Introduction. The Tour de France, commonly recognised and the hardest physical endurance event on the planet, is an iconic cycling competition with a history of ever impressive performances and increasingly notable injuries. This study aims to methodologically catalogue and analyse injuries sustained by professional riders over a span of six years and understand the operative workload created by this prestigious race. (2018–2023). Methods. Data was gathered from multiple publicly available sources, including pro-cycling stats, news articles, team press releases and independent medical reports. Each injury was categorized by year, rider, and injury type. Results. From 2018–2023, there was a significant diversity in both injured body part and mechanism of injury. Of the 124 recorded race ending incidents clavicle fractures accounted 19.4%, laceration/contusions 12.1%, patella fractures 10.5% and elbow fractures 7.3%. Other. notable other body areas undergoing surgical intervention were hand fractures 5.6%, pelvic fractures 2.4% and femoral fracture 1.6%. At a mean of 20.67 injuries per tour, this accounts for almost exactly one race ending injury per day where an athlete finishes the day on the operating table, rather than the team bus. Discussion. The Tour de France's rigorous challenges are mirrored in its injury statistics. Over six years, clavicle fractures were most prevalent, likely due to cyclists' instinct to brace during crashes. Lacerations, contusions, and patella fractures also featured prominently. Alarmingly, each race stage averaged an injury severe enough for surgical intervention. This data highlights the imperative need for enhanced protective measures, race regulations, and medical preparedness to protect these elite athletes

Introduction. Throughout the years treatment of patellar fractures have been held in much controversy and various treatment procedures have been described. In the literature, there are only a few studies that compare the results of the different treatment modalities. Materials & Methods. This study reviews our experience with patellar fractures and correlates results of different treatment modalities to grade of patellar comminution and to the length of follow-up. It consists of 114 patients (71 M, 43 F, 17–76 year old: mean- 43 years), followed for 2–9 years (mean- 3.5 years). Patients were treated by P.O.P. cast for undisplaced fractures (12 Pts), and by various surgical modalities for displaced or comminuted fractures such as O.R.I.F (53 Pts), partial patellectomy (37 Pts) and total patellectomy (12 Pts). Patients were evaluated by Lisholm functional score, by objective knee tests, and radiographically. Results. Correlation to treatment modalities showed that functional results were excellent and good in 86% of the patients following conservative treatment by P.O.P. cast, 77% treated by O.R.I.F., 75% treated by partial patellectomy and 78% treated by total patellectomy (objective results −79%, 72%, 72%, 66.66% respectively). No statistical differences were found between these groups. However, the correlation between these treatment modalities to grade of patellar comminution revealed that in two fragment fractures similar results were observed following partial patellectomy and O.R.I.F., whereas in patients with three or more fragment fractures, a significantly better outcome was observed after partial patellectomy (79% and 62% respectively). The patients with comminuted patellar fractures treated by partial patellectomy had also a better short and long-term outcome than with all other techniques. Conclusions. Based on this study it seems that O.R.I.F. remains as the first optimal treatment in simple two parts patellar fractures, where partial patellectomy should be considered as the treatment of choice in patients with patellar fractures of three or more fragments. Total patellectomy is the optional treatment in patients with comminuted fractures

Introduction. Although tension band wiring fixation of patellar fracture has been the most widely used technique, the metal implants related complications including implant loosening, postoperative pain are very common and additional surgeries are often necessary. Hypothesis. A totally metal free technique of transosseous suturing method could outperform the traditional fixation technique. Materials & Methods. A total of 25 patients (mean age of 59.60 years) with displaced patellar fracture treated by transosseous suturing technique were compared with a 1:1 matched historical control group who underwent modified tension band wiring fixation of patellar fracture. Union time, union rate, operation time, number of procedures, mean hospitalization days and the complications were compared between cases and controls. Results. Union time (8.43 ±2.92 weeks versus 8.64 ±2.82 weeks) and operation time (69.00 ±19.31 versus 64.89 ±14.27 minutes) were not different between two groups. Mean hospitalization days (4.04 ±1.40 versus 5.76 ±1.50 days; P < 0.001), number of procedures and the frequency of complications were significantly lower among transosseous suturing group (P< 0.001). Conclusions. Transosseous suturing technique is safe and effective in the transverse or comminuted fractures of patella. The complication rate is significantly lower than that of conventional tension band wiring technique

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the weightbearing practice of operatively managed fragility fractures in the setting of publically funded health services in the UK and Ireland.

Introduction. It is documented in the literature the very good results of lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) when the standard accepted indications are followed. In our experience these indications can be extended to include post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) with malunion secondary to tibial plateau fracture. We report our results concerning 15 UKAs in these particular situations. Material and methods. From 1985 to 2009, we performed 15 lateral UKAs in 15 patients for post traumatic OA secondary to malunion following a tibial plateau fracture. 7 were female and 8 male. The mean age of the patients at the time of the index procedure was 45±17 years and the mean delay from initial trauma was 5.4 years. The average follow-up was 108 months (range 12–265 months). Results. Twelve patients (12 over 15) were satisfied or very satisfied (80%). At follow up 2 had undergone a second operation: 1 osteosynthesis for patellar fracture and 1 conversion to TKA for progression of OA (at 13.7 years after UKA) and one remained unsatisfied. No revision surgery was necessary for wear or infection. The average femoral-tibial alignment was 4° valgus (range −6° to 8°). The mean IKS knee score was 95.3 points and mean IKS function score was 92 points. Discussion. Our results in the medium term are excellent. They support that the selection criteria for UKA can be extended to include these indications. A longer follow up is required before they can be routinely included in the conventional selection criteria for UKA

Aims

It is imperative to understand the risks of operating on urgent cases during the COVID-19 (SARS-Cov-2 virus) pandemic for clinical decision-making and medical resource planning. The primary aim was to determine the mortality risk and associated variables when operating on urgent cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary objective was to assess differences in the outcome of patients treated between sites treating COVID-19 and a separate surgical site.

Aims

Osteopetrosis (OP) is a rare hereditary disease that causes reduced bone resorption and increased bone density as a result of osteoclastic function defect. Our aim is to review the difficulties, mid-term follow-up results, and literature encountered during the treatment of OP.

We report a prospective single-blind controlled study of the incidence of early wound infection after internal fixation for trauma in 609 patients, of whom 132 were HIV-positive. Wounds were assessed for healing using the ASEPSIS score. There was no significant difference in the rate of infection between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients undergoing clean surgery (4.2% vs 6%, respectively; p = 0.65). HIV-positive patients did not receive additional antibiotic prophylaxis or antiretroviral therapy as part of their management. The difference in the rate of infection between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with an open fracture or other contamination was not significant (33% vs 15%, respectively; p = 0.064). There was no relationship between CD4 count and infection rate. HIV status did not significantly influence the number of secondary surgical procedures (p = 0.183) or the likelihood of developing chronic osteomyelitis (p = 0.131). Although previous contamination from the time of injury was a risk factor for infection in mal- and nonunions, it was not significantly increased in HIV-positive patients (p = 0.144).

We conclude that clean implant surgery in HIV-positive patients is safe, with no need for additional prophylaxis.

The results of the treatment of 31 open femoral fractures (29 patients) with significant bone loss in a single trauma unit were reviewed. A protocol of early soft-tissue and bony debridement was followed by skeletal stabilisation using a locked intramedullary nail or a dynamic condylar plate for diaphyseal and metaphyseal fractures respectively. Soft-tissue closure was obtained within 48 hours then followed, if required, by elective bone grafting with or without exchange nailing.

The mean time to union was 51 weeks (20 to 156). The time to union and functional outcome were largely dependent upon the location and extent of the bone loss. It was achieved more rapidly in fractures with wedge defects than in those with segmental bone loss. Fractures with metaphyseal defects healed more rapidly than those of comparable size in the diaphysis. Complications were more common in fractures with greater bone loss, and included stiffness of the knee, malunion and limb-length discrepancy.

Based on our findings, we have produced an algorithm for the treatment of these injuries. We conclude that satisfactory results can be achieved in most femoral fractures with bone loss using initial debridement and skeletal stabilisation to maintain length, with further procedures as required.