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The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 88-B, Issue 1 | Pages 111 - 115
1 Jan 2006
Jain N Willett KM

In order to assess the efficacy of inspection and accreditation by the Specialist Advisory Committee for higher surgical training in orthopaedic surgery and trauma, seven training regions with 109 hospitals and 433 Specialist Registrars were studied over a period of two years. There were initial deficiencies in a mean of 14.8% of required standards (10.3% to 19.2%). This improved following completion of the inspection, with a mean residual deficiency in 8.9% (6.5% to 12.7%.) Overall, 84% of standards were checked, 68% of the units improved and training was withdrawn in 4%. Most units (97%) were deficient on initial assessment. Moderately good rectification was achieved but the process of follow-up and collection of data require improvement. There is an imbalance between the setting of standards and their implementation. Any major revision of the process of accreditation by the new Post-graduate Medical Education and Training Board should recognise the importance of assessment of training by direct inspection on site, of the relationship between service and training, and the advantage of defining mandatory and developmental standards


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 5 | Pages 98 - 102
6 May 2020
Das De S Puhaindran ME Sechachalam S Wong KJH Chong CW Chin AYH

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all segments of daily life, with the healthcare sector being at the forefront of this upheaval. Unprecedented efforts have been taken worldwide to curb this ongoing global catastrophe that has already resulted in many fatalities. One of the areas that has received little attention amid this turmoil is the disruption to trainee education, particularly in specialties that involve acquisition of procedural skills. Hand surgery in Singapore is a standalone combined programme that relies heavily on dedicated cross-hospital rotations, an extensive didactic curriculum and supervised hands-on training of increasing complexity. All aspects of this training programme have been affected because of the cancellation of elective surgical procedures, suspension of cross-hospital rotations, redeployment of residents, and an unsustainable duty roster. There is a real concern that trainees will not be able to meet their training requirements and suffer serious issues like burnout and depression. The long-term impact of suspending training indefinitely is a severe disruption of essential medical services. This article examines the impact of a global pandemic on trainee education in a demanding surgical speciality. We have outlined strategies to maintain trainee competencies based on the following considerations: 1) the safety and wellbeing of trainees is paramount; 2) resource utilization must be thoroughly rationalized; 3) technology and innovative learning methods must supplant traditional teaching methods; and 4) the changes implemented must be sustainable. We hope that these lessons will be valuable to other training programs struggling to deliver quality education to their trainees, even as we work together to battle this global catastrophe.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 97-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1309 - 1315
1 Oct 2015
Price AJ Erturan G Akhtar K Judge A Alvand A Rees JL

Despite being one of the most common orthopaedic operations, it is still not known how many arthroscopies of the knee must be performed during training in order to develop the skills required to become a Consultant. A total of 54 subjects were divided into five groups according to clinical experience: Novices (n = 10), Junior trainees (n = 10), Registrars (n = 18), Fellows (n = 10) and Consultants (n = 6). After viewing an instructional presentation, each subject performed a simple diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee on a simulator with visualisation and probing of ten anatomical landmarks. Performance was assessed using a validated global rating scale (GRS). Comparisons were made against clinical experience measured by the number of arthroscopies which had been undertaken, and ROC curve analysis was used to determine the number of procedures needed to perform at the level of the Consultants.

There were marked differences between the groups. There was significant improvement in performance with increasing experience (p < 0.05).

ROC curve analysis identified that approximately 170 procedures were required to achieve the level of skills of a Consultant.

We suggest that this approach to identify what represents the level of surgical skills of a Consultant should be used more widely so that standards of training are maintained through the development of an evidenced-based curriculum.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1309–15.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 46-B, Issue 1 | Pages 3 - 7
1 Feb 1964
Holdsworth FW


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 2, Issue 3 | Pages 181 - 190
1 Mar 2021
James HK Gregory RJH

The imminent introduction of the new Trauma & Orthopaedic (T&O) curriculum, and the implementation of the Improving Surgical Training initiative, reflect yet another paradigm shift in the recent history of trauma and orthopaedic training. The move to outcome-based training without time constraints is a radical departure from the traditional time-based structure and represents an exciting new training frontier. This paper summarizes the history of T&O training reform, explains the rationale for change, and reflects on lessons learnt from the past. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2-3:181–190


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 106-B, Issue 9 | Pages 884 - 886
1 Sep 2024
Brown R Bendall S Aronow M Ramasamy A


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 7 | Pages 821 - 832
1 Jul 2023
Downie S Cherry J Dunn J Harding T Eastwood D Gill S Johnson S

Aims

Global literature suggests that female surgical trainees have lower rates of independent operating (operative autonomy) than their male counterparts. The objective of this study was to identify any association between gender and lead/independent operating in speciality orthopaedic trainees within the UK national training programme.

Methods

This was a retrospective case-control study using electronic surgical logbook data from 2009 to 2021 for 274 UK orthopaedic trainees. Total operative numbers and level of supervision were compared between male and female trainees, with correction for less than full-time training (LTFT), prior experience, and time out during training (OOP). The primary outcome was the percentage of cases undertaken as lead surgeon (supervised and unsupervised) by UK orthopaedic trainees by gender.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 100-B, Issue 5 | Pages 559 - 565
1 May 2018
Bartlett JD Lawrence JE Stewart ME Nakano N Khanduja V

Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the current evidence relating to the benefits of virtual reality (VR) simulation in orthopaedic surgical training, and to identify areas of future research.

Materials and Methods

A literature search using the MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar databases was performed. The results’ titles, abstracts, and references were examined for relevance.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1320 - 1325
1 Oct 2016
Nousiainen MT McQueen SA Hall J Kraemer W Ferguson P Marsh JL Reznick RR Reed MR Sonnadara R

As residency training programmes around the globe move towards competency-based medical education (CBME), there is a need to review current teaching and assessment practices as they relate to education in orthopaedic trauma. Assessment is the cornerstone of CBME, as it not only helps to determine when a trainee is fit to practice independently, but it also provides feedback on performance and guides the development of competence. Although a standardised core knowledge base for trauma care has been developed by the leading national accreditation bodies and international agencies that teach and perform research in orthopaedic trauma, educators have not yet established optimal methods for assessing trainees’ performance in managing orthopaedic trauma patients.

This review describes the existing knowledge from the literature on assessment in orthopaedic trauma and highlights initiatives that have recently been undertaken towards CBME in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

In order to support a CBME approach, programmes need to improve the frequency and quality of assessments and improve on current formative and summative feedback techniques in order to enhance resident education in orthopaedic trauma.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1320–5.


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 5, Issue 8 | Pages 697 - 707
22 Aug 2024
Raj S Grover S Spazzapan M Russell B Jaffry Z Malde S Vig S Fleming S

Aims. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic, socioeconomic, and educational factors associated with core surgical trainees (CSTs) who apply to and receive offers for higher surgical training (ST3) posts in Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O). Methods. Data collected by the UK Medical Education Database (UKMED) between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2019 were used in this retrospective longitudinal cohort study comprising 1,960 CSTs eligible for ST3. The primary outcome measures were whether CSTs applied for a T&O ST3 post and if they were subsequently offered a post. A directed acyclic graph was used for detecting confounders and adjusting logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs), which assessed the association between the primary outcomes and relevant exposures of interest, including: age, sex, ethnicity, parental socioeconomic status (SES), domiciliary status, category of medical school, Situational Judgement Test (SJT) scores at medical school, and success in postgraduate examinations. This study followed STROBE guidelines. Results. Compared to the overall cohort of CSTs, females were significantly less likely to apply to T&O (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.46; n = 155/720 female vs n = 535/1,240 male; p < 0.001). CSTs who were not UK-domiciled prior to university were nearly twice as likely to apply to T&O (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.85; n = 50/205 vs not UK-domiciled vs n = 585/1,580 UK-domiciled; p < 0.001). Age, ethnicity, SES, and medical school category were not associated with applying to T&O. Applicants who identified as ‘black and minority ethnic’ (BME) were significantly less likely to be offered a T&O ST3 post (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.97; n = 165/265 BME vs n = 265/385 white; p = 0.034). Differences in age, sex, SES, medical school category, and SJT scores were not significantly associated with being offered a T&O ST3 post. Conclusion. There is an evident disparity in sex between T&O applicants and an ethnic disparity between those who receive offers on their first attempt. Further high-quality, prospective research in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period is needed to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in T&O training. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(8):697–707


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 12, Issue 7 | Pages 447 - 454
10 Jul 2023
Lisacek-Kiosoglous AB Powling AS Fontalis A Gabr A Mazomenos E Haddad FS

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly growing across many domains, of which the medical field is no exception. AI is an umbrella term defining the practical application of algorithms to generate useful output, without the need of human cognition. Owing to the expanding volume of patient information collected, known as ‘big data’, AI is showing promise as a useful tool in healthcare research and across all aspects of patient care pathways. Practical applications in orthopaedic surgery include: diagnostics, such as fracture recognition and tumour detection; predictive models of clinical and patient-reported outcome measures, such as calculating mortality rates and length of hospital stay; and real-time rehabilitation monitoring and surgical training. However, clinicians should remain cognizant of AI’s limitations, as the development of robust reporting and validation frameworks is of paramount importance to prevent avoidable errors and biases. The aim of this review article is to provide a comprehensive understanding of AI and its subfields, as well as to delineate its existing clinical applications in trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Furthermore, this narrative review expands upon the limitations of AI and future direction. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(7):447–454


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 106-B, Issue 4 | Pages 336 - 343
1 Apr 2024
Haertlé M Becker N Windhagen H Ahmad SS

Aims. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is widely recognized as a demanding surgical procedure for acetabular reorientation. Reports about the learning curve have primarily focused on complication rates during the initial learning phase. Therefore, our aim was to assess the PAO learning curve from an analytical perspective by determining the number of PAOs required for the duration of surgery to plateau and the accuracy to improve. Methods. The study included 118 consecutive PAOs in 106 patients. Of these, 28 were male (23.7%) and 90 were female (76.3%). The primary endpoint was surgical time. Secondary outcome measures included radiological parameters. Cumulative summation analysis was used to determine changes in surgical duration. A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify independent factors influencing surgical time. Results. The learning curve in this series was 26 PAOs in a period of six months. After 26 PAO procedures, a significant drop in surgical time was observed and a plateau was also achieved. The mean duration of surgery during the learning curve was 103.8 minutes (SD 33.2), and 69.7 minutes (SD 18.6) thereafter (p < 0.001). Radiological correction of acetabular retroversion showed a significant improvement after having performed a total of 93 PAOs, including anteverting PAOs on 35 hips with a retroverted acetabular morphology (p = 0.005). Several factors were identified as independent variables influencing duration of surgery, including patient weight (β = 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 0.7); p < 0.001), learning curve procedure phase of 26 procedures (β = 34.0 (95% CI 24.3 to 43.8); p < 0.001), and the degree of lateral correction expressed as the change in the lateral centre-edge angle (β = 0.7 (95% CI 0.001 to 1.3); p = 0.048). Conclusion. The learning curve for PAO surgery requires extensive surgical training at a high-volume centre, with a minimum of 50 PAOs per surgeon per year. This study defined a cut-off value of 26 PAO procedures, after which a significant drop in surgical duration occurred. Furthermore, it was observed that a retroverted morphology of the acetabulum required a greater number of procedures to acquire proficiency in consistently eliminating the crossover sign. These findings are relevant for fellows and fellowship programme directors in establishing the extent of training required to impart competence in PAO. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(4):336–343


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 13, Issue 4 | Pages 193 - 200
23 Apr 2024
Reynolds A Doyle R Boughton O Cobb J Muirhead-Allwood S Jeffers J

Aims. Manual impaction, with a mallet and introducer, remains the standard method of installing cementless acetabular cups during total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to quantify the accuracy and precision of manual impaction strikes during the seating of an acetabular component. This understanding aims to help improve impaction surgical techniques and inform the development of future technologies. Methods. Posterior approach THAs were carried out on three cadavers by an expert orthopaedic surgeon. An instrumented mallet and introducer were used to insert cementless acetabular cups. The motion of the mallet, relative to the introducer, was analyzed for a total of 110 strikes split into low-, medium-, and high-effort strikes. Three parameters were extracted from these data: strike vector, strike offset, and mallet face alignment. Results. The force vector of the mallet strike, relative to the introducer axis, was misaligned by an average of 18.1°, resulting in an average wasted strike energy of 6.1%. Furthermore, the mean strike offset was 19.8 mm from the centre of the introducer axis and the mallet face, relative to the introducer strike face, was misaligned by a mean angle of 15.2° from the introducer strike face. Conclusion. The direction of the impact vector in manual impaction lacks both accuracy and precision. There is an opportunity to improve this through more advanced impaction instruments or surgical training. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(4):193–200


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 4, Issue 9 | Pages 696 - 703
11 Sep 2023
Ormond MJ Clement ND Harder BG Farrow L Glester A

Aims. The principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM) are the foundation of modern medical practice. Surgeons are familiar with the commonly used statistical techniques to test hypotheses, summarize findings, and provide answers within a specified range of probability. Based on this knowledge, they are able to critically evaluate research before deciding whether or not to adopt the findings into practice. Recently, there has been an increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze information and derive findings in orthopaedic research. These techniques use a set of statistical tools that are increasingly complex and may be unfamiliar to the orthopaedic surgeon. It is unclear if this shift towards less familiar techniques is widely accepted in the orthopaedic community. This study aimed to provide an exploration of understanding and acceptance of AI use in research among orthopaedic surgeons. Methods. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out on a sample of 12 orthopaedic surgeons. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results. The four intersecting themes identified were: 1) validity in traditional research, 2) confusion around the definition of AI, 3) an inability to validate AI research, and 4) cautious optimism about AI research. Underpinning these themes is the notion of a validity heuristic that is strongly rooted in traditional research teaching and embedded in medical and surgical training. Conclusion. Research involving AI sometimes challenges the accepted traditional evidence-based framework. This can give rise to confusion among orthopaedic surgeons, who may be unable to confidently validate findings. In our study, the impact of this was mediated by cautious optimism based on an ingrained validity heuristic that orthopaedic surgeons develop through their medical training. Adding to this, the integration of AI into everyday life works to reduce suspicion and aid acceptance. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(9):696–703


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 10 | Pages 645 - 652
19 Oct 2020
Sheridan GA Hughes AJ Quinlan JF Sheehan E O'Byrne JM

Aims. We aim to objectively assess the impact of COVID-19 on mean total operative cases for all indicative procedures (as outlined by the Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST)) experienced by orthopaedic trainees in the deanery of the Republic of Ireland. Subjective experiences were reported for each trainee using questionnaires. Methods. During the first four weeks of the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19, the objective impact of the pandemic on each trainee’s surgical caseload exposure was assessed using data from individual trainee logbook profiles in the deanery of the Republic of Ireland. Independent predictor variables included the trainee grade (ST 3 to 8), the individual trainee, the unit that the logbook was reported from, and the year in which the logbook was recorded. We used the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test to assess for any statistically significant predictor variables. The subjective experience of each trainee was captured using an electronic questionnaire. Results. The mean number of total procedures per trainee over four weeks was 36.8 (7 to 99; standard deviation (SD) 19.67) in 2018, 40.6 (6 to 81; SD 17.90) in 2019, and 18.3 (3 to 65; SD 11.70) during the pandemic of 2020 (p = 0.043). Significant reductions were noted for all elective indicative procedures, including arthroplasty (p = 0.019), osteotomy (p = 0.045), nerve decompression (p = 0.024) and arthroscopy (p = 0.024). In contrast, none of the nine indicative procedures for trauma were reduced. There was a significant inter-unit difference in the mean number of total cases (p = 0.029) and indicative cases (p = 0.0005) per trainee. We noted that 7.69% (n = 3) of trainees contracted COVID-19. Conclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean number of operative cases per trainee has been significantly reduced for four of the 13 indicative procedures, as outlined by the JCST. Reassignment of trainees to high-volume institutions in the future may be a plausible approach to mitigate significant training deficits in those trainees worst impacted by the reduction in operative exposure


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 102-B, Issue 5 | Pages 568 - 572
1 May 2020
McDonnell JM Ahern DP Ó Doinn T Gibbons D Rodrigues KN Birch N Butler JS

Continuous technical improvement in spinal surgical procedures, with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes, can be assisted by the deployment of advanced technologies including navigation, intraoperative CT imaging, and surgical robots. The latest generation of robotic surgical systems allows the simultaneous application of a range of digital features that provide the surgeon with an improved view of the surgical field, often through a narrow portal. There is emerging evidence that procedure-related complications and intraoperative blood loss can be reduced if the new technologies are used by appropriately trained surgeons. Acceptance of the role of surgical robots has increased in recent years among a number of surgical specialities including general surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopaedic surgeons performing major joint arthroplasty. However, ethical challenges have emerged with the rollout of these innovations, such as ensuring surgeon competence in the use of surgical robotics and avoiding financial conflicts of interest. Therefore, it is essential that trainees aspiring to become spinal surgeons as well as established spinal specialists should develop the necessary skills to use robotic technology safely and effectively and understand the ethical framework within which the technology is introduced. Traditional and more recently developed platforms exist to aid skill acquisition and surgical training which are described. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the role of surgical robotics in spinal surgery, describe measures of proficiency, and present the range of training platforms that institutions can use to ensure they employ confident spine surgeons adequately prepared for the era of robotic spinal surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(5):568–572


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 9 | Pages 594 - 604
24 Sep 2020
James HK Pattison GTR Griffin J Fisher JD Griffin DR

