The Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis (LRINEC) score was developed in 2004 to risk-stratify patients with soft tissue infections using common blood tests when the clinical picture is equivocal. A score ≥ 6 conferred a positive predictive value (PPV) of 92% and negative predictive value of 96% for necrotising fasciitis. We retrospectively calculated LRINEC scores for Orthopaedic patients admitted to ITU in our hospital with limb soft-tissue infection and confirmed Group-A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus in fluid, blood, tissue or swab culture between 2010–2017 (n=10). Mean age = 57.4 and 60% were female. Half of all patients died during admission. Mean LRINEC score of all patients was 5.3±3.1 (median = 6). Mean score in deceased patients was 4.8±2.8 (scores: 0,5,6,6,7; median = 6); in discharged patients mean = 5.8±3.7 (scores: 0,5,7,7,10; median = 7). 6 patients had a score ≥6, making our PPV 60%. 4 patients had necrotising fasciitis confirmed on histology (LRINEC scores = 0,5,7,10). Our PPV of 60% is less than the figure obtained in the original paper. 2 patients with a LRINEC score <6 died during admission, including a patient with a score of 0. Furthermore, a patient with necrotising fasciitis confirmed on histology also had a LRINEC score of 0. We conclude that LRINEC scores should not delay surgery when clinical suspicion is high, and should be used as an adjunct to clinical decision-making, rather than a replacement, as patients with low LRINEC scores can also have confirmed necrotising fasciitis and poor outcomes

Chronic plantar fasciitis is a common but sometimes difficult condition to successfully treat. Platelet rich plasma (PRP), a concentrated bioactive component of autologous blood that is rich in cytokines and other growth factors, was compared with cortisone injection in the treatment of severe cases of plantar fasciitis resistant to traditional non-operative paradigms. Thirty-six patients (16 males 20 females) were prospectively block-randomized into two study groups. All patients had pre-treatment MRI and ultrasound studies consistent with plantar fasciitis. The first group was treated with a single ultrasound guided injection of 40 mg Depo-Medrol at the injury site and the second group was treated with a single ultrasound guided injection of un-buffered autologous PRP at the injury site. The cortisone group had an average age of 59 (24–74) and had failed 4 months (3–24) of standard non-operative management (rest, heel lifts, PT, NSAIDS, cam walker immobilization, night splinting, local modalities) and had pre-treatment AOFAS scores of 52 (24–60). The PRP group had an average age of 51 (21–67) and had failed 5 months (3–26) of standard non-operative management (rest, heel lifts, PT, NSAIDS, cam walker immobilization, night splinting, local modalities) and had pre-treatment AOFAS scores of 37 (30–56). All patients were then immobilized fully weight bearing in a cam walker for 2 weeks, started on eccentric home exercises and then allowed to return to normal activities as tolerated and without support. Post-treatment AOFAS scores in the cortisone initially improved to 81(60–90) at 3 months but decreased to 74 (56–85) at 6 months. Post-treatment AOFAS scores in the PRP group improved to 95 (84–90) at 3 months and remained excellent at 94 (87–100) at 6 months follow-up. This study suggests that platelet rich plasma injection is more effective and durable than cortisone injection for the treatment of severe chronic plantar fasciitis refractory to traditional non-operative management

Necrotising Fasciitis is a life threatening rapidly progressing bacterial infection of the skin requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Optimum care warrants a combination of antibiotics, surgical debridement and intensive care support. All cases of Necrotising Fasciitis over 10 years in the North East of Scotland were reviewed to investigate trends and learn lessons to improve patient care, with the ultimate aim of developing and implementing new treatment algorithms. All cases from August 2006-February 2016 were reviewed using a combination of paper based and electronic hospital records. Data including observations, investigations, operative interventions, microbiology and clinical outcomes was reviewed and analysed with pan-specialty input from Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Plastic Surgery and Intensive Care teams. 36 cases were identified, including 9 intravenous drug abusers. The mean LRINEC Score was 7. Patients were commonly haemodynamically stable upon admission, but deteriorated rapidly. 18/31 of cases were polymicrobial. Streptococcus Pyogenes was the most common organism in monomicrobial cases. 29/36 patients were discharged, 6 patients died acutely, giving an acute mortality rate of 17%. In total 6 amputations or disarticulations were performed from a total of 82 operations carried out on this group, with radical debridement the most common primary operation. The mean time to theatre was 3.54 hours. A grossly elevated admission respiratory rate (50 resp/min) was associated with increased mortality. Necrotising fasciitis presents subtly, but carries significant morbidity and mortality. A high index suspicion allows timely intervention. We strongly believe that a pan-specialty approach is the cornerstone for good outcomes

Plantar fasciitis is thought to be a self limiting condition best treated by conservative measures, but despite this many patients have a prolonged duration of symptoms and for some surgery may be indicated. Partial plantar fascial release is reported to have a short term success rate of up 80%, but anecdotally this was not thought to represent local experience. An audit of long term patient reported outcomes following surgery was performed. A total of 26 patients (29 feet) were identified retrospectively and case notes were reviewed for each patient. Patients were contacted by letter and invited to complete two validated patient reported outcome score questionnaires (foot and ankle visual analogue scale (VAS) and MOXFQ). The average age of the patients was 42.4(range 28–61) for males and 46.2 (range 33–60) for female patients, with a female:male ratio of 2.7:1. Preoperative treatments included orthotics (29), steroid injections (23), physiotherapy (21) and cast immobilisation (11). The average duration of treatment prior to surgical intervention was 3.1 years (range 1–5). All patients were reviewed post operatively and discharged from follow up at an average of 31 weeks, at which time 38% remained symptomatic. We conclude that the results from open partial plantar fascial release are poor and it is a technique of dubious clinical value