Introduction

A recent meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal suggested an increased risk of infection, but none of the studies were large enough to reach statistical significance. A prospective, randomised trial was designed at our institution to investigate the wound healing and complications related to surgery following fracture neck of femur in the elderly.

Background

Continuous post-operative infusion of local anaesthetic solutions has been implicated as the causative factor in many cases of chondrolysis. Recent in-vitro studies have shown that even a single exposure to local anaesthetic can cause apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to chondrocyte death. Glucosamine has been shown to have a protective and reparative effect on articular cartilage.

Background

There are several case reports of chondrolysis following joint arthroscopy. Continuous post-operative infusion of local anaesthetic solutions, especially 0.5% Bupivacaine, has been implicated as the causative factor in many of these cases. Recent in vitro studies have shown that even a single exposure of articular cartilage to different local anaesthetic solutions can cause apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in chondrocytes leading to cell death. There is currently no study looking at methods to prevent this toxicity of local anaesthetic solutions to articular cartilage. Glucosamine has a protective and reparative effect on articular cartilage and a Cochrane review in 2007 found that it provides mild benefit in pain and function in patients with arthritis.

Introduction: Treatment of a partial laceration in zone 2 of a flexor tendon is controversial. Although the intact part of a partially lacerated tendon is sufficient to sustain normal physiological forces, conservative management can lead to triggering, entrapment and rupture. Surgical repair is advocated for lacerations deeper than 60%. The Silfverskiold and Halsted techniques for peripheral repair use more suture material and have been shown to be stronger than a simple running suture. Currently there are no comparison of gliding resistance between different circumferential suture techniques, which is more important than tensile strength for partial lacerations.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare friction coefficient and gliding resistance at the flexor tendon – A2 pulley interface using three different circumferential repair techniques.

Method: Thirty long flexor tendons from long digit of turkey foot, along with the equivalent of A2 pulley were harvested. The tendons were lacerated to 50% and ten each were subjected to a Silfverskiold, Halsted or a running suture. All experiments were carried out for intact and lacerated tendon at 30, 50 and 70 degrees of flexion and two load settings of 2 N and 4 N. Gliding resistance was measured as the difference between forces recorded at the two ends of the tendon and the friction coefficient was measured using this formula, μ = Ln[(F2/F1)]/Ø.

Results: The Halsted repair was associated with a 100% increase in gliding resistance and friction coefficient relative to the intact tendon, compared to 80% for the Sil-fverskiold repair and 60% for a running suture (p=0.05). The running suture was technically the easiest.

Conclusion: We recommend a simple running suture for peripheral repair of partial flexor tendon lacerations, where surgical repair is advocated.

Background: Dr Foster’s Good Hospital Guide 2005–2006 ranked University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust amongst the worst in UK for in-hospital mortality and time to theatre in hip fracture patients. The problem had been recognized in early 2005 and the Fracture Neck of Femur (FNOF) project was launched. This included an increase in trauma coordinators and clinical aides, regular orthogeriatric input, daily hip fracture operating lists, a separate hip fracture ward and a dedicated discharge nurse.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of the FNOF project.

Method: Data on mortality and length of stay was collected from the IM& T department and was cross referenced with the PCT database. Time to theatre data was collected from the trauma coordinators. Study period was five years from January 2003 to December 2007.

Results: 3636 patients were admitted with a hip fracture in the five year period. The length of stay reduced from 31 days in 2005 to 19 days in 2007 (p< 0.001). The in-hospital mortality reduced from 17.0 % in 2005 to 11.3% in 2007 (p< 0.01). 1 year mortality dropped from 36.9% to 27.3% (p< 0.001). The 30 day and 4 month mortality were also reduced but this was not statistically significant. 85% of patients had surgery within 48 hours in 2007 as compared to 47% in 2005–06.

Conclusions: The FNOF project was successful in reducing In-hospital and 1 year mortality, length of stay and time to theatre. However, the 30 day mortality did not show a significant reduction. In-hospital mortality is not a good comparator of hospital performance as it depends on length of stay; 30 day mortality would be more accurate. The national hip fracture database can be used to obtain accurate data for future studies.

