External fixation (EF) devices are commonly used in the management of complex skeletal trauma, as well as in elective limb reconstruction surgery for the management of congenital and acquired pathology. The subsequent removal of an EF is commonly performed under a general anaesthetic in an operating theatre. This practice is resource intensive and limits the amount of operating theatre time available for other surgical cases. We aimed to assess the use of regional anaesthesia as an alternative method of analgesia to facilitate EF removal in an outpatient setting. This prospective case series evaluated the first 20 consecutive cases of EF removal in the outpatient clinic between 10/06/22 to 16/09/22. Regional anaesthesia using ultrasound-guided blockade of peripheral nerves was administered using 1% lidocaine due to its rapid onset and short half-life. Patients were assessed for additional analgesia requirement, asked to evaluate their experience and perceived pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Introduction
Materials & Methods
Neck of femur (NoF) fractures have an inherent 6.5% 30-day mortality as per National hip fracture database(2019). Several studies have demonstrated a higher mortality rate in covid positive NoFs but have been unable to demonstrate whether there are risk factors that contribute to the risk of mortality in this patient group or whether COVID is solely responsible for the higher mortality. To assess risk factors that are concurrently present in a fracture NoF cohort that may contribute to higher mortality in COVID positive patients.Introduction
Aims
Current literature of definition, classification and outcomes of fractures of talar body remains controversial. Our primary purpose is to present an unusual combination of fractures of talar body with pantalar involvement / dislocation / extension as a basis for modification of Müller AO / OTA Classification. We include four consecutive patients, who sustained talar body fractures with pantalar subluxation/dislocation /extension. These unusual injury patterns lead us to reconsider Müller AO / OTA Classification in the light of another widely used talar fracture classification, Hawkins Classification of fractures of neck of talus and subsequent modification by Canale and Kelly.Background
Methods