Background

Forefoot surgery is often performed under regional anaesthesia (ankle block) in awake patients, using tourniquet or esmarch bandage to obtain bloodless field. The purpose of this study was to examine the value and need for local tourniquet pain control using local subcutaneous analgesic mixture in patients undergoing forefoot surgery under regional anaesthesia.

We prospectively randomized 56 patients who underwent forefoot surgery under ankle block to receive subcutaneous local anaesthetic mixture under the tourniquet. We checked for local tourniquet pain score (VAS 0–100) and skin condition during and after the procedure.

Effective pre-surgical preparation is an important step in limiting surgical wound contamination and prevention of surgical site infection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate bacterial skin contamination after surgical skin preparation in foot surgery prior to surgery and at the end of surgery, in order to determine if current techniques are satisfactory in eliminating harmful pathogens, and to compare the results of the cultures obtained pre and post operatively with infection rate.

Twenty consecutive patients scheduled for Hallux Valgus procedures were studied. Each lower extremity was prepared in the regular method with a two-step technique, Septal scrub followed by a Alcohol Chlorhexidine antiseptic solution. After preparation and draping, cultures were obtained at three locations: the hallux nailfold, first, second, third and fourth web spaces, and the anterior ankle (control). Prior to surgery, positive cultures were obtained from 80% of hallux nailfolds and 5% of web spaces. At the end of surgery, positive cultures were obtained from 80% of hallux nailfolds and 25% of web spaces. None of the controls had positive culture. 5% of all cases developed post operative infection.

Based on the findings of the current study, pre-surgical skin preparation with a two-step Septal scrub followed by a Alcohol Chlorhexidine antiseptic solution is not sufficient in eliminating pathogens in foot and ankle surgery. No statistical correlation was found between the results of the cultures obtained preoperatively or post operatively with post operative infection rate. The unique environment of the foot and its resident organisms probably plays a role in the higher infection rates associated with surgery of the foot. Better methods of preparing the surgical site should be searched for.

Introduction: Historically Surface Replacement of the Hip exhibited a high failure rate due to femoral head loosening attributed to polyethylene wear debri, originating from the acetabulum. A metal on metal bearing resurfacing prosthesis has been developed to address this problem.

The authors’ early experience using this prosthesis is presented.

Material and methods: 48 patients underwent metal on metal hip Resurfacing Arthrolplasty (Cormet 2000R Corin U.K.) of the hip between 1999–2001. 43 patients suffered from osteoarthritis and 3 from avascular necrosis.

29 males and 19 females underwent the procedure with a mean age of 60 years (45–74).

In 20 hips a posterior approach was used and in 28 our saggital trochenteric osteotomy.

A cementless prosthesis was implanted in 30 patients and the femoral prosthesis was cemented in 18 patients.

Results: All but two patients had an improved hip score with 95 % of the patients reporting a good to excellent result. There were 2 femoral neck fractures one early and one late. One patient had severe heterotrophic ossification and one a transient partial sciatic nerve palsy.

Discussion: Conservative Hip Arthroplasty with Femoral Head and acetabular resurfacing is an attractive concept. Violation of the upper femoral canal is prevented and bone stock is preserved. Improved applications of metallurgical and tribological principles increases the predictability of metal on metal bearing surface function and prevents the catastrophic polyethylene wear previously observed in hip resurfacing procedures.

The principles of metal on metal bearing surfaces, Resurfacing Arthroplasty of the hip and the early clinical results and complications are discussed.

Fractures of the proximal humerus occur predominantly in the elderly patient population. There has been a tendency over the last 15 years to perform surgical procedures to reduce and hold these fractures while the bone and soft tissue heal. The osteoporotic nature of the bone does not allow adequate fixation of the bone and therefore fixation techniques are inadequate to allow optimal soft tissue rehabilitation.

A study was performed to observe the results of non-surgically treated displaced fractures of the proximal humerus in the elderly.

The encouraging results are presented and discussed.

Non-surgical management of displaced fractures of the proximal humerus achieves a good functional shoulder although not normal in this predominantly sedentary population. The question arises as to quality of function after surgical management of these difficult fractures compared to non surgical management and if surgical management is indicated in these elderly usually frail patients with low demand from their shoulders.

Introduction: Polyethylene wear of the prosthetic knee tibial component is currently the main cause of medium and long term failure of total knee arthroplasty. The use of a mobile bearing knee prosthesis is intended to decrease the rate polyethylene wear and therefore delay medium and long term failure. We present our five year clinical results of a mobile bearing knee prosthesis.

Material and methods: 150 mobile bearing knee arthroplasties implanted between 1993 and 1996 in our institution were followed. 15 knees were lost to follow up. All knees followed up were operated on for osteoarthritis.

The British Orthopaedic Association knee function score was used to access the clinical results and the Knee Society Radiographic evaluation was used for radiological evaluation.

Results: 33% of patients achieved an excellent result, 52% a good result, and only 3% were not satisfied with the end result.

Flexion was greater than 90 degrees in 97% of the patients.

Three knees required re-surgery, 1 for deep sepsis, 1 for patello femoral problems and 1 for a fractured polyethylene component.

No knee required revision for polyethylene were or loosening.

Conclusions: Our mid term results are comparable to those of other prosthesis both mobile and fixed bearing knees as far as revision and radiological and functional scores are concerned. We noted that patient satisfaction in the face of good radiological and functional scores is less than would be expected.