Introduction. Charcot neuroarthropathy is a limb threatening condition and the optimal surgical strategy for limb salvage in gross foot deformity remains unclear. We present our experience of using fine wire frames to correct severe midfoot deformity, followed by internal beaming to maintain the correction. Materials and Methods. Nine patients underwent this treatment between 2020–2023. Initial deformity correction by Ilizarov or hexapod butt frame was followed by internal beaming with a mean follow up of 11 months. A retrospective analysis of radiographs and electronic records was performed. Meary's angle, calcaneal pitch, cuboid height, hindfoot midfoot angle and AP Meary's angle were compared throughout treatment. Complications, length of stay and the number of operations are also described. Results. Mean age was 53 years (range:40–59). Mean frame duration was 3.3 months before conversion to beaming. Prior frame-assisted deformity correction resulted in consistently improved radiological parameters. Varying degrees of subsequent collapse were universal, but 5 patients still regained mobility and a stable, plantargrade, ulcer-free foot. Complications were common, including hardware migration (N=6,66%), breakage (N=2,22%), loosening (N=3,33%), infection (N=4,44%), 1 amputation and an unscheduled reoperation rate of 55%. Mean cumulative length of stay was 42 days. Conclusions. Aggressive deformity correction and internal fixation for Charcot arthropathy requires strategic and individualised care plans. Complications are expected for each patient. Patients must understand this is a limb salvage scenario. This management strategy is resource heavy and requires timely interventions at each stage with a well-structured MDT delivering care. The departmental learning points are to be discussed

Deformity correction is a fundamental goal in total knee arthroplasty. Severe valgus deformities often present the surgeon with a complex challenge. These deformities are associated with abnormal bone anatomy, ligament laxity and soft tissue contractures. Distorted bone anatomy is due to bone loss on the lateral femoral condyle, especially posteriorly. To a lesser extent bone loss occurs from the lateral tibia plateau. The AP axis (Whiteside's Line) or epicondylar axis must be used as a rotational landmark in the severely valgus knee. Gap balancing techniques can be helpful in the severely valgus knee, but good extension balance must be obtained before setting femoral rotation with this technique. Coronal alignment is generally corrected to neutral or 2- to 3-degree overcorrection to mild mechanical varus to unload the attenuated medial ligaments. The goal of soft tissue releases is to obtain rectangular flexion and extension gaps. Soft tissue releases involve the IT band, posterolateral corner/arcuate complex, posterior capsule, LCL, and popliteus tendon. Assessment of which structures is made and then releases are performed. In general, pie crust release of the IT band is sufficient for mild deformity. More severe deformities require release of the posterolateral corner / arcuate and posterior capsule. I prefer a pie crust technique, while Ranawat has described the use of electrocautery to perform these posterior/ posterolateral releases. In most cases the LCL is not released, however, this can be released from the lateral epicondyle, if necessary. Good ligament balance can be obtained in most cases, however, some cases with severe medial ligament attenuation require additional ligament constraint such as a constrained condylar implant

Deformity correction is a fundamental goal in total knee arthroplasty. Severe valgus deformities often present the surgeon with a complex challenge. These deformities are associated with abnormal bone anatomy, ligament laxity and soft tissue contractures. Distorted bone anatomy is due to bone loss on the lateral femoral condyle, especially posteriorly. To a lesser extent bone loss occurs from the lateral tibia plateau. The AP Axis (Whiteside's Line) or Epicondylar axis must be used as a rotational landmark in the severely valgus knee. Gap balancing techniques can be helpful in the severely valgus knee, but good extension balance must be obtained before setting femoral rotation with this technique. Coronal alignment is generally corrected to neutral or 2- to 3-degree overcorrection to mild mechanical varus to unload the attenuated medial ligaments. The goal of soft tissue releases is to obtain rectangular flexion and extension gaps. Soft tissue releases involve the IT band, Posterolateral Corner/Arcuate Complex, Posterior Capsule, LCL, and Popliteus Tendon. Assessment of which structures is made and then releases are performed. In general Pie Crust release of the ITB is sufficient for mild deformity. More severe deformities require release of the Posterolateral Corner/Arcuate Complex and Posterior Capsule. I prefer a pie crust technique, while Ranawat has described the use of electrocautery to perform these posterior/ posterolateral releases. In most cases the LCL is not released, however, this can be released from the lateral epicondyle, if necessary. Good ligament balance can be obtained in most cases, however, some cases with severe medial ligament attenuation require additional ligament constraint such as a constrained condylar implant

