A tip-apex distance (TAD) greater than 25 mm is a strong predictor of screw cut-out in patients with intertrochanteric femoral fracture treated with a dynamic hip screw (DHS). We aim to show you a simple and reliable way to check this.

By calculating the sum of the distance from the tip of the screw to the apex of the femoral head on anteroposterior and lateral views the TAD is found. X-rays often have magnification errors and therefore measuring tools in digital x-ray systems will be inaccurate. The original method of calculating the TAD uses the known diameter of the screw to avoid magnification errors.

We found that due to the no-cylindrical shape of the screw shaft there is potential of an inaccurate measurement. By using the distance across the highest points of the thread a more accurate TAD can be calculated.

The distance across the highest points of the threads in all three of the most commonly used DHSs in the UK is 13 mm. If the measured distance from the tip of the screw to the apex of the femoral head in both the anteroposterior and lateral views is less than the measured distance across of the treaded diameter of the screw then the surgeon knows the TAD is less than 26 mm. This method can be used intraoperatively to check the TAD by looking at the fluoroscopy images in these two views.

Posterior soft tissue repair is often performed in Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). Many reports have shown the advantage of posterior soft tissue repair in reducing their prosthetic hip dislocation rates.

We describe an easy and inexpensive way of passing sutures through small drill holes in the Greater Trocanter to re-attach muscle, tendon and capsule in a posterior soft tissue repair.

By using a reversed monofilament suture on a straight needle held in artery forceps and passing this in a retrograde direction through a drill hole, a suture capturing device is produced.

By capturing the long ends of sutures tied in the short external rotators and the posterior capsule of the hip through 2 drill holes in the Greater Trochanter, a posterior soft tissue repair can be performed. We have used this technique successfully in over 100 consecutive THAs.

We conclude that the use of a monofilament suture used in the manner describe is an excellent and inexpensive way to aid in a posterior soft tissue repair in THAs. This is done without the cost of an additional dedicated suture passing device. The suture could also be used in the skin closure if desired.

Osteoarthritis of the trapezometacarpal joint is a common form of arthritis. At present, there is a significant void between conservative and operative managements. Viscosupplementation is occasionally considered as an in-between therapy.

We aimed to compare the therapeutic benefit of a single intra-articular injection of Sodium Hyaluronate (SH; Ostenil®mini) to a single intra-articular injection of Methylprednisolone Acetate (MA; Depomedrone) in the management of rhizarthrosis (TMOA; Trapezometacarpal Osteoarthritis).

A retrospective review was performed over a 12 month period. We reviewed 25 patients who had received a single injection of viscosupplementation (SH) performed with fluoroscopic guidance and had been followed up at 12 weeks. These patients were compared with 21 patients who had received a single steroid injection (MA) and had been followed up at 12 weeks.

Of the SH group, 52% (n = 13) reported some benefit from the injection. The MA group reported an 86% (n=18) benefit from the injection.

We found that a single injection of viscosupplementation (SH) is effective in relieving pain and improving function in about half of patients with rhizarthrosis (TMOA). The efficacy of a single steroid injection (MA), however, was superior with a far greater proportion of patients reporting analgesic and functional benefits.

We aim to compare post-operative length of stay and cardiopulmonary morbidity in patients randomised to either navigated or conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Patients undergoing primary TKA for osteoarthritis were prospectively assigned randomly to either navigation-guided or control groups and blinded to this.

All patients received a PFC implant (DePuy, Warsaw, IN). In the control group the standard femoral intramedullary and tibial extramedullary alignment rod was used. In the navigation group, the BrainLab (Munich, Germany) navigation system was used. All operations were carried out by one of two consultant orthopaedic knee surgeons.

Length of post operative hospital stay and the development of cardiopulmonary complication were recorded and groups compared.

100 patients were recruited (55 control vs 45 navigated). Patient demographics were similar in both groups.

Mean length of stay was 7 days in the control group (range 3-101), 5 days in the navigation group (range 3-10). The mode was 4 days in both groups.

7 patients (13%) stayed for >7 days in the control group, 3 patients (7%) stayed >7 days in the navigation group(p=0.339).

4 patients(7%) required >10 days inpatient stay in the control group, 0 patients required to stay in hospital for longer than 10 days in the navigation group(p=0.069).

The causes for the length of stay exceeding 10 days were pulmonary embolus in 3 patients, and chest infection in 1 patient.

Patients undergoing navigation-guided TKA required shorter post-operative inpatient stays than those undergoing arthroplasty using conventional techniques. Fewer patients in the navigation group required stays longer than 7 or 10 days. The difference in post-operative stay was associated with fewer respiratory complications in the navigated group.