Introduction: The Plastic Surgery challenge in groin sarcoma is often twofold involving restoration of integrity to the lower abdominal wall and provision of durable soft tissue cover for the groin and perineum. Methods: This is a retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing groin sarcoma excision with plastic surgery involvement over the last 7 years. The referral patterns of these patients, histological types, margins and details of reconstructions performed were analysed. Information was also gathered regarding adjuvant therapy, recurrences and survival. Results: Thirteen patients were included in this review. In twelve out of the thirteen patients initial biopsies/explorations were performed by either General Surgeons or Urologists. Ten of these biopsies were incompletely excised. On average 4.4 months elapsed between initial biopsy and referral to the Regional Sarcoma Service. The most frequently performed reconstruction was a rectus abdominis musculo-cutaneous flap. Six patients developed post operative complications. Complete/adequate surgical margins were achieved in seven patients. A further five patients had margins designated as “narrow” or “marginal”. Six patients received post operative radiotherapy based on the multidisciplinary clinic review. Three patients were referred for radiotherapy but did not receive treatment. Five patients developed recurrences and four of these patients died. Discussion: Groin sarcomas represent a surgical and logistical challenge. The anatomical topography makes complete surgical excision difficult without available reconstructive techniques and complication rates can be high. Referral of these patients to the regional sarcoma service is often delayed whilst exploration or biopsy is performed. This delay can persist even after a diagnosis of sarcoma has been made. Communication with colleagues in other centres may be the key to improving this side of management

The aims of this study were to review the management of open tibial fractures in our specialist ortho-plastic centre and to assess whether our practice concurred with the BAO/BAPS guidelines. A retrospective note review of patients with open tibial fractures was undertaken. Data was collected on time to referral to the plastic surgery unit and time to definitive soft tissue cover. Return of limb function was assessed using the Enneking score. Forty five consecutive patients (27M vs. 18F), with an age range of 11–86 yrs (median age of 42 years), were treated using strict protocols. Seventeen cases were referred by the on-site orthopaedic unit, and 28 patients were from 7 neighbouring units. Time from injury to initial plastic surgery assessment ranged from 0 to 19 days, with a median of 4 days. Time from injury to definitive soft tissue cover ranged from 0 to 21, with a median of 5 days. 41/45 cases had definitive surgery within 5 days of initial plastics assessment. 5 patients with definitive treatment at days 4, 4, 7, 7, 12 developed superficial wound infection. Patients referred from neighbouring units underwent on average 1 extra operation. We failed to detect any significant difference in return of function between the 2 groups indicating that referral to a specialist centre may produce equivalent functional return even if there is a delay in definitive treatment. Open tibial fractures should be managed in a specialist centre, manned with dedicated lower limb plastic and orthopaedic reconstructive surgeons and followed up in a combined ortho-plastic clinic. However, more emphasis should be put on improved communication between referring units and the specialist centre

Introduction: The centre provides hand services to remote hospitals which require patients to travel long distances at odd hours for assessment and consenting to their operation only to be done at a later date in day surgery unit unless otherwise indicated. Aims: Compare video conferencing to patient and surgeon ‘face to face’ consultation in counselling of patients prior to surgery. Methods: Four injuries (Nail bed, extensor tendon, nerve repair, wrist laceration) were identified for which operative management was clear. 10 plastic surgery SHOs were shown photographs of the patients injury and asked to ‘counsel’ the ‘patient’(played by consultant plastic surgeon) with regards to the intended benefits, risks and complications of surgery. The assessment was done for all four scenarios both in person and over a video conference link (AHMS). The order of each case was varied to minimise ‘rehearsal’ of the consent. The consent process was scored on a number of points followed by rating. SHOs acted as their own controls removing bias of differing levels of knowledge. Results: The mean counselling time was 6 minutes/session. Equipments functioned reliably with audio and speed rated as excellent. Quality of councelling sessions using telemedicine was considered by consultants as good (32/40) to satisfactory (8/40) and was found comparable to in person councelling in obtaining consent. Conclusion: Telemedicine is as effective as specialist-on site counselling for non-controversial hand injuries and thereby reduces the movement of patients from remote A& E departments to plastic surgery units for consent and booking of their surgery

The authors felt that it would be an interesting and worthwhile exercise to examine the process and management of open long-bone fractures referred to East Grinstead as we felt that we were not achieving the timeframe, as advised by the BOA/BAPS guidelines.

Methods The notes of patients who were referred East Grinstead for soft tissue management of long-bone fractures were examined over a 1 year period and analysed. After the results were seen to be poor in terms of management, practices were changed and the following year’s patients’ management underwent the same analysis prospectively.

Results The first years audit revealed average day of referral of 6.1, day of transfer was 13.2 days and time to soft tissue coverage was 18.3 days. 8% of patients achieved the BOA/BAPS guidelines of coverage by day 5. The second cohort of patients showed little improvement in their process of care.

Aims

The aims of this study were to describe the epidemiology of metacarpal shaft fractures (MSFs), assess variation in treatment and complications following standard care, document hospital resource use, and explore factors associated with treatment modality.

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The aims of this study were to describe the demographic, socioeconomic, and educational factors associated with core surgical trainees (CSTs) who apply to and receive offers for higher surgical training (ST3) posts in Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O).

Aims. Clinical management of open fractures is challenging and frequently requires complex reconstruction procedures. The Gustilo-Anderson classification lacks uniform interpretation, has poor interobserver reliability, and fails to account for injuries to musculotendinous units and bone. The Ganga Hospital Open Injury Severity Score (GHOISS) was designed to address these concerns. The major aim of this review was to ascertain the evidence available on accuracy of the GHOISS in predicting successful limb salvage in patients with mangled limbs. Methods. We searched electronic data bases including PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify studies that employed the GHOISS risk tool in managing complex limb injuries published from April 2006, when the score was introduced, until April 2021. Primary outcome was the measured sensitivity and specificity of the GHOISS risk tool for predicting amputation at a specified threshold score. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, need for plastic surgery, deep infection rate, time to fracture union, and functional outcome measures. Diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis was performed using a random effects bivariate binomial model. Results. We identified 1,304 records, of which six prospective cohort studies and two retrospective cohort studies evaluating a total of 788 patients were deemed eligible for inclusion. A diagnostic test meta-analysis conducted on five cohort studies, with 474 participants, showed that GHOISS at a threshold score of 14 has a pooled sensitivity of 93.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78.4 to 98.2) and a specificity of 95% (95% CI 88.7 to 97.9) for predicting primary or secondary amputations in people with complex lower limb injuries. Conclusion. GHOISS is highly accurate in predicting success of limb salvage, and can inform management and predict secondary outcomes. However, there is a need for high-quality multicentre trials to confirm these findings and investigate the effectiveness of the score in children, and in predicting secondary amputations. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(1):21–28

Introduction. The presence of pluripotent mesenchymal cells in the periosteum along with the growth factors produced or released following injury provides this tissue with an important role in bone healing. Utilising this property, vascularised periosteal flaps may increase the union rates in recalcitrant atrophic long bone non-union. The novel chimeric fibula-periosteal flap utilises the periosteum raised on an independent periosteal vessel, thus allowing the periosteum to be inset freely around the osteotomy site, improving bone biology. Materials & Methods. Ten patients, with established non-union, underwent fibula-periosteal chimeric flaps (2016–2022) at the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, UK. Preoperative CT angiography was performed to identify the periosteal branches. A case-control approach was used. Patients acted as their own controls, which obviated patient specific risks for non-union. One osteotomy site was covered by the chimeric periosteal flap and one without. In two patients both the osteotomies were covered using a long periosteal flap. Results. Union rate of 100% (11/11) was noted with periosteal flap osteotomies, versus those without flaps at 28.6% (2/7) (p = 0.0025). Time to union was also reduced in the periosteal flaps at 8.5 months versus 16.75 months in the control group (p = 0.023). Survival curves with a hazard ratio of 4.1, equating to a 4 times higher chance of union with periosteal flaps (log-rank p = 0.0016) was observed. Conclusions. The chimeric fibula-periosteal flap provides an option for atrophic recalcitrant non-unions where use of vascularised fibula graft alone may not provide an adequate biological environment for consolidation

