The incidence of cervical spine injuries associated with facial fractures varies from study to study. The presence or absence of a cervical spine injury has important implications in trauma patients, influencing airway management techniques, choice of diagnostic imaging studies, surgical approach and timing for repair of concomitant facial fractures. There is general agreement that immediate management of cervical spine injuries is mandatory to prevent further neurological injury. Nevertheless, disagreement exists as to the actual incidence of cervical spinal trauma in conjunction with various facial fracture patterns. The purpose of this study was to review the incidence of cervical spine injury associated with various upper, middle and lower one-third facial fractures presenting to St. Michael's Hospital Regional Trauma Centre. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients presenting to the Trauma Service at St. Michael's Hospital from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 2003 inclusive. The data from this 10 year time span revealed a total of 124 patients with cervical spine injuries drawn from a cohort of 3,356 patients with craniomaxillofacial fractures. The overall incidence of cervical spine injury was 3.7%. Isolated upper 1/3 facial and skull fractures accounted for 1,711 of the patients and were associated with cervical spine injury in .53% of cases, while isolated middle 1/3 facial fractures were seen in 1,154 patients and were associated with a 1.13% rate of cervical injuries. The largest rate of association for cervical spine injury and isolated fractures was seen with lower 1/3 facial fractures at 1.51%. In contrast, combined facial fracture patterns involving two or more facial thirds accounted for the great majority of cervical spine injuries occurring at an incidence of 7.1%. The implications for trauma assessment, diagnosis and treatment of these injuries are reviewed.

Introduction: Elderly patients with neck of femur fracture have a wide range of cognition when admitted to hospital. Following hemiarthroplasty, these patients are usually given a standard set of precautionary advice in order to prevent dislocation of their prostheses. This may constitute a loss of time and resources as patients may not recall all the advice given.

Aim: We aim to determine the relationship between mental state on admission and the ability to recollect these precautions postoperatively.

Setting: Leicester Royal Infirmary, a busy teaching hospital

Method: Over a one-month period, 26 patients, aged 70 years and above admitted with hip fracture, were recruited prospectively for this audit study. The patients’ mini-mental test score on admission was used to classify nonaphasic subjects into three groups: normal, mildly impaired and severely impaired cognition. On the 2^nd post-operative day (POD) the patients were given verbal instructions aimed at preventing dislocation of their hemiarthroplasty. Recollection of these precautions was then tested using a specially designed questionnaire (score: 1–10) on POD-6 and at 6 weeks.

Results: One patient died (3.8%). Of the remainder, 21 (84%) were female and 4 (16%) were male. The mean age was 80.4. There were 10 patients in Group-I (normal; 40%), 7 in Group-II (mildly impaired; 28%) and 8 in Group-III (severely impaired; 32%). The resulting score to the questionnaire in Group-I was 6.2 and 3.2; Group-II was 3.3 and 1.2; and Group-III was 0.3 and 0.3 on POD-6 and 6 weeks respectively.

Conclusion: 6 days following surgery, the best recollection of advice is only 2 thirds of what the patient had been told. 6 weeks following surgery, the best recollection of advice is only 1 third of the advice given. The recollection of advice in both mentally impaired groups was very poor throughout the study period. We recommend either not giving hip precautions advice to these patients or changing the way the advice is given to try to improve their recollection.

Objective: Elderly patients with femoral neck fracture have varying degrees of cognitive capabilities when admitted to hospital. Following hemiarthroplasty, these patients are given standard precautionary advice in order to prevent dislocation of their prostheses. We aim to determine the relationship between mental state on admission and the ability to recollect these precautions postoperatively.

Design: Over a one-month period, 26 patients, aged 70 years and above admitted with hip fracture, were recruited prospectively for this audit study. Mini-mental test score on admission was used to classify non aphasic subjects into three groups: normal, mildly impaired and severely impaired. On the 2^nd post-operative day (POD) the patients were given verbal instructions aimed at preventing dislocation of their hemiarthroplasty. Recollection of these precautions was then tested using a specially designed questionnaire (score: 1–10) on POD-6 and at 6 weeks.

Results: One patient died (3.8%). Of the remainder, 21 (84%) were female and 4 (16%) were male. The mean age was 80.4. There were 10 patients in Group-I (normal; 40%), 7 in Group-II (mildly impaired; 28%) and 8 in Group-III (severely impaired; 32%). The resulting score to the questionnaire in Group-I was 6.2 and 3.2; Group-II was 3.3 and 1.2; and Group-III was 0.3 and 0.3 on POD-6 and 6 weeks respectively.

Conclusion: 6 days following surgery, the best recollection of advice is only 2 thirds of what the patient had been told and 6 weeks following surgery, the best recollection of advice is only 1 third of the advice given. The recollection of advice in both mentally impaired groups was very poor throughout the study period. We recommend either not giving hip precautions advice to these patients or changing the way the advice is given to try to improve their recollection.