The management of fractures of the medial epicondyle is one of the greatest controversies in paediatric fracture care, with uncertainty concerning the need for surgery. The British Society of Children’s Orthopaedic Surgery prioritized this as their most important research question in paediatric trauma. This is the protocol for a randomized controlled, multicentre, prospective superiority trial of operative fixation versus nonoperative treatment for displaced medial epicondyle fractures: the Surgery or Cast of the EpicoNdyle in Children’s Elbows (SCIENCE) trial. Children aged seven to 15 years old inclusive, who have sustained a displaced fracture of the medial epicondyle, are eligible to take part. Baseline function using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) upper limb score, pain measured using the Wong Baker FACES pain scale, and quality of life (QoL) assessed with the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire for younger patients (EQ-5D-Y) will be collected. Each patient will be randomly allocated (1:1, stratified using a minimization algorithm by centre and initial elbow dislocation status (i.e. dislocated or not-dislocated at presentation to the emergency department)) to either a regimen of the operative fixation or non-surgical treatment.Aims
Methods
Registry studies on modified acetabular polyethylene (PE) liner designs are limited. We investigated the influence of standard and modified PE acetabular liner designs on the revision rate for mechanical complications in primary cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA). We analyzed 151,096 primary cementless THAs from the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD) between November 2012 and November 2020. Cumulative incidence of revision for mechanical complications for standard and four modified PE liners (lipped, offset, angulated/offset, and angulated) was determined using competing risk analysis at one and seven years. Confounders were investigated with a Cox proportional-hazards model.Aims
Methods
To investigate whether idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is related to impaired osteoblast activities. We cultured osteoblasts isolated from trabecular bone explants taken from the femoral head and the intertrochanteric region of patients with idiopathic ONFH, or from the intertrochanteric region of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and compared their viability, mineralization capacity, and secretion of paracrine factors.Aims
Methods
Displaced distal radius fractures were investigated at a level 1 major trauma centre during the COVID-19 2020 lockdown due to the implementation of temporary changes in practice. The primary aim was to establish if follow-up at one week in place of the 72-hour British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma & Orthopaedics (BOAST) guidance was safe following manipulation under anaesthetic. A parallel adaptation during lockdown was the non-expectation of Bier’s block. The secondary aim was to compare clinical outcomes with respect to block type. Overall, 90 patients were assessed in a cross-sectional cohort study using a mixed, retrospective-prospective approach. Consecutive sampling of 30 patients pre-lockdown (P1), 30 during lockdown (P2), and 30 during post-lockdown (P3) was applied. Type of block, operative status, follow-up, and complications were extracted. Primary endpoints were early complications (≤ one week). Secondary endpoints were later complications including malunion, delayed union or osteotomy.Aims
Methods
Recent improvements in surgical technique and perioperative blood management after total joint replacement (TJR) have decreased rates of transfusion. However, as many surgeons transition to outpatient TJR, obtaining routine postoperative blood tests becomes more challenging. Therefore, we sought to determine if a preoperative outpatient assessment tool that stratifies patients based on numerous medical comorbidities could predict who required postoperative haemoglobin (Hb) measurement. We performed a prospective study of consecutive unilateral primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and total hip arthroplasties (THAs) performed at a single institution. Prospectively collected data included preoperative and postoperative Hb levels, need for blood transfusion, length of hospital stay, and Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment (OARA) score.Aims
Methods
Despite advances in the treatment of paediatric hip disease, adolescent and young adult patients can develop early onset end-stage osteoarthritis. The aims of this study were to address the indications and medium-term outcomes for total hip arthroplasty (THA) with ceramic bearings for teenage patients. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon working in the paediatric orthopaedic unit of a tertiary referral hospital. Databases were interrogated from 2003 to 2017 for all teenage patients undergoing THA with a minimum 2.3 year follow-up. Data capture included patient demographics, the underlying hip pathology, number of previous surgeries, and THA prostheses used. Institutional ethical approval was granted to contact patients for prospective clinical outcomes and obtain up-to-date radiographs. In total, 60 primary hips were implanted in 51 patients (35 female, 16 male) with nine bilateral cases. The mean age was 16.7 years (12 to 19) and mean follow-up was 9.3 years (2.3 to 16.8).Aims
Methods
Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic metabolic bone disease characterized by the decrease of bone tissue per unit volume under the combined action of genetic and environmental factors, which leads to the decrease of bone strength, makes the bone brittle, and raises the possibility of bone fracture. However, the exact mechanism that determines the progression of OP remains to be underlined. There are hundreds of trillions of symbiotic bacteria living in the human gut, which have a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with the human body that helps to maintain human health. With the development of modern high-throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms, there has been growing evidence that the gut microbiome may play an important role in the programming of bone metabolism. In the present review, we discuss the potential mechanisms of the gut microbiome in the development of OP, such as alterations of bone metabolism, bone mineral absorption, and immune regulation. The potential of gut microbiome-targeted strategies in the prevention and treatment of OP was also evaluated. Cite this article:
As the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic passes, the challenge shifts to safe resumption of routine medical services, including elective orthopaedic surgery. Protocols including pre-operative self-isolation, COVID-19 testing, and surgery at a non-COVID-19 site have been developed to minimize risk of transmission. Despite this, it is likely that many patients will want to delay surgery for fear of contracting COVID-19. The aim of this study is to identify the number of patients who still want to proceed with planned elective orthopaedic surgery in this current environment. This is a prospective, single surgeon study of 102 patients who were on the waiting list for an elective hip or knee procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline characteristics including age, ASA grade, COVID-19 risk, procedure type, surgical priority, and admission type were recorded. The primary outcome was patient consent to continue with planned surgical care after resumption of elective orthopaedic services. Subgroup analysis was also performed to determine if any specific patient factors influenced the decision to proceed with surgery.Aims
Methods
Aims.
