Removal of bullets retained within joints is indicated to prevent mechanical blockade, 3rd body wear and resultant arthritis, plus lead arthropathy and systemic lead poisoning. The literature is sparse on this subject, with mostly sporadic case reports utilizing hip arthroscopy. We report on the largest series of removal of bullets from the hip joints using open surgical. We reviewed prospectively collected data of patients who presented to a single institution with civilian gunshot injuries that breached the hip joint between 01 January 2009 and 31 December 2022. We included all cases where the bullet was retained within the hip joint area. Exclusion criteria: cases where the hip joint was not breached, bullets were not retained around the hip area or cases with isolated acetabulum involvement. One hundred and eighteen (118) patients were identified. One patient was excluded as the bullet embedded in the femur neck was sustained 10 years earlier. Of the remaining 117 patients, 70 had retained bullets around the hip joint. In 44 patients we undertook bullet removal using the followingsurgical hip dislocation (n = 18), hip arthrotomy (n = 18), removal at site of fracture fixation/replacement (n = 2), posterior wall osteotomy (n = 1), direct removal without capsulotomy (tractotomy) (n = 5). In 26 patients we did not remove bullets for the following reasons: final location was extra-capsular embedded in the soft tissues (n=17), clinical decision to not remove (n=4), patients’ clinical condition did not allow for further surgery (n= 4) and patient refusal (n=1). No patients underwent hip arthroscopy. With adequate pre-operative imaging and surgical planning, safe surgical removal of retained bullets in the hip joint can be achieved without the use of hip arthroscopy; using the traditional open surgical approaches of arthrotomy, tractotomy and surgical hip dislocation

Regional anaesthesia is integral to best practice analgesia for patients with neck of femur fractures (NOFFs). These patients are generally frail and are vulnerable to side effects of opioid analgesia. Femoral nerve block (FNB) or fascia-iliaca block (FIB) can reduce opioid requirement. Literature supports good efficacy for extra-capsular NOFFs however it is acknowledged to be suboptimal for intracapsular fractures. We present a novel technique, using point of care ultrasound guidance to perform hip ultrasound guided haematoma (HUSH) aspiration, and injection of local anaesthetic (block) for intracapsular NOFFs. This a case control series. A consecutive series of cognitively intact patients, with an isolated intra-capsular NOFF, received a HUSH block using 10mls of 0.75% Ropivicaine. Haematoma was aspirated and volume recorded. This was performed in addition to standard NOFF pathway analgesia that includes a FIB and multimodal analgesia including opioids. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)pain scores at rest and on movement were recorded pre and post procedure as well as combined morphine equivalent units administered post HUSH block. The control arm was a retrospective group of similar patients who followed the routine care pathway including a FIB. VAS pain scores from observation charts and usage of morphine equivalent units were calculated. Ten patients consented to receive HUSH blocks and we included thirty-eight patients in our control series. The HUSH block group showed mean VAS pain score of 4.2/10 at rest and 8.6 on movement prior to block. In the time after the block, VAS pain scores reduced to 1.5 at rest (p=0.007) and 3.1 on movement (p=0.0001) with a mean total morphine equivalent use of 8.75mg. This is significantly different from the control group's mean VAS pain at rest score 6.9 (p=0.0001) and 24.1mg total morphine equivalent (p=0.07). HUSH Block in addition to fascia iliaca block appears to significantly better pain relief in intracapsular neck of femur fracture patients when compared to fascia iliaca block alone. We believe it is relatively easy to perform with readily available ultrasound scanners in emergency departments

Introduction. Upper femoral fractures include intra and extra-capsular fracture (ECF). For intra-capsular fracture (ICF), hemi-arthroplasty (HA) is the most commonly used treatment. Interest in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is growing because THA yields less revision (4% versus 7%) associated to better functional results despite higher dislocation rate (9% versus 3%). Regarding ECF, internal fixation is the reference treatment. THA could represent a relevant alternative. This study evaluates the efficiency of THA using dual mobility cup (THA-DMC) as treatment of these fractures specially in elderly patients. Material and method. 70 patients were operated on for upper femoral fractures with Quattro THA-DMC between May 2012 and October 2013. Minimum follow-up is one year. Seven surgeons in 4 institutions were involved. Data collected were: age, gender, type of fracture, surgical approach, mortality, revision rate and dislocation rate. Results. Seventy patients were included. 83.3 % were women. Mean age was 82.8 (51–99). 43% were ECF and 57% ICF. Postero-lateral approach represented 51% of cases, trans-trochanteric 43% and Hardinge 6%. Mortality rate was 10%. One dislocation (1.4%) occurred at one month postoperative treated by closed reduction. No revision was performed. Discussion. Even though THA is widely used to treat ICF, two recent meta-analyses concluded that THAs bring better survivorship as well as better functional results despite a higher dislocation rates. THA-DMC is a way to decrease dislocation risk as confirmed by our study. There is a lack of studies published on the treatment of ECF, precluding a proper assessment. Conclusion. Given the studies identified, the gold standard in the treatment of ICF is moving toward THA. THA-DMC could overcome the higher dislocation rate observed with standard THA

Introduction. Dislocation is one of the most common orthopaedic complications after primary total hip replacement (THR). The reported dislocation rate in elective THR is 5–8%. This number increases up to 22% for THR done for neck of femur fractures. Due to the reported increase in dislocation for trauma, some surgeons prefer to do a hemi-arthroplasty or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Hemi-arthroplasty is known to have poorer functional outcomes. Failure of ORIF is as high as 43%, and revision of failed ORIF to THR has reported dislocation rates of up to 42%. Materials and methods. A retrospective review of all THR done for neck of femur fractures during 2006–2011 was undertaken. The patients in our institution who are considered for a THR must have an active life-style. Records were reviewed for delay to surgery, surgical approaches, articulations, bearing surfaces, follow up periods and cemented versus uncemented implants. We excluded all pathological fractures, extra-capsular fractures, failed ORIF, patients with incomplete data and patients with a follow-up period less than 3 months. Hip dislocation was the end-point of the review and we did not study other causes of revision e.g. loosening of components or infection. Results. A total of 115 cases were identified as suitable for analysis. Average age at surgery was 73.2 years (range 30–81). Delay to surgery was 5.3 days (range 1–63). Average follow up period was 18.3 months (range 3 months-4,3years). Four patients (3.4%) had a confirmed dislocation. Three of these patients had successful closed reduction and one patient required revision surgery and change of component orientation. Conclusion. Our early dislocation rate of 3.4% is within the published results and shows that primary THR is an acceptable and safe option for displaced intracapsular NOF in active patients. Most recent studies have shown superior functional outcomes of THR compared to hemi-arthroplasty or poorly performed ORIF. NO DISCLOSURES