This prospective randomised controlled double-blind trial compared two types of PFC Sigma total knee replacement (TKR), differing in three design features aimed at improving flexion. The outcome of a standard fixed-bearing posterior cruciate ligament-preserving design (FB-S) was compared with that of a high-flexion rotating-platform posterior-stabilised design (RP-F) at one year after TKR.

The study group of 77 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee comprised 37 men and 40 women, with a mean age of 69 years (44.9 to 84.9). The patients were randomly allocated either to the FB-S or the RP-F group and assessed pre-operatively and at one year post-operatively. The mean post-operative non-weight-bearing flexion was 107° (95% confidence interval (CI) 104° to 110°)) for the FB-S group and 113° (95% CI 109° to 117°) for the RP-F group, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.032). However, weight-bearing range of movement during both level walking and ascending a slope as measured during flexible electrogoniometry was a mean of 4° lower in the RP-F group than in the FB-S group, with 58° (95% CI 56° to 60°) versus 54° (95% CI 51° to 57°) for level walking (p = 0.019) and 56° (95% CI 54° to 58°) versus 52° (95% CI 48° to 56°) for ascending a slope (p = 0.044). Further, the mean post-operative pain score of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was significantly higher in the RP-F group (2.5 (95% CI 1.5 to 3.5) versus 4.2 (95% CI 2.9 to 5.5), p = 0.043).

Although the RP-F group achieved higher non-weight-bearing knee flexion, patients in this group did not use this during activities of daily living and reported more pain one year after surgery.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any significant difference in temporal measurements of pain, function and rates of re-tear for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) patients compared with those patients undergoing open RCR.

When performing total hip replacement (THR) in high dislocated hips, the presence of soft-tissue contractures means that most surgeons prefer to use a femoral shortening osteotomy in order to avoid the risk of neurovascular damage. However, this technique will sacrifice femoral length and reduce the extent of any leg-length equalisation. We report our experience of 74 THRs performed between 2000 and 2008 in 65 patients with a high dislocated hip without a femoral shortening osteotomy. The mean age of the patients was 55 years (46 to 72) and the mean follow-up was 42 months (12 to 78). All implants were cementless except for one resurfacing hip implant. We attempted to place the acetabular component in the anatomical position in each hip. The mean Harris hip score improved from 53 points (34 to 74) pre-operatively to 86 points (78 to 95) at final follow-up. The mean radiologically determined leg lengthening was 42 mm (30 to 66), and the mean leg-length discrepancy decreased from 36 mm (5 to 56) pre-operatively to 8.5 mm (0 to 18) postoperatively. Although there were four (5%) post-operative femoral nerve palsies, three had fully resolved by six months after the operation. No loosening of the implant was observed, and no dislocations or infections were encountered.

Total hip replacement without a femoral shortening osteotomy proved to be a safe and effective surgical treatment for high dislocated hips.

Lengthening of the humerus is now an established technique. We compared the complications of humeral lengthening with those of femoral lengthening and investigated whether or not the callus formation in the humerus proceeds at a higher rate than that in the femur. A total of 24 humeral and 24 femoral lengthenings were performed on 12 patients with achondroplasia. We measured the pixel value ratio (PVR) of the lengthened area on radiographs and each radiograph was analysed for the shape, type and density of the callus. The quality of life (QOL) of the patients after humeral lengthening was compared with that prior to surgery. The complication rate per segment of humerus and femur was 0.87% and 1.37%, respectively. In the humerus the PVR was significantly higher than that of the femur. Lower limbs were associated with an increased incidence of concave, lateral and central callus shapes. Humeral lengthening had a lower complication rate than lower-limb lengthening, and QOL increased significantly after humeral lengthening. Callus formation in the humerus during the distraction period proceeded at a significantly higher rate than that in the femur.

These findings indicate that humeral lengthening has an important role in the management of patients with achondroplasia.

We reviewed the outcome of distal chevron metatarsal osteotomy without tendon transfer in 19 consecutive patients (19 feet) with a hallux varus deformity following surgery for hallux valgus. All patients underwent distal chevron metatarsal osteotomy with medial displacement and a medial closing wedge osteotomy along with a medial capsular release.

The mean hallux valgus angle improved from −11.6° pre-operatively to 4.7° postoperatively, the mean first-second intermetatarsal angle improved from −0.3° to 3.3° and the distal metatarsal articular angle from 9.5° to 2.3° and the first metatarsophalangeal joints became congruent post-operatively in all 19 feet. The mean relative length ratio of the metatarsus decreased from 1.01 to 0.99 and the mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score improved from 77 to 95 points.

In two patients the hallux varus recurred. One was symptom-free but the other remained symptomatic after a repeat distal chevron osteotomy. There were no other complications.

We consider that distal chevron metatarsal osteotomy with a medial wedge osteotomy and medial capsular release is a useful procedure for the correction of hallux varus after surgery for hallux valgus.

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.

The amount of anteroposterior laxity required for a good range of movement and knee function in a cruciate-retaining total knee replacement (TKR) continues to be debated. We undertook a retrospective study to evaluate the effects of anteroposterior laxity on the range of movement and knee function in 55 patients following the e-motion cruciate-retaining TKR with a minimum follow-up of two years. The knees were divided into stable (anteroposterior translation, ≤ 10 mm, 38 patients) and unstable (anteroposterior translation, > 10 mm, 17) groups based on the anteroposterior laxity, measured using stress radiographs. We compared the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores, the Western Ontario MacMasters University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, weight-bearing flexion, non-weight-bearing flexion and the reduction of flexion under weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing conditions, which we referred to as delta flexion, between the two groups at the final follow-up.

There were no differences between the stable and unstable groups with regard to the mean HHS and WOMAC total scores, as well as weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing flexion (p = 0.277, p = 0.082, p = 0.095 and p = 0.646, respectively). However, the stable group had a better WOMAC function score and less delta flexion than the unstable group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.005, respectively).

Our results suggest that stable knees with laxity ≤ 10 mm have a good functional outcome and less reduction of flexion under weight-bearing conditions than unstable knees with laxity > 10 mm following an e-motion cruciate-retaining TKR.

We present the outcomes in 38 consecutive patients who had total ankle replacement using the Ankle Evolution System with a minimum follow-up of four years. Pain and function were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and regular standardised anteroposterior and lateral weight-bearing radiographs were obtained. Patient satisfaction and complications were recorded and the survival of the implants was demonstrated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

The mean follow-up was for 57.8 months (48 to 80). The cumulative survival rate at six years was 94.7% (95% confidence interval 80.3 to 98.7). The mean total AOFAS score was 88.1 (53 to 100). The mean score for pain was 35.8 (20 to 40). Ten patients presented with edge-loading of whom nine had corrective surgery. Two ankles were revised, one to an arthrodesis and the other to replace the tibial component. Nine patients showed radiological evidence of osteolysis. They had minimal non-progressive symptoms and further surgery was not undertaken. Nevertheless, the concerns about osteolysis led to the implant being withdrawn by the manufacturer.

The medium-term results of the ankle evolution system ankle replacement are satisfactory with high patient satisfaction, but the rate of osteolysis is of some concern. The long-term benefit of this procedure has yet to be determined.

The management of osteoarthritis of the knee associated with patellar instability secondary to external tibial torsion > 45° is challenging. Patellofemoral biomechanics in these patients cannot be achieved by intra-articular correction using standard techniques of total knee replacement.

We reviewed seven patients (eight knees) with recurrent patellar dislocation and one with bilateral irreducible lateral dislocation who had undergone simultaneous total knee replacement and internal tibial derotational osteotomy. All had osteoarthritis and severe external tibial torsion. The mean follow-up was for 47.2 months (24 to 120).

The mean objective and functional Knee Society scores improved significantly (p = 0.0001) from 29.7 and 41.5 pre-operatively to 71.4 and 73.5 post-operatively, respectively. In all patients the osteotomies healed and patellar stability was restored.

Excessive external tibial torsion should be identified and corrected in patients with osteoarthritis and patellar instability. Simultaneous internal rotation osteotomy of the tibia and total knee replacement is a technically demanding but effective treatment for such patients.

Fibrin glue, also known as fibrin sealant, is now established as a haemostatic agent in surgery, but its role in orthopaedic surgery is neither well known nor clearly defined. Although it was originally used over 100 years ago, concerns about transmission of disease meant that it fell from favour. It is also available as a slow-release drug delivery system and as a substrate for cellular growth and tissue engineering. Consequently, it has the potential to be used in a number of ways in orthopaedic surgery. The purpose of this review is to address its use in surgery of the knee in which it appears to offer great promise.

Extensive limb lengthening may be indicated in achondroplastic patients who wish to achieve a height within the normal range for their population. However, increasing the magnitude of lengthening is associated with further complications particularly adjacent joint stiffness and fractures. We studied the relationship between the magnitude of femoral lengthening and callus pattern, adjacent joint stiffness and fracture of the regenerate bone in 40 femoral lengthenings in 20 achondroplastic patients. They were divided into two groups; group A had lengthening of less than 50% and group B of more than 50% of their initial femoral length. The patterns of radiological callus formation were classified according to shape, type and features. The incidence of callus features, knee stiffness and regenerate bone fracture were analysed in the two groups. Group B was associated with an increased incidence of concave, lateral and central callus shapes, adjacent joint and stiffness and fracture. Statistically, the incidence of stiffness in adjacent joints and regenerate bone fracture was significantly associated with the magnitude of lengthening.

We suggest that careful radiological assessment of the patterns of callus formation is a useful method for the evaluation and monitoring of regenerate bone.

We carried out a retrospective study to assess the clinical results of lengthening the fourth metatarsal in brachymetatarsia in 153 feet of 106 patients (100 female, six males) using three different surgical techniques. In one group lengthening was performed by one-stage intercalary bone grafting secured by an intramedullary Kirschner-wire (45 feet, 35 patients). In the second group lengthening was obtained gradually using a mini-external fixator after performing an osteotomy with a saw (59 feet, 39 patients) and in the third group lengthening was achieved in a gradual manner using a mini-external fixator after undertaking an osteotomy using osteotome through pre-drilled holes (49 feet, 32 patients). The mean age of the patients was 26.3 years (13 to 48). Pre-operatively, the fourth ray of the bone-graft group was longer than that of other two groups (p < 0.000). The clinical outcome was compared in the three groups. The mean follow-up was 22 months (7 to 55).

At final follow-up, the mean lengthening in the bone-graft group was 13.9 mm (3.5 to 23.0, 27.1%) which was less than that obtained in the saw group with a mean of 17.8 mm (7.0 to 33.0, 29.9%) and in the pre-drilled osteotome group with a mean of 16.8 mm (6.5 to 28.0, 29.4%, p = 0.001). However, the mean time required for retention of the fixation in the bone-graft group was the shortest of the three groups. Patients were dissatisfied with the result for five feet (11.1%) in the bone-graft group, eight (13.6%) in the saw group and none in the pre-drilled osteotomy group (p < 0.000). The saw group included eight feet with failure of bone formation after surgery. Additional operations were performed in 20 feet because of stiffness (n = 7, all groups), failure of bone formation (n = 4, saw group), skin maceration (n = 4, bone-graft group), malunion (n = 4, bone-graft and saw groups) and breakage of the external fixator (n = 1, saw group).

We conclude that the gradual lengthening by distraction osteogenesis after osteotomy using an osteotome produces the most reliable results for the treatment of fourth brachymetatarsia.

Neurological conditions affecting the hip pose a considerable challenge in replacement surgery since poor and imbalanced muscle tone predisposes to dislocation and loosening. Consequently, total hip replacement (THR) is rarely performed in such patients. In a systematic review of the literature concerning THR in neurological conditions, we found only 13 studies which described the outcome. We have reviewed the evidence and discussed the technical challenges of this procedure in patients with cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, poliomyelitis and following a cerebrovascular accident, spinal injury or development of a Charcot joint. Contrary to traditional perceptions, THR can give a good outcome in these often severly disabled patients.

Treatment by continuous passive movement at home is an alternative to immobilisation in a cast after surgery for club foot. Compliance with the recommended treatment, of at least four hours daily, is unknown. The duration of treatment was measured in 24 of 27 consecutive children with a mean age of 24 months (5 to 75) following posteromedial release for idiopathic club foot. Only 21% (5) of the children used the continuous passive movement machine as recommended. The mean duration of treatment at home each day was 126 minutes (11 to 496). The mean range of movement for plantar flexion improved from 15.2° (10.0° to 20.6°) to 18.7° (10.0° to 33.0°) and for dorsiflexion from 12.3° (7.4° to 19.4°) to 18.9° (10.0° to 24.1°) (both, p = 0.0001) when the first third of therapy was compared with the last third.

A low level of patient compliance must be considered when the outcome after treatment at home is interpreted.

We carried out three total knee replacements with proximal realignment in two patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee and congenital dislocation of the patella. During the operation, the femur and the tibia were cut according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of the implant. The femoral component was placed in external rotation and the centre of the tibial component aligned in relation to the tibial tuberosity with regard to rotation and translation. After making the bone cuts, the iliotibial tract was detached from Gerdy’s tubercle, the popliteus tendon divided, and the biceps femoris tendon elongated by Z-plasty. After the trial implants were positioned, a proximal re-alignment procedure was performed. One knee had deep infection. There was one dislocated patella which was repositioned, and walking ability was improved in all knees. We believe that the rotational alignment of a prosthesis is as important as the soft-tissue surgery.

We describe the mid-term results of a prospective study of total knee replacement in severe valgus knees using an osteotomy of the lateral femoral condyle and computer navigation. There were 15 knees with a mean valgus deformity of 21° (17° to 27°) and a mean follow-up of 28 months (24 to 60). A cemented, non-constrained fixed bearing, posterior-cruciate-retaining knee prosthesis of the same design was used in all cases (Columbus-B. Braun; Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany).

All the knees were corrected to a mean of 0.5° of valgus (0° to 2°). Flexion of the knee had been limited to a mean of 85° (75° to 110°) pre-operatively and improved to a mean of 105° (90° to 130°) after operation. The mean Knee Society score improved from 37 (30 to 44) to 90 points (86 to 94).

Osteotomy of the lateral femoral condyle combined with computer-assisted surgery gave an excellent mid-term outcome in patients undergoing total knee replacement in the presence of severe valgus deformity.

We present a 25-year-old patient with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosis of both hips and both knees treated by staged bilateral hip and knee arthroplasty. She was followed up for 18 months. We discuss the pre-operative planning, surgical details and post-operative rehabilitation.

We report our experience of the use of callus distraction with a monolateral fixator for the treatment of acquired radial club-hand deformity after osteomyelitis. Between 1994 and 2004, 13 patients with a mean age of eight years (4 to 15) were treated by callus distraction with a monolateral fixator after a preliminary period of at least four weeks in a corrective short-arm cast.

All patients achieved bony union and were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcome. There were no major complications, but three patients required cancellous bone grafting at the docking site for delayed union. Local treatment and oral antibiotics were required for pin-site infection in six patients. There were no deep infection or recurrence of osteomyelitis.

We describe the survivorship of the Medial Rotation total knee replacement (TKR) at ten years in 228 cemented primary replacements implanted between October 1994 and October 2006, with their clinical and radiological outcome. This implant has a highly congruent medial compartment, with the femoral component represented by a portion of a sphere which articulates with a matched concave surface on the medial side of the tibial insert.

There were 78 men (17 bilateral TKRs) and 111 women (22 bilateral TKRs) with a mean age of 67.9 years (28 to 90). All the patients were assessed clinically and radiologically using the American Knee Society scoring systems. The mean follow-up was for six years (1 to 13) with only two patients lost to follow-up and 34 dying during the period of study, one of whom had required revision for infection.

There were 11 revisions performed in total, three for aseptic loosening, six for infection, one for a periprosthetic fracture and one for a painful but well-fixed replacement performed at another centre.

With revision for any cause as the endpoint, the survival at ten years was 94.5% (95% CI 85.1 to 100), and with aseptic loosening as the endpoint 98.4% (95% CI 93 to 100). The mean American Knee Society score improved from 47.6 (0 to 88) to 72.2 (26 to 100) and for function from 45.1 (0 to 100) to 93.1 (45 to 100). Radiological review failed to detect migration in any of the surviving knees.

The clinical and radiological results of the Medial Rotation TKR are satisfactory at ten years. The increased congruence of the medial compartment has not led to an increased rate of loosening and continued use can be supported.

We reviewed 44 consecutive revision hip replacements in 38 patients performed using the cement-in-cement technique. All were performed for acetabular loosening in the presence of a well-fixed femoral component. The mean follow-up was 5.1 years (2 to 10.1). Radiological analysis at final follow-up indicated no loosening of the femoral component, except for one case with a continuous radiolucent line in all zones and peri-prosthetic fracture which required further revision. Peri-operative complications included nine proximal femoral fractures (20.4%) and perforation of the proximal femur in one hip. In five hips wiring or fixation with a braided suture was undertaken but no additional augmentation was required. There was an improvement in the mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association score from 55.5 (28 to 81) pre-operatively to 77.8 (40 to 95) at final follow-up (p < 0.001). Revision using a cement-in-cement technique allows increased exposure for acetabular revision and is effective in the medium term. Further follow-up is required to assess the long-term results in the light of in vitro studies which have questioned the quality of the cement-in-cement bond.