Aims. Our primary aim was to assess reoperation-free survival at one year after the index injury in patients aged ≥ 75 years treated with internal fixation (IF) or arthroplasty for undisplaced femoral neck fractures (uFNFs). Secondary outcomes were reoperations and mortality analyzed separately. Methods. We retrieved data on all patients aged ≥ 75 years with an uFNF registered in the Swedish Fracture Register from 2011 to 2018. The database was linked to the Swedish Arthroplasty Register and the National Patient Register to obtain information on comorbidity, mortality, and reoperations. Our primary outcome, reoperation, or death at one year was analyzed using restricted mean survival time, which gives the mean time to either event for each group separately. Results. Overall, 3,909 patients presenting with uFNFs were included. Of these patients, 3,604 were treated with IF and 305 with primary arthroplasty. There were no relevant differences in age, sex, or comorbidities between groups. In the IF group 58% received cannulated screws and 39% hook pins. In the arthroplasty group 81% were treated with hemiarthroplasty and 19% with total hip arthroplasty. At one year, 32% were dead or had been reoperated in both groups. The reoperation-free survival time over one year of follow-up was 288 days (95% confidence interval (CI) 284 to 292) in the IF group and 279 days (95% CI 264 to 295) in the arthroplasty group, with p = 0.305 for the difference. Mortality was 26% in the IF group and 31% in the arthroplasty group at one year. Reoperation rates were 7.1% in the IF group and 2.3% in the arthroplasty group. Conclusion. In older patients with a uFNF, reoperation-free survival at one year seems similar, regardless of whether IF or arthroplasty is the primary surgery. However, this comparison depends on the choice of follow-up time in that reoperations were more common after IF. In contrast, we found more
National hip fracture registries audit similar aspects of care but there is variation in the actual data collected; these differences restrict international comparison, benchmarking, and research. The Fragility Fracture Network (FFN) published a revised minimum common dataset (MCD) in 2022 to improve consistency and interoperability. Our aim was to assess compatibility of existing registries with the MCD. We compared 17 hip fracture registries covering 20 countries (Argentina; Australia and New Zealand; China; Denmark; England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; Germany; Holland; Ireland; Japan; Mexico; Norway; Pakistan; the Philippines; Scotland; South Korea; Spain; and Sweden), setting each of these against the 20 core and 12 optional fields of the MCD.Aims
Methods
Total femoral arthroplasty (TFA) is a rare procedure used in cases of significant femoral bone loss, commonly from cancer, infection, and trauma. Low patient numbers have resulted in limited published work on long-term outcomes, and even less regarding TFA undertaken for non-oncological indications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of all TFAs in our unit. Data were collected retrospectively from a large tertiary referral revision arthroplasty unit’s database. Inclusion criteria included all patients who underwent TFA in our unit. Preoperative demographics, operative factors, and short- and long-term outcomes were collected for analysis. Outcome was defined using the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) outcome reporting tool.Aims
Methods
Hip fracture commonly affects the frailest patients, of whom many are care-dependent, with a disproportionate risk of contracting COVID-19. We examined the impact of COVID-19 infection on hip fracture mortality in England. We conducted a cohort study of patients with hip fracture recorded in the National Hip Fracture Database between 1 February 2019 and 31 October 2020 in England. Data were linked to Hospital Episode Statistics to quantify patient characteristics and comorbidities, Office for National Statistics mortality data, and Public Health England’s SARS-CoV-2 testing results. Multivariable Cox regression examined determinants of 90-day mortality. Excess mortality attributable to COVID-19 was quantified using Quasi-Poisson models.Aims
Methods
Single-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) is gaining popularity in treating chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). We have introduced this approach to our clinical practice and sought to evaluate rates of reinfection and re-revision, along with predictors of failure of both single- and two-stage rTKA for chronic PJI. A retrospective comparative cohort study of all rTKAs for chronic PJI between 1 April 2003 and 31 December 2018 was undertaken using prospective databases. Patients with acute infections were excluded; rTKAs were classified as single-stage, stage 1, or stage 2 of two-stage revision. The primary outcome measure was failure to eradicate or recurrent infection. Variables evaluated for failure by regression analysis included age, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, infecting organisms, and the presence of a sinus. Patient survivorship was also compared between the groups.Aims
Methods
Many patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have severe osteoarthritis (OA) in both knees and may consider either simultaneous or staged bilateral TKA. The implications of simultaneous versus staged bilateral TKA for return to work are not well understood. We hypothesized that employed patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA would have significantly fewer days missed from work compared with the sum of days missed from each operation for patients who underwent staged bilateral TKA. The prospective arthroplasty registry at the Hospital for Special Surgery was used. Baseline characteristics and patient-reported outcome scores were evaluated. We used a linear regression model, adjusting for potential confounding variables including age, sex, preoperative BMI, and type of work (sedentary, moderate, high activity, or strenuous), to analyze time lost from work after simultaneous compared with staged bilateral TKA.Aims
Methods
The success rates of two-stage revision arthroplasty for infection have evolved since their early description. The implementation of internationally accepted outcome criteria led to the readjustment of such rates. However, patients who do not undergo reimplantation are usually set aside from these calculations. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of two-stage revision arthroplasty when considering those who do not undergo reimplantation, and to investigate the characteristics of this subgroup. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients with chronic hip or knee periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) treated with two-stage revision between January 2010 and October 2018, with a minimum follow-up of one year, were included. Variables including demography, morbidity, microbiology, and outcome were collected. The primary endpoint was the eradication of infection. Patients who did not undergo reimplantation were analyzed in order to characterize this subgroup better.Aims
Methods
We studied the safety and efficacy of multimodal thromboprophylaxis in patients with a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) who undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) within the first 120 postoperative days, and the mortality during the first year. Multimodal prophylaxis includes discontinuation of procoagulant medications, VTE risk stratification, regional anaesthesia, an intravenous bolus of unfractionated heparin prior to femoral preparation, rapid mobilization, the use of pneumatic compression devices, and chemoprophylaxis tailored to the patient’s risk of VTE. Between 2004 to 2018, 257 patients with a proven history of VTE underwent 277 primary elective THA procedures by two surgeons at a single institution. The patients had a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (186, 67%), pulmonary embolism (PE) (43, 15.5%), or both (48, 17.5%). Chemoprophylaxis included aspirin (38 patients), anticoagulation (215 patients), or a combination of aspirin and anticoagulation (24 patients). A total of 50 patients (18%) had a vena cava filter in situ at the time of surgery. Patients were followed for 120 days to record complications, and for one year to record mortality.Aims
Methods
Aims. The early mortality in patients with hip fractures from bony metastases is unknown. The objectives of this study were to quantify 30- and 90-day mortality in patients with proximal femoral metastases, and to create a mortality prediction tool based on biomarkers associated with
There is not adequate evidence to establish whether external
fixation (EF) of pelvic fractures leads to a reduced mortality.
We used the Japan Trauma Data Bank database to identify isolated
unstable pelvic ring fractures to exclude the possibility of blood
loss from other injuries, and analyzed the effectiveness of EF on
mortality in this group of patients. This was a registry-based comparison of 1163 patients who had
been treated for an isolated unstable pelvic ring fracture with
(386 patients) or without (777 patients) EF. An isolated pelvic
ring fracture was defined by an Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) for
other injuries of <
3. An unstable pelvic ring fracture was defined
as having an AIS ≥ 4. The primary outcome of this study was mortality.
A subgroup analysis was carried out for patients who required blood
transfusion within 24 hours of arrival in the Emergency Department
and those who had massive blood loss (AIS code: 852610.5). Propensity-score
matching was used to identify a cohort like the EF and non-EF groups.Aim
Patients and Methods
This study investigates the reporting of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients following hip fracture. We compare the relative merits and make recommendations for the use for two methods of measuring HRQoL; (i) including patients who died during follow-up and (ii) including survivors only. The World Hip Trauma Evaluation has previously reported changes in HRQoL using EuroQol-5D for patients with hip fractures. We performed additional analysis to investigate the effect of including or excluding those patients who died during the first four months of the follow-up period.Objectives
Methods
Aims. To address the natural history of severe post-tuberculous (TB)
kyphosis, with focus upon the long-term neurological outcome, occurrence
of restrictive lung disease, and the effect on life expectancy. . Patients and Methods. This is a retrospective clinical review of prospectively collected
imaging data based at a single institute. A total of 24 patients
of Southern Chinese origin who presented with spinal TB with a mean
of 113° of kyphosis (65° to 159°) who fulfilled inclusion criteria
were reviewed. Plain radiographs were used to assess the degree
of spinal deformity. Myelography, CT and MRI were used when available
to assess the integrity of the spinal cord and canal. Patient demographics,
age of onset of spinal TB and interventions, types of surgical procedure,
intra- and post-operative complications, and neurological status
were assessed. . Results. All except one of the 24 patients were treated with anti-TB chemotherapy
when they were first diagnosed with spinal TB. They subsequently
received surgery either for neurological deterioration, or deformity
correction in later life. The mean follow-up was 34 years (11 to
59) since these surgical interventions. Some 16 patients (66.7%) suffered
from late neurological deterioration at a mean of 26 years (8 to
49) after the initial drug treatment. The causes of neurological
deterioration were healed disease in nine patients (56.2%),
re-activation in six patients (37.5%) and adjacent level spinal
stenosis in one patient (6.3%). The result of surgery was worse
in healed disease. Eight patients without neurological deterioration
received surgery to correct the kyphosis. The mean correction ranged
from 97° to 72°. Three patients who were clinically quiescent with
no neurological deterioration were found to have active TB of the
spine. Solid fusion was achieved in all cases and no patient suffered
from neurological deterioration after 42 years of follow-up. On
final follow-up, six patients were noted to have deceased (age range:
47 years to 75 years). Conclusion. Our study presents one of the longest assessments of spinal TB
with severe kyphosis. Severe post-TB kyphosis may lead to significant
health problems many years following the initial drug treatment.
Early surgical correction of the kyphosis, solid fusion and regular
surveillance may avoid late complications. Paraplegia, restrictive
lung disease and early onset kyphosis might relate to
Periprosthetic fracture is a significant complication of total
hip and knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to describe the survival
of patients sustaining periprosthetic femoral fractures and compare
this with that of the general population, as well as to identify
the factors that influence survival. A total of 151 patients (women: men 116:35, mean age 74.6 years,
standard deviation 11.5) that sustained a periprosthetic fracture
between January 2005 and October 2012 were retrospectively analysed.
Epidemiological data, comorbidities, type of surgical management,
type of implant, and mortality data were studied.Aims
Patients and Methods
It is widely held that most Baker’s cysts resolve after treatment
of the intra-articular knee pathology. The present study aimed to
evaluate the fate of Baker’s cysts and their associated symptoms
after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In this prospective cohort study, 102 patients with (105 were
included, however three were lost to follow-up) an MRI-verified
Baker’s cyst, primary osteoarthritis and scheduled for TKA were
included. Ultrasound was performed to evaluate the existence and
the gross size of the cyst before and at one year after TKA. Additionally,
associated symptoms of Baker's cyst were recorded pre- and post-operatively.Aims
Patients and Methods
We undertook a prospective non-randomised radiological study
to evaluate the preliminary results of using magnetically-controlled
growing rods (MAGEC System, Ellipse technology) to treat children
with early-onset scoliosis. Between January 2011 and January 2015, 19 children were treated
with magnetically-controlled growing rods (MCGRs) and underwent
distraction at three-monthly intervals. The mean age of our cohort
was 9.1 years (4 to 14) and the mean follow-up 22.4 months (5.1
to 35.2). Of the 19 children, eight underwent conversion from traditional growing
rods. Whole spine radiographs were carried out pre- and post-operatively:
image intensification was used during each lengthening in the outpatient
department. The measurements evaluated were Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis,
proximal junctional kyphosis and spinal growth from T1 to S1.Aims
Patients and Methods
Many different designs of total hip arthroplasty
(THA) with varying performance and cost are available. The identification
of those which are the most cost-effective could allow significant
cost-savings. We used an established Markov model to examine the
cost effectiveness of five frequently used categories of THA which differed
according to bearing surface and mode of fixation, using data from
the National Joint Registry for England and Wales. Kaplan–Meier
analyses of rates of revision for men and women were modelled with
parametric distributions. Costs of devices were provided by the
NHS Supply Chain and associated costs were taken from existing studies.
Lifetime costs, lifetime quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs) and
the probability of a device being cost effective at a willingness
to pay £20 000/QALY were included in the models. The differences in QALYs between different categories of implant
were extremely small (<
 0.0039 QALYs for men or women over the
patient’s lifetime) and differences in cost were also marginal (£2500
to £3000 in the same time period). As a result, the probability
of any particular device being the most cost effective was very
sensitive to small, plausible changes in quality of life estimates
and cost. Our results suggest that available evidence does not support
recommending a particular device on cost effectiveness grounds alone.
We would recommend that the choice of prosthesis should be determined
by the rate of revision, local costs and the preferences of the
surgeon and patient. Cite this article:
We report the incidence of and risk factors for
complications after scoliosis surgery in patients with Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD) and compare them with those of other neuromuscular
conditions. We identified 110 (64 males, 46 females) consecutive patients
with a neuromuscular disorder who underwent correction of the scoliosis
at a mean age of 14 years (7 to 19) and had a minimum two-year follow-up.
We recorded demographic and peri-operative data, including complications
and re-operations. There were 60 patients with cerebral palsy (54.5%) and 26 with
DMD (23.6%). The overall complication rate was 22% (24 patients),
the most common of which were deep wound infection (9, 8.1%), gastrointestinal
complications (5, 4.5%) and hepatotoxicity (4, 3.6%). The complication
rate was higher in patients with DMD (10/26, 38.5%) than in those
with other neuromuscular conditions (14/84, 16.7% (p = 0.019). All
hepatotoxicity occurred in patients with DMD (p = 0.003), who also
had an increased rate of deep wound infection (19% In our series, correction of a neuromuscular scoliosis had an
acceptable rate of complications: patients with DMD had an increased
overall rate compared with those with other neuromuscular conditions.
These included deep wound infection and hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity
was unique to DMD patients, and we recommend peri-operative vigilance
after correction of a scoliosis in this group. Cite this article:
We compared a new fixation system, the Targon
Femoral Neck (TFN) hip screw, with the current standard treatment of
cannulated screw fixation. This was a single-centre, participant-blinded,
randomised controlled trial. Patients aged 65 years and over with
either a displaced or undisplaced intracapsular fracture of the
hip were eligible. The primary outcome was the risk of revision
surgery within one year of fixation. A total of 174 participants were included in the trial. The absolute
reduction in risk of revision was of 4.7% (95% CI 14.2 to 22.5)
in favour of the TFN hip screw (chi-squared test, p = 0.741), which
was less than the pre-specified level of minimum clinically important
difference. There were no significant differences in any of the
secondary outcome measures. We found no evidence of a clinical difference in the risk of
revision surgery between the TFN hip screw and cannulated screw
fixation for patients with an intracapsular fracture of the hip. Cite this article:
Ancient Egypt was a highly developed agrarian society with a massive civil engineering capability. Trauma and skeletal disease were common and vestiges of the evidence for that survive, largely in the form of hieratic images and papyri dedicated to the practice of medicine. The earliest treatise on trauma is the
We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with Friedreich’s
ataxia and scoliosis. There were 24Â males and seven females with
a mean age at presentation of 15.5 years (8.6 to 30.8) and a mean
curve of 51° (13° to 140°). A total of 12 patients had thoracic
curvatures, 11 had thoracolumbar and eight had double thoracic/lumbar.
Two patients had long thoracolumbar collapsing scoliosis with pelvic
obliquity and four had hyperkyphosis. Left-sided thoracic curves in
nine patients (45%) and increased thoracic kyphosis differentiated
these deformities from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. There were
17 patients who underwent a posterior instrumented spinal fusion
at mean age of 13.35 years, which achieved and maintained good correction
of the deformity. Post-operative complications included one death due
to cardiorespiratory failure, one revision to address nonunion and
four patients with proximal junctional kyphosis who did not need
extension of the fusion. There were no neurological complications
and no wound infections. The rate of progression of the scoliosis
in children kept under simple observation and those treated with bracing
was less for lumbar curves during bracing and similar for thoracic
curves. The scoliosis progressed in seven of nine children initially
treated with a brace who later required surgery. Two patients presented
after skeletal maturity with balanced curves not requiring correction.
Three patients with severe deformities who would benefit from corrective
surgery had significant cardiac co-morbidities.
We report the general mortality rate after total
knee replacement and identify independent predictors of survival. We
studied 2428 patients: there were 1127 men (46%) and 1301 (54%)
women with a mean age of 69.3 years (28 to 94). Patients were allocated
a predicted life expectancy based on their age and gender. There were 223 deaths during the study period. This represented
an overall survivorship of 99% (95% confidence interval (CI) 98
to 99) at one year, 90% (95% CI 89 to 92) at five years, and 84%
(95% CI 82 to 86) at ten years. There was no difference in survival
by gender. A greater mortality rate was associated with increasing
age (p <
0.001), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
grade (p <
0.001), smoking (p <
0.001), body mass index (BMI)
<
 20 kg/m2 (p <
0.001) and rheumatoid arthritis
(p <
0.001). Multivariate modelling confirmed the independent
effect of age, ASA grade, BMI, and rheumatoid disease on mortality.
Based on the predicted average mortality, 114 patients were predicted
to have died, whereas 217Â actually died. This resulted in an overall
excess standardised mortality ratio of 1.90. Patient mortality after
TKR is predicted by their demographics: these could be used to assign
an individual mortality risk after surgery.
High energy fractures of the pelvis are a challenging problem both in the immediate post-injury phase and later when definitive fixation is undertaken. No single management algorithm can be applied because of associated injuries and the wide variety of trauma systems that have evolved around the world. Initial management is aimed at saving life and this is most likely to be achieved with an approach that seeks to identify and treat life-threatening injuries in order of priority. Early mortality after a pelvic fracture is most commonly due to major haemorrhage or catastrophic brain injury. In this article we review the role of pelvic binders, angiographic embolisation, pelvic packing, early internal fixation and blood transfusion with regard to controlling haemorrhage. Definitive fixation seeks to prevent deformity and reduce complications. We believe this should be undertaken by specialist surgeons in a hospital resourced, equipped and staffed to manage the whole spectrum of major trauma. We describe the most common modes of internal fixation by injury type and review the factors that influence delayed mortality, adverse functional outcome, sexual dysfunction and venous thromboembolism.
We retrospectively evaluated 18 patients with a mean age of 37.3 years (14 to 72) who had undergone pelvic reconstruction stabilised with a non-vascularised fibular graft after resection of a primary bone tumour. The mean follow-up was 10.14 years (2.4 to 15.7). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score was 76.5% (50% to 100%). Primary union was achieved in the majority of reconstructions within a mean of 22.9 weeks (7 to 60.6). The three patients with delayed or nonunion all received additional therapy (chemotherapy/radiation) (p = 0.0162). The complication rate was comparable to that of other techniques described in the literature. Non-vascularised fibular transfer to the pelvis is a simpler, cheaper and quicker procedure than other currently described techniques. It is a biological reconstruction with good results and a relatively low donor site complication rate. However, adjuvant therapy can negatively affect the outcome of such grafts.
Skeletal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma are highly destructive vascular lesions which severely reduce the quality of life. Pre-existing liver cirrhosis presents unique challenges during the surgical management of such lesions. We carried out a retrospective study of 42 patients who had been managed surgically for skeletal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma affecting the appendicular skeleton between January 2000 and December 2006. There were 38 men and four women with a mean age of 60.2 years (46 to 77). Surgery for a pathological fracture was undertaken in 30 patients and because of a high risk of fracture in 12. An intralesional surgical margin was achieved in 36 and a wide margin in six. Factors influencing survival were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses. The survival rates at one, two and three years after surgery were 42.2%, 25.8% and 19.8%, respectively. The median survival time was ten months (95% confidence interval 6.29 to 13.71). The number of skeletal metastases and the Child-Pugh grade were identified as independent prognostic factors by Cox regression analysis. The method of management of the hepatocellular carcinoma, its status in the liver, the surgical margin for skeletal metastases, the presence of a pathological fracture and adjuvant radiotherapy were not found to be significantly related to the survival of the patient, which was affected by hepatic function, as represented by the Child-Pugh grade.
We wished to determine whether simultaneous bilateral sequential total knee replacement (TKR) carried increased rates of mortality and complications compared with unilateral TKR in low- and high-risk patients. Our study included 2385 patients who had undergone bilateral sequential TKR under one anaesthetic and 719 who had unilateral TKR. There were no significant pre-operative differences between the groups in terms of age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, diagnosis, comorbidity and duration of follow-up, which was a mean of 10.2 years (5 to 14) in the bilateral and 10.4 years (5 to 14) in the unilateral group. The peri-operative mortality rate (eight patients, 0.3%) of patients who had bilateral sequential TKR was similar to that (five patients, 0.7%) of those undergoing unilateral TKR. In bilateral cases the peri-operative mortality rate (three patients, 0.4%) of patients at high risk was similar to that (five patients, 0.3%) of patients at low risk as it was also in unilateral cases (two patients, 1.0% vs three patients, 0.6%). There was no significant difference (p = 0.735) in either the overall number of major complications between bilateral and unilateral cases or between low- (p = 0.57) and high-risk (p = 0.61) patients. Also, the overall number of minor complications was not significantly different between the bilateral and unilateral group (p = 0.143). Simultaneous bilateral sequential TKR can be offered to patients at low and high risk and has an expected rate of complications similar to that of unilateral TKR.
Thromboprophylaxis after elective orthopaedic surgery remains controversial. Recent guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have suggested that low molecular weight heparin should be given to all patients undergoing total hip replacement. The British Orthopaedic Association is currently debating this guideline with NICE, as it is not clear whether published evidence supports this view. We present the early mortality in our unit after total hip replacement using aspirin as chemical thromboprophylaxis. The 30-day and 90-day mortality after primary total hip arthroplasty was zero. We compare this with that reported previously from our unit without using chemical thromboprophylaxis. With the introduction of routine aspirin thromboprophylaxis, deaths from cardiovascular causes have dropped from 0.75% to zero. These results demonstrate that there is a strong argument for the routine administration of aspirin after elective total hip replacement.
The clinical results of bilateral total knee replacement staged at a one-week interval during a single hospital admission were compared with bilateral total knee replacements performed under the same anaesthetic and with bilateral total knee replacements performed during two separate admissions. The data were retrospectively reviewed. All operations had been performed by the same surgeon using the same design of prosthesis at a single institution. The operative time and length of stay for the one-week staged group were comparable with those of the separate admission group but longer than for the patients treated under one anaesthetic. There was a low rate of complications and good clinical outcome in all groups at a mean follow-up of four years (1 to 7.2). The group staged at a one-week interval had the least blood loss (p = 0.004). With appropriate patient selection, bilateral total knee replacement performed under a single anaesthetic, or staged at a one-week interval, is a safe and effective method to treat bilateral arthritis of the knee.
We reviewed retrospectively the results in 211 consecutive patients who had undergone limb salvage for bone neoplasia with endoprosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur (96), distal femur (78), proximal tibia (30) and total femur (7). Their mean age was 50 years (11 to 86) and the mean follow-up period was 37.3 months (1 to 204). A total of 35 (16.6%) prostheses failed. Overall, implant survival was 78% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29 to 0.54) at five years, 60% (95% CI 0.93 to 2.35) at ten years and 60% (95% CI 1.27 to 3.88) at 15 years. Survivorship of the limb was 97.6% (95% CI 1.73 to 3.35) at ten years. The gender, age, diagnosis and location of the tumour were not prognostic variables for failure. Modular endoprosthetic replacement in the lower limb is a durable long-term reconstructive option, with the implants generally outlasting the patient.
We have reviewed 41 patients with malignant extradural tumours of the spine treated by anterior decompression for cord compression, or uncontrolled back pain or both. An anterior operation alone was performed in 37 cases, four had combined or staged anterior and posterior decompression. An anterior operation on its own achieved major neurological recovery in 18 of the 33 cases with neurological loss (56%); only four remained unchanged. Eleven had minor improvement but not enough to allow them to walk or to regain bladder function. No patient with complete paraplegia gained a useful neurological recovery. Back pain was improved in 30 of the 41 patients (73%), sound internal fixation being important in this respect. There were four
Complete fractures through bone affected by Paget's disease may not deserve their innocent reputation. This retrospective study of 182 such femoral fractures, the largest reported series to date, was carried out to discover the behaviour of these fractures in the absence of specific therapy for the Paget's disease. Most previous series have concluded that healing is uneventful but the findings in these patients from the West Midlands do not bear this out. After exclusion of the
1. Chronic tuberculous osseous lesions were induced consistently in eight- to ten-week-old unvaccinated guinea-pigs by the insertion of Gelfoam impregnated with mycobacterium tuberculosis into the metaphysial region through a drill hole in the distal part of the femur. Typical tuberculous lesions developed by three weeks and many of them were followed for twelve weeks or more. 2. This experimental model establishes a reliable method of producing a localised lesion at a predetermined site without
1. Of fifty consecutive double hemiarthroplasties of the knee for rheumatoid arthritis using Maclntosh prostheses, forty-six were available for detailed assessment in thirty-six patients after one to six years. 2. Two