The presence of metastatic bone disease (MBD) often necessitates major orthopaedic surgery. Patients will enter surgical care either through emergent or electively scheduled care pathways. Patients in a pain crisis or with an acute fracture are generally admitted via emergent care pathways whereas patients with identified high-risk bone lesions are often booked for urgent yet scheduled elective procedures. The purpose of this study is to compare the post-operative outcomes of patients who present through emergent or electively scheduled care pathways in patients in a Canadian health care system. We have conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of all patients presenting for surgery for MBD of the femur, humerus, tibia or pelvis in southern Alberta between 2006 and 2021. Patients were identified by a search query of all patients with a diagnosis of metastatic cancer who underwent surgery for an impending or actual pathologic fracture in the Calgary, South and Central Alberta Zones. Subsequent chart reviews were performed. Emergent surgeries were defined by patients admitted to hospital via urgent care mechanisms and managed via unscheduled surgical bookings (“on call list”). Elective surgeries were defined by patients seen by an orthopaedic surgeon at least once prior to surgery, and booked for a scheduled urgent, yet elective procedure. Outcomes include overall survival from the time of surgery, hospital length of stay, and 30-day hospital readmission rate. We have identified 402 patients to date for inclusion. 273 patients (67.9%) underwent surgery through emergent pathways and 129 patients (32.1%) were treated through urgent, electively scheduled pathways. Lung, prostate, renal cell, and breast cancer were the most common primary malignancies and there was no significant difference in these primaries amongst the groups (p=0.06). Not surprisingly, emergent patients were more likely to be treated for a pathologic fracture (p<0.001) whereas elective patients were more likely to be treated for an impending fracture (p<0.001). Overall survival was significantly shorter in the emergent group (5.0 months, 95%CI: 4.0-6.1) compared to the elective group (14.9 months 95%CI: 10.4-24.6) [p<0.001]. Hospital length of stay was significantly longer in the emergent group (13 days, 95%CI: 12-16 versus 5 days, 95%CI: 5-7 days). There was a significantly greater rate of 30-day hospital readmission in the emergent group (13.3% versus 7.8%) [p=0.01]. Electively managed MBD has multiple benefits including longer post-operative survival, shorter length of hospital stay, and a lower rate of 30-day hospital readmission. These findings from a Canadian healthcare system demonstrate clinical value in providing elective orthopaedic care when possible for patients with MBD. Furthermore, care delivery interventions capable of decreasing the footprint of emergent surgery through enhanced screening or follow-up of patients with MBD has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes in this population. This is an ongoing study that will justify refinements to the current surgical care pathways for MBD in order to identify patients prior to emergent presentation. Future directions will evaluate the costs associated with each care delivery method to provide opportunity for health economic efficiencies

Aim. Clavicular osteotomy was described as an adjunct to deltopectoral approach for improved exposure of the glenohumeral joint. This study aims to present contemporary outcomes and complications associated with the routine use of clavicular osteotomy by a single surgeon in a regional setting within New Zealand. Methods. A retrospective case series of patients who have undergone any shoulder arthroplasty for any indication between March 2017 to August 2022. This time period includes all patients who had clavicular osteotomy(OS) and patients over an equal time period prior to the routine use of osteotomy as a reference group (N-OS). Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and a Simple Shoulder Test (STT) were used to assess functional outcomes and were compared with the reported literature. Operative times and Complications were reviewed. Results. 66 patients were included in the study. 33 patients in the OS group and 33 in the N-OS group. No difference in age, sex, indications for operative intervention and the surgery provided was identified. No significant difference in operative time between groups (N-OS 121 minutes; OS 128 minutes). No clinically significant difference was identified in the OSS (N-OS; mean 38 vs OS 39) or the STT (N-OS 8.3 vs OS 9). The outcomes scores of both groups are in keeping with published literature. Two post operative clavicle fractures, one prominent surgical knot occurred in the OS that required further surgical intervention. Two cases of localized pain over the clavicle and one case of the prominent lateral clavicle were reported in the OS group. Two cases of localized pain over clavicle reported in the N-OS group. Conclusion. Use of clavicular osteotomy is not associated with inferior patient reported. The osteotomy introduces specific risks, however, the study provides evidence that these complications are infrequent and avoidable. Surgeons should feel confident in using this adjunct when exposure to the shoulder is difficult

The burden of metastatic bone disease (MBD) in our Canadian cancer population continues to increase. MBD has a significant effect on patient morbidity, mortality, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). There are various technical options used to surgically stabilize MBD lesions, surgical decision-making is variable and largely dependent on anatomic and surgeon-based factors. There is a paucity of research examining how surgical decision-making for MBD can be modified or individualized to improve quality of life (QOL) and functional outcomes, while more accurately aligning with patient-reported goals and expectations. The objective of this study was tosurvey MBD patients, support persons, physicians, and allied health care providers (HCP) with the goal of identifying 1) important contributors to HRQOL, 2) discordance in peri-operative expectations, and 3) perceived measures of success in the surgical management of MBD. This project is a longitudinal patient-engaged research initiative in MBD. A survey was developed based on HRQOL themes in the literature and based on feedback from our patient research partners. Participants were asked to identify 1) important contributors to HRQOL and 2) perceived measures of success relevant to the surgical management of MBD. Participants were asked to rank themes from ‘extremely important’ to ‘not important at all’. Using open-ended questions, participants were asked to identify areas of improvement. Responses from the open-ended questions were analyzed by an experienced qualitative researcher using conventional content analysis. Participant's demographics were calculated using descriptive statistics. Concordance or discordance of perceived measure of success was assessed via a Chi-Square test of independence. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS® software. Nine patients, seven support persons, 23 orthopaedic surgeons, 11 medical oncologists, 16 radiation oncologists, 16 nurses, and eight physiotherapists completed the survey. Regarding perceived measures of success, increased life expectancy (p Two main themes emerged around the timeliness of surgical care and the coordination of multidisciplinary care from patients and support persons. Patients and support persons expressed a sense of urgency in progressing to surgery/treatment, and frustration at perceived delays in treatment. Within coordination of care, patients and support persons would like clearer communication from the health care team. There is discordance between patient/support person goals compared to physicians/HCP goals in the surgical management of MBD. Surgical decision-making and operative techniques that minimize disease progression and improve survival are important to MBD patients. Timely access to surgery/surgical consultation and improved multidisciplinary communication is important to patients. This data suggests improved peri-operative communication and education is needed for MBD patients. Furthermore, future research evaluating how modern orthopaedic surgical techniques influence survival and disease progression in MBD is highly relevant and important to patients with MBD

Introduction. A common acute orthopaedic presentation is an ulcerated or infected foot secondary to diabetic neuropathy. Surgical debridement or amputation are often required to manage this complication of diabetes. International literature indicates that amputation may lead to further complications and an increased mortality rate. The aim of this study is to investigate the mortality rate associated with different surgical interventions. This will inform surgical management of patients presenting with acute foot complications from diabetes. Methods. This is a retrospective review of patients with diabetic foot infections aged >16 years attending Middlemore Hospital over a 10-year period (2012–2021). Clinical records were examined to determine whether patients were managed with no surgery, surgery but not amputation, or amputation. We recorded relevant baseline characteristics and comorbidities. Regression models were used to determine factors associated with mortality. Results. Over the study period, 1260 patients were included in analysis. Patients were divided into three groups, a control group who received no surgical intervention (n=554), those receiving surgery but not amputation (n=269), and those who underwent amputation (n=437). After adjustment for potential confounders, mortality rates were significantly higher in those who underwent amputation compared with those who received surgical intervention without amputation. Survival probability at 1 year and 5 years was highest in the surgical intervention but not amputation group. Conclusion. It is clinically important that there is a lower mortality rate in patients who undergo surgical intervention without amputation. Treatment that aims to salvage the limb rather than amputate should be considered in management of patients with diabetic foot complications to optimise their care

INTRODUCTION. Simulation plays an important role in surgical education and the ability to perfect surgical performance. Simulation can be enhanced by adding various layers of realism to the experience. Haptic feedback enhances the simulation experience by providing tactile responses and virtual reality imagery provides an immersive experience and allows for greater appreciation of three-dimensional structures. In this study, we present a proof-of-concept haptic simulator to replicate key steps of a cervical laminoplasty procedure. The technology uses affordable components and is easily modifiable so that it can be used from novice through to expert level. Custom models can be easily added ensuring the simulator can be used in a wide range of orthopaedic applications from baseline education through to day of surgery pre-operative simulation. METHOD. We used the Unity Game Engine, the 3D Systems “Touch” Haptic Feedback Device (HFD), and a Meta Quest VR headset. Our system uses a number of complex algorithms to track the shape and provide haptic feedback of a virtual bone model. This allows for simulation of various tools including a high-speed burr, Kerrison rongeur and intraoperative X-rays. RESULTS. Our simulator replicates the tactile sensations of bone-burring tasks. Although we focused on the cervical laminoplasty procedure, the system can load data from CT scans, enabling the simulation of multiple other procedures. The parts cost of our system, $10,000 NZD, is a fraction of the cost of traditional surgical simulators. DISCUSSION. Our simulator reduces financial barriers to accessing orthopaedic simulators. Trainees can perform hands-on practice without compromising patient safety. The immersive nature of VR, combined with realistic haptic feedback, enables trainees to develop the dexterity and three-dimensional understanding of detailed bony work. Further refinements are needed before we can perform validation studies on our system. CONCLUSIONS. We present an affordable surgical simulator capable of simulating bony surgical procedures in a VR environment using haptic feedback technology and consumer-grade components. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. This research was made possible by the generosity of the Wishbone Trust

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection of the musculoskeletal tissue is a rare disease. An early and accurate diagnosis is often difficult because of the indolent clinical course and difficulty of isolating pathogens. Our goal was to determine the clinical features of musculoskeletal NTM infection and to present the treatment outcomes. A total of 29 patients (nine females, 20 males between 34 and 85 years old, mean age 61.7 years; 34 to 85) with NTM infection of the musculoskeletal system between 1998 to 2011 were identified and their treatment retrospectively analysed. Microbiological studies demonstrated NTM in 29 patients: the isolates were Mycobacterium intracellulare in six patients, M. fortuitum in three, M. abscessus in two and M. marinum in one. In the remaining patients we failed to identify the species. The involved sites were the hand/wrist in nine patients the knee in five patients, spine in four patients, foot in two patients, elbow in two patients, shoulder in one, ankle in two patients, leg in three patients and multiple in one patient. The mean interval between the appearance of symptoms and diagnosis was 20.8 months (1.5 to 180). All patients underwent surgical treatment and antimicrobial medication according to our protocol for chronic musculoskeletal infection: 20 patients had NTM-specific medication and nine had conventional antimicrobial therapy. At the final follow-up 22 patients were cured, three failed to respond to treatment and four were lost to follow-up. Identifying these diseases due the initial non-specific presentation can be difficult. Treatment consists of surgical intervention and adequate antimicrobial therapy, which can result in satisfactory outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1561–5

Aims. Global literature suggests that female surgical trainees have lower rates of independent operating (operative autonomy) than their male counterparts. The objective of this study was to identify any association between gender and lead/independent operating in speciality orthopaedic trainees within the UK national training programme. Methods. This was a retrospective case-control study using electronic surgical logbook data from 2009 to 2021 for 274 UK orthopaedic trainees. Total operative numbers and level of supervision were compared between male and female trainees, with correction for less than full-time training (LTFT), prior experience, and time out during training (OOP). The primary outcome was the percentage of cases undertaken as lead surgeon (supervised and unsupervised) by UK orthopaedic trainees by gender. Results. All participants gave permission for their data to be used. In total, 274 UK orthopaedic trainees submitted data (65% men (n = 177) and 33% women (n = 91)), with a total of 285,915 surgical procedures logged over 1,364 trainee-years. Males were lead surgeon (under supervision) on 3% more cases than females (61% (115,948/189,378) to 58% (50,285/86,375), respectively; p < 0.001), and independent operator (unsupervised) on 1% more cases. A similar trend of higher operative numbers in male trainees was seen for senior (ST6 to 8) trainees (+5% and +1%; p < 0.001), those with no time OOP (+6% and +8%; p < 0.001), and those with orthopaedic experience prior to orthopaedic specialty training (+7% and +3% for lead surgeon and independent operator, respectively; p < 0.001). The gender difference was less marked for those on LTFT training, those who took time OOP, and those with no prior orthopaedic experience. Conclusion. This study showed that males perform 3% more cases as the lead surgeon than females during UK orthopaedic training (p < 0.001). This may be due to differences in how cases are recorded, but must engender further research to ensure that all surgeons are treated equitably during their training. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(7):821–832

Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are common, accounting for approximately 5% of all fractures. Approximately 30% require surgical intervention which can range from open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) to shoulder arthroplasty (including hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, (TSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA)). The aim of this study was to assess trends in operative interventions for PHF in an Australian population. Data was retrospectively collected for patients diagnosed with a PHF and requiring surgical intervention between January 2001 and December 2020. Data for patients undergoing ORIF were extracted from the Medicare database, while data for patients receiving arthroplasty for PHF were obtained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR). Across the study period, ORIF was the most common surgical procedure for management of PHFs. However, since 2019, RTSA has surpassed ORIF as the most common surgical procedure to treat PHFs, accounting for 51% of operations. While the number of RTSA procedures for PHF has increased, ORIF and shoulder hemiarthroplasty has significantly reduced since 2007 (p < 0.001). TSA has remained uncommon across the follow-up period, accounting for less than 1% of all operations. Patients younger than 65 years were more likely to receive ORIF, while those aged 65 years or greater were more likely to receive hemiarthroplasty or RTSA. While the number of ORIF procedures has increased during the period of interest, it has diminished as a proportion of overall procedure volume. RTSA is becoming increasingly popular, with decreasing utilization of hemiarthroplasty, and TSA for fracture remaining uncommon. These trends provide information that can be used to guide resource allocation and health provision in the future. A comparison to similar data from other nations would be useful

The minimisation of errors incurred during the learning process is thought to enhance motor learning and improve performance under pressure or in multitasking situations. If this is proven in surgical skills learning, it has the potential to enhance the delivery of surgical education. We aimed to compare errorless and errorful learning using the high-speed burr. Medical students (n=30) were recruited and allocated randomly to an errorless or errorful group. The errorless learning group progressively learnt tasks from easy to difficult on cedar boards simulating bone. The errorful learning group also progressed through the same tasks but not in order of difficulty. Transfer tasks assessed students’ performance of cervical laminoplasty on saw bone models to assess their level of learning from previous stages. During transfer task 2, students completed the procedure under time pressure and in the presence of distractors, in order to simulate real-life stressors in theatre. Accuracy, precision and safety of the procedure were scored by expert opinions from spine surgeons blinded to the grouping of the participants. Both errorless and errorful learners demonstrated improvements in performance with increasing amounts of practice (demonstrated by the decreased time taken for the task as well as improvement in accuracy of the cuts (depth, width and smoothness). The performance of both groups was not impaired by the incorporation of a secondary task which required participants to multitask. No statistically significant difference in performance was noted between the two groups. In contrast to previous research, there was no significant difference between errorless or errorful learning to develop skills with a high-speed, side-cutting burr. In both groups, practical learning during the session has led to improvement in overall performance with the burr relevant to cervical laminoplasty

Abstract. Background. Reconstruction following resection of sarcomas of the upper extremity with methods described in the prevalent literature may not be possible in few selected cases. We describe Surgical Phocomelia or Phoco-reduction as a method of limb salvage in such cases of extensive sarcomas of the upper limb with its functional and oncological outcomes. Methods. Evaluation of functional and oncological outcomes was performed for 11 patients who underwent surgical phocomelia or phocoreduction for extensive sarcomas of the upper limb between 2010 and 2019. Results. Mean follow-up period in the study was27.8 months. Five patients required a segmental resection including the entire humerus while 6 patients underwent segmental resection around the elbow with a mean resection length of 21.5 cm. Mean MSTS 93 score was 22 depicting a good functional outcome. Mean hand grip strength on the operated side was 62% of the contralateral side with preservation of useful hand function. Mean time to humero-ulnar union was 6.7 months. Radial nerve palsy and implant failure occurred in 1 patient each. No patient developed local recurrence while 3 patients died of metastasis. Conclusion. Surgical phocomelia is a prudent alternative to severely incapacitating amputations in situations where other reconstruction methods are not feasible

