The treatment of multifragmentary, intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus is difficult, even in young patients with bone of good quality, but is worse in elderly patients who have varying degrees of osteopenia. We have evaluated the functional outcome of primary total elbow replacement (TER) in the treatment of these fractures in ten elderly patients followed for a minimum of one year. There were no complications in regard to the soft tissues, bone or prosthesis. The mean range of flexion obtained was 125° (110 to 140) and loss of extension was 23.5° (0 to 50). The mean Mayo score was 94 points (80 to 100) and patient satisfaction was high. We feel that TER provides an alternative to open reduction and internal fixation in the management of these complicated fractures in the elderly

We report overuse injuries in 14 elbows of ten elite young gymnasts. In 12 elbows of eight patients aged 11 to 15 years there was a spectrum of radiological abnormalities including widening of the olecranon physis and fragmentation of the epiphysis. The radiographs were compared with those of normal elbows matched for age and sex. The radiograph appearances were very similar to those of the Osgood-Schlatter lesion of the tibial tuberosity. Two older boys, aged 18 and 19, had stress fractures through the olecranon growth plate. Conservative management was successful in all except one case of stress fracture which required internal fixation

Deformity of the forearm is common in patients with hereditary multiple exostoses, producing cosmetic and functional impairment in which shortening of the ulna is a significant factor. The results of ulnar lengthening in 10 forearms of eight patients are reported. Lengthening was performed by osteotomy of the shaft followed immediately by a bone graft and internal fixation, or by gradual distraction with an external fixator. In all patients the appearance was improved and the range of radial deviation at the wrist was increased. In most patients forearm movement and radial head stability were improved. Partial recurrence of the deformity was seen during the follow-up of skeletally immature patients, but in general ulnar lengthening was found to be a useful operation

1. Three cases of injury to the femoro-popliteal artery complicating fracture of the femoral shaft are described. 2. In all three cases restoration of peripheral circulation by arterial repair carried out within ten hours of injury succeeded in saving the limb from permanent damage. 3. The importance of adequate resuscitation, early diagnosis and early adequate surgical intervention is stressed. 4. The mechanism of injury and the clinical features of help in early diagnosis are discussed. 5. The place of internal fixation of the femoral fragments is discussed and its advantages and disadvantages are compared with those of treatment by skeletal or skin traction

1. The record is presented of an attempt to treat osteochondritis dissecans on idealistic lines. 2. The operative technique to be adopted in the various circumstances likely to be encountered in the knee joint is described. Two cases affecting the talus are recorded. 3. The radiological appearance has become virtually normal in twenty-seven cases (the remaining four are recent); healing has been observed directly in seven cases in which a second operation to remove the means of internal fixation was necessary; and the patients' complaints have been eliminated, but the long term results of treatment are unknown. 4. Suggestions are made for possible developments in the technique of operation

1. The factors producing electrolytic corrosion of stainless steels are reviewed, and it is shown how several factors operating together can accentuate corrosion in certain positions in the plated fracture. 2. These factors can be minimised by good metallurgy and good engineering on the part of the manufacturers. 3. When and if materials become metallurgically satisfactory, or a truly inert substitute for metal is discovered, it will be possible to assess the true contribution of infection, faulty operative technique and mechanical factors to the failures of internal fixation. Such a critical assessment of these probably more important factors is at present bedevilled by uncertainty as to the purely physical condition of the materials as supplied to the surgeon

Aims

Improvements in functional results and long-term survival are variable following conversion of hip fusion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) and complications are high. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical and functional results in patients who underwent conversion of hip fusion to THA using a consistent technique and uncemented implants.

Aims

This is a multicentre, non-inventor, prospective observational study of 503 INFINITY fixed bearing total ankle arthroplasties (TAAs). We report our early experience, complications, and radiological and functional outcomes.

Arthrodesis of the wrist is a standard operation which is indicated for severe rheumatoid arthritis in which destruction is too advanced for more conservative procedures, or after failure of previous surgery. We have developed an L-shaped plate designed for this purpose. It provides rigid internal fixation with the wrist in the neutral position and utilises bone grafts obtained from the distal ulna and the carpal bones. We have carried out 29 successful fusions between 1992 and 1995. In all 29 patients synovectomy and resection of the head of the ulna were performed; 11 also had reconstruction of ruptured extensor tendons. All the patients obtained bony union, pain relief and improved function

We describe a method of internal fixation for femoral neck fractures which has been newly developed to reduce the frequency of early complications. Two cannulated screws are inserted in the axis of the femoral neck to reach into the subchondral bone of the femoral head. The screws are inserted over guide pins and the tip of the screw is self-tapping and designed to provide good anchorage in the femoral head. We used this method in 44 consecutive patients in a prospective study with no exclusions, followed for a minimum of 24 months. All fractures healed within 12 months, and there were no cases of early loosening or nonunion. In four cases, late segmental collapse had developed during the mean follow-up period of 30 months

One hundred consecutive closed fractures of the adult tibial shaft treated by closed methods were surveyed prospectively in order to observe their natural history. The fractures were analysed with regards to speed of healing and the influence of age, sex, causal force, radiological morphology and concurrent fibular fracture. At 20 weeks 19 fractures had not yet united, but 15 of these had united by 30 weeks with conservative treatment alone. The remaining four cases were operated upon because no further progress in healing was anticipated. These findings suggest that, with regard to healing, open reduction and internal fixation is rarely justified in closed adult tibial shaft fractures

1. Intramedullary nailing in two-level tibial fractures provides the following advantages: it allows walking with full weight-bearing in an average time ofthree to four months; it decreases the rate of non-union ; it decreases the rate of malunion ; it should decrease the rate of infection in closed fractures when compared with other types of internal fixation, due to the technique of blind nailing without exposure of the fracture site. 2. Compound tibia! fractures treated by nailing are still often complicated by infection. Nevertheless, we have not been able to find studies in the literature based on series large enough to permit the conclusion that other methods could lower significantly the infection rate

1. A series of 100 intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck treated with the Charnley compression screw is reported. 2. There were six deaths, and in patients reviewed long enough (seventy-five) there were eleven undisplaced fractures, with successful union in 8l·8 per cent, and sixty-four displaced fractures, with a union rate of 59·6 per cent. 3. If we exclude six failures of operative technique, there remain fifty-eight patients in whom the fracture was judged radiologically to have united in 65·5 per cent. 4. The Charnley compression screw is an effective method of internal fixation in such fractures, and non-union with this method is usually due to causes other than mechanical failure

1. Paraplegia from fracture-dislocation at the thoraco-lumbar junction is a mixed cord and root injury. The root damage can be distinguished from cord damage by neurological examination and by comparison of the neurological level with the fracture level. 2. Even though the cord injury is complete, as it usually is, the roots often escape or recover. 3. Fracture-dislocations can be divided into stable and unstable types. Because of the possibility of root recovery care must be taken to prevent further damage to the roots by manipulation of the spine or during treatment. For this reason unstable fracture-dislocations are fixed internally by plates. 4. Internal fixation also assists in the nursing of the patient. The nursing technique and the care of the bladder are described

A consecutive series is reported of 17 patients who underwent early surgical treatment for acetabular or unstable pelvic fractures associated with ipsilateral fractures of the femur. Treatment included external and internal fixation, and required careful consideration of the surgical approach and the positioning of the patient. The multiple injuries sustained by these patients required simultaneous procedures by several surgical teams. All the femoral fractures were internally fixed at the initial operation and eight patients had primary definitive treatment of all their other fractures as well. In nine patients the definitive treatment of their other fractures was delayed for an average of 11 days. There were no deaths, and no serious infections. The long-term morbidity resulted from the associated injuries and not from the pelvic or femoral fractures

Aims

The proportion of arthroplasties performed in the ambulatory setting has increased considerably. However, there are concerns whether same-day discharge may increase the risk of complications. The aim of this study was to compare 90-day outcomes between inpatient arthroplasties and outpatient arthroplasties performed at an ambulatory surgery centre (ASC), and determine whether there is a learning curve associated with performing athroplasties in an ASC.

We report a retrospective review of 62 consecutive patients who had a vascularised fibular transfer to reconstruct a large skeletal defect. We were particularly interested in the bone dynamics of the vascularised graft, since fractures occurred in 25% of the cases at an average time of eight months after surgery. Hypertrophy was more common when the limb was mechanically loaded; it was enhanced where the graft was not bypassed by internal fixation. The length of the graft and the use of additional bone graft material had no influence on the incidence of stress fracture or on hypertrophy. We conclude that a vascularised graft should be protected against fatigue fracture during the first year, and that a gradual increase in mechanical loading will enhance remodelling and hypertrophy

Spines are often stabilised posteriorly by internal fixation and anteriorly by a bone graft. The effect of an autologous bone graft from the iliac crest on implant loads is unknown. We used an internal spinal fixation device with telemetry to measure implant loads for several body positions and activities in nine patients before and after anterior interbody fusion. With the body upright, implant loads were often higher after than before fusion using a bone graft. Distraction of the bridged region led to high implant loads in patients with a fractured vertebra and to marked changes in load in those with degenerative instability. Leaving the lower of the bridged intervertebral discs intact led to only small changes in fixator load after anterior interbody fusion. A bone graft alone does not guarantee a reduction of implant loads

1. Nine out of ten patients who undergo McMurray osteotomy may expect lasting relief of pain. Seventy-five per cent should have a satisfactory functional result. It is rare for a patient to be made worse. 2. Osteoarthritis of the hip and ununited fracture of the femoral neck are good reasons for operation; avascular necrosis after fracture is not. 3. Internal fixation shortens the time in plaster and in hospital, and reduces the incidence of stiffness of the knee. 4. The common observation that the joint space may be increased after osteotomy is due often to the altered position of the femoral head. Occasionally there occurs a true increase in joint space, presumably indicating regeneration of articular cartilage, and an accompanying regression in the changes of osteoarthritis