The Precice intramedullary limb-lengthening system has demonstrated significant benefits over external fixation lengthening methods, leading to a paradigm shift in limb lengthening. This study compares outcomes following antegrade and retrograde femoral lengthening in both adolescent and adult patients. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was undertaken of a consecutive series of 107 femoral lengthening operations in 92 patients. In total, 73 antegrade nails and 34 retrograde nails were inserted. Outcome was assessed by the regenerate healing index (HI), hip and knee range of movement (ROM), and the presence of any complications.Aims
Patients and Methods
The purpose of this study was to examine whether leg-length discrepancy (LLD) following unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) affects the incidence of contralateral head collapse and subsequent THA in patients with bilateral osteonecrosis, and to determine factors associated with subsequent collapse. We identified 121 patients with bilateral non-traumatic osteonecrosis who underwent THA between 2003 and 2011 to treat a symptomatic hip, and who also exhibited medium-to-large lesions (necrotic area ≥ 30%) in an otherwise asymptomatic non-operated hip. Of the 121 patients, 71 were male (59%) and 50 were female (41%), with a mean age of 51 years (19 to 71) at the time of initial THA. All patients were followed for at least five years and were assessed according to the presence of a LLD (non-LLD Aims
Patients and Methods
Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head
is a potentially devastating condition, the prevalence of which
is increasing. Many joint-preserving forms of treatment, both medical
and surgical, have been developed in an attempt to slow or reverse
its progression, as it usually affects young patients. However, it is important to evaluate the best evidence that is
available for the many forms of treatment considering the variation
in the demographics of the patients, the methodology and the outcomes
in the studies that have been published, so that it can be used
effectively. The purpose of this review, therefore, was to provide an up-to-date,
evidence-based guide to the management, both non-operative and operative,
of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to compare the pain caused by the application
of a tourniquet after exsanguination of the upper limb with that
occurring after simple elevation. We used 26 healthy volunteers (52 arms), each of whom acted as
their own matched control. The primary outcome measure was the total pain experienced by
each volunteer while the tourniquet was inflated for 20 minutes.
This was calculated as the area under the pain curve for each individual
subject. Secondary outcomes were pain at each time point; the total
pain experienced during the recovery phase; the ability to tolerate the
tourniquet and the time for full recovery after deflation of the
tourniquet. Aims
Patients and Methods
Total hip replacement (THR) still is a rare intervention
in many African countries. In Burkina Faso it is not performed on
a regular basis. A visiting programme for THR was started in a district
hospital with no previous relevant experience. In this paper we
present an analysis of the surgical technical problems and peri-operative
complications of 152 THRs in 136 patients and three bipolar hemiarthroplasties
in three patients undertaken in this new programme with limited
orthopaedic equipment. There were 86 male and 53 female patients
with a mean age of 49 years (21 to 78). We identified 77 intra-operative
technical problems in 51 operations. There were 24 peri-operative complications
in 21 patients, 17 of which were bony in nature. So far, ten revision
THRs have been performed in nine patients. Regular analysis of the technical problems and complications
was used to improve quality, and we identified patient selection
adapted to the local circumstances as important to avoid complications.
Our reflections on the problems encountered in initiating such a
programme may be of help to other teams planning similar projects. Cite this article:
Symptomatic hip osteonecrosis is a disabling
condition with a poorly understood aetiology and pathogenesis. Numerous
treatment options for hip osteonecrosis are described, which include
non-operative management and joint preserving procedures, as well
as total hip replacement (THR). Non-operative or joint preserving
treatment may improve outcomes when an early diagnosis is made before
the lesion has become too large or there is radiographic evidence
of femoral head collapse. The presence of a crescent sign, femoral
head flattening, and acetabular involvement indicate a more advanced-stage
disease in which joint preserving options are less effective than
THR. Since many patients present after disease progression, primary
THR is often the only reliable treatment option available. Prior
to the 1990s, outcomes of THR for osteonecrosis were poor. However,
according to recent reports and systemic reviews, it is encouraging
that with the introduction of newer ceramic and/or highly cross-linked
polyethylene bearings as well as highly-porous fixation interfaces,
THR appears to be a reliable option in the management of end-stage
arthritis following hip osteonecrosis in this historically difficult
to treat patient population. Cite this article: