Aims

To explore the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of osteochondral defect (OCD), and its effects on the levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, -3, -4, -5, and -7 in terms of cartilage and bone regeneration.

We have managed 21 patients with a fracture of the tibia complicated by bone and soft-tissue loss as a result of an open fracture in 10, or following debridement of an infected nonunion in 11, by resection of all the devitalised tissues, acute limb shortening to close the defect, application of an external fixator and metaphyseal osteotomy for re-lengthening. The mean bone loss was 4.7 cm (3 to 11). The mean age of the patients was 28.8 years (12 to 54) and the mean follow-up was 34.8 months (24 to 75). All the fractures united with a well-aligned limb. The mean duration of treatment for the ten grade-III A+B open fractures (according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification) was 5.7 months (4.5 to 8) and for the nonunions, 7.6 months (5.5 to 12.5). Complications included one refracture, one transient palsy of the peroneal nerve and one equinus contracture of 10°

Aims

Chronic osteomyelitis (COM) of the lower limb in adults can be surgically managed by either limb reconstruction or amputation. This scoping review aims to map the outcomes used in studies surgically managing COM in order to aid future development of a core outcome set.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of revision for distal femoral arthroplasty (DFA) performed as a primary procedure for native knee fractures using data from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Arthroplasty Registry (AOANJRR).

Aims. The aim of this retrospective multicentre study was to evaluate mid-term results of the operative treatment of Monteggia-like lesions and to determine the prognostic factors that influence the clinical and radiological outcome. Patients and Methods. A total of 46 patients (27 women and 19 men), with a mean age of 57.7 years (18 to 84) who had sustained a Monteggia-like lesion were followed up clinically and radiologically after surgical treatment. The Mayo Modified Wrist Score (MMWS), Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), Broberg and Morrey Score, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score were used for evaluation at a mean of 65 months (27 to 111) postoperatively. All ulnar fractures were stabilized using a proximally contoured or precontoured locking compression plate. Mason type I fractures of the radial head were treated conservatively, type II fractures were treated with reconstruction, and type III fractures with arthroplasty. All Morrey type II and III fractures of the coronoid process was stabilized using lag screws. Results. Good results were found for the MMWS, with a mean of 88.4 (40 to 100). There were 29 excellent results (63%), nine good (20%), seven satisfactory (15%), and one poor (2%). Excellent results were obtained for the MEPS, with a mean of 90.7 (70 to 100): 31 excellent results (68%), 13 good (28%), and two fair (4%). Good results were also found for the functional rating index of Broberg and Morrey, with a mean score of 86.6 (57 to 100). There were 16 excellent results (35%), 22 good (48%), six fair (13%), and two poor (4%). The mean DASH score was 15.1 (0 to 55.8). Two patients had delayed wound healing; four patients had nonunion requiring bone grafting. One patient had asymptomatic loosening of the radial head prosthesis. Conclusion. Monteggia-like lesions are rare. With correct identification, classification, and understanding using CT scans followed by appropriate surgical treatment that addresses all components of the injury, good to excellent mid-term results can be achieved. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:212–18

We have investigated whether assessment of blood flow to the proximal scaphoid can be used to predict nonunion in acute fractures of the scaphoid. We studied 32 fractures of the scaphoid one to two weeks after injury, by dynamic fat-suppressed T1-weighted gradient-echo MRI after the intravenous administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (0.1 mmol/kg body-weight). Steepest slope values (SSV) and percentage enhancement values (%E) were calculated for the distal and proximal fragments and poles. All the fractures were treated by immobilisation in a cast, and union was assessed by CT at 12 weeks. Nonunion occurred in four fractures (12%), and there was no statistically significant difference between the proximal fragment SSV and %E values for the fractures which united and those with nonunion. The difference between the proximal pole SSV and %E values for the union and nonunion groups reached statistical significance (p < 0.05), but with higher enhancement parameters for the nonunion group. Our results suggest that poor proximal vascularity is not an important determinant of union in fractures of the scaphoid

Aims

The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of patients with severe open fractures of the lower limb in the five years after they took part in the Wound management for Open Lower Limb Fracture (WOLLF) trial.

Aims. Hindfoot arthrodesis with retrograde intramedullary nailing has been described as a surgical strategy to reconstruct deformities of the ankle and hindfoot in patients with Charcot arthropathy. This study presents case series of Charcot arthropathy patients treated with two different retrograde intramedullary straight compression nails in order to reconstruct the hindfoot and assess the results over a mid-term follow-up. Patients and Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of 18 consecutive patients and 19 operated feet with Charcot arthropathy who underwent a hindfoot arthrodesis using a retrograde intramedullary compression nail. Patients were ten men and eight women with a mean age of 63.43 years (38.5 to 79.8). We report the rate of limb salvage, complications requiring additional surgery, and fusion rate in both groups. The mean duration of follow-up was 46.36 months (37 to 70). Results. The limb salvage rate was 16 of 19 limbs. Three patients had to undergo below-knee amputation due to persistent infection followed by osteomyelitis resistant to parenteral antibiotic therapy and repeated debridement. Complications including infection, hardware removal, nonunion, and persistent ulcers requiring further intervention were also observed. Postoperative functional scores revealed significant improvement compared with preoperative scores on American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) – Hindfoot scale, Foot Function Index (FFI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Conclusion. The use of retrograde intramedullary compression nail results in good rates of limb salvage when used for hindfoot reconstruction in patients with Charcot arthropathy. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:190–6

We have compared the outcomes of the use of external fixation devices for spanning or sparing the ankle joint in the treatment of fractures of the tibial plafond, focusing on the complications and the rates of healing. We have devised a scoring system for the quality of reporting of clinical outcomes, to determine the reliability of the results. We conducted a search of publications in English between 1990 and 2006 using the Pubmed search engine. The key words used were pilon, pylon, plafond fractures, external fixation. A total of 15 articles, which included 465 fractures, were eligible for final evaluation. There were no statistically significant differences between spanning and sparing fixation systems regarding the rates of infection, nonunion, and the time to union. Patients treated with spanning frames had significantly greater incidence of malunion compared with patients treated with sparing frames. In both groups, the outcome reporting score was very low; 60% of reports involving infection, nonunion or malunion scored 0 points

Between June 1999 and May 2003 we undertook direct primary closure of the skin wounds of 173 patients with Gustilo and Anderson grade-IIIA and grade-IIIB open fractures. These patients were selected from a consecutive group of 557 with type-III injuries presenting during this time. Strict criteria for inclusion in the study included debridement within 12 hours of injury, no sewage or organic contamination, no skin loss either primarily or secondarily during debridement, a Ganga Hospital open injury skin score of 1 or 2 with a total score of ten or less, the presence of bleeding skin margins, the ability to approximate wound edges without tension and the absence of peripheral vascular disease. In addition, patients with polytrauma were excluded. At a mean follow-up of 6.2 years (5 to 7), the outcome was excellent in 150 (86.7%), good in 11 (6.4%) and poor in 12 (6.9%). A total of 33 complications occurred in 23 patients including superficial infection in 11, deep infection in five and the requirement for a secondary skin flap in three. Six patients developed nonunion requiring further surgery, one of whom declined additional measures to treat an established infected nonunion. Immediate skin closure when performed selectively with the above indications proved to be a safe procedure

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the weightbearing practice of operatively managed fragility fractures in the setting of publically funded health services in the UK and Ireland.

We present a series of 16 patients treated between 1993 and 2006 who had a failed total ankle replacement converted to an arthrodesis using bone grafting with internal fixation. We used tricortical autograft from the iliac crest to preserve the height of the ankle, the malleoli and the subtalar joint. A successful arthrodesis was achieved at a mean of three months (1.5 to 4.5) in all patients except one, with rheumatoid arthritis and severe bone loss, who developed a nonunion and required further fixation with an intramedullary nail at one year after surgery, before obtaining satisfactory fusion. The post-operative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score improved to a mean of 70 (41 to 87) with good patient satisfaction. From this series and an extensive review of the literature we have found that rates of fusion after failed total ankle replacement in patients with degenerative arthritis are high. We recommend our method of arthrodesis in this group of patients. A higher rate of nonunion is associated with rheumatoid arthritis which should be treated differently

The December 2015 Foot & Ankle Roundup. 360 . looks at: The midfoot fusion bolt: has it had its day?; Ankle arthroplasty: only for the old?; A return to the Keller’s osteotomy for diabetic feet?; Joint sparing surgery for ankle arthritis in the context of deformity?; Beware the subtalar fusion in the ankle arthrodesis patient?; Nonunion in the foot and ankle a predictive score; Cast versus early weight bearing following Achilles tendon repair; Should we plate Lisfranc injuries?

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of application of a 3D-printed megaprosthesis with hemiarthroplasty design for defects of the distal humerus or proximal ulna following tumour resection.

Aims. Treatment guidelines for atypical femoral fractures associated with bisphosphonates have not been established. We conducted a systematic review of the treatment of atypical femoral fractures first, to evaluate the outcomes of surgical fixation of complete atypical fractures and secondly, to assess whether prophylactic surgery is necessary for incomplete atypical fractures. Materials and Methods. Case reports and series were identified from the PubMed database and were included if they described the treatment of atypical femoral fractures. In total, 77 publications met our inclusion criteria and 733 patients with 834 atypical complete or incomplete femoral fractures were identified. Results. For complete fractures, internal fixation was predominantly achieved by intramedullary nailing. The mean time to healing post-operatively was 7.3 months (2 to 31). Revision surgery for nonunion or implant failure was needed in 77 fractures (12.6%). A greater percentage of fractures treated with plate fixation (31.3%) required revision surgery than those treated with intramedullary nailing (12.9%) (p < 0.01). Non-operative treatment of incomplete fractures failed and surgery was eventually needed in nearly half of the patients (47%), whereas prophylactic surgery was successful and achieved a 97% rate of healing. Conclusion. Intramedullary nailing is the first-line treatment for a complete fracture, although the risk of delayed healing and revision surgery seems to be higher than with a typical femoral fracture. Non-operative treatment does not appear to be a reliable way of treating an incomplete fracture: prophylactic intramedullary nailing should be considered if the patient is in intractable pain. Radiographs of the opposite side should be obtained routinely looking for an asymptomatic fracture. Bisphosphonates must be discontinued but ongoing metabolic management in the form of calcium and/or vitamin D supplements is advisable. Teriparatide therapy can be considered as an alternative treatment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:295–302

Aims. The anterior pelvic internal fixator is increasingly used for the treatment of unstable, or displaced, injuries of the anterior pelvic ring. The evidence for its use, however, is limited. The aim of this paper is to describe the indications for its use, how it is applied and its complications. Patients and Methods. We reviewed the case notes and radiographs of 50 patients treated with an anterior pelvic internal fixator between April 2010 and December 2015 at a major trauma centre in the United Kingdom. The median follow-up time was 38 months (interquartile range 24 to 51). Results. Three patients were excluded from the analysis leaving 47 patients with complete follow-up data. Of the 47 patients, 46 achieved radiological union and one progressed to an asymptomatic nonunion. Of the remaining patients, 45 required supplementary posterior fixation with percutaneous iliosacral screws, 2 of which required sacral plating. The incidence of injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) was 34%. The rate of infection was 2%. There were no other significant complications. Without this treatment, 44 patients (94%) would have needed unilateral or bilateral open reduction and plate fixation extending laterally to the hip joint. Conclusion. The anterior pelvic internal fixator reduces the need for extensive open surgery and is a useful addition to the armamentarium for the treatment of anterior pelvic injuries. It is associated with injury to the LFCN in a third of patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B.1232–6

Platelet-rich plasma is a new inductive therapy which is being increasingly used for the treatment of the complications of bone healing, such as infection and nonunion. The activator for platelet-rich plasma is a mixture of thrombin and calcium chloride which produces a platelet-rich gel. We analysed the antibacterial effect of platelet-rich gel in vitro by using the platelet-rich plasma samples of 20 volunteers. In vitro laboratory susceptibility to platelet-rich gel was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method. Baseline antimicrobial activity was assessed by measuring the zones of inhibition on agar plates coated with selected bacterial strains. Zones of inhibition produced by platelet-rich gel ranged between 6 mm and 24 mm (mean 9.83 mm) in diameter. Platelet-rich gel inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and was also active against Escherichia coli. There was no activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, platelet-rich gel seemed to induce the in vitro growth of Ps. aeruginosa, suggesting that it may cause an exacerbation of infections with this organism. We believe that a combination of the inductive and antimicrobial properties of platelet-rich gel can improve the treatment of infected delayed healing and nonunion

Biochemical markers of bone-turnover have long been used to complement the radiological assessment of patients with metabolic bone disease. Their implementation in daily clinical practice has been helpful in the understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, the selection of the optimal dose and the understanding of the progression of the onset and resolution of treatment. Since they are derived from both cortical and trabecular bone, they reflect the metabolic activity of the entire skeleton rather than that of individual cells or the process of mineralisation. Quantitative changes in skeletal-turnover can be assessed easily and non-invasively by the measurement of bone-turnover markers. They are commonly subdivided into three categories; 1) bone-resorption markers, 2) osteoclast regulatory proteins and 3) bone-formation markers. Because of the rapidly accumulating new knowledge of bone matrix biochemistry, attempts have been made to use them in the interpretation and characterisation of various stages of the healing of fractures. Early knowledge of the individual progress of a fracture could help to avoid delayed or nonunion by enabling modification of the host’s biological response. The levels of bone-turnover markers vary throughout the course of fracture repair with their rates of change being dependent on the size of the fracture and the time that it will take to heal. However, their short-term biological variability, the relatively low bone specificity exerted, given that the production and destruction of collagen is not limited to bone, as well as the influence of the host’s metabolism on their concentration, produce considerable intra- and inter-individual variability in their interpretation. Despite this, the possible role of bone-turnover markers in the assessment of progression to union, the risks of delayed or nonunion and the impact of innovations to accelerate fracture healing must not be ignored