1. The Moe plate has been used in 256 of 270 consecutive intertrochanteric fractures of the femur. There was an operative mortality of l8·8 per cent and an overall mortality of 20·7 per cent in a group averaging 75·2 years of age. 2. The method proved satisfactory, giving secure fixation and also approximation of the fragments by the lag action of the three large screws driven into the head. There was only one case of non-union. 3. In the survivors anatomical and functional results have been satisfactory in about 70 per cent, with half of these showing full functional recovery and the other half requiring only occasional use of a stick or crutch. 4. There are a few intertrochanteric fractures of the femur too comminuted for any form of internal fixation. Traction should be used in this group. 5. A varus deformity developed in about one half of the cases. This is consistent with a good functional result. 6. The main difficulty in these aged people has been survival. The problems have been discussed with suggestions that may perhaps reduce in part a mortality that seems inherent in this
Fractures of the hip in children have been associated with a very high rate of serious complications including avascular necrosis (up to 47%) and coxa vara (up to 32%). Over a period of 20 years, we have treated displaced fractures by early anatomical reduction, internal fixation and immobilisation in a spica cast to try to reduce these complications. We have reviewed 18 patients who had a displaced non-pathological fracture of the hip when under 16 years of age. Their mean age at the time of the
We aimed to quantify the relative contributions of the medial
femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) and lateral femoral circumflex
artery (LFCA) to the arterial supply of the head and neck of the
femur. We acquired ten cadaveric pelvises. In each of these, one hip
was randomly assigned as experimental and the other as a matched
control. The MFCA and LFCA were cannulated bilaterally. The hips
were designated LFCA-experimental or MFCA-experimental and underwent
quantitative MRI using a 2 mm slice thickness before and after injection
of MRI-contrast diluted 3:1 with saline (15 ml Gd-DTPA) into either
the LFCA or MFCA. The contralateral control hips had 15 ml of contrast
solution injected into the root of each artery. Next, the MFCA and
LFCA were injected with a mixture of polyurethane and barium sulfate
(33%) and their extra-and intra-arterial course identified by CT
imaging and dissection.Aims
Materials and Methods
We performed a retrospective, comparative study of elderly patients
with an increased risk from anaesthesia who had undergone either
anterior screw fixation (ASF) or halo vest immobilisation (HVI)
for a type II odontoid fracture. A total of 80 patients aged 65 years or more who had undergone
either ASF or HVI for a type II odontoid fracture between 1988 and
2013 were reviewed. There were 47 women and 33 men with a mean age
of 73 (65 to 96; standard deviation 7). All had an American Society
of Anesthesiologists score of 2 or more.Aims
Patients and Methods
Hip hemiarthroplasty is a standard treatment for intracapsular
proximal femoral fractures in the frail elderly. In this study we
have explored the implications of early return to theatre, within
30 days, on patient outcome following hip hemiarthroplasty. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of all hip hemiarthroplasties
performed in our unit between January 2010 and January 2015. Demographic
details, medical backround, details of the primary procedure, complications,
subsequent procedures requiring return to theatre, re-admissions,
discharge destination and death were collected.Aims
Patients and Methods
Neglected fractures of the femoral neck, common in young adults in underdeveloped countries, may be complicated by nonunion or avascular necrosis (AVN). We treated 52 cases by open reduction, fixation by compression screw and a free fibular graft. The mean delay between
The aim of this double-blind prospective randomised controlled
trial was to assess whether low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS)
accelerated or enhanced the rate of bone healing in adult patients
undergoing distraction osteogenesis. A total of 62 adult patients undergoing limb lengthening or bone
transport by distraction osteogenesis were randomised to treatment
with either an active (n = 32) or a placebo (n = 30) ultrasound
device. A standardised corticotomy was performed in the proximal
tibial metaphysis and a circular Ilizarov frame was used in all
patients. The rate of distraction was also standardised. The primary
outcome measure was the time to removal of the frame after adjusting
for the length of distraction in days/cm for both the per protocol
(PP) and the intention-to-treat (ITT) groups. The assessor was blinded
to the form of treatment. A secondary outcome was to identify covariates affecting
the time to removal of the frame.Aims
Patients and Methods
External fixators are the traditional fixation method of choice for contaminated open fractures. However, patient acceptance is low due to the high profile and therefore physical burden of the constructs. An externalised locking compression plate is a low profile alternative. However, the biomechanical differences have not been assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the axial and torsional stiffness of the externalised titanium locking compression plate (ET-LCP), the externalised stainless steel locking compression plate (ESS-LCP) and the unilateral external fixator (UEF). A fracture gap model was created to simulate comminuted mid-shaft tibia fractures using synthetic composite bones. Fifteen constructs were stabilised with ET-LCP, ESS-LCP or UEF (five constructs each). The constructs were loaded under both axial and torsional directions to determine construct stiffness.Objectives
Methods
We reviewed the results of 13 adults of secondary reconstruction of malunited and ununited intraarticular distal humeral fractures. Their average age was 39.7 years, and preoperatively all had pain, loss of motion and functional disability; the average arc of motion was only 43 degrees and the average flexion contracture was 45 degrees. Nine patients had ulnar neuropathy. Elbow reconstruction, at an average of 13.4 months after the original
Using a dynamic biomechanical model of malunion of the shoulder, we have determined the change in deltoid force required for abduction with various combinations of superior and posterior displacement of fractures of the greater tuberosity of the humerus. We tested eight fresh human cadaver shoulders in a dynamic shoulder-testing apparatus during cycles of glenohumeral abduction from 0° to 90°. The greater tuberosities were osteotomised and stabilised to represent malunion with combinations of superior and posterior displacements of 1 cm and less. The peak force was measured for each displacement in each specimen and statistically compared with values of no displacement using a repeated-measures analysis of variance. The abduction force was significantly increased by 16% (p = 0.006) and 27% (p = 0.0001) by superior displacements of 0.5 cm and 1 cm, respectively, while combined superior and posterior displacement of 1 cm gave an increase in force of 29% (p = 0.001). While treatment criteria for acceptable residual displacement of the greater tuberosity are widely used, there is little information on the direct biomechanical effects of displacement on shoulder mechanics. Although the results of conservative treatment are influenced by a number of factors, including associated
We studied the outcome and functional status of 33 patients with 34 severe open tibial fractures (Gustilo grade IIIb and IIIc). The treatment regime consisted of radical debridement, immediate bony stabilisation and early soft-tissue cover using a muscle flap (free or rotational). The review included standardised assessments of health-related quality of life (SF-36 and Euroqol) and measurement of the following parameters: gait, the use of walking aids, limb-length discrepancy, knee and ankle joint function, muscle wasting and the cosmetic appearance of the limb. Personal comments and overall patient satisfaction were also recorded. The mean follow-up was 46 months (15 to 80). There were 30 Gustilo grade IIIb fractures and and four grade IIIc fractures. Of the 33 patients, 29 had primary internal fixation and four, external fixation; 11 (34%) later required further surgery to achieve union and two needed bone transport procedures to reconstruct large segmental defects. The mean time to union was 41 weeks (12 to 104). Two patients (6.1%) developed deep infection; both resolved with treatment. The mean SF-36 physical and mental scores were 49 and 62 respectively. The mean state of health score for the Euroqol was 68. Patients with isolated tibial fractures had a better outcome than those with other associated
Fractures around total knee arthroplasties pose
a significant surgical challenge. Most can be managed with osteosynthesis
and salvage of the replacement. The techniques of fixation of these
fractures and revision surgery have evolved and so has the assessment
of outcome. This specialty update summarises the current evidence
for the classification, methods of fixation, revision surgery and
outcomes of the management of periprosthetic fractures associated
with total knee arthroplasty. Cite this article:
A prospective study was made of 100 knees which had been operated on for various kinds of internal derangement. An observer, who did not know the clinical condition of the knee, recorded whether or not there were articular lesions of the femoral condyles. Lesions were found to be localised to a triangular area on the medial condyle and to a strip on the lateral condyle. Similar lesions have been described in association with flexion deformities in rheumatoid and osteoarthritic knees. Lesions were found in 49 out of 50 knees which had been locked for more than three days. They were also found in 29 knees in which there appeared to be full extension before operation, but where there was either a torn meniscus with a history of intermittent locking or serious anterolateral instability. In these cases it was considered that the final "screw-home" mechanism of full extension had been lost. Lesions were not present in 10 knees which appeared locked, but in nine of these the interval between
Osteomalacia may be a contributory factor in some patients in the development of fractures of the femoral neck and complicate the subsequent management. The level of serum alkaline phosphatase is often valuable in the diagnosis of metabolic bone disease but rises after any uncomplicated fracture, and since such a rise may limit the diagnostic usefulness of this measurement in detecting osteomalacia its extent was assessed in 106 patients. In the majority serum levels were normal on admission, rising after seven to nine days to reach a maximum within a month after fracture. Elevated levels on admission were found in patients with osteomalacia, liver damage or where there had been a delay of several weeks between
1. Absence of a thumb, whether congenital or due to
Sarcoma complicating Paget's disease is uncommon; ninety-five cases have been collected and seven further cases are now reported. Sarcoma probably complicates less than 2 per cent of all cases of Paget's disease. There is a relatively high incidence in males, especially in the sixth decade, whereas bone sarcoma over the age of fifty years without osteitis deformans is rare.