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The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 72-B, Issue 1 | Pages 116 - 120
1 Jan 1990
Howard P Makin G

We report the management and outcome of 35 lower limb fractures with associated severe vascular injuries treated over a 15-year period. Limb survival was related to the period of ischaemia. Management of the fractures by immediate open reduction and internal fixation was associated with a higher amputation rate than either external fixation or simple splintage, particularly for upper tibial injuries. External fixation is recommended as the method of choice for the stabilisation of the skeletal injury. A selective policy is advised for fasciotomy


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 8 | Pages 972 - 979
1 Aug 2022
Richardson C Bretherton CP Raza M Zargaran A Eardley WGP Trompeter AJ

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the weightbearing practice of operatively managed fragility fractures in the setting of publically funded health services in the UK and Ireland.

Methods

The Fragility Fracture Postoperative Mobilisation (FFPOM) multicentre audit included all patients aged 60 years and older undergoing surgery for a fragility fracture of the lower limb between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2019, and 1 February 2021 and 14 March 2021. Fractures arising from high-energy transfer trauma, patients with multiple injuries, and those associated with metastatic deposits or infection were excluded. We analyzed this patient cohort to determine adherence to the British Orthopaedic Association Standard, “all surgery in the frail patient should be performed to allow full weight-bearing for activities required for daily living”.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1821 - 1830
1 Dec 2021
Marson BA Manning JC James M Craxford S Deshmukh SR Perry DC Ollivere BJ

Aims

The aim of this study is to develop a core set of outcome domains that should be considered and reported in all future trials of childhood limb fractures.

Methods

A four-phase study was conducted to agree a set of core outcome domains. Identification of candidate outcome domains were identified through systematic review of trials, and outcome domains relevant to families were identified through semi-structured interviews with 20 families (parent-child pairing or group). Outcome domains were prioritized using an international three-round Delphi survey with 205 panellists and then condensed into a core outcome set through a consensus workshop with 30 stakeholders.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 74-B, Issue 2 | Pages 181 - 188
1 Mar 1992
Schlickewei W Kuner E Mullaji A Gotze B

We describe a management strategy for upper- and lower-limb fractures with associated arterial injury and report the results in 113 cases treated over a period of 18 years. Primary amputation was performed in 23 patients and of those who underwent primary vascular repair, 27 needed secondary amputation, two-thirds of them within a week of the injury. Of those requiring secondary amputation, 51.8% had ischaemia exceeding six hours, 81.4% had severe soft-tissue injury and 85.2% had type III open fractures. The patients whose limbs had been salvaged were followed up for an average of 5.6 years. The eventual outcome depended on the severity of the fracture, the degree of soft-tissue damage, the length of the ischaemic period, the severity of neurological involvement, and the presence of associated major injuries. There was a 30% incidence of long-term disability in the salvaged limbs, largely due to poor recovery of neurological function. Prompt recognition of such combined injuries is vital and requires a high index of suspicion in patients with multiple injuries and with certain fracture patterns. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach, liberal use of pre-operative angiography in upper-limb injuries and selective use of intra-operative angiography in lower-limb injuries. Stable external or internal fixation of the fractures and re-establishment of limb perfusion are urgent surgical priorities to reduce the period of ischaemia which is critical for successful limb salvage.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1802 - 1808
1 Dec 2021
Bruce J Knight R Parsons N Betteridge R Verdon A Brown J Campolier M Achten J Costa ML

Aims. Deep surgical site infection (SSI) is common after lower limb fracture. We compared the diagnosis of deep SSI using alternative methods of data collection and examined the agreement of clinical photography and in-person clinical assessment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria after lower limb fracture surgery. Methods. Data from two large, UK-based multicentre randomized controlled major trauma trials investigating SSI and wound healing after surgical repair of open lower limb fractures that could not be primarily closed (UK WOLLF), and surgical incisions for fractures that were primarily closed (UK WHiST), were examined. Trial interventions were standard wound care management and negative pressure wound therapy after initial surgical debridement. Wound outcomes were collected from 30 days to six weeks. We compared the level of agreement between wound photography and clinical assessment of CDC-defined SSI. We are also assessed the level of agreement between blinded independent assessors of the photographs. Results. Rates of CDC-defined deep SSI were 7.6% (35/460) after open fracture and 6.3% (95/1519) after closed incisional repair. Photographs were obtained for 77% and 73% of WOLLF and WHiST cohorts respectively (all participants n = 1,478). Agreement between photographic-SSI and CDC-SSI was fair for open fracture wounds (83%; k = 0.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.42)) and for closed incisional wounds (88%; k = 0.29 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.37)) although the rate of photographically detected deep SSIs was twice as high as CDC-SSI (12% vs 6%). Agreement between different assessors for photographic-SSI (WOLLF 88%, k = 0.63 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.72); WHiST 89%; k = 0.61 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.69)); and wound healing was good (WOLLF 90%; k = 0.80 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.86); WHiST 87%; k = 0.57 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.64)). Conclusion. Although wound photography was feasible within the research context and inter-rater assessor agreement substantial, digital photographs used in isolation overestimated deep SSI rates, when compared to CDC criteria. Wound photography should not replace clinical assessment in pragmatic trials but may be useful for screening purposes where surgical infection outcomes are paramount. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(12):1802–1808


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 6 | Pages 1047 - 1054
1 Jun 2021
Keene DJ Knight R Bruce J Dutton SJ Tutton E Achten J Costa ML

Aims. To identify the prevalence of neuropathic pain after lower limb fracture surgery, assess associations with pain severity, quality of life and disability, and determine baseline predictors of chronic neuropathic pain at three and at six months post-injury. Methods. Secondary analysis of a UK multicentre randomized controlled trial (Wound Healing in Surgery for Trauma; WHiST) dataset including adults aged 16 years or over following surgery for lower limb major trauma. The trial recruited 1,547 participants from 24 trauma centres. Neuropathic pain was measured at three and six months using the Doleur Neuropathique Questionnaire (DN4); 701 participants provided a DN4 score at three months and 781 at six months. Overall, 933 participants provided DN4 for at least one time point. Physical disability (Disability Rating Index (DRI) 0 to 100) and health-related quality-of-life (EuroQol five-dimension five-level; EQ-5D-5L) were measured. Candidate predictors of neuropathic pain included sex, age, BMI, injury mechanism, concurrent injury, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, analgaesia use pre-injury, index surgery location, fixation type, Injury Severity Score, open injury, and wound care. Results. The median age of the participants was 51 years (interquartile range 35 to 64). At three and six months post-injury respectively, 32% (222/702) and 30% (234/787) had neuropathic pain, 56% (396/702) and 53% (413/787) had chronic pain without neuropathic characteristics, and the remainder were pain-free. Pain severity was higher among those with neuropathic pain. Linear regression analyses found that those with neuropathic pain at six months post-injury had more physical disability (DRI adjusted mean difference 11.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.84 to 15.14; p < 0.001) and poorer quality of life (EQ-5D utility -0.15 (95% CI -0.19 to -0.11); p < 0.001) compared to those without neuropathic characteristics. Logistic regression identified that prognostic factors of younger age, current smoker, below knee fracture, concurrent injuries, and regular analgaesia pre-injury were associated with higher odds of post-injury neuropathic pain. Conclusion. Pain with neuropathic characteristics is common after lower limb fracture surgery and persists to six months post-injury. Persistent neuropathic pain is associated with substantially poorer recovery. Further attention to identify neuropathic pain post-lower limb injury, predicting patients at risk, and targeting interventions, is indicated. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6):1047–1054


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 5 | Pages 633 - 639
2 May 2022
Costa ML Achten J Parsons NR

Aims. The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of patients with severe open fractures of the lower limb in the five years after they took part in the Wound management for Open Lower Limb Fracture (WOLLF) trial. Methods. The WOLLF trial compared standard dressings to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied at the end of the first surgical wound debridement, and patients were followed-up for 12 months. At 12 months, 170 of the original 460 participants agreed to take part in this medium-term follow-up study. Patients reported their Disability Rating Index (DRI) (0 to 100, where 100 is total disability) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the EuroQol five-dimension three-level health questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) annually by self-reported questionnaire. Further surgical interventions related to the open fracture were also recorded. Results. There was no evidence of a difference in patient-reported disability, HRQoL, or the need for further surgery between patients treated with NPWT versus standard dressings at five years. Considering the combined results for all participants, there was a small but statistically significant change in DRI scores over time (1.6 units per year; p = 0.005), but no evidence that EQ-5D-3L scores changed significantly during years two to five (p = 0.551). Conclusion. This study shows that the high levels of disability and reduced HRQoL reported by patients 12 months after severe open fractures of the lower limb persist in the medium term, with little evidence of improvement between years two and five. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(5):633–639


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 5 | Pages 809 - 812
1 May 2021
Farhan-Alanie MM Trompeter AJ Wall PDH Costa ML

The use of tourniquets in lower limb trauma surgery to control bleeding and improve the surgical field is a long established practice. In this article, we review the evidence relating to harms and benefits of tourniquet use in lower limb fracture fixation surgery and report the results of a survey on current tourniquet practice among trauma surgeons in the UK


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 101-B, Issue 4 | Pages 491 - 496
1 Apr 2019
Li NY Kalagara S Hersey A Eltorai AEM Daniels AH Cruz Jr AI

Aims. The aim of this study was to utilize a national paediatric inpatient database to determine whether obesity influences the operative management and inpatient outcomes of paediatric limb fractures. Patients and Methods. The Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) was used to evaluate children between birth and 17 years of age, from 1997 and 2012, who had undergone open and closed treatment of humeral, radial and ulna, femoral, tibial, and ankle fractures. Demographics, hospital charges, lengths of stay (LOS), and complications were analyzed. Results. Obesity was significantly associated with increased rates of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for: distal humeral (odds ratio (OR) = 2.139, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92 to 3.44; p < 0.001); distal radius and ulna fractures (OR = 1.436, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.16; p < 0.05); distal femoral (OR = 2.051, 95% CI 1.69 to 3.60; p < 0.05); tibial and fibula shaft (OR = 2.101, 95% CI 2.10 to 3.50; p < 0.001); and ankle (OR = 1.733, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.39; p < 0.001). Older age was significantly associated with ORIF for all fractures (p < 0.05). LOS, hospital charges, and complications were significantly increased in obese patients following ORIF for upper and lower limb fractures (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Obese paediatric patients are more likely to undergo ORIF in both upper and lower limb fractures and have more inpatient complications. These findings may assist in informing obese paediatric fracture patients and their families regarding the increased risk for open operative fixation and associated outcomes. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:491–496


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 3 | Pages 420 - 424
1 Mar 2016
Wordsworth M Lawton G Nathwani D Pearse M Naique S Dodds A Donaldson H Bhattacharya R Jain A Simmons J Hettiaratchy S

Aims. The management of open lower limb fractures in the United Kingdom has evolved over the last ten years with the introduction of major trauma networks (MTNs), the publication of standards of care and the wide acceptance of a combined orthopaedic and plastic surgical approach to management. The aims of this study were to report recent changes in outcome of open tibial fractures following the implementation of these changes. Patients and Methods. Data on all patients with an open tibial fracture presenting to a major trauma centre between 2011 and 2012 were collected prospectively. The treatment and outcomes of the 65 Gustilo Anderson Grade III B tibial fractures were compared with historical data from the same unit. . Results. The volume of cases, the proportion of patients directly admitted and undergoing first debridement in a major trauma centre all increased. The rate of limb salvage was maintained at 94% and a successful limb reconstruction rate of 98.5% was achieved. The rate of deep bone infection improved to 1.6% (one patient) in the follow-up period. . Conclusion. The reasons for these improvements are multifactorial, but the major trauma network facilitating early presentation to the major trauma centre, senior orthopaedic and plastic surgical involvement at every stage and proactive microbiological management, may be important factors. . Take home message: This study demonstrates that a systemised trauma network combined with evidence based practice can lead to improvements in patient care. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:420–4


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 106-B, Issue 9 | Pages 994 - 999
1 Sep 2024
El-Khaldi I Gude MH Gundtoft PH Viberg B

Aims

Pneumatic tourniquets are often used during the surgical treatment of unstable traumatic ankle fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of reoperation after open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures with and without the use of pneumatic tourniquets.

Methods

This was a population-based cohort study using data from the Danish Fracture Database with a follow-up period of 24 months. Data were linked to the Danish National Patient Registry to ensure complete information regarding reoperations due to complications, which were divided into major and minor. The relative risk of reoperations for the tourniquet group compared with the non-tourniquet group was estimated using Cox proportional hazards modelling.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 106-B, Issue 4 | Pages 307 - 311
1 Apr 2024
Horner D Hutchinson K Bretherton CP Griffin XL


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 106-B, Issue 7 | Pages 728 - 734
1 Jul 2024
Poppelaars MA van der Water L Koenraadt-van Oost I Boele van Hensbroek P van Bergen CJA

Aims

Paediatric fractures are highly prevalent and are most often treated with plaster. The application and removal of plaster is often an anxiety-inducing experience for children. Decreasing the anxiety level may improve the patients’ satisfaction and the quality of healthcare. Virtual reality (VR) has proven to effectively distract children and reduce their anxiety in other clinical settings, and it seems to have a similar effect during plaster treatment. This study aims to further investigate the effect of VR on the anxiety level of children with fractures who undergo plaster removal or replacement in the plaster room.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 255 patients were included, aged five to 17 years, who needed plaster treatment for a fracture of the upper or lower limb. Randomization was stratified for age (five to 11 and 12 to 17 years). The intervention group was distracted with VR goggles and headphones during the plaster treatment, whereas the control group received standard care. As the primary outcome, the post-procedural level of anxiety was measured with the Child Fear Scale (CFS). Secondary outcomes included the children’s anxiety reduction (difference between CFS after and CFS before plaster procedure), numerical rating scale (NRS) pain, NRS satisfaction of the children and accompanying parents/guardians, and the children’s heart rates during the procedure. An independent-samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test (depending on the data distribution) were used to analyze the data.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 7 | Pages 795 - 800
1 Jul 2023
Parsons N Achten J Costa ML

Aims

To report the outcomes of patients with a fracture of the distal tibia who were treated with intramedullary nail versus locking plate in the five years after participating in the Fixation of Distal Tibia fracture (FixDT) trial.

Methods

The FixDT trial reported the results for 321 patients randomized to nail or locking plate fixation in the first 12 months after their injury. In this follow-up study, we report the results of 170 of the original participants who agreed to be followed up until five years. Participants reported their Disability Rating Index (DRI) and health-related quality of life (EuroQol five-dimension three-level questionnaire) annually by self-reported questionnaire. Further surgical interventions related to the fracture were also recorded.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 5 | Pages 568 - 574
1 May 2023
Kobayashi H Ito N Nakai Y Katoh H Okajima K Zhang L Tsuda Y Tanaka S

Aims

The aim of this study was to report the patterns of symptoms and insufficiency fractures in patients with tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) to allow the early diagnosis of this rare condition.

Methods

The study included 33 patients with TIO who were treated between January 2000 and June 2022. The causative tumour was detected in all patients. We investigated the symptoms and evaluated the radiological patterns of insufficiency fractures of the rib, spine, and limbs.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 1 | Pages 21 - 28
1 Jan 2023
Ndlovu S Naqshband M Masunda S Ndlovu K Chettiar K Anugraha A

Aims

Clinical management of open fractures is challenging and frequently requires complex reconstruction procedures. The Gustilo-Anderson classification lacks uniform interpretation, has poor interobserver reliability, and fails to account for injuries to musculotendinous units and bone. The Ganga Hospital Open Injury Severity Score (GHOISS) was designed to address these concerns. The major aim of this review was to ascertain the evidence available on accuracy of the GHOISS in predicting successful limb salvage in patients with mangled limbs.

Methods

We searched electronic data bases including PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify studies that employed the GHOISS risk tool in managing complex limb injuries published from April 2006, when the score was introduced, until April 2021. Primary outcome was the measured sensitivity and specificity of the GHOISS risk tool for predicting amputation at a specified threshold score. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, need for plastic surgery, deep infection rate, time to fracture union, and functional outcome measures. Diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis was performed using a random effects bivariate binomial model.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1073 - 1080
1 Sep 2022
Winstanley RJH Hadfield JN Walker R Bretherton CP Ashwood N Allison K Trompeter A Eardley WGP

Aims

The Open-Fracture Patient Evaluation Nationwide (OPEN) study was performed to provide clarity in open fracture management previously skewed by small, specialist centre studies and large, unfocused registry investigations. We report the current management metrics of open fractures across the UK.

Method

Patients admitted to hospital with an open fracture (excluding phalanges or isolated hand injuries) between 1 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 were included. Institutional information governance approval was obtained at the lead site and all data entered using Research Electronic Data Capture software. All domains of the British Orthopaedic Association Standard for Open Fracture Management were recorded.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 3 | Pages 408 - 412
1 Mar 2022
Png ME Petrou S Bourget-Murray J Knight R Trompeter AJ Costa ML

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS) classification of open fractures and economic costs.

Methods

Resource use was measured during the six months that followed open fractures of the lower limb in 748 adults recruited as part of two large clinical trials within the UK Major Trauma Research Network. Resource inputs were valued using unit costs drawn from primary and secondary sources. Economic costs (GBP sterling, 2017 to 2018 prices), estimated from both a NHS and Personal Social Services (PSS) perspective, were related to the degree of complexity of the open fracture based on the OTS classification.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 6 | Pages 696 - 702
1 Jun 2022
Kvarda P Puelacher C Clauss M Kuehl R Gerhard H Mueller C Morgenstern M

Aims

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and fracture-related infections (FRIs) are associated with a significant risk of adverse events. However, there is a paucity of data on cardiac complications following revision surgery for PJI and FRI and how they impact overall mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the risk of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) and mortality in this patient cohort.

Methods

We prospectively included consecutive patients at high cardiovascular risk (defined as age ≥ 45 years with pre-existing coronary, peripheral, or cerebrovascular artery disease, or any patient aged ≥ 65 years, plus a postoperative hospital stay of > 24 hours) undergoing septic or aseptic major orthopaedic surgery between July 2014 and October 2016. All patients received a systematic screening to reliably detect PMI, using serial measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T. All-cause mortality was assessed at one year. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to compare incidence of PMI and mortality between patients undergoing septic revision surgery for PJI or FRI, and patients receiving aseptic major bone and joint surgery.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 40-B, Issue 4 | Pages 652 - 659
1 Nov 1958
Bremner RA Jelliffe AM

1. Problems of management of a pathological fracture of a major long bone through a metastatic cancer deposit are outlined. The relatively short life expectancy of these patients is stressed. 2. The results of treatment of thirty-six consecutive fractures of this type by internal fixation and radiotherapy, and of similar treatment used "prophylactically" on seven occasions, are reviewed. 3. Four-fifths of the patients with lower limb fractures became ambulant with crutches and were able to return home. 4. "Prophylactic" internal fixation and radiotherapy appear to be helpful in selected cases. 5. The theoretical dangers and difficulties of the technique are discussed. They are easily surmountable and have probably been over-emphasised in the past. 6. It is concluded that this is the best method at present available for dealing with this difficult problem