We reviewed 101 patients with injuries of the terminal branches of the infraclavicular brachial plexus sustained between 1997 and 2009. Four patterns of injury were identified: 1) anterior glenohumeral dislocation (n = 55), in which the axillary and ulnar nerves were most commonly injured, but the axillary nerve was ruptured in only two patients (3.6%); 2) axillary nerve injury, with or without injury to other nerves, in the absence of dislocation of the shoulder (n = 20): these had a similar pattern of nerve involvement to those with a known dislocation, but the axillary nerve was ruptured in 14 patients (70%); 3) displaced proximal humeral fracture (n = 15), in which nerve injury resulted from medial displacement of the humeral shaft: the fracture was surgically reduced in 13 patients; and 4) hyperextension of the arm (n = 11): these were characterised by disruption of the musculocutaneous nerve. There was variable involvement of the median and radial nerves with the ulnar nerve being least affected. Surgical intervention is not needed in most cases of infraclavicular injury associated with dislocation of the shoulder. Early exploration of the nerves should be considered in patients with an axillary nerve palsy without dislocation of the shoulder and for musculocutaneous nerve palsy with median and/or radial nerve palsy. Urgent operation is needed in cases of nerve injury resulting from fracture of the humeral neck to relieve pressure on nerves

Surgical access to the head of the radius is usually performed through a lateral approach. We present an alternative technique through a modified posterior approach which was developed following dissections of 22 human cadavers. An osteotomy of the supinator tuberosity was performed and reflected as a single unit with the attached annular ligament. Excellent exposure of the head of the radius was achieved, replacement of the head was undertaken and the osteotomy site repaired. The elbows were stable and had a full range of movement. The approach was then carried out on 13 patients for elective replacement of the head and was found to be safe and reproducible. In the patient group all osteotomies united, the elbows were stable and had an improved range of supination and pronation. There was no change in flexion and extension of the elbow. Complications included a haematoma and a reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The modified posterior approach provides excellent access to the head and neck of the radius, gives good stability of the elbow and allows early mobilisation of the joint

Aims

Optimal exposure through the direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) conducted on a regular operating theatre table is achieved with a standardized capsular releasing sequence in which the anterior capsule can be preserved or resected. We hypothesized that clinical outcomes and implant positioning would not be different in case a capsular sparing (CS) technique would be compared to capsular resection (CR).

Aims

Existing literature indicates that inferiorly inclined glenoid baseplates following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) produce better outcomes compared to superiorly inclined baseplates. We aim to compare clinical outcomes for RSAs with superiorly and neutrally/inferiorly inclined lateralized glenospheres.

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Evaluate if treating an unstable femoral neck fracture with a locking plate and spring-loaded telescoping screw system would improve construct stability compared to gold standard treatment methods.

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The processes linking long-term bisphosphonate treatment to atypical fracture remain elusive. To establish a means of exploring this link, we have examined how long-term bisphosphonate treatment with prior ovariectomy modifies femur fracture behaviour and tibia mass and shape in murine bones.

The painful subluxed or dislocated hip in adults with cerebral palsy presents a challenging problem. Prosthetic dislocation and heterotopic ossification are particular concerns. We present the first reported series of 19 such patients (20 hips) treated with hip resurfacing and proximal femoral osteotomy. The pre-operative Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was level V in 13 (68%) patients, level IV in three (16%), level III in one (5%) and level II in two (11%). The mean age at operation was 37 years (13 to 57). The mean follow-up was 8.0 years (2.7 to 11.6), and 16 of the 18 (89%) contactable patients or their carers felt that the surgery had been worthwhile. Pain was relieved in 16 of the 18 surviving hips (89%) at the last follow-up, and the GMFCS level had improved in seven (37%) patients. There were two (10%) early dislocations; three hips (15%) required revision of femoral fixation, and two hips (10%) required revision, for late traumatic fracture of the femoral neck and extra-articular impingement, respectively. Hence there were significant surgical complications in a total of seven hips (35%). No hips required revision for instability, and there were no cases of heterotopic ossification. We recommend hip resurfacing with proximal femoral osteotomy for the treatment of the painful subluxed or dislocated hip in patients with cerebral palsy

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Our retrospective analysis reports the outcome of patients operated for slipped capital femoral epiphysis using the modified Dunn procedure. Results, complications, and the need for revision surgery are compared with the recent literature.

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The Mathys Affinis Short is the most frequently used stemless total shoulder prosthesis in the UK. The purpose of this prospective cohort study is to report the survivorship, clinical, and radiological outcomes of the first independent series of the Affinis Short prosthesis.

Total hip replacement in patients with advanced osteonecrosis of the femoral head is often complicated by early loosening of the femoral component. Recent evidence has suggested that abnormal bone extending into the proximal femur may be responsible for the early failure of the femoral component. We aimed to identify which patients were at high risk of early failure by evaluating gadolinium-enhanced MR images of histologically-confirmed osteonecrotic lesions beyond the femoral head. Although the MR signal intensity has been shown to correlate well with osteonecrosis in the femoral head, it was found to be relatively insensitive at identifying lesions below the head, with a sensitivity of only 51% and a predictive value of a negative result of only 48%. However, the specificity was 90%, with the predictive value of a positive MRI finding being 86%. Only those patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head secondary to sickle-cell disease, who are known to be at high risk of early loosening, had changes in the MR signal in the greater trochanter and the femoral shaft. This observation suggests that changes in the MR signal beyond the femoral head may represent osteonecrotic lesions in areas essential for the fixation of the femoral component. Pre-operative identification of such lesions in the neck of the femur may be important when considering hip resurfacing for osteonecrosis of the femoral head, following which early loosening of the femoral component and fracture of the neck are possible complications

Aims

Hip displacement, common in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), causes pain and hinders adequate care. Hip reconstructive surgery (HRS) is performed to treat hip displacement; however, only a few studies have quantitatively assessed femoral head sphericity after HRS. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess improvement in hip sphericity after HRS in patients with CP.

Aims

The aim of this study was to further evaluate the accuracy of ten promising synovial biomarkers (bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), lactoferrin (LTF), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), neutrophil elastase 2 (ELA-2), α-defensin, cathelicidin LL-37 (LL-37), human β-defensin (HBD-2), human β-defensin 3 (HBD-3), D-dimer, and procalcitonin (PCT)) for the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), and to investigate whether inflammatory joint disease (IJD) activity affects their concentration in synovial fluid.

This study attempts to establish the factors on which the prognosis of an intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck depends, and to draw attention to certain causes of non-union and ischaemic necrosis. These factors are of two kinds: those inherent in the fracture, and those produced by the surgeon. The prognosis depends largely on the nature of the fracture. Original displacement and comminution are the factors which have most influence. Fractures of Type IV with severe comminution have mainly contributed to the bad reputation of intracapsular fractures. Accurate reduction and firm fixation are necessary if the best results for the type of fracture are to be expected. Accurate reduction does not mean merely accurate apposition of the fragments. Fixation of the fracture in certain rotational malpositions such as valgus of over 20 degrees and rotation round the long axis of the neck may occlude the only remaining source of blood supply, the vessels of the ligamentum teres. If these vessels remain open they may produce revascularisation in a femoral head deprived of its blood supply. The degree of valgus can easily be measured but it is impossible to detect rotation round the long axis of the neck. In this analysis only two methods of fixation were studied. It is clear that rigid fixation is of great significance, and a nail-plate, though it may not be the ideal method of fixation, is greatly superior to a Smith-Petersen nail introduced in the usual way. From the results of this survey there is no justification for continuing the use of this method except perhaps in Type II fractures. The greater the risk of non-union the more important is the fixation, and this is true of all fractures. This study also has a bearing on the indications for primary prosthetic replacement. If the nature of the fracture and the result of the reduction make it likely that replacement by a prosthesis is going to be the ultimate solution, and if the patient is over seventy years old, it is wiser to do it as a primary measure. Finally it was shown that condensation and collapse of the femoral head are not the only radiological signs of ischaemic necrosis. An earlier sign is flattening of the weight-bearing area, which appears on an average six and a half months after injury, as compared to condensation, which may not be apparent until eighteen months after injury

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for patients with a proximal humerus fracture, using time-driven activity based costing (TDABC), and to compare treatment costs with reimbursement under the Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs).

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To report the surgical outcome of patients with severe Scheuermann’s kyphosis treated using a consistent technique and perioperative management.

Aims

The Exeter V40 cemented femoral stem was first introduced in 2000. The largest single-centre analysis of this implant to date was published in 2018 by Westerman et al. Excellent results were reported at a minimum of ten years for the first 540 cases performed at the designer centre in the Exeter NHS Trust, with stem survivorship of 96.8%. The aim of this current study is to report long-term outcomes and survivorship for the Exeter V40 stem in a non-designer centre.