Derotation osteotomies are commonly performed in paediatric orthopaedic and limb reconstruction practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a digital inclinometer significantly improves the accuracy in attaining the desired correction. We designed an electronic survey regarding derotation femoral osteotomy (DFO) including methods of intra-operative angular correction assessment and acceptable margins of error for correction. This was distributed to 28 paediatric orthopaedic surgeons in our region. A DFO model was created, using an anatomic sawbone with foam covering. 8 orthopaedic surgeons each performed two 30-degree DFOs, one using K-wires and visual estimation (VE), and the other using a Digital Inclinometer (DI). Two radiologists reported pre and post procedure rotational profile CT scans to assess the achieved rotational correction.Introduction
Materials & Methods
60 out of total series of 643 metal-on-metal hip replacements, carried out over the last nine years, have so far required revision, 13 for peri-prosthetic fracture and 47 for extensive, symptomatic, peri-articular soft-tissue changes. Dramatic corrosion of generally solidly fixed, cemented stems has been observed and is believed to have resulted in the release of high levels of cobalt chrome ions from the stem surface. The contribution of the metal-to-metal articulation is, as yet, unclear. Not including the fracture cases, plain films have demonstrated little or no abnormality to account for patients’ progressive symptoms. MRI scanning, on the other hand, utilising a technique designed to minimise implant artefact, has correlated very closely with findings at the time of revision surgery. The histological changes, typified by extensive lymphocytic infiltration and a severe vasculitis leading to, in some cases, extensive tissue necrosis are demonstrated and discussed. The failure of any of the existing protective mechanisms or regulatory restrictions to identify and limit the exposure of large numbers of patients to unsatisfactory implants has again been demonstrated.
The positioning of components in knee replacement is related to outcome and for this reason a study has been conducted to compare the exact position of the tibial and femoral components in total knee arthroplasty with the placement as judged by the surgeon at the time of operation. Operating surgeons of a range of grades completed a pro-forma immediately after operating on 25 patients having total knee replacement. Patients were entered into the study by consent providing that they had osteoarthritis and this was their first ever lower limb joint replacement. The form detailed where the surgeon considered he had placed the femoral component in the coronal plane and in terms of rotation upon the femur. They were asked to state what lines or angles of reference they had used and whether they had used intra or extra medullary jigs. Likewise for the tibia, implant position was detailed for coronal, sagittal and transverse planes. The proforma stated the grade of operating surgeon but were otherwise kept anonymous. All study patients had pre and postoperative CT scans. These involved an AP scannogram and transverse sections, according to a protocol, through the femoral neck, femoral condyles, tibial plateau and ankle. By comparing bony landmarks seen on the pre-operative CT scans with lines of reference from the components post-operatively the exact position of the implant was determined in the transverse and coronal planes. For the sagittal plane (slope) the standard lateral X-ray was used. For the femur all operations were carried out using intra-medullary jigs. For the femoral component the difference was not significant between the measured position and the surgeons estimate in any plane (p=0.937 for coronal and p=0.432 for transverse). The measured position of the component was not related to the grade of the operating surgeon nor to the axis nor technique of reference used. For the tibial component, coronal alignment was significantly different (p=0.001) with the measured position being in more varus than was estimated. The range of transverse placement was from 4° of external rotation to 35° of internal rotation of the tibial prosthesis with reference to the tibial tubercle centre. This was significantly different to that estimated by the surgeon (p<
0.001). Estimation of slope in the sagittal plane was good. None of these differences were related to operator grade. For 15 of the TKR’s the tibail component was aligned using intra-medullary techniques. This was related to the accuracy of positioning of the prosthesis with significantly better estimation compared to those in which extra-medulary jigs had been used (p=0.002 for the transverse plane and p=0.065 for the coronal plane). This study has demonstarted that surgeons are able to accurately judge the position of insertion of the femoral component in total knee replacement. Surgeons are poor at estimating the position of the tibial component in the transverse and coronal planes but better in the sagittal plane. Due to the difficulty in its assessment rotational alignment has been ignored in arthroplasty but as with alignment in the other planes it is likely to have a bearing on outcome. Improved techniques to help us judge placement of knee components are needed.
We describe the use of MRI to establish the exact diagnosis in a swollen elbow in a neonate. Urgent diagnosis was needed for medical and social reasons. We accomplished this without the use of an invasive procedure or anaesthesia for a fracture that is recognised to be difficult to diagnose in patients of this age group.
We took posteroanterior weight-bearing radiographs, both with the joint fully extended and in 30° of flexion, in a consecutive series of 50 knees in 37 patients referred for the primary assessment of pain and/or stiffness. These radiographs were reported ‘blind’ both by an orthopaedic surgeon and a radiologist. Direct measurement of the joint space, together with grading of the severity of erosion according to the Ahlback criteria, was undertaken. Any other abnormality present was also documented. The radiographs of the knees in 30° of flexion consistently showed more advanced erosion in both the medial (p = 0.001) and the lateral (p = 0.0001) tibiofemoral compartments, when compared with those of knees in full extension. The Ahlback classification of 25 joints was altered, in some cases by several grades, by the flexed position of the joint. In every case in which another abnormality was identified on the radiograph in full extension, it was also noted on that of the knee in 30° of flexion. In a further four cases, additional pathology could only be seen in the flexed knee. Every patient was able to complete the radiological examination without difficulty. Our study supports the adoption of a weight-bearing view in 30° of flexion as the standard posteroanterior radiograph for the assessment of tibiofemoral osteoarthritis in patients over 50 years of age.
The term flat foot is surrounded by confusion and there is little to help the clinician to identify cases which require treatment and to avoid treating many children unnecessarily. Research for 25 years has been aimed at elucidating this problem by identifying and evaluating a series of signs and tests. These tests allow the recognition of the abnormal foot as early as possible, when efficient treatment is likely to be most effective. The results indicate that evaluation of the flat foot should be based on a combination of signs, with most emphasis on the result of the great toe extension test.