Surgical site infections following orthopaedic surgery are a serious complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Intra-wound antibiotic powder may be able to provide infection prophylaxis locally with less systemic adverse effects, and promising results have been reported in systematic reviews of its use in spine surgery. This study aims to analyse the efficacy and adverse effect profile of intra-wound antibiotics in reducing surgical site infections in orthopaedic surgery for traumatic pelvic and lower limb fractures. A systematic review was conducted for studies reporting on the incidence of surgical site infections following administration of intra-wound antibiotic powder in pelvic and lower limb trauma surgery. Randomised controlled trials, cohort and case-control studies were included. A meta-analysis was conducted for deep surgical site infections. Seven studies were included in the systematic review including six retrospective case-control studies and one randomised controlled trial. Results of the meta-analysis suggest a potential 23% reduction in the odds of developing a deep surgical site infection in patients treated with intra-operative antibiotic powder compared with those managed with intravenous antibiotics alone (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.52 – 1.13), although the results did not reach statistical significance. Notable selective bias against intra-wound antibiotics and suboptimal study design were found in the retrospective studies, however the randomised controlled trial reported a significant reduction in deep surgical site infections with intra-wound vancomycin powder. There were no reports of systemic adverse outcomes and minimal risk of wound complications with the use of intra-wound antibiotics. This review suggests the use of intra-wound antibiotic powder in pelvic and lower limb trauma surgery may reduce the incidence of deep surgical site infections. Further powered studies including randomised controlled trials are required to confirm the results highlighted in this study

Dysmorphic pelves are a known risk factor for malpositioned iliosacral screws. Improved understanding of pelvic morphology will minimise the risk of screw misplacement, neurovascular injuries and failed fixation. Existing classifications for sacral anatomy are complex and impractical for clinical use. We propose a CT-based classification using variations in pelvic anatomy to predict the availability of transosseous corridors across the sacrum. The classification aims to refine surgical planning which may reduce the risk of surgical complications. The authors postulated 4 types of pelves. The “superior most point of the sacroiliac joint” (sSIJ) typically corresponds with the mid-lower half of the L5 vertebral body. Hence, “the anterior cortex of L5” (L5. a. ) was divided to reference 3 distinct pelvic groups. A 4. th. group is required to represent pelves with a lumbosacral transitional vertebra. The proposed classification:. A – sSIJ is above the midpoint of L5. a. B – sSIJ is between the midpoint and the lowest point of L5. a. C – sSIJ is below the lowest point of L5. a. D – pelves with a lumbosacral transitional vertebra. Specific measures such as the width of the S1 and S2 axial and coronal corridors and the S1 lateral mass angles were used to differentiate between pelvic types. Three-hundred pelvic CT scans were classified into their respective types. Analysis of the specific measures mentioned above illustrated the significant difference between each pelvic type. Changes in the size of S1 and S2 axial corridors formed a pattern that was unique for each pelvic type. The intra- and inter-observer ratings were 0.97 and 0.95 respectively. Distinct relationships between the sizes of S1 and S2 axial corridors informed our recommendations on trans-sacral or iliosacral fixation, number and orientation of screws for each pelvic type. This classification utilises variations in the posterior pelvic ring to offer a planning guide for the insertion of iliosacral screws

