We present the case of a 15-year-old boy with
symptoms due to Klippel–Feil syndrome. Radiographs and CT scans demonstrated
basilar impression, occipitalisation of C1 and fusion of C2/C3.
MRI showed ventral compression of the medullocervical junction.
Skull traction was undertaken pre-operatively to determine whether
the basilar impression could be safely reduced. During traction,
the C3/C4 junction migrated 12 mm caudally and spasticity resolved.
Peri-operative skull-femoral traction enabled posterior occipitocervical
fixation without decompression. Following surgery, cervical alignment
was restored and spasticity remained absent. One year after surgery
he was not limited in his activities.
Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
(VCFs) are an increasing public health problem. Recently, randomised
controlled trials on the use of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty in
the treatment of these fractures have been published, but no definitive conclusions
have been reached on the role of these interventions. The major
problem encountered when trying to perform a meta-analysis of the
available studies for the use of cementoplasty in patients with
a VCF is that conservative management has not been standardised.
Forms of conservative treatment commonly used in these patients
include bed rest, analgesic medication, physiotherapy and bracing. In this review, we report the best evidence available on the
conservative care of patients with osteoporotic VCFs and associated
back pain, focusing on the role of the most commonly used spinal
orthoses. Although orthoses are used for the management of these patients,
to date, there has been only one randomised controlled trial published
evaluating their value. Until the best conservative management for
patients with VCFs is defined and standardised, no conclusions can
be drawn on the superiority or otherwise of cementoplasty techniques
over conservative management.
As part of the national initiative to reduce
waiting times for joint replacement surgery in Wales, the Cardiff
and Vale NHS Trust referred 224 patients to the NHS Treatment Centre
in Weston-Super-Mare for total knee replacement (TKR). A total of
258 Kinemax TKRs were performed between November 2004 and August
2006. Of these, a total of 199 patients (232 TKRs, 90%) have been
followed up for five years. This cohort was compared with 258 consecutive
TKRs in 250 patients, performed at Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedic
Centre (CAVOC) over a similar time period. The five year cumulative
survival rate was 80.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 74.0 to 86.0)
in the Weston-Super-Mare cohort and 95.0% (95% CI 90.2 to 98.2)
in the CAVOC cohort with revision for any reason as the endpoint.
The relative risk for revision at Weston-Super-Mare compared with
CAVOC was 3.88 (p <
0.001). For implants surviving five years,
the mean Oxford knee scores (OKS) and mean EuroQol (EQ-5D) scores
were similar (OKS: Weston-Super-Mare 29 (2 to 47) The results show a higher revision rate for patients operated
at Weston-Super-Mare Treatment Centre, with a reduction in functional
outcome and quality of life after revision. This further confirms
that patients moved from one area to another for joint replacement
surgery fare poorly.
We have studied the effect of shortening of the femoral neck and varus collapse on the functional capacity and quality of life of patients who had undergone fixation of an isolated intracapsular fracture of the hip with cancellous screws. After screening 660 patients at four university medical centres, 70 patients with a mean age of 71 years (20 to 90) met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 66% (46 of 70) of the fractures healed with >
5 mm of shortening and 39% (27 of 70) with >
5° of varus. Patients with severe shortening of the femoral neck had significantly lower short form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) physical functioning scores (no/mild (<
5 mm) vs severe shortening (>
10 mm); 74 vs 42 points, p <
0.001). A similar effect was noted with moderate shortening, suggesting a gradient effect (no/mild (<
5 mm) vs moderate shortening (5 to 10 mm); 74 vs 53 points, p = 0.011). Varus collapse correlated moderately with the occurrence of shortening (r = 0.66, p <
0.001). Shortening also resulted in a significantly lower EuroQol questionnaire (EQ5D) index scores (p = 0.05). In a regression analysis shortening of the femoral neck was the only significant variable predictive of a low SF-36 physical functioning score (p <
0.001).
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.
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 have examined the results obtained with 72 NexGen legacy posterior stabilised-flex fixed total knee replacements in 47 patients implanted by a single surgeon between March 2003 and September 2004. Aseptic loosening of the femoral component was found in 27 (38%) of the replacements at a mean follow-up of 32 months (30 to 48) and 15 knees (21%) required revision at a mean of 23 months (11 to 45). We compared the radiologically-loose and revised knees with those which had remained well-fixed to identify the factors which had contributed to this high rate of aseptic loosening. Post-operatively, the mean maximum flexion was 136° (110° to 140°) in the loosened group and 125° (95° to 140°) in the well-fixed group (independent These implants allowed a high degree of flexion, but showed a marked rate of early loosening of the femoral component, which was associated with weight-bearing in maximum flexion.
This review is aimed at clinicians appraising
preclinical trauma studies and researchers investigating compromised bone
healing or novel treatments for fractures. It categorises the clinical
scenarios of poor healing of fractures and attempts to match them
with the appropriate animal models in the literature. We performed an extensive literature search of animal models
of long bone fracture repair/nonunion and grouped the resulting
studies according to the clinical scenario they were attempting
to reflect; we then scrutinised them for their reliability and accuracy
in reproducing that clinical scenario. Models for normal fracture repair (primary and secondary), delayed
union, nonunion (atrophic and hypertrophic), segmental defects and
fractures at risk of impaired healing were identified. Their accuracy
in reflecting the clinical scenario ranged greatly and the reliability
of reproducing the scenario ranged from 100% to 40%. It is vital to know the limitations and success of each model
when considering its application.
In a prospective randomised clinical study acetabular components were implanted either freehand (n = 30) or using CT-based (n = 30) or imageless navigation (n = 30). The position of the component was determined post-operatively on CT scans of the pelvis. Following conventional freehand placement of the acetabular component, only 14 of the 30 were within the safe zone as defined by Lewinnek et al (40° inclination Imageless navigation proved as reliable as that using CT in positioning the acetabular component.
The Ponseti method of treating club foot has been shown to be effective in children up to two years of age. However, it is not known whether it is successful in older children. We retrospectively reviewed 17 children (24 feet) with congenital idiopathic club foot who presented after walking age and had undergone no previous treatment. All were treated by the method described by Ponseti, with minor modifications. The mean age at presentation was 3.9 years (1.2 to 9.0) and the mean follow-up was for 3.1 years (2.1 to 5.6). The mean time of immobilisation in a cast was 3.9 months (1.5 to 6.0). A painless plantigrade foot was obtained in 16 feet without the need for extensive soft-tissue release and/or bony procedures. Four patients (7 feet) had recurrent equinus which required a second tenotomy. Failure was observed in five patients (8 feet) who required a posterior release for full correction of the equinus deformity. We conclude that the Ponseti method is a safe, effective and low-cost treatment for neglected idiopathic club foot presenting after walking age.
In this retrospective study we evaluated the method of acute shortening and distraction osteogenesis for the treatment of tibial nonunion with bone loss in 17 patients with a mean age of 36 years (10 to 58). The mean bone loss was 5.6 cm (3 to 10). In infected cases, we performed the treatment in two stages. The mean follow-up time was 43.5 months (24 to 96). The mean time in external fixation was 8.0 months (4 to 13) and the mean external fixator index was 1.4 months/cm (1.1 to 1.8). There was no recurrence of infection. The bone evaluation results were excellent in 16 patients and good in one, while functional results were excellent in 15 and good in two. The complication rate was 1.2 per patient. We conclude that acute shortening and distraction osteogenesis is a safe, reliable and successful method for the treatment of tibial nonunion with bone loss, with a shorter period of treatment and lower rate of complication.
This study compared the outcome of total knee
replacement (TKR) in adult patients with fixed- and mobile-bearing prostheses
during the first post-operative year and at five years’ follow-up,
using gait parameters as a new objective measure. This double-blind
randomised controlled clinical trial included 55 patients with mobile-bearing (n
= 26) and fixed-bearing (n = 29) prostheses of the same design,
evaluated pre-operatively and post-operatively at six weeks, three
months, six months, one year and five years. Each participant undertook
two walking trials of 30 m and completed the EuroQol questionnaire,
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index,
Knee Society score, and visual analogue scales for pain and stiffness.
Gait analysis was performed using five miniature angular rate sensors
mounted on the trunk (sacrum), each thigh and calf. The study population
was divided into two groups according to age (≤ 70 years Improvements in most gait parameters at five years’ follow-up
were greater for fixed-bearing TKRs in older patients (>
70 years),
and greater for mobile-bearing TKRs in younger patients (≤ 70 years).
These findings should be confirmed by an extended age controlled
study, as the ideal choice of prosthesis might depend on the age
of the patient at the time of surgery.
We studied the influence of soft-tissue releases and soft-tissue balance on the outcome of 526 total knee replacements one year after operation. The surgery had been performed by seven surgeons in five centres in the United Kingdom between October 1999 and December 2002. Balancing was carried out by five surgeons using spacers and trials and by two surgeons using a ‘balancer’ instrument. All the surgeons assessed the adequacy of their releases by taking measurements with the balancer after soft-tissue release before implanting the components. Independent observers collected the Oxford knee scores and applied the American Knee Society functional and knee scores as well as recording the range of movement of the replaced knee. These were compared with the pre-operative scores and the extent of the releases. We found differences in outcomes between minimal and extensive releases and between balanced and imbalanced knees. Knees requiring extensive soft-tissue releases showed greater change in the short-term clinical outcome without increased complications and achieved similar results at one year compared with those with less deformity pre-operatively which had required less soft-tissue release. Balancing an imbalanced knee improved the short-term knee outcome.
The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the accuracy of two different methods of navigated retrograde drilling of talar lesions. Artificial osteochondral talar lesions were created in 14 cadaver lower limbs. Two methods of navigated drilling were evaluated by one examiner. Navigated Iso-C3D was used in seven cadavers and 2D fluoroscopy-based navigation in the remaining seven. Of 14 talar lesions, 12 were successfully targeted by navigated drilling. In both cases of inaccurate targeting the 2D fluoroscopy-based navigation was used, missing lesions by 3 mm and 5 mm, respectively. The mean radiation time was increased using Iso-C3D navigation (23 s; 22 to 24) compared with 2D fluoroscopy-based navigation (14 s, 11 to 17).
In 12 patients, we measured the oxygen concentration in the femoral head-neck junction during hip resurfacing through the anterolateral approach. This was compared with previous measurements made for the posterior approach. For the anterolateral approach, the oxygen concentration was found to be highly dependent upon the position of the leg, which was adjusted during surgery to provide exposure to the acetabulum and femoral head. Gross external rotation of the hip gave a significant decrease in oxygenation of the femoral head. Straightening the limb led to recovery in oxygen concentration, indicating that the blood supply was maintained. The oxygen concentration at the end of the procedure was not significantly different from that at the start. The anterolateral approach appears to produce less disruption to the blood flow in the femoral head-neck junction than the posterior approach for patients undergoing hip resurfacing. This may be reflected subsequently in a lower incidence of fracture of the femoral neck and avascular necrosis.
There have been many advances in the resuscitation
and early management of patients with severe injuries during the
last decade. These have come about as a result of the reorganisation
of civilian trauma services in countries such as Germany, Australia
and the United States, where the development of trauma systems has
allowed a concentration of expertise and research. The continuing
conflicts in the Middle East have also generated a significant increase
in expertise in the management of severe injuries, and soldiers
now survive injuries that would have been fatal in previous wars.
This military experience is being translated into civilian practice. The aim of this paper is to give orthopaedic surgeons a practical,
evidence-based guide to the current management of patients with
severe, multiple injuries. It must be emphasised that this depends
upon the expertise, experience and facilities available within the
local health-care system, and that the proposed guidelines will
inevitably have to be adapted to suit the local resources.
We identified 16 patients with a mean age of
56.5 years (31 to 86) from a large consecutive series of patients
with proximal humeral fractures over a 15-year period, who had sustained
a fracture with skin compromise after a blunt injury. The study
group represented 0.2% of 7825 proximal humeral fractures treated
during this period and all had a displaced Neer two-part fracture
pattern. Two patterns of skin injury were identified: in ten patients
there was skin penetration at the time of the original injury, and
the other six patients initially had closed injuries. These six patients
had fracture fragments penetrating the muscular envelope to lie
subcutaneously producing either early skin tethering (two patients)
or delayed skin penetration and sinus formation (four patients).
The pattern of injury to the soft-tissue envelope and the fracture
pattern were similar for all injuries. Treatment of these injuries
was determined by the initial severity of the soft-tissue injury
and the medical status of the patient. We currently favour open
reduction and internal fixation of these fractures wherever possible,
owing to the high rate of nonunion with non-operative management.
The management of nonunion following high tibial osteotomy by total knee replacement (TKR) has been reported previously. We have extended the treatment to embrace cases with an infected high tibial osteotomy by performing an initial debridement with a period of antibiotic treatment followed by TKR. We have reviewed the results of seven knees in six patients with a mean follow-up of 40.5 months (20 to 57) after the staged TKR. At the latest follow-up, all the pseudarthroses had healed and there had been no recurrence of infection. The mean Hospital for Special Surgery knee score improved from 51.2 (35 to 73) to a mean of 91.7 (84 to 98) at final review. Management of nonunion following high tibial osteotomy with a TKR can be extended to infected cases when treated in two stages with a debridement and antibiotic therapy prior to TKR.
We evaluated the incidence of heterotopic ossification
following total ankle replacement to determine whether the degree
of ossification was associated with the clinical outcome. We evaluated
90 ankles in 81 consecutive patients who underwent total ankle replacement,
and heterotopic ossification was assessed according to proportional involvement
of the ankle joint. Correlation analysis was used to investigate
the association between heterotopic ossification and outcome. No significant association was found between the formation of
heterotopic ossification and the clinical outcome. The degree of
heterotopic ossification in the posterior ankle joint was not significantly
correlated with posterior ankle pain (p = 0.929), the American Orthopaedic
Foot and Ankle Society score (p = 0.454) or range of movement (p
= 0.283). This study indicates that caution should be observed in attributing
symptoms and functional limitation to the presence of heterotopic
ossification in the posterior ankle joint when considering excision
of heterotopic bone after total ankle replacement.