This review explores recent advances in fixator design and used in contemporary orthopaedic practice including the management of bone loss, complex deformity and severe isolated limb injury.
The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical and radiological
outcomes of the Universal-2 total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis. This was a retrospective review of all 95 Universal-2 TWAs which
were performed in our institution between 2003 to 2012 in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis. A total of six patients were lost to
follow-up and two died of unrelated causes. A total of ten patients
had bilateral procedures. Accordingly, 75 patients (85 TWAs) were
included in the study. There were 59 women and 16 men with a mean
age of 59 years (26 to 86). The mean follow-up was 53 months (24
to 120). Clinical assessment involved recording pain on a visual
analogue score, range of movement, grip strength, the Quick Disabilities
of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Wrightington wrist scores.
Any adverse effects were documented with particular emphasis on
residual pain, limitation of movement, infection, dislocation and
the need for revision surgery. Radiographic assessment was performed pre-operatively and at
three, six and 12 months post-operatively, and annually thereafter.
Arthroplasties were assessed for distal row intercarpal fusion and
loosening. Radiolucent zones around the components were documented
according to a system developed at our institution.Aims
Patients and Methods
Cubitus varus is the most common late complication of a supracondylar
fracture of the humerus in children. Correction can be performed
using one of a number of techniques of osteotomy but each has disadvantages.
We describe a new technique for correcting post-traumatic cubitus
varus using a lateral closing wedge isosceles triangular osteotomy. A lateral closing wedge isosceles triangular osteotomy was performed
in 25 patients (15 male and ten female with a mean age of 9.5 years
(6 to 12)) between May 2010 and April 2013. All patients had cubitus
varus secondary to malunion of a supracondylar fracture, with good
function of the elbow and a full range of movement. The osteotomy
lines were marked on the bone with an isosceles triangular template
made before surgery, after which the osteotomy was performed leaving
the medial cortex intact. Fixation was performed using two lateral
2 mm Kirschner (K)-wires and patients were immobilised in an above-elbow
plaster. By six to eight weeks callus was present and the wires
and cast were removed. Patients were reviewed at four and six weeks,
three, six and 12 months and then every two years until skeletal
maturity. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were categorised as excellent,
good or poor.Aims
Patients and Methods
Fractures around total knee arthroplasties pose
a significant surgical challenge. Most can be managed with osteosynthesis
and salvage of the replacement. The techniques of fixation of these
fractures and revision surgery have evolved and so has the assessment
of outcome. This specialty update summarises the current evidence
for the classification, methods of fixation, revision surgery and
outcomes of the management of periprosthetic fractures associated
with total knee arthroplasty. Cite this article:
The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of altered viewing
perspectives on the measurement of the glenopolar angle (GPA) and
the differences between these measurements made on 3D CT reconstructions
and anteroposterior (AP) scapular view radiographs. The influence of the viewing perspective on the GPA was assessed,
as were the differences in the measurements of the GPA between 3D
CT reconstructions and AP scapular view radiographs in 68 cadaveric
scapulae.Aims
Materials and Methods
Initial stability of tibial trays is crucial for long-term success of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in both primary and revision settings. Rotating platform (RP) designs reduce torque transfer at the tibiofemoral interface. We asked if this reduced torque transfer in RP designs resulted in subsequently reduced micromotion at the cemented fixation interface between the prosthesis component and the adjacent bone. Composite tibias were implanted with fixed and RP primary and revision tibial trays and biomechanically tested under up to 2.5 kN of axial compression and 10° of external femoral component rotation. Relative micromotion between the implanted tibial tray and the neighbouring bone was quantified using high-precision digital image correlation techniques.Objectives
Methods
Although vertebroplasty is very effective for relieving acute pain from an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, not all patients who undergo vertebroplasty receive the same degree of benefit from the procedure. In order to identify the ideal candidate for vertebroplasty, pre-operative prognostic demographic or clinico-radiological factors need to be identified. The objective of this study was to identify the pre-operative prognostic factors related to the effect of vertebroplasty on acute pain control using a cohort of surgically and non-surgically managed patients. Patients with single-level acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture at thoracolumbar junction (T10 to L2) were followed. If the patients were not satisfied with acute pain reduction after a three-week conservative treatment, vertebroplasty was recommended. Pain assessment was carried out at the time of diagnosis, as well as three, four, six, and 12 weeks after the diagnosis. The effect of vertebroplasty, compared with conservative treatment, on back pain (visual analogue score, VAS) was analysed with the use of analysis-of-covariance models that adjusted for pre-operative VAS scores.Objectives
Patients and Methods
The aim of this consensus was to develop a definition of post-operative
fibrosis of the knee. An international panel of experts took part in a formal consensus
process composed of a discussion phase and three Delphi rounds.Aims
Patients and Methods
Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is associated
with successful outcomes in carefully selected patient cohorts.
We hypothesised that severity and location of patellofemoral cartilage
lesions significantly influences functional outcome after Oxford
medial compartmental knee arthroplasty. We reviewed 100 consecutive UKAs at minimum eight-year follow-up
(96 to 132). A single surgeon performed all procedures. Patients
were selected based on clinical and plain radiographic assessment.
All patients had end-stage medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA)
with sparing of the lateral compartment and intact anterior cruciate ligaments.
None of the patients had end-stage patellofemoral OA, but patients
with anterior knee pain or partial thickness chondral loss were
not excluded. There were 57 male and 43 female patients. The mean
age at surgery was 69 years (41 to 82). At surgery the joint was
carefully inspected for patellofemoral chondral loss and this was documented
based on severity of cartilage loss (0 to 4 Outerbridge grading)
and topographic location (medial, lateral, central, and superior
or inferior). Functional scores collected included Oxford Knee Score
(OKS), patient satisfaction scale and University College Hospital
(UCH) knee score. Intraclass correlation was used to compare chondral
damage to outcomes.Aims
Patients and Methods
Tibial nonunion represents a spectrum of conditions
which are challenging to treat, and optimal management remains unclear
despite its high rate of incidence. We present 44 consecutive patients
with 46 stiff tibial nonunions, treated with hexapod external fixators
and distraction to achieve union and gradual deformity correction.
There were 31 men and 13 women with a mean age of 35 years (18 to
68) and a mean follow-up of 12 months (6 to 40). No tibial osteotomies
or bone graft procedures were performed. Bony union was achieved
after the initial surgery in 41 (89.1%) tibias. Four persistent
nonunions united after repeat treatment with closed hexapod distraction,
resulting in bony union in 45 (97.8%) patients. The mean time to
union was 23 weeks (11 to 49). Leg-length was restored to within
1 cm of the contralateral side in all tibias. Mechanical alignment
was restored to within 5° of normal in 42 (91.3%) tibias. Closed
distraction of stiff tibial nonunions can predictably lead to union
without further surgery or bone graft. In addition to generating
the required distraction to achieve union, hexapod circular external
fixators can accurately correct concurrent deformities and limb-length
discrepancies. Cite this article:
Collateral ligament release is advocated in total
knee arthroplasty (TKA) to deal with significant coronal plane deformities,
but is also associated with significant disadvantages. We describe steps to avoid release of the collateral (superficial
medial and lateral collateral) ligaments during TKA in severely
deformed knees, while correcting deformity and balancing the knee. Cite this article:
Progressive degenerative changes in the medial
compartment of the knee following lateral unicompartmental arthroplasty
(UKA) remains a leading indication for revision surgery. The purpose
of this study is to evaluate changes in the congruence and joint
space width (JSW) of the medial compartment following lateral UKA.
The congruence of the medial compartment of 53 knees (24 men, 23
women, mean age 13.1 years; Our data suggest that a well conducted lateral UKA may improve
the congruence and normalise the JSW of the medial compartment,
potentially preventing progression of degenerative change. Cite this article:
The interest in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for
medial osteoarthritis has increased rapidly but the long-term follow-up
of the Oxford UKAs has yet to be analysed in non-designer centres.
We have examined our ten- to 15-year clinical and radiological follow-up
data for the Oxford Phase III UKAs. Between January 1999 and January 2005 a total of 138 consecutive
Oxford Phase III arthroplasties were performed by a single surgeon
in 129 patients for medial compartment osteoarthritis (71 right
and 67 left knees, mean age 72.0 years (47 to 91), mean body mass
index 28.2 (20.7 to 52.2)). Both clinical data and radiographs were
prospectively recorded and obtained at intervals. Of the 129 patients,
32 patients (32 knees) died, ten patients (12 knees) were not able
to take part in the final clinical and radiological assessment due
to physical and mental conditions, but via telephone interview it
was confirmed that none of these ten patients (12 knees) had a revision
of the knee arthroplasty. One patient (two knees) was lost to follow-up.Aims
Patients and Methods
Flexor digitorum longus transfer and medial displacement
calcaneal osteotomy is a well-recognised form of treatment for stage
II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Although excellent short-
and medium-term results have been reported, the long-term outcome
is unknown. We reviewed the clinical outcome of 31 patients with
a symptomatic flexible flat-foot deformity who underwent this procedure
between 1994 and 1996. There were 21 women and ten men with a mean
age of 54.3 years (42 to 70). The mean follow-up was 15.2 years
(11.4 to 16.5). All scores improved significantly (p <
0.001).
The mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score improved
from 48.4 pre-operatively to 90.3 (54 to 100) at the final follow-up.
The mean pain component improved from 12.3 to 35.2 (20 to 40). The
mean function score improved from 35.2 to 45.6 (30 to 50). The mean
visual analogue score for pain improved from 7.3 to 1.3 (0 to 6).
The mean Short Form-36 physical component score was 40.6 ( Cite this article:
Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) develop deposits in the spine
which may lead to vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Our aim
was to establish which spinopelvic parameters are associated with
the greatest disability in patients with spinal myeloma and VCFs. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional review of 148 consecutive
patients (87 male, 61 female) with spinal myeloma and analysed correlations
between spinopelvic parameters and patient-reported outcome scores.
The mean age of the patients was 65.5 years (37 to 91) and the mean
number of vertebrae involved was 3.7 (1 to 15).Aims
Patients and Methods
The treatment of bone loss in revision total
knee arthroplasty has evolved over the past decade. While the management
of small to moderate sized defects has demonstrated good results
with a variety of traditional techniques (cement and screws, small
metal augments, impaction bone grafting or modular stems), the treatment of
severe defects continues to be problematic. The use of a structural
allograft has declined in recent years due to an increased failure
rate with long-term follow-up and with the introduction of highly
porous metal augments that emphasise biological metaphyseal fixation.
Recently published mid-term results on the use of tantalum cones
in patients with severe bone loss has reaffirmed the success of
this treatment strategy. Cite this article:
