Aims

The current global pandemic due to COVID-19 is generating significant burden on the health service in the UK. On 23 March 2020, the UK government issued requirements for a national lockdown. The aim of this multicentre study is to gain a greater understanding of the impact lockdown has had on the rates, mechanisms and types of injuries together with their management across a regional trauma service.

We carried out a survival analysis of elbow synovectomy (ES) and excision of the radial head (RHE) performed on 171 rheumatoid elbows. The failure criteria were revision surgery (performed or desired) and/or the presence of significant or severe pain. The cumulative survival was 81% at one year which thereafter decreased by an average of 2.6% per year. The strongest predictor for success was a low preoperative range of supination-pronation when corresponding survival curves were compared. A low range of flexion-extension also predicted failure. Combining both factors gave better prediction (failure: 6.3% v 67%), but a long duration of elbow symptoms before surgery predicted failure (72%, p = 0.04). At review, there was a mean gain of 50° in supination-pronation and 11° in flexion-extension; both correlated with success. Failure correlated with recurrence of synovitis, elbow instability, ulnar neuropathy, poor general mobility and poor upper-limb function. The last was independently affected by the severity of RA in the ipsilateral shoulder. Our findings show that although the short-term result of ES and RHE in rheumatoid arthritis is good, the long-term outcome is poor except in a subgroup with more than 50% limitation of forearm rotation

The wrist is a complex joint involving many small bones and complicated kinematics. It has, therefore, been traditionally difficult to image and ascertain information about kinematics when making a diagnosis. Although MRI and fluoroscopy have been used, they both have limitations. Recently, there has been interest in the use of 4D-CT in imaging the wrist. This review examines the literature regarding the use of 4D-CT in imaging the wrist to assess kinematics and its ability to diagnose pathology. Some questions remain about the description of normal ranges, the most appropriate method of measuring intercarpal stability, the accuracy compared with established standards, and the place of 4D-CT in postoperative assessment.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1325–1330.

Professor Paul Brand draws attention to an error in the report of a meeting of the Orthopaedic Section of the Association of Surgeons of India submitted to this journal and published in our issue of May 1962. The observations then reported were not made by him but in his absence by another contributor. The particular paragraph to which Professor Brand wishes to draw attention read: "Lately he had been using a wrist flexor tendon as the motor unit for the transplant, instead of the extensor carpi ulnaris, and he felt that the flexor tendon was the better.". Professor Brand writes: "I have not been using a wrist flexor tendon as the motor unit. I used one many years ago, and found it is very definitely inferior. I have never used the extensor carpi ulnaris. I assume that the sentence should have read: ‘Lately he has been using the extensor carpi radialis longus as the motor unit for the transplant instead of the extensor carpi radialis brevis, and has taken the graft around the radial side of the forearm and through the carpal tunnel to reach the lumbrical insertions along the lumbrical canals. He found the results were better with this method.’"

1. Experience with a refined type of implantable electrode for the myo-electric control of externally powered prostheses is reported. 2. The electrodes are externally energised by electromagnetic induction and therefore do not contain any battery cells. The myo-potentials are transmitted in frequency-modulated form and detected by a receiver placed on the skin. The implantable electrode, measuring 5x11x4 millimetres, is encapsulated in epoxy resin. 3. Six electrodes have been implanted in the forearms of two normal subjects and two below-elbow amputees. The time of implantation ranged from three to fifteen months. Macroscopically, a fibrous capsule developed around the electrodes. Histological examination showed a capsule of granulation tissue of varying thickness with slight inflammatory reaction and foreign-body giant cells. 4. In all cases except one the signals received have been of high quality as ascertained by conventional electromyography and frequency analysis. There has been no significant deterioration in signal quality during the follow-up periods. 5. The major source of failure was fatigue fracture of the gold wires making contact with the body tissues. In one case, however, the electrode was still functioning normally at the time of removal fifteen months after insertion. 6. The patients have not been inconvenienced either by the operative procedures or by the presence of the electrodes in the tissues

1. The age of the patient has no influence on the incidence of non-union in fractures of the forearm in adults. 2. The degree of displacement of the fracture is an important factor in non-union, and is related to the violence of the injury. 3. Fractures of one bone unite better than fractures of both bones, and this is due to the stabilising effect of the intact bone. 4. Open and comminuted fractures have a much higher incidence of non-union. 5. The lowest incidence of non-union, allowances being made for other significant factors, was in cases treated conservatively; and after that in cases treated by plating followed by immobilisation in plaster. 6. Plating without subsequent immobilisation in plaster is a method to be abandoned, but there is some advantage in waiting for ten days, until post-operative oedema has been absorbed, before applying the plaster. 7. In cases in which several factors predisposing to non-union are present in the same patient, it seems justifiable to supplement plating by cancellous onlay strips as a primary procedure. 8. In cases of non-union the cancellous insert graft described by Nicoll succeeded in 94·5 per cent of the cases, many of which were exceptionally difficult problems. In 75 per cent union occurred within four months of grafting. 9. The restoration of mobility, either after union of the fracture or after grafting operations, was never a serious problem in the present series

Abstract

Nerve transfer has become a common and often effective reconstructive strategy for proximal and complex peripheral nerve injuries of the upper limb. This case-based discussion explores the principles and potential benefits of nerve transfer surgery and offers in-depth discussion of several established and valuable techniques including: motor transfer for elbow flexion after musculocutaneous nerve injury, deltoid reanimation for axillary nerve palsy, intrinsic re-innervation following proximal ulnar nerve repair, and critical sensory recovery despite non-reconstructable median nerve lesions.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to review the current evidence and future application for the role of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound in fracture management.

Eighty elbows in 65 patients with an average age of 57 years have had two-part non-constrained Liverpool elbow arthroplasties performed since 1974. Fifty-five had rheumatoid arthritis, eight osteoarthritis or ankylosis secondary to injury, one osteochondritis dissecans and one pyknodysostosis. The average preoperative range of movement was 42 degrees to 112 degrees with 47 degrees of pronation and 42 degrees of supination. There was significant gain in the arc of movements at follow-up: 32 degrees in the extension-flexion range (average range 32 degrees to 134 degrees of flexion) and 42 degrees in forearm rotation (average pronation 69 degrees and supination 62 degrees). Before operation severe pain was the predominating symptom in 43 elbows (53.8%) but after replacement there was only moderate pain in five elbows (6.2%). The results were excellent in 42 (52.5%), good in 15 (18.7%), fair in 9 (11.3%) and unsatisfactory or poor in 14 (17.5%). Eight elbows required revision of the arthroplasty: three were post-traumatic, disorganised or osteoarthritic joints, three rheumatoid and both elbows in the patient with pyknodysostosis. Loosening of the prosthesis (particularly the humeral component) was the common factor necessitating revision. Of six rheumatoid elbows needing removal of the implant, four had deep infection, one had a dislodged humeral component as a result of injury and in one a divided olecranon had developed non-union. Rheumatoid elbows benefited more than post-traumatic arthritic elbows from the operation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aims

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity in adolescents and children. The aetiology of the disease remains unknown. Previous studies have shown a lower bone mineral density in individuals with idiopathic scoliosis, which may contribute to the causation. The aim of the present study was to compare bone health in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis with controls.

Aims

To examine the relationship of sex steroid hormones with osteopenia in a nationally representative sample of men in the USA.

The results and complications of 104 vascularised fibular grafts in 102 patients are presented. Bony union was ultimately achieved in 97 patients, with primary union in 84 (84%). The mean time to union was 15.5 weeks (8 to 40). In 13 patients, primary union was achieved at one end of the fibula and secondary union at the other end. In these patients, the mean time to union was 31.1 weeks (24 to 40). Five patients failed to achieve union, with a resultant pseudarthrosis (3 patients) or amputation (2 patients). There were various complications. Immediate thrombosis occurred in 14 cases. In two of 23 patients with osteomyelitis, infection recurred at two and six months after surgery, respectively. Both patients had active osteomyelitis less than one month before the operation. Bony infection occurred in a patient with a synovial sarcoma of the forearm one year after surgery. In 15 patients, 19 fractures of the fibular graft occurred after bony union, all except one within one year after union. In patients in whom an external fixator had been used, fracture occurred soon after its removal. Union was difficult to achieve in cases of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. Appropriate alignment of the fibular graft is an important factor in preventing stress fracture. The vascularised fibula should be protected during the first year after union. Postoperative complications at the donor site included transient palsy of the superficial peroneal nerve in three patients, contracture of flexor hallucis longus in two and valgus deformity of the ankle in three. Vascularised fibular grafts are useful in the reconstruction of massive bony defects. We believe that meticulous preoperative planning, including choosing which vessels to select in the recipient and the type of fixation devices to use, and care in the introduction of the vascularised fibula, can improve the results and prevent complications

Aims

To describe and analyze the mid-term functional outcomes of a large series of patients who underwent the Hoffer procedure for brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP).

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the osseous reactions elicited by all-suture, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and two different biodegradable anchors used during rotator cuff repair.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of Monteggia-like lesions at midterm follow-up and to determine whether the surgical treatment of the radial head influences the clinical and radiological results.

Aims

In this randomized study, we aimed to compare quality of regenerate in monolateral versus circular frame fixation in 30 patients with infected nonunion of tibia.