Between 1990 and 2001, 24 children aged between 15 months and 11 years presented with late orthopaedic sequelae after meningococcal septicaemia. The median time to presentation was 32 months (12 to 119) after the acute phase of the disease. The reasons for referral included angular deformity, limb-length discrepancy, joint contracture and problems with prosthetic fitting. Angular deformity with or without limb-length discrepancy was the most common presentation. Partial growth arrest was the cause of the angular deformity. Multiple growth-plate involvement occurred in 14 children. The lower limbs were affected much more often than the upper. Twenty-three children underwent operations for realignment of the mechanical axis and limb-length equalisation. In 15 patients with angular deformity around the knee the deformity recurred. As a result we recommend performing a realignment procedure with epiphysiodesis of the remaining growth plate when correcting angular deformities.

Injuries to the foot in athletes are often subtle and can lead to a substantial loss of function if not diagnosed and treated appropriately. For these injuries in general, even after a diagnosis is made, treatment options are controversial and become even more so in high level athletes where limiting the time away from training and competition is a significant consideration.

In this review, we cover some of the common and important sporting injuries affecting the foot including updates on their management and outcomes.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1299–1311.

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.

Aims

Analysis of the morphology of the distal femur, and by extension of the femoral components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), has largely been related to the aspect ratio, which represents the width of the femur. Little is known about variations in trapezoidicity (i.e. whether the femur is more rectangular or more trapezoidal). This study aimed to quantify additional morphological characteristics of the distal femur and identify anatomical features associated with higher risks of over- or under-sizing of components in TKA.

Cemented femoral stems with force closed fixation designs have shown good clinical results despite high early subsidence. A new triple-tapered stem in this category (C-stem AMT) was introduced in 2005. This study compares this new stem with an established stem of similar design (Exeter) in terms of migration (as measured using radiostereometric analysis), peri-prosthetic bone remodelling (measured using dual energy x-ray densitometry, DXA), Oxford Hip Score, and plain radiographs.

A total of 70 patients (70 hips) with a mean age of 66 years (53 to 78) were followed for two years. Owing to missing data of miscellaneous reasons, the final analysis represents data from 51 (RSA) and 65 (DXA) patients. Both stems showed a typical pattern of migration: Subsidence and retroversion that primarily occurred during the first three months. C-stem AMT subsided less during the first three months (p = 0.01), before stabilising at a subsidence rate similar to the Exeter stem from years one to two. The rate of migration into retroversion was slightly higher for C-stem AMT during the second year (p = 0.03). Whilst there were slight differences in movement patterns between the stems, the C-stem AMT exhibits good early clinical outcomes and displays a pattern of migration and bone remodelling that predicts good clinical performance.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:755–61.

The use of short stems has become more popular with the increased interest in less invasive approaches for total hip arthroplasty. The curved broaches and stem can be inserted along a curved track to avoid the abductor attachments. Short stems have the potential of being more bone conserving by allowing for higher neck retention, maintenance of the medial greater trochanter, and preferential stress transfer to the proximal femur.

An initial experience with 500 new short stems (Fitmore, Zimmer Orthopedics) stems used for total hip arthroplasty is reported. No stems have been revised for aseptic loosening.

Guiding growth by harnessing the ability of growing bone to undergo plastic deformation is one of the oldest orthopaedic principles. Correction of deformity remains a major part of the workload for paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and recently, along with developments in limb reconstruction and computer-directed frame correction, there has been renewed interest in surgical methods of physeal manipulation or ‘guided growth’. Manipulating natural bone growth to correct a deformity is appealing, as it allows gradual correction by non- or minimally invasive methods.

This paper reviews the techniques employed for guided growth in current orthopaedic practice, including the basic science and recent advances underlying mechanical physeal manipulation of both healthy and pathological physes.

Radiological evidence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) after fracture of the tibial plateau is common but end-stage arthritis which requires total knee arthroplasty is much rarer.

The aim of this study was to examine the indications for, and outcomes of, total knee arthroplasty after fracture of the tibial plateau and to compare this with an age and gender-matched cohort of TKAs carried out for primary osteoarthritis.

Between 1997 and 2011, 31 consecutive patients (23 women, eight men) with a mean age of 65 years (40 to 89) underwent TKA at a mean of 24 months (2 to 124) after a fracture of the tibial plateau. Of these, 24 had undergone ORIF and seven had been treated non-operatively. Patients were assessed pre-operatively and at 6, 12 and > 60 months using the Short Form-12, Oxford Knee Score and a patient satisfaction score.

Patients with instability or nonunion needed total knee arthroplasty earlier (14 and 13.3 months post-injury) than those with intra-articular malunion (50 months, p < 0.001). Primary cruciate-retaining implants were used in 27 (87%) patients. Complication rates were higher in the PTOA cohort and included wound complications (13% vs 1% p = 0.014) and persistent stiffness (10% vs 0%, p = 0.014). Two (6%) PTOA patients required revision total knee arthroplasty at 57 and 114 months. The mean Oxford knee score was worse pre-operatively in the cohort with primary osteoarthritis (18 vs 30, p < 0.001) but there were no significant differences in post-operative Oxford knee score or patient satisfaction (primary osteoarthritis 86%, PTOA 78%, p = 0.437).

Total knee arthroplasty undertaken after fracture of the tibial plateau has a higher rate of complications than that undertaken for primary osteoarthritis, but patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction are comparable.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:532–8.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is known to lead to a reduction in periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD). In theory, this may lead to migration, instability and aseptic loosening of the prosthetic components. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and may reduce this loss in BMD. We hypothesised that treatment with bisphosphonates and calcium would lead to improved BMD and clinical outcomes compared with treatment with calcium supplementation alone following TKA. A total of 26 patients, (nine male and 17 female, mean age 67 years) were prospectively randomised into two study groups: alendronate and calcium (bisphosphonate group, n = 14) or calcium only (control group, n = 12). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements were performed post-operatively, and at three months, six months, one, two, four, and seven years post-operatively.

Mean femoral metaphyseal BMD was significantly higher in the bisphosphonate group compared with controls, up to four years following surgery in some areas of the femur (p = 0.045). BMD was observed to increase in the lateral tibial metaphysis in the bisphosphonate group until seven years (p = 0.002), and was significantly higher than that observed in the control group throughout (p = 0.024). There were no significant differences between the groups in the central femoral metaphyseal, tibial medial metaphyseal or diaphyseal regions of interest (ROI) of either the femur or tibia.

Bisphosphonate treatment after TKA may be of benefit for patients with poor bone quality. However, further studies with a larger number of patients are necessary to assess whether this is clinically beneficial.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:337–45.

The object of this study was to develop a method to assess the accuracy of an image-free total knee replacement navigation system in legs with normal or abnormal mechanical axes. A phantom leg was constructed with simulated hip and knee joints and provided a means to locate the centre of the ankle joint. Additional joints located at the midshaft of the tibia and femur allowed deformation in the flexion/extension, varus/valgus and rotational planes. Using a digital caliper unit to measure the coordinates precisely, a software program was developed to convert these local coordinates into a determination of actual leg alignment. At specific points in the procedure, information was compared between the digital caliper measurements and the image-free navigation system. Repeated serial measurements were undertaken. In the setting of normal alignment the mean error of the system was within 0.5°. In the setting of abnormal plane alignment in both the femur and the tibia, the error was within 1°. This is the first study designed to assess the accuracy of a clinically-validated navigation system. It demonstrates in vitro accuracy of the image-free navigation system in both normal and abnormal leg alignment settings.

Proximal femoral varus osteotomy improves the biomechanics of the hip and can stimulate normal acetabular development in a dysplastic hip. Medial closing wedge osteotomy remains the most popular technique, but is associated with shortening of the ipsilateral femur.

We produced a trigonometric formula which may be used pre-operatively to predict the resultant leg length discrepancy (LLD). We retrospectively examined the influence of the choice of angle in a closing wedge femoral osteotomy on LLD in 120 patients (135 osteotomies, 53% male, mean age six years, (3 to 21), 96% caucasian) over a 15-year period (1998 to 2013). A total of 16 of these patients were excluded due to under or over varus correction. The patients were divided into three age groups: paediatric (< 10 years), adolescent (10 to 16 years) and adult (> 16 years). When using the same saw blades as in this series, the results indicated that for each 10° of angle of resection the resultant LLD equates approximately to multiples of 4 mm, 8 mm and 12 mm in the three age groups, respectively.

Statistical testing of the 59 patients who had a complete set of pre- and post-operative standing long leg radiographs, revealed a Pearson’s correlation coefficient for predicted versus radiologically observed shortening when using a wedge of either 10° or 20° of 0.93 (p <  0.001). The 95% limits of agreement from the Bland–Altman analysis for this subgroup were –3.5 mm to +3.3 mm. It has been accepted that a 10 mm discrepancy is clinically acceptable.

This study identified a geometric model that provided satisfactory accuracy when using specific saw blades of known thicknesses for this formula to be used in clinical practice.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1124–9

Previous studies have identified clinical and demographic risk factors for recurrence in the treatment of idiopathic clubfoot (congenital talipes equinovarus). Evertor muscle activity is not usually considered amongst them. This study aimed to evaluate whether recurrence could be predicted by demographic, clinical and gait parameters. From a series of 103 children with clubfeet, 67 had completed a follow-up of two years: 41 male and 26 female, 38 with idiopathic and 29 with non-idiopathic deformities. The mean age was 3.2 years (2.1 to 6.3). Primary correction was obtained in all 38 children (100%) with an idiopathic deformity, and in 26 of 29 patients (90%) with a non-idiopathic deformity. Overall, 60 children (90%) complied with the abduction brace regime. At a mean follow-up of 31.4 months (24 to 62), recurrence was noted in six children (15.8%) in the idiopathic and 14 children (48.3%) in the non-idiopathic group. Significant correlation was found between poor evertor activity and recurrence in both groups. No statistically significant relationship was found between the rate of recurrence and the severity of the initial deformity, the age at the time of treatment, the number of casts required or the compliance with the brace.

After correction of idiopathic and non-idiopathic clubfoot using the Ponseti method, only poor evertor muscle activity was statistically associated with recurrence. The identification of risk factors for recurrent deformity allows clinicians to anticipate problems and advocate early additional treatment to improve muscle balance around the ankle.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1264–8.

Transtrochanteric curved varus osteotomy was designed to avoid some of the disadvantages of varus wedge osteotomy, such as post-operative leg-length discrepancy. In this retrospective study we investigated the leg-length discrepancy and clinical outcome after transtrochanteric curved varus osteotomy undertaken in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Between January 1993 and March 2004, this osteotomy was performed in 42 hips of 36 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. There were 15 males and 21 females with a mean age at surgery of 34 years (15 to 68). The mean follow-up was 5.9 years (2.0 to 12.5). The mean pre-operative Harris hip score was 64.0 (43 to 85) points, which improved to a mean of 88.7 (58 to 100) points at final follow-up. The mean varus angulation post-operatively was 25° (12° to 38°) and the post-operative mean leg-length discrepancy was 13 mm (4 to 25). The post-operative leg-length discrepancy showed a strong correlation with varus angulation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient; r = 0.9530, p < 0.0001), which may be useful for predicting the leg-length discrepancy which can occur even after transtrochanteric curved varus osteotomy.

Between April 1999 and April 2004, 3497 Birmingham hips were inserted by 89 surgeons. Fracture of the neck of the femur occurred in 50 patients, an incidence of 1.46%. Complete data were available for 45 patients in whom the incidence was 1.91% for women and 0.98% for men. The relative risk of fracture for women vs men was 1.94961 and this was statistically significant (p < 0.01).

The mean time to fracture was 15.4 weeks. In women the fractures occurred at a mean of 18.5 weeks and were more likely to have been preceded by a pro-dromal phase of pain and limping. In men the mean time to fracture was 13.5 weeks.

Significant varus placement of the femoral component, intra-operative notching of the femoral neck and technical problems were common factors in 85% of cases.

Although it is clear that opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) changes alignment in the coronal plane, which is its objective, it is not clear how this procedure affects knee kinematics throughout the range of joint movement and in other planes.

Our research question was: how does opening-wedge HTO change three-dimensional tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics in loaded flexion in patients with varus deformity?Three-dimensional kinematics were assessed over 0° to 60° of loaded flexion using an MRI method before and after opening-wedge HTO in a cohort of 13 men (14 knees). Results obtained from an iterative statistical model found that at six and 12 months after operation, opening-wedge HTO caused increased anterior translation of the tibia (mean 2.6 mm, p <  0.001), decreased proximal translation of the patella (mean –2.2 mm, p <  0.001), decreased patellar spin (mean –1.4°, p < 0.05), increased patellar tilt (mean 2.2°, p < 0.05) and changed three other parameters. The mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index improved significantly (p < 0.001) from 49.6 (standard deviation (sd) 16.4) pre-operatively to a mean of 28.2 (sd 16.6) at six months and a mean of 22.5 (sd 14.4) at 12 months.

The three-dimensional kinematic changes found may be important in explaining inconsistency in clinical outcomes, and suggest that measures in addition to coronal plane alignment should be considered.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1214–21.

Between December 2004 and June 2006, 136 patients (156 total hip replacements), were sent from the waiting list of the Cardiff Vale NHS Trust to the NHS Treatment Centre, Weston-super-Mare, in an attempt to reduce the waiting time for total hip replacement. Because of concerns about their outcome, each patient was contacted and invited to attend a review appointment with a consultant specialising in hip and revision hip replacement.

A total of 98 patients (113 hips) were reviewed after a mean of 23 months (11 to 30). There were 104 cemented hips, seven hybrid and two cementless. An acetabular inclination of > 55° was seen in 18 (16%). Radiolucent lines around the acetabular component were seen in 76 (67%). The femoral component was in more than 4° of varus in 47 (42%). The medial floor had been breached in 13 (12%) and there was a leg-length discrepancy of more than 1 cm in ten (9%). There were three dislocations, one femoral fracture, one pulmonary embolus, one deep infection and two superficial wound infections.

To date, 13% (15 hips) have been revised and a further 4% (five hips) await revision, mostly for a painful loose acetabular component. The revision rate far exceeds the 0.5% five-year failure rate reported in the Swedish Registry for the components used. This initiative and the consequent need for correction of the problems created, has significantly increased the workload of our unit.

Stress shielding resulting in diminished bone density following total knee replacement (TKR) may increase the risk of migration and loosening of the prosthesis. This retrospective study was designed to quantify the effects of the method of fixation on peri-prosthetic tibial bone density beneath cemented and uncemented tibial components of similar design and with similar long-term survival rates. Standard radiographs taken between two months and 15 years post-operatively were digitised from a matched group of TKRs using cemented (n = 67) and uncemented (n = 67) AGC tibial prostheses. Digital radiograph densitometry was used to quantify changes in bone density over time. Age, length of follow-up, gender, body mass index and alignment each significantly influenced the long-term pattern of peri-prosthetic bone density. Similar long-term changes in density irrespective of the method of fixation correlated well with the high rate of survival of this TKR at 20 years, and suggest that cemented and uncemented fixation are both equally viable.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:911–16.

Objectives

The development of tibiofemoral angle in children has shown ethnic variations. However this data is unavailable for our population.

In this retrospective study we have assessed the results of low tibial valgus osteotomy for varus-type osteoarthritis of the ankle and its indications.

We performed an opening wedge osteotomy in 25 women (26 ankles). The mean follow-up was for eight years and three months (2 years 3 months to 17 years 11 months).

Of the 26 ankles, 19 showed excellent or good clinical results. Their mean scores for pain, walking, and activities of daily living were significantly improved but there was no change in the range of movement. In the ankles which were classified radiologically as stage 2 according to our own grading system, with narrowing of the medial joint space, and in 11 as stage 3a, with obliteration of the joint space at the medial malleolus only, the joint space recovered. In contrast, such recovery was seen in only two of 12 ankles classified as stage 3b, with obliteration of the joint space advancing to the upper surface of the dome of the talus. Low tibial osteotomy is indicated for varus-type osteoarthritis of stage 2 or stage 3a.

We have carried out a radiostereometric study of 50 patients (54 knees) with osteoarthritis of the knee who were randomly allocated to receive a cemented or a hydroxyapatite-coated femoral component for total knee replacement. The patients were also stratified to receive one of three types of articulating surface (standard, rotating platform, Freeman-Samuelson (FS)1000) all based on the Freeman-Samuelson design. The tibial components were cemented in all cases. Radiostereometry was performed post-operatively and at 3, 12 and 24 months. The analysis was restricted to rotation of the femoral component over time.

After two years, rotation of the femoral components in the transverse, longitudinal and sagittal planes did not differ between the cemented and the hydroxyapatite-coated implants (p = 0.2 to 0.9).

In total knee replacements with a rotating platform, the femoral component tended to tilt more posteriorly than in the other two designs, regardless of the choice of fixation (cemented or hydroxyapatite-coated, p = 0.04). The standard version of the femoral component, whether cemented or hydroxyapatite-coated, rotated more into valgus than was observed with the rotating-platform and FS1000 designs (p = 0.005). The increased constraint provided by the FS1000 component did not appear to have any adverse effect on fixation of the femoral component.