Duplicate publication in orthopaedic journals may further an author’s academic career but this is at the cost of both scientific integrity and knowledge. Multiple publications of the same work increase the workload of editorial boards, misguide the reader and affect the process of meta-analysis. We found that of 343 ‘original’ articles published in the Journal of Bone and
Over a 13-year period we studied all patients who underwent major hip and knee surgery and were diagnosed with objectively confirmed symptomatic venous thromboembolism, either deep venous thrombosis or non-fatal pulmonary embolism, within six months after surgery. Low-molecular-weight heparin had been given while the patients were in hospital. There were 5607 patients. The cumulative incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism was 2.7% (150 of 5607), of which 1.1% had developed pulmonary embolism, 1.5% had deep venous thrombosis and 0.6% had both. Patients presented with deep venous thrombosis at a median of 24 days and pulmonary embolism at 17 days after surgery for hip fracture. After total hip replacement, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism occurred at a median of 21 and 34 days respectively. After total knee replacement, the median time to the presentation of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was 20 and 12 days respectively. The cumulative risk of venous thromboembolism lasted for up to three months after hip surgery and for one month after total knee replacement. Venous thromboembolism was diagnosed after discharge from hospital in 70% of patients who developed this complication. Despite hospital-based thromboprophylaxis, most cases of clinical venous thromboembolism occur after discharge and at different times according to the operation performed.
From 1998 to July 2003 admissions for elective arthroplasty surgery in Derriford Hospital were nursed alongside other orthopaedic and general medical patients. Since August 2003 a policy of pre-operative MRSA screening and a unit reserved exclusively for MRSA-free joint replacement patients have been used. No transfers from other wards were allowed. Patients positive on screening underwent eradication and were admitted to a different ward where they received teicoplanin on induction (in addition to standard policy cephradine). All post-operative wound infections following THR & TKR were monitored (NINSS surveillance system). Infections within 3 months were recorded. A control of non-screened hip hemi-arthroplasty patients was used to ensure a departmental wide reduction in MRSA was not occurring. 1.9% MRSA carriage rate was detected over the study. Before screening, 0.59% of 3386 cases were acutely infected with MRSA. After institution of screening and a dedicated MRSA free unit, 0.10% of 1034 were acutely infected. This was a 6-fold decrease (p<0.05). The infection noted was in a patient treated outside the ringfenced unit on High Dependency. In fact the infection rate on the ringfenced unit was zero. MRSA infection in the control was statistically unchanged during this period. A policy of MRSA screening and an MRSA free joint replacement ward reduces the incidence of acute MRSA infections.Conclusion
Randomised controlled trials (RCT) published in the British volume of the JBJS from United Kingdom based institutes have been analysed to review the level of involvement of junior doctors over the past 25 years (1988 to 2012) which included three different training eras: Pre-Calman (1988 to 1995), Calman (1996 to 2006), and MMC (2007 to 2012). Authors were divided into: Senior doctors, Registrars, Fellows, Senior House Officers/ Foundation Doctors, and Others. The level of involvement has been identified as being first author, senior author or co-author. One hundred and fifty nine RCTs have been identified with a total of 705 authors. Eighty eight registrars, 32 fellows and 19 SHO/ Foundation doctors have been involved in RCT published over the last 25 years (19.7%). Registrars constituted 15% of all authors in the pre-Calman, 12% in the Calman and 11% in the MMC periods. They constituted 33% of all first authors in the pre-Calman, 21% in the Calman, and 12% in the MMC periods. With regards to SHO/ Foundation doctors, they were only 2% of all authors in the pre-Calman, 3% in the Calman, and 4% in the MMC periods. They were not the first author in any RCT in the pre-Calman period, rising to 7% in both the Calman and MMC periods. Our study shows that registrars involvement was at its highest in the pre-Calman era with gradual decline in their involvement in the subsequent training eras. SHO/Foundation doctors involvement remains very low, however showing increasing rate in the MMC era.
The treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and associated extra-articular deformity of the leg is challenging. Current teaching recognises two possible approaches: (1) a total knee replacement (TKR) with intra-articular bone resections to correct the malalignment or (2) an extra-articular osteotomy to correct the malalignment together with a TKR (either simultaneously or staged). However, a number of these patients only have unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis and, in the absence of an extra-articular deformity would be ideal candidates for
The purpose of this single center study was to analyze the robustness and thoroughness of debridement and irrigation in first stage procedures for periprosthetic joint infections in which the latter had been confirmed by fulfilling the PJI criteria produced by the musculoskeletal infection society. After introduction of ‘a clean phase’ concept in our center, we developed a method of using new instrumentation sets and waterproof cover sheets as well as sets of gloves and aprons after thorough debridement followed by copious irrigation under a splash sheet, once the prosthetic components were removed during which several (6 to 8) tissue biopsies and cultures were harvested. ‘Clean phase’ tissue specimens ad random were again obtained and cultured and compared with ‘dirty phase’ cultures and sonication results. Our zero hypothesis was that we were not able to entirely eradicate bacterial colonization. We tested this hypothesis during a period of 18 months in a consecutive series of first stage revisions for PJI at our center after introduction of the clean phase concept.Aim
Method
Hip arthroscopy is a relatively new procedure and evidence to support its use remains limited. Well-designed prospective clinical trials with long-term outcomes are required, but study design requires an understanding of current practice. Our aim was to determine temporal trends in the uptake of non-arthroplasty hip surgery in England between 2001 and 2011. Using procedure and diagnosis codes, we interrogated the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Database for all hip procedures performed between 2001 and 2011, excluding those relating to arthroplasty, tumour or infection. Osteotomy procedures were also excluded.Introduction
Methods
Pacific people in New Zealand experience significant disparity in health outcomes. There is little known about the burden of arthritis within this community or difficulties accessing specialist orthopaedic care. This qualitative study evaluated the experiences of Pacific patients who underwent hip or knee arthroplasty with a goal to identify barriers to accessing arthroplasty for this community. We interviewed Pacific patients within the Bay of Plenty region who had received either elective hip or knee arthroplasty between 2013 and 2022. Interviews were centred on perceptions of arthritis severity, duration of symptoms, primary care and specialist interactions. Patients were encouraged to offer feedback on ways to improve this experience. We identified 6087 publicly funded primary joints performed in Tauranga hospital and 58 patients were of Pacific ethnicity. After exclusion criteria was applied, we successfully interviewed 20 patients eligible for our study. Pacific patients represented 2.9% of the of the BOP catchment but only received 0.43% of the publicly funded joints. Most reported reluctance to seek help from primary care until symptoms were present for at least a year. Most commonly cited reasons for not seeking help were fear of hospital services and lack of awareness in the community about osteoarthritis. We identified a lack of community awareness of osteoarthritis and arthroplasty among Pacific. This may result in delayed presentation to primary care and decreased utilisation of publicly funded
Background. The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a challenge in clinical practice and the analysis of synovial fluid (SF) is a useful diagnostic tool. Recently, two synovial biomarkers (leukocyte esterase (LE) strip test, alpha-defensin (AD)) have been introduced into the MSIS (MusculoSkeletal Infection Society) algorithm for the diagnosis of PJI. AD, although promising with high sensitivity and specificity, remains expensive. Calprotectin is another protein released upon activation of articular neutrophils. The determination of calprotectin and joint CRP is feasible in a routine laboratory practice with low cost. Purpose. Our objective was to evaluate different synovial biomarkers (calprotectin, LE, CRP) for the diagnosis of PJI. Methods. In this monocentric study, we collected SF from hip, knee, ankle and shoulder joints of 42 patients who underwent revision or puncture for diagnostic purposes. Exclusion criteria included a
In recent literature, the fragility index (FI) has been used to evaluate the robustness of statistically significant findings of dichotomous outcomes. This metric is defined as the minimum number of outcome events to flip study conclusions from significant to nonsignificant. Orthopaedics literature is frequently found to be fragile with a median FI of 2 in 150 RCTs across spine, hand, sports medicine, trauma and orthopaedic oncology studies. While many papers discuss limitations of FI, we aimed to further characterize it by introducing the Fragility Likelihood (FL), a new metric that allows us to consider the probability of the event to occur and to calculate the likelihood of this fragility to be reached. We systematically reviewed all randomized controlled trials in the Journal of Bone and
While surgeon-industry relationships in orthopaedics have a critical role in advancing techniques and patient outcomes, they also present the potential for conflict of interest (COI) and increased risk of bias in surgical education. Consequently, robust processes of disclosure and mitigation of potential COI have been adopted across educational institutions, professional societies, and specialty journals. The past years have seen marked growth in the use of online video-based surgical education platforms that are commonly used by both trainees and practicing surgeons. However, it is unclear to what extent the same COI disclosure and mitigation principles are adhered to on these platforms. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and adequacy of potential COI disclosure on orthopaedic online video-based educational platforms. We retrospectively reviewed videos from a single, publicly-accessible online peer-to-peer orthopaedic educational video platform (VuMedi) that is used as an educational resource by a large number of orthopaedic trainees across North America. The 25 highest-viewed videos were identified for each of 6 subspecialty areas (hip reconstruction, knee reconstruction, shoulder/elbow, foot and ankle, spine and sports). A standardized case report form was developed based on the COI disclosure guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) and the Journal of Bone and
Aims. Orthopaedic surgeries are complex, frequently performed procedures associated with significant haemorrhage and perioperative blood transfusion. Given refinements in surgical techniques and changes to transfusion practices, we aim to describe contemporary transfusion practices in orthopaedic surgery in order to inform perioperative planning and blood banking requirements. Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery at four Canadian hospitals between 2014 and 2016. We studied all patients admitted to hospital for nonarthroscopic
Aim. Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) and fracture related infections (FRI) are the most challenging complications in orthopaedic surgery. An interdisciplinary approach is mandatory not only to correctly diagnose and treat major musculoskeletal infections but also to address the comorbidities and impairments these patients are not rarely suffering from. Since, little data exists on cardiac complications following PJI and FRI revision surgery, this study aimed to investigate the risk of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) and mortality. Method. We prospectively included consecutive patients at high cardiovascular risk (defined as expected postoperative hospital stay of >24 hours PLUS age >45 years with pre-existing coronary, peripheral or cerebrovascular artery disease OR age >65 years) undergoing major orthopaedic surgery between 2014 and 2016. All patients received a systematic screening to reliably detect PMI, using serial measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT). All-cause mortality was assessed at 30 days and one year. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to compare incidence of PMI and mortality between patients undergoing septic revision surgery (for PJI/FRI) and patients receiving aseptic major bone and
The evidence base within trauma and orthopaedics has traditionally favoured quantitative research methodologies. Qualitative research can provide unique insights which illuminate patient experiences and perceptions of care. Qualitative methods reveal the subjective narratives of patients that are not captured by quantitative data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of patient-centred care. The aim of this study is to quantify the level of qualitative research within the orthopaedic literature. A bibliometric search of journals’ online archives and multiple databases was undertaken in March 2024, to identify articles using qualitative research methods in the top 12 trauma and orthopaedic journals based on the 2023 impact factor and SCImago rating. The bibliometric search was conducted and reported in accordance with the preliminary guideline for reporting bibliometric reviews of the biomedical literature (BIBLIO).Aims
Methods
Safety concerns surrounding osseointegration are a significant barrier to replacing socket prosthesis as the standard of care following limb amputation. While implanted osseointegrated prostheses traditionally occur in two stages, a one-stage approach has emerged. Currently, there is no existing comparison of the outcomes of these different approaches. To address safety concerns, this study sought to determine whether a one-stage osseointegration procedure is associated with fewer adverse events than the two-staged approach. A comprehensive electronic search and quantitative data analysis from eligible studies were performed. Inclusion criteria were adults with a limb amputation managed with a one- or two-stage osseointegration procedure with follow-up reporting of complications.Aims
Methods
Introduction. Most of patients with unilateral hip disease shows muscle volume atrophy of pelvis and thigh in the affected side because of pain and disuse, resulting in reduced muscle weakness and limping. However, it is unclear how the muscle atrophy correlated with muscle strength in the patient with hip disorders. A previous study have demonstrated that the volume of the gluteus medius correlated with the muscle strength by volumetric measurement using 3 dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) data, however, muscles influence each other during motions and there is no reports focusing on the relationship between some major muscles of pelvis and thigh including gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, iliopsoas and quadriceps and muscle strength in several hip and knee motions. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between muscle volumetric atrophy of major muscles of pelvis and thigh and muscle strength in flexion, extension and abduction of hip joints and extension of knee
The purpose of this study was to quantify tibial tunnel enlargement at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and evaluate the magnitude of tunnel widening with use of a Poly (L-lactic Acid) interference screw (PLLA (Bioscrew XtraLok, Conmed, New York)) compared to a Poly (L-lactic Acid) + tricalcium phosphate interference screw (PLLA+TCP (GENESYS Matryx screw comprised of microTCP and 96L/4D PLA, Conmed, New York)). This was a prospective randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Eighty unilateral ACL-deficient participants awaiting ACLR surgery were recruited between 2013 and 2017 from the clinic of a sole fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon. Patients had to be skeletally mature and less than 45 years old, with no concomitant knee ligament injuries requiring surgery, chondromalacia, or previous history of ipsilateral knee
Background. Acromegaly, which stems from high level of serum growth hormone secreted by a benign tumour in the anterior pituitary gland, is likely to cause severe peripheral joint pains due to hypertrophic changes in such joints. Recently, the life expectancy of such patients has been improved and more patients with acromegaly have undergone
Objective. We explanted NeuFlex metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint prostheses to identify common features, such as position of fracture, and thus better understand the reasons for implant failure. Methods. Explanted NeuFlex MP joint prostheses were retrieved as part of an-ongoing implant retrieval programme. Following revision MP
Introduction. Torsional deformities are increasingly recognized as an additional factor in young patients with hip pain resulting from pincer- and cam-deformities. For example decreased femoral torsion can worsen an anterior Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) conflict while an increased torsion can be beneficial with the same configuration. It is unknown how often torsional deformities are present in young patients presenting with hip pain that are eligible for