the operation with excellent function and Hip scores.

Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated that, in the short term and in young age group, this prosthesis gives excellent functional results, with an acceptably low complication rate. Long term surveillance of these patients will provide further data to compare our results with specialist centres.