Introduction. Open fragility ankle fractures involve complex decision making. There is no consensus on the method of surgical management. Our aim in this study was to analyse current management of these patients in a major trauma centre (MTC). Materials & Methods. This cohort study evaluates the management of geriatric (≥65years) open ankle fractures in a MTC (November 2020–November 2022). The method, timing(s) and personnel involved in surgical care were assessed. Weightbearing status over the treatment course was monitored. Patient frailty was measured using the clinical frailty score (CFS). Results. There were 35 patients, mean age 77 years (range 65–97 years), 86% female. Mean length of admission in the MTC was 26.4 days (range 3–78). Most (94%) had a low-energy mechanism of injury. Only 57% of patients underwent one-stage surgery (ORIF n=15, hindfoot nail n=1, external frame n=4) with 45% being permitted to fully weightbear (FWB). Eleven (31.4%) underwent two-stage surgery (external fixator; ORIF), with 18% permitted to FWB. Of those patients with pre-injury mobility, 12 (66%) patients were able to FWB following definitive fixation. Delay in weightbearing ranged from 2–8weeks post-operatively. Seven patients (20%) underwent an initial Orthoplastic wound debridement. Ten patients (28.6%) required plastic surgery input (split-skin grafts n=9, local or free flaps n=3), whereby four patients (40%) underwent one stage Orthoplastic surgery. Eighteen (51.4%) patients had a CFS ≥5. Patients with a CFS of ≥7 had 60% 90-day mortality. Only 17% patients had orthogeriatrician input during admission. Conclusions. These patients have high frailty scores, utilise a relatively large portion of resources with multiple theatre attendances and protracted ward occupancy in an MTC. Early FWB status needs to be the goal of treatment, ideally in a single-staged procedure. Poor access to orthogeriatric care for these frail patients may represent healthcare inequality

Aims. Open tibial fractures are limb-threatening injuries. While limb loss is rare in children, deep infection and nonunion rates of up to 15% and 8% are reported, respectively. We manage these injuries in a similar manner to those in adults, with a combined orthoplastic approach, often involving the use of vascularised free flaps. We report the orthopaedic and plastic surgical outcomes of a consecutive series of patients over a five-year period, which includes the largest cohort of free flaps for trauma in children to date. Methods. Data were extracted from medical records and databases for patients with an open tibial fracture aged < 16 years who presented between 1 May 2014 and 30 April 2019. Patients who were transferred from elsewhere were excluded, yielding 44 open fractures in 43 patients, with a minimum follow-up of one year. Management was reviewed from the time of injury to discharge. Primary outcome measures were the rate of deep infection, time to union, and the Modified Enneking score. Results. The mean age of the patients was 9.9 years (2.8 to 15.8), and 28 were male (64%). A total of 30 fractures (68%) involved a motor vehicle collision, and 34 (77%) were classified as Gustilo Anderson (GA) grade 3B. There were 17 (50%) GA grade 3B fractures, which were treated with a definitive hexapod fixator, and 33 fractures (75%) were treated with a free flap, of which 30 (91%) were scapular/parascapular or anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps. All fractures united at a median of 12.3 weeks (interquartile range (IQR) 9.6 to 18.1), with increasing age being significantly associated with a longer time to union (p = 0.005). There were no deep infections, one superficial wound infection, and the use of 20 fixators (20%) was associated with a pin site infection. The median Enneking score was 90% (IQR 87.5% to 95%). Three patients had a bony complication requiring further surgery. There were no flap failures, and eight patients underwent further plastic surgery. Conclusion. The timely and comprehensive orthoplastic care of open tibial fractures in this series of patiemts aged < 16 years resulted in 100% union and 0% deep infection, with excellent patient-reported functional outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6):1160–1167