This is a retrospective case review of 237 patients with displaced fractures of the acetabulum presenting over a ten-year period, with a minimum follow-up of two years, who were studied to test the hypothesis that the time to surgery was predictive of radiological and functional outcome and varied with the pattern of fracture. Patients were divided into two groups based on the fracture pattern: elementary or associated. The time to surgery was analysed as both a continuous and a categorical variable. The primary outcome measures were the quality of reduction and functional outcome. Logistic regression analysis was used to test our hypothesis, while controlling for potential confounding variables.

For elementary fractures, an increase in the time to surgery of one day reduced the odds of an excellent/good functional result by 15% (p = 0.001) and of an anatomical reduction by 18% (p = 0.0001). For associated fractures, the odds of obtaining an excellent/good result were reduced by 19% (p = 0.0001) and an anatomical reduction by 18% (p = 0.0001) per day.

When time was measured as a categorical variable, an anatomical reduction was more likely if surgery was performed within 15 days (elementary) and five days (associated). An excellent/good functional outcome was more likely when surgery was performed within 15 days (elementary) and ten days (associated).

The time to surgery is a significant predictor of radiological and functional outcome for both elementary and associated displaced fractures of the acetabulum. The organisation of regional trauma services must be capable of satisfying these time-dependent requirements to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Recently the National Patient Safety Agency in the United Kingdom published a report entitled “Mitigating surgical risk in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty for fractures of the proximal femur”. A total of 26 deaths had been reported to them when cement was used at hemiarthroplasty between October 2003 and October 2008. This paper considers the evidence for using cement fixation of a hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of hip fractures.

We undertook a multicentre, prospective study of a series of 112 unstable trochanteric fractures in order to evaluate if internal fixation with a sliding screw device combined with augmentation using a calcium phosphate degradable cement (Norian SRS) could improve the clinical, functional and radiological outcome when compared with fractures treated with a sliding screw device alone. Pain, activities of daily living, health status (SF-36), the strength of the hip abductor muscles and radiological outcome were analysed.

Six weeks after surgery, the patients in the augmented group had significantly lower global and functional pain scores (p < 0.003), less pain after walking 50 feet (p < 0.01), and a better return to the activities of daily living (p < 0.05). At follow-up at six weeks and six months, those in the augmented group showed a significant improvement compared with the control group in the SF-36 score. No other significant differences were found between the groups. We conclude that augmentation with calcium phosphate cement in unstable trochanteric fractures provides a modest reduction in pain and a slight improvement in the quality of life during the course of healing when compared with conventional fixation with a sliding screw device alone.

Fractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint include a wide spectrum of injuries, from stable avulsion fractures to complex fracture-dislocations. Stability of the joint is paramount in determining the appropriate treatment, which should aim to facilitate early mobilisation and restoration of function.

We have evaluated the functional, clinical and radiological outcome of patients with simple and complex acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall, and identified factors associated with an adverse outcome.

We reviewed 128 patients treated operatively for a fracture involving the posterior wall of the acetabulum between 1982 and 1999. The Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment and Short-Form 36 scores, the presence of radiological arthritis and complications were assessed as a function of injury, treatment and clinical variables.

The patients had profound functional deficits compared with the normal population. Anatomical reduction alone was not sufficient to restore function. The fracture pattern, marginal impaction and residual displacement of > 2 mm were associated with the development of arthritis, which related to poor function and the need for hip replacement. It may be appropriate to consider immediate total hip replacement for patients aged > 50 years with marginal impaction and comminution of the wall, since 7 of 13 (54%) of these required early hip replacement.

We treated 108 patients with a pertrochanteric femoral fracture using either the dynamic hip screw or the proximal femoral nail in this prospective, randomised series. We compared walking ability before fracture, intra-operative variables and return to their residence. Patients treated with the proximal femoral nail (n = 42) had regained their pre-operative walking ability significantly (p = 0.04) more often by the four-month review than those treated with the dynamic hip screw (n = 41). Peri-operative or immediate post-operative measures of outcome did not differ between the groups, with the exception of operation time. The dynamic hip screw allowed a significantly greater compression of the fracture during the four-month follow-up, but consolidation of the fracture was comparable between the two groups. Two major losses of reduction were observed in each group, resulting in a total of four revision operations.

Our results suggest that the use of the proximal femoral nail may allow a faster postoperative restoration of walking ability, when compared with the dynamic hip screw.

The recent development of locking-plate technology has led to a potential revolution in the management of fractures of the distal radius. This review examines the evidence for pursuing anatomical restoration of the distal radius and the possible advantages and pitfalls of using volar locking plates to achieve this goal. The available evidence for adopting volar locking plates is presented and a number of important and, as yet unanswered, questions are highlighted.

The purpose of this study was to determine objectively the outcome of total knee replacement in patients with ankylosed knees.

There were 82 patients (99 knees) with ankylosed knees who underwent total knee replacement with a condylar constrained or a posterior stabilised prosthesis. Their mean age was 41.9 years (23 to 60) and the mean follow-up was for 8.9 years (6.6 to 14). Pre- and post-operative data included the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the Knee Society (KS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) scores.

The mean HSS, KS and WOMAC scores improved from 60, 53, and 79 pre-operatively to 81, 85, and 37 at follow-up. These improvements were statistically significant (p = 0.018, 0.001 and 0.014 respectively). The mean physical, social and emotional WOMAC scores also improved significantly (p = 0.032, p = 0.023 and p < 0.001 respectively). The mean satisfaction score was 8.5 (sd 1.5).

Total knee replacement gives good mid-term results in patients with ankylosed knees.

The extended lateral L-shaped approach for the treatment of displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum may be complicated by wound infection, haematoma, dehiscence and injury to the sural nerve. In an effort to reduce the risk of problems with wound healing a technique was developed that combined open reduction and fixation of the joint fragments and of the anterior process with percutaneous reduction and screw fixation of the tuberosity. A group of 24 patients with unilateral isolated closed Sanders type II and III fractures was treated using this technique and compared to a similar group of 26 patients managed by the extended approach and lateral plating. The operation was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the first group, but more minor secondary procedures and removal of heel screws were necessary. There were no wound complications in this group, whereas four minor complications occurred in the second group. The accuracy and maintenance of reduction, and ultimate function were equivalent.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of pin leverage in the reduction of Gartland type III supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. The study comprised 95 children, who were split into three groups according to the type of method of reduction used. Group 1, had an open reduction, group 2, had closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation and group 3, the pin leverage technique. Each group was analysed according to the time to surgery, the duration of the procedure, the incidence of complications, and the clinical and radiological outcome.

The mean duration of the operative procedure in groups 1, 2 and 3 was 119 minutes (80 to 235), 57 minutes (20 to 110) and 68 minutes (30 to 90), respectively. At a mean follow-up of 30 months (12 to 63) the clinical results were declared excellent or good in all children and the radiological results intermediate in five patients in group 2. The results of the closed reduction using the pin leverage technique was classified as failure in two children.

Our findings lead us to believe that the pin leverage method of reduction gives good results in the treatment of Gartland type III fractures.

A minimally-invasive procedure using percutaneous reduction and external fixation can be carried out for Sanders’ type II, III and IV fractures of the os calcis. We have treated 54 consecutive closed displaced fractures of the calcaneum involving the articular surface in 52 patients with the Orthofix Calcaneal Mini-Fixator. Patients were followed up for a mean of 49 months (27 to 94) and assessed clinically with the Maryland Foot Score and radiologically with radiographs and CT scans, evaluated according to the Score Analysis of Verona. The clinical results at follow-up were excellent or good in 49 cases (90.7%), fair in two (3.7%) and poor in three (5.6%). The mean pre-operative Böhler’s angle was 6.98° (5.95° to 19.86°), whereas after surgery the mean value was 21.94° (12.58° to 31.30°) (p < 0.01). Excellent results on CT scanning were demonstrated in 24 cases (44.4%), good in 25 (46.3%), fair in three (5.6%) and poor in two (3.7%). Transient local osteoporosis was observed in ten patients (18.5%), superficial pin track infection in three (5.6%), and three patients (5.6%) showed thalamic displacement following unadvised early weight-bearing.

The clinical results appear to be comparable with those obtainable with open reduction and internal fixation, with the advantages of reduced risk using a minimally-invasive technique.

Although supracondylar fracture is a very common elbow injury in childhood, there is no consensus on the timing of surgery, approach for open reduction and positioning of fixation wires. We report our ten-year experience between 1993 and 2003 in 291 children.

Most fractures (285; 98%) were extension injuries, mainly Gartland types II (73; 25%) and III (163; 56%). Six (2%) were open fractures and a neurovascular deficit was seen in 12 (4%) patients. Of the 236 children (81%) who required an operation, 181 (77%) were taken to theatre on the day of admission. Most (177; 75%) of the operations were performed by specialist registrars. Fixation was by crossed Kirschner wires in 158 of 186 (85%) patients and open reduction was necessary in 52 (22%).

A post-operative neurological deficit was seen in nine patients (4%) and three (1%) required exploration of the ulnar nerve. Only 22 (4%) patients had a long-term deformity, nine (3%) from malreduction and three (1%) because of growth arrest, but corrective surgery for functional limitation was required in only three (1%) patients.

Despite advances in the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, their prevalence continues to increase. Their operative treatment remains a challenge for the surgeon, often with unpredictable outcomes. This review highlights the current aspects of management of these fractures and focuses on advances in implant design and surgical technique.

We describe the results of 287 intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum in 247 patients treated by minimally-invasive reduction and K-wire fixation between 1994 and 2003. There were 210 men (85%) and 37 women (15%). The most common cause of injury was a fall from a height in 237 patients (96%). Fracture classification was based on the method described by Sanders and Essex-Lopresti. All patients were operated on within 21 days of injury and 89% (220) within 48 hours. The reduction was graded as nearly anatomical (less than 2 mm residual articular displacement and satisfactory overall alignment) in 212 (73.9%) fractures.

There were 20 cases (7%) of superficial pin-track infection and five (1.7%) of deep infection. All healed at a mean of 6 weeks (3 to 19). Loss of reduction was observed in 13 fractures (4.5%) and a musculocutaneous flap was needed in three (1%).

The results were evaluated in 176 patients (205 fractures) with a mean age of 44.3 years (13 to 67), available for follow-up at a mean of 43.4 months (25 to 87) using the Creighton-Nebraska Health Foundation Assessment score. The mean score was 83.9 points (63 to 100). There were 29 (16.5%) excellent, 98 (55.7%) good, 26 (14.8%) fair and 23 (13%) poor results. A total of 130 patients (73.9%) were able to return to their original occupation at a mean of 5.6 months (3.2 to 12.5) after the injury.

Semi-open reduction and percutaneous fixation is an effective treatment for displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum.