Aims

We aim to evaluate the usefulness of postoperative blood tests by investigating the incidence of abnormal results following total joint replacement (TJR), as well as identifying preoperative risk factors for abnormal blood test results postoperatively, especially pertaining to anaemia and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is an increasingly common and safe way of treating joint disease. Robust preoperative assessment improved intraoperative techniques and holistic rehabilitation contribute to an uneventful postoperative period. Despite there being evidence against the utility of postoperative blood tests, it is still often part of routine practice. We aim to evaluate the usefulness of these tests by investigating their incidence following TJA as well as identifying preoperative risk factors for abnormal blood test results postoperatively especially pertaining to anaemia and acute kidney injury (AKI).

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who had elective TJA between January and December 2019 at a tertiary centre. An independent student's t-test and Fisher's exact test was used to compare variables between the normal and abnormal postoperative results groups. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to identify risk factors for an abnormal blood test result. Analyses of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to determine cut off values that could be suggestive of abnormal test results postoperatively.

The study included 2721 patients with a mean age of 69 of which 46.6% were males. Abnormal postoperative bloods were identified in 444 (16.3%) patients. We identified age (≥65 years), female gender, ASA ≥ 3 as risk factors for developing abnormal postoperative blood tests. Preoperative haemoglobin (≤ 127 g/dL), haematocrit (≤ 0.395L/L) and potassium (≤ 3.7 mmol/L) were noted as cut-offs that could be predictive of postoperative anaemia or AKI respectively.

The costs outweigh the benefits of ordering routine postoperative blood tests in TJA patients. Clinicians should risk stratify their patients and have a lower threshold for ordering blood tests in patients with one or more of the risk factors we have identified. These risk factors are age (≥65 years), females, ASA ≥ 3, preoperative haemoglobin (≤ 127 g/L), haematocrit (≤ 0.395L/L), and potassium (≤ 3.7 mmol/L).

Several authors have used 3D motion analysis to measure upper limb kinematics, but none have focused solely on wrist movements, in six degrees of freedom, during activities of daily living (ADL). This study aimed to determine the role of the different planar wrist movements during three standardised tasks, which may be affected by surgical procedures.

Nine volunteers (age range 22-45) were recruited and each participant performed three simulated ADLs: using a door lever, a door knob and opening/closing a jam jar. The ADLs were simulated using a work-sim kit on an isokinetic dynamometer. Motion analysis was performed by a 10-camera Oqus system (Qualisys Medical AB, Gothenburg, Sweden). All raw kinematic data were exported to Visual3D (C-Motion Inc.), where the biomechanical model was defined and joint kinematics calculated.

Table 1 shows a similar range of radial-ulnar deviation and flexion-extension as previous studies. However a substantial amount of wrist rotation also occurred in all tasks. This was significantly greater when using the door lever compared with the door knob and jam jar tasks.

Previous studies have stated that a negligible degree of rotation occurs at the wrist. This study found a maximum mean of 31.7 degrees of wrist rotation. This indicates that considerable rotational movement occurs at the wrist during certain functional tasks. Surgical approaches and clinical pathology may disrupt structures responsible for rotational stability. Further investigation of this rotational component of carpal movement during additional ADLs is proposed in both normal and clinical subjects, to explore the potential relationship between carpal surgery and rotational laxity.

I consider the term ‘minimally invasive surgery’ (MIS) to represent a wide range of techniques directed at achieving a surgical objective with less collateral tissue damage. The surgeon choosing to employ such techniques may aspire to achieve improved or more consistent outcome for their patients but is this so? What are the complications? In certain areas of surgery the concept of MIS is well established (e.g. knee and ankle arthroscopy). In forefoot surgery the concept has been met with interest but also skepticism. Much of this skepticism pivots around concerns that the loss of direct vision (maintained in arthroscopic techniques) may increase the risk of complications. In other words, there is a concern that due to the loss of direct visualization (replaced by intra-operative xray imaging), any benefit that might arise from the less invasive technique of the operation will be negated by either poorer quality of surgical correction or higher risk of injury to adjacent structures. All surgery is associated with a degree of risk and in considering the complications specifically associated with MIS of the forefoot we must try to separate out those complications related to the specific MIS technique involved and those that are not. In other words, we need to identify whether the complication has occurred as a result of incorrect surgical planning (e.g. wrong choice of osteotomy/flaws in surgical objective), poor execution of the surgical technique, or as a result of the MIS instrumentation/equipment. I will discuss the above in relation to my experience of complications encountered whilst employing minimally invasive surgical techniques in the treatment of forefoot pathology over the last 2 years.

