The purpose of the study was to ascertain whether there were benefits from surgical treatment of acetabular fractures within 3 days of injury, as opposed to within a 2–3 week time period as stated in the current literature.

This is a matched-pair, retrospective study, using prospectively entered data from 2 trauma units’ databases, of patients with acetabular fractures treated operatively between 1991 and 1996. Patients were matched for age, acetabular fracture pattern and associated injuries. One group of patients had surgery within 3 days of injury (median time to surgery 1. 5 days), the other group had surgery at 4 or more days post-injury (median 8 days, range 4–19 days). There were 128 patients, 64 per group.

The proportion of patients with complications was higher in the later surgery group (relative risk 2. 1, CI 0. 24–0. 87). Median lengths of stay were significantly shorter in the early surgery group, 11 days compared to 22 days (p< 0. 001 Mann-Whitney-U test). The rate of HO in the early surgery group was 2% compared with 14% in the later surgery group. The rate of good or excellent results was 81% in patients with earlier surgery, and 72% in the later surgery group, in those with median follow-up time of 24 months.

Surgery for acetabular fractures can and should be undertaken as soon as possible. In the setting of our Trauma Units, this seems to confer lower risks of early and late complications, shorter inpatient stay and may improve long-term outcome.

In the light of EEC proposals on the avoidance of damage to hearing caused by noise, a study was undertaken to determine the risk posed by powered orthopaedic instruments. The noise levels from a number of air-powered and electric tools were measured and analysed and found to exceed the recommended levels. The predicted daily personal noise exposure was calculated and the potential for hearing damage confirmed. Twenty-seven senior orthopaedic staff were then assessed by audiometry; evidence of noise-induced hearing loss was found in half the subjects. The increasing use of powered instruments in elective orthopaedics and fracture fixation may present a significant cumulative risk to the hearing of orthopaedic surgeons and theatre personnel. The use of ear defenders should be promoted, and manufacturers should be encouraged to develop instruments with lower noise emission levels.

A prospective study of 120 consecutive total hip replacements showed that deep suction drains produced maximal drainage volumes in the first 24 hours. Their continued presence resulted in minimal further drainage, did not reduce the likelihood of haematoma formation and led in some cases to the spread of skin organisms into the wound.