Objectives

Open fracture classification systems are limited in their use. Our objective was to classify open tibia and femur fractures using the OTS classification system in a region with high incidence of gunshot fractures.

One hundred and thirty-seven patients with diaphyseal tibia and femur open fractures were identified from a prospectively collected cohort of patients. This database contained all cases (closed and open fractures) of tibial and femoral intramedullary nailed patients older than 18 years old during the period of September 2017 to May 2021. Exclusion criteria included closed fractures, non-viable limbs, open fractures > 48 hours to first surgical debridement and patients unable to follow up over a period of 12 months (a total of 24). Open fractures captured and classified in the HOST study using the Gustilo-Anderson classification, were reviewed and reclassified using the OTS open fracture classification system, analysing gunshot fractures in particular.

Ninety percent were males with a mean age of 34. Most common mechanism was civilian gunshot wounds (gsw) in 54.7% of cases. In 52.6% of cases soft tissue management was healing via secondary intention, these not encompassed in the classification. Fracture classification was OTS Simple in 23.4%, Complex B in 24.1% and 52.6% of cases unclassified.

The OTS classification system was not comprehensive in the classification of open tibia and femur fractures in a setting of high incidence of gunshot fractures. An amendment has been proposed to alter acute management to appropriate wound care and to subcategorise Simple into A and B subdivisions; no soft tissue intervention and primary closure respectively. This will render the OTS classification system more inclusive to all open fractures of all causes with the potential to better guide patient care and clinical research.

Specific and rapid detection methods for spinal tuberculosis, with sufficient sensitivity in HIV-1 co-infected individuals, are needed, to ensure early initiation of appropriate treatment to prevent physical disability and neurological fallout. In addition, understanding the systemic and local pathophysiology of spinal tuberculosis, and its interaction with HIV-1 infection, is crucial to guide future therapeutic interventions.

We prospectively enrolled adult patients presenting with signs and symptoms of suspected spinal tuberculosis, at Groote Schuur Hospital, between November 2020 and December 2021. TB diagnostic testing was performed on open and CT-guided spinal biopsies using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra compared to gold standards TB culture and histology. A highly sensitive droplet digital PCR assay for detecting and quantifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and HIV-1 DNA was tested. Plasma inflammatory proteins were measured to assess systemic inflammation.

Xpert Ultra had a high sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 100% for STB against TB culture and histology in both open and CT-guided biopsy samples. The ddPCR assay confirmed TB detection in 94% of patients with positive Xpert Ultra results. Four patients with negative TB diagnostic results had MTBC DNA detected by ddPCR. HIV-1 DNA was detected in the spinal tissues from all HIV-1-infected patients. MTBC DNA levels were significantly higher in HIV-1-co-infected spinal tissue samples (p< 0.01). We identified four biomarkers significantly associated with higher bacterial burden at the disease site (p< 0.01).

Xpert Ultra and MTBC ddPCR improve the detection of STB. DdPCR can be utilized as an additional, highly sensitive tool for detecting and quantifying Mtb, in pathological samples that may be paucibacillary. These findings provide novel diagnostic and pathophysiologic insight into STB, in the context of HIV-1 infection, and provide rationale to include these tests in hospital and research settings for patients from communities burdened by TB and HIV-1.

Removal of bullets retained within joints is indicated to prevent mechanical blockade, 3rd body wear and resultant arthritis, plus lead arthropathy and systemic lead poisoning. The literature is sparse on this subject, with mostly sporadic case reports utilizing hip arthroscopy. We report on the largest series of removal of bullets from the hip joints using open surgical.

We reviewed prospectively collected data of patients who presented to a single institution with civilian gunshot injuries that breached the hip joint between 01 January 2009 and 31 December 2022.

We included all cases where the bullet was retained within the hip joint area. Exclusion criteria: cases where the hip joint was not breached, bullets were not retained around the hip area or cases with isolated acetabulum involvement.

One hundred and eighteen (118) patients were identified. One patient was excluded as the bullet embedded in the femur neck was sustained 10 years earlier. Of the remaining 117 patients, 70 had retained bullets around the hip joint. In 44 patients we undertook bullet removal using the followingsurgical hip dislocation (n = 18), hip arthrotomy (n = 18), removal at site of fracture fixation/replacement (n = 2), posterior wall osteotomy (n = 1), direct removal without capsulotomy (tractotomy) (n = 5).

In 26 patients we did not remove bullets for the following reasons: final location was extra-capsular embedded in the soft tissues (n=17), clinical decision to not remove (n=4), patients’ clinical condition did not allow for further surgery (n= 4) and patient refusal (n=1). No patients underwent hip arthroscopy.

With adequate pre-operative imaging and surgical planning, safe surgical removal of retained bullets in the hip joint can be achieved without the use of hip arthroscopy; using the traditional open surgical approaches of arthrotomy, tractotomy and surgical hip dislocation.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Despite improvements in trauma-related morbidity and mortality in high-income countries over recent years, outcomes following MSK injuries in low and middle-income countries, such as South Africa (SA), have not. Despite governmental recognition that this is required, funding and research into this significant health burden are limited within SA.

This study aims to identify research priorities within MSK trauma care using a consensus-based approach amongst MSK health care practitioners within SA.

Members from the Orthopaedic Research Collaborative (ORCA), based in SA, collaborated using a two round modified Delphi technique to form a consensus on research priorities within orthopaedic trauma care. Members involved in the process were orthopaedic healthcare practitioners within SA.

Participants from the ORCA network, working within SA, scored research priorities across two Delphi rounds from low to high priority. We have published the overall top 10 research priorities for this Delphi process. Questions were focused on two broad groups - clinical effectiveness in trauma care and general trauma public health care. Both groups were represented by the top two priorities, with the highest ranked question regarding the overall impact of trauma in SA and the second regarding the clinical treatment of open fractures.

This study has defined research priorities within orthopaedic trauma in South Africa. Our vision is that by establishing consensus on these research priorities, policy and research funding will be directed into these areas. This should ultimately improve musculoskeletal trauma care across South Africa and its significant health and socioeconomic impacts.

Acetabulum fractures caused by civilian firearms represent a unique challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Treatment strategies should include the assessment of infection risk due to frequently associated abdominal injuries and maintenance of joint function. Still, internationally accepted treatment algorithms are not available. The aim of the study was to increase knowledge about civilian gunshot fractures of the acetabulum by describing their characteristics and management at a high-volume tertiary hospital.

All adult patients admitted to our hospital between January 2009 and December 2022 with civilian gunshot fractures of the acetabulum were included in this descriptive retrospective study.

In total our institution treated 301 patients with civilian gunshot fractures of the hip joint and pelvis during the observation period, of which 54 involved the acetabulum. Most patients were young males (88,9%) with a mean age of 29 years. Thirty patients (55,6%) had associated intraabdominal or urological injuries. Fracture patterns were mostly stable fractures with minor joint destruction amenable to conservative fracture treatment (n=48, 88,9%). Orthopaedic surgical interventions were performed in 21 patients (38,9%) with removal of bullets in contact with the hip joint via arthrotomy or surgical hip dislocation as most frequent procedures. Most patients received antibiotics on admission (n=49, 90,7%). Fracture related infections of the acetabulum were noted in six patients (11,1%) while the mortality in the study population was low with one demised patient (1,9%) due to the trauma burden.

Most civilian acetabulum gunshot fractures are associated with intraabdominal or urological injuries. In comparison to the literature on extremity gunshot fractures, there is an increased risk of infection in our study population. The decision for surgical wash-out and bullet removal should be based on contamination and anticipated joint destruction, while osteosynthesis or primary arthroplasty are rarely necessary for these injuries.

Osteoarticular infections (OAI) are a common cause of morbidity in children, and as opposed to adults is usually caused by haematogenous spread. The bacteriology of OAI in children is not well described in the South African context, therefore this study was designed to determine the bacteriology of OAI in our population.

All patients that underwent surgery for the treatment of OAI over a 3-year period were identified and those with positive cultures where organisms were identified from tissue, pus, fluid or blood were included. Duplicate cultures from the same patient were excluded if the organism and antibiotic susceptibility profile was the same. Patients were categorised according to age and class of infection (Septic arthritis, acute osteomyelitis, fracture related infection, post-operative sepsis and chronic osteomyelitis) and organisms were stratified according to these categories.

We identified 132 organisms from 123 samples collected from 86 patients. Most cultured organisms were from children older than 3-years with acute haematogenous septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or both. Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 56% (74/132) of organisms cultured. There were no cases of MRSA. The Enterobacterales accounted for 17% (22/132) of organisms cultured, mostly in the fracture related and post-operative infection groups. Of these, 6 each were extended spectrum B-lactamase producers and AmpC producers. There were no carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales. Kingella kingae was not isolated in any patient.

Methicillin sensitive S. aureus is the most common infecting organism in paediatric OAI and an anti-staphylococcal penicillin such as cloxacillin or flucloxacillin is the most appropriate empiric treatment for haematogenous OAI in our environment. In fracture related or post-operative infections, Enterobacterales were more frequently cultured, and treatment should be guided by culture and susceptibility results.

Introduction

Purpose: Injuries to the long bones of the upper limb resulting in bone defects are rare but potentially devastating. Literature on the management of these injuries is limited to case reports and small case series. The aim of this study was to collate the most recent published work on the management of upper limb bone defects to assist with evidence based management when confronted with these cases.

Background:

GeneXpert, a new, rapid molecular diagnostic test is recommended as the first line investigation for suspected pulmonary TB in areas of high HIV prevalence or drug resistance, yet it has not been validated for the diagnosis of musculoskeletal TB.

Purpose of the study

To review the primary bone tumours of the spine treated at our unit.

Purpose:

Interposition arthroplasty is a salvage procedure for patients with severe osteoarthritis of the elbow where conservative treatment failed. It is mostly performed in younger patients where total joint replacement is contraindicated and an arthrodesis is unattractive. Although one of the oldest reconstructive options for elbow arthritis, the procedure is not without complications. There are only a few case series described in the literature. The purpose of our study is to review our cases and report their outcome.

Purpose

The outcome of idiopathic chondrolysis in South Africa has been reported as a progressive downhill course resulting in a painful, stiff hip (Jones 1971, Sparks&Dall 1982). The cause of the disease remains unknown. Theories suggested are mechanical (decreased movement with loss of synovial nutrition; increased joint pressure) and an auto-immune response in genetically predisposed individuals. Our experience with continuous passive motion (CPM) and anti-inflammatory treatment has been disappointing.

Aim

We aimed to assess the efficacy of conservative management of proximal phalanx fractures in a plaster slab.