Aim. Fracture-related infection (FRI) is a severe post-traumatic complication which can be accompanied with a soft-tissue defect or an avital soft-tissue envelope. In these cases, a thoroughly planned orthoplastic approach is imperative since a vital soft-tissue envelope is mandatory to achieve fracture union and infection eradication. The aim of our study was to analyse plastic surgical aspects in the management of FRIs, including the type and outcome of soft-tissue reconstruction (STR), and to investigate the long-term outcome of FRI after STR. Method. Patients with a lower leg FRI requiring STR that were treated from 2010 to 2018 at our center were included in this retrospective analysis. STR involved the use of local, pedicled and free flaps. The primary outcome was the success rate of STR, and the secondary outcome was long-term fracture consolidation and cure of infection. Results. Overall, 145 patients with lower leg FRI were identified, of whom 58 (40%) received STR. Muscle flaps were applied in 38, fascio-cutaneous flaps in 19 and a composite osteo-cutaneous flap in one case. All patients underwent successful STR (primary STR in 51/58 patients, 7/58 patients needed secondary STR). A high Charlson Comorbidity Index Score was a significant risk factor for flap failure (p=0.011). Patients with free-flap STR developed significantly more severe complications and needed more surgical interventions (Clavien-Dindo ≥IIIa; p=0.001). Out of the 43 patients that completed long-term follow-up (mean 24 months), fracture consolidation was achieved in 32 and infection eradication in 31. Polymicrobial infection was a significant risk factor for fracture non-union (p=0.002). American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of 3 or higher (p=0.040) was a risk factor for persistence or recurrence of infection. Conclusions. In our population, 58/145 patients with FRI required STR. STR was successful in all patients eventually, in 7/58 patients secondary STR was necessary. Therefore, STR should be sought even if primary STR fails. Despite successful STR, the long-term composite outcome showed a high rate of failed fracture consolidation and failed eradication of infection, which was independent of primary STR failure

Aim. Reconstruction of composite soft-tissue defects with extensor apparatus deficiency in patients with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the knee is challenging. We present a single-centre multidisciplinary orthoplastic treatment concept based on a retrospective outcome analysis over 20 years. Method. One-hundred sixty-seven patients had PJI after total knee arthroplasty. Plastic surgical reconstruction of a concomitant perigenicular soft-tissue defect was indicated in 49 patients. Of these, seven presented with extensor apparatus deficiency. Results. One patient underwent primary arthrodesis and six patients underwent autologous reconstruction of the extensor apparatus. The principle to reconstruct missing tissue ‘like with like’ was thereby favoured: Two patients with a wide soft-tissue defect received a free anterolateral thigh flap with fascia lata; one patient with a smaller soft-tissue defect received a free sensate, extended lateral arm flap with triceps tendon; and three patients received a pedicled medial sural artery perforator gastrocnemius flap, of which one with Achilles tendon. Despite good functional results 1 year later, long-term follow-up revealed that two patients had to undergo knee arthrodesis because of recurrent infection and one patient was lost to follow-up. In parts, results have been published under doi: 10.7150/jbji.47018. Conclusions. A treatment concept and its rationale, based on a single-centre experience, is presented. It differentiates between various types of soft-tissue defects and shows reconstructive options following the concept to reconstruct ‘like with like’. Despite good results 1 year postoperatively, PJI of the knee with extensor apparatus deficiency remains a dreaded combination with a poor long-term outcome

Introduction/Aim. Mid-flexion instability is a well-documented, but often poorly understood cause of failure of TKA. NAVIO robotic-assisted TKA (RA-TKA) offers a novel, integrative approach as a planning, execution as well as an evaluation tool in TKA surgery. RA-TKA provides a hybrid planning technique of measured resection and gap balancing- generating a predictive soft-tissue balance model, prior to making cuts. Concurrently, the system uses a semi-active robot to facilitate both the execution and verification of the plan, as it pertains to both the static and dynamic anatomy. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of the NAVIO RA-TKA to plan, execute and deliver an individualized approach to the soft-tissue balance of the knee, specifically in the “mid-flexion” arc of motion. Materials and Methods. Between May and September 2018, 50 patients underwent NAVIO RA-TKA. Baseline demographics were collected, including age, gender, BMI, and range of motion. The NAVIO imageless technique was used to plan the procedure, including: surface-mapping of the static anatomy; objective assessment of the dynamic, soft-tissue anatomy; and then application of a hybrid of measured-resection and gap-balancing technique. Medial and lateral gaps as predicted by the software were recorded throughout the entire arc of motion at 15° increments. After executing the plan and placing the components, actual medial and lateral gaps were recorded throughout the arc of motion. Results. In the assessment of coronal-plane balance, the average deviation from the predicted plan between 0–90° was 0.9mm in both the medial and lateral compartments (range 0.5–1.2mm). In the mid-flexion arc (15–75°), final soft-tissue stability was within 1.0mm of the predictive plan (range 0.9–1.2mm). Discussion/Conclusions. In this study, NAVIO RA-TKA demonstrated a highly accurate and reproducible surgical technique to plan, execute and verify a balanced a soft-tissue envelope in TKA. Objective soft-tissue balancing of the TKA can now be performed, including the mid-flexion arc of motion. Further analysis can determine if these objective measurements will translate into improved patient-reported outcome scores

Introduction. Autologous fat grafting has favourable potential as a regenerative strategy and is the current gold-standard to repair large contour defects, as needed in breast reconstruction after mastectomy and traumatic soft tissue reconstruction. Clinically, there is a limit on the volume of lipoaspirate which can be utilised to repair a soft-tissue defect. Surgical complications are the result of poor structural fidelity of lipoaspirate and graft resorption as a filling material and are hindered further by poor graft vascularisation. This study aims to develop injectable lipoaspirate-derived adipose tissue grafts with enhanced biologically and clinically-admissible structural and functional properties adopting light photocrosslinking of unmodified lipoaspirate. Methods. Patient-derived lipoaspirate was harvested and crosslinked using novel photoinitiator and exposure to visible light (wavelength 450nm) in surgery, establishing bonds between extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins within the material. The degree of crosslinking was tuned (photoinitiator concentration, light exposure, light intensity) and covalent bond formation measured using mass spectrometry. To predict patient response, SWATH-MS was used to identify differences in patient ECM and crosslinked grafts were implanted in vivo using a subcutaneous mouse model. Functional vessel formation and resorption were quantified using micro-CT and tissue-remodelling was assessed via histology. Results. There was an increase in the relative abundance of covalent bonds present with increasing degree of crosslinking. When injected, crosslinked lipoaspirate had better shape fidelity compared with native lipoaspirate – demonstrated by a smaller fibre diameter. Crosslinked lipoaspirate remained viable over long term culture and resulted in more predictable resorption profiles when implanted in vivo. Conclusions. The crosslinking approach described here is tunable and functional across different patient samples. Improving the structural properties of lipoaspirate through minimal manipulation has clinical utility for the delivery of grafts with higher shape fidelity and therefore increased graft survival when implanted

The NZ Standards of Service Provision for Sarcoma patients were developed by the NZ Sarcoma working group and published by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2013. Although not formally enacted by the MOH we aimed to determine the impact of these published standards and referral pathways on disease-specific survival of patients with soft-tissue sarcoma in NZ. The Middlemore Musculoskeletal Tumour Unit database was searched. Patients referred for treatment in our centre with a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma in the five-year period before (n=115) and after (n=155) were included. We excluded patients with bone sarcomas and retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas. The rate of referral after inappropriate treatment reduced after implementation of the Standards (24% vs 12%, p=0.010). The number of patients referred with tumours larger than 50mm decreased (74.8% vs 72.3%, p=0.021) and fewer had metastases at diagnosis (11.3% vs 3.2%, p=0.017). Mortality was lower in the group after introduction of the Standards (45% vs 30%, p=0.017). The estimated disease-specific survival curve between the two groups shows a trend towards increased survival in the post-standards group, although not reaching statistical significance. Local recurrence rate and metastasis rate after definitive treatment were similar between the two groups. Patients had a shorter duration of symptoms before referral in the post-Standards group although this was not statistically significant. Since implementation of the Standards, patients have been referred more promptly, with fewer inappropriate treatments. The time to mortality curve indicates a trend towards improved disease-specific survival. We conclude that the pathway for investigation and referral for this condition has become clearer, supporting the ongoing use of the Sarcoma Standards, and that these should be formally implemented by the MOH

Aim. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between patients with diabetic foot soft-tissue infection and osteomyelitis. Methods. Medical records of patients with diabetic foot infection involving either soft-tissue (STI) or bone (OM) were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was determined by bone culture, bone histopathology or imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT). Patient outcomes were recorded up to 1 year after admission. Results. Out of 294 patients included in the study, 137 were diagnosed with STI and 157 had OM. No differences in age (p=.40), sex (p=.79), race (p=.83), body-mass index (p=.79) or type of diabetes (p=.77) were appreciated between groups. Frequency of comorbidities (neuropathy, chronic kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease) also did not differ except for increased prevalence of cardiac disease in patients with STI (86.9%) compared to those with OM (31.8%) (p<.00001) and decreased prevalence of retinopathy (24.8% vs. 35.7%) (p=.04). Patients with OM had greater C-reactive protein (p<.00001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p<.00001) and white blood cell count (p<.00001). Among 1-year outcomes, patients with OM more often underwent surgery (p<.00001), had lower limb amputations (p<.00001), became reinfected (p=.0007), were readmitted for the initial problem (p=.008), had longer time to healing (p=.03) and had longer hospital length of stay (p=.00002). However, no differences in 1-year mortality (p=1.000), overall 1-year readmission (p=.06) or healing within 1-year (p=.64) were appreciated. Conclusion. In our study, OM was associated with more aggressive treatment, reinfection and longer time to healing than STI. However, despite being associated with more aggressive care and readmissions, patients with diabetic foot OM has similar 1-year mortality and healing rates to those with diabetic foot STI

