Arthroplasty in patients who are intravenous drug abusers presents a complex challenge, frequently requiring intervention at a younger age. The cohort suffer increased complication rates due to significant co-morbidities and poor engagement in medical services, in comparison to other patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty. Multiple small studies show arthroplasty in this patient cohort is associated with high complication and mortality rates.

A search of electronic databases were undertaken with the assistance of the library services from the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, including Chocraine, SCOPUS and PubMed.

Abstracts were reviewed and relevant studies extracted for full review. Full text articles were reviewed based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Searches identified Two thousand and forty-four papers; twenty-seven studies were identified for full review of the paper based on the inclusion criteria above. From this, nine studies were deemed appropriate to for data extraction.

These nine papers present one hundred and thirty-two cases of lower limb arthroplasty, fifty nine Total Knee Arthroplasty and seventy three Total Hip Arthroplasty. From this the authors examined incidences of implant failure due to infection, revision, mortality, dislocation, aseptic loosening, peri-prosthetic fracture, or other causes. Of these, 58% of patients (n = 77) with a history of intravenous drug abuse suffered some form of significant complication; 4% of this cohort (n = 5) were lost to follow up. Infection was reported in 32% of cases and a mortality rate of 4.7%.

The rising demand of lower limb arthroplasty for intra-venous drug abusers presents a very real problem for the modern Orthopaedic surgeon. Within the studies examined, more than half report implant failure. This study synthesises the available literature regarding treatment of these patients to help facilitate decision making and informed consent.

The Revision Hip Complexity Classification (RHCC) was developed by modified Delphi system in 2022 to provide a comprehensive, reproducible framework for the multidisciplinary discussion of complex revision hip surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the validity, intra-relater and inter-relater reliability of the RHCC.

Radiographs and clinical vignettes of 20 consecutive patients who had undergone revision of Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) at our unit during the previous 12-month period were provided to observers. Five observers, comprising 3 revision hip consultants, 1 hip fellow and 1 ST3-8 registrar were familiarised with the RHCC. Each revision THA case was classified on two separate occasions by each observer, with a mean time between assessments of 42.6 days (24–57). Inter-observer reliability was assessed using the Fleiss™ Kappa statistic and percentage agreement. Intra-observer reliability was assessed using the Cohen Kappa statistic. Validity was assessed using percentage agreement and Cohen Kappa comparing observers to the RHCC web-based application result.

All observers were blinded to patient notes, operation notes and post-operative radiographs throughout the process.

Inter-observer reliability showed fair agreement in both rounds 1 and 2 of the survey (0.296 and 0.353 respectively), with a percentage agreement of 69% and 75%.

Inter-observer reliability was highest in H3-type revisions with kappa values of 0.577 and 0.441.

Mean intra-observer reliability showed moderate agreement with a kappa value of 0.446 (0.369 to 0.773).

Validity percentage agreement was 44% and 39% respectively, with mean kappa values of 0.125 and 0.046 representing only slight agreement.

This study demonstrates that classification using the RHCC without utilisation of the web-based application is unsatisfactory, showing low validity and reliability. Reliability was higher for more complex H3-type cases. The use of the RHCC web app is recommended to ensure the accurate and reliable classification of revision THA cases.

Hip arthroscopy (HA) and pelvic osteotomy (PO) are surgical procedures used to treat a variety of hip pathology affecting young adults, including femoroacetabular impingement and hip dysplasia respectively. This study aimed to investigate the trends and regional variation in the provision of HA and PO across England from 2010 to 2023 to inform healthcare resource allocation.

We analysed the National Hospital Episode Statistics database for all HA and PO procedures in NHS England using specific OPCS-4 codes: HA: ‘W83+Z843’ or ‘W84+Z843’; PO: ‘X222+Z75’. We collected patient demographics, age, sex, and region of treatment. We performed descriptive and regression analyses to evaluate temporal trends in PO volume, age, sex and regional variation.

22,401 HAs and 1,348 POs were recorded between 2010 and 2023. The annual number of HAs declined by 28.4%, whilst the number of POs increased by 64% (p<0.001). Significantly more females underwent PO vs HA (90% vs 61.3%) and were older than males undergoing the same procedure (PO: 29.0±8.7 vs 25.8±9.2 years; HA: 36.8±12.0 years vs 35.8±11.2 years, p<0.001). For HA, the mean age of both sexes decreased by 3.3 and 2.9 years respectively (p<0.001), whereas the age of PO patients did not change significantly over the study period. There were significant regional variations with a mean incidence of 1.60/100,00 for HA (ranging from 0.70–2.66 per 100,000) and 0.43/100,000 for PO (ranging from 0.08–2.07 per 100,000).

We have observed a decline in HA volume in England, likely due to improved patient selection and the impact of COVID-19, whilst PO volume has significantly increased, with regional variation persisting for both procedures. These trends highlight the need for equitable HA and PO access to improve patient outcomes and call for strategic healthcare planning and resource allocation to reduce disparities and improve training opportunities.

Subtrochanteric femoral fractures are a subset of hip fractures generally treated with cephalomedullary nail fixation\[1\]. Single lag screw devices are most commonly-used, but integrated dual screw constructs have become increasingly popular\[2,3\]. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of fixation of subtrochanteric femoral fractures using a single lag screw (Gamma3 nail, GN) with a dual screw device (InterTAN nail, IN). The primary outcome was mechanical failure, defined as lag screw cut-out, back-out, nail breakage or peri-implant fracture.

Consecutive adult patients (18yrs) with subtrochanteric femoral fracture treated in a single centre were retrospectively identified using electronic records. Patients that underwent surgical fixation using either a long GN (2010–2017) or IN (2017–2022) were included. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to identify complications of fixation. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the risk of mechanical failure and secondary outcomes by implant design. Multivariable regression models were used to identify predictors of mechanical failure.

The study included 622 patients, 354 in the GN group (median age 82yrs, 72% female) and 268 in the IN group (median age 82yrs, 69% female). The risk of any mechanical failure was increased two-fold in the GN group (HR 2.44 \[95%CI 1.13 to 5.26\]; _p=0.024_). Mechanical failure comprising screw cut-out (_p=0.032_), back-out (_p=0.032_) and nail breakage (_p=0.26_) was only observed in the GN group. Technical predictors of failure included varus >5° for cut-out (OR 19.98 \[2.06 to 193.88\]; _p=0.01_), TAD;25mm for back-out (8.96 \[1.36 to 58.86\]; p=0.022) and shortening 1cm for peri-implant fracture (7.81 \[2.92 to 20.91\]; _p=<0.001_).

Our results demonstrate that an intercalated screw construct is associated with a lower risk of mechanical failure compared with the a single lag screw device. Intercalated screw designs may reduce the risk of mechanical complications for patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures.

Arthroplasties are widely performed to improve mobility and quality of life for symptomatic knee/hip osteoarthritis patients. With increasing rates of Total Joint Replacements in the United Kingdom, predicting length of stay is vital for hospitals to control costs, manage resources, and prevent postoperative complications. A longer Length of stay has been shown to negatively affect the quality of care, outcomes and patient satisfaction. Thus, predicting LOS enables us to make full use of medical resources.

Clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected from 1,303 patients who received TKA and THR. A total of 21 variables were included, to develop predictive models for LOS by multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms, including Random Forest Classifier (RFC), K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN), Extreme Gradient Boost (XgBoost), and Na¯ve Bayes (NB). These models were evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predictive performance. A feature selection approach was used to identify optimal predictive factors. Based on the ROC of Training result, XgBoost algorithm was selected to be applied to the Test set.

The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of the 4 models ranged from 0.730 to 0.966, where higher AUC values generally indicate better predictive performance. All the ML-based models performed better than conventional statistical methods in ROC curves. The XgBoost algorithm with 21 variables was identified as the best predictive model. The feature selection indicated the top six predictors: Age, Operation Duration, Primary Procedure, BMI, creatinine and Month of Surgery.

By analysing clinical characteristics, it is feasible to develop ML-based models for the preoperative prediction of LOS for patients who received TKA and THR, and the XgBoost algorithm performed the best, in terms of accuracy of predictive performance. As this model was originally crafted at Ashford and St. Peters Hospital, we have naturally named it as THE ASHFORD OUTCOME.

Hip dysplasia is a common cause of hip pain in young adults. Pelvic osteotomy (PO) techniques are the gold standard for treating symptomatic patients, albeit technically demanding. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the 90-day complication rate, and (2) investigate the reasons, frequency and timing of reoperations following primary PO procedures.

We retrospectively analysed the National Hospital Episode Statistics database, examining all patients aged over 14 who underwent PO in NHS England hospitals from 2010 to 2023. We identified index procedures and reoperations using relevant OPCS-4 codes. We analysed patient demographics, 90-day complications, and readmission rates for ipsilateral metalwork removal, revision PO, hip arthroscopy (HA), and THR conversion, and calculated the mean time to reoperations.

This study included 1,348 PO cases (mean age: 28.7±9.1 years, 89.5% female). The mean hospital stay was 5.4±3.9 days, with a 90-day readmission rate of 0.52% at a mean of 51.0±17.2 days. The most common causes were infection (0.22%) and reoperation (0.15%). The 90-day rate of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis was 0.074%. One patient died within 90 days.

Overall, 810 patients (60.1%) were readmitted for a subsequent hip procedure at a mean of 2.12±1.90 years following their primary PO. Metalwork removal was required in 616 patients (45.7%) at a mean of 1.70±1.19 years. Readmission rates for revision PO, HA, and THR, were 4.23% (mean time: 2.89±0.82 years), 4.15% (mean time: 2.91±2.28 years) and 6.01% (mean time: 5.24±3.08 years) respectively.

This study highlights a low 90-day complication rate following primary PO, but a high reoperation rate, mainly for metalwork removal. We provide the most up-to-date report of revision PO, HA and THR conversion rates in England. These findings provide valuable insight that can facilitate informed decision-making, expectation-setting, and post-operative planning, also establishing a benchmark for future quality improvement.

This large UK multicentre study evaluates clinical outcomes and identifies factors associated with local complication following PFR for non-oncological conditions.

132 patients across four UK centres underwent PFR from 01/08/2004-28/03/2023 with median follow-up of 1.9 (Q10.5-Q34.2) years. 75 (56.8%) patients were female and the mean age was 74.0 (SD 11.7) years. 103 (78%) patients had Charleston Comorbidity Index ≥3. ASA class was III or IV in 66.6%. Indications were infected revision (39, 29.5%), periprosthetic fracture (36, 27.3%), acute trauma (30, 22.7%), aseptic revision (17, 12.9%), failed trauma (nine, 6.8%) and complex primary arthroplasty (one, 0.8%). The primary outcome was the local complication rate. Secondary outcomes were systemic complications, reoperation and mortality rates. Comparisons were made with t-tests and Chi2 tests to investigate patient and surgical factors associated with local complication. Statistical significance was p<0.05.

There were 37(28.0%) local complications. These were 18 (13.6%) dislocations, eight (6.1%) prosthetic joint infections, four (3.0%) haematomas, three (2.3%) superficial infections, one (0.8%) wound dehiscence, one (0.8%) sciatic nerve palsy and one (0.8%) femoral perforation. Dislocation mostly occurred in conventional articulations (12, 9.1%) followed by dual-mobility cups (three, 2.3%), constrained cups (two, 1.5%) and hemiarthroplasty (one, 0.8%). Median time to local complication was 30 (Q14-Q3 133) days. Seven (5.3%) patients developed a systemic complication. Thirty-three (25.0%) patients underwent reoperation. Thirty-day and one-year mortality rates were 3.8% and 12.1%, respectively. Longer surgical waiting times (7.9 \[SD 16.9) versus 2.6 \[SD 4.4\] days, p<0.001) and longer operating times (212.5 \[SD 71.8\] versus 189.4 \[SD 59.3\] mins, p=0.0450) were associated with local complication.

Due to its high complication rate, PFR should be a salvage option when performed for non-oncological indications. Conventional articulations should be avoided. PFR should be delivered in a timely manner and ideally as dual-consultant cases to reduce operating time.

Current advice regarding implant choice is based on estimates of cost-benefit derived from implant survival to an endpoint of revision. Current estimates do not account for many implant failures which are treated with non-revision surgery and may not be accurate. The aim of this study was to estimate survival of major stem implant design groups to an endpoint of reoperation.

Primary total hip replacement and linked revision form the National Joint Registry (NJR) and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data linked by unique identifier were used. Survival of femoral implant groups (cemented stainless steel polished taper [PTSS], cemented cobalt chrome polished taper [PTCC], cemented composite beam [CB], collarless cementless [NCOL] and collared cementless [COL]) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method.

809,832 patients with valid NJR and HES data from England, were included. Cumulative failure at ten years for PTSS increased overall from 2.9% (95%CI 2.8–2.9) to 3.6% (95%CI 3.6–3.7) after inclusion of reoperations. Cumulative failure at ten years for PTSS increased from 2.5% (95%CI 2.5–2.6) to 3.3% (95%CI 3.2–3.4), for PTCC increased from 3.8% (95%CI 3.5–4.0) to 5.4% (95%CI 5.1–5.6), for CB increased from 3.1% (95%CI 2.9–3.3) to 4.1% (95%CI 3.8–4.3), for NCOL increased from 3.4% (95%CI 3.3–3.5) to 3.9% (95%CI 3.8–4.0), and for COL increased from 2.5% (95%CI 2.4–2.6) to 3.1% (95%CI 2.9–3.2), after inclusion of reoperations.

Re-operation for internal fixation is as significant life event for the patient as revision. When a more inclusive metric is used, the patient and clinician's perspective on what constitutes a GIRFT implant may not be the same. Further work is required to update implant selection guidance in view of the change in implant performance.

As patient data continues to grow, the importance of efficient and precise analysis cannot be overstated. The employment of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Chat GPT-4, in the realm of medical data interpretation has been on the rise. However, its effectiveness in comparison to manual data analysis has been insufficiently investigated.

This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the accuracy and time-efficiency of Generative AI (GPT-4) against manual data interpretation within extensive datasets pertaining to patients with orthopaedic injuries.

A dataset, containing details of 6,562 orthopaedic trauma patients admitted to a district general hospital over a span of two years, was reviewed. Two researchers operated independently: one utilised GPT-4 for insights via prompts, while the other manually examined the identical dataset employing Microsoft Excel and IBM® SPSS® software. Both were blinded on each other's procedures and outcomes. Each researcher answered 20 questions based on the dataset including injury details, age groups, injury specifics, activity trends and the duration taken to assess the data.

Upon comparison, both GPT-4 and the manual researcher achieved consistent results for 19 out of the 20 questions (95% accuracy). After a subsequent review and refined prompts (prompt engineering) to GPT-4, the answer to the final question aligned with the manual researcher's findings. GPT-4 required just 30 minutes, a stark contrast to the manual researcher's 9-hour analytical duration.

This quality improvement project emphasises the transformative potential of Generative AI in the domain of medical data analysis. GPT-4 not only paralleled the accuracy of manual analysis but also achieved this in significantly less time. For optimal accurate results, data analysis by AI can be enhanced through human oversight. Adopting AI-driven approaches, particularly in orthopaedic data interpretation, can enhance efficiency and ultimately improve patient care. We recommend future investigations on large and more varied datasets to reaffirm these outcomes.

The reliable production of _in vitro_ chondrocytes that faithfully recapitulate _in vivo_ development would be of great benefit for orthopaedic disease modelling and regenerative therapy(1,2). Current efforts are limited by off-target differentiation, resulting in a heterogeneous product, and by the lack of comparison to human tissue, which precludes detailed evaluation of _in vitro_ cells(3,4).

We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of long bones dissected from first-trimester fetal limbs to form a detailed ‘atlas’ of endochondral ossification. Through 100-gene in-situ sequencing, we placed each sequenced cell type into its anatomical context to spatially resolve the process of endochondral ossification. We then used this atlas to perform deconvolution on a series of previously published bulk transcriptomes generated from _in vitro_ chondrogenesis protocols to evaluate their ability to accurately produce chondrocytes.

We then applied single-nuclear RNA-sequencing to cells from the best performing protocol collected at multiple time points to allow direct comparison between the differentiation of _in vitro_ and _in vivo_ cells.

We captured 275,000 single fetal cells, profiling the development of chondrocytes from multipotent mesenchymal progenitors to hypertrophic cells at full transcriptomic breadth. Using this atlas as the ground truth for evaluating _in vitro_ cells, we found substantial variability in cell states produced by each protocol, with many showing little similarity to _in vivo_ cells, and all exhibiting off-target differentiation.

Trajectory alignment between _in vivo_ and _in vitro_ single-cell data revealed key differences in gene expression dynamics between _in vitro_ and _in vivo cells,_ with several osteoblastic transcription factors erroneously unregulated _in vitro,_ including _FOXO1._

Using this information, we inhibited _FOXO1_ in culture to successfully increase chondrocyte yield _in vitro._

This study presents a new framework for evaluating tissue engineering protocols, using single-cell data to drive improvement and bring the prospect of true engineered cartilage closer to reality.

Different techniques have been described to address massive bone loss of the acetabulum in revision hip surgery. aMace has gained popularity as it provides customization aiming to restore hip centre and provide good initial stability in cases of large non-contained defects. It takes into account quality of host bone. Its porous defect filling scaffold provides an excellent surface for osteointegration.

Our aim was to assess the short and mid-term outcomes of patients who underwent revision surgery using aMace system.

Ethical approval was obtained. A retrospective study included all patients who had aMace between June 2013 and October 2022 allowing for a minimum of 12-months follow-up. Patients’ demographics, indication, bone-loss severity, reconstruction details, re-operation, complications, mortality, pain and function were assessed.

52 cases were performed by 13 surgeons with median 51 months follow-up. Median age was 72.7 years. 86.5% were female. Average BMI was 25.3. Average ASA grade was 3.

65% were classified as Paprosky IIIB and 32% were IIIA.

73% were found to have poor bone quality on CT. Main indication for aMace was massive bone loss/discontinuity secondary to aseptic loosening in 88.5%.

77% underwent single-stage revision. 53.8% had 2 or more previous revisions. 71% underwent stem revision in the same setting. 77% received a dual mobility bearing.

Re-operation rate was 5.7% for instability and femoral PPF. LLD was reported in 9.6%.

Permanent Sciatic nerve palsy occurred in 3.8% of the cases.

30-days mortality was 1.9%.

Statistically significant post-op improvements in pain and mobility were reported (p<0.001). None of the acetabular components have been revised.

Our study shows satisfactory surgical outcomes with a relatively low complication rate and significant pain and mobility improvements in the early to mid-term stages.

We recommend these costly cases to be done in highly specialist centres adopting MDT approach.

The primary treatment goal for patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, a common hip condition in athletes, is to improve pain and function. In selected patients, in the short term following intervention, arthroscopic hip surgery is superior to a pragmatic NHS- type physiotherapy programme. Here, we report the three-year follow-up results from the FemoroAcetabular Impingement Trial (FAIT), comparing arthroscopic hip surgery with physiotherapy in the management of patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome.

Two-group parallel, assessor-blinded, pragmatic randomised controlled study across seven NHS England sites. 222 participants aged 18 to 60 years with FAI syndrome confirmed clinically and radiologically were randomised (1:1) to receive arthroscopic hip surgery (n = 112) or physiotherapy and activity modification (n = 110). We previously reported on the hip outcome score at eight months. The primary outcome measure of this study was minimum Joint Space Width (mJSW) on Anteroposterior Radiograph at 38 months post randomisation. Secondary outcome measures included the Hip Outcome Score and Scoring Hip Osteoarthritis with MRI (SHOMRI) score.

Minimum Joint Space Width data were available for 101 participants (45%) at 38 months post randomisation. Hip outcome score and MRI data were available for 77% and 62% of participants respectively. mJSW was higher in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 3.34mm (1.01)) compared to the physiotherapy group (2.99mm (1.33)) at 38 months, p=0.017, however this did not exceed the minimally clinically important difference of 0.48mm. SHOMRI score was significantly lower in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 9.22 (11.43)) compared to the physiotherapy group (22.76 (15.26)), p-value <0.001. Hip outcome score was higher in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 84.2 (17.4)) compared with the physiotherapy group (74.2 (21.9)), p-value < 0.001).

Patients with FAI syndrome treated surgically may experience slowing of osteoarthritisprogression and superior pain and function compared with patients treated non- operatively.

Alcohol hand rubs, endorsed by WHO and NICE guidelines, are integral to modern surgical practices. Our objective was to assess how different scrubbing methods impact overall water usage by the surgical team, shedding light on variations among team members and their environmental implications.

Over three consecutive arthroplasty lists spanning a week, water usage during scrubbing was observed for the operating team. Blinding all team members, including the anesthetist, consultant surgeon, orthopaedic registrar, orthopaedic SHO, and scrub nurse, during water usage calculations was implemented. Automated taps, using motion sensors, posed a challenge due to variable water quantity, necessitating water flow calculations per sensor movement. The senior surgeon, with over 20 years of experience, follows a traditional approach, starting with a morning prescrub and using an alcohol tub for each case, except when hands are soiled.

We observed a total of 14 cases of lower limb primary arthroplasty. The cumulative water usage for scrubbing by the entire team was 193 liters, yielding a mean of 13.8 liters (±1.85) per case. The anaesthetist demonstrated the most conservative water usage, utilizing a total of 11.85 liters with a mean of 0.84 liters per case. Notably, alcohol rub was employed for half of the observed time, contributing to this efficient use. The senior operating surgeon used a total of 15.6 liters, averaging 1.1 liters per case. In contrast, the SHO and the registrar exhibited the highest water consumption, totaling 121.6 liters and yielding a mean of 5.7 liters per case. The nurses’ collective water usage for scrubbing amounted to 44.8 liters.

Adopting alcohol rub, as endorsed by WHO, results in a remarkable 10-fold reduction in water usage, aligning with global health guidelines. This highlights significant potential for resource conservation in surgical procedures, presenting a practical and environmentally conscious approach to surgical scrubbing practices.

Aims

The aim of this study is to report the long-term outcomes of instrumented femoral revisions with impaction allograft bone grafting (IBG) using the X-change femoral revision system at 30 years after introduction of the technique.

Aims

The duration of systemic antibiotic treatment following first-stage revision surgery for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is contentious. Our philosophy is to perform an aggressive debridement, and to use a high local concentration of targeted antibiotics in cement beads and systemic prophylactic antibiotics alone. The aim of this study was to assess the success of this philosophy in the management of PJI of the hip using our two-stage protocol.

Aims

The aims of this study were to validate the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12) in the postoperative evaluation of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), identify factors associated with joint awareness after PAO, and determine the FJS-12 threshold for patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS).

Aims

Our primary aim was to assess reoperation-free survival at one year after the index injury in patients aged ≥ 75 years treated with internal fixation (IF) or arthroplasty for undisplaced femoral neck fractures (uFNFs). Secondary outcomes were reoperations and mortality analyzed separately.

Aims

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients report exacerbation of hip pain in deep flexion. However, the exact impingement location in deep flexion is unknown. The aim was to investigate impingement-free maximal flexion, impingement location, and if cam deformity causes hip impingement in flexion in FAI patients.

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore the functional results in a fitter subgroup of participants in the Hip Fracture Evaluation with Alternatives of Total Hip Arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty (HEALTH) trial to determine whether there was an advantage of total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA) in this population.

Aims

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered the preferred treatment for displaced proximal femoral neck fractures. However, in many countries this option is economically unviable. To improve outcomes in financially disadvantaged populations, we studied the technique of concomitant valgus hip osteotomy and operative fixation (VOOF). This prospective serial study compares two treatment groups: VOOF versus operative fixation alone with cannulated compression screws (CCSs).