Management of a knee with valgus deformities has always been considered a major challenge. Total knee arthroplasty requires not only correction of this deformity but also meticulous soft tissue balancing and achievement of a balanced rectangular gap. Bony deformities such as hypoplastic lateral condyle, tibial bone loss, and malaligned/malpositioned patella also need to be addressed. In addition, external rotation of the tibia and adaptive metaphyseal remodeling offers a challenge in obtaining the correct rotational alignment of the components. Various techniques for soft tissue balancing have been described in the literature and use of different implant options reported. These options include use of cruciate retaining, sacrificing, substituting and constrained implants. Purpose. This presentation describes options to correct a severe valgus deformity (severe being defined as a femorotibial angle of greater than 15 degrees) and their long term results. Methods. 34 women (50 knees) and 19 men (28 knees) aged 39 to 84 (mean 74) years with severe valgus knees underwent primary TKA by a senior surgeon. A valgus knee was defined as one having a preoperative valgus alignment greater than 15 degrees on a standing anteroposterior radiograph. The authors recommend a medial approach to correct the deformity, a minimal medial release and a distal femoral valgus resection of angle of 3 degrees. We recommend a sequential release of the lateral structures starting anteriorly from the attachment of ITB to the Gerdy's tubercle and going all the way back to the posterolaetral corner and capsule. Correctability of the deformity is checked sequentially after each release. After adequate posterolateral release, if the tibial tubercle could be rotated past the mid-coronal plate medially in both flexion and extension, it indicated appropriate soft tissue release and balance. Fine tuning in terms of final piecrusting of the ITB and or popliteus was carried out after using the trial components. Valgus secondary to an extra-articular deformity was treated using the criteria of Wen et al. In our study the majority of severe valgus knees (86%) could be treated by using unconstrained (CR, PS) knee options reserving the constrained knee / rotating hinge options only in cases of posterolateral instability secondary to an inadequate large release or in situations with very lax or incompetent MCL. Results. The average follow up was 10 years (range 8 to 14 years). The average HSS knee scores improved from 48 points preoperatively (range 32 to 68 points) to 91 points (range 78 to 95 points) postoperatively. The average postoperative range of motion measured with a goniometer was 110 degrees (range 80 to 135 degrees) which was a significant improvement over the preoperative levels (average 65 degrees). None of the patients were clinically unstable in the medioloateral or anteroposterior plane at the time of final follow up. The average preoperative valgus tibiofemoral alignment was 19.6 degrees (range 15 degrees to 45 degrees). Postoperatively the average tibio-femoral alignment was 5 degrees (range 2 degrees to 7 degrees) of valgus. No patient in the study was revised. Conclusion. Adequate lateral soft tissue release is the key to successful TKA in valgus knees. The choice of implant depends on the severity of the valgus deformity and the extent of soft tissue release needed to obtain a stable knee with balanced flexion and extension gaps. The most minimal constraint needed to achieve stability and balance was used in this study. In our experience the long term results of TKR on severe valgus deformities using minimal constrained knee have been good

Deformity correction is a fundamental goal in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Severe valgus deformities often present the surgeon with a complex challenge. These deformities are associated with abnormal bone anatomy, ligament laxity and soft tissue contractures. Distorted bone anatomy is due to bone loss on the lateral femoral condyle, especially posteriorly. To a lesser extent bone loss occurs from the lateral tibia plateau. The AP Axis (Whiteside's Line) or Epicondylar axis must be used as a rotational landmark in the severely valgus knee. Gap balancing techniques can be helpful in the severely valgus knee, but good extension balance must be obtained before setting femoral rotation with this technique. Coronal alignment is generally corrected to neutral or 2 to 3 degree overcorrection to mild mechanical varus to unload the attenuated medial ligaments. The goal of soft tissue releases is to obtain rectangular flexion and extension gaps. Soft tissue releases involve the IT band, Posterolateral corner/Accurate Complex, Posterior Capsule, LCL, and Popliteus Tendon. Assessment of which structures is made and then releases are performed. In general Pie Crust release of the ITB is sufficient for mild deformity. More severe deformities require release of the Posterolateral corner/Accurate Complex and Posterior Capsule. I prefer a pie crust technique, while Ranawat has described the use of electrocautery to perform these posterior/ posterolateral releases. In most cases the LCL is not released, however, this can be released from the lateral epicondyle if necessary. Good ligament balance can be obtained in most cases, however, some cases with severe medial ligament attenuation require additional ligament constraint such as a constrained condylar implant

