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.

Evaluation of patients with painful total knee replacement requires a thorough clinical examination and relevant investigations in order to reach a diagnosis. Awareness of the common and uncommon problems leading to painful total knee replacement is useful in the diagnostic approach. This review article aims to act as a guide to the evaluation of patients with painful total knee replacement.

We present a review of litigation claims relating to foot and ankle surgery in the NHS in England during the 17-year period between 1995 and 2012.

A freedom of information request was made to obtain data from the NHS litigation authority (NHSLA) relating to orthopaedic claims, and the foot and ankle claims were reviewed.

During this period of time, a total of 10 273 orthopaedic claims were made, of which 1294 (12.6%) were related to the foot and ankle. 1036 were closed, which comprised of 1104 specific complaints. Analysis was performed using the complaints as the denominator. The cost of settling these claims was more than £36 million.

There were 372 complaints (33.7%) involving the ankle, of which 273 (73.4%) were related to trauma. Conditions affecting the first ray accounted for 236 (21.4%), of which 232 (98.3%) concerned elective practice. Overall, claims due to diagnostic errors accounted for 210 (19.0%) complaints, 208 (18.8%) from alleged incompetent surgery and 149 (13.5%) from alleged mismanagement.

Our findings show that the incorrect, delayed or missed diagnosis of conditions affecting the foot and ankle is a key area for improvement, especially in trauma practice.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1510–14.

The October 2014 Knee Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: microfracture equivalent to OATS; examination better than MRI in predicting hamstrings re-injury; a second view on return to play with hamstrings injuries; dislocation risks in the Oxford Unicompartmental Knee; what about the tibia?; getting on top of lateral facet pain post TKR; readmission in TKR; patient-specific instrumentation; treating infrapatellar saphenous neuralgia; and arthroscopy in the middle-aged.

There are many reasons why a total knee replacement (TKR) may fail and qualify for revision. Successful revision surgery depends as much on accurate assessment of the problem TKR as it does on revision implant design and surgical technique. Specific modes of failure require specific surgical solutions. Causes of failure are often presented as a list or catalogue, without a system or process for making a decision. In addition, strict definitions and consensus on modes of failure are lacking in published series and registry data. How we approach the problem TKR is an essential but neglected aspect of understanding knee replacement surgery. It must be carried out systematically, comprehensively and efficiently. Eight modes of failure are described: 1) sepsis; 2) extensor discontinuity; 3) stiffness; 4) tibial- femoral instability; 5) patellar tracking; 6) aseptic loosening and osteolysis; 7) periprosthetic fracture and 8) component breakage. A ninth ‘category’, unexplained pain is an indication for further investigation but not surgery.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B(11 Suppl A):105–11.

The use of ultrasound-guided wire localisation of lesions is not well described in the orthopaedic literature. We describe a case of an impalpable schwannoma of the femoral nerve and another of sacroiliitis with an associated pelvic abscess. In both, surgical localisation was difficult. Peri-operative ultrasound-guided wire localisation was used to guide surgery and minimise tissue damage, thereby optimising the results and recovery of the patient.

Injuries to the limb are the most frequent cause of permanent disability following combat wounds. We reviewed the medical records of 450 soldiers to determine the type of upper limb nerve injuries sustained, the rate of remaining motor and sensory deficits at final follow-up, and the type of Army disability ratings granted. Of 189 soldiers with an injury of the upper limb, 70 had nerve-related trauma. There were 62 men and eight women with a mean age of 25 years (18 to 49). Disabilities due to nerve injuries were associated with loss of function, neuropathic pain or both. The mean nerve-related disability was 26% (0% to 70%), accounting for over one-half of this cohort’s cumulative disability. Patients injured in an explosion had higher disability ratings than those injured by gunshot. The ulnar nerve was most commonly injured, but most disability was associated with radial nerve trauma. In terms of the final outcome, at military discharge 59 subjects (84%) experienced persistent weakness, 48 (69%) had a persistent sensory deficit and 17 (24%) experienced chronic pain from scar-related or neuropathic pain. Nerve injury was the cause of frequent and substantial disability in our cohort of wounded soldiers.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:254–8.

Most injuries to the femoral nerve are iatrogenic in origin and occur during resection of large retroperitoneal tumours. When the defect is considerable a nerve graft is mandatory to avoid tension across the suture line. We describe two cases of iatrogenic femoral nerve injury which recovered well after reconstruction with long sural nerve grafts.

The probable reasons for success were that we performed the grafting soon after the injury, the patients were not too old, the nerve repairs were reinforced with fibrin glue and electrical stimulation of the quadriceps was administered to prevent muscle atrophy. Good functional results may be obtained if these conditions are satisfied even if the length of a nerve graft is more than 10 cm.

Hand function was evaluated in 105 patients who had been operated on in early infancy for brachial plexus birth palsy. The mean follow-up after surgery was for 13.4 years (5.0 to 31.5). Fine sensation, stereognosis, grip and pinch strength and the Raimondi scale were recorded.

Fine sensation was normal in 34 of 49 patients (69%) with C5–6 injury, 15 of 31 (48%) with C5–7 and in 8 of 25 (32%) with total injury. Loss of protective sensation or absent sensation was noted in some palmar areas of the hand in 12 of 105 patients (11%). Normal stereognosis was recorded in 88 of the 105 patients (84%), whereas only 9 of the 105 (9%) had normal grip strength. The mean Raimondi scale scores were 4.57 (3 to 5) (C5–6), 4.26 (1 to 5) (C5–7) and 2.16 (0 to 5) in patients with total injury.

The location of impaired sensation was related to the distribution of the root injury. Avulsion type of injury correlated with poor recovery of hand function.

This prospective study describes the complications and survival of the first 688 Phase 3 Oxford medial unicompartmental knee replacements implanted using a minimally-invasive technique by two surgeons and followed up independently. None was lost to follow-up. We had carried out 132 of the procedures more than five years ago. The clinical assessment of 101 of these which were available for review at five years is also presented.

Nine of the 688 knees were revised: four for infection, three for dislocation of the bearing and two for unexplained pain. A further seven knees (1%) required other procedures: four had a manipulation under anaesthesia, two an arthroscopy and one a debridement for superficial infection. The survival rate at seven years was 97.3% (95% confidence interval 5.3). At five years, 96% of the patients had a good or excellent American Knee Society score, the mean Oxford knee score was 39 and the mean flexion was 133°. This study demonstrates that the minimally-invasive Oxford unicompartmental knee replacement is a reliable and effective procedure.

We live in troubled times. Increased opposition reliance on explosive devices, the widespread use of individual and vehicular body armour, and the improved survival of combat casualties have created many complex musculoskeletal injuries in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Explosive mechanisms of injury account for 75% of all musculoskeletal combat casualties. Throughout all the echelons of care medical staff practice consistent treatment strategies of damage control orthopaedics including tourniquets, antibiotics, external fixation, selective amputations and vacuum-assisted closure. Complications, particularly infection and heterotopic ossification, remain frequent, and re-operations are common. Meanwhile, non-combat musculoskeletal casualties are three times more frequent than those derived from combat and account for nearly 50% of all musculoskeletal casualties requiring evacuation from the combat zone.

We studied prospectively the regional inflammatory response to a unilateral distal radial fracture in 114 patients at eight to nine weeks after injury and again at one year. Our aim was to identify patients at risk for a delayed recovery and particularly those likely to develop complex regional pain syndrome. In order to quantify clinically the inflammatory response, a regional inflammatory score was developed. In addition, blood samples were collected from the antecubital veins of both arms for comparative biochemical and blood-gas analysis.

The severity of the inflammatory response was related to the type of treatment (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.002). A highly significantly-positive correlation was found between the regional inflammatory score and the length of time to full recovery (r² = 0.92, p = 0.01, linear regession). A regional inflammatory score of 5 points with a sensitivity of 100% but a specificity of only 16% also identified patients at risk of complex regional pain syndrome. None of the biochemical parameters studied correlated with regional inflammatory score or predicted the development of complex regional pain syndrome.

Our study suggests that patients with a distal radial fracture and a regional inflammatory score of 5 points or more at eight to nine weeks after injury should be considered for specific anti-inflammatory treatment.

We retrospectively compared the outcome after the treatment of giant cell tumours of bone either with curettage alone or with adjuvant cementation. Between 1975 and 2008, 330 patients with a giant cell tumour were treated primarily by intralesional curettage, with 84 (25%) receiving adjuvant bone cement in the cavity. The local recurrence rate for curettage alone was 29.7% (73 of 246) compared with 14.3% (12 of 84) for curettage and cementation (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis both the stage of disease and use of cement were independent significant factors associated with local recurrence. The use of cement was associated with a higher risk of the subsequent need for joint replacement. In patients without local recurrence, 18.1% (13 of 72) of those with cement needed a subsequent joint replacement compared to 2.3% (4 of 173) of those without cement (p = 0.001). In patients who developed local recurrence, 75.0% (9 of 12) of those with previous cementation required a joint replacement, compared with 45.2% (33 of 73) of those without cement (p = 0.044).

We report a prospective analysis of clinical outcome in patients treated with medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction using an autologous semitendinosus graft. The technique includes superolateral portal arthroscopic assessment before and after graft placement to ensure correct graft tension and patellar tracking before fixation. Between October 2005 and October 2010, a total of 201 consecutive patients underwent 219 procedures. Follow-up is presented for 211 procedures in 193 patients with a mean age of 26 years (16 to 49), and mean follow-up of 16 months (6 to 42). Indications were atraumatic recurrent patellar dislocation in 141 patients, traumatic recurrent dislocation in 50, pain with subluxation in 14 and a single dislocation with persistent instability in six. There have been no recurrent dislocations/subluxations. There was a statistically significant improvement between available pre- and post-operative outcome scores for 193 patients (all p < 0.001). Female patients with a history of atraumatic recurrent dislocation and all patients with history of previous surgery had a significantly worse outcome (all p < 0.05). The indication for surgery, degree of dysplasia, associated patella alta, time from primary dislocation to surgery and evidence of associated cartilage damage at operation did not result in any significant difference in outcome.

This series adds considerably to existing evidence that MPFL reconstruction is an effective surgical procedure for selected patients with patellofemoral instability.

We describe the surgical technique and results of arthroscopic subtalar release in 17 patients (17 feet) with painful subtalar stiffness following an intra-articular calcaneal fracture of Sanders’ type II or III. The mean duration from injury to arthroscopic release was 11.3 months (6.4 to 36) and the mean follow-up after release was 16.8 months (12 to 25). The patient was positioned laterally and three arthroscopic portals were placed anterolaterally, centrally and posterolaterally. The sinus tarsi and lateral gutter were debrided of fibrous tissue and the posterior talocalcaneal facet was released. In all, six patients were very satisfied, eight were satisfied and three were dissatisfied with their results. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score improved from a mean of 49.4 points (35 to 66) pre-operatively to a mean of 79.6 points (51 to 95). All patients reported improvement in movement of the subtalar joint. No complications occurred following operation, but two patients subsequently required subtalar arthrodesis for continuing pain.

In the majority of patients a functional improvement in hindfoot function was obtained following arthroscopic release of the subtalar joint for stiffness and pain secondary to Sanders type II and III fractures of the calcaneum.

We undertook clinical and ultrasonographic examination of the shoulders of 420 asymptomatic volunteers aged between 50 and 79 years. MRI was performed in selected cases. Full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff were detected in 32 subjects (7.6%). The prevalence increased with age as follows: 50 to 59 years, 2.1%; 60 to 69 years, 5.7%; and 70 to 79 years, 15%. The mean size of the tear was less than 3 cm and tear localisation was limited to the supraspinatus tendon in most cases (78%). The strength of flexion was reduced significantly in the group with tears (p = 0.01).

Asymptomatic tears of the rotator cuff should be regarded as part of the normal ageing process in the elderly but may be less common than hitherto believed.

We describe a patient with a painful sciatic neuropathy after total hip arthroplasty. Treatment was confined to neuroleptic and analgesic agents until neurolysis at seven years abolished pain and restored function.

We reviewed 234 benign solitary schwannomas treated between 1984 and 2004. The mean age of the patients was 45.2 years (11 to 82). There were 170 tumours (73%) in the upper limb, of which 94 (40%) arose from the brachial plexus or other nerves within the posterior triangle of the neck. Six (2.6%) were located within muscle or bone. Four patients (1.7%) presented with tetraparesis due to an intraspinal extension.

There were 198 primary referrals (19 of whom had a needle biopsy in the referring unit) and in these patients the tumour was excised. After having surgery or an open biopsy at another hospital, a further 36 patients were seen because of increased neurological deficit, pain or incomplete excision. In these, a nerve repair was performed in 18 and treatment for pain or paralysis was offered to another 14.

A tender mass was found in 194 (98%) of the primary referrals. A Tinel-like sign was recorded in 155 (81%). Persistent spontaneous pain occurred in 60 (31%) of the 194 with tender mass, impairment of cutaneous sensibility in 39 (20%), and muscle weakness in 24 (12%).

After apparently adequate excision, two tumours recurred. No case of malignant transformation was seen.

The most appropriate protocol for the biopsy of musculoskeletal tumours is controversial, with some authors advocating CT-guided core biopsy. At our hospital the initial biopsies of most musculoskeletal tumours has been by operative core biopsy with evaluation by frozen section which determines whether diagnostic tissue has been obtained and, if possible, gives the definitive diagnosis. In order to determine the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of this protocol we have undertaken a retrospective audit of biopsies of musculoskeletal tumours performed over a period of two years.

A total of 104 patients had biopsies according to this regime. All gave the diagnosis apart from one minor error which did not alter the management of the patient. There was no requirement for re-biopsy. This protocol was more labour-intensive and 38% more costly than CT-guided core biopsy (AU$1804 vs AU$1308). However, the accuracy and avoidance of the anxiety associated with repeat biopsy outweighed these disadvantages.

Distraction bone-block arthrodesis has been advocated for the treatment of the late sequelae of fracture of the os calcis. Between 1997 and 2003 we studied a consecutive series of 17 patients who had in situ arthrodesis for subtalar arthritis after fracture of the os calcis with marked loss of talocalcaneal height. None had undergone any previous attempts at reconstruction. We assessed the range of dorsiflexion and plantar flexion and measured the talocalcaneal height, talocalcaneal angle and talar declination angle on standing lateral radiographs, comparing them with the normal foot. The mean follow-up was for 78.7 months (48 to 94).

The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot score improved from 29.8 (13 to 48) to 77.8 (48 to 94) (Student’s t-test, p < 0.001). The mean loss of talocalcaneal height was 10.3 mm (2 to 17) and the mean talar declination angle was 6.7° (0° to 16°) which was 36% of the normal side. One patient suffered anterior ankle pain but none had anterior impingement. Two patients complained of difficulty in ascending slopes and stairs and four in descending. The mean ankle dorsiflexion on the arthrodesed side was 11.6° (0° to 24°) compared with 14.7° (0° to 24°) on the normal side, representing a reduction of 21.1%. The mean plantar flexion on the arthrodesed side was 35.5° (24° to 60°) compared with 44.6° (30° to 60°) on the normal side, a reduction of 20.4%.

These results suggest that anterior impingement need not to be a significant problem after subtalar arthrodesis for fracture of the os calcis, even when the loss of talocalcaneal height is marked. We recommend in situ arthrodesis combined with lateral-wall ostectomy for all cases of subtalar arthritis following a fracture of the os calcis, without marked coronal deformity, regardless of the degree of talocalcaneal height loss.