Knee dislocations are a rare but serious cause of trauma. The aim of this study was to establish current demographics and injury patterns/associations in multi-ligament (MLI) knee injuries in the United Kingdom.

A National survey was sent out to trauma & orthopaedic trainees using the British Orthopaedic Trainees Association sources in 2018. Contributors were asked to retrospectively collect a data for a minimum of 5 cases of knee dislocation, or multi-ligament knee injury, between January 2014 and December 2016. Data was collected regarding injury patterns and surgical reconstructions.

73 cases were available for analysis across 11 acute care NHS Trusts. 77% were male. Mean age was 31.9 (SD 12.4; range 16–69). Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 28.3 (SD 7.0; range 19–52). Early (<3 weeks) reconstruction was performed in 53% with 9 (23%) patients under-going procedures for arthrofibrosis. Late (>12 weeks) reconstruction took place in 37% with one (3.7%) patient under-going arthroscopic arthrolysis. 4% had delayed surgery (3–12 weeks) and 5% had early intervention with delayed ACL reconstruction. For injuries involving 3 or more ligament injuries graft choices were ipsilateral hamstring (38%), bone-patella tendon-bone (20%), allograft (20%), contralateral hamstring (17%) and synthetic grafts in 18%.

Multi-ligament knee injuries are increasingly being managed early with definitive reconstructions. This is despite significant risk of arthrofibrosis with early surgery. Ipsilateral and contralateral hamstring grafts make up the bulk of graft choice however allograft (20%) and synthetic grafts (18%) remain popular.

The aim was to assess the effect of caudal block on patients who have had proximal femoral &/or pelvic osteotomy compared to patients who have had epidural anaesthesia with regards to pain relief and hospital stay.

We looked at two patient cohorts; epidural & caudal pain relief in aforementioned procedures. Interrogation of our clinical database (WinDip, BlueSpeir&clinical notes) identified 57 patients: 33 proximal femoral osteotomy, 13 pelvic osteotomy and 11 combined(25 Males 32 Females), aged 1–18 years-old between 2012–2014, in two institutions. A database of demographics, operative indications, associated procedures, analgesia and type of anaesthesia was constructed in relation to daily pain score and length of hospital stay. 39 patients had epidural anaesthesia, and 18 had caudal block. Cerebral palsy with unstable hips was the commonest indication(21), followed by dysplastic hip(10), Perthes disease(8) and other causes(18). The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability(FLACC) scale was used to assess pain.

Length of hospital stay in caudal block patients was 3.1 days(1–9), in epidural anaesthesia patients stay was 4.46 days(2–13). Paediatrics high dependency unit after an epidural was needed in 20(Average stay 3.4 days) compared to 1 who received caudal block. Caudal block FLACC pain score in the first 36 hours was 1.23(0–4) compared to 0.18(0–2) in patients who had an epidural.

Caudal block is associated with less hospital stay and fewer admissions to the high dependency unit, it also provides adequate pain relief post osteotomies when compared to epidural, therefore could be performed at units lacking epidural facilities. A change in related practice however should be cautious and supported by further studies.

Introduction

The policy of treating open fractures within 6 hrs can result in complex operations being performed under sub optimal conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between time to initial debridement and rate of infection in high energy (Grade III) open fractures of Tibia.