Abstract. INTRODUCTION. With increasing use of fluoroscopy in Orthopaedic theatres in recent years, the occupational radiation exposure to the surgeons and the theatre staff has increased significantly. Thyroid is one of the most radio-sensitive tissues in the body, but there is a clear lack of awareness among theatre staff of risks of radiation to thyroid. METHODS. We prospectively reviewed the use of thyroid shield by the theatre staff in the orthopaedic theatre for two weeks period. We also recorded the number of fluoroscopic images taken and total radiation dosage for each case. RESULTS. Our results showed that of 249 staff in the theatres of which, only 35 people (14.2%) wore thyroid shields during fluoroscopy, whereas 100% were complaint with body protection shield. We noticed that only 30% of the surgeons, 40% of the scrub nurses and 5% anaesthetist use this, while 95% of the radiographers uses thyroid protection in theatre. Average total radiation during upper-limb procedures was 1.25 cGy, during lower-limb procedures it was 43.48 cGy. Total radiations were very high particularly during lower-limb nailing procedures (80.98 cGy). CONCLUSION. Extensive use of fluoroscopy has a stochastic effect (accumulative effect) on thyroid gland particularly, if the dose in higher than 65 cGy. Despite its availability, only 14% people use the thyroid protection shield. We must emphasise the use of thyroid protection shield to the Orthopaedic surgeons, particularly during lower-limb procedures

Aims. In the UK, the NHS generates an estimated 25 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (4% to 5% of the nation’s total carbon emissions) and produces over 500,000 tonnes of waste annually. There is limited evidence demonstrating the principles of sustainability and its benefits within orthopaedic surgery. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the environmental impact of orthopaedic surgery and the environmentally sustainable initiatives undertaken to address this. The secondary aim of this study was to describe the barriers to making sustainable changes within orthopaedic surgery. Methods. A literature search was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines through EMBASE, Medline, and PubMed libraries using two domains of terms: “orthopaedic surgery” and “environmental sustainability”. Results. A total of 13 studies were included in the final analysis. All papers studied the environmental impact of orthopaedic surgery in one of three areas: waste management, resource consumption, and carbon emissions. Waste segregation was a prevalent issue and described by nine studies, with up to 74.4% of hazardous waste being generated. Of this, six studies reported recycling waste and up to 43.9% of waste per procedure was recyclable. Large joint arthroplasties generated the highest amount of recyclable waste per procedure. Three studies investigated carbon emissions from intraoperative consumables, sterilization methods, and through the use of telemedicine. One study investigated water wastage and demonstrated that simple changes to practice can reduce water consumption by up to 63%. The two most common barriers to implementing environmentally sustainable changes identified across the studies was a lack of appropriate infrastructure and lack of education and training. Conclusion. Environmental sustainability in orthopaedic surgery is a growing area with a wide potential for meaningful change. Further research to cumulatively study the carbon footprint of orthopaedic surgery and the wider impact of environmentally sustainable changes is necessary. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(8):628–640

Aims. The use of fluoroscopy in orthopaedic surgery creates risk of radiation exposure to surgeons. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) can help mitigate this. The primary aim of this study was to assess if current radiation protection in orthopaedic trauma is safe. The secondary aims were to describe normative data of radiation exposure during common orthopaedic procedures, evaluate ways to improve any deficits in protection, and validate the use of electronic personal dosimeters (EPDs) in assessing radiation dose in orthopaedic surgery. Methods. Radiation exposure to surgeons during common orthopaedic trauma operations was prospectively assessed using EPDs and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). Normative data for each operation type were calculated and compared to recommended guidelines. Results. Current PPE appears to mitigate more than 90% of ionizing radiation in orthopaedic fluoroscopic procedures. There is a higher exposure to the inner thigh during seated procedures. EPDs provided results for individual procedures. Conclusion. PPE currently used by surgeons in orthopaedic trauma theatre adequately reduces radiation exposure to below recommended levels. Normative data per trauma case show specific anatomical areas of higher exposure, which may benefit from enhanced radiation protection. EPDs can be used to assess real-time radiation exposure in orthopaedic surgery. There may be a role in future medical wearables for orthopaedic surgeons. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(11):907–912