Most cost containment efforts in public health systems have focused on regulating the use of hospital resources, especially operative time. As such, attempting to maximize the efficiency of limited operative time is important. Typically, hospital operating room (OR) scheduling of time is performed in two tiers: 1) master surgical scheduling (annual allocation of time between surgical services and surgeons) and 2) daily scheduling (a surgeon's selection of cases per operative day). Master surgical scheduling is based on a hospital's annual case mix and depends on the annual throughput rate per case type. This throughput rate depends on the efficiency of surgeons’ daily scheduling. However, daily scheduling is predominantly performed manually, which requires that the human planner simultaneously reasons about unknowns such as case-specific length-of-surgery and variability while attempting to maximize throughput. This often leads to OR overtime and likely sub-optimal throughput rate. In contrast, scheduling using mathematical and optimization methods can produce maximum systems efficiency, and is extensively used in the business world. As such, the purpose of our study was to compare the efficiency of 1) manual and 2) optimized OR scheduling at an academic-affiliated community hospital representative of most North American centres. Historic OR data was collected over a four year period for seven surgeons. The actual scheduling, surgical duration, overtime and number of OR days were extracted. This data was first configured to represent the historic manual scheduling process. Following this, the data was then used as the input to an integer linear programming model with the goal of determining the minimum number of OR days to complete the same number of cases while not exceeding the historic overtime values. Parameters included the use of a different quantile for each case type's surgical duration in order to ensure a schedule within five percent of the historic overtime value per OR day. All surgeons saw a median 10% (range: 9.2% to 18.3%) reduction in the number of OR days needed to complete their annual case-load compared to their historical scheduling practices. Meanwhile, the OR overtime varied by a maximum of 5%. The daily OR configurations differed from historic configurations in 87% of cases. In addition, the number of configurations per surgeon was reduced from an average of six to four. Our study demonstrates a significant increase in OR throughput rate (10%) with no change in operative time required. This has considerable implications in terms of cost reduction, surgical wait lists and surgeon satisfaction. A limitation of this study was that the potential gains are based on the efficiency of the pre-existing manual scheduling at our hospital. However, given the range of scenarios tested, number of surgeons included and the similarity of our hospital size and configuration to the majority of North American hospitals with an orthopedic service, these results are generalizable. Further optimization may be achieved by taking into account factors that could predict case duration such as surgeon experience, patients characteristics, and institutional attributes via machine learning

Aim. The origin of surgical site and biomaterial-associated infection is still elusive. Microorganisms contaminating the wound may come from the air, the surgical team, or from the skin of the patient. Prior to surgery the skin of patients is disinfected, but bacteria deeper in the skin (e.g. in sweat glands or sebaceous glands), may not be reached. This study aims to assess a potential role of this intracutaneous bacterial reservoir in biomaterial-associated infection. Method. To study if cutaneous microbiota colonize the wound when released from the skin upon cutting, we isolated, quantified and identified aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from the skin of 99 patients undergoing trauma surgery, before and after skin disinfection, from the knife blades and from the wound directly after the first cut. Results. Ninety-nine percent of the patients were culture-positive before disinfection with chlorhexidine. Of these, 40% were still culture-positive after disinfection. Of these, 54% had a positive culture of the wound after the skin cut. Twenty percent of the patients with a negative culture after disinfection, nevertheless had a positive wound culture after cutting the skin. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes were the most often cultured bacterial species. In 9%, more than 100 bacterial colonies were cultured from the wound, a dose that may cause biomaterial-associated infections. Conclusions. Bacteria residing in the skin and not eradicated by disinfection may enter the surgical wound upon cutting, resulting in contamination which may cause a biomaterial-associated infection. Use of two knifes likely reduces the risk of wound contamination

Sacral fractures are often underdiagnosed, but are frequent in the setting of pelvic ring injuries. They are mostly caused by high velocity injuries or they can be pathological in aetiology. We sought to assess the clinical outcomes of the surgically treated unstable sacral fractures, with or without neurological deficits. unstable sacral fractures were included in the study. Single centre, prospectively collected data, retrospective review of patients who sustained vertically unstable fractures of the sacrum who underwent surgical fixation. out of a total of 432 patients with pelvis and acetabulum injuries. fifty six patients met the inclusion criteria. 18 patients had sustained zone one injuries. 14 patients had zone 2 injuries and 10 patients had zone 3 injurie. Operative fixation was performed percutaneously using cannulated screws in 18 patients.. Open fixation of the sacrum using the anterior approach in 6 patients. Posterior approach was indicates in all 10 of the zone 3 injuries of the sacrum. While in 4 patients, combined approaches were used. 3 patients had decompression and spinopelvic fixation. Neurological deficits were present in 16% of the patients. 2 patients presented with neurgenic bladder. Of the 4 patients who had neurological fall out, 3 resolved with posterior decompression and posterior fixation. All 4 neurological deficits were due to taction or compression of the nerve roots. No hardware failures or non unions observed. The rate of neurological deficit was related more to the degree of pelvic ring instability than to a particular fracture pattern. Low rates of complications and successful surgical treatment of sacral fractures is achiavable. Timeous accurate diagnosis mandatory

There is no agreement as to the superiority or specific indications for cast treatment, percutaneous pinning or open fracture fixation for Bennett's fractures of the thumb metacarpal. We undertook this study to compare the outcomes of treatment for patients treated for Bennett's fracture in the medium term. We reviewed 33 patients treated in our unit for a bennett's fracture to the thumb metacarpal with closed reduction and casting. Each patient was matched with a patient treated surgically. Patients were matched for sex, age, Gedda grade of injury and hand dominance. Patients were reviewed at a minimum of 5-years and 66-patients were reviewed in total. Patients were examined clinically and also asked to complete a DASH questionnaire score and the brief Michigan hand questionnaire. Follow up plain radiographs were taken of the thumb and these were reviewed and graded for degenerative change using the Eaton-Littler score. Sixty-six patients were included in the study, with 33 in the surgical and non-surgical cohorts respectively. The average age was 39 years old. In each cohort, 12/33 were female, 19/33 were right-handed with 25% of individuals injuring their dominant hand. In each coort there were 16 Grade 1 fractures, 4 Grade 2 and 13 Grade 3 fractures. There was no difference between the surgically treated and cast-treatment cohorts of patients when radiographic arthritis, pinch grip, the brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire and pain were assessed at final review. The surgical cohort had significantly lower DASH scores at final follow-up. There was no significant difference in the normalised bMHQ scores. Our study was unable to demonstrate superiority of either operative or non-operative fracture stabilization. Patients in the surgical cohort reported superior satisfaction and DASH scores but did not demonstrate any superiority in any other objectively measured domain

Introduction. Snapping hip syndrome is a common condition affecting 10% of the population. It is due to the advance of the iliotibial band (ITB) over the greater trochanter during lower limb movements and often associated with hip overuse, such as in athletic activities. Management is commonly conservative with physiotherapy or can be surgical to release the ITB. Here we carry out a systematic review into published surgical management and present a case report on an overlooked cause of paediatric snapping hip syndrome. Materials & Methods. A systematic review looking at published surgical management of snapping hip was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for “((Snapping hip OR Iliotibial band syndrome OR ITB syndrome) AND (Management OR treatment))”. Adult and paediatric published studies were included as few results were found on paediatric snapping hip alone. Results. 1548 studies were screened by 2 independent reviewers. 8 studies were included with a total of 134 cases, with an age range of 14–71 years. Surgical management ranged from arthroscopic, open or ultrasound guided release of the ITB, as well as gluteal muscle releases. Common outcome measures showed statistically significant improvement pre- and post-operatively in visual analogue pain score (VAPS) and the Harris Hip Score (HHS). VAPS improved from an average of 6.77 to 0.3 (t-test p value <0.0001) and the HHS improved from an average of 62.6 to 89.4 (t-test p value <0.0001). Conclusions. Although good surgical outcomes have been reported, no study has reported on the effect of rotational profile of the lower limbs and snapping hip syndrome. We present the case of a 13-year-old female with snapping hip syndrome and trochanteric pain. Ultrasound confirmed external snapping hip with normal soft tissue morphology and radiographs confirmed no structural abnormalities. Following extensive physiotherapy and little improvement, she presented again aged 17 with concurrent anterior knee pain, patella mal-tracking and an asymmetrical out-toeing gait. CT rotational profile showed 2° of femoral neck retroversion and excessive external tibial torsion of 52°. Consequently, during her gait cycle, in order to correct her increased foot progression angle, the hip has to internally rotate approximately 35–40°, putting the greater trochanter in an anterolateral position in stance phase. This causes the ITB to snap over her abnormally positioned greater trochanter. Therefore, to correct rotational limb alignment, a proximal tibial de-rotation osteotomy was performed with 25° internal rotation correction. Post-operatively the patient recovered well, HHS score improved from 52.5 to 93.75 and her snapping hip has resolved. This study highlights the importance of relevant assessment and investigation of lower limb rotational profile when exploring causes of external snapping hip, especially where ultrasound and radiographs show no significant pathology

Aims. Tissue adhesives (TAs) are a commonly used adjunct to traditional surgical wound closures. However, TAs must be allowed to dry before application of a surgical dressing, increasing operating time and reducing intraoperative efficiency. The goal of this study is to identify a practical method for decreasing the curing time for TAs. Methods. Six techniques were tested to determine which one resulted in the quickest drying time for 2-octyle cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) skin adhesive. These were nothing (control), fanning with a hand (Fanning), covering with a hand (Covering), bringing operating room lights close (OR Lights), ultraviolet lights (UV Light), or prewarming the TA applicator in a hot water bath (Hot Water Bath). Equal amounts of TA were applied to a reproducible plexiglass surface and allowed to dry while undergoing one of the six techniques. The time to complete dryness was recorded for ten specimens for each of the six techniques. Results. Use of the Covering, OR Lights, and Hot Water Bath techniques were associated with a 25- (p = 0.042), 27- (p = 0.023), and 30-second (p = 0.009) reduction in drying time, respectively, when compared to controls. The UV Light (p = 0.404) and Fanning (p = 1.000) methods had no effect on drying time. Conclusion. Use of the Covering, OR Lights, and Hot Water Bath techniques present a means for reducing overall operating time for surgeons using TA for closure augmentation, which can increase intraoperative efficiency. Further studies are needed to validate this in vivo. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(8):607–610

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use is becoming more widespread in the geriatric population. Depending on the type of DOAC, several days are required for its anticoagulant effects to resorb, which may lead to surgical delays. This can have an important impact on hip fracture patients who require surgery. The goal of the current study is to compare surgical delays, mortality and complications for hip fracture patients who were on a DOAC to those who were not. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a university hospital in Sherbrooke. All hip fracture patients between 2012 and 2018 who were on a DOAC prior to their surgery were included. These patients were matched with similar patients who were not on an anticoagulant (non-DOAC) for age, sex, type of fracture and date of operation. Demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients. Surgical delay was defined as time of admission to time of surgery. Mortality and complications up to one year postoperative were also noted. Each cohort comprised of 74 patients. There were no statistically signification differences in Charleson Comorbidty Index and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores between cohorts. Surgical delay was significantly longer for DOAC patients (36.3±22.2 hours vs. 18.6±18.9 hours, p < 0 .001). Mortality (6.1%) and overall complication (33.8%) rates were similar between the two cohorts. However, there were more surgical reinterventions in DOAC patients than non-DOAC ones (16.2% vs. 0.0%, p < 0 .001). Among DOAC patients, mortality was greater for those operated after 48 hours (23.1% vs. 3.3%, p < 0 .05) and complications were more frequent for those operated after 24 hours (52.0% vs. 37.5%, p < 0 .05). Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use in hip fracture patients is associated with longer surgical delays. Longer delays to surgery are associated with higher mortality and complication rates in hip fracture patients taking a DOAC. Hip fracture patients should have their surgery performed as soon as medically possible, regardless of anticoagulant use

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use is becoming more widespread in the geriatric population. Depending on the type of DOAC, several days are required for its anticoagulant effects to resorb, which may lead to surgical delays. This can have an important impact on hip fracture patients who require surgery. The goal of the current study is to compare surgical delays, mortality and complications for hip fracture patients who were on a DOAC to those who were not. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a university hospital in Sherbrooke. All hip fracture patients between 2012 and 2018 who were on a DOAC prior to their surgery were included. These patients were matched with similar patients who were not on an anticoagulant (non-DOAC) for age, sex, type of fracture and date of operation. Demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients. Surgical delay was defined as time of admission to time of surgery. Mortality and complications up to one year postoperative were also noted. Each cohort comprised of 74 patients. There were no statistically signification differences in Charleson Comorbidty Index and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores between cohorts. Surgical delay was significantly longer for DOAC patients (36.3±22.2 hours vs. 18.6±18.9 hours, p < 0 .001). Mortality (6.1%) and overall complication (33.8%) rates were similar between the two cohorts. However, there were more surgical reinterventions in DOAC patients than non-DOAC ones (16.2% vs. 0.0%, p < 0 .001). Among DOAC patients, mortality was greater for those operated after 48 hours (23.1% vs. 3.3%, p < 0 .05) and complications were more frequent for those operated after 24 hours (52.0% vs. 37.5%, p < 0 .05). Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use in hip fracture patients is associated with longer surgical delays. Longer delays to surgery are associated with higher mortality and complication rates in hip fracture patients taking a DOAC. Hip fracture patients should have their surgery performed as soon as medically possible, regardless of anticoagulant use