We present a case series of patients who underwent 3 or 4 part proximal humerus fracture fixation using an intra-osseous suture technique. 18 patients are included in the study with follow up data obtained ranging from 1 to 4 years. Oxford Shoulder Scores (OSS) and range of movement measurements were taken for all patients.

The mean OSS for the group was 50/60 with a mean forward flexion of 140°, abduction of 132°, external rotation of 48° and internal rotation to the level 10^th thoracic vertebra. Three patients developed adhesive capsulitis, 2 requiring subsequent arthroscopic release. This data compares favourably to outcomes reported in the literature with hemiarthroplasty or locking plate fixation.

An activity based costing analysis estimated that the treatment costs for proximal humerus fractures was approximately £2,055 when performing a soft tissue reconstruction, £3,114 when using a locking plate and £4,679 when performing a hemiarthroplasty. This demonstrates a significant financial saving when using intra-osseous fixation compared to other fixation techniques.

We advocate the use of the intra-osseous suture fixation technique for certain 3 and 4 part fractures. It gives good functional outcomes, significant cost savings and potentially makes revision procedures easier when compared to other fixation techniques.

Reverse polarity total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has gained popularity over recent years for the treatment of the painful cuff deficient shoulder. Although proposed over 20 years ago and despite good clinical outcomes the RTSA has struggled to gain popularity due to reported high levels of complications.

One such complication is post-operative instability with frequencies of up to 30% (De Wilde 2002). The Bayley-Walker RTSA was designed specifically for patients with difficult reconstruction problems in whom an unconstrained prosthesis would not offer sufficient stability. It is a reverse anatomy fixed fulcrum constrained prosthesis. The glenoid component has a long HA-coated tapered helical screw, with large pitch and depth, fixation is augmented by a grooved HA coated glenoid plate.

The purpose of this study was to review the clinical experience from The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore and to ascertain the rate of glenoid component loosening. We also carried out a radiographic review to correlate loosening with patterns of lucency on post-operative radiographs. One hundred and five B-W TSRs in 103 patients were included, 24% of which were performed as revision of previous failed arthroplasty. In total, 8/105 glenoids required revision. Of those eight patients, two were cases of septic loosening. Of all nine specified areas of glenoid, tip lucency on x-ray appeared to be most strongly associated with need for glenoid revision. 5/9 cases with tip lucency progressed to loosening of the glenoid. Where tip lucency was not seen, 93/96 glenoid components remained secure, giving tip lucency a negative predictive value of 97%. Excluding the two infected cases, the glenoid remained secure in 97/103 patients undergoing BW-TSR with follow-up up to 13 years. The BW-TSR is a satisfactory and durable solution to the cuff-deficient shoulder in variety of challenging groups including younger patients and as a salvage procedure following failed, cuff-deficient arthroplasty.

Introduction

Fifty thousand knee replacements are performed annually in the UK at an estimated cost of £150 million. However, there is uncertainty as to the best surgical approach to the knee joint for knee arthroplasty. We undertook a randomised controlled trial to compare a standard medial parapatellar arthrotomy with sub-vastus arthrotomy for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty in terms of short and long term knee function.