Cigarette smoking is well recognised as contributing to a higher complication rate following foot surgery. The efficacy of pre-operative counselling to stop smoking has not been evaluated following foot surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pre-operative counselling prior to elective forefoot surgery. A record of smoking status was taken in all patients prior to surgery. Counselling as to the increased complication rate was undertaken by the lead surgeon at the initial outpatient visit and repeated at pre-operative assessment, with patients advised to see their GP for specific strategies and medications. Further smoking history was taken on admission and in review clinics. A telephone survey was then conducted to ascertain smoking patterns following surgery. Ninety-eight patients underwent forefoot osteotomy or fusion surgery, over an eighteen-month period, by a single surgeon. Of these, twenty-four were recorded as smokers, with follow-up, at a mean interval of twelve months, achieved in twenty-two. Sixteen stopped smoking pre-operatively, with a further four reducing their daily intake as a direct consequence of the counselling. The majority of patients were unaware of the detrimental effects of smoking following foot surgery. Only four patients re-commenced pre-operative smoking patterns following surgery implying long-term behaviour change in the remainder. One complication of a DVT was recorded in a persistent smoker. This small study has illustrated the benefit of utilizing the pre-operative clinic consultation to educate our patients of the importance of giving up smoking prior to elective surgery. Counselling has been shown to provide an incentive for smoking cessation, which has been maintained after the peri-operative period. Although forefoot fusions and arthrodeses were used to provide the figures in our study, the results are transferable to other branches of foot and ankle surgery. Correspondence should be addressed to Major M Butler RAMC, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon

Introduction

Introduction: Pre-operative counselling to prepare patients for frame surgery is important to ensure expectations of recovery and rehabilitation are realistic and anxiety is reduced. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the current clinical nurse specialist frames counselling session (CNS FCS) prepared patients adequately for life with a frame as well as to explore information patients felt was missing.

Objective

We reviewed the impact of the use of routine perioperative counselling on patients outcomes and experience when undergoing operative deformity correction for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Cigarette smoking prior to and following foot surgery is well recognised as resulting in a higher complication rate. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pre-operative counselling prior to elective hallux valgus surgery.

A prospective record of smoking histories was taken in all patients prior to surgery. They were counselled as to the increased complication rate and advised to stop prior to surgery and in the immediate peri-operative period. The mechanism of the increased complication rate was explained to improve their understanding to stop smoking. They were advised to see their GP for specific strategies and medications. Further smoking history was taken on admission and in review clinics. A telephone survey was then conducted to ascertain their smoking pattern following discharge from follow-up.

Forty-two patients underwent hallux valgus surgery over a 12 month operating period. Ten (23%) were recorded as smokers at the time of initial consultation. Most patients (80%) were unaware of the detrimental effects of smoking following foot surgery. Patient education was effective in providing an impetus to stop or reduce smoking in 6 (60%) patients pre-operatively. One further patient subsequently desisted from smoking following surgery. Only two patients had re-commenced smoking following surgery implying a long term change of behavior. Only one complication of a DVT occurred in a patient who continued to smoke.

This small study has shown the effectiveness of educating our patients in the importance of giving up smoking prior to elective foot surgery.

Aims

Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is the preferred treatment for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia in adolescents and young adults. There remains a lack of consensus regarding whether intra-articular procedures such as labral repair or improvement of femoral offset should be performed at the time of PAO or addressed subsequent to PAO if symptoms warrant. The purpose was to determine the rate of subsequent hip arthroscopy (HA) in a contemporary cohort of patients, who underwent PAO in isolation without any intra-articular procedures.

Aims

The adequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers has come under considerable scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate staff awareness of PPE guidance, perceptions of PPE measures, and concerns regarding PPE use while caring for COVID-19 patients. In addition, responses of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals (OHCPs) were compared.

Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of obesity on the clinical outcomes and survivorship ten years postoperatively in patients who underwent a fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).

This paper reports the cost of outpatient venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following 388 injuries of the lower limb requiring immobilisation in our institution, from a total of 7408 new patients presenting between May and November 2011. Prophylaxis was by either self-administered subcutaneous dalteparin (n = 128) or oral dabigatran (n = 260). The mean duration of prophylaxis per patient was 46 days (6 to 168). The total cost (pay and non-pay) for prophylaxis with dalteparin was £107.54 and with dabigatran was £143.99. However, five patients in the dalteparin group required nurse administration (£23 per home visit), increasing the cost of dalteparin to £1142.54 per patient. The annual cost of VTE prophylaxis in a busy trauma clinic treating 12 700 new patients (2010/11), would be £92 526.33 in the context of an income for trauma of £1.82 million, which represents 5.3% of the outpatient tariff.

Outpatient prophylaxis in a busy trauma clinic is achievable and affordable in the context of the clinical and financial risks involved.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:673–7.

Aims

The optimal management of intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck in independently mobile patients remains open to debate. Successful fixation obviates the limitations of arthroplasty for this group of patients. However, with fixation failure rates as high as 30%, the outcome of revision surgery to salvage total hip arthroplasty (THA) must be considered. We carried out a systematic review to compare the outcomes of salvage THA and primary THA for intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck.