Injuries to the sciatic nerve are an occasional complication of surgery to the hip and acetabulum, and traction is frequently the causative mechanism. In vitro and animal experiments have shown that increased tensile strain on peripheral nerves, when applied for prolonged periods, impairs nerve function. We have used video-extensometry to measure strain on the human sciatic nerve during total hip replacement (THR). Ten consecutive patients with a mean age of 72 years undergoing primary THR by the posterior approach were recruited, and strains in the sciatic nerve were measured in different combinations of flexion and extension of the hip and knee, before dislocation of the hip. Significant increases (p = 0.02) in strain in the sciatic nerve were observed in flexion of the hip and extension of the knee. The mean increase was 26% (19% to 30%). In animal studies increases of this magnitude have been shown to impair electrophysiological function in peripheral nerves. Our results suggest that excessive flexion of the hip and extension of the knee should be avoided during THR

In the Trillat procedure for recurrent anterior instability of the shoulder the coracoid process is osteotomised and tilted downward to act as a bone block, and a screw is used to fix it and the Bankart lesion to the anterior scapular neck. We reviewed 52 cases after a mean follow-up of 69 months. Results in 73% of shoulders were excellent, 10% were good, 7% fair and 10% poor. Dislocation recurred in 4%, but a positive apprehension sign was present in 10 other shoulders. Some degenerative changes were seen in 62% of shoulders, a complication known to be associated with bone-block procedures. The most important reason for loss of lateral rotation was iatrogenic impingement of the coracoid. This frequent and potentially serious complication can also cause posterior subluxation of the humeral head and osteoarthritis

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine whether the rates of revision for metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasties (THAs) with Pinnacle components varied according to the year of the initial operation, and compare these with the rates of revision for other designs of MoM THA.

The Norway elbow prosthesis is a non-constrained cemented total replacement. It depends on intact collateral ligaments for stability, and allows a full range of movement. The system includes several sizes of components, all freely interchangeable, and semi-constraint can be provided by a locking ring if damaged collateral ligaments make dislocation possible. The prosthesis has been used in more than 350 elbows in Norway and the detailed results for 118 elbows studied prospectively since 1987 are reported. It is inserted through a posterolateral triceps-splitting incision with minimal muscle disruption and bone resection, preserving the collateral ligaments. The results as regards pain relief and range of movement were comparable with those of other elbow prostheses, but there were fewer serious complications. At a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, the failure rate was 3.4%

A case of osteochondritis dissecans complicating Legg-Calvé-Perthes' disease is reported. Despite four years of conservative treatment in an ischial-bearing caliper a part of the fragmented femoral head failed to unite with the rest of the epiphysis and has persisted as an intra-articular loose body. Freehafer (1960) listed the indications for surgical removal of this fragment in such cases: 1) persisting symptoms; 2) dislocation of the loose fragment into the joint with secondary arthritic changes inevitable; 3) a mechanical block to movement of the hip. Since our patient had a relatively symptomless hip with a full range of movement, surgical removal of the loose body was not advised. The prognosis for this hip is nevertheless guarded, and surgery can be reserved for the above indications or for reconstructive procedures should they be required in the future

The results of 140 total hip revision procedures for "non-septic" loosening, dislocation, and fracture of the femoral stem or shaft have been personally reviewed and rated by the Harris method. The minimum follow-up period was six months: thirty-three (24 per cent) showed excellent or good results, seventy-two (51 per cent) showed fair or poor results. Subsequent excision arthroplasty was performed in thirty-one patients. The infection rate for these revision procedures was very high, suggesting that many were already infected at the time of revision, and that every "loose" hip must be assumed to be infected until proved otherwise. The mortality rate of 3 per cent was surprisingly low after more than one major surgical procedure in these elderly patients

We have reviewed the results in 37 patients with unilateral congenital short femur (Pappas classes III to IX), treated by different lengthening procedures. The increase in the length of the femur varied from 15.6% to 142%, excellent or good results being obtained in 32 patients (86%). There was an average of 1.9 complications per case, most being seen earlier in the series when the Wagner technique was used. With the Orthofix and the Ilizarov techniques, we used callus distraction in all cases. We found that the proximal diaphysis of the congenitally abnormal femur healed less well, and we now prefer to perform corticotomy and callus distraction of the distal metaphysis. The Ilizarov method gave the best results, offering the possibilities of the simultaneous use of a Hoffmann fixator across the hip and the treatment of knee dislocation and instability

Between December 1982 and June 1986, 98 displaced subcapital femoral neck fractures were treated using the Charnley-Hastings bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Although the patients were elderly, often with associated medical problems, the operation was well tolerated and the mortality at one and six months was 14.4% and 24.5% respectively. Fifty-four hips were reviewed after an average follow-up of 33 months; 64.8% of patients had a good or excellent result. The fair or poor results were seen mainly in patients with poor pre-operative mobility and multiple medical problems. A significant cause of morbidity was dislocation (two interprosthetic) which occurred in six hips. There were two cases of deep sepsis but neither patient was fit for further surgery. There were no cases of acetabular erosion requiring revision surgery

Between February 1975 and August 1976, 195 total hip replacements using Stanmore components were performed; of these, 146 were in 135 patients who had not had previous hip surgery. At review 52 had died, but none of the others was lost to follow-up. Of the 52, two had had a second operation, one for infection and one for recurrent dislocation. In the remaining 83 patients (92 hips) five revisions were necessary: four for aseptic loosening, and one for stem fracture. The remaining 78 patients had little or no pain and little restriction of activity. After a follow-up period of at least nine years, the survival rate of the prosthesis was 95%. There had been migration of the femoral component in five cases and migration of the acetabular cup in one case, but no wear of the acetabular component could be demonstrated

In 1957 Somerville and Scott described their "direct approach" to the management of established congenital dislocation of the hip; arthrography after a period of traction served to distinguish the dislocated from the subluxated hip. We review the long-term outcome of hips which, using their criteria, were subluxated; 72 hips have been reviewed at periods ranging from 15 to 37 years after treatment by traction, closed reduction and femoral osteotomy. The results have been classified clinically and radiologically according to Severin's criteria. There was progressive deterioration with age in both clinical function and radiographic appearance: 48.5% of hips showed evidence of dysplasia or subluxation at review. The results are similar to those found in a series treated by open reduction and limbectomy, differing only in the much lower incidence of degenerative changes after closed reduction

Shelf arthroplasty is briefly reviewed in historical perspective and the results in 45 hips (39 patients) which had undergone this procedure at the Royal Children's Hospital are presented. The majority of these patients were adolescents who had previously been treated for congenital dislocation or subluxation of the hip. The indications for operation and the operative technique are discussed. Clinical examination was carried out upon 33 of the 39 patients at an average of 11 years after operation. The results suggested that where pain had been an indication for operation almost 80 percent of the hips remained relatively free of symptoms at the time of follow-up and in those patients where acetabular dysplasia had been an indication, the coverage remained good and pain had not appeared. It is concluded that the shelf operation is useful for dealing with both pain and dysplasia in the adolescent

During the years 1971 to 1975, 378 Charnley low-friction arthroplasties of the hip were performed on 278 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The average age at operation was thirty-nine years. The follow-up time ranged from one to six years (mean two and a half years). Forty per cent of patients were receiving steroids at the time of operation. The most common complications were loosening of the prosthesis (3.4%), perforation of the femoral cortex and fracture. Deep infection occurred in 0.7%, dislocation in 0.7%, and thromboembolic episodes in 1.3%. Ninety-five per cent of patients were free of pain at follow-up compared to 84% who were severely handicapped by pain before operation. In addition, the increased mobility in 98.5% of patients and their improved independence makes hip replacement a recommendable procedure in these patients

1. A modification of the McLaughlin technique of lag screw fixation of the fractured scaphoid is described. 2. Fifty-six patients operated upon between 1956 and 1966 have been reviewed and their fractures classified under the headings recent, delayed union and non-union. 3. Plaster casts were avoided and early return to work encouraged; 95 per cent did so within two months. 4. Of twenty-two recent fractures, including three perilunar trans-scaphoid dislocations, nineteen united; of fifteen showing delayed union, eight united: and of nineteen cases of non-union, only two united. 5. The function of the wrist in the seventeen cases of persistent non-union stabilised by lag-screw was surprisingly good; only one patient has required arthrodesis to date. 6. The indications and contra-indications for the operation are discussed

1. After exclusion of the well known causes of torsion such as congenital dislocation of the hip, Legg-Perthes' disease, cerebral palsy and congenital talipes equinovarus, examination of 1,320 nearly normal children disclosed an incidence of 13·6 per cent toeing-in or toeing-out. 2. There was a female preponderance of seven to three on presentation decreasing to four to three in uncorrected cases. 3. There was persisting upper femoral torsion of greater than 10 degrees in two-thirds of all cases of toeing-in whether corrected or uncorrected. 4. When correction of toeing-in occurred it took place between four and seven years of age, but mainly at five years. 5. There was a normal angle of anteversion in one-third of children whose toeing-in was not corrected. This suggests the possibility of acetabular maldirection. 6. Uncorrected torsional stresses may play a part in the later development of osteoarthritis

1. Four cases of true congenital vertical talus are described; in three of the four cases there were other major deformities of the skeleton. All were treated by open operation; the operation sacrificed part of the substance of the navicular bone, which was placed between the forepart of the calcaneus and the head of the talus. 2. The results five to ten years after operation show that stable reduction was maintained without any further treatment. They suggest, however, that more of the navicular bone could have been removed or that the whole navicular might be excised, at least in the more severe deformities. 3. Congenital vertical talus resembles club foot (equino-cavo-varus) in that difficulty in reduction and in maintenance of the reduction results from the tension in the medial pillar of the foot. Easing of the tension can result in recurrence of the dislocation or, alternatively, a reversal of the deformity

1. Thirteen cases of occipito-cervical fusion performed in the past fifteen years at the London Hospital are described. 2. Seven of the patients had congenital anomalies in the region of the foramen magnum, six had spontaneous atlanto-axial dislocations, and in one case the operation was performed prophylactically to stabilise a severely disorganised cervical spine. 3. Nine of the patients had evidence of neurological involvement before operation due to pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. 4. Operative fusion was successful in all cases and there was no operative mortality. 5. The clinical results were good in eight cases and four patients were improved. The condition of one patient, in whom progressive disseminated sclerosis was also present, deteriorated. 6. The technique of operation is described, and it is recommended that it should always be performed as a combined orthopaedic and neurosurgical procedure

Using a regional arthroplasty register we assessed the outcome at five years of 1198 primary Charnley total hip replacements (THRs) carried out in 1152 patients across a single UK health region in 1990. Information regarding outcome was available for 1080 hips (90%) and 499 had an independent clinical and radiological assessment. By five years the known rate of aseptic loosening was 2.3%, of deep infection 1.4%, of dislocation 5.0% and of revision 3.2%. The radiological assessment of 499 THRs revealed gross failure in a further 5.2%, which had been previously unrecognised. The combined rate of failure of nearly 9% is higher than those published from specialist centres and surgeons, but is probably more representative of the norm. Our study supports the need for a national register and surveillance of THRs. It emphasises that all implants should be followed, and suggests that the results of such surgery, when performed in the general setting, may not be as good as expected