A retrospective study was performed in 100 children
aged between two and 16 years, with a dorsally angulated stable
fracture of the distal radius or forearm, who were treated with
manipulation in the emergency department (ED) using intranasal diamorphine
and 50% oxygen and nitrous oxide. Pre- and post-manipulation radiographs,
the final radiographs and the clinical notes were reviewed. A successful
reduction was achieved in 90 fractures (90%) and only three children
(3%) required remanipulation and Kirschner wire fixation or internal
fixation. The use of Entonox and intranasal diamorphine is safe and effective
for the closed reduction of a stable paediatric fracture of the
distal radius and forearm in the ED. By facilitating discharge on the same day, there is a substantial
cost benefit to families and the NHS and we recommend this method. Take home message: Simple easily reducible fractures of the distal
radius and forearm in children can be successfully and safely treated
in the ED using this approach, thus avoiding theatre admission and
costly hospital stay. Cite this article:
The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term results
of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in young patients using
either a conventional (CPE) or a highly cross-linked (HXLPE) polyethylene
liner in terms of functional outcome, incidence of osteolysis, radiological
wear and rate of revision. We included all patients between the ages of 45 and 65 years
who, between January 2000 and December 2001, had undergone a primary
THA for osteoarthritis at our hospital using a CPE or HXLPE acetabular
liner and a 28 mm cobalt-chrome femoral head. From a total of 160 patients, 158 (177 hips) were available for
review (CPE 89; XLPE 88). The mean age, body mass index (BMI) and
follow-up in each group were: CPE: 56.8 years (46 to 65); 30.7 kg/m2 (19
to 58); 13.2 years (2.1 to 14.7) and HXLPE: 55.6 years (45 to 65);
BMI: 30 kg/m2 (18 to 51); 13.1 years (5.7 to 14.4).Aims
Methods
Wrist block has been used to provide pain relief
for many procedures on the hand and wrist but its role in arthroscopy
of the wrist remains unexplored. Chondrotoxicity has been a concern
with the intra-articular infiltration of local anaesthetic. We aimed
to evaluate and compare the analgesic effect of portal and wrist
joint infiltration with a wrist block on the pain experienced by
patients after arthroscopy of the wrist. A prospective, randomised, double-blind trial was designed and
patients undergoing arthroscopy of the wrist under general anaesthesia
as a day case were recruited for the study. Levo-bupivacaine was
used for both techniques. The effects were evaluated using a ten-point
visual analogue scale, and the use of analgesic agents was also
compared. The primary outcomes for statistical analyses were the
mean pain scores and the use of analgesia post-operatively. A total of 34 patients (63% females) were recruited to the portal
and joint infiltration group and 32 patients (59% males) to the
wrist block group. Mean age was 40.8 years in the first group and
39.7 years in the second group (p >
0.05). Both techniques provided
effective pain relief in the first hour and 24 hours post-operatively
but wrist block gave better pain scores at bedtime on the day of
surgery (p = 0.007) and at 24 hours post-operatively (p = 0.006). Wrist block provides better and more reliable analgesia in patients
undergoing arthroscopy of the wrist without exposing patients to
the risk of chondrotoxicity. Cite this article:
Between 2002 and 2011, 81 patients with a traumatic total brachial
plexus injury underwent reconstruction by double free muscle transfer
(DFMT, 47 cases), single muscle transfer (SMT, 16 cases) or nerve
transfers (NT, 18 cases). They were evaluated for functional outcome and quality of life
(QoL) using the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire,
both pre- and post-operatively. The three groups were compared and
followed-up for at least 24 months.Aims
Methods
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) may
lead to symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). We report our
experience of arthroscopic treatment, including osteochondroplasty,
for the sequelae of SCFE. Data were prospectively collected on patients undergoing arthroscopy
of the hip for the sequelae of SCFE between March 2007 and February
2013, including demographic data, radiological assessment of the
deformity and other factors that may influence outcome, such as
the presence of established avascular necrosis. Patients completed
the modified Harris hip score (mHHS) and the non-arthritic hip score
(NAHS) before and after surgery. In total, 18 patients with a mean age of 19 years (13 to 42),
were included in the study. All patients presented with pain in
the hip and mechanical symptoms, and had evidence of FAI (cam or
mixed impingement) on plain radiographs. The patients underwent arthroscopic osteoplasty of the femoral
neck. The mean follow-up was 29 months (23 to 56). The mean mHHS and NAHS scores improved from 56.2 (27.5 to 100.1)
and 52.1 (12.5 to 97.5) pre-operatively to 75.1 (33.8 to 96.8, p
= 0.01) and 73.6 (18.8 to 100, p = 0.02) at final follow-up, respectively.
Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant association
between poorer outcome scores and increased time to surgery following SCFE
(p <
0.05 for all parameters except baseline MHHS). Symptomatic FAI following (SCFE) may be addressed using arthroscopic
techniques, and should be treated promptly to minimise progressive
functional impairment and chondrolabral degeneration. Take home message: Arthroscopy of the hip can be used to treat
femoroacetabular impingement successfully following SCFE. However,
this should be performed promptly after presentation in order to
prevent irreversible progression and poorer clinical outcomes. Cite this article:
The National Joint Registry for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
(NJR) has extended its scope to report on hospital, surgeon and
implant performance. Data linkage of the NJR to the London Implant
Retrieval Centre (LIRC) has previously evaluated data quality for
hip primary procedures, but did not assess revision records. We analysed metal-on-metal hip revision procedures performed
between 2003 and 2013. A total of 69 929 revision procedures from
the NJR and 929 revised pairs of components from the LIRC were included.Aims
Methods
The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiological
outcomes of instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF) performed in
patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 40 patients with RA and 134 patients without RA underwent
instrumented PLF for spinal stenosis between January 2003 and December
2011. The two groups were matched for age, gender, bone mineral
density, the history of smoking and diabetes, and number of fusion
segments. The clinical outcomes measures included the visual analogue scale
(VAS) and the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (KODI), scored before
surgery, one year and two years after surgery. Radiological outcomes
were evaluated for problems of fixation, nonunion, and adjacent
segment disease (ASD). The mean follow-up was 36.4 months in the RA
group and 39.1 months in the non-RA group.Aims
Methods
Clinical and radiological data were reviewed for all patients
with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) with thoracolumbar kyphosis managed
non-operatively or operatively in our institution. In all 16 patients were included (eight female: eight male; 50%
male), of whom nine had Hurler, five Morquio and two Hunter syndrome.
Six patients were treated non-operatively (mean age at presentation
of 6.3 years; 0.4 to 12.9); mean kyphotic progression +1.5o/year;
mean follow-up of 3.1 years (1 to 5.1) and ten patients operatively (mean
age at presentation of 4.7 years; 0.9 to 14.4); mean kyphotic progression
10.8o/year; mean follow-up of 8.2 years; 4.8 to 11.8)
by circumferential arthrodesis with posterior instrumentation in
patients with flexible deformities (n = 6).Aims
Methods
This study identifies early risk factors for symptomatic nonunion
of displaced midshaft fractures of the clavicle that aid identification
of an at risk group who may benefit from surgery. We performed a retrospective study of 88 patients aged between
16 and 60 years that were managed non-operatively. Aims
Methods
Between 2005 and 2012, 50 patients (23 female, 27 male) with
nonunion of the humeral shaft were included in this retrospective
study. The mean age was 51.3 years (14 to 88). The patients had
a mean of 1.5 prior operations ( All patients were assessed according to a specific risk score
in order to devise an optimal and individual therapy plan consistent
with the Diamond Concept. In 32 cases (64%), a change in the osteosynthesis
to an angular stable locking compression plate was performed. According
to the individual risk an additional bone graft and/or bone morphogenetic
protein-7 (BMP-7) were applied. A successful consolidation of the nonunion was observed in 37
cases (80.4%) with a median healing time of six months (IQR 6).
Younger patients showed significantly better consolidation. Four
patients were lost to follow-up. Revision was necessary in a total
of eight (16%) cases. In the initial treatment, intramedullary nailing
was most common. Methods
Results
Animal models have been developed that allow simulation of post-traumatic joint contracture. One such model involves contracture-forming surgery followed by surgical capsular release. This model allows testing of antifibrotic agents, such as rosiglitazone. A total of 20 rabbits underwent contracture-forming surgery. Eight weeks later, the animals underwent a surgical capsular release. Ten animals received rosiglitazone (intramuscular initially, then orally). The animals were sacrificed following 16 weeks of free cage mobilisation. The joints were tested biomechanically, and the posterior capsule was assessed histologically and via genetic microarray analysis.Aims
Methods
We evaluated clinical and radiographic outcomes of total shoulder
arthroplasty (TSA) using the second-generation Trabecular Metal
(TM) Glenoid component. The first generation component was withdrawn
in 2005 after a series of failures were reported. Between 2009 and
2012, 40 consecutive patients with unilateral TSA using the second-generation
component were enrolled in this clinical study. The mean age of
the patients was 63.8 years (40 to 75) and the mean follow-up was
38 months (24 to 42). Patients were evaluated using the Constant score (CS), the American
Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and routine radiographs.Aims
Methods
The aims of this study were to report functional
outcomes of salvage procedures for patients with cerebral palsy (CP)
who have chronic dislocation of the hip using validated scoring
systems, and to compare the results of three surgical techniques. We reviewed 37 patients retrospectively. The mean age at the
time of surgery was 12.2 years (8 to 22) and the mean follow-up
was 56 months (24 to 114). Patients were divided into three groups:
14 who underwent proximal femoral resection arthroplasty (PFRA group
1), ten who underwent subtrochanteric valgus osteotomy (SVO group 2),
and 13 who underwent subtrochanteric valgus osteotomy with resection
of the femoral head (SVO with FHR group 3). All patients were evaluated
using the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with
Disabilities (CPCHILD) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory
(PedsQL). Significant improvements occurred in most CPCHILD and PedsQL
subsection scores following surgery in all patients, without significant
differences between the groups. There were 12 post-operative complications.
Less severe complications were seen in group 1 than in groups 2
and 3. Salvage surgery appears to provide pain relief in patients with
CP who have painful chronic dislocation of the hip. The three salvage
procedures produced similar results, however, we recommend the use
of PFRA as the complications are less severe. Take home message: Salvage surgery can be of benefit to patients
with CP with chronic painful hip dislocation, but should be limited
to selected patients considering complications. Cite this article:
Oxidised zirconium was introduced as a material for femoral components
in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as an attempt to reduce polyethylene
wear. However, the long-term survival of this component is not known. We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected
database to assess the ten year survival and clinical and radiological
outcomes of an oxidised zirconium total knee arthroplasty with the
Genesis II prosthesis. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis
Index (WOMAC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)
and a patient satisfaction scale were used to assess outcome.Aims
Methods
Analysis of the morphology of the distal femur, and by extension
of the femoral components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), has
largely been related to the aspect ratio, which represents the width
of the femur. Little is known about variations in trapezoidicity
(i.e. whether the femur is more rectangular or more trapezoidal).
This study aimed to quantify additional morphological characteristics
of the distal femur and identify anatomical features associated
with higher risks of over- or under-sizing of components in TKA. We analysed the shape of 114 arthritic knees at the time of primary
TKA using the pre-operative CT scans. The aspect ratio and trapezoidicity
ratio were quantified, and the post-operative prosthetic overhang
was calculated. We compared the morphological characteristics with
those of 12 TKA models.Aims
Methods
This study compared the quality of reduction
and complication rate when using a standard ilioinguinal approach and
the new pararectus approach when treating acetabular fractures surgically.
All acetabular fractures that underwent fixation using either approach
between February 2005 and September 2014 were retrospectively reviewed
and the demographics of the patients, the surgical details and complications
were recorded. A total of 100 patients (69 men, 31 women; mean age 57 years,
18 to 93) who were consecutively treated were included for analysis.
The quality of reduction was assessed using standardised measurement
of the gaps and steps in the articular surface on pre- and post-operative
CT-scans. There were no significant differences in the demographics of
the patients, the surgical details or the complications between
the two approaches. A significantly better reduction of the gap,
however, was achieved with the pararectus approach (axial: p = 0.025,
coronal: p = 0.013, sagittal: p = 0.001). These data suggest that the pararectus approach is at least equal
to, or in the case of reduction of the articular gap, superior to
the ilioinguinal approach. This approach allows direct buttressing of the dome of the acetabulum
and the quadrilateral plate, which is particularly favourable in
geriatric fracture patterns. Cite this article:
This animal study compares different methods
of performing an osteotomy, including using an Erbium-doped Yttrium
Aluminum Garnet laser, histologically, radiologically and biomechanically.
A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups
(Group I: multihole-drilling; Group II: Gigli saw; Group III: electrical
saw blade and Group IV: laser). A proximal transverse diaphyseal
osteotomy was performed on the right tibias of the rabbits after the
application of a circular external fixator. The rabbits were killed
six weeks after the procedure, the operated tibias were resected
and radiographs taken. The specimens were tested biomechanically using three-point bending
forces, and four tibias from each group were examined histologically.
Outcome parameters were the biomechanical stability of the tibias
as assessed by the failure to load and radiographic and histological
examination of the osteotomy site. The osteotomies healed in all specimens both radiographically
and histologically. The differences in the mean radiographic (p
= 0.568) and histological (p = 0.71) scores, and in the mean failure
loads (p = 0.180) were not statistically significant between the
groups. Different methods of performing an osteotomy give similar quality
of union. The laser osteotomy, which is not widely used in orthopaedics
is an alternative to the current methods. Cite this article:
We have investigated the effect of using tranexamic
acid (TXA) during peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO) on peri-operative
blood loss and blood transfusion requirements. In addition we analysed
whether the use of TXA was associated with an increased risk of
venous thromboembolism (VTE) following this procedure. A consecutive series of 96 PAOs, performed by a single surgeon,
were reviewed. A total of 48 patients received TXA and 48 did not.
The TXA group received a continuous infusion of TXA at a rate of
10 mg/kg/h. The primary outcome measure was the requirement for
blood transfusion. Secondary outcomes included total blood loss,
the decrease in the level of haemoglobin in the blood, the length
of hospital stay, and the complications of this treatment. The mean rate of transfusion was significantly lower in the TXA
group (62.5% The use of TXA reduced the blood loss and the rate of transfusion
after PAO significantly, without adverse effects such as an increased
rate of VTE. Cite this article:
We compared the ceiling effects of two patient-rating
scores, the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and
Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and a physician-rating score,
the Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS) in assessing the outcome of
surgical treatment of an unstable distal radial fracture. A total
of 77 women with a mean age of 64.2 years (50 to 88) who underwent
fixation using a volar locking plate for an unstable distal radial fracture
between 2011 and 2013 were enrolled in this study. All completed
the DASH and PRWE questionnaires one year post-operatively and were
assessed using the MMWS by the senior author. The ceiling effects
in the outcome data assessed for each score were estimated. The data assessed with both patient-rating scores, the DASH and
PRWE, showed substantial ceiling effects, whereas the data assessed
with MMWS showed no ceiling effect. Researchers should be aware of a possible ceiling effect in the
assessment of the outcome of the surgical treatment of distal radial
fractures using patient-rating scores. It could also increase the
likelihood of a type II error. Cite this article:
Excision of the proximal femur for tumour with
prosthetic reconstruction using a bipolar femoral head places a considerable
load on the unreplaced acetabulum. We retrospectively reviewed the changes which occur around the
affected hip joint by evaluating the post-operative radiographs
of 65 consecutive patients who underwent proximal prosthetic arthroplasty
of the femur, and in whom an acetabular component had not been used.
There were 37 men and 28 women with a mean age of 57.3 years (17
to 93). Radiological assessment included the extent of degenerative
change in the acetabulum, heterotopic ossification, and protrusio
acetabuli. The mean follow-up was 9.1 years (2 to 11.8). Degenerative changes
in the acetabulum were seen in three patients (4.6%), Brooker grade
1 or 2 heterotopic ossification in 17 (26%) and protrusion of the
prosthetic head in nine (13.8%). A total of eight patients (12.3%) needed a revision. Five were
revised to the same type of prosthesis and three (4.6%) were converted
to a total hip arthroplasty. We conclude that radiological evidence of degenerative change,
heterotopic ossification and protrusion occur in a few patients
who undergo prosthetic arthroplasty of the proximal femur for tumour.
The limited extent of these changes and the lack of associated symptoms
do not justify the routine arthroplasty of the acetabulum in these patients. Cite this article:
