Acute bone and joint infections in children are serious, and misdiagnosis can threaten limb and life. Most young children who present acutely with pain, limping, and/or loss of function have transient synovitis, which will resolve spontaneously within a few days. A minority will have a bone or joint infection. Clinicians are faced with a diagnostic challenge: children with transient synovitis can safely be sent home, but children with bone and joint infection require urgent treatment to avoid complications. Clinicians often respond to this challenge by using a series of rudimentary decision support tools, based on clinical, haematological, and biochemical parameters, to differentiate childhood osteoarticular infection from other diagnoses. However, these tools were developed without methodological expertise in diagnostic accuracy and do not consider the importance of imaging (ultrasound scan and MRI). There is wide variation in clinical practice with regard to the indications, choice, sequence, and timing of imaging. This variation is most likely due to the lack of evidence concerning the role of imaging in acute bone and joint infection in children. We describe the first steps of a large UK multicentre study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, which seeks to integrate definitively the role of imaging into a decision support tool, developed with the assistance of individuals with expertise in the development of clinical prediction tools.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(3):227–229.

The August 2024 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: What factors are associated with osteoarthritis after cementation for benign aggressive bone tumour of the knee joint: a systematic review and meta-analysis; Recycled bone grafts treated with extracorporeal irradiation or liquid nitrogen freezing after malignant tumour resection; Intercalary resection of the tibia for primary bone tumours: are vascularized fibula autografts with or without allografts a durable reconstruction?; 3D-printed modular prostheses for the reconstruction of intercalary bone defects after joint-sparing limb salvage surgery for femoral diaphyseal tumours; Factors influencing the outcome of patients with primary Ewing’s sarcoma of the sacrum; The significance of surveillance imaging in children with Ewing’s sarcoma and osteosarcoma; Resection margin and soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities treated with limb-sparing surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

The October 2023 Research Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Gut microbiota in high-risk individuals for rheumatoid arthritis associated with disturbed metabolome and initiates arthritis by triggering mucosal immunity imbalance; International Consensus on Anaemia Management in Surgical Patients (ICCAMS); Sleep disturbance trends in the short-term postoperative period for patients undergoing total joint replacement; Achilles tendon tissue turnover before and immediately after an acute rupture; Quadriceps or hip exercises for patellofemoral pain? A randomized controlled equivalence trial; Total-body MRI for screening in patients with multiple osteochondromas.

The August 2023 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: Giant cell tumour of bone with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst does not have a higher risk of local recurrence; Is bone marrow aspiration and biopsy helpful in initial staging of extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma?; Treatment outcomes of extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma; Pathological complete response and clinical outcomes in patients with localized soft-tissue sarcoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy; Long-term follow-up of patients with low-grade chondrosarcoma in the appendicular skeleton treated by extended curettage and liquid nitrogen; Cancer-specific survival after limb salvage versus amputation in osteosarcoma; Outcome after surgical treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: does it require extensive follow-up, and what is an adequate resection margin?; Management of giant cell tumours of the distal radius: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The October 2023 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Are pathological fractures in patients with osteosarcoma associated with worse survival outcomes?; Spotting the difference: how secondary osteosarcoma manifests in retinoblastoma survivors versus conventional cases; Accuracy of MRI scans in predicting intra-articular joint involvement in high-grade sarcomas around the knee; Endoprosthetic reconstruction for lower extremity soft-tissue sarcomas with bone involvement; Local relapse of soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremities or trunk wall operated on with wide margins without radiation therapy; 3D-printed, custom-made prostheses in patients who had resection of tumours of the hand and foot; Long-term follow-up for low-grade chondrosarcoma; Evaluation of local recurrence and diagnostic discordance in chondrosarcoma patients undergoing preoperative biopsy; Radiological scoring and resection grade for intraosseous chondrosarcoma.

The December 2023 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: A single osteotomy technique for frozen autograft; Complications, function, and survival of tumour-devitalized autografts used in patients with limb-sparing surgery; Is liquid nitrogen recycled bone and vascular fibula the biological reconstruction of choice?; Solitary pulmonary metastases at first recurrence of osteosarcoma; Is a radiological score able to predict resection-grade chondrosarcoma in primary intraosseous lesions of the long bones?; Open versus core needle biopsy in lower-limb sarcoma – current practice patterns and patient outcomes; Natural history of intraosseous low-grade chondroid lesions of the proximal humerus; Local treatment modalities and event-free survival in patients with localized Ewing’s sarcoma; Awaiting biopsy results in solitary pathological proximal femoral fractures.

The October 2024 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Does the primary surgical approach matter when choosing the approach for revision total hip arthroplasty?; Time to achieve the minimal clinically important difference in primary total hip arthroplasty: comparison of anterior and posterior surgical approaches; To scope or not to scope: arthroscopy as an adjunct to PAO does not provide better clinical outcomes at one year than PAO alone; Re-exploring horizons in hip resurfacing: two-year results of a ceramic-on-ceramic hip resurfacing; Association between tranexamic acid and decreased periprosthetic joint infection risk in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty; Octogenarians fare well: in revision for infection age is not a bar.

The February 2025 Spine Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: The effect of thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthosis wear time and clinical risk factors on curve progression for individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Does operative level impact dysphagia severity after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion? A multicentre prospective analysis; Who gets better after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy? A responder analysis from the multicentre Canadian spine outcomes and research network; Do obese patients have worse outcomes in adult spinal deformity surgeries?; An update to the management of spinal cord injury; Classifying thoracolumbar injuries; High- versus moderate-density constructs in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are equivalent at two years; Romosozumab for protecting against proximal junctional kyphosis in deformity surgery.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft failure from rupture, attenuation, or malposition may cause recurrent subjective instability and objective laxity, and occurs in 3% to 22% of ACL reconstruction (ACLr) procedures. Revision ACLr is often indicated to restore knee stability, improve knee function, and facilitate return to cutting and pivoting activities. Prior to reconstruction, a thorough clinical and diagnostic evaluation is required to identify factors that may have predisposed an individual to recurrent ACL injury, appreciate concurrent intra-articular pathology, and select the optimal graft for revision reconstruction. Single-stage revision can be successful, although a staged approach may be used when optimal tunnel placement is not possible due to the position and/or widening of previous tunnels. Revision ACLr often involves concomitant procedures such as meniscal/chondral treatment, lateral extra-articular augmentation, and/or osteotomy. Although revision ACLr reliably restores knee stability and function, clinical outcomes and reoperation rates are worse than for primary ACLr.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(5):474–480.

The October 2023 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome at ten years – how do athletes do?; Venous thromboembolism in patients following total joint replacement: are transfusions to blame?; What changes in pelvic sagittal tilt occur 20 years after total hip arthroplasty?; Can stratified care in hip arthroscopy predict successful and unsuccessful outcomes?; Hip replacement into your nineties; Can large language models help with follow-up?; The most taxing of revisions – proximal femoral replacement for periprosthetic joint infection – what’s the benefit of dual mobility?

Aims

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a promising treatment for articular cartilage degeneration and injury; however, it requires a large number of human hyaline chondrocytes, which often undergo dedifferentiation during in vitro expansion. This study aimed to investigate the effect of suramin on chondrocyte differentiation and its underlying mechanism.

The August 2023 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: DDH: What can patients expect after open reduction?; Femoral head deformity associated with hip displacement in non-ambulatory cerebral palsy; Bony hip reconstruction for displaced hips in patients with cerebral palsy: is postoperative immobilization indicated?; Opioid re-prescriptions after ACL reconstruction in adolescents are associated with subsequent opioid use disorder; Normative femoral and tibial lengths in a modern population of USA children; Retrospective analysis of associated anomalies in 636 patients with operatively treated congenital scoliosis; Radiological hip shape and patient-reported outcome measures in healed Perthes’ disease; Significantly displaced adolescent posterior sternoclavicular joint injuries.

The April 2023 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: CT scan of the ipsilateral femoral neck in paediatric shaft fractures; Meniscal injuries in skeletally immature children with tibial eminence fractures: a systematic literature review; Post-maturity progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curves of 40° to 50°; Prospective, randomized Ponseti treatment for clubfoot: orthopaedic surgeons versus physical therapists; FIFA 11+ Kids: challenges in implementing a prevention programme; The management of developmental dysplasia of the hip in children aged under three months: a consensus study from the British Society for Children's Orthopaedic Surgery; Early investigation and bracing in developmental dysplasia of the hip impacts maternal wellbeing and breastfeeding; Hip arthrodesis in children: a review of 26 cases with a mean of 20 years’ follow-up

Aims

There is ambiguity surrounding the degree of scaphoid union required to safely allow mobilization following scaphoid waist fracture. Premature mobilization could lead to refracture, but late mobilization may cause stiffness and delay return to normal function. This study aims to explore the risk of refracture at different stages of scaphoid waist fracture union in three common fracture patterns, using a novel finite element method.

Hip fractures pose a major global health challenge, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly among the elderly. With an ageing population, the incidence of these injuries is rising, exerting significant pressure on healthcare systems worldwide. Despite substantial research aimed at establishing best practice, several key areas remain the subject of ongoing debate. This article examines the latest evidence on the place of arthroplasty in the surgical treatment of hip fractures, with a particular focus on the choice of implant, the use of cemented versus uncemented fixation, and advances in perioperative care.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(12):1372–1376.

The February 2025 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at:The role of bone grafting versus bone cement in the treatment of giant cell tumour of bone: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the risk of recurrence in 1,454 patients; Tumour necrosis drives prognosis in osteosarcoma; Correlation between post-chemotherapy MRI and histopathology of malignant bone tumours treated with extra-articular resection; Real-world referral pattern of unplanned excision in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma; Assessment of artificial intelligence chatbot responses to common patient questions on bone sarcoma; Chondrosarcoma of the pelvis and limbs at ten years; Chest wall resection and reconstruction for primary chest wall sarcomas: analysis of survival, predictors of outcome, and long-term functional status; Ewing’s sarcoma in the paediatric population: predictors of survival within the USA; Pulmonary metastasectomy for sarcoma: insights from a referral centre cohort.

Advanced 3D imaging and CT-based navigation have emerged as valuable tools to use in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), for both preoperative planning and the intraoperative execution of different philosophies of alignment. Preoperative planning using CT-based 3D imaging enables more accurate prediction of the size of components, enhancing surgical workflow and optimizing the precision of the positioning of components. Surgeons can assess alignment, osteophytes, and arthritic changes better. These scans provide improved insights into the patellofemoral joint and facilitate tibial sizing and the evaluation of implant-bone contact area in cementless TKA. Preoperative CT imaging is also required for the development of patient-specific instrumentation cutting guides, aiming to reduce intraoperative blood loss and improve the surgical technique in complex cases. Intraoperative CT-based navigation and haptic guidance facilitates precise execution of the preoperative plan, aiming for optimal positioning of the components and accurate alignment, as determined by the surgeon’s philosophy. It also helps reduce iatrogenic injury to the periarticular soft-tissue structures with subsequent reduction in the local and systemic inflammatory response, enhancing early outcomes. Despite the increased costs and radiation exposure associated with CT-based navigation, these many benefits have facilitated the adoption of imaged based robotic surgery into routine practice. Further research on ultra-low-dose CT scans and exploration of the possible translation of the use of 3D imaging into improved clinical outcomes are required to justify its broader implementation.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(9):892–897.

Aims

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients report exacerbation of hip pain in deep flexion. However, the exact impingement location in deep flexion is unknown. The aim was to investigate impingement-free maximal flexion, impingement location, and if cam deformity causes hip impingement in flexion in FAI patients.