Aims. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the provision of orthopaedic care across the UK. During the pandemic orthopaedic specialist registrars were redeployed to “frontline” specialties occupying non-surgical roles. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopaedic training in the UK is unknown. This paper sought to examine the role of orthopaedic trainees during the COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on postgraduate orthopaedic education. Methods. A 42-point questionnaire was designed, validated, and disseminated via e-mail and an instant-messaging platform. Results. A total of 101 orthopaedic trainees, representing the four nations (Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), completed the questionnaire. Overall, 23.1% (23/101) of trainees were redeployed to non-surgical roles. Of these, 73% (17/23) were redeployed to intensive treatment units (ITUs), 13% (3/23) to A/E, and 13%(3/23%) to general medicine. Of the trainees redeployed to ITU 100%, (17/17) received formal induction. Non-deployed or returning trainees had a significant reduction in sessions. In total, 42.9% (42/101) % of trainees were not timetabled into fracture clinic, 53% (53/101) of trainees had one allocated theatre list per week, and 63.8%(64/101) of trainees did not feel they obtained enough experience in the attached subspecialty and preferred repeating this. Overall, 93% (93/101) of respondents attended at least one weekly online webinar, with 79% (79/101) of trainees rating these as useful or very useful, while 95% (95/101) trainees attended online deanery teaching which was rated as more useful than online webinars (p = 0.005). Conclusion. Orthopaedic specialist trainees occupied an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on orthopaedic training. It is imperative this is properly understood to ensure orthopaedic specialist trainees achieve competencies set out in the training curriculum. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-11:676–682

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

Medical Genetics is a transversal discipline with the potential to impact on every specialty and subspecialty in medicine and the allied health sciences. The completion of the human genome project resulted in technical advancements in genomics, genomic testing and our understanding of genetic disorders in general. These advancements have greatly enhanced our understanding of the role of genetics in Orthopaedic practice, with respect to both monogenic and complex disorders. Tygerberg Hospital is currently the only state hospital in South Africa to support genetic testing in the form of gene panels as part of routine care. This is complemented by more comprehensive research testing in the form of exome and genome sequencing as part of the Undiagnosed Disease Programme. We audit the genetic and genomic testing done on patients referred from the Orthopaedic clinic over a period of 3 years (2020–2022) and review diagnostic rates and interesting results. The largest group of patients referred (n=50) had a clinical diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). A 100% diagnostic yield was achieved for these patients with the identification of recurring variants (FKBP10, COL1A2). Further families (n=20) with much rarer conditions are presented with important implications on the orthopaedic and medical management, prognosis, and genetic counselling for the families. We highlight the impact of genomic testing in the Orthopaedic clinic. Management changes and precision orthopaedic intervention were only possible due to a genetic diagnosis. We motivate for increased access to testing, especially for younger patients presenting with complex orthopaedic phenotypes

The number of women entering medical school has been steadily increasing over the past two decades; however, the number of women pursuing careers in orthopaedic surgery has not increased at the same rate. One of the suggested reasons for this discrepancy is the perceived incompatibility of having a family while upholding the demands of a surgical career in orthopaedics. A growing body of scientific literature has also outlined the increased rate of infertility and pregnancy complications in women surgeons. The extent to which these factors play a role in the recruitment and retention of women in orthopaedic surgery is unknown. Understanding pregnancy and parenthood in orthopaedic surgery is a critical first step in addressing this issue. A scoping review was conducted to identify literature pertaining to the perceptions and experiences of pregnancy and/or parenthood of women in orthopaedic surgery. Embase, MEDLINE and PsychINFO were searched on June 7th, 2021 with Boolean operators to combine the following terms: orthop?e*, pregnancy, maternity, motherhood, parenthood, parental, and parenting. Studies pertaining to orthopaedic surgery residents, fellows and staff were included. The Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping studies was followed. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the included studies while thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke was used to analyze the qualitative data. A total of 17 studies from 2006 to 2021 met inclusion criteria. Over half of the available research was conducted within the last two years (n=9, 53%). The majority of studies were conducted in the United States (n=15, 88%) and the United Kingdom (n=2, 12%). The most commonly used study design was survey-based research (n=13, 76%), followed by review studies (n=3, 18%), and case series (n=1, 6%). Thematic analysis revealed five key themes contributing to the women's experiences of pregnancy and/or parenthood in orthopaedics: (1) women are subtly or blatantly discouraged from becoming pregnant by their colleagues and superiors, (2) women delay childbearing to preserve their professional reputation, (3) there are higher rates of infertility and preterm labor in orthopaedic surgeons than in the general population, (4) the orthopaedic work environment can be hazardous and challenging for the pregnant woman, but accommodations are possible to mitigate risks, and (5) overall, there is limited support for pregnant and/or parenting women in orthopaedics throughout their career. The first woman to be board-certified in orthopaedic surgery in the United States was Ruth Jackson in 1937. Eighty-four years later, orthopaedic surgery has the lowest number of women of the surgical specialties. The barriers related to pregnancy and/or parenthood during a woman's career in orthopaedics may be one cause. This study identified five themes related to pregnancy and parenthood that warrant further investigation. Qualitative research approaches can be used to elucidate the details of women's experiences and to provide suggestions for structural changes in the orthopaedic work environment

Aims. The purpose of this survey study was to examine the demographic and lifestyle factors of women currently in orthopaedic surgery. Methods. An electronic survey was conducted of practising female orthopaedic surgeons based in the USA through both the Ruth Jackson Society and the online Facebook group “Women of Orthopaedics”. Results. The majority of surveyed female orthopaedic surgeons reported being married (76.4%; 285/373) and having children (67.6%; 252/373). In all, 66.5% (247/373) were collegiate athletes; 82.0% (306/373) reported having no female orthopaedic surgeon mentors in undergraduate and medical school. Their mean height is 65.8 inches and average weight is 147.3 lbs. Conclusion. The majority of female orthopaedic surgeons did not have female mentorship during their training. Additionally, biometrically, their build is similar to that of the average American woman. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(5):419–425

The use of cannabis is increasingly medically relevant as it is legalized and gains acceptance more broadly. However, the effects of marijuana use on postoperative outcomes following orthopedic surgery have not been well-characterized. This study seeks to illuminate the relationship between marijuana use and the incidence postoperative complications including: DVT, PE, nonunion, and infection following common orthopedic procedures. This study was conducted using a national orthopaedic claims insurance database. We identified all patients undergoing knee arthroscopy, shoulder arthroscopy, operatively managed long bone fractures (humerus, femur, tibia and/or fibula, and radius and/or ulna), and single-level lumbar fusion. The proportion of patients within each surgery cohort who had a diagnostic code for marijuana dependence was assessed. The rates of DVT, PE, and infection within 90 days were assessed for all patients. The rate of nonunion was assessed for the long bone fracture and lumbar fusion cohorts. Univariate analyses of marijuana dependence on all outcomes were performed, followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for known patient comorbidities. We identified 1,113,944 knee arthroscopy, 747,938 shoulder arthroscopy, 88,891 lumbar fusion, and 37,163 long bone fracture patients. Out of the 1,987,936 patients, 24,404 patients had a diagnostic code for marijuana dependence. Within all four surgical subgroups, the marijuana dependence cohort experienced increased rates of infection, PE, and DVT, as well as increased rates of nonunion in the lumbar fusion and long bone fracture populations. In the multivariate analyses controlling for a variety of patient risk factors including tobacco use, marijuana dependence was identified as an independent risk factor for infection within all four surgical subgroups (Knee: OR 1.85, p < 0.001; Shoulder: OR 1.65, p < 0.001; Spine: OR 1.45, p < 0.001; Long bone: OR 1.28, p < 0.001), and for nonunion in the lumbar fusion (OR 1.38, p < 0.001) and long bone fracture (OR 1.31, p < 0.001) subgroups. Our data suggests that marijuana dependence may be associated with increased rates of infection and nonunion following a variety of orthopaedic procedures. During preoperative evaluation, surgeons may consider marijuana use as a potential risk factor for postoperative complications, especially within the context of marijuana legalization. Future research into this relationship is necessary

This qualitative study aims to explore and highlight the experiences of trainees in the Orthopaedic Surgical Education Training (SET) program in New Zealand, with a focus on identifying gender-specific biases which may impact professional development. Orthopaedic SET trainees in New Zealand were invited to complete a qualitative, semi-structured questionnaire exploring their experiences in the Orthopaedic SET program. A broad range of topics were covered, addressing culture, belonging, learning styles and role modelling. Recurrent themes were identified using inductive methods. Analysis of questionnaire responses identified several key themes for women in the Orthopaedic SET program, compared to their male counterparts, including (1) role incredulity, (2) confidence vs. competence, (3) adaptation, (4) interdisciplinary relationships and (5) role modelling. Female participants described experiencing gender bias or discrimination by both patients and interdisciplinary colleagues at a higher rate than their male counterparts. The majority of female participants described feeling as competent as their male counterparts at the same SET level, however, identified that they do not typically exhibit the same confidence in their surgical abilities. Whilst similar numbers of female and male participants described experiencing barriers to career progression, female participants described having to adapt both physically and socially to overcome additional gender-specific barriers. Positive influences on training experience included role modelling and supportive relationships amongst trainee groups. This study highlighted gender-specific biases experienced by trainees in the Orthopaedic SET program in New Zealand. Further investigation is warranted to determine how these experiences affect professional development, and how they may be addressed to foster increased gender equity in the surgical profession. This will likely require system-level interventions to create meaningful and sustainable culture change

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 joint surgeries, amputations, and fracture surgeries. For each surgery and surgical subgroup, we characterized the proportion of patients who received red blood cell (RBC) transfusion, the mean/median number of RBC units transfused, and exposure to platelets and plasma. Results. Of the 14,584 included patients, the most commonly performed surgeries were knee arthroplasty (24.8%), hip arthroplasty (24.6%), and hip fracture surgery (17.4%). A total of 10.3% of patients received RBC transfusion; the proportion of patients receiving RBC transfusions varied widely based on the surgical subgroup (0.0% to 33.1%). Primary knee arthroplasty and hip arthroplasty, the two most common surgeries, were associated with in-hospital transfusion frequencies of 2.8% and 4.5%, respectively. RBC transfusion occurred in 25.0% of hip fracture surgeries, accounting for the greatest total number of RBC units transfused in our cohort (38.0% of all transfused RBC units). Platelet and plasma transfusions were uncommon. Conclusion. Orthopaedic surgeries were associated with variable rates of transfusion. The rate of RBC transfusion is highly dependent on the surgery type. Identifying surgeries with the highest transfusion rates, and further evaluation of factors that contribute to transfusion in identified at-risk populations, can serve to inform perioperative planning and blood bank requirements, and facilitate pre-emptive transfusion mitigation strategies. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(10):850–857

Aim. Smoking is known to impair wound healing and to increase the risk of peri-operative adverse events and is associated with orthopaedic infection and fracture non-union. Understanding the magnitude of the causal effect on orthopaedic infection recurrence may improve pre-operative patient counselling. Methods. Four prospectively-collected datasets including 1173 participants treated in European centres between 2003 and 2021, followed up to 12 months after surgery for clinically diagnosed orthopaedic infections, were included in logistic regression modelling with Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting for current smoking status [1–3]. Host factors including age, gender and ASA score were included as potential confounding variables, interacting through surgical treatment as a collider variable in a pre-specified structural causal model informed by clinical experience. The definition of infection recurrence was identical and ascertained separately from baseline factors in three contributing cohorts. A subset of 669 participants with positive histology, microbiology or a sinus at the time of surgery, were analysed separately. Results. Participants were 64% male, with a median age of 60 years (range 18–95); 16% of participants experienced treatment failure by 12 months. 1171 of 1173 participants had current smoking status recorded. As expected for the European population, current smoking was less frequent in older participants (Table 1). There was no baseline association between Charlson score or ASA score and smoking status (p=0.9, p=1, Chi squared test). The estimated adjusted odds ratio for treatment failure at 12 months, resulting from current smoking at the time of surgery, was 1.37 for all participants (95% CI 0.75 to 2.50) and 1.53 for participants with recorded confirmatory criteria (95% CI 1.14 to 6.37). Conclusions. Smoking contributes to infection recurrence, particularly in people with unequivocal evidence of osteomyelitis or PJI. People awaiting surgery for orthopaedic infection should be supported to cease smoking, not only to reduce anaesthetic risk, but to improve treatment outcomes. Limitations of this study include unmeasured socioeconomic confounding and social desirability bias resulting in uncertainty in true smoking status, resulting in underestimated effect size

