Aims

Current National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance advises that MRI direct from the emergency department (ED) should be considered for suspected scaphoid fractures. This study reports the current management of suspected scaphoid fractures in the UK and assesses adherence with NICE guidance.

Aims. Reconstruction of the acetabulum after failed total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be a surgical challenge in the presence of severe bone loss. We report the long-term survival of a porous tantalum revision acetabular component, its radiological appearance and quality of life outcomes. Patients and Methods. We reviewed the results of 46 patients who had undergone revision of a failed acetabular component with a Paprosky II or III bone defect and reconstruction with a hemispherical, tantalum acetabular component, supplementary screws and a cemented polyethylene liner. Results. After a minimum follow-up of ten years (ten to 12), the survivorship of the porous tantalum acetabular component was 96%, with further revision of the acetabular component as the end point. The ten-year survivorship, with hip revision for any reason as the end point, was 92%. We noted excellent pain relief (mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score pain 92.6, (40 to 100)) and good functional outcomes (mean WOMAC function 90.3 (30.9 to 100), mean University of California Los Angeles activity scale 5 (2 to 10)) and generic quality of life measures (mean Short Form-12 (SF-12) physical component 48.3 (18.1 to 56.8), mean SF-12 mental component 56.7 (32.9 to 70.3)). Patient satisfaction with pain relief, function and return to recreational activities were excellent. Take home message: Uncemented acetabular reconstruction using a tantalum acetabular component gives excellent clinical and quality of life outcomes at a minimum follow-up of ten years. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:767–71

Objectives. This study reports on a secondary exploratory analysis of the early clinical outcomes of a randomised clinical trial comparing robotic arm-assisted unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee with manual UKA performed using traditional surgical jigs. This follows reporting of the primary outcomes of implant accuracy and gait analysis that showed significant advantages in the robotic arm-assisted group. Methods. A total of 139 patients were recruited from a single centre. Patients were randomised to receive either a manual UKA implanted with the aid of traditional surgical jigs, or a UKA implanted with the aid of a tactile guided robotic arm-assisted system. Outcome measures included the American Knee Society Score (AKSS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Forgotten Joint Score, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale, Short Form-12, Pain Catastrophising Scale, somatic disease (Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Score), Pain visual analogue scale, analgesic use, patient satisfaction, complications relating to surgery, 90-day pain diaries and the requirement for revision surgery. Results. From the first post-operative day through to week 8 post-operatively, the median pain scores for the robotic arm-assisted group were 55.4% lower than those observed in the manual surgery group (p = 0.040). At three months post-operatively, the robotic arm-assisted group had better AKSS (robotic median 164, interquartile range (IQR) 131 to 178, manual median 143, IQR 132 to 166), although no difference was noted with the OKS. At one year post-operatively, the observed differences with the AKSS had narrowed from a median of 21 points to a median of seven points (p = 0.106) (robotic median 171, IQR 153 to 179; manual median 164, IQR 144 to 182). No difference was observed with the OKS, and almost half of each group reached the ceiling limit of the score (OKS > 43). A greater proportion of patients receiving robotic arm-assisted surgery improved their UCLA activity score. Binary logistic regression modelling for dichotomised outcome scores predicted the key factors associated with achieving excellent outcome on the AKSS: a pre-operative activity level > 5 on the UCLA activity score and use of robotic-arm surgery. For the same regression modelling, factors associated with a poor outcome were manual surgery and pre-operative depression. Conclusion. Robotic arm-assisted surgery results in improved early pain scores and early function scores in some patient-reported outcomes measures, but no difference was observed at one year post-operatively. Although improved results favoured the robotic arm-assisted group in active patients (i.e. UCLA ⩾ 5), these do not withstand adjustment for multiple comparisons. Cite this article: M. J. G. Blyth, I. Anthony, P. Rowe, M. S. Banger, A. MacLean, B. Jones. Robotic arm-assisted versus conventional unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: Exploratory secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:631–639. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.611.BJR-2017-0060.R1

Aims

It is unknown whether gap laxities measured in robotic arm-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) correlate to load sensor measurements. The aim of this study was to determine whether symmetry of the maximum medial and lateral gaps in extension and flexion was predictive of knee balance in extension and flexion respectively using different maximum thresholds of intercompartmental load difference (ICLD) to define balance.

Aims

Femoral bone preparation using compaction technique has been shown to preserve bone and improve implant fixation in animal models. No long-term clinical outcomes are available. There are no significant long-term differences between compaction and broaching techniques for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in terms of migration, clinical, and radiological outcomes.

Aims

The aim of this study was to surveil whether the standard operating procedure created for the NHS Golden Jubilee sufficiently managed COVID-19 risk to allow safe resumption of elective orthopaedic surgery.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the access to and ability to use telemedicine technology in adult patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and to determine associations with the socioeconomic characteristics of the patients, including age, sex, race, and education. We also sought to understand the patients’ perceived benefits, risks, and preferences when dealing with telemedicine.

Aims

Spinopelvic mobility plays an important role in functional acetabular component position following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The primary aim of this study was to determine if spinopelvic hypermobility persists or resolves following THA. Our second aim was to identify patient demographic or radiological factors associated with hypermobility and resolution of hypermobility after THA.

Aims

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a pilot enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme on length of stay (LOS) and post-discharge resource usage via service evaluation and cost analysis.

Aims

To describe the clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes in patients with isolated congenital thoracolumbar kyphosis who were treated with three-column osteotomy by posterior-only approach.

Aims

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a bone-preserving treatment option for osteoarthritis localized to a single compartment in the knee. The success of the procedure is sensitive to patient selection and alignment errors. Robotic arm-assisted UKA provides technological assistance to intraoperative bony resection accuracy, which is thought to improve ligament balancing. This paper presents the five-year outcomes of a comparison between manual and robotically assisted UKAs.

Aims

The purpose of our study was to determine which groups of orthopaedic providers favour virtual care, and analyze overall orthopaedic provider perceptions of virtual care. We hypothesize that providers with less clinical experience will favour virtual care, and that orthopaedic providers overall will show increased preference for virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased preference during non-pandemic circumstances.

Objectives. Nylon sutures and skin staples are used commonly in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgical wound closure. However, there is no study that compares the wound healing efficacy and patient satisfaction scores of both techniques in the same knee. Methods. We randomised 70 patients who underwent primary TKA into two groups. In one group of 34 patients, the skin at the upper half of the wound was closed with skin staples and the lower half of the wound was closed with simple interrupted nylon sutures. In the other group of 36 patients, the skin at the upper half of the wound was closed with nylon stitches and the lower half of the wound was closed with skin staples. We recorded the wound closure time, pain score at the time of stitch removal, wound complication rate, patient satisfaction score, and the Hollander wound evaluation score at the post-operative periods of five days, 14 days, six weeks, three months, and six months. Each half wound was analysed separately. Results. The mean patient body mass index was 26.8 kg/m. 2. (standard deviation 6.3). A total of 70 nylon stitched wounds and 70 skin stapled wounds were analysed. There were no significant differences in wound complication rates, patient satisfaction score, and the Hollander wound evaluation score between both types of wounds (p > 0.05). The wound closure time for skin stapled wounds was significantly lower than the nylon stitched wounds (p < 0.001). However, the skin stapled wounds had a significantly higher pain score at the time of stitch removal (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Skin staples and nylon stitches had comparable results with respect to wound healing and patient satisfaction in TKA wound closure in non-obese patients. The benefit of skin staples over nylon stitches was a decrease in operative time, but was more painful upon removal. Cite this article: V. Yuenyongviwat. A randomised controlled trial comparing skin closure in total knee arthroplasty in the same knee: nylon sutures versus skin staples. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:185–190. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.55.2000629

Aims

Neither a surgeon’s intraoperative impression nor the parameters of computer navigation have been shown to be predictive of the outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to determine whether a surgeon, with robotic assistance, can predict the outcome as assessed using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for pain (KPS), one year postoperatively, and establish what factors correlate with poor KOOS scores in a well-aligned and balanced TKA.

Aims. Hemiarthroplasty of the hip is usually carried out through either a direct lateral or posterior approach. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine any differences in patient-reported outcomes between the two surgical approaches. . Patients and Methods. From the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register we identified patients of 70 years and above who were recorded as having had a hemiarthroplasty during 2009. Only patients who had been treated with modern prostheses were included. A questionnaire was posted to those who remained alive one year after surgery. A total of 2118 patients (78% of those available) with a mean age of 85 years (70 to 102) returned the questionnaire. . Results. Patients who had undergone surgery through a posterior approach reported a higher health-related quality of life (HRQoL, EQ-5D mean 0.52 versus 0.47, p = 0.009), less pain (visual analogue scale mean 17 versus 19, p = 0.02) and greater satisfaction with the result of surgery (visual analogue scale mean 22 versus 24, p = 0.02) than those who had a direct lateral approach. However, after adjusting for age, gender, cognitive impairment and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, no association was found between surgical approach and HRQoL, residual pain or patient satisfaction. Take home message: The surgical approach for hemiarthroplasty does not seem to affect the patient-perceived HRQoL, residual pain or patient satisfaction one year after surgery on elderly patients. The choice of approach should be based on other factors, such as the risk of dislocation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:542–7

Aims

To determine if primary cemented acetabular component geometry (long posterior wall (LPW), hooded, or offset reorientating) influences the risk of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for instability or loosening.

Aims. The objective of this double-blind randomised controlled trial was to assess whether ultrasound guidance improved the efficacy of corticosteroid injections for Morton’s neuroma (MN). . Patients and Methods. In all, 50 feet (40 patients) were recruited for this study but five feet were excluded due to the patients declining further participation. The mean age of the remaining 36 patients (45 feet) was 57.8 years (standard deviation (. sd. ) 12.9) with a female preponderance (33F:12M). All patients were followed-up for 12 months. Treatment was randomised to an ultrasound guided (Group A) or non-ultrasound guided (Group B) injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide and 2 ml 1% lignocaine, following ultrasound confirmation of the diagnosis. . Results. The mean visual analogue score for pain improved significantly in both groups (Group A – from 64 mm, . sd. 25 mm to 29 mm, . sd. 27; Group B – from 69 mm, . sd. 23 mm to 37 mm, . sd. 25) with no statistical difference between them at all time-points. The failure rate within 12 months of treatment was 11/23 (48%) and 12/22 (55%) in Groups A and B, respectively (p = 0.458). The improvement in Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire Index and patient satisfaction favoured Group A in the short-term (three months) that almost reached statistical significance (p = 0.059 and 0.066 respectively). However, this difference was not observed beyond three months. . Conclusion. This study has shown that ultrasound guidance did not demonstrably improve the efficacy of corticosteroid injections in patients with MN. Take home message: In the presence of a clear diagnosis of MN, a trained clinician who understands the forefoot anatomy may perform an injection without ultrasound guidance with good and safe results. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:498–503