Aims. To develop a core outcome set of measurements from postoperative radiographs that can be used to assess technical skill in performing dynamic hip screw (DHS) and hemiarthroplasty, and to validate these against Van der Vleuten’s criteria for effective assessment. Methods. A Delphi exercise was undertaken at a regional major trauma centre to identify candidate measurement items. The feasibility of taking these measurements was tested by two of the authors (HKJ, GTRP). Validity and reliability were examined using the radiographs of operations performed by orthopaedic resident participants (n = 28) of a multicentre randomized controlled educational trial (ISRCTN20431944). Trainees were divided into novice and intermediate groups, defined as having performed < ten or ≥ ten cases each for DHS and hemiarthroplasty at baseline. The procedure-based assessment (PBA) global rating score was assumed as the gold standard assessment for the purposes of concurrent validity. Intra- and inter-rater reliability testing were performed on a random subset of 25 cases. Results. In total, 327 DHS and 248 hemiarthroplasty procedures were performed by 28 postgraduate year (PGY) 3 to 5 orthopaedic trainees during the 2014 to 2015 surgical training year at nine NHS hospitals in the West Midlands, UK. Overall, 109 PBAs were completed for DHS and 80 for hemiarthroplasty. Expert consensus identified four ‘final product analysis’ (FPA) radiological parameters of technical success for DHS: tip-apex distance (TAD); lag screw position in the femoral head; flushness of the plate against the lateral femoral cortex; and eight-cortex hold of the plate screws. Three parameters were identified for hemiarthroplasty: leg length discrepancy; femoral stem alignment; and femoral offset. Face validity, content validity, and feasibility were excellent. For all measurements, performance was better in the intermediate compared with the novice group, and this was statistically significant for TAD (p < 0.001) and femoral stem alignment (p = 0.023). Concurrent validity was poor when measured against global PBA score. This may be explained by the fact that they are measuring difference facets of competence. Intra-and inter-rater reliability were excellent for TAD, moderate for lag screw position (DHS), and moderate for leg length discrepancy (hemiarthroplasty). Use of a large multicentre dataset suggests good generalizability of the results to other settings. Assessment using FPA was time- and cost-effective compared with PBA. Conclusion. Final product analysis using post-implantation radiographs to measure technical skill in hip fracture surgery is feasible, valid, reliable, and cost-effective. It can complement traditional workplace-based assessment for measuring performance in the real-world operating room . It may have particular utility in competency-based training frameworks and for assessing skill transfer from the simulated to live operating theatre. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:594–604


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 101-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1585 - 1592
1 Dec 2019
Logishetty K Rudran B Cobb JP

Aims. Arthroplasty skills need to be acquired safely during training, yet operative experience is increasingly hard to acquire by trainees. Virtual reality (VR) training using headsets and motion-tracked controllers can simulate complex open procedures in a fully immersive operating theatre. The present study aimed to determine if trainees trained using VR perform better than those using conventional preparation for performing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and Methods. A total of 24 surgical trainees (seven female, 17 male; mean age 29 years (28 to 31)) volunteered to participate in this observer-blinded 1:1 randomized controlled trial. They had no prior experience of anterior approach THA. Of these 24 trainees, 12 completed a six-week VR training programme in a simulation laboratory, while the other 12 received only conventional preparatory materials for learning THA. All trainees then performed a cadaveric THA, assessed independently by two hip surgeons. The primary outcome was technical and non-technical surgical performance measured by a THA-specific procedure-based assessment (PBA). Secondary outcomes were step completion measured by a task-specific checklist, error in acetabular component orientation, and procedure duration. Results. VR-trained surgeons performed at a higher level than controls, with a median PBA of Level 3a (procedure performed with minimal guidance or intervention) versus Level 2a (guidance required for most/all of the procedure or part performed). VR-trained surgeons completed 33% more key steps than controls (mean 22 (. sd. 3) vs 12 (. sd. 3)), were 12° more accurate in component orientation (mean error 4° (. sd. 6°) vs 16° (. sd. 17°)), and were 18% faster (mean 42 minutes (. sd. 7) vs 51 minutes (. sd. 9)). Conclusion. Procedural knowledge and psychomotor skills for THA learned in VR were transferred to cadaveric performance. Basic preparatory materials had limited value for trainees learning a new technique. VR training advanced trainees further up the learning curve, enabling highly precise component orientation and more efficient surgery. VR could augment traditional surgical training to improve how surgeons learn complex open procedures. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1585–1592


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 4 | Pages 47 - 54
2 Apr 2020
Al-Mohrej OA Elshaer AK Al-Dakhil SS Sayed AI Aljohar S AlFattani AA Alhussainan TS

Introduction. Studies have addressed the issue of increasing prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) pain among different occupations. However, contributing factors to MSK pain have not been fully investigated among orthopaedic surgeons. Thus, this study aimed to approximate the prevalence and predictors of MSK pain among Saudi orthopaedic surgeons working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods. A cross-sectional study using an electronic survey was conducted in Riyadh. The questionnaire was distributed through email among orthopaedic surgeons in Riyadh hospitals. Standardized Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms were used. Descriptive measures for categorical and numerical variables were presented. Student’s t-test and Pearson’s χ2 test were used. The level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results. The response rate was 80.3%, with a total number of 179 of Saudi orthopaedic surgeons (173 males and six females). Of our sample, 67.0% of the respondents complained of having MSK pain. The most commonly reported MSK pain was lower back (74.0%), followed by neck (58.2%). Age and body mass index were implicated in the development of more than one type of MSK pain. Increased years of experience (≥ 6 years) was linked to shoulder/elbow, lower back, and hip/thigh pain. Smoking is widely associated with lower back pain development, whereas physicians who do not smoke and exercise regularly reported fewer pain incidences. Excessive bending and twisting during daily practice have been correlated with increased neck pain. Conclusion. MSK pain was found to be common among Saudi orthopaedic surgeons. Further extensive research should be conducted to understand and analyze the risk factors involved and search for possible improvements to avoid further complications. However, ergonomics education during surgical training could be effective at modifying behaviors and reducing MSK pain manifestations


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 3, Issue 6 | Pages 2 - 7
1 Dec 2014
Lewis C Mauffrey C Lewis AC Whiting F

There are significant differences in the methods and styles of orthopaedic surgical training between continents, all with the aim to produce competent consultant surgeons, but the differences in training content and pathway are vast. We review and contrast the key differences between three continents


Aims

Ankle fracture fixation is commonly performed by junior trainees. Simulation training using cadavers may shorten the learning curve and result in a technically superior surgical performance.

Methods

We undertook a preliminary, pragmatic, single-blinded, multicentre, randomized controlled trial of cadaveric simulation versus standard training. Primary outcome was fracture reduction on postoperative radiographs.


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 4, Issue 8 | Pages 602 - 611
21 Aug 2023
James HK Pattison GTR Griffin J Fisher JD Griffin DR

Aims

To evaluate if, for orthopaedic trainees, additional cadaveric simulation training or standard training alone yields superior radiological and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation or hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture.

Methods

This was a preliminary, pragmatic, multicentre, parallel group randomized controlled trial in nine secondary and tertiary NHS hospitals in England. Researchers were blinded to group allocation. Overall, 40 trainees in the West Midlands were eligible: 33 agreed to take part and were randomized, five withdrew after randomization, 13 were allocated cadaveric training, and 15 were allocated standard training. The intervention was an additional two-day cadaveric simulation course. The control group received standard on-the-job training. Primary outcome was implant position on the postoperative radiograph: tip-apex distance (mm) (DHS) and leg length discrepancy (mm) (hemiarthroplasty). Secondary clinical outcomes were procedure time, length of hospital stay, acute postoperative complication rate, and 12-month mortality. Procedure-specific secondary outcomes were intraoperative radiation dose (for DHS) and postoperative blood transfusion requirement (hemiarthroplasty).


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 12, Issue 4 | Pages 48 - 48
1 Aug 2023


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 12, Issue 3 | Pages 5 - 7
1 Jun 2023
Pickering GAE


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 12, Issue 5 | Pages 6 - 10
1 Oct 2023
Arnaouti M


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 4, Issue 12 | Pages 970 - 979
19 Dec 2023
Kontoghiorghe C Morgan C Eastwood D McNally S

Aims

The number of females within the speciality of trauma and orthopaedics (T&O) is increasing. The aim of this study was to identify: 1) current attitudes and behaviours of UK female T&O surgeons towards pregnancy; 2) any barriers faced towards pregnancy with a career in T&O surgery; and 3) areas for improvement.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study using an anonymous 13-section web-based survey distributed to female-identifying T&O trainees, speciality and associate specialist surgeons (SASs) and locally employed doctors (LEDs), fellows, and consultants in the UK. Demographic data was collected as well as closed and open questions with adaptive answering relating to attitudes towards childbearing and experiences of fertility and complications associated with pregnancy. A descriptive data analysis was carried out.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 13, Issue 4 | Pages 46 - 46
2 Aug 2024


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 13, Issue 3 | Pages 50 - 50
3 Jun 2024


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 12, Issue 2 | Pages 3 - 4
1 Apr 2023
Rocos B Ruffles K


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 106-B, Issue 5 Supple B | Pages 47 - 53
1 May 2024
Jones SA Parker J Horner M

Aims

The aims of this study were to determine the success of a reconstruction algorithm used in major acetabular bone loss, and to further define the indications for custom-made implants in major acetabular bone loss.

Methods

We reviewed a consecutive series of Paprosky type III acetabular defects treated according to a reconstruction algorithm. IIIA defects were planned to use a superior augment and hemispherical acetabular component. IIIB defects were planned to receive either a hemispherical acetabular component plus augments, a cup-cage reconstruction, or a custom-made implant. We used national digital health records and registry reports to identify any reoperation or re-revision procedure and Oxford Hip Score (OHS) for patient-reported outcomes. Implant survival was determined via Kaplan-Meier analysis.


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 5, Issue 9 | Pages 768 - 775
18 Sep 2024
Chen K Dong X Lu Y Zhang J Liu X Jia L Guo Y Chen X

Aims

Surgical approaches to cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) remain controversial. The purpose of the present study was to analyze and compare the long-term neurological recovery following anterior decompression with fusion (ADF) and posterior laminectomy and fusion with bone graft and internal fixation (PLF) based on > ten-year follow-up outcomes in a single centre.

Methods

Included in this retrospective cohort study were 48 patients (12 females; mean age 55.79 years (SD 8.94)) who were diagnosed with cervical OPLL, received treatment in our centre, and were followed up for 10.22 to 15.25 years. Of them, 24 patients (six females; mean age 52.88 years (SD 8.79)) received ADF, and the other 24 patients (five females; mean age 56.25 years (SD 9.44)) received PLF. Clinical data including age, sex, and the OPLL canal-occupying ratio were analyzed and compared. The primary outcome was Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the secondary outcome was visual analogue scale neck pain.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 1 | Pages 56 - 63
1 Jan 2023
de Klerk HH Oosterhoff JHF Schoolmeesters B Nieboer P Eygendaal D Jaarsma RL IJpma FFA van den Bekerom MPJ Doornberg JN

Aims

This study aimed to answer the following questions: do 3D-printed models lead to a more accurate recognition of the pattern of complex fractures of the elbow?; do 3D-printed models lead to a more reliable recognition of the pattern of these injuries?; and do junior surgeons benefit more from 3D-printed models than senior surgeons?

Methods

A total of 15 orthopaedic trauma surgeons (seven juniors, eight seniors) evaluated 20 complex elbow fractures for their overall pattern (i.e. varus posterior medial rotational injury, terrible triad injury, radial head fracture with posterolateral dislocation, anterior (trans-)olecranon fracture-dislocation, posterior (trans-)olecranon fracture-dislocation) and their specific characteristics. First, fractures were assessed based on radiographs and 2D and 3D CT scans; and in a subsequent round, one month later, with additional 3D-printed models. Diagnostic accuracy (acc) and inter-surgeon reliability (κ) were determined for each assessment.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 13, Issue 5 | Pages 8 - 17
1 Oct 2024
Holley J Lawniczak D Machin JT Briggs TWR Hunter J


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 2 | Pages 180 - 189
1 Feb 2023
Tohidi M Mann SM Groome PA

Aims

This study aimed to describe practice variation in the use of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for older patients with femoral neck fracture and to determine the association between patient, surgeon, and institution factors and treatment with THA.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 49,597 patients aged 60 years and older from Ontario, Canada, who underwent hemiarthroplasty or THA for femoral neck fracture between 2002 and 2017. This population-based study used routinely collected healthcare databases linked through ICES (formerly known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences). Multilevel logistic regression modelling was used to quantify the association between patient, surgeon, and institution-level variables and whether patients were treated with THA. Variance partition coefficient and median odds ratios were used to estimate the variation attributable to higher-level variables and the magnitude of effect of higher-level variables, respectively.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1292 - 1303
1 Dec 2022
Polisetty TS Jain S Pang M Karnuta JM Vigdorchik JM Nawabi DH Wyles CC Ramkumar PN

Literature surrounding artificial intelligence (AI)-related applications for hip and knee arthroplasty has proliferated. However, meaningful advances that fundamentally transform the practice and delivery of joint arthroplasty are yet to be realized, despite the broad range of applications as we continue to search for meaningful and appropriate use of AI. AI literature in hip and knee arthroplasty between 2018 and 2021 regarding image-based analyses, value-based care, remote patient monitoring, and augmented reality was reviewed. Concerns surrounding meaningful use and appropriate methodological approaches of AI in joint arthroplasty research are summarized. Of the 233 AI-related orthopaedics articles published, 178 (76%) constituted original research, while the rest consisted of editorials or reviews. A total of 52% of original AI-related research concerns hip and knee arthroplasty (n = 92), and a narrative review is described. Three studies were externally validated. Pitfalls surrounding present-day research include conflating vernacular (“AI/machine learning”), repackaging limited registry data, prematurely releasing internally validated prediction models, appraising model architecture instead of inputted data, withholding code, and evaluating studies using antiquated regression-based guidelines. While AI has been applied to a variety of hip and knee arthroplasty applications with limited clinical impact, the future remains promising if the question is meaningful, the methodology is rigorous and transparent, the data are rich, and the model is externally validated. Simple checkpoints for meaningful AI adoption include ensuring applications focus on: administrative support over clinical evaluation and management; necessity of the advanced model; and the novelty of the question being answered.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(12):1292–1303.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 105-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1060 - 1069
1 Oct 2023
Holleyman RJ Jameson SS Reed M Meek RMD Khanduja V Hamer A Judge A Board T

Aims

This study describes the variation in the annual volumes of revision hip arthroplasty (RHA) undertaken by consultant surgeons nationally, and the rate of accrual of RHA and corresponding primary hip arthroplasty (PHA) volume for new consultants entering practice.

Methods

National Joint Registry (NJR) data for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man were received for 84,816 RHAs and 818,979 PHAs recorded between April 2011 and December 2019. RHA data comprised all revision procedures, including first-time revisions of PHA and any subsequent re-revisions recorded in public and private healthcare organizations. Annual procedure volumes undertaken by the responsible consultant surgeon in the 12 months prior to every index procedure were determined. We identified a cohort of ‘new’ HA consultants who commenced practice from 2012 and describe their rate of accrual of PHA and RHA experience.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 91-B, Issue 7 | Pages 928 - 934
1 Jul 2009
Palan J Gulati A Andrew JG Murray DW Beard DJ

Balancing service provision and surgical training is a challenging issue that affects all healthcare systems. A multicentre prospective study of 1501 total hip replacements was undertaken to investigate whether there is an association between surgical outcome and the grade of the operating surgeon, and whether there is any difference in outcome if surgeons’ assistants assist with the operation, rather than orthopaedic trainees. The primary outcome measure was the change in the Oxford hip score (OHS) at five years. Secondary outcomes included the rate of revision and dislocation, operating time, and length of hospital stay. There was no significant difference in ΔOHS or complication rates between operations undertaken by trainers and trainees, or those at which surgeons’ assistants and trainees were the assistant. However, there was a significant difference in the duration of surgery, with a mean reduction of 28 minutes in those in which a surgeons’ assistant was the assistant. This study provides evidence that total hip replacements can be performed safely and effectively by appropriately trained surgeons in training, and that there are potential benefits of using surgeons’ assistants in orthopaedic surgery


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 3, Issue 6 | Pages 502 - 509
20 Jun 2022
James HK Griffin J Pattison GTR

Aims

To identify a core outcome set of postoperative radiographic measurements to assess technical skill in ankle fracture open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), and to validate these against Van der Vleuten’s criteria for effective assessment.

Methods

An e-Delphi exercise was undertaken at a major trauma centre (n = 39) to identify relevant parameters. Feasibility was tested by two authors. Reliability and validity was tested using postoperative radiographs of ankle fracture operations performed by trainees enrolled in an educational trial (IRCTN 20431944). To determine construct validity, trainees were divided into novice (performed < ten cases at baseline) and intermediate groups (performed ≥ ten cases at baseline). To assess concurrent validity, the procedure-based assessment (PBA) was considered the gold standard. The inter-rater and intrarater reliability was tested using a randomly selected subset of 25 cases.