Introduction. There is little information available to surgeons regarding how the lateral soft-tissue structures prevent instability in knees implanted with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to quantify the lateral soft-tissue contributions to stability following cruciate retaining (CR) TKA. Methods. Nine cadaveric knees with CR TKA implants (PFC Sigma; DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction) were tested in a robotic system (Fig. 1) at full extension, 30°, 60°, and 90° flexion angles. ±90 N anterior-posterior force, ±8 Nm varus-valgus and ±5 Nm internal-external torque were applied at each flexion angle. The anterolateral structures (ALS, including the iliotibial band, anterolateral ligament and anterolateral capsule), the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), the popliteus tendon complex (Pop T) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) were then sequentially transected. After each transection the kinematics obtained from the original loads were replayed, and the decrease in force / moment equated to the relative contributions of each soft-tissue to stabilising the applied loads. Results. In the CR TKA knee, the LCL was found to be the primary restraint to varus laxity (Fig. 2, an average 56% across all flexion angles), and was significant in internal-external rotational stability (28% and 26% respectively) and anterior drawer (16%). The ALS restrained 25% of internal rotation (Fig. 3), whilst the PCL was significant in posterior drawer only at 60° and 90° flexion. The Pop T was not found to be significant in any tests. Conclusion. This study has for the first time delineated the relative contributions of lateral structures to stability in the implanted knee. It was confirmed that the LCL is the major lateral structure in CR TKA stability throughout the arc of flexion. In the event of LCL deficiency, stability of the knee may only be restored by either changing to a more constrained implant or performing a reconstruction of the ligament. Furthermore, care should be taken when releasing the LCL to correct a valgus deformity as it may result in a combined rotational laxity pattern that cannot be overcome by the other passive lateral structures or the PCL. For figures, please contact authors directly

Introduction. Dual Mobility (DM) implants have gained popularity for the treatment and prevention of hip dislocation, with increased stability provided by a large diameter mobile insert. However, distal regions of the insert may impinge on soft tissues like the iliopsoas, leading to groin pain. Additionally, soft-tissue impingement may trap the mobile insert, leading to excessive loading of the insert rim from engagement with the femoral neck and subsequent intra-prosthetic dislocation. To address this, an Anatomically Contoured Dual Mobility (ACDM) insert with a soft-tissue friendly distal geometry was developed (Fig.1). Previously, the ACDM insert was shown to maintain the femoroacetabular contact area and joint stability of a conventional DM insert [Duffy et al. BJJ 2013, 95-B:34, p298; Zumbrunn et al. BJJ 2013, 95-B:34, p605]. The goal of this study was to utilize cadaver specimens to verify whether the ACDM insert could reduce soft-tissue impingement relative to a conventional DM insert. Methods. Fluoroscopic imaging was used to evaluate soft-tissue interaction with ACDM and conventional DM inserts in four cadaver hips (Fig. 2). A metal wire was sutured to the deep fibers of the iliopsoas muscle/tendon, and metal wires were embedded in the inner head and the mobile insert for fluoroscopic visualization. All soft tissue except the anterior hip capsule and iliopsoas were removed, and a rope was attached to the iliopsoas to apply tension along its native orientation. A femoral stem and a DM acetabular shell were implanted sothe ACDM or conventional DM inserts, together with the inner heads, could be inserted. Fluoroscopic images of the hip joint were taken at maximum hyperextension, 0°, 15° and 30° hip flexion with the insert positioned in neutral and anteverted orientations (Fig. 2). Neutral orientation corresponded to the insert axis parallel to the femoral neck, while anteverted orientation corresponded to a flexed insert that contacted the femoral neck posteriorly. Results. In all hips, fluoroscopic images revealed iliopsoas tenting with the conventional DM insert, and impingement of the iliopsoas occurred at low hip flexion angles (hyperextension, 0°, 15°) with the insert in neutral and anteverted orientations (Fig. 2 and 3). Further, at certain low flexion positions during dynamic motion, the movement of the conventional DM insert was blocked due to trapping of the insert by the anterior soft tissue and the femoral stem (Fig. 2B). At flexion angles above 30°, the iliopsoas moved away from the mobile insert and no impingement was seen. In all hips, the soft-tissue impingement and insert trapping was significantly reduced with the ACDM insert (Fig. 2 and 3). The reduction in impingement occurred with the insert in both neutral and anteverted orientations, although it was more evident for the latter. Conclusion. This study showed that conventional DM inserts impinge against the iliopsoas in low flexion, and their motion can be blocked by soft-tissue impingement. The Anatomically Contoured Dual Mobility (ACDM) insert significantly reduced this undesirable soft-tissue impingement. Thus, the ACDM insert may reduce the risk of groin pain and intra-prosthetic dislocation resulting from soft-tissue impingement and entrapment of the mobile insert