In recent years the Weil osteotomy has become the dominant technique employed by most surgeons for distal metatarsal osteotomy. This is generally a reliable technique but problems with stiffness can frequently occur in the operated metatarso-phalangeal joints. We present our experience with a minimally invasive distal metatarsal extra-articular osteotomy technique. This technique utilises a high-speed burr via a tiny skin portal to perform a distal metatarsal extra-articular osteotomy under image intensifier guidance without the need for fixation.

A consecutive series of 55 osteomies in 21 patients were included in the study. All osteotomies were performed for metatarsalgia/restoration of metatarsal cascade. The mean age was 49 (38-78), and 20/21 were female. The senior author performed all surgery. All patients were allowed to weight bear immediately in a postoperative shoe and then an ordinary shoe from 4-6 week post-operatively. Mean follow-up was 8 months (4-13) and patients were assessed clinically and scored using the AOFAS scoring system and a subjective outcome score.

The mean AOFAS score improved significantly postoperatively. All patients were very satisfied/satisfied with the outcome. Two patients had minor superficial portal infections, which resolved with oral antibiotics. One patient reported irritating numbness and stiffness in toes (1st case performed). Most patients reported swelling persisting to 3-4 months. There was one symptomatic delayed at 4 months treated successfully with short air boot immobilisation. There were no mal unions.

This series suggests that MIS distal metatarsal osteotomy results compare well with outcomes reported with modern open techniques such as the Weil. We now favour an MIS distal metatarsal osteotomy technique for most indications due to the minimal stiffness observed postoperatively as well as much reduced surgical time without the need for tourniquet.

Introduction

Chronic ruptures of the Achilles tendon pose a significant management challenge to the clinician. Numerous methods of surgical reconstruction have been described and are generally associated with a higher complication rate than with immediate repair. We report our results with a single 5cm incision technique to reconstruct chronic Achilles tendon ruptures with transfer of FHL. This simple technique also enables easy tensioning of the graft/reconstruction to match the uninjured leg and early mobilisation.

Introduction

We describe our experience with a minimally invasive Chevron and Akin (MICA) technique for hallux valgus correction. This technique adheres to the same principles as open surgical correction but is performed using a specialized high-speed cutting burr under image intensifier guidance via tiny skin portals.

Introduction: In most areas of surgery there has been a move in recent years towards less invasive operative techniques. However, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is not automatically ‘better’ surgery. Several MIS techniques for correcting hallux valgus have been described. We present our experience with an MIS chevron type osteotomy, Akin osteotomy and distal soft tissue release. This technique utilises rigid internal screw fixation (without the need for k wire fixation). This is the first such series to be reported in the United Kingdom.

Patients & Methods: A consecutive series of twenty three patients (30 feet) with mild to moderate HV deformity were included in the study and were independently assessed clinically and radiographically and scored using the AOFAS scoring system, visual analogue score for pain and a subjective outcome score. All surgery was performed by a single surgeon (DR) using a high-speed burr to create the osteotomies. The osteotomy was fixed with a rigid screw. The mean age was 59 (24–75), and 90% were female. All patients had minimum follow-up of three months (mean 7.5, range 5–12).

Results: The mean AOFAS score improved from 39.3 (median 44, range 25–57) preoperatively to 89.9 (median 92, range 77–100) postoperatively. The mean visual analogue score improved from 7 to 1. 82% of patients were very satisfied / satisfied with the procedure. There were no cases of infection, two cases of type 1 complex regional pain syndrome and two screws required removal.

Conclusion: This small series represents the senior author’s learning curve with this new technique and as such, these early MIS results compare well with outcomes reported with modern open techniques for mild to moderate hallux valgus deformities. A randomised study to compare open and closed techniques is now being undertaken.

Introduction: Several studies have compared various plate constructs for distal intra-articular humerus fractures. In our experience osteoporotic bone and fractures that have a transverse component close to the elbow joint have tenuous fixation with traditional plating systems due to, at most, two screws in the distal fragment through the plate. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain objective data on the performance of two plating systems used for fixation of intra-articular distal humerus fractures with a low transverse component with only two screws through a 3.5 LC-DCP distally. It was hypothesized that locked plating would be more stable than standard plating after cyclic loading.

