Plate and screw fixation has been the standard treatment for painful conditions of the wrist in non-rheumatoid patients in recent decades. We investigated the complications, re-operations, and final outcome in a consecutive series of patients who underwent wrist arthrodesis for non-inflammatory arthritis. A total of 76 patients, including 53 men and 23 women, with a mean age of 50 years (21 to 79) underwent wrist arthrodesis. Complications and re-operations were recorded. At a mean follow-up of 11 years (2 to 18), 63 patients completed questionnaires, and 57 attended for clinical and radiological assessment.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to report the mid-term clinical outcome
of cemented unlinked J-alumina ceramic elbow (JACE) arthroplasties
when used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We retrospectively reviewed 87 elbows, in 75 patients with RA,
which was replaced using a cemented JACE total elbow arthroplasty
(TEA) between August 2003 and December 2012, with a follow-up of
96%. There were 72 women and three men, with a mean age of 62 years
(35 to 79). The mean follow-up was nine years (2 to 14). The clinical condition
of each elbow before and after surgery was assessed using the Mayo
Elbow Performance Index (MEPI, 0 to 100 points). Radiographic loosening
was defined as a progressive radiolucent line of >1 mm that was
completely circumferential around the prosthesis.Aims
Patients and Methods
This article is a systematic review of the published
literature about the biomechanics, functional outcome and complications
of intramedullary nailing of fractures of the distal radius. We searched the Medline and EMBASE databases and included all
studies which reported the outcome of intramedullary (IM) nailing
of fractures of the distal radius. Data about functional outcome,
range of movement (ROM), strength and complications, were extracted.
The studies included were appraised independently by both authors
using a validated quality assessment scale for non-controlled studies
and the CONSORT statement for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The search strategy revealed 785 studies, of which 16 were included
for full paper review. These included three biomechanical studies,
eight case series and five randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The biomechanical studies concluded that IM nails were at least
as strong as locking plates. The clinical studies reported that
IM nailing gave a comparable ROM, functional outcome and grip strength
to other fixation techniques. However, the mean complication rate of intramedullary nailing
was 17.6% (0% to 50%). This is higher than the rates reported in
contemporary studies for volar plating. It raises concerns about
the role of intramedullary nailing, particularly when comparative
studies have failed to show that it has any major advantage over
other techniques. Further adequately powered RCTs comparing the
technique to both volar plating and percutaneous wire fixation are needed. Cite this article:
This study reviews the use of a titanium mesh cage (TMC) as an
adjunct to intramedullary nail or plate reconstruction of an extra-articular
segmental long bone defect. A total of 17 patients (aged 17 to 61 years) treated for a segmental
long bone defect by nail or plate fixation and an adjunctive TMC
were included. The bone defects treated were in the tibia (nine),
femur (six), radius (one), and humerus (one). The mean length of
the segmental bone defect was 8.4 cm (2.2 to 13); the mean length
of the titanium mesh cage was 8.3 cm (2.6 to 13). The clinical and
radiological records of the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Aims
Patients and Methods
Failed internal fixation of a fracture of the
proximal humerus produces many challenges with limited surgical options.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes after
the use of a reverse shoulder arthroplasty under these circumstances.
Between 2007 and 2012, 19 patients (15 women and four men, mean
age 66 years; 52 to 82) with failed internal fixation after a proximal
humeral fracture, underwent implant removal and reverse shoulder arthroplasty
(RSA). The mean follow-up was 36 months (25 to 60). The mean American
Shoulder and Elbow Score improved from 27.8 to 50.1 (p = 0.019).
The mean Simple Shoulder Test score improved from 0.7 to 3.2 (p
= 0.020), and the mean visual analogue scale for pain improved from
6.8 to 4.3 (p = 0.012). Mean forward flexion improved from 58.7°
to 101.1° (p <
0.001), mean abduction from 58.7° to 89.1° (p
= 0.012), mean external rotation from 10.7° to 23.1° (p = 0.043)
and mean internal rotation from buttocks to L4 (p = 0.034). A major
complication was recorded in five patients (26%) (one intra-operative
fracture, loosening of the humeral component in two and two peri-prosthetic
fractures). A total of 15 patients (79%) rated their outcome as
excellent or good, one (5%) as satisfactory, and three (16%) as
unsatisfactory. An improvement in outcomes and pain can be expected when performing
a RSA as a salvage procedure after failed internal fixation of a
fracture of the proximal humerus. Patients should be cautioned about
the possibility for major complications following this technically
demanding procedure. Cite this article:
There are various pin-in-plaster methods for treating fractures
of the distal radius. The purpose of this study is to introduce
a modified technique of ‘pin in plaster’. Fifty-four patients with fractures of the distal radius were
followed for one year post-operatively. Patients were excluded if
they had type B fractures according to AO classification, multiple
injuries or pathological fractures, and were treated more than seven
days after injury. Range of movement and functional results were
evaluated at three and six months and one and two years post-operatively.
Radiographic parameters including radial inclination, tilt, and
height, were measured pre- and post-operatively.Objectives
Methods
