Aims

To evaluate interobserver reliability of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association’s open fracture classification system (OTA-OFC).

Geriatric hip fracture patients have a 14-fold higher 30-day mortality than their age matched peers. Up to 50% of these patients receive blood transfusion perioperatively. Both restrictive and liberal transfusion policies are controversial in this population. Aim: The longitudinal description of transfusion practice in geriatric hip fracture patients in a major trauma centre.

An 8-year (2002–2009) retrospective study was performed on patients over the age of 65 undergoing hip fracture fixation. Yearly transfusion rate; the influence of transfusion on 30-day, 90-day and 1-year mortality and length of stay (LOS) was investigated. On admission haemoglobin (Hb), pre-transfusion Hb and post-transfusion Hb and their effect on transfusion requirement and mortality was also reviewed. The yearly changes in on-admission and pre-transfusion Hb were also examined. The influence of comorbidities, timing, procedure performed and operation duration on transfusion requirement and mortality was also studied. From the 3412 patients, 35% (1195) received transfusion during their hospital stay. There was no change in age, gender and co-morbidities during the study. Thirty-day mortality improved from 12.4% in 2002 to 7% in 2009. The transfusion rate showed a gradual decrease from the highest of 48.3% (2003) to 22.9% (2009) (Pearson correlation - R2 = −0.707, p=0.05). There was no change during the study period in on-admission and pre-transfusion Hb. The mortality for non-transfused and transfused patients was [9.6% vs. 10.3 % (30-day)], [17.2% vs. 18.4%(90-day)] and [27% vs. 30.5%(1-year), p=0.031]. LOS was 11±9 for non-transfused patients and 13±10 (p<0.001) for transfused patients. Patients with more comorbidities experienced a higher transfusion rate, (0 – 31%, 1 – 38%, 2 – 46%, 3 – 57%), (Pearson Chi-squared, p<0.001). The need for transfusion by different procedures in decreasing order was 47.6% intramedullary device, 44.0% DHS, 25.2% cemented hemiarthroplasty, 23.6% Austin-Moore, and 5.5% cannulated screws. The length of the operation increases the chance of transfusion (<1hrs, – 33%, 1–2hrs – 35%, 2–3hrs – 41%, >3 hours – 65%), (Pearson Chi-squared, p=0.010). Preoperative waiting time had no influence on transfusion frequency (<24hrs – 36%, 24–48hrs – 34%, 48–96hrs – 36%, >96hrs – 33%), (Pearson Chi-squared, p=0.823).

The percentage of transfused geriatric hip fracture patients halved during the eight-year period without changes in demographics and co-morbidities. Perioperative transfusion of hip fracture patients is associated with higher 1-year mortality and increased LOS. A more restrictive transfusion practice has been safe and may be a factor in the improved 30-day mortality.

Femur shaft fractures (FSF) are markers of high energy transfer after injury. The comprehensive, population based epidemiology of FSF is unknown. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe the epidemiology of FSF with special focus on patient physiology and timing of surgery.

A 12-month prospective population-based study was performed on consecutive FSF in a 600,000 population area including all ages and pre-hospital deaths. Patient demographics, mechanism, injury severity score (ISS), shock parameters (SBP, BD and Lactate), transfusion requirement, fracture type (AO), co-morbidities, performed procedure and outcomes were recorded. Patients were categorized: Stable, borderline, unstable and in extremis.

A total of 125 patients (20.8/100,000/year) with 134 femur fractures. (62% male, age 37±28 years, ISS 20±19, 51% multiple injuries) were identified in two hospitals. 69 patients (55%) sustained a high energy injury (MVA, MBA, train related, high fall) with 16 (23%) of these being polytrauma patients (ISS 28±12, SBP 98±39, BD 6.5±5.8, Lactate 4±2), 15 (94%) required massive transfusion (12±12 URBC, 8±5 FFP, 1±0.4 PLT, 13±8 Cryo). Of the 125 patients 69% were stable (14.5/100,000/year), 9% borderline (1.8/100,000/year), 4% unstable (0.8/100,000/year) patients and 2% (0.3/100,000/year) were in extremis. 2 borderline, 1 unstable and 2 extremis patients died of severe CHI. One patient in extremis died due to uncontrollable hemorrhage from a pelvic fracture. 20 patients (16%) (3.3/100,000/year) with FSF were prehospital deaths and died due to the severity of their multiorgan injuries or CHI. The overall LOS was 18±15 days and the ICU LOS was 5±6 days. All high energy patients went to theatre within 6±13 hours. 56 patients (45%) sustained a low energy injury. Of these patients 85% had multiple co-morbidities. 8 patients needed 3±1 transfusions and none of the patients died. Time to surgery was 25±37 hrs and LOS was 15±11 days. There were 29 paediatric FSF, 20 of these were low and 9 high energy injuries. Only 3 patients required surgery.

LE-FSF are as frequent as HE-FSF. 73% of the femur fractures are complicated (open, compromised physiology, multiple injured, bilateral, elderly with co-morbidities etc.) requiring major resources and highly specialized care.

In revision of cemented femoral components, removal of cement can be challenging. This study evaluates the use of an ultrasonic device (OSCAR, Orthosonics Ltd UK) for cement removal.

30 consecutive patients that attended our outpatients\’ clinic between May 2008 and September 2008, who underwent revision THR by the senior author or his fellows, were retrospectively reviewed. Minimum follow up was 12 months (average 34.9 months).Indications were aseptic loosening and recurrent dislocation. A posterolateral approach was used routinely. Cement was removed with osteotomes and OSCAR. An uncemented modular femoral component was used. At follow-up, radiographs were evaluated for the evidence of extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO), fracture, cortical perforation, component loosening, migration, and adequacy of cement removal.

None of the cases required an ETO or cortical windowing. In 5 cases prophylactic cabling of the proximal femur was performed. There was one intraoperative femoral shaft fracture (3.33%). There was incomplete cement removal in 7 cases. There was no cortical perforation and no postoperative fracture. There was no case with loosening or migration of the implant.

In all cases that OSCAR was used ETO and cortical windowing were avoided. At an average 34.9 month follow up there was no evidence of thermal tissue damage. In the cases that cement was retained in the canal, this did not affect the stability of the implant. The fracture and the incomplete cement removal were in cases performed by a fellow illustrating the learning curve of the technique.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the role of Hip Arthroscopy in the patient with a symptomatic Resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip.

Patients and Methods: Twelve consecutive patients who presented to our clinic with a painful resurfacing and indeterminate or normal investigations underwent an arthroscopy of their resurfacing were prospectively enrolled into the study following appropriate consent. The pre-operative investigations included haematological indices and acute phase reactants to rule out infection along with plain radiographs and an isotope bone scan.

Results: (table deleted)

Conclusions: Assessment of a symptomatic resurfacing is usually difficult and becomes more challenging in the background of normal or indeterminate investigations. However, in this situation, we found that in experienced hands, hip arthroscopy can be utilised as an effective tool for aiding diagnosis and offering therapeutic interventions in these patients.

Introduction: A common criticism of the modern hip resurfacing arthroplasty is its high early complication rate, in particular femoral neck fracture, displacement of the acetabular component and avascular necrosis. The overall complication rate varies widely in different published series. The sometimes alarmingly high rate of complications, as much as 22% for femoral neck fractures alone (Mont et al. 2005), has deterred many surgeons from using resurfacing implants. As a specialist elective hip practice we wished to specifically determine the early complication rate of hip resurfacing arthroplasty using the metal-on-metal Cormet 2000 implants. We defined an early complication as any resurfacing procedure which required inpatient readmission and/or further intervention within 12 months of the primary operation.

Material and methods: We assessed 253 consecutive hip resurfacing procedures (226 patients). All procedures were performed by the same surgical team using the same surgical approach (posterolateral). Operations were performed between 2001–2005. The mean operating time for was 51.8 minutes. The mean age of patients was 50 years (27 to76) at the time of surgery. 141 patients (62.4%) were male and 85 (37.6%) were female. The preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis for the majority of patients 246 (97.2%), the remainder having avascular necrosis (4 cases, 1.6%), chondrolysis (2 cases, 0.8%) or large osteochondral defects (1 case, 0.4%).

Results: In this series there were two infections (one superficial and one deep), one intraoperative femoral neck fracture (converted to THR), no episodes of avascular necrosis, one revision because of acetabular component loosening and one readmission because of a postoperative haematoma 10 days after surgery. All together two patients needed a further operation within one year of the primary operation (one two-stage revision because of deep infection, one revision to THR because of acetabular component shift). The haematoma was treated conservatively. There was one deep vein thrombosis (DVT), one case of iliopsoas tendonitis, one case of trochanteric bursitis and one patient wore an abduction brace for 6 weeks because of slight instability although there was no dislocation. The patient with DVT was readmitted as an inpatient. The overall complication rate (readmission as an inpatient) was 1.6% (4 patients) with the Cormet 2000 implant. Reoperation rate was 1.2% (3 patients) (including the intraoperative conversion to THR).

Discussion: The Cormet 2000 is a fully uncemented hydroxy-apatite coated hip resurfacing implant. In our series we found a low early reoperation and infection rate. All the reoperations were performed for cases were the primary operation was carried out in the first 6 months of this series. There were no complications associated with the uncemented femoral component of the Cormet 2000 implant.