Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful and cost-effective treatments available for painful hip arthritis. Unfortunately, dislocation following primary THA is one of the most common complications, occurring in approximately 0.50–10percnt; cases. However, there is little literature that investigates the effects that dislocation has on the patient's overall function and satisfaction.

We reviewed 229 THA patients that had sustained dislocation from a prospective database, consisting 156 single dislocations and 73 with two or more. Patient outcomes were compared with a matched control group of 196 patients without dislocation in the same follow-up period. Harris Hip Score (HHS) and patient satisfaction were recorded pre-operatively and at one, five and ten years post-operatively. Mann-Whitney test compared HHS between control and dislocation groups, Chi-Square test compared patient satisfaction and implant survival.

Total HHS and functional component were significantly lower in the dislocation group at one, five and ten years (p<0.05). HHS Pain component revealed a significant difference but only at one and three years (p<0.05). Patient satisfaction only showed a significant difference at one-year review. Dislocation rates were significantly higher in females. Implant survivorship was significantly lower in the dislocation group at 15-years.

Hip-function and implant survival is significantly reduced following prosthesis dislocation, however patient satisfaction and pain levels appear unaffected at long-term follow-up.

Introduction There is no consensus on the superiority of either Chevron or Mitchell osteotomy in the treatment of hallux valgus. In the literature Chevron osteotomy is recommended for the mild and Mitchell’s for the moderate hallux valgus (HV) deformities. We reviewed outcomes of two of the most common distal first metatarsal osteotomies.

Aims To compare the results of Chevron vs Mitchell osteotomy in the treatment of HV.

To evaluate the co-relation between clinical outcome and radiological correction achieved after the two osteotomies.

Method We reviewed clinical notes and pre- and postoperative radiographs of a total of 111 operations including 61 Chevron and 50 Mitchell osteotomies in 90 patients.

We designed a patient-focused questionnaire to evaluate clinical outcomes that addressed the main functional outcomes concerning patients after bunion surgery. These included pain, usage of footwear postoperatively, cosmoses, development of transfer metatarsalgia and the repeatability of the procedure they had undergone. These questions were point based and a final clinical score was calculated for comparison with the radiological correction. This was also used as a measure of success of the procedure.

Conclusion There is a statistically significant radiological difference in HV angle correction and the loss of first metatarsal height as seen post-operatively between patients treated with Chevron and Mitchell osteotomies for HV correction (p=0.03 and p=0.0004 respectively). There is no statistically significant difference (p=0.6) in the clinical outcomes based on the newly designed patient-focused questionnaire with either Chevron or Mitchell osteotomies at a mean follow-up of 27 months post-operatively. Clinical outcome determined by patient-focused questionnaire remains the same in-spite of radiological differences noticed post-operatively between the two osteotomies.

We have investigated the contaminating bacteria in primary hip arthroplasty and their sensitivity to the prophylactic antibiotics currently in use. Impressions (627) of the gloved hands of the surgical team in 50 total hip arthroplasties were obtained on blood agar. The gloves were changed after draping, at intervals of 20 minutes thereafter, and before using cement. Changes were also undertaken whenever a visible puncture was detected. The culture plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Isolates were identified and tested for sensitivity to flucloxacillin, which is a recognised indicator of sensitivity to cefuroxime. They were also tested against other agents depending upon their appearance on Gram staining.

We found contamination in 57 (9%) impressions and 106 bacterial isolates. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were seen most frequently (68.9%), but we also isolated Micrococcus (12.3%), diphtheroids (9.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.6%) and Escherichia coli (0.9%). Of the coagulase-negative staphylococci, only 52.1% were sensitive to flucloxacillin and therefore to cefuroxime. We believe that it is now appropriate to review the relevance of prophylaxis with cefuroxime and to consider the use of other agents.