Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used to assess functional outcome and patient satisfaction. They provide a framework for comparisons between surgical units, and individual surgeons for benchmarking and financial remuneration. Better performance may bring the reward of more customers as patients and commissioners seek out high performers for their elective procedures. Using National Joint Registry (NJR) data linked to PROMs we identified 22 691 primary total knee replacements (TKRs) undertaken for osteoarthritis in England and Wales between August 2008 and February 2011, and identified the surgical factors that influenced the improvements in the Oxford knee score (OKS) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) assessment using multiple regression analysis. After correction for patient factors the only surgical factors that influenced PROMs were implant brand and hospital type (both p < 0.001). However, the effects of surgical factors upon the PROMs were modest compared with patient factors. For both the OKS and the EQ-5D the most important factors influencing the improvement in PROMs were the corresponding pre-operative score and the patient’s general health status. Despite having only a small effect on PROMs, this study has shown that both implant brand and hospital type do influence reported subjective functional scores following TKR. In the current climate of financial austerity, proposed performance-based remuneration and wider patient choice, it would seem unwise to ignore these effects and the influence of a range of additional patient factors

Aims

Survival rates and local control after resection of a sarcoma of the pelvis compare poorly to those of the limbs and have a high incidence of complications. The outcome for patients who need a hindquarter amputation (HQA) to treat a pelvic sarcoma is poor. Our aim was to evaluate the patient, tumour, and reconstructive factors that affect the survival of the patients who undergo HQA for primary or recurrent pelvic sarcoma.

The Swansea Morriston Achilles Rupture Treatment (SMART) programme was introduced in 2008. This paper summarises the outcome of this programme. Patients with a rupture of the Achilles tendon treated in our unit follow a comprehensive management protocol that includes a dedicated Achilles clinic, ultrasound examination, the use of functional orthoses, early weight-bearing, an accelerated exercise regime and guidelines for return to work and sport. The choice of conservative or surgical treatment was based on ultrasound findings. . The rate of re-rupture, the outcome using the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) and the Achilles Tendon Repair Score, (AS), and the complications were recorded. An elementary cost analysis was also performed. . Between 2008 and 2014 a total of 273 patients presented with an acute rupture 211 of whom were managed conservatively and 62 had surgical repair. There were three re-ruptures (1.1%). There were 215 men and 58 women with a mean age of 46.5 years (20 to 86). Functional outcome was satisfactory. Mean ATRS and AS at four months was 53.0 (. sd . 14), 64.9 (. sd. 15) (n = 135), six months 67.8 (. sd. 16), 73.8 (. sd. 15) (n = 103) and nine months (72.4; . sd. 14) 72.3 (. sd. 13) (n = 43). The programme realised estimated cost savings exceeding £91 000 per annum. The SMART programme resulted in a low rate of re-rupture, a satisfactory outcome, a reduced rate of surgical intervention and a reduction in healthcare costs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015; 97-B:510–15

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of Monteggia-like lesions at midterm follow-up and to determine whether the surgical treatment of the radial head influences the clinical and radiological results.

There are few reports on the treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis through the posterior approach using a single incision. Between October 1999 and March 2003 we operated on 18 patients with pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis. All underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion using an autogenous bone graft from the iliac crest and pedicle screws via a posterior approach. The clinical outcome was assessed using the Frankel neurological classification and the criteria of Kirkaldy-Willis. Under the Frankel classification, two patients improved by two grades (C to E), 11 by one grade, and five showed no change. The Kirkaldy-Willis functional outcome was excellent in five patients, good in ten and fair in three. Bony union was confirmed six months after surgery in 17 patients, but in one patient this was not achieved until two years after operation. The mean lordotic angle before operation was 20° (−2° to 42°) and the mean lordotic angle at the final follow-up was 32.5° (17° to 44°). Two patients had a superficial wound infection and two a transient root injury. Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with an autogenous iliac crest bone graft and pedicle screw fixation via a posterior approach can provide satisfactory results in pyogenic spondylodiscitis

Aims

This study aims to determine the proportion of patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) possibly suitable for partial (PKA) or combined partial knee arthroplasty (CPKA) according to patterns of full-thickness cartilage loss and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) status.

Aims

To validate the Sydney Hamstring Origin Rupture Evaluation (SHORE), a hamstring-specific clinical assessment tool to evaluate patient outcomes following surgical treatment.

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The aims of this study were to determine the effect of osteophyte excision on deformity correction and soft tissue gap balance in varus knees undergoing computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

We previously compared the component alignment in total knee replacement using a computer-navigated technique with a conventional jig-based method. We randomly allocated 71 patients to undergo either computer-navigated or conventional replacement. An improved alignment was seen in the computer-navigated group. The patients were then followed up post-operatively for two years, using the Knee Society score, the Short Form-36 health survey, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, the Bartlett Patellar pain questionnaire and the Oxford knee score, to assess functional outcome. At two years post-operatively 60 patients were available for assessment, 30 in each group and 62 patients completed a postal survey. No patient in either group had undergone revision. All variables were analysed for differences between the groups either by Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. Differences between the two groups did not reach significance for any of the outcome measures at any time point. At two years postoperatively, the frequency of mild to severe anterior pain was not significantly different (p = 0.818), varying between 44% (14) for the computer-navigated group, and 47% (14) for the conventionally-replaced group. The Bartlett Patellar score and the Oxford knee score were also not significantly different (t-test p = 0.161 and p = 0.607, respectively). The clinical outcome of the patients with a computer-navigated knee replacement appears to be no different to that of a more conventional jig-based technique at two years post-operatively, despite the better alignment achieved with computer-navigated surgery

Objectives

This review aims to summarize the outcomes used to describe effectiveness of treatments for paediatric wrist fractures within existing literature.

We report our experience with glenohumeral arthrodesis as a salvage procedure for epilepsy-related recurrent shoulder instability. A total of six patients with epilepsy underwent shoulder fusion for recurrent instability and were followed up for a mean of 39 months (12 to 79). The mean age at the time of surgery was 31 years (22 to 38). Arthrodesis was performed after a mean of four previous stabilisation attempts (0 to 11) in all but one patient in whom the procedure was used as a primary treatment. All patients achieved bony union, with a mean time to fusion of 2.8 months (2 to 7). There were no cases of re-dislocation. One revision was undertaken for loosening of the metalwork, and then healed satisfactorily. An increase was noted in the mean subjective shoulder value, which improved from 37 (5 to 50) pre-operatively to 42 (20 to 70) post-operatively although it decreased in two patients. The mean Oxford shoulder instability score improved from 13 pre-operatively (7 to 21) to 24 post-operatively (13 to 36). In our series, glenohumeral arthrodesis eliminated recurrent instability and improved functional outcome. Fusion surgery should therefore be considered in this patient population. However, since the majority of patients are young and active, they should be comprehensively counselled pre-operatively given the functional deficit that results from the procedure. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1525–9

Aims

Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are known to be at increased risk of postoperative complications, but it is unclear whether MetS is also associated with complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Here, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis linking MetS to postoperative complications in THA and TKA.

There are few reports of the treatment of lumbar tuberculous spondylitis using the posterior approach. Between January 1999 and February 2004, 16 patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion with autogenous iliac-bone grafting and pedicle screw instrumentation. Their mean age at surgery was 51 years (28 to 66). The mean follow-up period was 33 months (24 to 48). The clinical outcome was assessed using the Frankel neurological classification and the Kirkaldy-Willis criteria. On the Frankel classification, one patient improved by two grades (C to E), seven by one grade, and eight showed no change. The Kirkaldy-Willis functional outcome was classified as excellent in eight patients, good in five, fair in two and poor in one. Bony union was achieved within one year in 15 patients. The mean pre-operative lordotic angle was 27.8° (9° to 45°) which improved by the final follow-up to 35.8° (28° to 48°). Post-operative complications occurred in four patients, transient root injury in two, a superficial wound infection in one and a deep wound infection in one, in whom the implant was removed. Our results show that a posterior lumbar interbody fusion with autogenous iliac-bone grafting and pedicle screw instrumentation for tuberculous spondylitis through the posterior approach can give satisfactory results

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of distension arthrography in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. The secondary aim was to assess which patient and procedural factors predicted the recurrence of symptoms after the procedure.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to report the long-term results of extendable endoprostheses of the humerus in children after the resection of a bone sarcoma.

In developing countries locally-made low-cost prostheses are mainly used in limb-salvage surgery to alleviate the economic burden. We retrospectively collected data on 104 patients treated by limb-salvage surgery between July 1997 and July 2005. We used a locally-designed and fabricated stainless-steel endoprosthesis in each case. Oncological and functional outcomes were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 47 months (12 to 118). A total of 73 patients (70.2%) were free from disease, nine (8.7%) were alive with disease, 19 (18.2%) had died from their disease and three (2.9%) from unrelated causes. According to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system, the mean functional score was 76.3% (SD 17.8). The five-year survival for the implant was 70.5%. There were nine cases (8.7%) of infection, seven early and two late, seven (6.7%) of breakage of the prosthesis, three (2.9%) of aseptic loosening and two (1.9%) of failure of the polyethylene bushing. Multivariate analysis showed that a proximal tibial prosthesis and a resection length of 14 cm or more were significant negative prognostic factors. Our survival rates and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores are similar to those reported in the literature. Although longer follow-up is needed to confirm our results, we believe that a low-cost custom-made endoprosthesis is a cost-effective and reliable reconstructive option for limb salvage in developing countries

Seligman’s theory of causal attribution predicts that patients with a pessimistic explanatory style will have less favourable health outcomes. We identified 702 patients who had undergone 894 primary total knee replacements between 1993 and 2005, who responded to follow-up surveys at two (n = 783 knee replacements) and/or five years (n = 443 knee replacements) and had also completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory long before the joint replacement (median = 16.6 and 14.5 years for two- and five-year cohorts, respectively). Scores from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Optimism-Pessimism scale were used to categorise patients as pessimistic (t-score > 60) or non-pessimistic (t-score ≤ 60). Multivariate logistic regression models assessing the effect of pessimistic explanatory style on pain or improvement in knee function were adjusted for gender, age, distance from the place of treatment and depression score. Pessimists reported (a) significantly more moderate or severe pain at two years with odds ratio 2.21 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12 to 4.35; p = 0.02), but not at five years when the odds ratio was 1.21 (95% CI 0.51 to 2.83; p = 0.67); and (b) less improvement in knee function at two years when the odds ratio was 0.53 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.96; p = 0.04), but not at five years when the odds ratio was 1.26 (95% CI 0.57 to 2.77; p = 0.57). No significant associations with moderate or severe limitation of activity were seen at two or five years. We conclude that a pessimistic explanatory style is associated with worse pain and functional outcomes two years after total knee replacement