Aim. Recurrence of bone and joint infection, despite appropriate therapy, is well recognised and stimulates ongoing interest in identifying host factors that predict infection recurrence. Clinical prediction models exist for those treated with DAIR, but to date no models with a low risk of bias predict orthopaedic infection recurrence for people with surgically excised infection and removed metalwork. The aims of this study were to construct and internally validate a risk prediction model for infection recurrence at 12 months, and to identify factors that predict recurrence. Predictive factors must be easy to check in pre-operative assessment and relevant across patient groups. Methods. Four prospectively collected datasets including 1173 participants treated in European centres between 2003 and 2021, followed up to 12 months after surgery for orthopaedic infections, were included in logistic regression modelling [1–3]. The definition of infection recurrence was identical and ascertained separately from baseline factors in three contributing cohorts. Eight predictive factors were investigated following a priori sample size calculation: age, gender, BMI, ASA score, the number of prior operations, immunosuppressive medication, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and smoking. Missing data, including systematically missing predictors, were imputed using Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations. Weekly alcohol intake was not included in modelling due to low inter-observer reliability (mean reported intake 12 units per week, 95% CI for mean inter-rater error −16.0 to +15.4 units per week). Results. Participants were 64% male, with a median age of 60 years (range 18–95). 86% of participants had lower limb orthopaedic infections. 732 participants were treated for osteomyelitis, including FRI, and 432 for PJI. 16% of participants experienced treatment failure by 12 months. The full prediction model had moderate apparent discrimination: AUROC (C statistic) 0.67, Brier score 0.13, and reasonable apparent calibration. Of the predictors of interest, associations with failure were seen with prior operations at the same anatomical site (odds ratio for failure 1.51 for each additional prior surgery; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.22, p=0.06), and the current use of immunosuppressive medications (odds ratio for failure 2.94; 95% CI 0.89 to 9.77, p=0.08). Conclusions. This association between number of prior surgeries and treatment failure supports the urgent need to streamline referral pathways for people with orthopaedic infection to specialist multidisciplinary units

Physician health is a global concern, with increasing research efforts directed towards the challenge. Australia has limited published specialty-specific well-being data for trainees and consultants in medicine and surgery. We measured distress in Australian Orthopaedic trainees using the Physician Well-Being Index (PWBI, MedEd Web Solutions) using an online anonymous survey sent by the Australian Orthopaedic Association. The survey response rate was 38% (88/230). Forty-four percent of survey respondents met criteria for distress. Self-reported burnout in the 30 days prior was reported by 63% of respondents. Fifty-eight percent of females and 41% of males met criteria for distress. Of the 19% or respondents identifying as an ethnic minority, 53% were distressed compared to 42% of those identifying as non-ethnic minority. Trainees without a mentor had a 50% distress rate compared to those with a mentor (37% distress rate). Twenty-five percent of all trainees wished they had picked a career outside of medicine and 16% wished they had pursued a medical career other than Orthopaedic Surgery. Of those trainees who had already passed the fellowship exam, 17% wished they had pursued a career outside of medicine and 21% wished they had pursued a medical career in an area other than Orthopaedic Surgery. These findings suggest concerning rates of career regret and gender-related trends in distress in Australian Orthopaedic trainees. Females may be over-represented in our results as 17% of the source population was female compared to 22% of respondents. Further research is required across all Australian specialties to gain further understanding of factors contributing to distress and to assist in the development of strategy to protect against physician burnout

The role of dual consultant operating (DCO) in general orthopaedics has not been researched; where it has shown benefit in other specialties, there is a lack of information on how DCO affects the surgeons themselves. We wanted to explore the potential effects of DCO on stress, as a foundation for further research to guide support for our surgeons. We conducted a survey among orthopaedic consultants around New Zealand, containing questions pertaining to the demographics of respondents, their experience with DCO, what the expected risks and benefits of DCO would be, and provided two high-stress exemplar clinical scenarios where respondents were asked to rate their expected stress level at baseline, with a more junior consultant present, and with a more senior consultant present. We found 99% of respondents had been involved in DCO at some point in their careers, yet only 38% were involved in DCO on at least a monthly basis. Perceived benefits greatly outweighed potential risks: 95% felt DCO would decrease their stress, 91% felt it improved intraoperative decision making, and 89% felt it provided more enjoyment at work and enhanced collegiality. A decrease in perceived stress was seen from baseline with a more junior consultant available and a greater decrease in stress seen with a more senior consultant, particularly in a complex elective setting. All respondents felt there is benefit in DCO and the vast majority feel it has positive effects on stress levels. In a time where burnout is more prevalent, using tools such as DCO could be an effective way to decrease stress, enhance enjoyment and collegiality — challenging some key contributors to burnout — and support mentorship with further skill acquisition. This research provides a good base to pursue further qualitative and quantitative research into the area, with a view to addressing barriers to provision of regular DCO

Instant messaging via WhatsApp is used within hospital teams. Group messaging can lead to efficient and non-hierarchical communication. Despite being end-to-end encrypted, WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, raising concerns regarding data security. The aims of this study were: 1) to record the prevalence of WhatsApp group instant messaging amongst clinical teams; 2) to ascertain clinician attitudes towards use of instant messaging, 3) to gauge clinicians’ awareness of best practice regarding mobile data protection and 4) to create a practical guideline based off available literature that can be used to by clinicians to improve data security practice. Over a two-week period, clinical nurse specialists in the Auckland District Health Board Department of Orthopaedics retrospectively completed a blind audit of all messaging activity across the five teams WhatsApp group message threads, recording quantity of messages sent and the nature of the messages. Concurrently individuals in these WhatsApp groups completed an anonymous survey of their use of WhatsApp and their awareness of local data security policies and practice. A guideline adapted from available literature was created to compare current practice to recommended standards and subsequently adopted into local policy. 1360 messages were sent via WhatsApp in a two-week period. 384 (28%) of the messages contained patient identifiable data. Thirty-six photos were shared. Participants rated use of WhatsApp at 9.1/10 – extremely beneficial. Sixty-five per cent of clinicians reported they had not read or were unaware of the ADHB policies regarding mobile devices and information privacy and security. WhatsApp use is widespread within the Orthopaedic department and is the preferred platform of communication with many perceived benefits. Data security is a risk and implementation of an appropriate guideline to assist clinicians in achieving best practice is crucial to ensure patient data remains protected

Conferences centered around surgery suffers from gender disparity with male faculty having a more dominant presence in meetings compared to female faculty. Orthopedic Surgery possibly suffers the most from this problem of all surgical specialties, and is reflective of a gender disparity in the field. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of “manels”, or male-only sessions, in eight major Orthopedic Surgery meetings hosted in 2021 and to quantify the differences in location of practice, academic position, years of practice, and research qualifications between male and female faculty. Eight Orthopedic conferences organized by major Orthopedic associations (AAOS, COA, OTA, EFORT, AAHKS, ORS, NASS, and AOSSM) from February 2021 to November 2021 were analyzed. Meeting information was retrieved from the conference agendas, and details of chairs and speakers were obtained from Linkedin, Doximity, CPSO, personal websites, and Web of Science. Primary outcomes included: one) percentage of male faculty in all included sessions and two) overall percentage of manels. Secondary outcomes included one) percentage of male speakers and chairs in all included sessions, two) overall percentage of male-chair and male-speaker only sessions. Comparisons for outcomes were made between conferences and session topics (adult reconstruction hip, adult reconstruction knee, practice management/rehabilitation, trauma, sports, general, pediatrics, upper extremity, musculoskeletal oncology, foot and ankle, spine, and miscellaneous). Mean number of sessions for male and female were compared after being stratified into quartiles based on publications, sum of times cited, and H-indexes. Data was analyzed with non-parametric analysis, chi-square tests, or independent samples t-tests using SPSS version 28.0.0.0 with a p-value of < 0 .05 being considered statistically significant. Of 193 included sessions, 121 (62.3%) were manels and the mean percentage of included faculty that was male was 88.9% Apart from the topics of practice management/rehabilitation and musculoskeletal oncology, male representation was very high. Additionally, most included conferences had an extremely high percentage of male representation apart from meetings hosted by the COA and ORS. Non-manel sessions had a greater mean number of chairs (p=0.006), speakers (p < 0 .001), and faculty (p < 0 .001) than manel sessions. Of 1080 total included faculty members, 960 (88.9%) were male. Male faculty were more likely to be Orthopedic surgeons than female faculty (p < 0 .001) while also more likely to hold academic rank as a professor. Mean number of sessions between male and female faculty within their respective quartiles of H-indexes, sum of times cited, and number of publications did not reach statistical significance. Mean years of practice between male and female faculty was also not significantly different. There is a high prevalence of manels and an overall lack of female representation in Orthopedic meetings. Orthopedic associations should aim to make efforts to increase gender equity in future meetings

Orthopaedics has been left behind in the worldwide drive towards diversity and inclusion. In the UK, only 7% of orthopaedic consultants are female. There is growing evidence that diversity increases innovation as well as patient outcomes. This paper has reviewed the literature to identify some of the common issues affecting female surgeons in orthopaedics, and ways in which we can address them: there is a wealth of evidence documenting the differences in the journey of men and women towards a consultant role. We also look at lessons learned from research in the business sector and the military. The ‘Hidden Curriculum’ is out of date and needs to enter the 21st century: microaggressions in the workplace must be challenged; we need to consider more flexible training options and support trainees who wish to become pregnant; mentors, both male and female, are imperative to provide support for trainees. The world has changed, and we need to consider how we can improve diversity to stay relevant and effective. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2-10:893–899

The role that fomites have to play in surgical site infection (SSI) and periprostheitic joint infection (PJI) has been observed and researched in the past. However the role that cellphones play in the transfer of microorganisms from hands to surgical sites and the indiscriminate use of cellphones within the Orthopaedics, could increase the risk of infection. This study aimed to measure the contamination of cellphones of health care workers (HCW's) in a South African tertiary hospital. Secondarily was to investigate the cellphone hygiene behaviour of HCW's. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2022. Samples were taken from the the participant's cellphones under an aseptic technique and sent for microbiology. The participants also filled out a questionnaire on cellphone behaviour. The inclusion criteria was orthopaedic HCW's working in the institution; This included nurses and doctors in the orthopaedic theatres and main orthopaedic wards. Sixty-two participants were included; 54 from Orthopaedics and 7 from Anaesthesia. From the samples, 71% grew pathogens while 30,64% grew two or more colonies. This is slightly lower than other studies which showed contamination up to 100%. Micro-organisms cultured included Staphylococcus species; S.Epidermidis, Methycillin sensitive S.aureas; and E.Coli. Cellphone hygiene behaviour was also better than most other studies in terms of frequency of cleaning the devices and hand hygiene around cellphone usage. This which may be a contributing factor to the lower micro-organism contamination. This study should be the first of many as we have identified that there are indeed pathogens on cellphones transferable to patients; causing sepsis. Though cellphones have become vital in patients management in the hospital setting, factors such as improvement in cellphone hygiene through education and frequent cleaning of cellphones will aid in disabling the negative impact of cellphones in the orthopaedic environment

The attitudes of orthopaedic surgeons regarding radiology reporting is not well-described in the literature. We surveyed Orthopaedic Surgeons in Australia and New Zealand to assess if they routinely review formal radiology reports. An anonymized, 14 question online survey was distributed to consultant surgeons of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Associations (AOA, NZOA). Two hundred respondents completed the survey (Total number of Fellows: 283 NZOA, 1185 AOA). 18.5% of respondents always reviewed the formal Radiology report, 44.5% most of the time, 35% sometimes and 2% never. By imaging modality, MRI reports were the most frequently reviewed (92%), followed by ultrasound (74%) and nuclear medicine (63%). Only 10% of surgeons consulted formal reports for plain radiography. 55% of surgeons were still likely to disagree with the MRI report, followed by 46% for plain radiography. In cases of disagreement, only 21% of surgeons would always contact the reporting radiologist. The majority of Surgeons (85.5%) think there should be more collaboration between the disciplines, although only 50.5% had regular attendance of a Radiologist at their departmental audit. This survey reveals that the majority of orthopaedic surgeons are not routinely reading radiology reports. This points towards a need for further interdisciplinary collaboration. To our knowledge, this is the first survey directly assessing attitudes of orthopaedic surgeons towards radiology reports