Background: Musculo-skeletal conditions account for at least 10% of General Practice consultations yet the average time spent by UK medical students in orthopaedic and trauma surgery is only 2.7 weeks.

Aim: This study assessed whether a seven-week undergraduate musculoskeletal teaching program introduced in 2006 improved performance.

Methods: This seven week program combined Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery with Rheumatology and allied specialities. Its main elements were weekly plenary sessions, specialist clinics, a task-based workbook, regular assessments and traditional firm based teaching. The performance of 139 students who attended the new curriculum in its first year of introduction was assessed using multiple choice questions just before their final examinations in 2008 and was compared to that of a control group of students assessed in 2005 prior to program introduction.

Results: The 2008 students showed a 6% improvement in MCQ scores (p< 0.001) over the 2005 graduates. There was no difference between the 2005 students and a second control group of 46 students from 2008, who did not attend the new teaching program.

Conclusion: The program improved performance by providing more focused musculoskeletal training using available resources and by increasing the program duration.

Introduction: Cephalosporins have traditionally been the preferred antimicrobial prophylaxis for 90% of orthopaedic surgeons. With a recent increase in Clos-tridium difficile and MRSA infections, antimicrobial prophylaxis is changing. The aim of this study was to conduct a national survey of current orthopaedic antimicrobial prophylaxis regimes. We wanted to ascertain whether there were any recent changes in these regimes and the reasons for these changes. We also aimed to show any relationship between antimicrobial usage and Clostridium difficile rates.

Methods: Information on prophylaxis regimes and Clostridium difficile rates was requested through a five item questionnaire which was sent to all hospitals in the United Kingdom.

Results: The response rate was 83 %. The top three antimicrobial regimes in trauma and elective orthopaedic surgery were cefuroxime alone (52 %), flucloxacillin plus gentamicin (18 %) and co-amoxiclav alone (8 %). Half of all hospitals had changed antimicrobial regimes and half of these changes were due to Clostridium difficile. The incidence of Clostridium difficile was 70% higher in hospitals using Cefuroxime than hospitals using other antibiotics (0.19% vs. 0.32%)(p < 0.001). Clostridium difficile infection was more common in trauma than elective surgery.

Conclusion: Cefuroxime is still the most commonly used antimicrobial agent but its use has declined mainly due to a surge in Clostridium difficile rates. Reduction in cephalosporin use along with other infection control measures has resulted in a fall in Clostridium difficile infection rates.

Background: Animal studies have shown that 0.9% NaCl causes inhibition of proteoglycan metabolism in articular cartilage yet it continues to be the most commonly used irrigation fluid for arthroscopic surgery. Ringer’s solution and non ionic fluids have been shown to cause less damage. There is currently no such comparison in human articular cartilage. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different irrigation fluids on arthritic and non arthritic human articular cartilage.

Materials and Methods: Non arthritic cartilage specimens were obtained from femoral heads of hip fracture patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty where there were no radiological or macroscopic signs of osteoarthritis. Arthritic articular cartilage was obtained from tibial plateau of total knee arthroplasty patients or femoral heads with macroscopic signs of osteoarthritis. Cartilage explants were exposed to either 0.9% normal saline or Ringer’s solution, 1.5% Glycine, 10% Mannitol or a control solution of M199 culture medium. 0.5% bupivacaine, which has been shown to be toxic to chondrocytes, was used as a second control solution. The specimens were then incubated in culture medium containing radiolabelled 35-SO4 for 16 hours and uptake was measured as counts per gram per minute.

Results: In non arthritic cartilage, the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis was 0% with Ringer’s solution (p> 0.05), 3% with Glycine and Mannitol (p> 0.05), 12% with 0.9% NaCl (p> 0.05) and 75% with 0.5% bupivacaine (p< 0.001).

In arthritic cartilage, the inhibition was 15% with Ringer’s solution (p> 0.05), 20% with Mannitol (p> 0.05), 30% with 0.9% NaCl and Glycine (p=0.04) and 85% with 0.5% bupivacaine (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Normal saline was most harmful to human articular cartilage. Ringer’s solution was the best solution for joint irrigation. We have provided yet more evidence to suggest that 0.5% bupivacaine is severely toxic to articular cartilage.

Treatment of a partial laceration in zone two of a flexor tendon remains controversial. The intact part of the tendon can sustain forces of normal un-resisted motion, and repaired partially treated tendons can actually be weaker than un-repaired ones. Trimming these lacerations has been shown to be beneficial in partially lacerated tendons with triggering or entrapment.

The purpose of this study is to observe the behaviour of a partially lacerated and subsequently trimmed tendon under strain, and measure their friction coefficient at different flexion angle and load. Ten long flexor tendons from long digit of turkey foot, along with the equivalent of A2 pulley were used. All experiments were carried out for intact, lacerated (50%) and trimmed tendon at 10, 30, 50 and 70 degrees of flexion and two load settings of 200 and 400g.

The friction forces were measured by the difference between the two load transducers and the friction coefficient was measured using this formula, μ = Ln[(F2/F1)]/Ø.

Friction coefficient (μ), Tension forces (F2 and F1), arc of tendon and pulley contact (Ø).

Results: Friction coefficient increased significantly by three folds (0.3) after laceration compare with intact tendon (0.12) at both loads. This was reduced significantly after trimming the tendon but the friction coefficient was still approximately twice the value of the intact tendon (0.2).

Triggering was noticed in all tendon lacerations. Triggering was reduced after trimming in 10 and 30 degrees of flexion but increased markedly at 50 and 70 degrees of flexion associated with tendon fragmentation at the trimmed area.

Trimming partially lacerated flexor tendons will reduce the gliding resistance of the tendon through the pulley but this can lead to further fragmentation and triggering at higher flexion degrees and loads.

Background: Ultraclean air (UCA) in the operating theatre has been defined as less than 10 colony forming units (CFU)/m3. Wearing a Body Exhaust Suit (BES) in clear air has been shown to reduce infection from 1.0% to 0.1%. A trial in our unit in 2003 found bacterial air counts of 1 CFU/m3 with Rotecno gowns made from polyester T85392 compared to 0.5 CFU/m3 with BES. The same Rotecno gowns have since been used for arthroplasty surgery in our unit as this difference was not felt to be clinically significant. A new type of gown, manufactured by Gore ltd. was offered to our hospital. These gowns consist of a three layer laminate containing polyester and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and were advertised as impervious to liquids, bacteria and viruses. Their laboratory results were deemed to be superior to Rotecno gowns on standard testing.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare bacterial air counts using the existing Rotecno gowns with this new type of occlusive gown made by Gore ltd.

Methods: 56 joint replacements were allocated randomly to either the Rotecno or Gore gowns and also stratified to Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKR), Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) or Revision THA. Bacterial air counts were measured for the first ten minutes of surgery using a Casella slit sampler which sampled air at 700 lt/min onto a nutrient agar plate. These plates were then incubated for 48 hours at 37 degrees Celcius and colonies were counted.

Results: The new gowns were associated with higher air counts (3.7 CFU/m) than the Rotecno gowns (1.2 CFU/m) (p=0.01). All Rotecno air samples were < 10 CFU/m3 but three of the Gore samples exceeded the clean air standard. The bacterial counts with the Rotecno gowns were the same as those in the 2003 study. TKA was associated with higher air counts than THA or Revision THA (p=0.04).

Conclusions: The new gowns may have been superior on the standard tests but they were not superior at preventing airborne bacterial dispersal. Rotecno gowns made from polyester T85392, although many years old, were still associated with very low air counts. This study highlights the importance of testing new materials in a clinical environment with UCA; in vitro testing alone is not an adequate assessment. This is especially important for TKA which was associated with higher counts.

Introduction: Treatment of a partial laceration in zone 2 of a flexor tendon is controversial. Although the intact part of a partially lacerated tendon is sufficient to sustain normal physiological forces, conservative management can lead to triggering, entrapment and rupture. Surgical repair is advocated for lacerations deeper than 50%. The Silfverskiold circumferential techniques is stronger than the Halsted repair or a running suture, but there is currently no comparison of gliding resistance, which is probably more important than tensile strength for partial lacerations.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare three different circumferential repair techniques in terms of coefficient of friction and gliding resistance at the flexor tendon – A2 pulley interface.

Method: Thirty long flexor tendons from long digit of turkey foot, along with the equivalent of A2 pulley were harvested. The tendons were lacerated to 50% and ten each were subjected to a Silfverskiold, Halsted or a running suture. All experiments were carried out for intact and lacerated tendon at 30, 50 and 70 degrees of flexion and two load settings of 2 N and 4 N. Gliding resistance was measured as the difference between forces recorded at the two ends of the tendon and the friction coefficient was measured using this formula, μ = Ln[(F2/F1)]/Ø.

Results: The gliding resistance and friction coefficient with the Silfverskiold technique were 1.3 times that of the other two techniques (P< 0.001).

Conclusion: The Silfverskiold technique leads to higher friction at the tendon-pulley interface and may not be an ideal treatment for partial flexor tendon lacerations.

Background: A good hospital guide published in 2006 identified high in-hospital mortality rates in fracture neck of femur patients at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust. The trust was identified as the worst in the country in terms of the percentage of patients having surgery within the recommended 48 hours from admission. The problem had already been identified and a ‘Fracture Neck of femur project’ was launched in January 2006 to improve outcomes in these patients. This included the introduction of trauma coordinators and clinical aides who prepared patients for surgery, a separate fracture neck of femur ward, a discharge nurse, dedicated hip fracture lists and pre and post operative orthogeriatric input.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the fracture neck of femur project.

Methods: Data on admissions, time to theatre, length of stay and mortality was collected for 3400 patients admitted with fracture neck of femur between January 2003 and September 2007. Mortality rates, length of stay and time to theatre were compared before and after the introduction of the fracture neck of femur project.

Results: The length of stay reduced from 32 days to 18 days in 2007 (p< 0.01). The in-hospital mortality reduced from 16.6 % in 2003 to 10.7% in 2007 (p< 0.01). 30 day mortality showed a minor reduction from 12.4% in 2003 to 11.4% in 2007 (p=0.6). 95% of patients had surgery within 48 hours as compared to 47% in 2005–06 and 85% in 2006–07.

Conclusions: The high in-hospital mortality rates were reduced. The length of stay was also reduced by effective discharge planning. Measures to reduce time to theatre were highly successful. However, the 30 day mortality did not show a significant reduction. We conclude that in hospital mortality is not a good comparator of hospital performance. 30 day mortality would be more accurate.

Introduction: This observational study assessed the influence of obesity on operating time and duration of hospital admission following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).

Materials and Methods: 263 patients who underwent 276 TKAs between 1st January and December 31st 2005 at the Glenfield General Hospital were identified from the Trent (and Wales) Arthoplasty Audit Group. Patients were grouped into three weight categories based upon BMI. We examined hospital records for 265 of the 276 procedures and compared operating time, length of hospital admission and complication rates between the three BMI groups. Patient perceived outcomes including patient satisfaction, post-operative pain and frequency of walking were compared at 1-year post TKA.

Results: Obesity did not adversely influence operating time and duration of hospital stay. The mean operating time was 82 minutes in patients with a BMI ≤ 25.0, 84 min in those with a BMI 25.1–30.0 and 88 minutes for those with a BMI> 30.0 (p=0.2). The mean hospital stay was 7.7 days in patients with a BMI ≤ 25.0, 7.2 days in the BMI 25.1–30.0 group, and 6.7 days in those with a BMI > 30.0 (p=0.8).

There were no significant differences between the three BMI groups and post-operative complications (p = 0.7), patient satisfaction (p=0.1) or pain levels (p=0.7) at 1-year post-TKA. As has been demonstrated previously, increasing BMI negatively influenced post operative walking frequency (p=0.02)

Conclusion: BMI did not influence operating time, length of stay, complication rates, post operative pain and patient satisfaction post Total Knee Arthroplasty, but was associated with decreased post operative mobility.

We carried out lacerations of 50%, followed by trimming, in ten turkey flexor tendons in vitro and measured the coefficient of friction at the tendon-pulley interface with loads of 200 g and 400 g and in 10°, 30°, 50° and 70° of flexion. Laceration increased the coefficient of friction from 0.12 for the intact tendon to 0.3 at both the test loads. Trimming the laceration reduced the coefficient of friction to 0.2. An exponential increase in the gliding resistance was found at 50° and 70° of flexion (p = 0.02 and p = 0.003, respectively) following trimming compared to that of the intact tendon.

We concluded that trimming partially lacerated flexor tendons will reduce the gliding resistance at the tendon-pulley interface, but will lead to fragmentation and triggering of the tendon at higher degrees of flexion and loading. We recommend that higher degrees of flexion be avoided during early post-operative rehabilitation following trimming of a flexor tendon.

Background: Clostridium difficile (C diff) diarrhoea is a growing UK hospital problem. However, it is controversial whether patients die with C diff or of C diff. A series of infection control measures were introduced from August 2006 onwards to reduce the rate of C diff infection and to treat patients suffering from diarrhoea. These included a five-day antibiotic stop policy, a diarrhoea treatment policy, a hand washing campaign, increased investment in environmental cleaning and a change in policy for antimicrobial prophylaxis to coamoxiclav instead of cefuroxime. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of these measures on the incidence of C diff infection and to record the mortality associated with C diff. Fracture neck of femur patients were chosen as they are at particular risk.

Method: We assessed data on orthopaedic admissions in particular fracture neck of femur patients, C diff samples, and mortality up to one year. The incidence of C diff was compared between fracture neck of femur patients and other orthopaedic admissions and also before and since the introduction of the infection control policies. This was followed by a comparison of mortality between C diff positive patients and a control group matched by age, sex, ASA grade and place of residence. Mortality data was at 30days, 6 month and 1 year.

Results: Clostridium difficile was much more common in patients with fracture neck of femur (72 out of 1800, 4%) than in other orthopaedic admissions (51 out of 10000, 0.5%, p < 0.001). The incidence of C diff in patients with fracture neck of femur decreased from 49 of 548 (9%) in the 9 months pre-policy to 28 of 562 (5%, p=0.009) in the 9 months since policy Introduction: In those with C diff, mortality at 30 days and 6 months was 10/49 (20%) and 35/49 (71%) pre-policy and 9/28 (32%) and 20/28 (71%) since policy Introduction: Regardless of policy introduction, the overall mortality in 168 C diff positive patients at 30days, 6 months and 1 year was 31 (19%), 112 (67%) and 117 (70%) whilst that in the 168 matched controls was 19 (11%), 43 (26%) and 48 (29%).

Conclusion: The matched group data indicates that C diff increases mortality. It does not simply colonise the most frail. The percentage of deaths in C diff positive patients was no different after the diarrhoea treatment policy Introduction: The incidence of C diff was reduced by 43% using infection control measures. Our results indicate that the best way to reduce mortality due to C diff is to reduce the incidence, our current treatment policy was ineffective or in other words, ‘prevention was better than cure’. We recommend that similar measures could be introduced in other orthopaedic units in order to reduce the incidence and mortality in fracture neck of femur patients from Clostridium difficile.

This study assessed whether undergraduate performance improved following the introduction in 2006 of a musculoskeletal teaching programme lasting for seven weeks. Different methods were used to deliver knowledge and skills in trauma and orthopaedic surgery, rheumatology and allied specialties. The programme combined four main elements: traditional firm-based teaching, weekly plenary sessions, a task-based workbook and additional specialist clinics. The block of 139 students who attended in its first year were assessed using a multiple choice question examination just before their final examinations in 2008. They showed a 6% improvement in performance over a control group of 130 students assessed in 2005 before the programme had commenced. There was no difference in performance between the students assessed in 2005 and a second group of 46 students from 2008 who did not attend the new teaching programme. Performance was improved by providing more focused musculoskeletal training using available resources, as well as increasing the length of the programme.