Methods: Twenty pairs of fresh matched cadaver humeri of patients older than 65 years old were harvested. DEXA scans of the right forearm from each pair were obtained. Osteotomies were performed to simulate comminuted supracondylar humerus fracture with intercondylar split (OTA 13-C2.3). The specimens were then randomly assigned to locking or non-locking plate fixation.

Ten paired specimens were tested in simulated extension and the remaining ten were tested axially.

Fragment motion relative to the humeral shaft was measured using kinematic analysis at the fracture gap.

Differences in resultant fragment translations and rotations between fixation groups were checked for significance (p< 0.05) using a one-tailed paired t-test. Differences in cycles to failure were checked for significance using a Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results: On average, during extension tests, the humeri with locking plate fixation did not survive significantly more cycles (4352) than with non-locking (4755) plate fixation. There was no significant difference in fragment translation between locking (0.8 mm) and non-locking (1.7 mm) plates. However, there was a significant difference in fragment rotation between locking (2.8 degrees) and non-locking (3.9 degrees) fixations.

On axial testing, the humeri with locking plates on average survived more loading cycles (4072) than those with non-locking plate fixation (2115), but the difference was not significant. Mean translation for locking plate fixation (3.6 mm) was significantly less than for non-locking plate fixation (5.7 mm) and mean fragment rotation was significantly less for locking plate fixation (13.3 degrees) than for non-locking plate fixation (17.8 degrees).

Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that the fixed-angle 3.5 mm locking plate constructs for comminuted intercondylar humerus fractures reduced fracture site motion, sometimes significantly so, relative to the non-locking constructs in osteoporotic bone. The potential benefit of increased fixation survivability and decreased fracture site motion in osteoporotic bone needs to be evaluated clinically.

Background: Although hip fracture is often the first presentation of osteoporosis, prophylactic measures are not routinely prescribed. Aims: To investigate whether the second hip fracture has a significant further impact on walking and social independence and to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from currently available prophylactic measures. Method: Information on walking ability and social independence was obtained approximately 3 months following discharge for 49 consecutive patients admitted with a second hip fracture. Results: Fewer patients maintained their ability to walk without the help of an able-bodied assistant after the second fracture compared with the first fracture (53% and 91% respectively p< 0.0005). A similar proportion of patients admitted from their own homes remained socially independent after the first and second fractures (64% and 54% respectively). Social independence was determined by mental status after the first fracture but by ability to walk unassisted after the second fracture. The median time to second fracture was 31 months (3–302). The median time to second fracture for patients aged 80 and below and patients without a history of recurrent falls was more than 2 years. Conclusion: The second fracture had a significant further impact on patients. Bisphosphonates given over a 2 year period can decrease the rate of hip fracture and should be given to patients who sustain a hip fracture aged 80 or less and patients who do not have a history of multiple falls. Hip protectors should be considered in other patients.

Introduction: Unstable fractures of the distal tibia that are not suitable for intramedullary nailing are commonly treated by open reduction and internal þxation and/or external þxation techniques. Treatment of these injuries using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) techniques may offer the advantage of achieving adequate þxation whilst minimising soft tissue injury and damage to the vascular integrity of the fracture fragments. Purpose: We report our experience using MIPO techniques for the treatment of unstable fractures of the distal tibia. Method: A review of all patients who sustained an unstable fracture of the distal tibia treated by MIPO between 1998 and 2001 was undertaken. Twenty patients were identiþed. The mean age was 38.3 years (17 Ð 71). All fractures were closed, and were classiþed according to the AO system. Intra-articular fracture extensions were classiþed according to RŸedi and Allgšwer. Results: Sixty percent of patients achieved callus by 8 weeks. All patients achieved callus by 3 months. The mean time to full weight bearing was 12 weeks (8 Ð 17). By 6 months 18/20 patients had achieved union. The two remaining patients achieved union by 7 months without further surgery. There were no deep infections and only one malunion. There were no cases of failure of þxation. Conclusion: MIPO appears to offer a reliable method of þxation of fractures of the distal tibia that are unsuitable for intramedullary nailing. Our results suggest that this technique is associated with a lower risk of signiþcant complications than encountered with more traditional methods of þxation of such fractures.