Objectives. The approach in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with severe valgus deformity is controversial. The lateral parapatellar approach has been proposed for several years, but surgical technique of this approach was unusual and difficult. Therefore, we have consistently been selected medial parapatellar approach (MPP) for all cases. In this study, we investigated the short term results of TKA for severe valgus deformity with MPP about clinical and radiographic assessment. Methods. Seven knees in seven cases of severe valgus knees with stand femorotibial angle (FTA) less than 160 degrees were enrolled. Osteoarthritis were 6 cases, hemophilic arthropathy was 1 case and no rheumatoid arthritis case. There were 6 female and 1 male, and mean age was 63.6 years (41–75 years). Duration of follow up ranged 3 months to 22.5 months, with mean of 10.9 months. We compared alignment on standing radiograph, range of motion (ROM), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (the JOA) score for osteoarthritic knee pre/postoperatively, and examined post operative complication retrospectively. Results. Significant changes of the range of motion pre- and postoperation were not obtained. The mean JOA score improved 50.0 preoperatively to 76.7 postoperatively. The mean stand FTA was corrected 149 degrees preoperatively to 174 degrees postoperatively (p0.001). Postoperative complications occurred in two cases. Aseptic loosening of tibial component due to pyoderma gangrenosum was one case, and peroneal nerve palsy was another. In the former case, revision TKA with varus-valgus constrained prosthesis were performed after a year from primary surgery. In the latter case, weakness of the extensor hallucis longus muscle was fully recovered 4 months later. Conclusion. The medial parapatellar approach was beneficial for TKA of severe valgus knee over the short term

Objective. Posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) is indicated in the management of severe rigid spine deformities. It is a complex surgical procedure and is only performed in a few spine centres due to the technical expertise required and associated risk. The purpose of this study is to review the indications, surgical challenges and outcomes of patients undergoing PVCR. Methods. 12 patients with severe spinal deformities who underwent PVCR were retrospectively reviewed after a follow-up of 2 years. Surgery was performed with the aid of motor evoked spinal cord monitoring and cellsaver when available. The average surgical duration was 310 minutes (100–490). The average blood loss was 1491 ml (0–3500). The indication for PVCR was gross deformity and myelopathy which was due to congenital spinal deformities and one case of old tuberculosis. Clinical records and the radiographic parameters were reviewed. Results. Kyphosis of an average of 72 degrees was corrected to 28 degrees. The associated scoliosis was corrected from an average of 49.2 to 21.2 degrees. Ten patients improved neurologically to ASIA D and E. One patient deteriorated markedly, required revision with no initial improvement but reached ASIA E at 6 months after surgery. Four patients had associated syringomyelia. All were re-scanned at 1 year. The three with small syrinx's demonstrated no progression on MRI and the large syrinx resolved completely. In addition to the neurological deterioration, complications included 1 right lower lobe pneumonia. Conclusion. PVCR is an effective option to correct complex rigid kyphoscoliosis. In addition it allows excellent circumferential decompression of the cord and neurological recovery. When the congenital scoliosis is associated with syringomyelia with no other cause evident, it may allow resolution of the syrinx. Key words: Posterior vertebral column resection, severe spinal deformities, myelopathy, syringomyelia. NO DISCLOSURES

In arthritic knees with severe valgus deformity Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) can be performed through medial or lateral parapatellar approaches. Many orthopaedic surgeons are apprehensive of using the lateral parapatellar approach due to lack of familiarity and concerns about complications related to soft tissue coverage and vascularity of the patella and the overlying skin. However surgeons who use this approach report good outcomes and no added complications. The purpose of our study was to compare outcomes following TKA performed through a medial parapatellar approach with those performed through a lateral parapatellar approach in arthritic knees with severe valgus deformity. We conducted a retrospective review of patients from two consultants using computer navigation for all their TKAs. All patients with severe valgus deformities (Ranawat 2 & 3 grades) operated on between January 2005 and December 2011 were included. 66 patients with 67 TKAs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Patients were group by approach; Medial = 34TKAs (34 patients) or Lateral = 33 TKAs (32 patients). Details were collected from patients' records, AP hip-knee-ankle (HKA) radiographs and computer navigation files. Outcome measures included lateral release rates, post-operative range of knee movements, long leg mechanical alignment measurements, post-operative Oxford scores at six weeks and one year, patient satisfaction and any complications. Comparisons were made between groups using t-tests. The total cohort had a mean age of 69 years [42–82] and mean BMI of 29 [19–46]. The two groups had comparable pre-operative Oxford scores (Medial 41[27–56], Lateral 44 [31–60]) and pre-operative valgus deformity measured on HKA radiographs (Medial 13° [10°–27.6°], Lateral 12° [6°–22°]). Three patients in the Medial group underwent intra-operative lateral patellar release to improve patellar tracking. Seven patients in the Lateral group had a lateral condyle osteotomy for soft tissue balancing (one bilateral). There was no statistically significant difference between groups at one year follow up for maximum flexion (Medial 100° [78°–122°], Lateral 100° [85°–125°], p=0.42), fixed flexion deformity (Medial 1.2° [0°–10°], Lateral 0.9° [0°–10°], p=0.31) or Oxford score (Medial 23 [12–37], Lateral 23 [16–41], p=0.49). Similarly there was no difference in the patient satisfaction rates between the two groups at one year follow up. However there was a statistically significant difference in the mean radiographic post-operative alignment angle measurement (Medial 1.8° valgus [4° varus to 10° valgus], Lateral 0.3° valgus [5° varus to 7° valgus], p=0.02). One patient in the Medial group had a revision to hinged knee prosthesis for post-operative instability. There was no wound breakdown or patellar avascular necrosis noted in either of the groups. The lateral parapatellar approach resulted in slightly better valgus correction on radiographs taken six weeks post-operatively. We found no major complications in the Lateral parapatellar approach group. Specifically we did not encounter any difficulties in closing the deep soft tissue envelope around the knee and there were no cases of patellar avascular necrosis or skin necrosis. Hence we conclude that lateral parapatellar approach is a safe and reliable alternative to the medial parapatellar approach for correction of severe valgus deformity in TKA

Background and Purpose of Study. The Valgus knee in total knee Arthroplasty, is considered a more demanding procedure, often with ligament balance a greater challenge than seen with neutral or Varus knees. It has also frequently been suggested that prostheses with higher levels of constraint be used to avoid late-onset instability. Various lateral release techniques have also been suggested in the literature. This study is aimed at assessing the outcomes of an unconstrained, rotating platform designed prosthesis, the LCS, using our technique, in the management of severe valgus deformity. Methods. 44 knees in 42 patients with a pre-operative valgus deformity of more than 10 degrees were included in our retrospective series. We analyzed the radiographs for the degree of correction, the angle of tibial tray implantation, and femoral implantation angle, tibial slope, as well as the presence (or degree) of lift off and any complications were noted. In this group, 7 had a Valgus deformity of greater than 25 degrees, with a mean Valgus deformity of 17,36 degrees. The mean age at operation was 65. Clinical and radiological analysis was done Pre-hospital discharge and again post-operatively 6 weeks. Results. The mean coronal alignment was corrected from 17,36 degrees to 5 degrees of Valgus post operatively. 2 knees were corrected past neutral to varus alignment. There was 1 case of bearing spin out experienced early on in the series. The mean tibial implant angle was 1,7 degrees from neutral. Lift off in the early post-operative X-rays was seen in 6 patients, however at 3 month follow up the knees appeared to be well balanced. There were no infections or revisions for wear, one re-operation for bearing dislocation, and no cases of loosening in our series. There were no cases of delayed instability. Patient satisfaction was 86 %. Conclusions. The rotating platform, mobile bearing prosthesis, using our technique, provided a reproducible correction of deformity in Valgus knees, a well-balanced knee, a low complication rate, and an excellent degree of patient satisfaction. NO DISCLOSURES

Valgus deformity is less common than varus. There is an associated bone deformity in many cases – dysplasia of the lateral femoral condyle. There are also soft tissue deformities, including tightness of the lateral soft tissues, and stretching of those on the medial side.

Unlike varus, where the bone deformity is primarily tibial, in valgus knees it is most often femoral. There is both a distal and a posterior hypoplasia of the lateral femoral condyle. This results in a sloping joint line, and failure to correct this results in valgus malalignment. Posterior lateral bone loss also results in accidental internal rotation of the femoral component, which affects patellar tracking. Using the trans-epicondylar axis and Whiteside's line helps to position the femoral component in the correct rotation.

Soft tissue balancing is more complex in the valgus knee. Releases are performed sequentially, depending on the particular combination of deformities. It is important to note whether the knee is tight in flexion, in extension, or both. Tightness in extension is the most common, and is corrected by release of the iliotibial band. Tightness in flexion as well as extension requires that the lateral collateral ligament +/− the popliteus tendon be released.

Cruciate substituting designs are helpful in many cases, and in extreme deformity with medial stretching, a constrained or “total stabilised” design is needed. Patellar maltracking is common, and a lateral retinacular release may be needed. Beware of over-releasing the posterolateral corner, as excessive release may cause marked instability. Use the pie-crust technique of Insall.

Children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) frequently present with coxa vara (CV). Skeletal fragility, severe deformity and limited fixation options make this a challenging condition to correct surgically. Our study aimed to determine the efficacy of the Fassier technique to correct CV and determine the complication rate. Retrospective, descriptive case series from a tertiary hospital. We retrospectively reviewed records of a cohort of eight children (four females, 12 hips) with OI (6/8 Sillence type III, 2/8 type IV) who had surgical treatment with Fassier technique for CV between 2014 and 2020. Inclusion Criteria: All patients with CV secondary to OI treated surgically with Fassier technique. Exclusion Criteria: Patients older than 18 years; Patients with CV treated non-operatively or by surgical technique different to Fassier technique. Data relating to the following parameters was collected and analyzed: demographic data, pre- and postoperative neck shaft angle (NSA), complications and NSA at final follow-up. The mean age at operation was 5.8 years (range 2–10). The mean NSA was corrected from 96.8° preoperatively to 137º postoperatively. At a mean follow-up of 38.6 months, the mean NSA was maintained at 133°, and 83% (10/12) of hips had an NSA that remained greater than 120°. There was a 42% (5/12) complication rate: three Fassier–Duval rods failed to expand after distal epiphyseal fixation was lost during growth; one Rush rod migrated through the lateral proximal femur cortex with recurrent coxa vara; and one Rush rod migrated proximally and required rod revision. The Fassier technique effectively corrected CV in children with moderate and progressively deforming OI. The deformity correction was maintained in the short term. The complication rate was high, but mainly related to the failed expansion of the Fassier–Duval rods

Introduction. Circular frames for ankle fusion are usually reserved for complex clinical scenarios. Current literature is heterogenous and difficult to interpret. We aimed to study the indications and outcomes of this procedure in detail. Materials & Methods. A retrospective cohort study was performed based on a prospective database of frame surgeries performed in a tertiary institution. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing complex ankle fusion with circular frames between 2005 and 2020, with a minimum 12-month follow up. Data were collected on patient demographics, surgical indications, comorbidities, surgical procedures, external fixator time (EFT), length of stay (LOS), radiological and clinical outcomes, and adverse events. Factors influencing radiological and clinical outcomes were analysed. Results. 47 patients were included, with a mean follow-up of three years. The mean age at time of surgery was 63.6 years. Patients had a median of two previous surgeries. The median LOS was 8.5 days, and median EFT was 237 days. Where simultaneous limb lengthening was performed, the average lengthening was 2.9cm, increasing the EFT by an average of 4 months. Primary and final union rates were 91.5% and 95.7% respectively. At last follow-up, ASAMI bone scores were excellent or good in 87.2%. ASAMI functional scores were good in 79.1%. Patient satisfaction was 83.7%. 97.7% of patients experienced adverse events, most commonly pin-site related, with major complications in 30.2% and re-operations in 60.5%. There were 3 amputations. Adverse events were associated with increased age, poor soft tissue condition, severe deformities, subtalar fusions, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and prolonged EFT. Conclusions. Complex ankle fusion using circular frames can achieve good outcomes in complicated clinical scenarios, however patients can expect a prolonged time in the frame and high rates of adverse events. Multiple risk factors were identified for poorer outcomes, which should be considered in patient counselling and prognostication

Constrained implants with intra-medullary fixation are expedient for complex TKA. Constraint is associated with loosening, but can correction of deformity mitigate risk of loosening?. Primary TKA's with a non-linked constrained prosthesis from 2010-2018 were identified. Indications were ligamentous instability or intra-medullary fixation to bypass stress risers. All included fully cemented 30mm stem extensions on tibia and femur. If soft tissue stability was achieved, a posterior stabilized (PS) tibial insert was selected. Pre and post TKA full length radiographs showed. i. hip-knee-ankle angles (HKAA). ii. Kennedy Zone (KZ) where hip to ankle vector crosses knee joint. 77 TKA's in 68 patients, average age 69.3 years (41-89.5) with OA (65%) post-trauma (24.5%) and inflammatory arthropathy (10.5%). Pre-op radiographs (62 knees) showed varus in 37.0%. (HKAA: 4. o. -29. o. ), valgus in 59.6% (HKAA range 8. o. -41. o. ) and 2 knees in neutral. 13 cases deceased within 2 years were excluded. Six with 2 year follow up pending have not been revised. Mean follow-up is 6.1 yrs (2.4-11.9yrs). Long post-op radiographs showed 34 (57.6%) in central KZ (HKKA 180. o. +/- 2. o. ). . Thirteen (22.0%) were in mechanical varus (HKAA 3. o. -15. o. ) and 12 (20.3%) in mechanical valgus: HKAA (171. o. -178. o. ). Three failed with infection; 2 after ORIF and one with BMI>50. The greatest post op varus suffered peri-prosthetic fracture. There was no aseptic loosening or instability. Only full-length radiographs accurately measure alignment and very few similar studies exist. No cases failed by loosening or instability, but PPF followed persistent malalignment. Infection complicated prior ORIF and elevated BMI. This does not endorse indiscriminate use of mechanically constrained knee prostheses. Lower demand patients with complex arthropathy, especially severe deformity, benefit from fully cemented, non-linked constrained prostheses, with intra-medullary fixation. Hinges are not necessarily indicated, and rotational constraint does not lead to loosening

