Removal of bullets retained within joints is indicated to prevent mechanical blockade, 3rd body wear and resultant arthritis, plus lead arthropathy and systemic lead poisoning. The literature is sparse on this subject, with mostly sporadic case reports utilizing hip arthroscopy. We report on the largest series of removal of bullets from the hip joints using open surgical. We reviewed prospectively collected data of patients who presented to a single institution with civilian gunshot injuries that breached the hip joint between 01 January 2009 and 31 December 2022. We included all cases where the bullet was retained within the hip joint area. Exclusion criteria: cases where the hip joint was not breached, bullets were not retained around the hip area or cases with isolated acetabulum involvement. One hundred and eighteen (118) patients were identified. One patient was excluded as the bullet embedded in the femur neck was sustained 10 years earlier. Of the remaining 117 patients, 70 had retained bullets around the hip joint. In 44 patients we undertook bullet removal using the followingsurgical hip dislocation (n = 18), hip arthrotomy (n = 18), removal at site of fracture fixation/replacement (n = 2), posterior wall osteotomy (n = 1), direct removal without capsulotomy (tractotomy) (n = 5). In 26 patients we did not remove bullets for the following reasons: final location was
Regional anaesthesia is integral to best practice analgesia for patients with neck of femur fractures (NOFFs). These patients are generally frail and are vulnerable to side effects of opioid analgesia. Femoral nerve block (FNB) or fascia-iliaca block (FIB) can reduce opioid requirement. Literature supports good efficacy for
Background. Isolated fracture of the greater trochanter is an uncommon presentation of hip fracture. Traditional teaching has been to manage these injuries nonoperatively, but modern imaging techniques have made it possible to detect occult intertrochanteric extension of the fracture in up to 90% of cases. This study aims to review the investigation and management of greater trochanter fractures in a single major trauma centre. Methods. A retrospective review was completed of patients admitted with greater trochanter fractures. These were matched to cases with 2-part extracapsular fractures. Initial management and clinical outcome was established using electronic notes and radiographs. Mortality and length of stay was calculated for both groups. Results. 85 isolated greater trochanter fractures in 84 patients were identified from 2006–2017. 81/85 patients were treated non-operatively. 78 were mobilised full weight bearing. None required readmission or operation due to fracture displacement. 58 of these patients had cross-sectional imaging with MRI or CT and 15 of those scanned had intertrochanteric extension of the fracture. In the same time period, 998 2-part
We reviewed all patients who sustained a fracture of the hip
and were treated in Northern Ireland over a period of 15 years to
identify trends in incidence, the demographics of the patients,
the rates of mortality, the configuration of the fracture and the
choice of implant. Since 01 January 2001 data about every fracture of the hip sustained
in an adult have been collected centrally in Northern Ireland. All
adults with such a fracture between 2000 and 2015 were included
in the study. Temporal changes in their demographics, the mode of
treatment, and outcomes including mortality were analysed.Aims
Patients and Methods
Introduction. Upper femoral fractures include intra and
The aim of this consensus was to develop a definition of post-operative
fibrosis of the knee. An international panel of experts took part in a formal consensus
process composed of a discussion phase and three Delphi rounds.Aims
Patients and Methods
Aims. We chose unstable
The optimal management of intracapsular fractures of the femoral
neck in independently mobile patients remains open to debate. Successful
fixation obviates the limitations of arthroplasty for this group
of patients. However, with fixation failure rates as high as 30%,
the outcome of revision surgery to salvage total hip arthroplasty
(THA) must be considered. We carried out a systematic review to
compare the outcomes of salvage THA and primary THA for intracapsular
fractures of the femoral neck. We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews
and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) compliant systematic review, using the
PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries databases. A meta-analysis
was performed where possible, and a narrative synthesis when a meta-analysis
was not possible.Aims
Patients and Methods
This study investigates and defines the topographic
anatomy of the medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) terminal
branches supplying the femoral head (FH). Gross dissection of 14
fresh–frozen cadaveric hips was undertaken to determine the extra
and intracapsular course of the MFCA’s terminal branches. A constant
branch arising from the transverse MFCA (inferior retinacular artery;
IRA) penetrates the capsule at the level of the anteroinferior neck,
then courses obliquely within the fibrous prolongation of the capsule
wall (inferior retinacula of Weitbrecht), elevated from the neck,
to the posteroinferior femoral head–neck junction. This vessel has
a mean of five (three to nine) terminal branches, of which the majority
penetrate posteriorly. Branches from the ascending MFCA entered
the femoral capsular attachment posteriorly, running deep to the
synovium, through the neck, and terminating in two branches. The
deep MFCA penetrates the posterosuperior femoral capsular. Once
intracapsular, it divides into a mean of six (four to nine) terminal
branches running deep to the synovium, within the superior retinacula
of Weitbrecht of which 80% are posterior. Our study defines the
exact anatomical location of the vessels, arising from the MFCA
and supplying the FH. The IRA is in an elevated position from the
femoral neck and may be protected from injury during fracture of
the femoral neck. We present vascular ‘danger zones’ that may help
avoid iatrogenic vascular injury during surgical interventions about
the hip. Cite this article:
The April 2015 Trauma Roundup360 looks at: Negative presure wound therapy in open tibial fractures; Priority-driven approach to pelvic injuries; Early surgery essential in hip fracture management; Sheer fractures to the posteromedial plateau; Fasciotomy closure under the spotlight; Why do patients die from hip fracture?; Acetabular fractures down the line; Biomechanics of femoral neck fractures reviewed
Reported rates of dislocation in hip hemiarthroplasty
(HA) for the treatment of intra-capsular fractures of the hip, range
between 1% and 10%. HA is frequently performed through a direct
lateral surgical approach. The aim of this study is to determine
the contribution of the anterior capsule to the stability of a cemented
HA through a direct lateral approach. A total of five whole-body cadavers were thawed at room temperature,
providing ten hip joints for investigation. A Thompson HA was cemented
in place via a direct lateral approach. The cadavers were then positioned
supine, both knee joints were disarticulated and a digital torque
wrench was attached to the femur using a circular frame with three
half pins. The wrench applied an external rotation force with the
hip in extension to allow the hip to dislocate anteriorly. Each
hip was dislocated twice; once with a capsular repair and once without
repairing the capsule. Stratified sampling ensured the order in
which this was performed was alternated for the paired hips on each
cadaver. Comparing peak torque force in hips with the capsule repaired
and peak torque force in hips without repair of the capsule, revealed
a significant difference between the ‘capsule repaired’ (mean 22.96
Nm, standard deviation ( Cite this article:
In March 2012, an algorithm for the treatment
of intertrochanteric fractures of the hip was introduced in our academic
department of Orthopaedic Surgery. It included the use of specified
implants for particular patterns of fracture. In this cohort study,
102 consecutive patients presenting with an intertrochanteric fracture
were followed prospectively (post-algorithm group). Another 117
consecutive patients who had been treated immediately prior to the
implementation of the algorithm were identified retrospectively
as a control group (pre-algorithm group). The total cost of the
implants prior to implementation of the algorithm was $357 457 (mean:
$3055 (1947 to 4133)); compared with $255 120 (mean: $2501 (1052
to 4133)) after its implementation. There was a trend toward fewer complications
in patients who were treated using the algorithm (33% pre- The implementation of an evidence-based algorithm for the treatment
of intertrochanteric fractures reduced costs while maintaining quality
of care with a lower rate of complications and re-admissions. Cite this article:
Introduction. Dislocation is one of the most common orthopaedic complications after primary total hip replacement (THR). The reported dislocation rate in elective THR is 5–8%. This number increases up to 22% for THR done for neck of femur fractures. Due to the reported increase in dislocation for trauma, some surgeons prefer to do a hemi-arthroplasty or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Hemi-arthroplasty is known to have poorer functional outcomes. Failure of ORIF is as high as 43%, and revision of failed ORIF to THR has reported dislocation rates of up to 42%. Materials and methods. A retrospective review of all THR done for neck of femur fractures during 2006–2011 was undertaken. The patients in our institution who are considered for a THR must have an active life-style. Records were reviewed for delay to surgery, surgical approaches, articulations, bearing surfaces, follow up periods and cemented versus uncemented implants. We excluded all pathological fractures,
Summary. A retrospective study on 98 patients shows that FE-based bone strength from CT data (using validated FE models) is a suitable candidate to discriminate fractured versus controls within a clinical cohort. Introduction. Subject-specific Finite element models (FEM) from CT data are a promising tool to non-invasively assess the bone strength and the risk of fracture of bones in vivo in individual patients. The current clinical indicators, based on the epidemiological models like the FRAX tool, give limitation estimation of the risk of femoral neck fracture and they do not account for the mechanical determinants of the fracture. Aim of the present study is to prove the better predictive accuracy of individualised computer models based a CT-FEM protocol, with the accuracy of a widely used standard of care, the FRAX risk indicator. Patients and Methods. This retrospective cohort is individually-matched case control study composed by 98 Caucasian women who were at least 5 years post menopause. The case group consisted of 49 patients who had sustained a hip fracture (36 intra-capsular and 13