Population-based studies from the United States have reported that sarcoma patients living in rural areas or belonging to lower socioeconomic classes experience worse overall survival; however, the evidence is not clear for universal healthcare systems where financial resources should theoretically not affect access to standard of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the survival outcomes of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients treated in Ontario, Canada over 23 years and determine if the patient's geographic location or income quintile are associated with survival. We performed a population-based cohort study using linked administrative databases of patients diagnosed with STS between 1993 – 2015. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20-year survival stratified by age, stage and location of tumor. We estimated survival outcomes based on the patient's geographic location and income quintile. The Log-Rank test was used to detect significant differences between groups. If groups were significantly different, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to test for interaction effects with other patient variables. We identified 8,896 patients with biopsy-confirmed STS during the 23-year study period. Overall survival following STS diagnosis was 70% at 2 years, 59% at 5 years, 50% at 10 years, 43% at 15 years, and 38% at 20 years. Living in a rural location (p=0.0028) and belonging to the lowest income quintile (p<0.0001) were independently associated with lower overall survival following STS diagnosis. These findings were robust to tests of interaction with each other, age, gender, location of tumor and stage of disease. This population-based cohort study of 8,896 STS patients treated in Ontario, Canada over 23 years reveals that patients living in a rural area and belonging to the lowest income quintile are at risk for decreased survival following STS diagnosis. We extend previous STS survival reporting by providing 15 and 20-year survival outcomes stratified by age, stage, and tumor location

Purpose. There are concerns of soft-tissue reactions such as metal hypersensitivity or pseudotumors for metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings in hip arthroplasty, however, such reactions around ceramic or polyethylene bearings are incompletely understood. The present study was conducted to examine the capabilities of ultrasound screening and to compare the prevalence of periarticular soft-tissue lesions among various types of bearings. Methods. Ultrasound examinations were conducted in 163 hips (153 patients) with arthroplasty after mean a follow-up of 8.1 years (range, 1–22 years). This included 39 MoM hip resurfacings (M-HR) including 30 Birmingham hip resurfacings (BHR) and 9 ADEPT resurfacings; 36 MoM total hip arthroplasties (M-THA) with a large femoral head including 26 BHR and 10 ADEPT bearings; 21 ceramic-on-ceramic THAs (C-THA) of Biolox forte alumina bearings; 24 THAs with a conventional polyethylene liner (cPE-THA) including 19 Lubeck and 5 Omnifit systems; and 43 THAs with a highly cross-linked polyethylene liner (hxPE-THA) including 28 Crossfire and 15 Longevity liners. All procedures were performed in the lateral position through the posterior approach without trochanteric osteotomy. The M-HR group had a significantly higher frequency of male patients than the C-THA, cPE-THA, and hxPE-THA groups, and the patients in the M-HR group were younger than those in the other four groups. Ultrasound images were acquired as a still picture and in video format as the hip moved in flexion and rotation, and 4 qualitative classifications for periarticular soft-tissue reactions were determined as normal pattern, joint-expansion pattern (marked hypoechoic space between the anterior capsule and the anterior surface of the femoral component), cystic pattern (irregularly shaped hypoechoic lesions), and mass pattern (a large mass extending anterior to the femoral component). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was subsequently performed in 45 hips with high-frequency encoding bandwidths. For the reliability of ultrasound screening, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the accuracy of the presence of abnormal patterns on ultrasound were calculated using the abnormal lesions on MRI as a reference. Results. Among the 45 hips that underwent MRI, periarticular abnormal lesions were detected in 26 hips (58%). Using MRI findings as reference, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the accuracy of ultrasound examination for the detection of soft-tissue lesions were 83%, 71%, and 78%, respectively. Abnormal ultrasound lesions with joint expansion, cystic, or mass patterns were most frequently observed in the cPE-THA group (50%), followed by the M-THA (25%), hxPE-THA (23%), M-HR (18%), and C-THA groups (14%). Compared to the hxPE-THA group, the frequency of abnormal patterns did not differ significantly in the two MoM groups. A mass pattern was detected in 3 hips of the M-THA group and 1 hip of the C-THA group (Figure 1). Abnormal ultrasound lesions were significantly associated with the presence of symptoms. Conclusion: Various soft-tissue reactions could be observed other than those for MoM bearings, and pseudotumors may not be a specific feature of MoM bearings. Ultrasound examination may be a suitable screening tool for further large prospective investigations of soft-tissue reactions around various types of bearings

Introduction:. Large diameter femoral heads have been used successfully to prevent dislocation after Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). However, recent studies show that the peripheral region of contemporary femoral heads can directly impinge against the native soft-tissues, particularly the iliopsoas, leading to activity limiting anterior hip pain. This is because the spherical articular surface of contemporary prosthesis overhangs beyond that of the native anatomy (Fig. 1). The goal of this research was to develop an anatomically shaped, soft-tissue friendly large diameter femoral head that retains the benefits of contemporary implants. Methods:. Various Anatomically Contoured femoral Head (ACH) designs were constructed, wherein the articular surface extending from the pole to a theta (θ) angle, matched that of contemporary implants (Fig. 2). However, the articular surface in the peripheral region was moved inward towards the femoral head center, thereby reducing material that could impinge on the soft-tissues (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). Finite element analysis was used to determine the femoroacetabular contact area under peak in vivo loads during different activities. Dynamic simulations were used to determine jump distance prior to posterior dislocation under different dislocation modes. Published data was used to compare the implant articular geometry to native anatomy (Fig. 3). These analyses were used to optimize the soft-tissue relief, while retaining the load bearing contact area, and the dislocation resistance of conventional implants. Results:. The resulting ACH prosthesis retained the large diameter profile of contemporary implants over an approximately hemispherical portion (Fig. 2). Beyond this, the peripheral articular surface was composed of smaller convex radii. With this design, the jump distance under posterior and anterior dislocation modes, and the femoroacetabular contact area under loads corresponding to walking, deep knee bend and chair sit, remained identical to that of contemporary implants. Additionally, while contemporary prosthesis extended beyond the native articular surface in the distal-medial and proximal-lateral regions (shaded grey), the ACH implant remained within the margins of the native anatomy (Fig. 3). Conclusion:. A novel large diameter anatomically contoured femoral head prosthesis was developed, to mitigate the soft-tissue impingement with contemporary prosthesis. The ACH retained the large diameter profile of contemporary implants over a hemispherical portion. However, in the peripheral region, the ACH had a smaller profile to reduce soft-tissue impingement

Introduction. Dual Mobility (DM) implants have gained popularity for the treatment and prevention of hip dislocation, with increased stability provided by a large diameter mobile liner. However, distal regions of the liner can impinge on soft-tissues like hip capsule and iliopsoas, leading to anterior hip pain. Additionally, soft-tissue impingement may trap the mobile liner, leading to excessive loading of the liner rim, from engagement with the femoral stem, and subsequent intra-prosthetic dislocation. The hypothesis of this study was that reducing the liner profile below the equator (contoured design) can mitigate soft-tissue impingement without compromising inner-head pull-out resistance and overall hip joint stability (Fig. 1). Methods. The interaction of conventional and contoured liners with anterior soft-tissues was evaluated in 10 cadaveric hips (5 specimens; 2 male, 3 female; age 65 ± 10 yrs; liner diameter 42–48mm) via visual observation and fluoroscopic imaging. A metal wire was sutured to the deep fibers of the iliopsoas tendon/muscle, and metal wires were embedded in the mobile liners for fluoroscopic visualization (Fig. 2). All soft-tissue except the anterior hip capsule and iliopsoas was removed, and a rope was attached to the iliopsoas to apply tension along its natural orientation. Resistance to inner-head pull-out was evaluated via Finite Element Analysis (FEA) by simulating a full cycle of insertion of the inner head into the mobile liner and subsequent pullout. The femoral head, acetabular shell, and stem were modeled as rigid, while the mobile liner was modeled as plastically deformable. Hip joint stability was evaluated by dynamic simulations in for two dislocation modes: (A) Posterior dislocation (at 90° hip flexion) with internal hip rotation; (B) Posterior dislocation (starting at 90° flexion) with combined hip flexion and adduction. A 44 mm diameter conventional and a 44 mm contoured liner were evaluated during these tests. Results. The cadaver experiments showed that distal portion of conventional liners impinge on anterior hip capsule and iliopsoas at low flexion angles (<30°). Additionally, when the hip moved from flexion into extension, the liner motion was blocked between posterior neck engagement, and anterior soft-tissue impingement. In all hips, the soft-tissue impingement / tenting was significantly reduced with contoured liners (Fig. 7). The change in tenting could be visualized as change in distance between the iliopsoas wire, and the contoured/conventional liners on sequential fluoroscopic images. The maximum reduction in iliopsoas tenting for a given specimen ranged from 1.8 mm to 5.5 mm. Additionally, the contoured and conventional liners had identical inner-head pull-out resistance (901N vs. 909N), jump distance (9.4 mm mode-A, 11.7 mm mode-B) and impingement-free range of motion (47° mode-A, 29° mode-B). Conclusion. This study showed that distal portions of conventional DM liners can impinge against iliopsoas and hip capsule in low flexion leading to functional impediment of liner motion. Additionally, reducing the liner profile below the equator led to significant reduction in soft-tissue impingement/tenting without affecting mechanical performance. Thus, a contoured dual mobility liner design may reduce the risk of anterior hip pain and intra-prosthetic dislocation resulting from soft-tissue impingement and liner entrapment. To view tables/figures, please contact authors directly

This study explored psychological functioning and coping styles in adult patients with localized and metastatic extremity soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) from diagnosis through survivorship in a single expert sarcoma center in Canada. Our analyses were driven by three main goals: 1) to develop a better understanding of the affective responses and coping mechanisms in patients who face this rare illness, 2) to identify areas of psychological functioning in which patients with STS experience most difficulties, and 3) to describe how these areas could be best addressed in clinical settings. This descriptive qualitative study is a part of a larger mixed-methods study on health related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients with soft-tissue sarcoma treated between 2003 and 2018. Purposive sampling based on demographic and disease variables from all patients within a prospective database was utilized to ensure a representative patient population. Three formats of data collection were conducted in French and English, 2 online focus groups (total n=12), 2 in-person focus groups (total n=12), as well as individual semi-structured interviews (n=4). Data was analyzed using inductive thematic networks approach using the qualitative software N-Vivo 12. Codes were generated by 2 independent qualitative experts that captured key concepts referring to psychological functioning and coping mechanisms. Basic themes were clustered into organizing themes, which were later merged into a global theme. Attention was paid to deviant cases, and within-group dynamics during focus group discussion analysis. Any discrepancies or inconsistencies in coding were resolved in a consensus meeting. The final sample size was determined when data saturation was reached, and no new themes emerged. Our analyses of psychological well-being and functioning revealed three main themes, mood, anxiety, and body image concerns. Feelings of depression and low mood were prominent, coinciding with physical symptoms and limitations especially during the phase of treatment and recovery. Women were more likely to report emotional volatility, while men tended to report more preoccupation. Loss of control and independence, anxiety related to illness recurrence, uncertainty about the future and facing one's mortality significantly impacted quality of life. Furthermore, while patients were more concerned with limb functionality, disfigurement and self-consciousness featured prominently in the narrative. Four adaptive coping styles were observed, positive reframing and optimism, finding a purpose, being proactive, and using humor. Among the maladaptive strategies, we noted passive acceptance, and avoidance and denial. Psychological well-being is an important domain in the HRQoL of adult patients with extremity STS. Physicians and medical workers should encourage adaptive coping mechanisms such as positive reframing and optimism. Patients endorsing higher levels of psychological distress and maladaptive coping styles should be monitored for their well-being and multidisciplinary strategies employed to optimize psychological function and HRQoL

Wide resection, with or without adjuvant therapy, is the mainstay of treatment for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. The surgical treatment of soft tissue sarcoma can portend a prolonged course of recovery from a functional perspective. However, data to inform the expected course of recovery following sarcoma surgery is lacking. The purpose of this study was to identify time to maximal functional improvement following sarcoma resection and to identify factors that delay the expected course of recovery.

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients undergoing surgical treatment of a soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities between January 1st, 1985 and November 15, 2020 with a minimum of 1 follow up. The primary outcome measure was time to maximal functional improvement, defined as failure to demonstrate improvement on two consecutive follow up appointments, as defined by the functional outcome measures of Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) Score or by achieving 90% of maximum outcome score.

We identified 1188 patients who underwent surgical resection of a soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Patients typically achieved a return to their baseline level of function by 1 year and achieved “maximal” functional recovery by 2 year's time postoperatively.

Patient and tumor factors that were associated with worse functional outcome scores and a delayed return to maximal functional improvement included older age (p=0.007), female sex (p-0.004), larger tumor size (p < 0 .001), deep tumor location (p < 0 .001), pelvic location (p < 0 .001), higher tumor grade (p < 0 .001). Treatment factors that were associated with worse functional outcome scores and a delayed return to maximal functional improvement included use of radiation therapy (p < 0 .001), perioperative complications (p < 0 .001), positive margin status (p < 0 .001) and return of disease, locally or systemically (p < 0 .001).

Most patients will recover their baseline function by 1 year and achieve “maximal” recovery by 2 years’ time following surgical resection for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Several patient, tumor and treatment factors should be used to counsel patients as to a delayed course of recovery.

Over half of postpartum women experience pelvic ring or hip pain, with multiple anatomic locations involved. The sacroiliac joints, pubic symphysis, lumbar spine and pelvic girdle are all well documented pain generators. However, despite the prevalence of postpartum hip pain, there is a paucity of literature regarding underlying soft tissue intra-articular etiologies. The purpose of this systematic review is to document and assess the available evidence regarding underlying intra-articular soft tissue etiologies of peri- and postpartum hip pain.

Three online databases (Embase, PubMed and Ovid [MEDLINE]) were searched from database inception until April 11, 2021. The inclusion criteria were English language studies, human studies, and those regarding symptomatic labral pathology in the peri- or postpartum period. Exclusion criteria were animal studies, commentaries, book chapters, review articles and technical studies. All titles, relevant abstracts and full-text articles were screened by two reviewers independently. Descriptive characteristics including the study design, sample size, sex ratio, mean age, clinical and radiographic findings, pathology, subsequent management and outcomes were documented. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) instrument.

The initial search identified 2472 studies. A systemic screening and assessment of eligibility identified 5 articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria. Twenty-two females were included. Twenty patients presented with labral pathology that necessitated hip arthroscopy with labral debridement or repair with or without acetabuloplasty and/or femoroplasty. One patient presented with an incidental labral tear in the context of osteitis condensans illi. One patient presented with post-traumatic osteoarthritis necessitating a hip replacement. The mean MINORS score of these 5 non-comparative studies was 2.8 (range 0-7) demonstrating a very low quality of evidence.

The contribution of intra-articular soft tissue injury is a documented, albeit sparse, etiology contributing to peri- and postpartum hip pain. Further research to better delineate the prevalence, mechanism of injury, natural history and management options for women suffering from these pathologies at an already challenging time is necessary to advance the care of these patients.

Introduction. The large diameter mobile polyethylene liner of the dual mobility implant provides increased resistance to hip dislocation. However, a problem specific to the dual mobility system is intra-prosthetic dislocation (IPD), secondary to loss of the retentive rim, causing the inner head to dissociate from the polyethylene liner. We hypothesized that impingement of the polyethylene liner with the surrounding soft-tissue inhibits liner motion, thereby facilitating load transfer from the femoral neck to the liner and leading to loss of retentive rim over time. This mechanism of soft-tissue impingement with the liner was evaluated via cadaver experiments, and retrievals were used to assess polyethylene rim damage. Methods. Total hip arthroplasty was performed on 10 cadaver hips using 3D printed dual mobility components. A metal wire was sutured to the posterior surface (underside) of the iliopsoas, and metal wires were embedded into grooves on the outer surface of the liner and inner head to identify these structures under fluoroscopy. Tension was applied to the iliopsoas to move the femur from maximum hyperextension to 90° of flexion for the purpose of visualizing the iliopsoas and capsule interaction with the mobile liner. The interaction of the mobile liner with the iliopsoas was studied using fluoroscopy and direct visual observation. Fifteen retrieved dual mobility liners were assessed for rim edge and rim chamfer damage. Rim edge damage was defined as any evidence of contact, and rim chamfer damage was classified into six categories: impact ribs on the chamfer surface, loss of machining marks, scratching or pitting, rim deformation causing a raised lip, a rounded rim edge, or embedded metal debris. Results. Manipulation of the cadaver specimens through full range of motion showed liner impingement with the iliopsoas tendon in low flexion angles, which impeded liner motion. At high flexion angles (beyond 30°), the iliopsoas tendon moved away from the liner and impingement was not observed. The fluoroscopy tests using the embedded metal wires confirmed what was observed during manual manipulation of the specimen. When observing the hip during maximum hyperextension, 0°, 15°, and 30° of flexion, there was obvious tenting of the iliopsoas. All retrieved components showed damage on the rim and the chamfer surface. The most common damage seen was scratching/ pitting. There was no association between presence of damage and time in vivo controlling for age and Body Mass Index (p≥0.255). Discussion. The cadaver studies showed that the mobile liner motion could be impeded by impingement with the iliopsoas tendon and hip capsule. Visual and fluoroscopic observation showed impingement of iliopsoas and hip capsule with the distal portion of the mobile liner, particularly during low flexion angles. All retrieved liners showed damage despite their limited time in vivo and despite being retrieved for reasons other than IPD. This suggests that soft-tissue impingement may inhibit liner motion routinely in vivo, resulting in load transfer from the femoral neck on to the rim of the liner. This may be an important mechanism for IPD

Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) is a rapidly progressive infection that typically starts in the dermis and epidermis and spreads along soft tissue planes, penetrating subdermal layers and can lead to massive tissue necrosis resulting in severe morbidity and mortality. The aim of this case series was to describe the epidemiology and burden of NSTI's at a District Hospital servicing a South African urban settlement.

This retrospective case series was performed at a single centre. Consecutive patients were identified following a clinical diagnosis for NSTI. Further laboratory pre-operative work up was standardized including: use of validated Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC scores) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status. All patients who underwent surgical debridement were captured on the Theatre Database (www.medwebtools.org™). All patients received standardized perioperative, intra-operative and post-operative protocols for antibiotics, debridement and soft tissue closure or cover based on the severity of disease. Medical records, theatre notes, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) results and radiological results were captured for every patient.

28 patients (14 male, 14 female) presented with NSTI over a 3 year period (2021–2023). The mean age was 39.5 years. The most common organisms cultured were Streptococcus pyogenes (10 patients), Staphylococcus aureus (9 patients), Bacillus cereus (3 patients).

This retrospective case series is an important study because it demonstrates some of the highest incidence of NSTI globally; however, the cause of this is yet to be determined. Our results show that having a high clinical index of suspicion; using the LRINEC score to assess severity and using a standardized antibiotic and peri-operative protocol with early soft tissue cover that NSTI's can be managed effectively with a reduction in patient morbidity and overall length of hospital stay.

Introduction. Large diameter femoral heads provide increased range-of-motion and reduced dislocation rates compared to smaller diameter femoral heads. However, several recent studies have reported that contemporary large head prostheses can directly impinge against the local soft tissues leading to anterior hip pain. To address this we developed a novel Anatomically Contoured large diameter femoral Head (ACH) that maintains the profile of a large diameter femoral head over a hemispherical portion and then contours inward the distal profile of the head for soft-tissue relief. We hypothesized that the distal contouring of the ACH articular surface would not affect contact area. The impact of component placement, femoral head to acetabular liner radial clearance, and joint loading during different activities was investigated. Methods. A finite element model was used to assess the femoroacetabular contact area of a 36 mm diameter conventional head and a 36 mm ACH (Fig. 1). It included a rigid acetabular shell, plastically deformable UHMWPE acetabular liner, rigid femoral head and rigid femoral stem. The femoral stem was placed at 0°, 10° and 20° of anteversion. The acetabular shell and liner were placed in 20°, 40° and 60° of abduction and 0°, 20° and 40° of anteversion. The femoral head to acetabular liner radial clearances modeled were 0.06 mm, 0.13 mm and 0.5 mm. Three loading cases corresponding to peak in vivo loads during walking, chair sit and deep-knee bend were analyzed (Fig. 2). This allowed a range of component positions and maximum joint loads to be studied. Results. Under all tested conditions there was no difference between the two implants (Fig. 3). The contact area for both prosthesis depended on the radial clearance between the head and liner. The conventional head contact area (standard deviation) in mm. 2. for 0.5 mm, 0.13 mm and 0.06 mm of radial clearance was 230.5 (70.2), 419.8 (48.7) and 575.4 (60.1) respectively. Similarly, for the ACH these were 230.5 (70.4), 420.1 (48.7) and 575.9 (59.4). The average data for a head and radial clearance combination included all component placements and load conditions completed. A student T-Test (p = 0.05) confirmed that the ACH had the same contact area as the conventional head for all radial clearances. Conclusion. This study showed that, as intended, an anatomically contoured large diameter femoral head designed to provide soft-tissue relief maintained the load bearing articular contact area of a conventional implant. The novel ACH prosthesis could mitigate the risk of soft-tissue impingement with contemporary large head implants while retaining their benefits of additional stability and range-of-motion

Introduction. Dual mobility (DM) implants provide increased stability and range-of-motion through the use of a large diameter mobile liner articulating against an acetabular shell. However, recent studies have reported that such contemporary large head prostheses can directly impinge against the local soft tissues leading to anterior hip pain. To address this drawback, a novel Anatomically Contoured Dual Mobility (ACDM) liner was developed that maintains the outer spherical geometry over an approximately hemispherical portion and then contours inward the distal profile of the DM liner for soft-tissue relief. The extent of the inner profile encapsulating the small diameter head is increased to provide more coverage of the head and maintain the inner head pullout force. We hypothesized that the ACDM liner for soft-tissue relief would not affect retention of the small diameter inner head or liner-acetabular load-bearing contact area. Methods. A finite element model to evaluate head retention and contact mechanics was created with a rigid acetabular shell, a plastically deformable UHMWPE DM liner, a rigid femoral head and a rigid femoral stem. For the head retention analysis, the extent of head coverage (Fig. 1) was optimized to match the inner head pullout force of a conventional DM liner. Contact mechanics of a conventional DM and ACDM liner were analyzed at the maximum joint load of three activities: gait, deep-knee bend and chair sit. One set of simulations was completed with the mobile liner and head axes aligned and another with the axes mal-aligned so that the mobile liner rim was adjacent to the femoral stem neck and the potential area of contact was away from the mobile liner apex. This allowed a broader range of potential contact to be assessed including what was determined to be a worst-case alignment. Results. The head extraction force of the conventional mobile liner with 224° of coverage was 909 N (Fig. 2). The ACDM liner with 232° of head coverage and an 8 mm reduced radius had an inner head extraction force of 901 N. The contact simulation results were practically identical for the ACDM liner and the conventional DM liner. Contact stresses between the two designs differed by less than 3.6%. In most cases, contact area (Fig. 3) was virtually equal with a slightly higher contact area in the ACDM (∼6.3%). In two of three worst-case liner orientations, the contact area between the shell and liner was found to be slightly lower for the ACDM liner (∼15%). The contact area and its distribution in all cases were found to be sufficient. Conclusion. This study showed that the novel anatomically contoured dual mobility liner maintains adequate inner head retention and articular contact area. The ACDM liner matched the head retention capacity of the conventional DM by slightly increasing the coverage of the inner head. The ACDM articular contact area was comparable to that of a conventional DM and satisfactory in all cases. These results demonstrate that a soft-tissue friendly design can be achieved while providing adequate head retention and load-bearing contact area

Aim

The β-lactam penicillin is often used in the treatment of soft tissue infections and osteomyelitis caused by penicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Oral antibiotic treatment has been shown to be non-inferior to intravenous (IV) therapy when used during the first 6 weeks in complex orthopedic infections (OVIVA trial). However, the use of oral β-lactams in osteomyelitis treatment remains a topic of debate due to low and variable bioavailability. The aim was to assess the time for which the unbound penicillin concentration exceeded targeted minimum inhibitory concentrations (fT>MIC) in cancellous bone and subcutaneous tissue after IV (penicillin G) and oral (penicillin V) treatment in a porcine microdialysis model.