Introduction. Hip arthrodiastasis for paediatric hip conditions such as Perthes disease is growing in popularity. Intended merits include halting the collapse of the femoral head and maintaining sphericity by minimising the joint reaction force. This can also be applied to protecting hip reconstruction following treatment of hip dysplasia. Our aim was to assess functional outcomes and complications in a cohort of paediatric patients. Materials and Methods. A retrospective single-surgeon cohort study was performed in a University teaching hospital from 2018–2021. Follow-up was performed via telephone interview and review of patient records. Complications, time in frame and functional scores using the WOMAC hip score were recorded. Results. Following review, 26 procedures were identified in 24 patients. Indications included 16 cases of Perthes disease, 4 following slipper upper femoral epiphysis, 3 avascular necrosis, and single cases following infection, dysplasia and a bone cyst. Pre-treatment WOMAC scores averaged 53.9, improving to 88.5 post-removal. Pin site infections were encountered in 11 patients, all treated with oral antibiotics. Two patients required early removal of frame due to pin loosening. Average time in frame was 3.9 months. Conclusions. This series displays how hip arthrodiastasis can be used to manage paediatric hip conditions. Complex reconstructions may be required in patients with severe deformity following perthes disease, DDH or SUFE. The use of arthrodiastasis in these patients aims to protect the reconstruction and potentially improve outcomes. A dedicated team of specialist nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists are crucial to the treatment program

It is unusual to require the use of a total knee implant with more constraint than a posterior-stabilised post in primary knee arthroplasty. The most common indication is a knee with a severe deformity, usually fixed valgus with an incompetent medial collateral ligament, and an inability to correctly balance the knee in both flexion and extension. The pre-operative deformity is usually greater than 15–20 degrees fixed valgus and may be associated with a severe flexion contracture. This is usually seen in an elderly female patient with advanced osteoarthritis. Those pre-operative diagnoses more likely to require a constrained design include advanced rheumatoid arthritis, true neuropathic joint, and the “Charcot-like” joint due to bone loss or crystalline arthritis. Rarely, patients with periarticular knee Paget's disease of bone may require more constraint following correction of a severe deformity through the knee joint. Beware those patients with a staple or screw at the medial epicondyle or those with severe heterotopic ossification at the medial joint line, as this may signify a serious prior injury to the medial collateral ligament. Finally, there is a possibility of inadvertent division of the medial collateral ligament intra-operatively. Although this situation may be treated with suture repair and bracing, my choice is to switch to more constraint and early unbraced motion. There are over 20 designs of varus-valgus constrained components, with a variety of tibial post designs with specific rotary and angular biomechanics, and many have the option of adding modular stems. Our experience with constrained, non-linked designs has been favorable with both the use of nonmodular and modular stem extensions. Longer-term survival analysis has shown a 96% survival at 10 years with these constrained components. However, the older designs frequently required a lateral retinacular release for proper patella tracking, and there were patella complications (fracture and osteonecrosis) in 16%. With a more modern design, over the past 12 years, the need for a lateral retinacular release and patella complications have been notably decreased. Varus-valgus constrained components have a small but important role in primary total knee arthroplasty for patients with severe deformity or an incompetent medial collateral ligament

