Aims. Fractures of the distal radius are common, and form a considerable proportion of the
Aims. This is a multicentre, prospective assessment of a proportion of the overall
Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the
Aims. Patient decision aids have previously demonstrated an improvement in the quality of the informed consent process. This study assessed the effectiveness of detailed written patient information, compared to standard verbal consent, in improving postoperative recall in adult
Aims. Frailty greatly increases the risk of adverse outcome of
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic public health measures were implemented to limit virus spread. After initial implementation of a province-wide lockdown (Stage 1), there followed a sequential ease of restrictions through Stages 2 and 3 over a 6-month period from March to September 2020 (Table 1). We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 public health measures on the epidemiology of operative paediatric
Abstract. Background. Alcohol has been associated with up to 40% trauma-related deaths globally. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom (UK) entered a state of ‘lockdown’ on 23. rd. March 2020. Restrictions were most significantly eased on 1. st. June 2020, when shops and schools re-opened. This study aimed to quantify the effect of lockdown on
The Victorian state government introduced a trial electronic scooter sharing scheme on 1. st. February 2022 in inner city Melbourne. Despite epidemiological data from other jurisdictions that show these devices are associated with significant
Aims. The first death in the UK caused by COVID-19 occurred on 5 March 2020. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of major
The June 2024
Introduction. Blunt
The arrival of major
The August 2024
Hip fractures in elderly patients are managed at both major
Aims. Machine-learning (ML) prediction models in
Abstract. Background. University Hospital of Wales (UHW) went live as a Major
Abstract. Background. Different surgical sub specialities rely on fixed number of porters each morning to bring patients to operating theatre. In daily morning
Aims. The use of fluoroscopy in orthopaedic surgery creates risk of radiation exposure to surgeons. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) can help mitigate this. The primary aim of this study was to assess if current radiation protection in
Aims. This study estimated trends in incidence of open fractures and the adherence to clinical standards for open fracture care in England. Methods. Longitudinal data collected by the
Aims. Hand
Queensland is in the phase to develop a comprehensive, integrated state wide
Aims. Ankle fracture is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries sustained in the UK. Many patients experience pain and physical impairment, with the consequences of the fracture and its management lasting for several months or even years. The broad aim of ankle fracture treatment is to maintain the alignment of the joint while the fracture heals, and to reduce the risks of problems, such as stiffness. More severe injuries to the ankle are routinely treated surgically. However, even with advances in surgery, there remains a risk of complications; for patients experiencing these, the associated loss of function and quality of life (Qol) is considerable. Non-surgical treatment is an alternative to surgery and involves applying a cast carefully shaped to the patient’s ankle to correct and maintain alignment of the joint with the key benefit being a reduction in the frequency of common complications of surgery. The main potential risk of non-surgical treatment is a loss of alignment with a consequent reduction in ankle function. This study aims to determine whether ankle function, four months after treatment, in patients with unstable ankle fractures treated with close contact casting is not worse than in those treated with surgical intervention, which is the current standard of care. Methods. This trial is a pragmatic, multicentre, randomized non-inferiority clinical trial with an embedded pilot, and with 12 months clinical follow-up and parallel economic analysis. A surveillance study using routinely collected data will be performed annually to five years post-treatment. Adult patients, aged 60 years and younger, with unstable ankle fractures will be identified in daily
Aims. The primary objective of this study was to develop a validated classification system for assessing iatrogenic bone
The February 2024
The June 2023
The October 2023
The August 2023
The December 2023
The February 2023
Determine the prevalence, etiologies, and risk factors of unplanned return to the OR (UROR) in adult
The April 2024
Abstract. Introduction. Skeletal muscle wasting is an important clinical issue following acute traumatic injury, and can delay recovery and cause permanent functional disability particularly in the elderly. However, the fundamental mechanisms involved in trauma-induced muscle wasting remain poorly defined and therapeutic interventions are limited. Objectives. To characterise local and systemic mediators of skeletal muscle wasting in elderly patients following acute
The December 2022
The April 2023
Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Despite improvements in trauma-related morbidity and mortality in high-income countries over recent years, outcomes following MSK injuries in low and middle-income countries, such as South Africa (SA), have not. Despite governmental recognition that this is required, funding and research into this significant health burden are limited within SA. This study aims to identify research priorities within MSK
Aims. Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication after elbow
