There is little published information on the health impact of frozen shoulder. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional and health-related quality of life outcomes following arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) for contracture of the shoulder. Between January 2010 and January 2012 all patients who had failed non-operative treatment including anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy and glenohumeral joint injections for contracture of the shoulder and who subsequently underwent an ACR were enrolled in the study. A total of 100 patients were eligible; 68 underwent ACR alone and 32 had ACR with a subacromial decompression (ASD). ACR resulted in a highly significant improvement in the range of movement and functional outcome, as measured by the Oxford shoulder score and EuroQol EQ-5D index. The mean cost of a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for an ACR and ACR with an ASD was £2563 and £3189, respectively.

ACR is thus a cost-effective procedure that can restore relatively normal function and health-related quality of life in most patients with a contracture of the shoulder within six months after surgery; and the beneficial effects are not related to the duration of the presenting symptoms.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:942–6.

The contents of 3 orthopaedic journals [JBJS (Am), JBJS (Br) and CORR] during 2001 and 2011 were compared for publication bias.

There were total of 2028 articles. After exclusion 1662 scientific articles were analysed for statistical results, clinical conclusion, sub-speciality topics studied, the geographical region the study been conducted and the statistical method used. The articles classified into 7 categories: THR, TKR, Basic sciences, Trauma, Spinal disorders, Paediatric disorders and Tumour.

91% of articles on THR and 95% of articles on TKR were positive studies in 2001. Articles dealing with trauma had the lowest proportion of positive studies (74%) as compared to all other topics. We noted that JBJS (Br) published more negative studies as compared to JBJS (Am) and CORR. In 2011 less articles on THR and TKR had positive studies (68% and 76% respectively). Spinal surgery articles report less number of non significant studies nowadays (24% in 2001 and 2% in 2011).

There is a significant change in the trend towards reporting more negative studies in relation with THR and TKR (p < 0.05). Articles dealing with Basic sciences, Trauma, Paediatric disorders and Tumour did not have any significant change in reporting negative studies in the last decade. Significant findings in spinal disorders were 3.8 times more likely to be published than non significant stdies. Overall, JBJS (Br) continued to publish more negative studies as compared to JBJS (Am) and CORR.

Journals seem to prefer reporting more significant results with spinal disorders and more non significant results in relation with Hip and Knee arthroplasty in last ten years. This might be because of authors' perceptions of the importance of their findings and journals preferences for significant results.

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is increasingly performed recently. The patients seeking internet as a source of information may get misleading and a false sense of expectation. This study aimed at analysing patient information on internet and establish list of available quality websites to safely recommend to the patients.

The study analysed 310 websites from 10 top search engines exploring the quality of patient information using an assessment tool. Search engines used were metasearch (Metacrawlers and Mamma), general search (Google, Altavista, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Lycos) and health search engines (Medhunt and Excite Health). The study was undertaken by two independent researcher over a four-week period in November 2011. Each Website was evaluated according to RSA-specific content using a point value system with shoulder disease and surgery specific key words on an ordinal scale. Adequacy of the content was analysed in regard with description of diagnosis, procedure, alternate options, postoperative protocol, complications and prognosis.

Excluding the repetitions 104 websites were analysed for accessibility, relevance, authenticity, adequacy of patient information and accountability. The median time since update was 12 months. More than 90% of the websites were found to be of poor quality. Only 25% sites targeted mainly people with shoulder problems. 8% of websites were from non profit organisations. Most of these websites were promoting either their service 80 (76%) or some product 12 (11%). The strength of association between two reviewers was very high (r = 0.899). Intra-rater reliability was significant (r = 0.955) with p level < 0.01. The reading level of most of websites were too high for average consumers.

There is need for government organizations and professional societies to regulate the information provided by Internet. Until long-term data are available, patients should be warned when using the Internet as a source for health care information.

Hip fracture is associated with highest mortality following trauma in the elderly. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between duration of anaesthesia and duration of surgery with 30 days mortality following hip fracture surgery.

This retrospective cohort study reviewed patients underwent surgery following hip fracture in a district general hospital. Patients less than 65 years, periprosthetic and pathological fractures were excluded. Totally 254 patients were included in the study, who had surgery between February 2005 and September 2008 (20 months period). Mortality details retrieved through National Statistics database. Chi Square tests and Logistic regression analyses were performed to check the relationship between 30 days mortality and all independent variables including duration of anaesthesia and duration of surgery.

The incidence of 30 days mortality following hip fracture surgery was 9.4%. The commonest reason of death was cardiac failure and chest infection. Patients who had General anesthesia (GA) had more complications and mortality in comparison with those who had regional anaesthesia. GA increases the odds of 30 days mortality to 2.5 times. Patients under American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II had decreased odds of 30 days mortality than ASA III & IV (odds Ratio 0.16). However duration of anesthesia up to 120 minutes and duration of surgery up to 90 minutes were not associated with 30 days mortality (P>0.05). The 30 days mortality following dynamic hip screw fixation surgery was 14.6% and intra medullary nail was 12.5%. The 30 days mortality in cemented hemi-arthroplasty was 6.9% and uncemented hemi-arthroplasty was 6%. The 30 days mortality was nil in the group of patients who had undergone cannulated hip screw fixation.

In elderly people following hip fracture surgery 30 days mortality was not affected by duration of anaesthesia and duration of surgery. However 30 days mortality was related with GA, ASA III & IV and post-operative complications mainly cardiac failure and chest infection. These patients need specialist medical care

Introduction: Outcome reporting following THR constitute a significant proportion of orthopaedic publications. Publication bias in the form of underreporting of studies showing non satisfactory or negative results is a well recognised problem in other specialities. We tried to find out the magnitude of this problem in orthopaedics publications dealing with THR.

Method and materials: We reviewed all publications on THR in the year 2004 in three general orthopaedic journals namely JBJS (BR), JBJS (Am), CORR. Of the 1034 original articles published in these three journals more than 400 articles were concerned with total hip replacement.

Results and Discussion: In this study we found only 6% of the published articles were showing non significant or negative results. This raises concerns about evidence based approach in THR and the need for preventive measures like registering all clinical trials and change in the attitude of editorial board.

Introduction: Surgeries in elderly individuals should be less invasive and less time consuming to reduce immediate postoperative morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless it should also give optimal long-term outcome thereby avoiding subsequent procedures in these high risk individuals. Bipolar hemiarthroplasty is a commonly performed orthopaedic surgery in elderly patients with fracture neck of femur. It is commonly believed that the type of implant and the nature of fixation (cemented or uncemented) influences both the short term and the long term outcome of this procedure. In this retrospective study we compared uncemented and cemented JRI furlong prosthesis.

Method and materials: We had cohort of 60 patients who underwent cemented JRI bipolar hemiarthroplasty in the year of 2003 and 2004. We compared this cohort with the matched sample of 60 patients who underwent uncemented JRI bipolar hemiarthroplasty. We matched variables like age, ASA grade and the experience of surgeon.

Results and Discussion: The perioperative variables like duration of surgery, amount of blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications (DVT, chest infection, mortality) were found to be less in the uncemented JRI group. However there are concerns about the long-term outcome of uncemented JRI hemi-arthroplasty in the form of peri prosthetic fractures. Out of 60 patients of uncemented JRI group 3 had peri prosthetic fracture as compared to none in the cemented JRI group. We believe this complication more likely could be due to excessive canal preparation and the press fit necessary for the primary stability of the implant. This warrants further prospective controlled trials to provide more evidence on this finding.

Periprosthetic fractures around Total Knee Arthroplasty are potentially devastating complication to both the patients and the surgeons. The reported prevalence of supracondylar femoral fractures following Total Knee Replacement has ranged from 0.3 to 2.5 percent. The complication rates of various treatment modalities reported in literature varies from 25 to 70 percent.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of Antegrade Nailing and Wire fixation in Supra-condylar femoral periprosthetic fractures.

Material & Methods: Seven patients who sustained complex distal femoral fractures above Total Knee Arthroplasty all treated by New technique of Ante-grade intramedullary Nailing and intramedullary bi-wire fixation through greater trochanteric approach without opening the distal femur were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: All the patients demonstrated uncomplicated postoperative follow-ups and returned to weight bearing between 2 and 3 months. The average age of patient was 70 (55–90) years. All fractures healed in a satisfactory alignment in average duration of 12.6 weeks. There was no wound infection, loss of reduction or implant failure. The average range of movement of knee was 86 degrees.

Conclusion: The Antegrade Nail with Wires is a simple & effective method of treating displaced periprosthetic fractures proximal to Total Knee Arthroplasy. This involves less soft tissue dissection, less operative time and satisfactory bony healing even in poor quality bones while maintaining adequate range of movements of the knee.