Aims. In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), blood loss continues internally after surgery is complete. Typically, the total loss over 48 postoperative hours can be around 1,300 ml, with most occurring within the first 24 hours. We hypothesize that the full potential of tranexamic acid (TXA) to decrease TKA blood loss has not yet been harnessed because it is rarely used beyond the intraoperative period, and is usually withheld from ‘high-risk’ patients with a history of thromboembolic, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular disease, a patient group who would benefit greatly from a reduced blood loss. Methods. TRAC-24 was a prospective, phase IV, single-centre, open label, parallel group, randomized controlled trial on patients undergoing TKA, including those labelled as high-risk. The primary outcome was indirect calculated blood loss (IBL) at 48 hours. Group 1 received 1 g intravenous (IV) TXA at the time of surgery and an additional 24-hour postoperative oral regime of four 1 g doses, while Group 2 only received the intraoperative dose and Group 3 did not receive any TXA. Results. Between July 2016 and July 2018, 552 patients were randomized to either Group 1 (n = 241), Group 2 (n = 243), or Group 3 (n = 68), and 551 were included in the final analysis. The blood loss did differ significantly between the two intervention groups (733.5 ml (SD 384.0) for Group 1 and 859.2 ml (SD 363.6 ml) for Group 2; mean difference -125.8 ml (95% confidence interval -194.0 to -57.5; p < 0.001). No differences in mortality or thromboembolic events were observed in any group. Conclusion. These data support the hypothesis that in TKA, a TXA regime consisting of IV 1 g perioperatively and four oral 1 g doses over 24 hours postoperatively significantly reduces blood loss beyond that achieved with a single IV 1 g perioperative dose alone. TXA appears safe in patients with history of thromboembolic, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular disease. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(10):1595–1603

Aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of implant placement when using robotic assistance during total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and Methods. A total of 20 patients underwent a planned THA using preoperative CT scans and robotic-assisted software. There were nine men and 11 women (n = 20 hips) with a mean age of 60.8 years (. sd. 6.0). Pelvic and femoral bone models were constructed by segmenting both preoperative and postoperative CT scan images. The preoperative anatomical landmarks using the robotic-assisted system were matched to the postoperative 3D reconstructions of the pelvis. Acetabular and femoral component positions as measured intraoperatively and postoperatively were evaluated and compared. Results. The system reported accurate values for reconstruction of the hip when compared to those measured postoperatively using CT. The mean deviation from the executed overall hip length and offset were 1.6 mm (. sd. 2.9) and 0.5 mm (. sd. 3.0), respectively. Mean combined anteversion was similar and correlated between intraoperative measurements and postoperative CT measurements (32.5°, . sd. 5.9° versus 32.2°, . sd. 6.4°; respectively; R. 2. = 0.65; p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between mean intraoperative (40.4°, . sd. 2.1°) acetabular component inclination and mean measured postoperative inclination (40.12°, . sd. 3.0°, R. 2. = 0.62; p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between mean intraoperative version (23.2°, . sd. 2.3°), and postoperatively measured version (23.0°, . sd. 2.4°; R. 2. = 0.76; p < 0.001). Preoperative and postoperative femoral component anteversion were significantly correlated with one another (R. 2. = 0.64; p < 0.001). Three patients had CT scan measurements that differed substantially from the intraoperative robotic measurements when evaluating stem anteversion. Conclusion. This is the first study to evaluate the success of hip reconstruction overall using robotic-assisted THA. The overall hip reconstruction obtained in the operating theatre using robotic assistance accurately correlated with the postoperative component position assessed independently using CT based 3D modelling. Clinical correlation during surgery should continue to be practiced and compared with observed intraoperative robotic values. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1303–9

Aims. This study evaluates risk factors influencing fracture characteristics for postoperative periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) around cemented stems in total hip arthroplasty. Methods. Data were collected for PFF patients admitted to eight UK centres between 25 May 2006 and 1 March 2020. Radiographs were assessed for Unified Classification System (UCS) grade and AO/OTA type. Statistical comparisons investigated relationships by age, gender, and stem fixation philosophy (polished taper-slip (PTS) vs composite beam (CB)). The effect of multiple variables was estimated using multinomial logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Surgical treatment (revision vs fixation) was compared by UCS grade and AO/OTA type. Results. A total of 584 cases were included. Median age was 79.1 years (interquartile range 72.0 to 86.0), 312 (53.6%) patients were female, and 495 (85.1%) stems were PTS. The commonest UCS grade was type B1 (278, 47.6%). The most common AO/OTA type was spiral (352, 60.3%). Metaphyseal split fractures occurred only with PTS stems with an incidence of 10.1%. Male sex was associated with a five-fold reduction in odds of a type C fracture (OR 0.22 (95% CI 0.12 to 0.41); p < 0.001) compared to a type B fracture. CB stems were associated with significantly increased odds of transverse fracture (OR 9.51 (95% CI 3.72 to 24.34); p < 0.001) and wedge fracture (OR 3.72 (95% CI 1.16 to 11.95); p = 0.027) compared to PTS stems. Both UCS grade and AO/OTA type differed significantly (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) between the revision and fixation groups but a similar proportion of B1 fractures underwent revision compared to fixation (45.3% vs 50.6%). Conclusion. The commonest fracture types are B1 and spiral fractures. PTS stems are exclusively associated with metaphyseal split fractures, but their incidence is low. Males have lower odds of UCS grade C fractures compared to females. CB stems have higher odds of bending type fractures (transverse and wedge) compared to PTS stems. There is considerable variation in practice when treating B1 fractures around cemented stems. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(7):466–475

Aims. To develop a core outcome set of measurements from postoperative radiographs that can be used to assess technical skill in performing dynamic hip screw (DHS) and hemiarthroplasty, and to validate these against Van der Vleuten’s criteria for effective assessment. Methods. A Delphi exercise was undertaken at a regional major trauma centre to identify candidate measurement items. The feasibility of taking these measurements was tested by two of the authors (HKJ, GTRP). Validity and reliability were examined using the radiographs of operations performed by orthopaedic resident participants (n = 28) of a multicentre randomized controlled educational trial (ISRCTN20431944). Trainees were divided into novice and intermediate groups, defined as having performed < ten or ≥ ten cases each for DHS and hemiarthroplasty at baseline. The procedure-based assessment (PBA) global rating score was assumed as the gold standard assessment for the purposes of concurrent validity. Intra- and inter-rater reliability testing were performed on a random subset of 25 cases. Results. In total, 327 DHS and 248 hemiarthroplasty procedures were performed by 28 postgraduate year (PGY) 3 to 5 orthopaedic trainees during the 2014 to 2015 surgical training year at nine NHS hospitals in the West Midlands, UK. Overall, 109 PBAs were completed for DHS and 80 for hemiarthroplasty. Expert consensus identified four ‘final product analysis’ (FPA) radiological parameters of technical success for DHS: tip-apex distance (TAD); lag screw position in the femoral head; flushness of the plate against the lateral femoral cortex; and eight-cortex hold of the plate screws. Three parameters were identified for hemiarthroplasty: leg length discrepancy; femoral stem alignment; and femoral offset. Face validity, content validity, and feasibility were excellent. For all measurements, performance was better in the intermediate compared with the novice group, and this was statistically significant for TAD (p < 0.001) and femoral stem alignment (p = 0.023). Concurrent validity was poor when measured against global PBA score. This may be explained by the fact that they are measuring difference facets of competence. Intra-and inter-rater reliability were excellent for TAD, moderate for lag screw position (DHS), and moderate for leg length discrepancy (hemiarthroplasty). Use of a large multicentre dataset suggests good generalizability of the results to other settings. Assessment using FPA was time- and cost-effective compared with PBA. Conclusion. Final product analysis using post-implantation radiographs to measure technical skill in hip fracture surgery is feasible, valid, reliable, and cost-effective. It can complement traditional workplace-based assessment for measuring performance in the real-world operating room . It may have particular utility in competency-based training frameworks and for assessing skill transfer from the simulated to live operating theatre. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:594–604

Aims. Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) has been introduced to provide accurate bone cuts and help achieve the target knee alignment, along with symmetric gap balancing. The purpose of this study was to determine if any early clinical benefits could be realized following TKA using robotic-assisted technology. Methods. In all, 140 consecutive patients undergoing RA-TKA and 127 consecutive patients undergoing conventional TKA with minimum six-week follow-up were reviewed. Differences in visual analogue scores (VAS) for pain at rest and with activity, postoperative opiate usage, and length of stay (LOS) between the RA-TKA and conventional TKA groups were compared. Results. Patients undergoing RA-TKA had lower average VAS pain scores at rest (p = 0.001) and with activity (p = 0.03) at two weeks following the index procedure. At the six-week interval, the RA-TKA group had lower VAS pain scores with rest (p = 0.03) and with activity (p = 0.02), and required 3.2 mg less morphine equivalents per day relative to the conventional group (p < 0.001). At six weeks, a significantly greater number of patients in the RA-TKA group were free of opioid use compared to the conventional TKA group; 70.7% vs 57.0% (p = 0.02). Patients in the RA-TKA group had a shorter LOS; 1.9 days versus 2.3 days (p < 0.001), and also had a greater percentage of patient discharged on postoperative day one; 41.3% vs 20.5% (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Patients undergoing RA-TKA had lower pain levels at both rest and with activity, required less opioid medication, and had a shorter LOS

Aims. Although periarticular injection plays an important role in multimodal pain management following total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is no consensus on the optimal composition of the injection. In particular, it is not clear whether the addition of a corticosteroid improves the pain relief achieved nor whether it is associated with more complications than are observed without corticosteroid. The aim of this study was to quantify the safety and effectiveness of cortocosteroid use in periarticular injection during THA. Methods. We conducted a prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial involving patients scheduled for unilateral THA. A total of 187 patients were randomly assigned to receive periarticular injection containing either a corticosteroid (CS group) or without corticosteroid (no-CS group). Other perioperative interventions were identical for all patients. The primary outcome was postoperative pain at rest during the initial 24 hours after surgery. Pain score was recorded every three hours until 24 hours using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The primary outcome was assessed based on the area under the curve (AUC). Results. The CS group had a significantly lower AUC postoperatively at 0 to 24 hours compared to the no-CS group (AUC of VAS score at rest 550 ± 362 vs 392 ± 320, respectively; mean difference 158 mm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 58 to 257; p = 0.0021). In point-by-point evaluation, the CS group had significantly lower VAS scores at 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 48 hours. There were no significant differences in complication rates, including surgical site infection, between the two groups. Conclusion. The addition of corticosteroid to periarticular injections reduces postoperative pain without increasing complication rate following THA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(10):1297–1302

Aims. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of postoperatively restricted weight-bearing and its association with outcome in patients who undergo surgery for a fracture of the hip. Patients and Methods. Patient aged > 60 years undergoing surgery for a hip fracture were identified in the 2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Hip Fracture Targeted Procedure Dataset. Analysis of the effect of restricted weight-bearing on adverse events, delirium, infection, transfusion, length of stay, return to the operating theatre, readmission and mortality within 30 days postoperatively were assessed. Multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding demographic, comorbid and procedural characteristics. Results. Of the 4918 patients who met inclusion criteria, 3668 (63.53%) were allowed to weight-bear as tolerated postoperatively. Controlling for patient and procedural factors, multivariate odds of any adverse event, major adverse event, delirium, infection, transfusion, length of stay ≥ 75th percentile (six days) and mortality within 30 days were all higher in patients with weight-bearing restrictions. Notably, there were no differences for thromboembolic events, return to the operating theatre or readmission within 30 days between the groups. Conclusion. Elderly patients with a fracture of the hip with postoperative weight-bearing restrictions have a significantly greater risk of developing most adverse events compared with those who are encouraged to weight-bear as tolerated. These findings emphasize the importance of immediate weight-bearing as tolerated to optimize the outcome in these frail patients; however nearly 25% of surgeons fail to meet this evidence-based guideline. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1377–84

Aims. Despite declining frequency of blood transfusion and electrolyte supplementation following total joint arthroplasty, postoperative blood analyses are still routinely ordered for these patients. This study aimed to determine the rate of blood transfusion and electrolyte restoration in arthroplasty patients treated with a perioperative blood conservation protocol and to identify risk factors that would predict the need for transfusion and electrolyte supplementation. Patients and Methods. Patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty of the hip or knee between July 2016 and February 2017 at a single institution were included in the study. Standard preoperative and postoperative laboratory data were collected and reviewed retrospectively. A uniform blood conservation programme was implemented for all patients. Need for blood transfusion or potassium supplementation was determined through a coordinated decision by the care team. Rates of transfusion and supplementation were observed, and patient risk factors were noted. Results. The overall rate of blood transfusion was 1.06% in the study population of 1132 total joint arthroplasties performed in 1023 patients. Of the 12 patients requiring transfusion, 11 were female, ten occurred in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, and all 12 patients had a preoperative haemoglobin level less than 130 g/l. Operative duration and surgical blood loss were significantly greater in those patients requiring blood transfusion. Nearly all patients requiring transfusion had a history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease. Potassium supplementation was required in 15.5% of the study cohort; 72% of these patients receiving potassium presented with a potassium level less than 4 mmol/l during preoperative testing, while the remaining 28% had a past medical history of either significant anaemia, cardiopulmonary, cardiovascular, or renal diseases that had required substantial medical management. Conclusion. A consistent blood-conserving perioperative strategy effectively minimized need for blood transfusion in total joint arthroplasty patients below previously reported rates in the literature. We suggest that postoperative full blood counts and basic metabolic panels should not routinely be ordered in these patients unless their preoperative haemoglobin and potassium is below 130 g/dl or 4 mmol/l respectively, and they have medical comorbidities

Aims. To evaluate the histopathological examination of peri-implant tissue samples as a technique in the diagnosis of postoperative spinal implant infection (PSII). Methods. This was a retrospective analysis. Patients who underwent revision spinal surgery at our institution were recruited for this study. PSII was diagnosed by clinical signs, histopathology, and microbiological examination of intraoperatively collected samples. Histopathology was defined as the gold standard. The sensitivity for histopathology was calculated. A total of 47 patients with PSII and at least one microbiological and histopathological sample were included in the study. Results. PSII occurred in approximately 28% of the study population. Histopathology showed a sensitivity of 51.1% in the diagnosis of PSII. The most commonly found pathogens were Cutibacterium acnes and gram-positive staphylococci. Conclusion. Histopathology has low sensitivity for detecting PSII. In particular, infections caused by low-virulence microorganisms are insufficiently detected by histopathology. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(7):899–903

Aims. The aims of this study were to measure sagittal standing and sitting lumbar-pelvic-femoral alignment in patients before and following total hip arthroplasty (THA), and to consider what preoperative factors may influence a change in postoperative pelvic position. Patients and Methods. A total of 161 patients were considered for inclusion. Patients had a mean age of the remaining 61 years (. sd. 11) with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28 kg/m. 2. (. sd. 6). Of the 161 patients, 82 were male (51%). We excluded 17 patients (11%) with spinal conditions known to affect lumbar mobility as well as the rotational axis of the spine. Standing and sitting spine-to-lower-limb radiographs were taken of the remaining 144 patients before and one year following THA. Spinopelvic alignment measurements, including sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic incidence, were measured. These angles were used to calculate lumbar spine flexion and femoroacetabular hip flexion from a standing to sitting position. A radiographic scoring system was used to identify those patients in the series who had lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) and compare spinopelvic parameters between those patients with DDD (n = 38) and those who did not (n = 106). Results. Following THA, patients sat with more anterior pelvic tilt (mean increased sacral slope 18° preoperatively versus 23° postoperatively; p = 0.001) and more lumbar lordosis (mean 28° preoperatively versus 35° postoperatively; p = 0.001). Preoperative change in sacral slope from standing to sitting (p = 0.03) and the absence of DDD (p = 0.001) correlated to an increased change in postoperative sitting pelvic alignment. Conclusion. Sitting lumbar-pelvic-femoral alignment following THA may be driven by hip arthritis and/or spinal deformity. Patients with DDD and fixed spinopelvic alignment have a predictable pelvic position one year following THA. Patients with normal spines have less predictable postoperative pelvic position, which is likely to be driven by hip stiffness. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1289–96

Aims

The outcome following the development of neurological complications after corrective surgery for scoliosis varies from full recovery to a permanent deficit. This study aimed to assess the prognosis and recovery of major neurological deficits in these patients, and to determine the risk factors for non-recovery, at a minimum follow-up of two years.

C5 nerve root palsy is a rare and potentially debilitating complication of cervical spine surgery. Currently, however, there are no guidelines to help surgeons to prevent or treat this complication.

We carried out a systematic review of the literature to identify the causes of this complication and options for its prevention and treatment. Searches of PubMed, Embase and Medline yielded 60 articles for inclusion, most of which addressed C5 palsy as a complication of surgery. Although many possible causes were given, most authors supported posterior migration of the spinal cord with tethering of the nerve root as being the most likely.

Early detection and prevention of a C5 nerve root palsy using neurophysiological monitoring and variations in surgical technique show promise by allowing surgeons to minimise or prevent the incidence of C5 palsy. Conservative treatment is the current treatment of choice; most patients make a full recovery within two years.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:950–5.

Aims

We assessed the value of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) in the prediction of adverse outcome after hip fracture.

Aims. The use of vitamin E-infused highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) in total knee prostheses is controversial. In this paper we have compared the clinical and radiological results between conventional polyethylene and vitamin E-infused HXLPE inserts in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients and Methods. The study included 200 knees (175 patients) that underwent TKA using the same total knee prostheses. In all, 100 knees (77 patients) had a vitamin E-infused HXLPE insert (study group) and 100 knees (98 patients) had a conventional polyethylene insert (control group). There were no significant differences in age, sex, diagnosis, preoperative knee range of movement (ROM), and preoperative Knee Society Score (KSS) between the two groups. Clinical and radiological results were evaluated at two years postoperatively. Results. Differences in postoperative ROM and KSS were not statistically significant between the study and control groups. No knee exhibited osteolysis, aseptic loosening, or polyethylene failure. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the incidence of a radiolucent line between the two groups. One patient from the study group required irrigation and debridement, due to deep infection, at six months postoperatively. Conclusion. Clinical results were comparable between vitamin E-infused HXLPE inserts and conventional polyethylene inserts at two years after TKA, without any significant clinical failure. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:559–564

Aims. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of anterior knee pain after antegrade tibial nailing using suprapatellar and infrapatellar surgical approaches. Patients and Methods. A total of 95 patients with a tibial fracture requiring an intramedullary nail were randomized to treatment using a supra- or infrapatellar approach. Anterior knee pain was assessed at four and six months, and one year postoperatively, using the Aberdeen Weightbearing Test – Knee (AWT-K) score and a visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain. The AWT-K is an objective patient-reported outcome measure that uses weight transmitted through the knee when kneeling as a surrogate for anterior knee pain. Results. A total of 53 patients were randomized to a suprapatellar approach and 42 to an infrapatellar approach. AWT-K results showed a greater mean proportion of weight transmitted through the injured leg compared with the uninjured leg when kneeling in the suprapatellar group compared with the infrapatellar group at all timepoints at all follow-up visits. This reached significance at four months for all timepoints except 30 seconds. It also reached significance at six months at 0 seconds, and for one year at 60 seconds. Conclusion. The suprapatellar surgical approach for antegrade tibial nailing is associated with less anterior knee pain postoperatively compared with the infrapatellar approach. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1138–1143

Aims

This study aimed to describe preoperative waiting times for surgery in hip fracture patients in Norway, and analyze factors affecting waiting time and potential negative consequences of prolonged waiting time.

Aims. The aim of this study was to examine the association between postoperative glycaemic variability and adverse outcomes following orthopaedic surgery. Patients and Methods. This retrospective study analyzed data on 12 978 patients (1361 with two operations) who underwent orthopaedic surgery at a single institution between 2001 and 2017. Patients with a minimum of either two postoperative measurements of blood glucose levels per day, or more than three measurements overall, were included in the study. Glycaemic variability was assessed using a coefficient of variation (CV). The length of stay (LOS), in-hospital complications, and 90-day readmission and mortality rates were examined. Data were analyzed with linear and generalized linear mixed models for linear and binary outcomes, adjusting for various covariates. Results. The cohort included 14 339 admissions, of which 3302 (23.0%) involved diabetic patients. Patients with CV values in the upper tertile were twice as likely to have an in-hospital complication compared with patients in the lowest tertile (19.4% versus 9.0%, p < 0.001), and almost five times more likely to die compared with those in the lowest tertile (2.8% versus 0.6%, p < 0.001). Results of the adjusted analyses indicated that the mean LOS was 1.28 days longer in the highest versus the lowest CV tertile (p < 0.001), and the odds of an in-hospital complication and 90-day mortality in the highest CV tertile were respectively 1.91 (p < 0.001) and 2.10 (p = 0.001) times larger than the odds of these events in the lowest CV tertile. These associations were significant even for non-diabetic patients. After adjusting for hypoglycaemia, the relationships remained significant, except that the CV tertile no longer predicted mortality in diabetics. Conclusion. These results indicate that higher glycaemic variability is associated with longer LOS and in-hospital complications. Glycaemic variability also predicted death, although that primarily held for non-diabetic patients in the highest CV tertile following orthopaedic surgery. Prospective studies should examine whether ensuring low postoperative glycaemic variability may reduce complication rates and mortality. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:1125–32

Aims

Patients who sustain neck of femur fractures are at high risk of malnutrition. Our intention was to assess to what extent malnutrition was associated with worse patient outcomes.

Aims. Adductor canal block (ACB) has emerged as an alternative to femoral nerve block (FNB) for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The optimal duration of maintenance of the ACB is still questionable. The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic benefits and physiotherapy (PT) outcomes of single-shot ACB to two different regimens of infusion of the continuous ACB, 24-hour and 48-hour infusion. Patients and Methods. This was a prospective, randomized, unblinded study. A total of 159 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I to III patients scheduled for primary TKA were randomized to one of three study groups. Three patients did not complete the study, leaving 156 patients for final analysis. Group A (n = 53) was the single-shot group (16 female patients and 37 male patients with a mean age of 63.9 years (. sd. 9.6)), group B (n = 51) was the 24-hour infusion group (22 female patients and 29 male patients with a mean age of 66.5 years (. sd. 8.5)), and group C (n = 52) was the 48-hour infusion group (18 female patients and 34 male patients with a mean age of 62.2 years (. sd. 8.7)). Pain scores, opioid requirements, PT test results, and patient-reported outcome instruments were compared between the three groups. Results. The proportion of patients reporting severe pain, defined as a pain score of between 7 and 10, on postoperative day number 2 (POD 2) were 21% for the single-shot group, 14% for the 24-hour block group, and 12% for the 48-hour block group (p = 0.05). Cumulative opioid requirements after 48 hours were similar between the groups. Functional outcomes were similar in all three groups in POD 1 and POD 2. Conclusion. There was no clear benefit of the 24-hour or 48-hour infusions over the single-shot ACB for the primary endpoint of the study. Otherwise, there were marginal benefits for keeping the indwelling catheter for 48 hours in terms of reducing the number of patients with moderate pain and improving the quality of pain management. However, all three groups had similar opioid usage, length of hospital stay, and functional outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:340–347

In 22 patients with femoral neck fractures 99mTc-MDP scintimetry was performed before operation and again shortly after operation; in 17 of these patients the investigation was repeated after four months. Six patients with increased uptake in the femoral head before operation and eight with decreased uptake had similar results at the first postoperative investigation. Of eight patients with an intermediate uptake before operation, two showed increased and six decreased femoral head uptake after operation. It is concluded that for the patients in the group with intermediate femoral head uptake before operation, the operative procedure probably influenced the postoperative blood supply of the femoral head