This implant seemed to overcome the failings of previous designs. It is a ceramic bearing screwed into a titanium screw, which bonded to bone. The bearing surface was also coated with calcium phosphate to enhance secondary stability.

An initial study examined 40 patients over three years. No patients had any loosening, screw breakages, fractures, or local osteoporosis. The patient satisfaction was good with only two dissatisfied. On the basis of this, Orthosonics introduced it to the UK in 1999. Following problems with the device we conducted a survey with Orthosonics and the MDA.

In total 160 implants were implanted by 46 surgeons. We received replies from 33 surgeons representing 119 patients. There were 93 implants with a successful outcome but 17 had failed and been revised. The commonest mode of failure was osteolysis secondary to metallic wear debris. Also six implants showed radiographic loosening with symptoms, but had not been revised. There were three that showed radiographic loosening, but were symptom free.

A failure rate of 19% at one year is unacceptable. We are of the view that products of this type should be introduced in a controlled fashion as part of a prospective trial.

INTRODUCTION: Unstable distal and proximal tibial fractures that are not suitable for intramedullary nailing are often treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and/or external fixation techniques. Discuss the treatment of these injuries with Percutaneous Plating technique which offers advantages over standard external fixation and/or ORIF as it minimises soft tissue trauma and does not disturb the osteogenic fracture haematoma.

PURPOSE: We report on the experience using percutaneous plating of unstable distal fractures in a district General Hospital setting and discuss the technique used and the applicability of this method to military personnel with high functional demands.

METHOD: a retrospective review of all patients treated with percutaneous plating technique for an unstable distal tibial fracture between 1998 and 2001 was undertaken. Fractures were classified to the AO system Reudi and Allgower. Indications for use of the percutaneous plate technique were distal tibial fractures which were initially managed in plaster until definitive fixation. No external fixation was used. The operation consisted of supine position on a radiolucent table. The fracture was reduced by closed methods and a DCP was shaped to fit the tibia. This was then positioned on the medial tibia in an extraperiosteal, subcutaneous tunnel. 4.5mm screws were fitted via stab incisions as appropriate to hold the plate in position. No splinting was used other than the plaster itself unless the patient was felt to be unable to comply with a touch weight bearing regime. Clinical and radiological follow up was 6–8 weeks, 3 months and 6 months post injury.

RESULT: 22 patients were identified, 20 of whom were available to follow up. Mean age was 38.3 years (range 17–71). There were 18 males and 4 females. Mechanism of injury was a fall in 12, motorcycle RTA in 6, and rugby/ football injury in 4. Most fractures were 42-A1/42-B1. 4 fractures had distal intra-articular fracture extensions. All were closed injuries. Over 50% of patients underwent fixation within 24 hours of the injury. Mean hospital stay was 6.5 days (2–31). There were no deep infections (one superficial infection which resolved with oral antibiotic treatment). Most patients achieved callus by 8 weeks, all by 3 months. Mean time to full weight bearing was 12 weeks (8–17). By 6 months only 2 fractures had not united. These united at 7 months. There were no non-unions and only one mal-union. There were no cases of failure of fixation.

The incidence of first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) stiffness following bunion surgery varies in the literature from 2% to 60%. The causes include pre-existing degenerative joint disease, infection, chronic regional pain syndrome (Type 1), joint incongruence and avascular necrosis.

The aim of this study was to establish whether closure of the capsule influences the range of motion in the first MTPJ.

We performed a cadaveric study using a ‘Y’ shaped medial capsulotomy as our model.

A mid-medial approach was performed on ten cadaveric feet, exposing the medial capsule of the 1st MTPJ. The range of motion of the 1st MTPJ was recorded, and a ‘Y’ shaped capsulotomy performed. The capsule was then closed in neutral, full plantar flexion, and full dorsi flexion and the range of motion recorded.

When the capsule was closed with the first MTPJ at the limit of plantar flexion there was a mean loss of 13.7° of dorsi-flexion (range 12°–15°, p< 0.01) compared with the pre-capsulotomy range of motion. When the capsule was closed in dorsi-flexion there was a mean loss of 9.3° of plantar flexion (range 0°–20°, p< 0.05). There was no change in range of motion when the capsule was closed in neutral.

Capsular closure can influence first MPTJ motion. Care should therefore be taken during capsular repair. Closure in extremes of extension or flexion, as advocated in some techniques such as the Mitchell osteotomy, should be avoided.