Laminar flow theatres were first introduced in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s and have become standard in orthopaedic surgery involving implants. A study from 1982 showed a 50% reduction in infections with joint arthroplasties when compared to conventional theatres and laminar flow became standard in the following decades. Recent evidence including a meta-analysis from 2017 questions the effectiveness of these theatre systems. Most of the evidence for Laminar flow use is based on arthroplasty surgery. We aimed to determine the effect of using non-laminar flow theatres on our
First rib fractures (FRFs) have historically been a marker for severe
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
Aims. This study reviews the past 30 years of research from the Canadian
Introduction. Current undergraduate
Aims. Hand
Introduction. Lower limb amputation is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Reflecting the predominance of vascular or diabetic disease as a cause for lower limb amputation, much of the available literature excludes lower limb amputation secondary to
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. Methods. A consensus exercise was conducted involving all the major stakeholders in the patient journey for those with musculoskeletal injury. The consensus exercise primary aim was to seek agreement on a standardized set of terminology for weightbearing instructions. Results. A pre-meeting questionnaire was conducted. The one-day consensus meeting, including patient representatives, identified three agreed terms only to be used in defining the weightbearing status of the patient: 1) non-weightbearing; 2) limited weightbearing; and 3) unrestricted weightbearing. Conclusion. This study represents the first and only exercise in standardizing rehabilitation terminology in orthopaedics, as agreed by all major stakeholders in the patient pathway and the patients themselves. The standardization of language allows for higher-quality and more accurate research to be conducted, and is one small part of the bigger picture in increasing the mobility of patients after
Fractures of the distal radius are common, and form a considerable proportion of the
Aims. Several previously identified patient-, injury-, and treatment-related factors are associated with the development of nonunion in distal femur fractures. However, the predictive value of these factors is not well defined. We aimed to assess the predictive ability of previously identified risk factors in the development of nonunion leading to secondary surgery in distal femur fractures. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with traumatic distal femur fracture treated with lateral locking plate between 2009 and 2018. The patients who underwent secondary surgery due to fracture healing problem or plate failure were considered having nonunion. Background knowledge of risk factors of distal femur fracture nonunion based on previous literature was used to form an initial set of variables. A logistic regression model was used with previously identified patient- and injury-related variables (age, sex, BMI, diabetes, smoking, periprosthetic fracture, open fracture,
Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS has been under unprecedentedpressure. Elective surgery had ceased, and trauma surgery has decreased dramatically. Surgical training is multi-faceted and requires a specialist trainee to have a timetable which includes regular elective non-emergency operating,
Aims. Understanding of open fracture management is skewed due to reliance on small-number lower limb, specialist unit reports and large, unfocused registry data collections. To address this, we carried out the Open Fracture Patient Evaluation Nationwide (OPEN) study, and report the demographic details and the initial steps of care for patients admitted with open fractures in the UK. Methods. Any patient admitted to hospital with an open fracture between 1 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 was included, excluding phalanges and isolated hand injuries. Institutional information governance approval was obtained at the lead site and all data entered using Research Electronic Data Capture. Demographic details, injury, fracture classification, and patient dispersal were detailed. Results. In total, 1,175 patients (median age 47 years (interquartile range (IQR) 29 to 65), 61.0% male (n = 717)) were admitted across 51 sites. A total of 546 patients (47.1%) were employed, 5.4% (n = 63) were diabetic, and 28.8% (n = 335) were smokers. In total, 29.0% of patients (n = 341) had more than one injury and 4.8% (n = 56) had two or more open fractures, while 51.3% of fractures (n = 637) occurred in the lower leg. Fractures sustained in vehicle incidents and collisions are common (38.8%; n = 455) and typically seen in younger patients. A simple fall (35.0%; n = 410) is common in older people. Overall, 69.8% (n = 786) of patients were admitted directly to an orthoplastic centre, 23.0% (n = 259) were transferred to an orthoplastic centre after initial management elsewhere, and 7.2% were managed outwith specialist units (n = 81). Conclusion. This study describes the epidemiology of open fractures in the UK. For a decade, orthopaedic surgeons have been practicing in a guideline-driven, network system without understanding the patient features, injury characteristics, or dispersal processes of the wider population. This work will inform care pathways as the UK looks to the future of
Abstract. Hospitals during Covid 19 were faced with extreme pressures notably on Emergency Departments. This led to delays in treatment for patients in
It has been established that a dedicated
Aims. This study aims to estimate economic outcomes associated with 30-day deep surgical site infection (SSI) from closed surgical wounds in patients with lower limb fractures following major
The second wave of COVID-19 infections in 2021 resulting from the delta strain had a significantly larger impact on the state of New South Wales, Australia and with it the government implemented harsher restrictions. This retrospective cohort study aims to explore how the increased restrictions affected hand