Unstable chest wall injuries have high rates of mortality and morbidity. These injuries can lead to respiratory dysfunction, and are associated with high rates of pneumonia, sepsis, prolonged ICU stays, and increased health care costs. Numerous studies have demonstrated improved outcomes with surgical fixation compared to non-operative treatment. However, an adequately powered multi-centre randomized controlled study using modern fixation techniques has been lacking. We present a multi-centred, prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing surgical fixation of acute, unstable chest wall injuries with the current standard of non-operative management. Patients aged 16–85 with a flail chest (3 or more consecutive, segmental, displaced rib fractures), or severe deformity of the chest wall, were recruited from multiple trauma centers across North America. Exclusion criteria included: severe pulmonary contusion, severe head trauma, randomization>72 hours from injury, inability to perform surgical fixation within 96 hours from injury (in those randomized to surgery), fractures of the floating ribs, or fractures adjacent to the spine not amendable to surgical fixation. Patients were seen in follow-up for one year. The primary outcome was days free from mechanical ventilation in the first 28 days following injury. Secondary outcomes were days in ICU, rates of pneumonia, sepsis, need for tracheostomy, mortality, general health outcomes, pulmonary function testing, and other complications of treatment. A sample size of 206 was required to detect a difference of 2 ventilator-free days between the two groups, using a 2-tailed alpha error of 0.05 and a power of 0.80. A total of 207 patients were recruited from 15 sites across Canada and USA, from 2011–2018. Ninety-nine patients were randomized to non-operative treatment, and 108 were randomized to surgical fixation. Overall, the mean age was 53 years, and 75% of patients were male, with 25% females. The commonest mechanisms of injury were: motor vehicle collisions (34%), falls (20%), motorcycle collisions (14%), and pedestrian injuries (11%). The mean injury severity score (ISS) at admission was 26, and patients had a mean of 10 rib fractures. Eighty-nine percent of patients had pneumothorax, 76% had haemothorax, and 54% had pulmonary contusion. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of demographics. The final results will be available and presented at the COA meeting in Halifax. This is the largest randomized controlled trial to date, comparing surgical fixation to non-operative treatment of unstable chest wall and flail chest injuries. The results of this study will shed light on the best treatment options for patients with such injuries, help understand outcomes, and guide treatment. The final results will be available and presented at the COA meeting in Halifax

Introduction. Amputation or disarticulation is a reliable option for management of severe foot deformities and limb-length discrepancies, the surgical restoration of which are unpredictable or unfavourable. Of the various surgeries involving foot ablation, Syme's amputation is preferred for congenital deformities as it provides a growing, weight bearing stump with proprioception and cushioning. Materials and Methods. We reviewed data of all children who underwent Syme's amputation over the past 13 years at our institution. Surgical technique followed the same principles for Syme's but varied with surgeons. Results. Ten boys and ten girls, with an average age of 18 months and average follow up of 70 months were included in the study. The most common indication was fibular hemimelia. Wound complications were reported in three children, phantom pain in one, heel pad migration in two. None had wound dehiscence, flap necrosis, stump overgrowth, or calcaneal regrowth. None of this required surgical intervention. One child required an amputation at a higher-level secondary to a congenital malformation of nervous tissue in the affected leg. Prosthetic compatibility was 94.7 % and none used mobility aids. Six children participated in sports. Conclusions. Syme amputation is a safe and potentially advantageous procedure in children, with a low incidence of complications to offer patients with non-salvageable foot conditions. It offers good prosthetic use with minimal risk of complications and can offer patients a functional solution with only one surgical intervention throughout their childhood

Introduction. John Insall described medial release to balance the varus knee; the release he described included releasing the superficial MCL in severe varus cases. However, this release can create instability in the knee. Furthermore, this conventional wisdom does not correct the actual pathology which normally exists at the joint line, and instead it focuses on the distal end of the ligament where there is no pathology. We have established a new protocol consisting of 5 steps to balance the varus knee without releasing the superficial MCL and we tried this algorithm on a series of 115 patients with varus deformity and compared it to the outcome with a similar group that we have performed earlier using the traditional Insall technique. Material and method. 115 TKR were performed by the same surgeon using Zimmer Persona implant in varus arthritic knees. The deformities ranged from 15 to 35 degrees. First, the bony resection was made using Persona instrumentation as recommended by the manufacturer. The sequential balancing was divided into 5 steps (we will show a short video demonstrating the surgical techniques for each step) as follows:. Step 1: Releasing of deep MCL Step 2: Excising of osteophyte. Step 3: Excising of scarred tissue in the posteromedial corner soft phytes Step 4: Excision of the posteromedial capsule in case of flexion contracture Step 5: Releasing the semi-membranous (in gross deformity). We used soft tissue tensioner to balance the medial and lateral gaps. When the gaps are balanced at early step, there was no need to carry on the other steps. We used only primary implant and we did not have to use any constrained implant. We have compared this group with a similar group matched for deformity from previous 2 years where the conventional medial release as described by Insall. Results. We could balance all knees without releasing the superficial MCL ligament as follows:. -In[H1] 31 cases, we were able to balance the knees performing step 1 and step 2 only. -In 35 cases, we had to do step three in addition to 1 and 2 to achieve balance of cases. -In 25 cases, we performed step 4- those cases had pre-operative flexion contracture. -We had to proceed to step 5 only in 14 cases. These patients had the worst deformity in the group. We have used primary TKR in all cases; in 83 cases, we used a CR implant and in the rest, we used PS implant. Comparing this to the earlier conventional release we had to use 11 CCK implant on severe cases. Patient satisfaction was better with the new algorithm group when compared with the traditional release. Preserving the superficial MCL allowed us to maintain stability post-operatively and allowed us to use minimum constraint such as CR in severe deformity. Discussion. Many literatures have confirmed that cutting superficial MCL causes major medial instability after TKA. Releasing or pie crusting the superficial MCL can cause MCL insufficiency. Our protocol enable the surgeon to tackle the pathology rather than take a short-cut and releasing the superficial MCL. Reserving the superficial MCL allowed us to use minimal constraint even in severe deformity of 40 degrees of varus deformity. The conventional release has resulted in some cases instability, forcing us to use higher constraint such as CCK. Conclusion. Although releasing the superficial MCL has been described in different ways in multiple literature, little attention has been paid to the pathology of the posteromedial corner. This paper clearly shows that the complex anatomy of the posteromedial corner require us to pay better attention and this paper present better algorithm reserving the superficial MCL and enabling us to correct the deformity and balancing the soft tissue without instability. We strongly recommend surgeons not to release the superficial MCL because this will create instability in some cases

Aim. In surgeries on patients with advanced ligament instabilities or severe bone defects modern-generation of rotating hinged knee prostheses are one of the main options. The objective of our study is to evaluate the mid-term functional results and complications of several surgeries using this form of prosthesis. Material and Method. The rotating hinged knee prosthesis (RHKP) was applied to 208 knees of 204 patients in primary surgeries between September 2009 and December 2017, the minimum followup was 15 months (mean, 65 months; range, 15–115 months). Of the total number of female patients there were 152 (74.5%), men − 52 (25.5%). The average age of the patients was 64,6 years (from 32 to 85). The main indications for using RHKP were severe varus deformity with flexion contracture in 107 knees (51,4%), severe valgus deformity (from 20 to 50 degrees) in 54 knees (26,0 %), severe ligamentous deficiencies in 24 knees (11,5%) and ankylosis in the flexion position in 23 cases (11,1%). Patients were evaluated clinically (Knee Society score) and radiographically (positions of components, signs of loosening, bone loss). Results. The average Knee Society Knee Scores, and Knee Society Functional Scores were 27, and 18, respectively, before the surgery; and 86, and 77 in the final post-surgery follow-ups. In addition, the average range of motion increased from the pre-operative level of 46 to 104 degrees at the final evaluation. Four patients (2%) had various complications after the surgery : two patients had deep infection, in one case took place fracture of the hinge mechanism and in one - post-operative rupture of the patellar tendon. Conclusions. Primary knee arthroplasty using RKHP can be successful in cases with advanced ligament instability or severe bone defects. Modern-generation of the kinematic rotating-hinge total knee prostheses allow to achieve in difficult primary cases the same consistently good results as commonly used constructions in standard situations

Patient specific instrumentation (PSI) for elective knee replacements in arthritic knees with severe deformities and in revision scenarios is becoming increasingly popular due to the advantage of restoring the limb axes, improved theatre efficiency and outcomes. Currently available systems use CT scan or MRI for pre-operative templating for design considerations with varied accuracy for sizing of implants. We prospectively evaluated 200 knees in 188 patients with arthritic knees with deformities requiring serial clinical assessment, radiographs and CT scans for PSI templating for TruMatch knee system (DepuySynthes, Leeds, UK). The common indications included severe arthritic deformities, previous limb fractures and in obese limbs with difficult clinical assessment. Surgical procedure was performed on standard lines with the customised cutting blocks. The ‘lead up’ time between the implant request and the operating date was 5 weeks on an average. We compared the pre op CT images and the best fit post-operative x- rays. The sizing accuracy for femur and tibia was 98.93 % and 95.75% respectively. All blocks fitted the femur and tibia. There were no bail outs, no cutting block breakage, 1 patient had residual deformity of 20 degrees, and 1 patient had late infection. The length of hospital stay, economic viability in terms of theatre turnover, less operating time, cost of sterilisation in comparison to conventional knee replacement surgery with other factors being unchanged was also assessed. The projected savings was substantial along with improved geometrical restoration of the knee anatomy. We recommend the use of PSI based on CT scan templating in difficult arthritic knees