Percutaneous stabilisation of tibial fractures by locking plates has become an accepted form of osteosynthesis. A potential disadvantage of this technique is the risk of damage to the neurovascular bundles in the anterior and peroneal compartments. Our aim in this anatomical study was to examine the relationship of the deep peroneal nerve to a percutaneously-inserted Less Invasive Stabilisation System tibial plate in the lower limbs of 18 cadavers. Screws were inserted through stab incisions. The neurovascular bundle was dissected to reveal its relationship to the plate and screws. In all cases, the deep peroneal nerve was in direct contact with the plate between the 11th and the 13th holes. In ten specimens the nerve crossed superficial to the plate, in six it was interposed between the plate and the bone and in the remaining two specimens it coursed at the edge of the plate. Percutaneous insertion of plates with more than ten holes is not recommended because of the risk of injury to the neurovascular structures. When longer plates are required we suggest distal exposure so that the neurovascular bundle may be displayed and protected.
Glenohumeral dislocation is complicated with a greater tuberosity fracture in 16% of cases. Debate regarding the safety of closed reduction in the emergency department exists, with concerns over fracture propagation during the reduction manoeuvre. The study aim was to report the results of closed reduction, identify complications and define outcome for these injuries. 188 consecutive glenohumeral dislocations with a tuberosity fracture were identified from a prospective database from 2014–2017. 182 had an attempted closed reduction under appropriate sedation using standard techniques, five were manipulated in theatre due to contra-indications to sedation. Clinical, radiographic and patient reported outcomes, in the form of the QuickDASH and Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), were collected. A closed reduction in the emergency department was successful in 162 (86%) patients. Two
Sacroiliac screw fixation is the method of choice for the definitive treatment of unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries; however this technique is demanding and associated with a high risk of
Intramedullary tibial nailing was performed in ten paired cadavers and the insertion of a medial-to-lateral proximal oblique locking screw was simulated in each specimen. Anatomical dissection was undertaken to determine the relationship of the common peroneal nerve to the cross-screw. The common peroneal nerve was contacted directly in four tibiae and the cross-screw was a mean of 2.6 mm (1.0 to 10.7) away from the nerve in the remaining 16.
The aim of this study was to assess the safety and clinical outcome of patients with a femoral shaft fracture and a previous complex post-traumatic femoral malunion who were treated with a clamshell osteotomy and fixation with an intramedullary nail (IMN). The study involved a retrospective analysis of 23 patients. All had a previous, operatively managed, femoral shaft fracture with malunion due to hardware failure. They were treated with a clamshell osteotomy between May 2015 and March 2020. The mean age was 42.6 years (26 to 62) and 15 (65.2%) were male. The mean follow-up was 2.3 years (1 to 5). Details from their medical records were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the quality of correction of the deformity, functional recovery, the healing time of the fracture, and complications.Aims
Methods
The aim of this study was to compare the functional and radiological outcomes and the complication rate after nail and plate fixation of unstable fractures of the ankle in elderly patients. In this multicentre study, 120 patients aged ≥ 60 years with an acute unstable AO/OTA type 44-B fracture of the ankle were randomized to fixation with either a nail or a plate and followed for 24 months after surgery. The primary outcome measure was the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score. Secondary outcome measures were the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire, the Olerud and Molander Ankle score, the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire, a visual analogue score for pain, complications, the quality of reduction of the fracture, nonunion, and the development of osteoarthritis.Aims
Methods
Periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) following hip arthroplasty are complex injuries. This study evaluates patient demographic characteristics, management, outcomes, and risk factors associated with PPF subtypes over a decade. Using a multicentre collaborative study design, independent of registry data, we identified adults from 29 centres with PPFs around the hip between January 2010 and December 2019. Radiographs were assessed for the Unified Classification System (UCS) grade. Patient and injury characteristics, management, and outcomes were compared between UCS grades. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR) of variables on UCS grade.Aims
Methods
The optimal method for the management of neglected traumatic bifacetal dislocation of the subaxial cervical spine has not been established. We treated four patients in whom the mean delay between injury and presentation was four months (1 to 5). There were two dislocations at the C5-6 level and one each at C4-5 and C3-4. The mean age of the patients was 48.2 years (27 to 60). Each patient presented with neck pain and restricted movement of the cervical spine. Three of the four had a myelopathy. We carried out a two-stage procedure under the same anaesthetic. First, a posterior soft-tissue release and partial facetectomy were undertaken. This allowed partial reduction of the dislocation which was then supplemented by interspinous wiring and corticocancellous graft. Next, through an anterior approach, discectomy, tricortical bone grafting and anterior cervical plating were carried out. All the patients achieved a nearly anatomical reduction and sagittal alignment. The mean follow-up was 2.6 years (1 to 4). The myelopathy settled completely in the three patients who had a pre-operative neurological deficit. There was no graft dislodgement or graft-related problems. Bony fusion occurred in all patients and a satisfactory reduction was maintained. The posteroanterior procedure for neglected traumatic bifacetal dislocation of the subaxial cervical spine is a good method of achieving sagittal alignment with less risk of
Articular cartilage has very poor repair potential, however it has an extraordinary capacity to withstand physiological mechanical loads in an intact joint. The nature and extent of chondrocyte death in articular cartilage following many forms of injury (trephine, scalpel, osteotome, sutures and drilling) has been characterised, but the ability to bear mechanical injury from
Injuries to growth plates may initiate the formation of reversible or irreversible bone-bridges, which may lead to partial or full closure of the growth plate resulting in bone length discrepancy, axis deviation or joint deformity. Blood vessels and vascular invasion are essential for the formation of new bone tissue. The aim of our study was to investigate the spatial and temporal expression VEGF and its receptors R1 and R2 as well as the ingrowth of vessels in the formation of bone bridges in a rat physeal injury model. Quantitative Real Time - Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its R1 and R2 receptors. Samples from the proximal epiphysis, physis and metaphysis of the tibial bone were prepared for immunohistochemical analysis to demonstrate the spatial expression of VEGF and its R1 and R2 receptors as well as laminin. Kinetic expression of VEGF and VEGF-R1 mRNA documented a tendency towards an expression increase on day 7. Histological analysis showed a haematoma containing bone fragments on day 1which was replaced by a bony bridge by day 14. This remodelled and consolidated by day 82. These trabeculae were accompanied by vessel formation. Expression of VEGF was observed on the bone fragments and the haematoma from day 1 through to day 82. Although VEGF-R1 was expressed at all time points the expression of VEGF-R2 was noted until the 14th day. Physeal bone bridge formation is a combination of both enchondral and intramembranous ossification. This is in part triggered by the bony debris observed within the lesion in the first few days. By washing this debris out the likelihood of bone bridge formation may be reduced. We recommend this practice when operating on the physis in order to avoid
We report retrospective and prospective studies to identify the causes of fracture of the femoral neck associated with femoral shaft nailing on the same side. Of a total of 14 neck fractures in a series of 152 shaft nailings, eight were not visible on the initial pelvic radiographs. We used CT scans before and after operation, and fluoroscopy during the procedure in our prospective series, and reviewed abdominal CT scans retrospectively with the window set to bone level. Six of the eight undisplaced fractures were shown to have been present before operation, but two were
Introduction. Degenerative disc disease results from mechanical alteration of the intervertebral disc. Biochemical modifications of the nucleus matrix are also incriminated. Furthermore, genetic predispositions as well as vascular factors have been advocated in the process of disc degeneration. A relationship between sciatica and Propionibacterium acnes has been described. However, it remains unclear if the hypothesis of a subclinical spondylodiscitis might play a role in the pathophysiology of degenerative disc disease. The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible presence of bacteria in lumbar discs of patients with degenerative disc disease. Methods. We prospectively analyzed the presence of bacteria in 83 patients (34 males and 49 females, average age 41 years) treated by lumbar disc replacement at L3-L4, L4-L5 or L5-S1. An intraoperative biopsy and microbiological culture were performed for each disc to determine if intradiscal bacteria were present. Great care was taken to avoid any source of contamination during the conditioning process of the biopsy. Microbiological results were compared to the magnetic resonance stages of disc degeneration according to the Pfirrmann and Modic classifications. Possible sources of previous
Malreduction of the syndesmosis has been reported in up to 52% of patients after fixation of ankle fractures. Multiple radiological parameters are used to define malreduction; there has been limited investigation of the accuracy of these measurements in differentiating malreduction from inherent anatomical asymmetry. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of positive malreduction standards within the syndesmosis of native, uninjured ankles. Three observers reviewed 213 bilateral lower limb CT scans of uninjured ankles. Multiple measurements were recorded on the axial CT 1 cm above the plafond: anterior syndesmotic distance; posterior syndesmotic distance; central syndesmotic distance; fibular rotation; and sagittal fibular translation. Previously studied malreduction standards were evaluated on bilateral CT, including differences in: anterior, central and posterior syndesmotic distance; mean syndesmotic distance; fibular rotation; sagittal translational distance; and syndesmotic area. Unilateral CT was used to compare the anterior to posterior syndesmotic distances.Aims
Methods
Type IIIB open tibial fractures are devastating high-energy injuries. At initial debridement, the surgeon will often be faced with large bone fragments with tenuous, if any, soft-tissue attachments. Conventionally these are discarded to avoid infection. We aimed to determine if orthoplastic reconstruction using mechanically relevant devitalized bone (ORDB) was associated with an increased infection rate in type IIIB open tibial shaft fractures. This was a consecutive cohort study of 113 patients, who had sustained type IIIB fractures of the tibia following blunt trauma, over a four-year period in a level 1 trauma centre. The median age was 44.3 years (interquartile range (IQR) 28.1 to 65.9) with a median follow-up of 1.7 years (IQR 1.2 to 2.1). There were 73 male patients and 40 female patients. The primary outcome measures were deep infection rate and number of operations. The secondary outcomes were nonunion and flap failure.Aims
Patient and Methods
The primary aim of this study was to determine if delayed clavicular fixation results in a greater risk of operative complications and revision surgery. A retrospective case series was undertaken of all displaced clavicular fractures that underwent plate fixation over a ten-year period (2007 to 2017). Patient demographics, time to surgery, complications, and mode of failure were collected. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors contributing towards operative complications. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine if a potential ‘safe window’ exists from injury to delayed surgery. Propensity score matching was used to construct a case control study for comparison of risk.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of anterior knee pain after antegrade tibial nailing using suprapatellar and infrapatellar surgical approaches A total of 95 patients with a tibial fracture requiring an intramedullary nail were randomized to treatment using a supra- or infrapatellar approach. Anterior knee pain was assessed at four and six months, and one year postoperatively, using the Aberdeen Weightbearing Test – Knee (AWT-K) score and a visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain. The AWT-K is an objective patient-reported outcome measure that uses weight transmitted through the knee when kneeling as a surrogate for anterior knee pain.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aims of this study were to establish whether composite fixation
(rail-plate) decreases fixator time and related problems in the
management of patients with infected nonunion of tibia with a segmental
defect, without compromising the anatomical and functional outcomes
achieved using the classical Ilizarov technique. We also wished
to study the acceptability of this technique using patient-based
objective criteria. Between January 2012 and January 2015, 14 consecutive patients
were treated for an infected nonunion of the tibia with a gap and
were included in the study. During stage one, a radical debridement
of bone and soft tissue was undertaken with the introduction of
an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer. At the second stage, the tibia
was stabilized using a long lateral locked plate and a six-pin monorail
fixator on its anteromedial surface. A corticotomy was performed
at the appropriate level. During the third stage, i.e. at the end
of the distraction phase, the transported fragment was aligned and
fixed to the plate with two to four screws. An iliac crest autograft
was added to the docking site and the fixator was removed. Functional
outcome was assessed using the Association for the Study and Application
of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria. Patient-reported outcomes
were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with limitations in function, measured by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), six to nine months after a proximal humeral fracture, from a range of demographic, injury, psychological, and social variables measured within a week and two to four weeks after injury. We enrolled 177 adult patients who sustained an isolated proximal humeral fracture into the study and invited them to complete PROMs at their initial outpatient visit within one week of injury, between two and four weeks, and between six to nine months after injury. There were 128 women and 49 men; the mean age was 66 years (Aims
Patients and Methods
In the time since Letournel popularised the surgical
treatment of acetabular fractures, more than 25 years ago, there
have been many changes within the field, related to patients, surgical
technique, implants and post-operative care. However, the long-term
outcomes appear largely unchanged. Does this represent stasis or
have the advances been mitigated by other negative factors? In this
article we have attempted to document the recent changes within
the surgery of patients with a fracture involving the acetabulum,
outline contemporary management, and identify the major problem
areas where further research is most needed. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to record the incidence of post-traumatic
osteoarthritis (OA), the need for total hip arthroplasty (THA),
and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) after surgery for
a fracture of the acetabulum, in our centre. All patients who underwent surgery for an acetabular fracture
between 2004 and 2014 were included. Patients completed the 36-Item
Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the modified Harris Hip Score
(mHHS) questionnaires. A retrospective chart and radiographic review
was performed on all patients. CT scans were used to assess the classification
of the fracture and the quality of reduction.Aims
Patients and Methods