The June 2015 Foot & Ankle Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Syndesmosis and outcomes in ankle fracture; Ankle arthrodesis or arthroplasty: a complications-based analysis; Crosslinked polyethylene and ankle arthroplasty; Reducing screw removal in calcaneal osteotomies; Revisiting infection control policies; Chevron osteotomy: proximal or distal?; Ankle distraction for osteoarthritis

Intra-articular resection of bone with soft-tissue balancing and total knee replacement (TKR) has been described for the treatment of patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee associated with an ipsilateral malunited femoral fracture. However, the extent to which deformity in the sagittal plane can be corrected has not been addressed. We treated 12 patients with severe arthritis of the knee and an extra-articular malunion of the femur by TKR with intra-articular resection of bone and soft-tissue balancing. The femora had a mean varus deformity of 16° (8° to 23°) in the coronal plane. There were seven recurvatum deformities with a mean angulation of 11° (6° to 15°) and five antecurvatum deformities with a mean angulation of 12° (6° to 15°).

The mean follow-up was 93 months (30 to 155). The median Knee Society knee and function scores improved from 18.7 (0 to 49) and 24.5 (10 to 50) points pre-operatively to 93 (83 to 100) and 90 (70 to 100) points at the time of the last follow-up, respectively. The mean mechanical axis of the knee improved from 22.6° of varus (15° to 27° pre-operatively to 1.5° of varus (3° of varus to 2° of valgus) at the last follow-up. The recurvatum deformities improved from a mean of 11° (6° to 15°) pre-operatively to 3° (0° to 6°) at the last follow-up. The antecurvatum deformities in the sagittal plane improved from a mean of 12° (6° to 16°) pre-operatively to 4.4° (0° to 8°) at the last follow-up.

Apart from varus deformities, TKR with intra-articular bone resection effectively corrected the extra-articular deformity of the femur in the presence of antecurvatum of up to 16° and recurvatum of up to 15°.

Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a reliable procedure with reproducible long-term results. Nevertheless, there are conditions related to the type of patient or local conditions of the knee that can make it a difficult procedure. The most common scenarios that make it difficult are discussed in this review. These include patients with many previous operations and incisions, and those with severe coronal deformities, genu recurvatum, a stiff knee, extra-articular deformities and those who have previously undergone osteotomy around the knee and those with chronic dislocation of the patella.

Each condition is analysed according to the characteristics of the patient, the pre-operative planning and the reported outcomes.

When approaching the difficult primary TKA surgeons should use a systematic approach, which begins with the review of the existing literature for each specific clinical situation.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B(10 Suppl A):30–9.

The management of children’s fractures has evolved as a result of better health education, changes in lifestyle, improved implant technology and the changing expectations of society. This review focuses on the changes seen in paediatric fractures, including epidemiology, the increasing problems of obesity, the mechanisms of injury, non-accidental injuries and litigation. We also examine the changes in the management of fractures at three specific sites: the supracondylar humerus, femoral shaft and forearm. There has been an increasing trend towards surgical stabilisation of these fractures. The reasons for this are multifactorial, including societal expectations of a perfect result and reduced hospital stay. Reduced hospital stay is beneficial to the social, educational and psychological needs of the child and beneficial to society as a whole, due to reduced costs.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015; 97-B:442–8.

Femoral lengthening using the Intramedullary Skeletal Kinetic Distractor is a new technique. However, with intramedullary distraction the surgeon has less control over the lengthening process. Therefore, 33 femora lengthened with this device were assessed to evaluate the effect of operative variables under the surgeon’s control on the course of lengthening. The desired lengthening was achieved in 32 of 33 limbs. Problems encountered included difficulty in achieving length in eight femora (24%) and uncontrolled lengthening in seven (21%). Uncontrolled lengthening was more likely if the osteotomy was placed with less than 80 mm of the thick portion of the nail in the distal fragment (p = 0.052), and a failure to lengthen was more likely if there was over 125 mm in the distal fragment (p = 0.008). The latter problem was reduced with over-reaming by 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Previous intramedullary nailing also predisposed to uncontrolled lengthening (p = 0.042), and these patients required less reaming.

Using the Intramedullary Skeletal Kinetic Distractor, good outcomes were obtained; problems were minimised by optimising the position of the osteotomy and the amount of over-reaming performed.

Our study describes the clinical outcome of total ankle replacement (TAR) performed in patients with moderate to severe varus deformity. Between September 2004 and September 2007, 23 ankles with a varus deformity ≥ 10° and 22 with neutral alignment received a TAR. Following specific algorithms according to joint congruency, the varus ankles were managed by various additional procedures simultaneously with TAR.

After a mean follow-up of 27 months (12 to 47), the varus ankles improved significantly in all clinical measures (p < 0.0001 for visual analogue scale and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, p = 0.001 for range of movement). No significant differences were found between the varus and neutral groups regarding the clinical (p = 0.766 for visual analogue scale, p = 0.502 for American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, p = 0.773 for range of movement) and radiological outcome (p = 0.339 for heterotopic ossification, p = 0.544 for medial cortical reaction, p = 0.128 for posterior focal osteolysis). Failure of the TAR with conversion to an arthrodesis occurred in one case in each group.

The clinical outcome of TAR performed in ankles with pre-operative varus alignment ≥ 10° is comparable with that of neutrally aligned ankles when appropriate additional procedures to correct the deformity are carried out simultaneously with TAR.

Instability in flexion after total knee replacement (TKR) typically occurs as a result of mismatched flexion and extension gaps. The goals of this study were to identify factors leading to instability in flexion, the degree of correction, determined radiologically, required at revision surgery, and the subsequent clinical outcomes. Between 2000 and 2010, 60 TKRs in 60 patients underwent revision for instability in flexion associated with well-fixed components. There were 33 women (55%) and 27 men (45%); their mean age was 65 years (43 to 82). Radiological measurements and the Knee Society score (KSS) were used to assess outcome after revision surgery. The mean follow-up was 3.6 years (2 to 9.8). Decreased condylar offset (p < 0.001), distalisation of the joint line (p < 0.001) and increased posterior tibial slope (p < 0.001) contributed to instability in flexion and required correction at revision to regain stability. The combined mean correction of posterior condylar offset and joint line resection was 9.5 mm, and a mean of 5° of posterior tibial slope was removed. At the most recent follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the mean KSS for the knee and function (both p < 0.001), no patient reported instability and no patient underwent further surgery for instability.

The following step-wise approach is recommended: reduction of tibial slope, correction of malalignment, and improvement of condylar offset. Additional joint line elevation is needed if the above steps do not equalise the flexion and extension gaps.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1644–8.

Excision of a physeal bar and filling the space with interposition material may allow resumption of normal growth. Both the extent and the location of the bar and the amount of growth remaining from physis must be determined. Computer-assisted surgery is being used increasingly in various fields of orthopaedics. We describe the management of a patient with premature physeal arrest of the right distal tibia in which resection of a physeal bar was achieved under real-time three-dimensional intra-operative monitoring by computer-assisted navigation.

The advantage of this method over other means of imaging is that intra-operative identification can increase the accuracy of resection of the bar.

From a global point of view, chronic haematogenous osteomyelitis in children remains a major cause of musculoskeletal morbidity. We have reviewed the literature with the aim of estimating the scale of the problem and summarising the existing research, including that from our institution. We have highlighted areas where well-conducted research might improve our understanding of this condition and its treatment.

A small proportion of children with Gartland type III supracondylar humeral fracture (SCHF) experience troubling limited or delayed recovery after operative treatment. We hypothesised that the fracture level relative to the isthmus of the humerus would affect the outcome.

We retrospectively reviewed 230 children who underwent closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) for their Gartland type III SCHFs between March 2003 and December 2012. There were 144 boys and 86 girls, with the mean age of six years (1.1 to 15.2). The clinico-radiological characteristics and surgical outcomes (recovery of the elbow range of movement, post-operative angulation, and the final Flynn grade) were recorded. Multivariate analysis was employed to identify prognostic factors that influenced outcome, including fracture level. Multivariate analysis revealed that a fracture below the humeral isthmus was significantly associated with poor prognosis in terms of the range of elbow movement (p < 0.001), angulation (p = 0.001) and Flynn grade (p = 0.003). Age over ten years was also a poor prognostic factor for recovery of the range of elbow movement (p = 0.027).

This is the first study demonstrating a subclassification system of Gartland III fractures with prognostic significance. This will guide surgeons in peri-operative planning and counselling as well as directing future research aimed at improving outcomes.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:134–40.

This paper reviews the current knowledge relating to the management of adult patients with congenital hip disease. Orthopaedic surgeons who treat these patients with a total hip replacement should be familiar with the arguments concerning its terminology, be able to recognise the different anatomical abnormalities and to undertake thorough pre-operative planning in order to replace the hip using an appropriate surgical technique and the correct implants and be able to anticipate the clinical outcome and the complications.

Cubitus varus is the most frequent complication following the treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures in children. We investigated data from publications reporting on the surgical management of cubitus varus found in electronic searches of Ovid/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases. In 894 children from 40 included studies, the mean age at initial injury was 5.7 years (3 to 8.6) and 9.8 years (4 to 15.7) at the time of secondary correction. The four osteotomy techniques were classified as lateral closing wedge, dome, complex (multiplanar) and distraction osteogenesis. A mean angular correction of 27.6º (18.5° to 37.0°) was achieved across all classes of osteotomy. The meta-analytical summary estimate for overall rate of good to excellent results was 87.8% (95% CI 84.4 to 91.2). No technique was shown to significantly affect the surgical outcome, and the risk of complications across all osteotomy classes was 14.5% (95% CI 10.6 to 18.5). Nerve palsies occurred in 2.53% of cases (95% CI 1.4 to 3.6), although 78.4% were transient. No one technique was found to be statistically safer or more effective than any other.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:691–700.

The February 2014 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: flexible plasters; dual 8-plate or ablation for knee epiphysiodesis; ultrasounds for pulled elbow; leg length without the radiation; Boyd amputation in limb deficiencies; gold standard club foot treatment; quadrupled semitendinosis graft effective in paediatric ACL reconstruction; and predicting complications following cerebral palsy hip reconstruction

Ten patients, who were unsuitable for limb lengthening over an intramedullary nail, underwent lengthening with a submuscular locking plate. Their mean age at operation was 18.5 years (11 to 40). After fixing a locking plate submuscularly on the proximal segment, an external fixator was applied to lengthen the bone after corticotomy. Lengthening was at 1 mm/day and on reaching the target length, three or four screws were placed in the plate in the distal segment and the external fixator was removed. All patients achieved the pre-operative target length at a mean of 4.0 cm (3.2 to 5.5). The mean duration of external fixation was 61.6 days (45 to 113) and the mean external fixation index was 15.1 days/cm (13.2 to 20.5), which was less than one-third of the mean healing index (48 days/cm (41.3 to 55). There were only minor complications.

Lengthening with a submuscular locking plate can successfully permit early removal of the fixator with fewer complications and is a useful alternative in children or when nailing is difficult.

We report the results of using a combination of fixator-assisted nailing with lengthening over an intramedullary nail in patients with tibial deformity and shortening. Between 1997 and 2007, 13 tibiae in nine patients with a mean age of 25.4 years (17 to 34) were treated with a unilateral external fixator for acute correction of deformity, followed by lengthening over an intramedullary nail with a circular external fixator applied at the same operating session. At the end of the distraction period locking screws were inserted through the intramedullary nail and the external fixator was removed.

The mean amount of lengthening was 5.9 cm (2 to 8). The mean time of external fixation was 90 days (38 to 265). The mean external fixation index was 15.8 days/cm (8.9 to 33.1) and the mean bone healing index was 38 days/cm (30 to 60).

One patient developed an equinus deformity which responded to stretching and bracing. Another developed a drop foot due to a compartment syndrome, which was treated by fasciotomy. It recovered in three months. Two patients required bone grafting for poor callus formation.

We conclude that the combination of fixator-assisted nailing with lengthening over an intramedullary nail can reduce the overall external fixation time and prevent fractures and deformity of the regenerated bone.

A combined anterior and posterior surgical approach is generally recommended in the treatment of severe congenital kyphosis, despite the fact that the anterior vascular supply of the spine and viscera are at risk during exposure. The aim of this study was to determine whether the surgical treatment of severe congenital thoracolumbar kyphosis through a single posterior approach is feasible, safe and effective.

We reviewed the records of ten patients with a mean age of 11.1 years (5.4 to 14.1) who underwent surgery either by pedicle subtraction osteotomy or by vertebral column resection with instrumented fusion through a single posterior approach.

The mean kyphotic deformity improved from 59.9° (45° to 110°) pre-operatively to 17.5° (3° to 40°) at a mean follow-up of 47.0 months (29 to 85). Spinal cord monitoring was used in all patients and there were no complications during surgery. These promising results indicate the possible advantages of the described technique over the established procedures. We believe that surgery should be performed in case of documented progression and before structural secondary curves develop. Our current strategy after documented progression is to recommend surgery at the age of five years and when 90% of the diameter of the spinal canal has already developed.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1527–32.

We report our experience of the use of callus distraction with a monolateral fixator for the treatment of acquired radial club-hand deformity after osteomyelitis. Between 1994 and 2004, 13 patients with a mean age of eight years (4 to 15) were treated by callus distraction with a monolateral fixator after a preliminary period of at least four weeks in a corrective short-arm cast.

All patients achieved bony union and were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcome. There were no major complications, but three patients required cancellous bone grafting at the docking site for delayed union. Local treatment and oral antibiotics were required for pin-site infection in six patients. There were no deep infection or recurrence of osteomyelitis.

The significance of weight in the indications for unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) is unclear. Our hypothesis was that weight does not affect the long-term rate of survival of UKRs.

We undertook a retrospective study of 212 UKRs at a mean follow-up of 12 years (7 to 22). The patients were distributed according to body mass index (BMI; < vs ≥ 30 kg/m²) and weight (< vs ≥ 82 kg). Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was performed and ten-year survival rates were compared between the sub-groups. Multimodal regression analysis determined the impact of the various theoretical contraindications on the long-term rate of survival of UKR.

The ten-year rates of survival were similar in the two weight subgroups (≥ 82 kg: 93.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 66.5 to 96.3); < 82 kg: 92.5% (95% CI 82.5 to 94.1)) and also in the two BMI subgroups (≥ 30 kg/m²: 92% (95% CI 82.5 to 95.3); < 30 kg/m²: 94% (95% CI 78.4 to 95.9)). Multimodal regression analysis revealed that weight plays a part in reducing the risk of revision with a relative risk of 0.387, although this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.662). The results relating weight and BMI to the clinical outcome were not statistically significant. Thus, this study confirms that weight does not influence the long-term rate of survival of UKR.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1064–8.

The mammalian growth plate is a complex structure which is essential for the elongation of long bones. However, an understanding of how the growth plate functions at the cellular level is lacking. This review, summarises the factors involved in growth-plate regulation, its failure and the consequence of injury. We also describe some of the cellular mechanisms which underpin the increase in volume of the growth-plate chondrocyte which is the major determinant of the rate and extent of bone lengthening. We show how living in situ chondrocytes can be imaged using 2-photon laser scanning microscopy to provide a quantitative analysis of their volume. This approach should give better understanding of the cellular control of bone growth in both healthy and failed growth plates.