The surgical treatment options for patients who have sustained an intra-capsular hip fracture can vary depending on a number of patient and fracture related factors. Currently most national guidelines support the use of cemented prostheses for patient undergoing hemi-arthroplasty surgery. Uncemented prostheses are commonly used for a variety of indications including those patients who have significant medical co-morbidities. To determine whether cemented hemi-arthroplasty is associated with a higher post operative mortality when compared to uncemented procedures. Data was extracted from the Scottish SMR01 database from 01/04/1997 from all patients who were admitted to hospital after sustaining a hip fracture. We investigated mortality at day 1, 2, 4, 7, 30, 120 and 1 year from surgery vs. that on day 0. In order to control for the effects of confounding variables between patients cohorts, 12 case-mix variable were used to construct a multivariable logistic regression analysis model to determine the independent effect of prosthesis fixation method. There were 64,979 patients were included in the study. Mortality for osteosynthesis of
Total hip replacement (THR) is a very common
procedure undertaken in up to 285 000 Americans each year. Patient
satisfaction with THR is very high, with improvements in general
health, quality of life, and function while at the same time very
cost effective. Although the majority of patients have a high degree
of satisfaction with their THR, 27% experience some discomfort,
and up to 6% experience severe chronic pain. Although it can be
difficult to diagnose the cause of the pain in these patients, this
clinical issue should be approached systematically and thoroughly.
A detailed history and clinical examination can often provide the
correct diagnosis and guide the appropriate selection of investigations, which
will then serve to confirm the clinical diagnosis made. Cite this article:
Total hip replacement (THR) is an option in a subset of patients with a neck of femur (NOF) fracture. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) provide guidance on the use of THR in patients with a NOF fracture. We compare our experience and recommend changes at a local level to allow successful implementation of the guideline to improve patient care. From July 2008 to July 2011, 36 THRs preformed for trauma were identified retrospectively by cross-referencing several databases (Bluespier, Worcestershire, UK and surveillance of Surgical Site Infection (SSI), Scotland). 7 exclusions (3 failed internal fixation, 1 chronic NOF fracture, and 2
The surgical treatment options for patients who have sustained an intra-capsular hip fracture can vary depending on a number of patient and fracture related factors. Currently most national guidelines support the use of cemented prostheses for patient undergoing hemiarthroplasty surgery. Uncemented prostheses are commonly used for a variety of indications including those patients who have significant medical co-morbidities. To determine whether cemented hemiarthroplasty is associated with a higher post operative mortality when compared to uncemented procedures. Data were extracted from the Scottish SMR01 database from 01/04/1997 from all patients who were admitted to hospital after sustaining a hip fracture. We investigated mortality at day 1,2,4,7,30, 120 and 1 year from surgery vs. that on day 0. In order to control for the effects of confounding variables between patients cohorts, 12 case-mix variable were used to construct a multivariable logistic regression analysis model to determine the independent effect of prosthesis design. There were 52283 patients included in the study. Mortality for osteosynthesis of
The August 2013 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: spinal osteosarcoma: all hope is not lost; intralesional curettage for low-grade chondrosarcoma?; isolated limb perfusion is a salvage option; worryingly high infection rates in patients with endoprostheses; how bad is endoprosthetic infection?; operatively treated metastatic disease; and cementoplasty gives immediate pain relief
Introduction. Application of an external fixator for type B and C pelvic fractures can be life saving. Anteriorly the fixator half pins can be placed in the long and thick corridor of bone in the supra-acetabular region often referred to as the low anterior ex-fix. Pins in this location are favoured as they are more stable biomechanically. The bone tunnel for the low anterior ex-fix can be visualised with an iliac oblique projection intra-operatively. In some cases despite being outside the articular surface it may still be low enough to pass through the capsular attachment of the hip joint on the anterior inferior iliac spine. We aim to provide radiological markers for the most superior fibres of the capsule to help accurate