Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of morphological spinal parameters to predict the outcome of bracing in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and to establish a novel supine correction index (SCI) for guiding bracing treatment.

Our aim was to correlate the health status with objective and radiological outcomes in patients treated by open reduction and internal fixation for fractures of both bones of the forearm. We assessed 23 patients (24 fractures) subjectively, objectively and radiologically at a mean of 34 months (11 to 72). Subjective assessment used the disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and musculoskeletal functional attachment (MFA) questionnaires. The range of movement of the forearm and wrist, grip and pinch strength were measured objectively and standardised radiographs were evaluated. In general, patients reported good overall function based on the DASH (mean 12; range 0 to 42) and MFA (mean 19; range 0 to 51) scores. However, pronation and grip and pinch strength were significantly decreased (p < 0.005). These deficiencies correlated with poorer subjective outcomes. Operative stabilisation of fractures of the radius and ulna led to a reliably acceptable functional outcome. However, despite these generally satisfactory results, the outcome scores worsened with reduction in the range of movement of the forearm and wrist

Aims

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication after elbow trauma and can cause severe upper limb disability. Although multiple prognostic factors have been reported to be associated with the development of post-traumatic HO, no model has yet been able to combine these predictors more succinctly to convey prognostic information and medical measures to patients. Therefore, this study aimed to identify prognostic factors leading to the formation of HO after surgery for elbow trauma, and to establish and validate a nomogram to predict the probability of HO formation in such particular injuries.

Aims

There is conflicting evidence on the safety of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) or corticosteroids (CSs) before total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We performed a meta-analysis of the relationship between intra-articular injections and subsequent infection rates after TKA.

We have evaluated the clinical outcomes of simple excision, ulnar lengthening and the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure in the treatment of deformities of the forearm in patients with multiple hereditary osteochondromas. The medical records of 29 patients (33 forearms) were reviewed; 22 patients (22 forearms) underwent simple excision (four with ulnar lengthening) and seven the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure. Simple excision increased the mean supination of the forearm from 63.2° to 75.0° (p = 0.049). Ulnar lengthening did not significantly affect the clinical outcome. The Sauvé-Kapandji technique improved the mean pronation from 33.6° to 55.0° (p = 0.047) and supination from 70.0° to 81.4° (p = 0.045). Simple excision may improve the range of movement of the forearm but will not halt the progression of disease, particularly in younger patients. No discernable clinical or radiological improvement was noted with ulnar lengthening. The Sauvé-Kapandji procedure combined with simple excision of osteochondromas can improve stability of the wrist, movement of the forearm and the radiological appearance

From 1984 to 1995, 68 ankylosed elbows and 11 which were unstable after trauma were replaced in India by Baksi sloppy hinge prostheses. The mean age of the patients was 28.6 years (17 to 70) and the mean follow-up 9.6 years (2 to 13.5). Of the 68 ankylosed elbows, 59 (87%) regained a mean arc of painless movement of 88.5° (27 to 115). The mean improvement of supination was 24° and of pronation 16.5°. There were 54 good results (80%), eight fair and three poor. There were two complete failures due to infection, and one due to a broken humeral stem. Of the 11 unstable elbows, the nine with good results had a mean arc of 125° (15 to 140) of painless stable movement, with a mean improvement in supination of 26° and of pronation of 19.5°. There was one fair result and one failure due to loosening with subsequent late infection. There were significant complications in 14 cases with infection in seven and aseptic loosening in four. Patients with loosening or late removal of the prosthesis often retained reasonably stable elbow movement because periprosthetic fibrosis had connected the approximated bone ends, and muscle balance had been restored

Aims

To verify whether secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) can promote early tendon-to-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

There has been a marked increase in the number of hip arthroscopies performed over the past 16 years, primarily in the management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Insights into the pathoanatomy of FAI, and high-level evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of arthroscopy in the management of FAI, have fuelled this trend. Arthroscopic management of labral tears with repair may have superior results compared with debridement, and there is now emerging evidence to support reconstructive options where repair is not possible. In situations where an interportal capsulotomy is performed to facilitate access, data now support closure of the capsule in selective cases where there is an increased risk of postoperative instability. Preoperative planning is an integral component of bony corrective surgery in FAI, and this has evolved to include computer-planned resection. However, the benefit of this remains controversial. Hip instability is now widely accepted, and diagnostic criteria and treatment are becoming increasingly refined. Instability can also be present with FAI or develop as a result of FAI treatment. In this annotation, we outline major current controversies relating to decision-making in hip arthroscopy for FAI.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(5):532–540.

Follow-up radiographs are usually used as the reference standard for the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures. However, these are prone to errors in interpretation. We performed a meta-analysis of 30 clinical studies on the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures, in which agreement data between any of follow-up radiographs, bone scintigraphy, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, or CT could be obtained, and combined this with latent class analysis to infer the accuracy of these tests on the diagnosis of suspected scaphoid fractures in the absence of an established standard. The estimated sensitivity and specificity were respectively 91.1% and 99.8% for follow-up radiographs, 97.8% and 93.5% for bone scintigraphy, 97.7% and 99.8% for MRI, and 85.2% and 99.5% for CT. The results were generally robust in multiple sensitivity analyses. There was large between-study heterogeneity for the sensitivity of follow-up radiographs and CT, and imprecision about their sensitivity estimates. If we acknowledge the lack of a reference standard for diagnosing suspected scaphoid fractures, MRI is the most accurate test; follow-up radiographs and CT may be less sensitive, and bone scintigraphy less specific

We reviewed 15 patients, nine girls and six boys, with chronic anterior dislocation of the radial head which was treated by ulnar osteotomy, external fixation and open reconstruction of the elbow joint but without repair of the annular ligament. Their mean age was 9.5 years (5 to 15) and the mean interval between the injury and reconstruction was 22 months (2 months to 7 years). All radial heads remained reduced at a mean follow-up of 20 months (6 months to 5 years). Normal ranges of movement for flexion, extension, pronation and supination were unchanged in 96.1% (49/51) and worse in 3.9% (2/51). Limited ranges of movement were improved in 77.8% (7/9), unchanged in 11% (1/9) and further decreased in 11% (1/9).There were two superficial pin-track infections and two cases of delayed union but with no serious complications. Reconstruction of the radiocapitellar joint is easier using external fixation since accurate correction of the ulna can be determined empirically and active functional exercises started immediately. Only patients with a radial head of normal shape were selected for treatment by this method

Four men who presented with chronic dislocation of the radial head and nonunion or malunion of the ulna were reviewed after open reduction of the radial head and internal fixation of the ulna in attempted overcorrection. Their mean age was 37 years (28 to 46) and the mean interval between injury and reconstruction was nine months (4 to 18). The mean follow-up was 24 months (15 to 36). One patient who had undergone secondary excision of the radial head was also followed up for comparison. The three patients who had followed the treatment protocol had nearly normal flexion, extension and supination and only very occasional pain. All had considerable loss of pronation which did not affect patient satisfaction. Preservation of the radial head in chronic adult Monteggia fractures appears to be a promising mode of treatment

Short uncemented humeral stems can preserve humeral bone stock and facilitate revision surgery but may be prone to malalignment or loosening, especially when used in reverse total shoulder replacement (TSR). We undertook a retrospective review of 44 patients with a mean age of 76 years (59 to 92) who underwent primary reverse TSR with a short uncemented humeral stem. There were 29 females. The indications for joint replacement included cuff tear associated arthropathy (33), avascular necrosis (six), post-traumatic arthritis (two), and inflammatory arthritis (three). At a mean follow-up of 27 months (24 to 40), pain was rated as mild or none in 43 shoulders (97.7%). The mean active elevation improved from 54° . (sd. 20°) to 142° (. sd . 25°) and the mean active external rotation from 14° (. sd. 13°) to 45° (. sd. 9°). The outcome, as assessed by the modified Neer score, was excellent in 27 (61.3%), satisfactory in 15 (34.1%), and unsatisfactory in two shoulders (4.5%). Stems were well-positioned, without evidence of significant valgus or varus malalignment in 42 TSRs (95.5%). There was no radiological evidence of loosening of the humeral stem in any patient; 13 TSRs (29.5%) had evidence of proximal humeral remodelling and scapular notching was noted in three (6.8%). Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:526–9

Eighty elbows in 65 patients with an average age of 57 years have had two-part non-constrained Liverpool elbow arthroplasties performed since 1974. Fifty-five had rheumatoid arthritis, eight osteoarthritis or ankylosis secondary to injury, one osteochondritis dissecans and one pyknodysostosis. The average preoperative range of movement was 42 degrees to 112 degrees with 47 degrees of pronation and 42 degrees of supination. There was significant gain in the arc of movements at follow-up: 32 degrees in the extension-flexion range (average range 32 degrees to 134 degrees of flexion) and 42 degrees in forearm rotation (average pronation 69 degrees and supination 62 degrees). Before operation severe pain was the predominating symptom in 43 elbows (53.8%) but after replacement there was only moderate pain in five elbows (6.2%). The results were excellent in 42 (52.5%), good in 15 (18.7%), fair in 9 (11.3%) and unsatisfactory or poor in 14 (17.5%). Eight elbows required revision of the arthroplasty: three were post-traumatic, disorganised or osteoarthritic joints, three rheumatoid and both elbows in the patient with pyknodysostosis. Loosening of the prosthesis (particularly the humeral component) was the common factor necessitating revision. Of six rheumatoid elbows needing removal of the implant, four had deep infection, one had a dislodged humeral component as a result of injury and in one a divided olecranon had developed non-union. Rheumatoid elbows benefited more than post-traumatic arthritic elbows from the operation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aims

Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) for patients with symptomatic meniscal loss has demonstrated good clinical results and survivorship. Factors that affect both functional outcome and survivorship have been reported in the literature. These are typically single-centre case series with relatively small numbers and conflicting results. Our aim was to describe an international, two-centre case series, and identify factors that affect both functional outcome and survival.

Most fractures of the radial head are stable undisplaced or minimally displaced partial fractures without an associated fracture of the elbow or forearm or ligament injury, where stiffness following non-operative management is the primary concern. Displaced unstable fractures of the radial head are usually associated with other fractures or ligament injuries, and restoration of radiocapitellar contact by reconstruction or prosthetic replacement of the fractured head is necessary to prevent subluxation or dislocation of the elbow and forearm. In fractures with three or fewer fragments (two articular fragments and the neck) and little or no metaphyseal comminution, open reduction and internal fixation may give good results. However, fragmented unstable fractures of the radial head are prone to early failure of fixation and nonunion when fixed. Excision of the radial head is associated with good long-term results, but in patients with instability of the elbow or forearm, prosthetic replacement is preferred. This review considers the characteristics of stable and unstable fractures of the radial head, as well as discussing the debatable aspects of management, in light of the current best evidence. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:151–9

Aims

Surgical reconstruction of deformed Charcot feet carries a high risk of nonunion, metalwork failure, and deformity recurrence. The primary aim of this study was to identify the factors contributing to these complications following hindfoot Charcot reconstructions.

Aims

Treatment outcomes for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) using systemic vancomycin and antibacterial cement spacers during two-stage revision arthroplasty remain unsatisfactory. This study explored the efficacy and safety of intra-articular vancomycin injections for PJI control after debridement and cement spacer implantation in a rat model.

Between June 2005 and March 2008, 14 patients with a Campanacci grade-3 giant-cell tumour of the distal radius were treated by en bloc resection and reconstruction by ulnar translocation with arthrodesis of the wrist. The mean length of radius resected was 7.9 cm (5.5 to 15). All the patients were followed to bony union and 12 were available at a mean follow-up of 26 months (10 to 49). The mean time to union was four months (3 to 7) at the ulnocarpal junction and five months (3 to 8) at the ulnoradial junction. All except one patient had an excellent range of pronation and supination. The remaining patient developed a radio-ulnar synostosis. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 26 (87%, range 20 to 28). Three patients had a soft-tissue recurrence, but with no bony involvement. They underwent a further excision and are currently well and free from disease. Ulnar translocation provides a local vascularised bone graft to reconstruct the defect left after excision of the distal radius for giant cell tumour. It avoids the need for a microvascular procedure while retaining rotation of the forearm and good function of the hand