Introduction. Previous studies have shown the potential for virtual reality (VR) immersion as a promising technique for pain and anxiety management. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of VR in the management of pain and anxiety during post-op external fixator care procedures. Method. This study involved patients aged 5-21 years following limb lengthening/reconstruction surgery with an external fixator. Aqua VR application from the KindVR® was utilized for this study. Subjects were seen during the first four postoperative visits and assigned to a ‘VR-first’ or ‘no-VR-first’ group. Visits alternated between VR immersion and no VR immersion during care procedures. The study endpoints (pain and anxiety levels) were assessed before, during, and after procedures using the Wong-Baker Faces (FACES) and Children's Fear Scale, respectively. Proxy scores for pain and anxiety were also obtained from parents or legal guardians and providers. Result. A total of 29 patients (16 male and 13 female) were evaluated. The mean age at enrollment was 14.4 ± 2.2 years for group 1 and 14.7 ± 4.0 years for group 2. The median number of pin sites was 7. Anxiety scores were consistently higher during the non-VR immersion experience compared to the VR immersion visits. The pain and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the ‘VR-first’ group during the non-VR immersion study visits compared to patients in the ‘no-VR-first’ group. This observation was also consistent with survey findings among the parent proxies and providers. Conclusion. VR immersion is associated with lower anxiety scores for pin-site care procedures. VR immersion at the first post-operative visit following limb reconstruction surgery was also associated with lower pain and anxiety scores during subsequent non-VR immersion visits

Introduction. The non-union of long bones poses a substantial challenge to clinicians and patients alike. The Ilizarov fixation system and Limb Reconstruction System (LRS), renowned for their versatility in managing complex non-unions. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the outcomes of acute docking with the bone peg-in-bone technique for the management of non-unions of long bones. The study seeks to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving complete bony union, preserving limb length and alignment, correcting existing deformities, and preventing the onset of new ones. Method. A retrospective analysis of 42 patients was done with infected and non-infected non-unions of long bones who received treatment at a tertiary care hospital between April 2016 to April 2022. We utilized the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of the Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system to assess both bone and functional outcomes and measured mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) for the femur and the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) for the tibia. Result. In our retrospective study involving 42 patients, a total of 30 patients had post debridement gap of >2 cm and average gap of 4.54 cm (range 1 – 13 cm) and therefore underwent corticotomy and lengthening. The average external fixation time was 6.52 (range 4 – 11 months) and average external fixation index of 2.08 (range 0.4 – 4.5 months/cm). The ASAMI scoring system showed bone result of 38 excellent, 3 good and 1 fair. Functional result of 40 excellent and 2 good outcomes. The post op mLDFA and MPTA were in normal range except in 3 patients which not statistically significant. Conclusion. In conclusion, the use of acute docking provides several advantages such as promoting early fracture healing, increasing stability, shortening treatment time, reducing the number of surgical procedures and reduced number of complications

Two discrete legal factors enable the surgeon to treat an injured patient the fully informed, autonomous consent of the adult patient with capacity via civil law; and the medical exception to the criminal law. This article discusses current concepts in consent in trauma; and also considers the perhaps less well known medical exception to the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which exempts surgeons from criminal liability as long as they provide ‘proper medical treatment’.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(7):565–569.

Aims

Weightbearing instructions after musculoskeletal injury or orthopaedic surgery are a key aspect of the rehabilitation pathway and prescription. The terminology used to describe the weightbearing status of the patient is variable; many different terms are used, and there is recognition and evidence that the lack of standardized terminology contributes to confusion in practice.

