We report a prospective single-blind controlled
study of the incidence of early wound infection after internal fixation for
trauma in 609 patients, of whom 132 were HIV-positive. Wounds were
assessed for healing using the ASEPSIS score. There was no significant
difference in the rate of infection between HIV-positive and HIV-negative
patients undergoing clean surgery (4.2% vs 6%,
respectively; p = 0.65). HIV-positive patients did not receive additional antibiotic
prophylaxis or antiretroviral therapy as part of their management.
The difference in the rate of infection between HIV-positive and
HIV-negative patients with an open fracture or other contamination
was not significant (33% vs 15%, respectively;
p = 0.064). There was no relationship between CD4 count and infection
rate. HIV status did not significantly influence the number of secondary
surgical procedures (p = 0.183) or the likelihood of developing
chronic osteomyelitis (p = 0.131). Although previous contamination
from the time of
This is a prospective analysis on 30 physically
active individuals with a mean age of 48.9 years (35 to 64) with chronic
insertional tendinopathy of the tendo Achillis. Using a transverse
incision, the tendon was debrided and an osteotomy of the posterosuperior
corner of the calcaneus was performed in all patients. At a minimum
post-operative follow-up of three years, the Victorian Institute
of Sports Assessment scale – Achilles tendon scores were significantly
improved compared to the baseline status. In two patients a superficial
infection of the wound developed which resolved on antibiotics.
There were no other wound complications, no nerve related complications,
and no secondary avulsions of the tendo Achillis. In all, 26 patients
had returned to their pre-injury level of activity and the remaining
four modified their sporting activity. At the last appointment,
the mean pain threshold and the mean post-operative tenderness were
also significantly improved from the baseline (p <
0.001). In patients
with insertional tendo Achillis a transverse incision allows a wide
exposure and adequate debridement of the tendo Achillis insertion,
less soft-tissue
Objective. To study the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) on local anaesthetic
chondrotoxicity in vitro. Methods. Chondrocytes were harvested from bovine femoral condyle cartilage
and isolated using collagenase-containing media. At 24 hours after
seeding 15 000 cells per well onto a 96-well plate, chondrocytes
were treated with media (DMEM/F12 + ITS), PBS, 1:1 lidocaine (2%):PBS,
1:1 bupivacaine (0.5%):PBS, 1:1 lidocaine (2%):HA, 1:1 bupivacaine (0.
5%):HA, or 1:1 HA:PBS for one hour. Following treatment, groups
had conditions removed and 24-hour incubation. Cell viability was
assessed using PrestoBlue and confirmed visually using fluorescence
microscopy. Results. Media-treated groups had a mean of 1.55×10. 4. cells/well
(. sem. 783). All treated cells showed statistically significant reduced
viability when compared with media alone (all p <
0.003). Cells
treated with bupivacaine + HA (6.70×10. 3. cells/well (. sem. 1.10×10. 3. ))
survived significantly more than bupivacaine (2.44×10. 3. cells/well
(. sem . 830)) (p <
0.001). Lidocaine + HA (1.45×10. 3. cells/well
(. sem. 596)) was not significantly more cytotoxic than lidocaine
(2.24×10. 3. cells/well (. sem. 341)) (p = 0.999).
There was no statistical difference between the chondrotoxicities
of PBS (8.49×10. 3. cells/well (. sem. 730) cells/well)
and HA (4.75×10. 3. cells/well (. sem. 886)) (p =
0.294). Conclusions. HA co-administration reduced anaesthetic cytotoxicity with bupivacaine
but not lidocaine, suggesting different mechanisms of
We measured the tension in the interosseous membrane
in six cadaveric forearms using an in vitro forearm
testing system with the native radial head, after excision of the
radial head and after metallic radial head replacement. The tension
almost doubled after excision of the radial head during simulated
rotation of the forearm (p = 0.007). There was no significant difference
in tension in the interosseous membrane between the native and radial
head replacement states (p = 0.09). Maximal tension occurred in
neutral rotation with both the native and the replaced radial head,
but in pronation if the radial head was excised. Under an increasing
axial load and with the forearm in a fixed position, the rate of
increase in tension in the interosseous membrane was greater when
the radial head was excised than for the native radial head or replacement
states (p = 0.02). As there was no difference in tension between the
native and radial head replacement states, a radial head replacement
should provide a normal healing environment for the interosseous
membrane after
We describe three patients with pre-ganglionic (avulsion)
Introduction. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and vessel loop assisted
closure are two common methods used to assist with the closure of
fasciotomy wounds. This retrospective review compares these two
methods using a primary outcome measurement of skin graft requirement. Methods. A retrospective search was performed to identify patients who
underwent fasciotomy at our institution. Patient demographics, location
of the fasciotomy, type of assisted closure,
Fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint include a wide spectrum of
It is increasingly appreciated that coordinated regulation of angiogenesis and osteogenesis is needed for bone formation. How this regulation is achieved during peri-implant bone healing, such as osseointegration, is largely unclear. This study examined the relationship between angiogenesis and osteogenesis in a unique model of osseointegration of a mouse tibial implant by pharmacologically blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. An implant was inserted into the right tibia of 16-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (n = 38). Mice received anti-VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) antibody (25 mg/kg) and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) antibody (25 mg/kg; n = 19) or an isotype control antibody (n = 19). Flow cytometric (n = 4/group) and immunofluorescent (n = 3/group) analyses were performed at two weeks post-implantation to detect the distribution and density of CD31hiEMCNhi endothelium. RNA sequencing analysis was performed using sorted CD31hiEMCNhi endothelial cells (n = 2/group). Osteoblast lineage cells expressing osterix (OSX) and osteopontin (OPN) were also detected with immunofluorescence. Mechanical pull-out testing (n = 12/group) was used at four weeks post-implantation to determine the strength of the bone-implant interface. After pull-out testing, the tissue attached to the implant surface was harvested. Whole mount immunofluorescent staining of OSX and OPN was performed to determine the amount of osteoblast lineage cells.Aims
Materials and Methods
The brachial artery is rarely injured after closed dislocation of the elbow. We describe an unusual variation of this
In the management of a pelvic fracture prompt recognition of an unstable fracture pattern is important in reducing mortality and morbidity. It is believed that a fracture of the transverse process of L5 is a predictor of pelvic fracture instability. However, there is little evidence in the literature to support this view. The aim of this study was to determine whether a fracture of the transverse process of L5 is a reliable predictor of pelvic fracture instability. We reviewed our hospital trauma database and identified 80 patients who sustained a pelvic fracture between 2006 and 2010. There were 32 women and 48 men with a mean age of 40 years (10 to 96). Most patients were injured in a road traffic accident or as a result of a fall from a height. A total of 41 patients (51%) had associated
We present two cases of metastatic lung cancer which occurred at the site of a previously united tibial fracture. Both patients were treated with a locked intramedullary nail. The patients presented with metastases at the site of their initial fracture approximately 16 and 13 months after
We report the outcome of 161 of 257 surgically fixed acetabular fractures. The operations were undertaken between 1989 and 1998 and the patients were followed for a minimum of ten years. Anthropometric data, fracture pattern, time to surgery, associated
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of age on the cost-effectiveness of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. A total of 112 patients were prospectively monitored for two years after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D). Complications and use of healthcare resources were recorded. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used to express the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Propensity score-matching was used to compare those aged below and above 65 years of age. Satisfaction was determined using the Net Promoter Score (NPS). Linear regression was used to identify variables that influenced the outcome at two years postoperatively.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to utilize a national paediatric inpatient database to determine whether obesity influences the operative management and inpatient outcomes of paediatric limb fractures. The Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) was used to evaluate children between birth and 17 years of age, from 1997 and 2012, who had undergone open and closed treatment of humeral, radial and ulna, femoral, tibial, and ankle fractures. Demographics, hospital charges, lengths of stay (LOS), and complications were analyzed.Aims
Patients and Methods
The best marker for assessing glycaemic control prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of fructosamine compared with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in predicting early complications following TKA, and to determine the threshold above which the risk of complications increased markedly. This prospective multi-institutional study evaluated primary TKA patients from four academic institutions. Patients (both diabetics and non-diabetics) were assessed using fructosamine and HbA1c levels within 30 days of surgery. Complications were assessed for 12 weeks from surgery and included prosthetic joint infection (PJI), wound complication, re-admission, re-operation, and death. The Youden’s index was used to determine the cut-off for fructosamine and HbA1c associated with complications. Two additional cut-offs for HbA1c were examined: 7% and 7.5% and compared with fructosamine as a predictor for complications.Aims
Patients and Methods
Plate and screw fixation has been the standard treatment for painful conditions of the wrist in non-rheumatoid patients in recent decades. We investigated the complications, re-operations, and final outcome in a consecutive series of patients who underwent wrist arthrodesis for non-inflammatory arthritis. A total of 76 patients, including 53 men and 23 women, with a mean age of 50 years (21 to 79) underwent wrist arthrodesis. Complications and re-operations were recorded. At a mean follow-up of 11 years (2 to 18), 63 patients completed questionnaires, and 57 attended for clinical and radiological assessment.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy
of placement of pelvic binders and to determine whether circumferential
compression at the level of the greater trochanters is the best
method of reducing a symphyseal diastasis. . Patients were identified by a retrospective review of all pelvic
radiographs performed at a military hospital over a period of 30
months. We analysed any pelvic radiograph on which the buckle of
the pelvic binder was clearly visible. The patients were divided
into groups according to the position of the buckle in relation
to the greater trochanters: high, trochanteric or low. Reduction
of the symphyseal diastasis was measured in a subgroup of patients
with an open-book fracture, which consisted of an
This study investigated the anatomical relationship between the clavicle and its adjacent vascular structures, in order to define safe zones, in terms of distance and direction, for drilling of the clavicle during osteosynthesis using a plate and screws following a fracture. We used reconstructed three-dimensional CT arteriograms of the head, neck and shoulder region. The results have enabled us to divide the clavicle into three zones based on the proximity and relationship of the vascular structures adjacent to it. The results show that at the medial end of the clavicle the subclavian vessels are situated behind it, with the vein intimately related to it. In some scans the vein was opposed to the posterior cortex of the clavicle. At the middle one-third of the clavicle the artery and vein are a mean of 17.02 mm (5.4 to 26.8) and 12.45 mm (5 to 26.1) from the clavicle, respectively, and at a mean angle of 50° (12 to 80) and 70° (38 to 100), respectively, to the horizontal. At the lateral end of the clavicle the artery and vein are at mean distances of 63.4 mm (46.8 to 96.5) and 75.67 mm (50 to 109), respectively. An appreciation of the information gathered from this study will help minimise the risk of inadvertent iatrogenic vascular
Controversy surrounds the most appropriate treatment
method for patients with a rupture of the tendo Achillis. The aim
of this study was to assess the long term rate of re-rupture following
management with a non-operative functional protocol. . We report the outcome of 945 consecutive patients (949 tendons)
diagnosed with a rupture of the tendo Achillis managed between 1996
and 2008. There were 255 female and 690 male patients with a mean
age of 48.97 years (12 to 86). Delayed presentation was defined
as establishing the diagnosis and commencing treatment more than
two weeks after