Aims

After failed acetabular fractures, total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a challenging procedure and considered the gold standard treatment. The complexity of the procedure depends on the fracture pattern and the initial fracture management. This study’s primary aim was to evaluate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for patients who underwent delayed uncemented acetabular THA after acetabular fractures. The secondary aims were to assess the radiological outcome and the incidence of the associated complications in those patients.

Dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint is a relatively common injury and a number of surgical interventions have been described for its treatment. Recently, a synthetic ligament device has become available and been successfully used, however, like other non-native solutions, a compromise must be reached when choosing non-anatomical locations for their placement. This cadaveric study aimed to assess the effect of different clavicular anchorage points for the Lockdown device on the reduction of acromioclavicular joint dislocations, and suggest an optimal location. We also assessed whether further stability is provided using a coracoacromial ligament transfer (a modified Neviaser technique). The acromioclavicular joint was exposed on seven fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders. The joint was reconstructed using the Lockdown implant using four different clavicular anchorage points and reduction was measured. The coracoacromial ligament was then transferred to the lateral end of the clavicle, and the joint re-assessed. If the Lockdown ligament was secured at the level of the conoid tubercle, the acromioclavicular joint could be reduced anatomically in all cases. If placed medial or 2 cm lateral, the joint was irreducible. If the Lockdown was placed 1 cm lateral to the conoid tubercle, the joint could be reduced with difficulty in four cases. Correct placement of the Lockdown device is crucial to allow anatomical joint reduction. Even when the Lockdown was placed over the conoid tubercle, anterior clavicle displacement remained but this could be controlled using a coracoacromial ligament transfer. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1657–61

Aims

The use of 3D printing has become increasingly popular and has been widely used in orthopaedic surgery. There has been a trend towards an increasing number of publications in this field, but existing literature incorporates limited high-quality studies, and there is a lack of reports on outcomes. The aim of this study was to perform a scoping review with Level I evidence on the application and effectiveness of 3D printing.

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate whether on-demand removal (ODR) is noninferior to routine removal (RR) of syndesmotic screws regarding functional outcome.

Forty-five patients with fractures of the tibial spine were reviewed 3 to 10 years after injury in order to determine the degree of residual laxity of the cruciate or collateral ligaments. After fractures which had been partially or completely displaced, some anterior cruciate laxity was evident, even if patients were asymptomatic. It was also found that an anatomical reduction did not prevent either laxity or some loss of full extension of the knee

1. Twenty-two feet injured at the tarso-metatarsal level are reviewed. 2. Experiments with eleven cadaveric feet are reported. 3. The injuries are caused by forced plantar-flexion combined with rotation in most cases. Crushing of the foot alone often does not produce dislocation. 4. A classification is suggested. 5. The results of various treatments in this small series are presented. It is concluded that anatomical reduction is important, achieved if necessary by operation and internal fixation

The results of the use of Harrington rods in the treatment of spinal fractures were reviewed. It was found that with burst fractures where the anterior pillar was deficient there was a significant incidence of loss of reduction. Anterior bone supplementation is recommended in these fractures when major loss of height or angulation occurs. Several technical faults were detected which, in most cases, also led to a loss of reduction. Almost all patients with an anatomical reduction were free of pain. There was no correlation between the loss of reduction and the lapse of time before operation, the levels of instrumentation, the length of the fusion, the severity of the initial deformity, the degree of initial correction or the presence or absence of a neurological deficit

Forty-seven patients over the age of 55 years with a displaced fracture of the ankle were entered into a prospective, randomised study in order to compare open reduction and internal fixation with closed treatment in a plaster cast; 36 were reviewed after a mean of 27 months. The outcome was assessed clinically, radiologically and functionally using the Olerud score. The results showed that anatomical reduction was significantly less reliable (p = 0.03) and loss of reduction significantly more common (p = 0.001) in the group with closed treatment. Those managed by open reduction and internal fixation had a significantly higher functional outcome score (p = 0.03) and a significantly better range of movement of the ankle (p = 0.044) at review

Sixty-four patellar fractures treated either by internal fixation or by patellectomy were reviewed retrospectively from 3.5 to 10.1 years (average 6.2 years) after operation. Results were assessed subjectively and objectively. Of the 64 patients, 45% had a good result, 27% fair and 28% poor. On the whole, patellectomy produced better results (60% good, 20% fair, 20% poor), than internal fixation (31% good, 33% fair, 36% poor). Nevertheless, the best results of all were achieved by precise anatomical reduction of the patellar fracture and fixation with K-wires and a tension band. Where this could not be achieved, however, patellectomy gave the best results

We used calcium-phosphate cement combined with minimal internal fixation to treat 49 fractures of the lateral tibial plateau. There were 25 split depression fractures, 22 pure depression fractures and two bicondylar fractures. Anatomical reduction was obtained in 38 fractures, satisfactory reduction in nine and imperfect reduction in two. Of 44 patients reviewed at one year, 33 were rated as having an excellent reduction. Functional outcome as measured by the Rasmussen score was good or excellent at six months in 92% (44/48) of patients and in 95% (42/44) at one year. Eight (16%) showed some loss of reduction of the plateau. In seven of these the loss of reduction was slight (< 3 mm) and no action was taken. One patient with a deep infection had gross loss of reduction and a poor functional outcome. Calcium-phosphate cement is a useful alternative to bone grafting for the treatment of fractures of the tibial plateau

We treated 34 consecutive articular fractures of the proximal humerus in 33 patients with good bone quality by open reduction and internal fixation. Anatomical or nearly anatomical reduction was achieved in 30, at a mean follow-up of 63 months (25 to 131), complete or partial avascular necrosis had occurred in 12 cases (35%). Two patients subsequently underwent arthroplasty and six further patients required additional surgery. The 32 patients who did not require arthroplasty obtained a mean Constant score of 78 points or 89% of an age- and gender-matched normal score (66 points or 76% in the presence and 83 points or 96% in the absence of avascular necrosis (p < 0.0005)); 22 were painfree, and seven had mild pain and three moderate pain. The mean active anterior elevation was 156°. Internal fixation of complex fractures of the proximal humerus restored good shoulder function if avascular necrosis did not develop

Aims

We aimed to compare the implant survival, complications, readmissions, and mortality of Vancouver B2 periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) treated with internal fixation with that of B1 PFFs treated with internal fixation and B2 fractures treated with revision arthroplasty.

We report a retrospective study of 54 acetabular fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation, with an average follow-up of 9.6 years (3 to 17). Reduction leaving displacement of less than or equal to 2 mm was achieved in 36 hips (67%); good or excellent functional results were obtained in 33 patients (61%). Early complications requiring re-operation included postoperative loss of reduction in one case and an intra-articular screw in another. Arthrodesis or total hip arthroplasty had been performed in 10 patients (19%) who had late symptomatic degenerative changes. Failure to obtain accurate reduction was the most important factor leading to a poor result, but heterotopic calcification caused poor results in seven patients, five of whom had had an anatomical reduction

Aims

We report the long-term outcomes of the UK Heel Fracture Trial (HeFT), a pragmatic, multicentre, two-arm, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

We report four patients with a mean age of 17 years (14 to 22) with external rotation injuries of the knee in slight flexion. Radiographs showed a small fragment in the area of the lateral femoral condyle. At operation, the fragment, consisting of the femoral insertion of the popliteus, was anatomically reduced and fixed. At a mean follow-up of 35 months all the knees had an excellent function score. An isolated lesion of the popliteus often presents as a tendon avulsion whereas major damage to the posterolateral corner of the knee involves combined ligamentous injuries. In patients with an acute haemarthrosis and lateral pain in a stable knee, the diagnosis of isolated avulsion of the popliteus tendon should be suspected. Arthroscopy with special attention to the lateral gutter is indicated. We advise anatomical reduction and fixation of the fragment to prevent possible long-term effects on other posterolateral structures

We reviewed 36 consecutive patients with Monteggia fracture-dislocations of the forearm; 28 had been treated within 24 hours and 8 had been referred a week or more after the initial injury with persisting or recurrent dislocation of the proximal radio-ulnar joint after treatment elsewhere. We treated 15 of the 16 complete fractures and 3 of the 11 incomplete fractures of the ulna by operative fixation. All the early fractures and six of the eight late referrals had good or excellent results. The two poor results were in patients with malalignment and dislocation of the radial head persisting for at least two weeks before definitive treatment. A good outcome after a Monteggia injury in a child requires early diagnosis and prompt, stable, anatomical reduction of the ulnar fracture. In our experience, selective operative fixation of unstable fractures provides reliable reduction and causes few complications

Fractures of the distal radius occurring in young adults are treated increasingly by open surgical techniques, partly because of concern that failure to restore the alignment of the fracture accurately may cause symptomatic post-traumatic osteoarthritis in future years. We reviewed 106 adults who had sustained a fracture of the distal radius between 1960 and 1968 and who were below the age of 40 years at the time of injury. We carried out a clinical and radiological assessment at a mean follow-up of 38 years (33 to 42). No patient had required a salvage procedure. While there was radiological evidence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis after an intra-articular fracture in 68% of patients (27 of 40), the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scores were not different from population norms, and function, as assessed by the Patient Evaluation Measure, was impaired by less than 10%. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship between narrowing of the joint space and extra-articular malunion (dorsal angulation and radial shortening) as well as intra-articular injury. Multivariate analysis revealed that grip strength had fallen to 89% of that of the uninjured side in the presence of dorsal malunion, but no measure of extra-articular malunion was significantly related to either the Patient Evaluation Measure or DASH scores. While anatomical reduction is the principal aim of treatment, imperfect reduction of these fractures may not result in symptomatic arthritis in the long term, and this should be considered when counselling patients on the risks and benefits of the many treatment options available

We treated 36 patients with unilateral facet dislocations or fracture-dislocations of the cervical spine at the Mayo Clinic between 1975 and 1986. Adequate records were available for 34: ten patients were treated by open reduction and posterior fusion, and 24 by nonoperative management. Of these, 19 had halo traction followed by halo-thoracic immobilisation, four had a simple cervicothoracic orthosis, and one received no active treatment. Anatomical reduction was achieved more frequently in the operative group (60% compared with 25%). Nonoperative treatment was more likely to result in cervical translation on flexion/extension lateral radiographs, and in significant symptoms. Only 36% of the patients treated by halo traction achieved anatomical alignment; in 25% halo traction failed to achieve or maintain any degree of reduction. During halo-thoracic immobilisation, half of the patients lost some degree of reduction and patient satisfaction with the appliance was low. Open reduction and internal fixation of unilateral facet injuries gave better results. 6

Aims

This aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Unified Classification System (UCS) for postoperative periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) around cemented polished taper-slip (PTS) stems.