Promising medium-term results from total shoulder arthroplasty
(TSA) have been reported for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis
in young and middle-aged patients. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the long-term functional and radiological outcome of TSA
in the middle-aged patient. The data of all patients from the previous medium-term study
were available. At a mean follow-up of 13 years (8 to 17), we reviewed
21 patients (12 men, nine women, 21 shoulders) with a mean age of
55 years (37 to 60). The Constant-Murley score (CS) with its subgroups
and subjective satisfaction were measured. Radiological signs of implant
loosening were analysed.Aims
Patients and Methods
To explore whether orthopaedic surgeons have adopted the Proximal Fracture of the Humerus: Evaluation by Randomisation (PROFHER) trial results routinely into clinical practice. A questionnaire was piloted with six orthopaedic surgeons using a ‘think aloud’ process. The final questionnaire contained 29 items and was distributed online to surgeon members of the British Orthopaedic Association and British Elbow and Shoulder Society. Descriptive statistics summarised the sample characteristics and fracture treatment of respondents overall, and grouped them by whether they changed practice based on PROFHER trial findings. Free-text responses were analysed qualitatively for emerging themes using Framework Analysis principles.Objectives
Methods
The aim of this study was to determine whether the sequential
application of povidone iodine-alcohol (PVI) followed by chlorhexidine
gluconate-alcohol (CHG) would reduce surgical wound contamination
to a greater extent than PVI applied twice in patients undergoing
spinal surgery. A single-centre, interventional, two arm, parallel group randomised
controlled trial was undertaken, involving 407 patients who underwent
elective spinal surgery. For 203 patients, the skin was disinfected before surgery using
PVI (10% [w/w (1% w/w available iodine)] in 95% industrial denatured
alcohol, povidone iodine; Videne Alcoholic Tincture) twice, and
for 204 patients using PVI once followed by CHG (2% [w/v] chlorhexidine
gluconate in 70% [v/v] isopropyl alcohol; Chloraprep with tint).
The primary outcome measure was contamination of the wound determined
by aerobic and anaerobic bacterial growth from samples taken after
disinfection.Aims
Patients and Methods
We investigated the incidence of and risk factors
for venous thromboembolism (VTE) following surgery of the shoulder
and elbow and assessed the role of thromboprophylaxis in upper limb
surgery. All papers describing VTE after shoulder and elbow surgery
published in the English language literature before 31 March 2012
were reviewed. A total of 14 papers were available for analysis,
most of which were retrospective studies and case series. The incidence
of VTE was 0.038% from 92 440 shoulder arthroscopic procedures,
0.52% from 42 261 shoulder replacements, and 0.64% from 4833 procedures
for fractures of the proximal humerus (open reduction and internal fixation
or hemiarthroplasty). The incidence following replacement of the
elbow was 0.26% from 2701 procedures. Diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid
arthritis and ischaemic heart disease were identified as the major
risk factors. The evidence that exists on thromboprophylaxis is based on level
III and IV studies, and we therefore cannot make any recommendations
on prophylaxis based on the current evidence. It seems reasonable
to adopt a multimodal approach that involves all patients receiving
mechanical prophylaxis, with chemical prophylaxis reserved for those
who are at high risk for VTE. Cite this article:
Rotator cuff tendinopathy has a multifactorial origin. Rejecting
the mechanistic theory has also led to abandoning operative treatment
at initial presentation in the first line. Physiotherapy exercise
programmes are the accepted first line treatment. The aim of this
study was to assess the long-term additional benefits of subacromial decompression
in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy. This randomised controlled trial of 140 patients (52 men, 88
women, mean age 47.1 years; 18 to 60) with rotator cuff tendinopathy
extended previous work up to a maximum of 13 years. The patients
were randomised into two treatment groups: arthroscopic acromioplasty
and a supervised exercise treatment and a similar supervised exercise
treatment alone. Self-reported pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS)
was the primary outcome measure. Secondary measures were disability,
working ability, pain at night, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire
score and the number of painful days during the three months preceding
the final assessment.Aims
Patients and Methods
The December 2013 Shoulder &
Elbow Roundup360 looks at: Platelet-rich plasma; Arthroscopic treatment of sternoclavicular joint osteoarthritis; Synchronous arthrolysis and cuff repair; Arthroscopic arthrolysis; Regional blockade in the beach chair; Recurrent instability; Avoiding iatrogenic nerve injury in elbow arthroscopy; and Complex reconstruction of total elbow revisions
The global economy has been facing a financial crisis. Healthcare costs are spiraling, and there is a projected £30 billion health funding gap by 2020 in the UK. What is happening in the UK is a reflection of a global problem. Rationing of healthcare is a topic of much discussion; as unless spending is capped, providing healthcare will become unsustainable. Who decides how money is spent, and which services should be rationed? In this article we aim to discuss the impact that rationing may have on orthopaedic surgery, and we will discuss our own experiences of attempts to ration local services.
The October 2015 Shoulder &
Elbow Roundup360 looks at: Culture time important in propionibacterium acnes; Microvascularisation of the cuff footprint; Degenerative cuff tears: evidence for repair; Middle ground in distal humeral fractures?; Haste needed in elbow heterotopic ossification; Iatrogenic frozen shoulder; Salvage of failed humeral fixation
The August 2015 Shoulder &
Elbow Roundup360 looks at: Clavicular fractures are being fixed – but how?;
We present the medium-term clinical results of a reverse total
shoulder arthroplasty with a trabecular metal glenoid base plate. We reviewed 125 consecutive primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasties
(RTSA) implanted in 124 patients for rotator cuff arthropathy. There
were 100 women and 24 men in the study group with a mean age of
76 years (58 to 89). The mean follow-up was 32 months (24 to 60).
No patient was lost to follow-up.Aim
Patients and Methods
The April 2014 Shoulder &
Elbow Roundup360 looks at: arthroscopic capsular release successful after six months; MCIC in cuff surgery; analgesia following arthroscopic cuff repair; platelet-rich fibrin; and cuff tear and suprascapular nerve neuropathy?
The first Cochrane Corner of 2014 reports on a bumper number of new and updated reviews from the Cochrane Collaboration. Since November the Cochrane collaboration have turned their beady eye to scrutinise several topical (and sometimes controversial) orthopaedic issues such as pin site care, the use of Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) in the rehabilitation of total knee replacement (TKR) and the efficacy of nerve blocks.
Dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint is
a relatively common injury and a number of surgical interventions
have been described for its treatment. Recently, a synthetic ligament
device has become available and been successfully used, however,
like other non-native solutions, a compromise must be reached when
choosing non-anatomical locations for their placement. This cadaveric
study aimed to assess the effect of different clavicular anchorage points
for the Lockdown device on the reduction of acromioclavicular joint
dislocations, and suggest an optimal location. We also assessed
whether further stability is provided using a coracoacromial ligament
transfer (a modified Neviaser technique). The acromioclavicular
joint was exposed on seven fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders. The
joint was reconstructed using the Lockdown implant using four different
clavicular anchorage points and reduction was measured. The coracoacromial
ligament was then transferred to the lateral end of the clavicle,
and the joint re-assessed. If the Lockdown ligament was secured
at the level of the conoid tubercle, the acromioclavicular joint
could be reduced anatomically in all cases. If placed medial or
2 cm lateral, the joint was irreducible. If the Lockdown was placed
1 cm lateral to the conoid tubercle, the joint could be reduced
with difficulty in four cases. Correct placement of the Lockdown
device is crucial to allow anatomical joint reduction. Even when the
Lockdown was placed over the conoid tubercle, anterior clavicle
displacement remained but this could be controlled using a coracoacromial
ligament transfer. Cite this article:
