A total of 35 children with Erb’s palsy and shoulder
abduction of <
90° underwent transfer of teres major. In 18 cases (group
1) a trapezius transfer was added (combined procedure). In 17 cases
(group 2) teres major transfer was carried out in isolation (single
procedure). The mean gain in abduction was 67.2° (60° to 80°) in
group 1 and 37.6° (20° to 70°) in group 2, which reached statistical
significance (p <
0.001). Group 2 was further divided into those who had deltoid power
of <
M3 (group 2a) and those with deltoid power ≥ M3 (group 2b).
The difference in improvement of abduction between groups 2a and
group 2b was statistically significant (p <
0.001) but the difference
between group 2b and group 1 was not (p = 0.07). We recommend the following protocol of management: in children
with abduction ≥ 90° a single procedure is indicated. In children
with abduction <
90°: a combined procedure is indicated if deltoid
power is <
M3 and a single procedure is indicated if deltoid
power is ≥ M3. If no satisfactory improvement is achieved, the trapezius
can be transferred at a later stage.
The December 2014 Trauma Roundup360 looks at: infection and temporising external fixation; Vitamin C in distal radial fractures; DRAFFT: Cheap and cheerful Kirschner wires win out; femoral neck fractures not as stable as they might be; displaced sacral fractures give high morbidity and mortality; sanders and calcaneal fractures: a 20-year experience; bleeding and pelvic fractures; optimising timing for acetabular fractures; and tibial plateau fractures.
Pre-operative planning for total hip replacement
(THR) is challenging in hips with severe acetabular deformities, including
those with a hypoplastic acetabulum or severe defects and in the
presence of arthrodesis or ankylosis. We evaluated whether a Rapid
Prototype (RP) model, which is a life-sized reproduction based on
three-dimensional CT scans, can determine the feasibility of THR
and provide information about the size and position of the acetabular component
in severe acetabular deformities. THR was planned using an RP model
in 21 complex hips in five men (five hips) and 16 women (16 hips)
with a mean age of 47.7 years (24 to 70) at operation. An acetabular
component was implanted successfully and THR completed in all hips.
The acetabular component used was within 2 mm of the predicted size
in 17 hips (80.9%). All of the acetabular components and femoral
stems had radiological evidence of bone ingrowth and stability at
the final follow-up, without any detectable wear or peri-prosthetic
osteolysis. The RP model allowed a simulated procedure pre-operatively
and was helpful in determining the feasibility of THR pre-operatively,
and to decide on implant type, size and position in complex THRs. Cite this article:
Assessment of skeletal age is important in children’s
orthopaedics. We compared two simplified methods used in the assessment
of skeletal age. Both methods have been described previously with
one based on the appearance of the epiphysis at the olecranon and
the other on the digital epiphyses. We also investigated the influence
of assessor experience on applying these two methods. Our investigation was based on the anteroposterior left hand
and lateral elbow radiographs of 44 boys (mean: 14.4; 12.4 to 16.1
) and 78 girls (mean: 13.0; 11.1 to14.9) obtained during the pubertal
growth spurt. A total of nine observers examined the radiographs
with the observers assigned to three groups based on their experience (experienced,
intermediate and novice). These raters were required to determined
skeletal ages twice at six-week intervals. The correlation between
the two methods was determined per assessment and per observer groups. Interclass
correlation coefficients (ICC) evaluated the reproducibility of
the two methods. The overall correlation between the two methods was r = 0.83
for boys and r = 0.84 for girls. The correlation was equal between
first and second assessment, and between the observer groups (r ≥ 0.82).
There was an equally strong ICC for the assessment effect (ICC ≤ 0.4%)
and observer effect (ICC ≤ 3%) for each method. There was no significant
(p <
0.05) difference between the levels of experience. The two methods are equally reliable in assessing skeletal maturity.
The olecranon method offers detailed information during the pubertal
growth spurt, while the digital method is as accurate but less detailed,
making it more useful after the pubertal growth spurt once the olecranon
has ossified. Cite this article:
Peri-acetabular tumour resections and their subsequent
reconstruction are among the most challenging procedures in orthopaedic
oncology. Despite the fact that a number of different pelvic endoprostheses
have been introduced, rates of complication remain high and long-term
results are mostly lacking. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the outcome
of reconstructing a peri-acetabular defect with a pedestal cup endoprosthesis
after a type 2 or type 2/3 internal hemipelvectomy. A total of 19 patients (11M:8F) with a mean age of 48 years (14
to 72) were included, most of whom had been treated for a primary
bone tumour (n = 16) between 2003 and 2009. After a mean follow-up
of 39 months (28 days to 8.7 years) seven patients had died. After
a mean follow-up of 7.9 years (4.3 to 10.5), 12 patients were alive,
of whom 11 were disease-free. Complications occurred in 15 patients.
Three had recurrent dislocations and three experienced aseptic loosening.
There were no mechanical failures. Infection occurred in nine patients,
six of whom required removal of the prosthesis. Two patients underwent
hindquarter amputation for local recurrence. The implant survival rate at five years was 50% for all reasons,
and 61% for non-oncological reasons. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor
Society score at final follow-up was 49% (13 to 87). Based on these poor results, we advise caution if using the pedestal
cup for reconstruction of a peri-acetabular tumour resection. Cite this article:
The optimal timing of total knee replacement
(TKR) in patients with osteoarthritis, in relation to the severity
of disease, remains controversial. This prospective study was performed
to investigate the effect of the severity of osteoarthritis and
other commonly available pre- and post-operative clinical parameters
on the clinical outcome in a consecutive series of cemented TKRs.
A total of 176 patients who underwent unilateral TKR were included
in the study. Their mean age was 68 years (39 to 91), 63 (36%) were
male and 131 knees (74%) were classified as grade 4 on the Kellgren–Lawrence
osteoarthritis scale. A total of 154 patients (87.5%) returned for
clinical review 12 months post-operatively, at which time the outcome
was assessed using the Knee Society score. A low radiological severity of osteoarthritis was not associated
with pain 12 months post-operatively. However, it was significantly
associated with an inferior level of function (p = 0.007), implying
the need for increased focus on all possible reasons for pain in
the knee and the forms of conservative treatment which are available
for patients with lower radiological severity of osteoarthritis. Cite this article:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
risk of late displacement after the treatment of distal radial fractures with
a locking volar plate, and to investigate the clinical and radiological
factors that might correlate with re-displacement. From March 2007
to October 2009, 120 of an original cohort of 132 female patients
with unstable fractures of the distal radius were treated with a
volar locking plate, and were studied over a follow-up period of
six months. In the immediate post-operative and final follow-up
radiographs, late displacement was evaluated as judged by ulnar
variance, radial inclination, and dorsal angulation. We also analysed
the correlation of a variety of clinical and radiological factors
with re-displacement. Ulnar variance was significantly overcorrected
(p <
0.001) while radial inclination and dorsal angulation were
undercorrected when compared statistically (p <
0.001) with the unaffected
side in the immediate post-operative stage. During follow-up, radial
shortening and dorsal angulation progressed statistically, but none
had a value beyond the acceptable range. Bone mineral density measured
at the proximal femur and the position of the screws in the subchondral
region, correlated with slight progressive radial shortening, which
was not clinically relevant. Volar locking plating of distal radial fractures is a reliable
form of treatment without substantial late displacement. Cite this article:
Our aim was to compare the outcome of arthroscopic
release for frozen shoulder in patients with and without diabetes.
We prospectively compared the outcome in 21 patients with and 21
patients without diabetes, two years post-operatively. The modified
Constant score was used as the outcome measure. The mean age of
the patients was 54.5 years (48 to 65; male:female ratio: 18:24),
the mean pre-operative duration of symptoms was 8.3 months (6 to
13) and the mean pre-operative modified Constant scores were 36.6
(standard deviation ( Cite this article:
The October 2014 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup360 looks at: spondylolisthesis management strategies; not all cervical collars are even; quality of life with Legg-Calve-Perthe’s disease; femoral shaft fractures in children; percutaneous trigger thumb release – avoid at all costs in children; predicting repeat surgical intervention in acute osteomyelitis; and C-Arm position inconsequential in radiation exposure
This article reviews the current knowledge of
the intervertebral disc (IVD) and its association with low back
pain (LBP). The normal IVD is a largely avascular and aneural structure
with a high water content, its nutrients mainly diffusing through
the end plates. IVD degeneration occurs when its cells die or become
dysfunctional, notably in an acidic environment. In the process
of degeneration, the IVD becomes dehydrated and vascularised, and
there is an ingrowth of nerves. Although not universally the case,
the altered physiology of the IVD is believed to precede or be associated
with many clinical symptoms or conditions including low back and/or
lower limb pain, paraesthesia, spinal stenosis and disc herniation. New treatment options have been developed in recent years. These
include biological therapies and novel surgical techniques (such
as total disc replacement), although many of these are still in
their experimental phase. Central to developing further methods
of treatment is the need for effective ways in which to assess patients
and measure their outcomes. However, significant difficulties remain
and it is therefore an appropriate time to be further investigating
the scientific basis of and treatment of LBP.
We compared the clinical, radiological and quality-of-life
outcomes between hybrid and total pedicle screw instrumentation
in patients undergoing surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis. Total pedicle screw instrumentation provided shorter operating
times, less blood loss and better correction of the major curve
compared with hybrid constructs in patients undergoing surgery for
neuromuscular scoliosis.
To assess the sustainability of our institutional
bone bank, we calculated the final product cost of fresh-frozen femoral
head allografts and compared these costs with the use of commercial
alternatives. Between 2007 and 2010 all quantifiable costs associated
with allograft donor screening, harvesting, storage, and administration
of femoral head allografts retrieved from patients undergoing elective
hip replacement were analysed. From 290 femoral head allografts harvested and stored as full
(complete) head specimens or as two halves, 101 had to be withdrawn.
In total, 104 full and 75 half heads were implanted in 152 recipients.
The calculated final product costs were €1367 per full head. Compared
with the use of commercially available processed allografts, a saving
of at least €43 119 was realised over four-years (€10 780 per year)
resulting in a cost-effective intervention at our institution. Assuming
a price of between €1672 and €2149 per commercially purchased allograft,
breakeven analysis revealed that implanting between 34 and 63 allografts
per year equated to the total cost of bone banking. Cite this article:
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.
We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with Friedreich’s
ataxia and scoliosis. There were 24 males and seven females with
a mean age at presentation of 15.5 years (8.6 to 30.8) and a mean
curve of 51° (13° to 140°). A total of 12 patients had thoracic
curvatures, 11 had thoracolumbar and eight had double thoracic/lumbar.
Two patients had long thoracolumbar collapsing scoliosis with pelvic
obliquity and four had hyperkyphosis. Left-sided thoracic curves in
nine patients (45%) and increased thoracic kyphosis differentiated
these deformities from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. There were
17 patients who underwent a posterior instrumented spinal fusion
at mean age of 13.35 years, which achieved and maintained good correction
of the deformity. Post-operative complications included one death due
to cardiorespiratory failure, one revision to address nonunion and
four patients with proximal junctional kyphosis who did not need
extension of the fusion. There were no neurological complications
and no wound infections. The rate of progression of the scoliosis
in children kept under simple observation and those treated with bracing
was less for lumbar curves during bracing and similar for thoracic
curves. The scoliosis progressed in seven of nine children initially
treated with a brace who later required surgery. Two patients presented
after skeletal maturity with balanced curves not requiring correction.
Three patients with severe deformities who would benefit from corrective
surgery had significant cardiac co-morbidities.
There is a high risk of the development of avascular
necrosis of the femoral head and nonunion after the treatment of
displaced subcapital fractures of the femoral neck in patients aged
<
50 years. We retrospectively analysed the results following
fixation with two cannulated compression screws and a vascularised
iliac bone graft. We treated 18 women and 16 men with a mean age
of 38.5 years (20 to 50) whose treatment included the use of an
iliac bone graft based on the ascending branch of lateral femoral
circumflex artery. There were 20 Garden grade III and 14 grade IV
fractures. Clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated. The
mean follow-up was 5.4 years (2 to 10). In 30 hips (88%) union was
achieved at a mean of 4.4 months (4 to 6). Nonunion occurred in
four hips (12%) and these patients had a mean age of 46.5 years
(42 to 50) and underwent revision to a hip replacement six months
after operation. The time to union was dependent on age with younger
patients achieving earlier union (p <
0.001). According to the
Harris hip score which was available for 27 of the 30 hips with
satisfactory union, excellent results were obtained in 15 (score ≥ 90
points), fair in ten (score 80 to 90 points), and poor in two hips
(≤ 80 points). One patient aged 48 years developed avascular necrosis
of femoral head six years after operation and underwent total hip
replacement. The management of displaced subcapital fractures of the femoral
neck, in patients aged <
50 years, with two cannulated compression
screws and an iliac bone graft based on the ascending branch of
lateral femoral circumflex artery, gives satisfactory results with
a low rate of complication including avascular necrosis and nonunion. Cite this article:
The osteoinductive properties of demineralised
bone matrix have been demonstrated in animal studies. However, its therapeutic
efficacy has yet to be proven in humans. The clinical properties
of AlloMatrix, an injectable calcium-based demineralised bone matrix
allograft, were studied in a prospective randomised study of 50
patients with an isolated unstable distal radial fracture treated
by reduction and Kirschner (K-) wire fixation. A total of 24 patients
were randomised to the graft group (13 men and 11 women, mean age
42.3 years (20 to 62)) and 26 to the no graft group (8 men and 18
women, mean age 45.0 years (17 to 69)). At one, three, six and nine weeks, and six and 12 months post-operatively,
patients underwent radiological evaluation, assessments for range
of movement, grip and pinch strength, and also completed the Disabilities
of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. At one and six weeks and
one year post-operatively, bone mineral density evaluations of both
wrists were performed. No significant difference in wrist function and speed of recovery,
rate of union, complications or bone mineral density was found between
the two groups. The operating time was significantly higher in the
graft group (p = 0.004). Radiologically, the reduction parameters
remained similar in the two groups and all AlloMatrix extraosseous leakages
disappeared after nine weeks. This prospective randomised controlled trial did not demonstrate
a beneficial effect of AlloMatrix demineralised bone matrix in the
treatment of this category of distal radial fractures treated by
K-wire fixation. Cite this article:
Recent reports have suggested an increase in
the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children, although
their true incidence is unknown. The prognosis of the ACL-deficient knee in young active individuals
is poor because of secondary meniscal tears, persistent instability
and early-onset osteoarthritis. The aim of surgical reconstruction
is to provide stability while avoiding physeal injury. Techniques
of reconstruction include transphyseal, extraphyseal or partial
physeal sparing procedures. In this paper we review the management of ACL tears in skeletally
immature patients. Cite this article:
This review of the literature presents the current understanding of Scheuermann’s kyphosis and investigates the controversies concerning conservative and surgical treatment. There is considerable debate regarding the pathogenesis, natural history and treatment of this condition. A benign prognosis with settling of symptoms and stabilisation of the deformity at skeletal maturity is expected in most patients. Observation and programmes of exercise are appropriate for mild, flexible, non-progressive deformities. Bracing is indicated for a moderate deformity which spans several levels and retains flexibility in motivated patients who have significant remaining spinal growth. The loss of some correction after the completion of bracing with recurrent anterior vertebral wedging has been reported in approximately one-third of patients. Surgical correction with instrumented spinal fusion is indicated for a severe kyphosis which carries a risk of progression beyond the end of growth causing cosmetic deformity, back pain and neurological complications. There is no consensus on the effectiveness of different techniques and types of instrumentation. Techniques include posterior-only and combined anteroposterior spinal fusion with or without posterior osteotomies across the apex of the deformity. Current instrumented techniques include hybrid and all-pedicle screw constructs.
The cam-type deformity in femoroacetabular impingement
is a 3D deformity. Single measurements using radiographs, CT or
MRI may not provide a true estimate of the magnitude of the deformity.
We performed an analysis of the size and location of measurements
of the alpha angle (α°) using a CT technique which could be applied
to the 3D reconstructions of the hip. Analysis was undertaken in
42 patients (57 hips; 24 men and 18 women; mean age 38 years (16
to 58)) who had symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement related
to a cam-type abnormality. An α° of >
50° was considered a significant
indicator of cam-type impingement. Measurements of the α° were made
at different points around the femoral head/neck junction at intervals
of 30°: starting at the nine o’clock (posterior), ten, eleven and
twelve o’clock (superior), one, two and ending at three o’clock
(anterior) position. The mean maximum increased α° was 64.6° (50.8° to 86°). The two
o’clock position was the most common point to find an increased α°
(53 hips; 93%), followed by one o’clock (48 hips; 84%). The largest α°
for each hip was found most frequently at the two o’clock position
(46%), followed by the one o’clock position (39%). Generally, raised α angles
extend over three segments of the clock face. Single measurements of the α°, whether pre- or post-operative,
should be viewed with caution as they may not be representative
of the true size of the deformity and not define whether adequate
correction has been achieved following surgery. Cite this article:
The August 2014 Research Roundup360 looks at: Antibiotic loaded ceramic of use in osteomyelitis; fibronectin implicated in cartilage degeneration; Zinc Chloride accelerates fracture healing in rats; advertisements and false claims; Net Promoter Score: substance or rhetoric?; aspirin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and dissection, stress and the soul.