Introduction. Continuous compression implants (CCIs) are small memory alloy bone staples that can provide continuous compression across a fracture site, which change shape due to temperature changes. Reviews of CCIs in orthopaedics have documented their use in mainly foot and ankle surgery, with very limited descriptions in trauma. They could be beneficial in the management of complex or open injuries due to their low profile and quick insertion time. The aim of this case series were to clarify the use of CCIs in modern day limb reconstruction practice. Materials & Methods. This was a single centred study looking retrospectively at prospective data for patients who were treated for an acute fracture or non-union with a CCI between September 2019 and May 2023. Primary outcome was to determine the function and indication of the CCI as judged retrospectively and secondary outcomes investigated unplanned returns to theatre for infection or CCI failure. Results. Sixty patients were eligible with a mean age of 44.2 (range 8–89). Fifty-one patients were treated for acute fractures, nine for non-unions; and almost half (27 patients) had open injuries. There were seven different sites for treatment with a CCI, the most common being tibia (25 patients) and humerus (14 patients). Of the 122 CCIs used, 80 were used as adjuncts for fixation in 48 patients. Their indication as an adjunct fell into three distrinct categories – reduction of fracture (39 CCIs), fixation of key fragments (38 CCIs) and compression (3 CCIs). Of these 48 patients, 4 patients had a frame fixation, 19 had a nail fixation, 24 patients had a plate fixation. Forty-two CCIs were used in isolation as definitive fixation, all were for midfoot dislocations expect an open iliac wing fixation from a machete attack and an isolated paediatric medial malleolus fixation. Two patients returned to theatre for infection and two due to CCI failure. Conclusions. This series has demonstrated the versality of CCIs across multiple sites of the body and for a large variety of injuries. It has identified, when not used in isolation, three main indications to support traditional orthopaedic fixations. Given the unpredictability in limb reconstruction surgery, the diversity and potential of CCIs could form part of the staple diet in the modern-day practice

Introduction. Schatzker V & VI tibial plateau fractures are serious life-changing injuries often resulting in significant complications including post-traumatic arthritis. Reported incidence of secondary TKA following ORIF of all tibial plateau fractures is 7.3% and 13% for Schatzker V & VI tibial. This study reports a 15-year single centre experience of CEF of Schatzker V & VI fractures including PROMs and incidence of secondary TKA. This study was approved by the local Institutional board. Materials & Methods. All patients from 2007 – 2022 with Schatzker V or VI fractures treated with CEF were identified from a departmental limb reconstruction registry and included in this retrospective study. Patients’ demographics were collected from electronic institutional patient system. Further data was collected for secondary intervention, adverse events, and alignment at discharge. All deceased patients at the time of the study were excluded. Each participant completed a questionnaire about secondary intervention, EQ-5D-3L and Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Results. 90 patients (from 130 eligible) with an average age of 58.3 years completed the questionnaire. At an average follow up of 7.4 years (SD=3.8) the incidence of secondary TKA was 7.8%. There was no significant correlation between articular incongruity and the incidence of secondary TKA. The mean OKS score was 31.7 (SD=13.3). The mean EQ-VAS was 69.3 (SD=23.3) and the mean EQ-5D Index was 0.595 (SD=0.395), both were significantly lower than UK normal population means. Conclusions. This study is probably one of the largest and with the longest follow-up reporting the outcomes of Schatzker V and VI fractures treated with CEF. It appears that articular incongruity has no significant correlation with secondary TKA. Patients reported EQ-5D-3L scores were significantly lower than those for the normal UK population, and the average EQ-VAS has deteriorated with time. This study would be relevant in counselling and consenting patients with this severe injury

Introduction. The reconstruction of segmental long bone defects remains one of the holy grails of orthopaedic surgery. The optimal treatment of which remains a topic of great debate. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes following the management of critical-sized bone defects using a classification-based treatment algorithm. Materials & Methods. A retrospective review of all patients undergoing treatment for segmental diaphyseal defects of long bones at a tertiary-level limb reconstruction unit was performed. The management of the bone defect was standardised as per the classification by Ferreira and Tanwar (2020). Results. A total of 96 patients (mean age 39.8, SD 15.2) with a minimum six months follow-up were included. Most bone defects were the result of open fractures (75/96) with 67% associated with Gustilo-Anderson IIIB injuries. There was a statistical difference in the likelihood of union between treatment strategies with more than 90% of cases undergoing acute shortening and bone transport achieving union and only 72% of cases undergoing the induced membrane technique consolidating (p=0.049). Of those defects that consolidated, there was no difference in the time to bone union between strategies (p=0.308) with an overall median time to union 8.33 months (95% CI 7.4 — 9.2 months). The induced membrane technique was associated with a 40% risk of sepsis. Conclusions. This study reported the outcomes of a standardised approach to the management of critical-sized bone defects. Whilst overall results were supportive of this approach, the outcomes associated with the induced membrane technique require further refinement of its indications in the management of critical-sized bone defects

The requirement for the peer support groups were born out of concern for the psychological wellbeing of the paediatric patients and to assess if this would improve their wellbeing during their treatment. Groupwork is a method of Social Work which is recognised as a powerful tool to allow people meet their need for belonging while also creating the forum for group members to empower one another. Social Work meet with all paediatric patients attending the limb reconstruction service in the hospital. The focus of the Medical Social Worker (MSW) is to provide practical and emotional support to the patient and their parent/guardian regarding coping with the frame. Some of the challenges identified through this direct work include patient's struggling with the appearance of the frame and allowing peers to see the frame. The peer support group aims to offer its attendees the opportunities to engage with fellow paediatric patients in the same position. It allowed them to visually identify with one another. We wanted to create a safe space to discuss the emotional impact of treatment and the frames. It normalises the common problems paediatric patients face during treatment. We assisted our participants to identify new coping techniques and actions they can take to make their journey through limb reconstruction treatment more manageable. Finally, we aimed to offer the parents space to similarly seek peer support with regard to caring for a child in treatment. All paediatric patients were under the care of the Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant and were actively engaging with the limb reconstruction multi-disciplinary team (MDT). The patient selection was completed by the MDT; based on age, required to be in active treatment, or their frames were removed within one month prior to the group's commencement. Qualitative data was collected through written questionnaires and reflection from participants in MSW sessions. We also used observational data from direct verbal feedback from the MDT. In the first group, parents gave feedback due to participants age and completed written feedback forms. For our second group, initial feedback was collated from the participants after the first session to get an understanding of group expectations. Upon completion, we collected data from both the participants and the parents. Qualitative and scaling questions gathered feedback on their experience of participating in the group. We held two peer support groups in 2022:One group for patients aged between 3–6 years in January 2022 across two sessions, which was attended by four patients. The second group for young teenage patients aged between 11–15 years in April 2022 across four sessions, which was attended by five patients. The written feedback received from group one focused on eliciting the participant's experience of the groupwork. 100% of participants identified the shared experience as the main benefit of the groupwork. 100% of participants agreed they would attend a peer support group again, and no participant had suggestions for improvement to the group. Feedback did indicate that group work at the beginning of treatment could be more beneficial. In relation to the second group, 60% of the paediatric patients and their parents returned the questionnaires. All of the parent's feedback identified that it was beneficial for their child to meet peers in a similar situation. They agreed that it was beneficial to meet other parents, so they could get support and advice from one another. On a scale between 1 and 5, 5 being the highest score, the participants scored high on the group work meeting their expectations, enjoyment of the sessions, and the group work was a beneficial aspect of their treatment. All respondents would strongly recommend groupwork to other paediatric patients attending for limb reconstruction treatment. Overall, the MDT limb reconstruction team, found the peer support group work of great benefit to the participants and their parents. The MSW team identified that during a period on the limb reconstruction team, when a high number of patients were in active treatment, the workload of the MSW also increased reflecting this activity. Common issues and concerns were raised directly to MSW (particularly from group two) regarding numerous difficulties they experienced trying to cope with the frame. The group work facilitators created a space where the participants could get peer support, share issues caused by the frame, hear directly from others, and that they too experience similar feelings or issues. Collectively, they identified ways of coping and promoting their own wellbeing while in treatment. The participants in group two, subsequently created a group on social media, to be able to continue their newly formed friendships and to continue to update one another on their treatment journeys. The participants self-requested another group in the future. This was facilitated in November 2023, the facilitators sought more feedback from all participants and their parents after this session. These findings will contribute towards the analysis for the presentation. Peer support groupwork was presented at the hospital's foundation day and has been well received by senior management in the hospital, as a positive addition to the limb reconstruction service. The focus of the MDT in 2024, is to further develop and facilitate more peer support groups for our paediatric patients

Introduction. Limb deformity is usually assessed clinically assisted by long leg alignment radiographs and further imaging modalities (MRI and CT). Often decisions are made based on static imaging and simple gait interpretation in clinic. We have assessed the value of gait lab analysis in surgical decision making comparing surgical planning pre and post gait lab assessment. Materials & Methods. Patients were identified from the local limb reconstruction database. Patients were reviewed in the outpatient clinic and long leg alignment radiographs and a CT rotational limb profile were performed. A surgical plan was formulated and documented. All patients then underwent a formal gait lab analysis. The gait lab recommendations were then compared to the initial plan. Results. Twelve patients (8 female) with mean age of 14 (range 12–16) were identified. Nine were developmental torsional malalignments, one arthrogryposis, one hemiparesis secondary to spinal tumour resection and one syndromic limb deficiency. The gait lab recommended conservative management in four patients and agreed with eight surgical plans with one osteotomy level changing. Five patients are post-operative: two bilateral distal tibial osteotomies, two de-rotational femoral osteotomy with de-rotational tibial osteotomies and one bilateral femoral de-rotational osteotomies. Conclusions. Limb deformity correction is major surgery with long rehabilitation and recovery period. Gait lab analysis can identify who would benefit from conservative management rather than surgery with our study showing changes to surgical planning in one third of patients. The gait lab analysis helps to identify patients with functional and neuromuscular imbalances where correcting the bony anatomy may not actually benefit the patient

Introduction. Management of deformity involving limb length discrepancy (LLD) using intramedullary devices offers significant benefits to both patients and clinicians over traditional external fixation. Following the withdrawal of the PRECICE nail, the Fitbone became the primary implant available for intramedullary lengthening and deformity correction within our service. This consecutive series illustrates the advantages and complications associated with the use of this device, and describes a novel technique modification for antegrade intramedullary lengthening nails. Materials & Methods. A retrospective cohort review was performed of patient outcomes after treatment with the Fitbone nail at two tertiary referral limb reconstruction services (one adult, one paediatric) between January 2021 to December 2023. Aetiology, indications, initial and final LLD, use of concomitant rail assisted deformity correction (ORDER), removal time and healing index were assessed. Complications of treatment were evaluated and described in detail, alongside technique modifications to reduce the rate of these complications. Results. 21 nails (18 femoral, 2 tibial, 1 humeral) were inserted in 6 adult and 13 paediatric patients. Post-traumatic and congenital/developmental LLD were the most common indications for surgery in the adult and paediatric cohorts respectively. ORDER was employed in 11 cases (9 femurs and 2 tibias). Treatment goals were achieved in all but one case. Complications included superficial infection, locking bolt migration, periprosthetic fracture and component failure. Seven patients required unplanned returns to theatre. Conclusions. The Fitbone nail is an established option for intramedullary limb lengthening, however its use in the UK has been relatively limited compared to the PRECICE until 2021. Our data helps to define its place for limb lengthening and complex deformity correction in both adult and paediatric patients, including in humeral lengthening and retrograde femoral insertion across an open physis. We have identified important potential risks and novel techniques to simplify surgery and avoid complications

Aims. Ankle fractures are common injuries and the third most common fragility fracture. In all, 40% of ankle fractures in the frail are open and represent a complex clinical scenario, with morbidity and mortality rates similar to hip fracture patients. They have a higher risk of complications, such as wound infections, malunion, hospital-acquired infections, pressure sores, veno-thromboembolic events, and significant sarcopaenia from prolonged bed rest. Methods. A modified Delphi method was used and a group of experts with a vested interest in best practice were invited from the British Foot and Ankle Society (BOFAS), British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS), British Association of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS), British Geriatric Society (BGS), and the British Limb Reconstruction Society (BLRS). Results. In the first stage, there were 36 respondents to the survey, with over 70% stating their unit treats more than 20 such cases per year. There was a 50:50 split regarding if the timing of surgery should be within 36 hours, as per the hip fracture guidelines, or 72 hours, as per the open fracture guidelines. Overall, 75% would attempt primary wound closure and 25% would utilize a local flap. There was no orthopaedic agreement on fixation, and 75% would permit weightbearing immediately. In the second stage, performed at the BLRS meeting, experts discussed the survey results and agreed upon a consensus for the management of open elderly ankle fractures. Conclusion. A mutually agreed consensus from the expert panel was reached to enable the best practice for the management of patients with frailty with an open ankle fracture: 1) all units managing lower limb fragility fractures should do so through a cohorted multidisciplinary pathway. This pathway should follow the standards laid down in the "care of the older or frail orthopaedic trauma patient" British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and Orthopaedics (BOAST) guideline. These patients have low bone density, and we should recommend full falls and bone health assessment; 2) all open lower limb fragility fractures should be treated in a single stage within 24 hours of injury if possible; 3) all patients with fragility fractures of the lower limb should be considered for mobilisation on the day following surgery; 4) all patients with lower limb open fragility fractures should be considered for tissue sparing, with judicious debridement as a default; 5) all patients with open lower limb fragility fractures should be managed by a consultant plastic surgeon with primary closure wherever possible; and 6) the method of fixation must allow for immediate unrestricted weightbearing. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(3):236–242

Aims

The aim of this study was to perform the first population-based description of the epidemiological and health economic burden of fracture-related infection (FRI).

The external fixator is an invaluable device when treating acute complex trauma and in limb reconstruction. It is therefore important to ensure its efficient and safe application to avoid complications. A lot of research has been done to evaluate the factors around external fixator stability, pin site infections and more is still being done to understand pin loosening. The purpose of this study was to evaluate other factors that may contribute in external fixator pin loosening. The aim was to evaluate if the different Schanz pin insertion techniques contribute to pin loosening. Two tibia diaphyses from two cadavers were each divided into three sections. Three different drilling techniques were repeated in each of the sections. A total of 36 Schanz pins were inserted and a section cut out of the bone in front of the pins was done allowing visual inspection of the pin hole for features of thread stripping. These features were predefined as thread pattern disruption, smoothening and shallow imprint on the cortex. Evidence of pin thread stripping was seen in all of the pin insertion techniques. The first method where the hole was pre-drilled and pin inserted with the drill showed 100% thread stripping. The second method of pre-drilling and hand insertion showed the least amount with 16.7% of pin stripping noted and 66.7% pin thread stripping was observed when inserting the pin with power without pre-drilling the pilot hole using the third method. Different pin insertion techniques result in varying amounts of pin thread stripping. The most amount of thread stripping occurs when a Schanz pin is inserted with power after pre-drilling. This finding, although not measured scientifically, supports the current recommendation of pre-drilling and manual insertion of the pin. In future, more scientific measurement are necessary to quantify these findings and assess their clinical significance

Introduction. Derotation osteotomies are commonly performed in paediatric orthopaedic and limb reconstruction practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a digital inclinometer significantly improves the accuracy in attaining the desired correction. Materials & Methods. We designed an electronic survey regarding derotation femoral osteotomy (DFO) including methods of intra-operative angular correction assessment and acceptable margins of error for correction. This was distributed to 28 paediatric orthopaedic surgeons in our region. A DFO model was created, using an anatomic sawbone with foam covering. 8 orthopaedic surgeons each performed two 30-degree DFOs, one using K-wires and visual estimation (VE), and the other using a Digital Inclinometer (DI). Two radiologists reported pre and post procedure rotational profile CT scans to assess the achieved rotational correction. Results. There was a 68% response rate to the survey. The most popular methods of estimating intra-operative correction were reported to be K-wires and rotation marks on bone. The majority of respondents reported that a 6–10 degree margin of error was acceptable for a 30-degree derotation. This was therefore set as the upper limit for acceptable error margin in the simulation study. The mean error in rotation in the VE group of simulated DFO was 19.7 degrees, with error>5 degrees and error>10 degrees in 7 (88%) and 6 (75%) cases respectively. Mean error in DI group was 3.1 degrees, with error>5 degrees in 1 case (13%). Conclusions. Our results show that the compared to conventional techniques, the use of an inclinometer significantly improves the accuracy of femoral de-rotation and significantly reduces the incidence of unacceptable errors in correction. We would suggest that digital inclinometers be used to assess intra-operative correction during derotation osteotomies

Introduction. The various problems that are managed with circular external fixation (e.g. deformity, complex fractures) also typically require serial plain x-ray imaging. One of the challenges here is that the relatively radio-opaque components of the circular external fixator (e.g. the rings) can obscure the view of the area of interest (e.g. osteotomy site, fracture site). In this presentation we describe how the geometry of the x-ray beam affects the produced image and how we can use knowledge of this to our advantage. Whilst this can be applied to any long bone, we have focused on the tibia, given that it's the most common long bone that is treated by circular external fixation. Materials & Methods. In the first part of the presentation we describe the known attributes (geometry) of the x-ray beam and postulate what effect it would have when we x-ray a long bone that is surrounded by a circular external fixator. In the second part we demonstrate this in practice using a tibia and a 3 ring circular external fixator. Differing x-ray beam orientations are used to demonstrate both how the geometry of the beam affects the produced image and how we can use this to our advantage to better visualise part of the bone. Results. The practical part of the study confirmed the theoretical part. Conclusions. Knowledge of the beam geometry can be used to minimise the obscuring nature of the circular fixator. This technique is simple and can be easily taught to the radiographer. It is a useful adjunct for the limb reconstruction surgeon

Introduction. External fixation (EF) devices are commonly used in the management of complex skeletal trauma, as well as in elective limb reconstruction surgery for the management of congenital and acquired pathology. The subsequent removal of an EF is commonly performed under a general anaesthetic in an operating theatre. This practice is resource intensive and limits the amount of operating theatre time available for other surgical cases. We aimed to assess the use of regional anaesthesia as an alternative method of analgesia to facilitate EF removal in an outpatient setting. Materials & Methods. This prospective case series evaluated the first 20 consecutive cases of EF removal in the outpatient clinic between 10/06/22 to 16/09/22. Regional anaesthesia using ultrasound-guided blockade of peripheral nerves was administered using 1% lidocaine due to its rapid onset and short half-life. Patients were assessed for additional analgesia requirement, asked to evaluate their experience and perceived pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results. Twenty patients were included in the study. The mean age was 46.6 years (range 21–85 years). Two thirds were male patients (N=13). Post procedure all patients indicated positive satisfaction ratings, each participant responding as either ‘satisfied’ (N=4), ‘very satisfied’ (N=15) or ‘highly satisfied’ (N=1). In addition, 85% of participants reported they would opt for this method of EF removal in future should it be necessary. VAS for pain immediately following completion of the procedure was low, with an average score of 0.45 (range 0–4), where a score of 0= ‘No pain’, and 10 = ‘worst pain possible’. Conclusions. We present the first description of outpatient EF removal using sole regional anaesthesia, with a prospective case series of 20 EF removed in fully awake patients. This novel technique is cost-effective, reproducible, and safe. This not only reduces the burden of these surgical cases on an operating list but also improves patient experience when compared to other forms of conscious sedation. By eliminating the use of Entonox and methoxyflurane for sedation and analgesia, this project demonstrates a method of improving environmental sustainability of surgery, anaesthesia and operating theatres

Introduction. External fixators are common surgical orthopaedic treatments for the management of complex fractures and in particular, the use of circular frame fixation within patients requiring limb reconstruction. It is well known that common complications relating to muscle length and patient function without rehabilitation can occur. Despite this there remains a lack of high-quality clinical trials in this area investigating the role of physiotherapy or rehabilitation in the management of these patients. We aim to complete a systematic review of rehabilitation techniques for patients undergoing external fixator treatment for Limb Reconstruction of the lower limb. Materials & Methods. A comprehensive search of AMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE and COCHRANE databases was conducted to identify relevant articles for inclusion, using a search strategy developed in collaboration with a research librarian. Inclusion criteria consisted of adults aged 18 years and over who have experienced leg trauma (open fracture, soft tissue damage), elective leg deformity corrective surgery, bone infection or fracture non-union who have been treated with the use of an external fixator for fixation. Specific exclusion criteria were patients below the age of 18 years old, patients with cancer, treatment of the injury with internal nail, patients who underwent amputation, the use of external fixators for soft tissue contracture management, editorials, comment papers, review papers, conference proceedings and non-English papers. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened for suitability by pairs of reviewers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria using Rayyan QCRI online software. Any conflicts were resolved through discussion with three independent specialist senior reviewers. Following full text screening, references lists of included articles were manually searched to ensure that all relevant studies were identified. Due to lack of evidence, forward searching was also completed for studies included in the review. Data quality was assessed using the mixed methods appraisal tool and the CERT assessment tool was utilised to look at completeness of reporting of exercise interventions. Results. A total number of 832 articles were initially retrieved from our search once duplicate articles removed. After title and abstract screening, 45 articles remained for full text screening. Of these, 11 articles met our inclusion criteria and included for data extraction. Conclusions. We expect high variability of results due to our inclusion criteria and therefore plan to conduct a narrative synthesis to summarise the findings whilst measing against the mixed methods appraisal tool and CERT assessment scores to assess the data quality. We anticipate lower assessment scores within the fewer articles found and therefore poorer-quality data. We currently are in the process of finalising this data extraction. This will be completed ready for submission and potential presentation at the BLRS conference in March 2023

Introduction. Legg-Calve-Perthes (Perthes Disease) was first recognised by three physicians, Arthur Legg (1874–1939), Jacqui Calve (1875–1954) and George Perthes (1869 – 1927) in 1910. Perthes disease is a rare childhood condition that affects the hip. It occurs when the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted. Without this blood supply, the bone cells die and avascular necrosis can occur. The Herring classification is used to diagnose the stages of Perthes Disease. It is an important prognostic factor. There are three classifications, Herring A, B and C. Herring A has no involvement of the lateral pillar with no density changes noted on x-ray. Herring B has at least 50% of the lateral pillar height maintained on x-ray. Herring C has less than 50% of the lateral pillar height on x-ray (Herring et al, 1992). Children with Perthes disease require specialist Limb Reconstruction team throughout their treatment journey, this includes Orthopaedic surgery and therapy (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy). The National Limb Reconstruction Therapy Team is based at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh. The therapy team consists of 1 Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, 1 Senior Physiotherapist and 1 Senior Occupational Therapist who provide input to this cohort. This study aims to analyse the importance of a comprehensive pre-operative assessment by the therapy team (Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist) to maximise patient outcomes post operatively. Methodology. This is a quantitative research study conducted by the National Limb Reconstructive Therapy Service of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh, Dublin. The inclusion criteria for this study consisted of:. Age – Patient must be part of the Paediatric Service, i.e., under the age of 16. Diagnosis – Patient must have a diagnosis of Perthes Disease with a Herring Classification documented. Application of a Hip Distractor Frame formed part of the patient's surgical management. Surgery was completed by Mr Connor Green. Surgery was completed between January 2021 and December 2022. Patient were required to have their external hip distractor frame removed by December 2022. Exclusion Criteria: Those not meeting the above inclusion criteria. Following the inclusion criteria, a number of cases were identified of which 10 cases were selected at random. A retrospective analysis of these samples was completed. The medical charts were reviewed as well as patient electronic healthcare records. Microsoft Excel was utilised to analyse the data and capture results. Results. From analysing the data, the following results were identified:. 80% of the sample cohort had a length of stay of 5 days following surgery. There were two outliers due to infection who had a length of stay of 14 days. 90% of the sample received a pre-operative Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy assessment. This assessment included information gathering regarding the child's home and social environment; their functional baseline and anticipated post-operative needs. Standardised and non-standardised assessments were used. 88.89% of those who completed a pre-operative assessment required referral to community Occupational Therapy teams for equipment provision (wheelchair, transfer aids) to allow for timely discharge. On average, each patient in the sample required 17 physiotherapy outpatient sessions prior to handover to the community teams. 100% of our sample required post operation onward referral for MDT input in the community (Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy). Conclusions. The importance of a multi-disciplinary approach towards family and children was highlighted in this study. A comprehensive pre-operative therapy assessment optimizes care for this cohort by preparing them in terms of equipment provisions, local team input and expectations for therapy. The data suggests future Limb Reconstruction team should include Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy as part of the multi-disciplinary team, in the treatment of children with Perthe's Disease. We suggest an MDT pre-assessment is completed to optimize patient care, reduce length of stay and improve patient satisfaction in the acute hospital setting