Aims. To investigate if preoperative CT improves detection of unstable trochanteric hip fractures. Methods. A single-centre prospective study was conducted. Patients aged 65 years or older with trochanteric hip fractures admitted to Stavanger University Hospital (Stavanger, Norway) were consecutively included from September 2020 to January 2022. Radiographs and CT images of the fractures were obtained, and surgeons made individual assessments of the fractures based on these. The assessment was conducted according to a systematic protocol including three classification systems (AO/
Fracture risks are the most common argument against the use of Ceramic on ceramic (CoC) hip implants. Question: is ceramic material at risk in case of severe local
BACKGROUND. Theatre-listed
Aims. This study aimed to determine whether lateral femoral wall thickness (LWT) < 20.5 mm was associated with increased revision risk of intertrochanteric fracture (ITF) of the hip following sliding hip screw (SHS) fixation when the medial calcar was intact. Additionally, the study assessed the association between LWT and patient mortality. Methods. This retrospective study included ITF patients aged 50 years and over treated with SHS fixation between 2019 and 2021 at a major
This brief annotation summarises the particular contributions made by the annual Edinburgh International
The rate of arterial injury in
Following the establishment of regional Major
The prevalence of alcohol and opioids in severely injured patients has been widely reported from 30-80%. However, despite the increasing global misuse of stimulant drugs, there is a paucity of literature regarding the presence of stimulant drugs in
Pain and disability following wrist
Excessive resident duty hours (RDH) are a recognized issue with implications for physician well-being and patient safety. A major component of the RDH concern is on-call duty. While considerable work has been done to reduce resident call workload, there is a paucity of research in optimizing resident call scheduling. Call coverage is scheduled manually rather than demand-based, which generally leads to over-scheduling to prevent a service gap. Machine learning (ML) has been widely applied in other industries to prevent such issues of a supply-demand mismatch. However, the healthcare field has been slow to adopt these innovations. As such, the aim of this study was to use ML models to 1) predict demand on orthopaedic surgery residents at a level I
The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the adequacy of informed consent documentation in the
This study examined spinal fractures in patients
admitted to a Major
Tibial plateau fractures classically present in a bimodal distribution associated with high energy mechanisms in the younger population and fragility fractures in the elderly populations as a result they are well suited for looking at the effect major
Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate if there are differences in outcome between sliding hip screws (SHSs) and intramedullary nails (IMNs) with regard to fracture stability. Methods. We assessed data from 17,341 patients with trochanteric or subtrochanteric fractures treated with SHS or IMN in the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register from 2013 to 2019. Primary outcome measures were reoperations for stable fractures (AO Foundation/
Introduction. We used patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) to evaluate qualitative and societal outcomes of
Aims. Evidence exists of a consistent decline in the value and time that medical schools place upon their undergraduate orthopaedic placements. This limited exposure to
Aim: To compare and assess the quality of nursing care provided to acute
Aims. The current global pandemic due to COVID-19 is generating significant burden on the health service in the UK. On 23 March 2020, the UK government issued requirements for a national lockdown. The aim of this multicentre study is to gain a greater understanding of the impact lockdown has had on the rates, mechanisms and types of injuries together with their management across a regional
The aim was to investigate the outcomes of patients admitted with
Introduction:
In 2019, the incidence of fractures were 178 million globally, South Africa accounting for close to 600 000 of these fractures, an 18.53% increase since 1990. South Africa does not have the public infrastructure to adequately facilitate the optimal surgical management of this burden. This forces intensive labour practices among orthopaedic surgeons, often performing complex surgeries throughout the night. There is a direct correlation between “after-hour”operations and the increase in morbidities. A retrospective review of the orthopaedic surgical cases and orthopaedic surgical emergencies done at a tertiary institution in Johannesburg between 8th of August 2021 to 12th December 2022. The nature of the orthopaedic interventions, the date of booking of the surgical procedures, date of surgical procedures, as well as start and end time of the orthopaedic interventions were analysed. “After-Hours” orthopaedic interventions were defined as interventions done between 16:00 and 07:00. Orthopaedic emergencies were defined as: Open fracture debridements, external Fixator insertion, arthrotomies, fasciotomies and the insertion of steinmann pins. 1483 (27.92%) of 5310 operative cases done on the emergency board were orthopaedic cases. 1098 (74.04%) hardware-related cases and 535 (36.08%) orthopaedic emergencies were done. 854 (57.58%) cases were done “After-Hours” of which 433 (29.20%) cases were done during “Dead-Hours” (23:00–07:00). Of these 433 cases, only 173 (39.95%) were true orthopaedic emergencies. Although the proportion of emergencies done after hours were greater than during working hours, there is still a large proportion of intricate orthopaedic cases done between 16:00– 07:00 that should not be prioritized, due to an associated higher morbidity. Enhanced strategic planning is advisable in future in order to prioritize complex hardware cases during working hours, and due to the burden, prioritize minor relooks and simple skin- grafts for the latter aspects of the night. A dedicated
Introduction. A significant burden of disease exists with respect to critical sized bone defects; outcomes are unpredictable and often poor. There is no absolute agreement on what constitutes a “critically-sized” bone defect however it is widely considered as one that would not heal spontaneously despite surgical stabilisation, thus requiring re-operation. The aetiology of such defects is varied. High-energy
Aims. Preprint servers allow authors to publish full-text manuscripts or interim findings prior to undergoing peer review. Several preprint servers have extended their services to biological sciences, clinical research, and medicine. The purpose of this study was to systematically identify and analyze all articles related to
Aims. COVID-19 necessitated abrupt changes in
Background. The decision to attempt limb salvage vs to amputate in a significant traumatic limb injury is based on patient´s best predicted outcome. When amputation cannot be avoided the aim is to provide a pain free limb whilst preserving the soft tissue and limb length. Methods. Retrospective study covering 5 years (2011–2016), all the
Introduction. Despite the established guidelines on lower extremity free flap reconstruction by the British Orthopaedic Association Standard for
Aims. There is increasing evidence to support the use of topical antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections. Although previous research suggests a minimal nephrotoxic risk with a single dose of vancomycin powder, fracture patients often require multiple procedures and receive additional doses of topical antibiotics. We aimed to determine if cumulative doses of intrawound vancomycin or tobramycin powder for infection prophylaxis increased the risk of drug-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) among fracture patients. Methods. This cohort study was a secondary analysis of single-centre Program of Randomized Trials to Evaluate Pre-operative Antiseptic Skin Solutions in
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a technologically based progression to almost every sector of society. This has led to an influx of e-hailing motorcycle drivers (online based consumable transportation platforms) and thus an increase in road traffic accidents. This group experiences an abundance of Orthopaedic related
Abstract. Background. This study aims to estimate the risk of acquiring a medical complication or death from COVID-19 infection in patients who were admitted for
Abstract. Introduction. The risk of Covid-19 community and hospital acquired infection (HAI) on patient outcomes in
Evidence suggests that there 17% rise in cycling related injuries in the last year. The objective of the study is to analyze the pattern of injuries in cyclists who were treated as a MTC. This is a retrospective study performed at a Tertiary
Introduction. Fracture related infection (FRI) is a challenging complication to manage in an orthoplastic setting. Consensus guidelines have been created to standardise the diagnosis of FRI and comprise confirmatory and suggestive criteria. In this study, the aim is to assess the diagnostic criteria and management of FRI with a particular focus on soft tissue reconstruction. Materials & Methods. A retrospective study to identify the outcomes of FRI in the lower limb over a five year period at a Major
Aims. To describe a new objective classification for open fractures of the lower limb and to correlate the classification with patient-centred outcomes. Methods. The proposed classification was investigated within a cohort of adults with open fractures of the lower limb who were recruited as part of two large clinical trials within the UK Major
Aims. Europe has found itself at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. Naturally, this has placed added strain onto healthcare systems internationally. It was feared that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could overrun the Irish healthcare system. As such, the Irish government opted to introduce a national lockdown on the 27 March 2020 in an attempt to stem the flow of admissions to hospitals. Similar lockdowns in the UK and New Zealand have resulted in reduced emergency department presentations and
Introduction and Objective. Malunion after
Introduction. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rapidly implemented restructuring of UK healthcare services. The The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, became a central hub for the provision of
We undertook this study to investigate the outcomes of surgical treatment for acute carpal tunnel syndrome following our protocol for concurrent nerve decompression and skeletal stabilization for bony wrist
Aims. The new COVID-19 variant was reported by the authorities of the UK to the World Health Organization (WHO) on 14 December 2020. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and nosocomial infection rates in major
There is increasing popularity in the use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques to provide diagnostic and prognostic models for various aspects of
Abstract. Objectives. Our objective was to determine the incidence of post-operative COVID-19 infection within the first two weeks following treatment at the COVID-free site. During the COVID-19 pandemic our hospital saw one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection in the United Kingdom. As a result, our
Aims. This study aimed to identify patients receiving total hip arthroplasty (THA) for
Optimal utilisation of operating theatres has a significant impact on the ability of an institution to deliver productive, value for money surgical services. With the recent introduction of the national ‘Productive Theatres’ programme and in the current economic climate it is receiving increasing attention. In addition, it improves patient satisfaction and outcomes, reduces adverse events and has positive influences on staff morale. The aim of this study was to highlight factors influencing
Aims. The number of females within the speciality of