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 2, Issue 10 | Pages 893 - 899
26 Oct 2021
Ahmed M Hamilton LC

Orthopaedics has been left behind in the worldwide drive towards diversity and inclusion. In the UK, only 7% of orthopaedic consultants are female. There is growing evidence that diversity increases innovation as well as patient outcomes. This paper has reviewed the literature to identify some of the common issues affecting female surgeons in orthopaedics, and ways in which we can address them: there is a wealth of evidence documenting the differences in the journey of men and women towards a consultant role. We also look at lessons learned from research in the business sector and the military. The ‘Hidden Curriculum’ is out of date and needs to enter the 21st century: microaggressions in the workplace must be challenged; we need to consider more flexible training options and support trainees who wish to become pregnant; mentors, both male and female, are imperative to provide support for trainees. The world has changed, and we need to consider how we can improve diversity to stay relevant and effective.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2-10:893–899.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 2 | Pages 206 - 211
1 Feb 2022
Bloch BV White JJE Matar HE Berber R Manktelow ARJ

Aims

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a very successful and cost-effective operation, yet debate continues about the optimum fixation philosophy in different age groups. The concept of the 'cementless paradox' and the UK 'Getting it Right First Time' initiative encourage increased use of cemented fixation due to purported lower revision rates, especially in elderly patients, and decreased cost.

Methods

In a high-volume, tertiary referral centre, we identified 10,112 THAs from a prospectively collected database, including 1,699 cemented THAs, 5,782 hybrid THAs, and 2,631 cementless THAs. The endpoint was revision for any reason. Secondary analysis included examination of implant survivorship in patients aged over 70 years, over 75 years, and over 80 years at primary THA.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 3 | Pages 341 - 351
1 Mar 2022
Fowler TJ Aquilina AL Reed MR Blom AW Sayers A Whitehouse MR

Aims

Total hip arthroplasties (THAs) are performed by surgeons at various stages in training with varying levels of supervision, but we do not know if this is safe practice with comparable outcomes to consultant-performed THA. Our aim was to examine the association between surgeon grade, the senior supervision of trainees, and the risk of revision following THA.

Methods

We performed an observational study using National Joint Registry (NJR) data. We included adult patients who underwent primary THA for osteoarthritis, recorded in the NJR between 2003 and 2016. Exposures were operating surgeon grade (consultant or trainee) and whether or not trainees were directly supervised by a scrubbed consultant. Outcomes were all-cause revision and the indication for revision up to ten years. We used methods of survival analysis, adjusted for patient, operation, and healthcare setting factors.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 7 Supple B | Pages 53 - 58
1 Jul 2021
Lawrie CM Bechtold D Schwabe M Clohisy JC

Aims

The direct anterior approach (DAA) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) has potential advantages over other approaches and is most commonly performed with the patient in the supine position. We describe a technique for DAA THA with the patient in the lateral decubitus position and report the early clinical and radiological outcomes, the characteristics of the learning curve, and perioperative complications.

Methods

All primary DAA THAs performed in the lateral position by a single surgeon over a four-year period from the surgeon’s first case using the technique were identified from a prospectively collected database. Modified Harris Hip Scores (mHHS) were collected to assess clinical outcome, and routine radiological analysis was performed. Retrospective review of the medical records identified perioperative complications, the characteristics of the learning curve, and revisions.


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 2, Issue 2 | Pages 111 - 118
8 Feb 2021
Pettit M Shukla S Zhang J Sunil Kumar KH Khanduja V

Aims

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted and delayed medical and surgical examinations where attendance is required in person. Our article aims to outline the validity of online assessment, the range of benefits to both candidate and assessor, and the challenges to its implementation. In addition, we propose pragmatic suggestions for its introduction into medical assessment.

Methods

We reviewed the literature concerning the present status of online medical and surgical assessment to establish the perceived benefits, limitations, and potential problems with this method of assessment.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 4 | Pages 650 - 658
1 Apr 2021
Konow T Baetz J Melsheimer O Grimberg A Morlock M

Aims. Periprosthetic femoral fractures (PPF) are a serious complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and are becoming an increasingly common indication for revision arthroplasty with the ageing population. This study aimed to identify potential risk factors for PPF based on an analysis of registry data. Methods. Cases recorded with PPF as the primary indication for revision arthroplasty in the German Arthroplasty Registry (Endoprothesenregister Deutschland (EPRD)), as well as those classified as having a PPF according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes in patients’ insurance records were identified from the complete datasets of 249,639 registered primary hip arthroplasties in the EPRD and included in the analysis. Results. The incidence of PPFs was higher (24.6%; 1,483) than reported in EPRD annual reports listing PPF as the main reason for revision (10.9%; 654). The majority of fractures occurred intraoperatively and were directly related to the implantation process. Patients who were elderly, female, or had comorbidities were at higher risk of PPFs (p < 0.001). German hospitals with a surgical volume of < 300 primary procedures per year had a higher rate of PPFs (p < 0.001). The use of cemented and collared prostheses had a lower fracture risk PPF compared to uncemented and collarless components, respectively (both p < 0.001). Collared prostheses reduced the risk of PPF irrespective of the fixation method and hospital’s surgical volume. Conclusion. The high proportion of intraoperative fractures emphasises the need to improve surgeon training and surgical technique. Registry data should be interpreted with caution because of potential differences in coding standards between institutions. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(4):650–658


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 5 | Pages 103 - 114
13 May 2020
James HK Gregory RJH Tennent D Pattison GTR Fisher JD Griffin DR

Aims

The primary aim of the survey was to map the current provision of simulation training within UK and Republic of Ireland (RoI) trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) specialist training programmes to inform future design of a simulation based-curriculum. The secondary aims were to characterize; the types of simulation offered to trainees by stage of training, the sources of funding for simulation, the barriers to providing simulation in training, and to measure current research activity assessing the educational impact of simulation.

Methods

The development of the survey was a collaborative effort between the authors and the British Orthopaedic Association Simulation Group. The survey items were embedded in the Performance and Opportunity Dashboard, which annually audits quality in training across several domains on behalf of the Speciality Advisory Committee (SAC). The survey was sent via email to the 30 training programme directors in March 2019. Data were retrieved and analyzed at the Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, UK.



The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 102-B, Issue 11 | Pages 1549 - 1554
1 Nov 2020
Schwartz AM Farley KX Boden SH Wilson JM Daly CA Gottschalk MB Wagner ER

Aims

The impact of tobacco use on readmission and medical and surgical complications has been documented in hip and knee arthroplasty. However, there remains little information about the effect of smoking on the outcome after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). We hypothesized that active smokers are at an increased risk of poor medical and surgial outcomes after TSA.

Methods

Data for patients who underwent arthroplasty of the shoulder in the USA between January 2011 and December 2015 were obtained from the National Readmission Database, and 90-day readmissions and complications were documented using validated coding methods. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to quantify the risk of smoking on the outcome after TSA, while controlling for patient demographics, comorbidities, and hospital-level confounding factors.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 102-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1324 - 1330
3 Oct 2020
Herregodts S Verhaeghe M Paridaens R Herregodts J Vermue H Arnout N De Baets P Victor J

Aims

Inadvertent soft tissue damage caused by the oscillating saw during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) occurs when the sawblade passes beyond the bony boundaries into the soft tissue. The primary objective of this study is to assess the risk of inadvertent soft tissue damage during jig-based TKA by evaluating the excursion of the oscillating saw past the bony boundaries. The second objective is the investigation of the relation between this excursion and the surgeon’s experience level.

Methods

A conventional jig-based TKA procedure with medial parapatellar approach was performed on 12 cadaveric knees by three experienced surgeons and three residents. During the proximal tibial resection, the motion of the oscillating saw with respect to the tibia was recorded. The distance of the outer point of this cutting portion to the edge of the bone was defined as the excursion of the oscillating saw. The excursion of the sawblade was evaluated in six zones containing the following structures: medial collateral ligament (MCL), posteromedial corner (PMC), iliotibial band (ITB), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), popliteus tendon (PopT), and neurovascular bundle (NVB).


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 8 | Pages 494 - 499
18 Aug 2020
Karia M Gupta V Zahra W Dixon J Tayton E

Aims

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of the UK lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic on the orthopaedic admissions, operations, training opportunities, and theatre efficiency in a large district general hospital.

Methods

The number of patients referred to the orthopaedic team between 1 April 2020 and 30 April 2020 were collected. Other data collected included patient demographics, number of admissions, number and type of operations performed, and seniority of primary surgeon. Theatre time was collected consisting of anaesthetic time, surgical time, time to leave theatre, and turnaround time. Data were compared to the same period in 2019.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 8, Issue 12 | Pages 604 - 607
1 Dec 2019
Konan S Abdel MP Haddad FS

There is continued debate as to whether cemented or cementless implants should be utilized in particular cases based upon chronological age. This debate has been rekindled in the UK and other countries by directives mandating certain forms of acetabular and femoral component fixation based exclusively on the chronological age of the patient. This editorial focuses on the literature-based arguments to support the use of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA), while addressing potential concerns surrounding safety and cost-effectiveness.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res. 2019;8(12):604–607.


Bone & Joint Open
Vol. 1, Issue 3 | Pages 41 - 46
18 Mar 2020
Perry DC Arch B Appelbe D Francis P Spowart C Knight M

Introduction

There is widespread variation in the management of rare orthopaedic disease, in a large part owing to uncertainty. No individual surgeon or hospital is typically equipped to amass sufficient numbers of cases to draw robust conclusions from the information available to them. The programme of research will establish the British Orthopaedic Surgery Surveillance (BOSS) Study; a nationwide reporting structure for rare disease in orthopaedic surgery.

Methods

The BOSS Study is a series of nationwide observational cohort studies of pre-specified orthopaedic disease. All relevant hospitals treating the disease are invited to contribute anonymised case details. Data will be collected digitally through REDCap, with an additional bespoke software solution used to regularly confirm case ascertainment, prompt follow-up reminders and identify potential missing cases from external sources of information (i.e. national administrative data). With their consent, patients will be invited to enrich the data collected by supplementing anonymised case data with patient reported outcomes.

The study will primarily seek to calculate the incidence of the rare diseases under investigation, with 95% confidence intervals. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the case mix, treatment variations and outcomes. Inferential statistical analysis may be used to analyze associations between presentation factors and outcomes. Types of analyses will be contingent on the disease under investigation.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 8, Issue 10 | Pages 438 - 442
1 Oct 2019
Kayani B Haddad FS


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 101-B, Issue 6_Supple_B | Pages 37 - 44
1 Jun 2019
Liu N Goodman SB Lachiewicz PF Wood KB

Aims

Patients may present with concurrent symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine, with surgical treatment being indicated for both. Whether arthroplasty of the hip or spinal surgery should be performed first remains uncertain.

Materials and Methods

Clinical scenarios were devised for a survey asking the preferred order of surgery and the rationale for this decision for five fictional patients with both OA of the hip and degenerative lumbar disorders. These were symptomatic OA of the hip and: 1) lumbar spinal stenosis with neurological claudication; 2) lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with leg pain; 3) lumbar disc herniation with leg weakness; 4) lumbar scoliosis with back pain; and 5) thoracolumbar disc herniation with myelopathy. This survey was sent to 110 members of The Hip Society and 101 members of the Scoliosis Research Society. The choices of the surgeons were compared among scenarios and between surgical specialties using the chi-squared test. The free-text comments were analyzed using text-mining.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 7, Issue 1 | Pages 1 - 2
1 Feb 2018
Bircher M


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 6, Issue 5 | Pages 2 - 4
1 Oct 2017
Monsell F


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 5, Issue 6 | Pages 8 - 12
1 Dec 2016
Kumar KHS Lawrence JE Khanduja V


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 5, Issue 4 | Pages 34 - 35
1 Aug 2016


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 5, Issue 6 | Pages 1 - 1
1 Dec 2016
Ollivere B


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 99-B, Issue 11 | Pages 1413 - 1419
1 Nov 2017
Solan MC Sakellariou A

The posterior malleolus component of a fracture of the ankle is important, yet often overlooked. Pre-operative CT scans to identify and classify the pattern of the fracture are not used enough. Posterior malleolus fractures are not difficult to fix. After reduction and fixation of the posterior malleolus, the articular surface of the tibia is restored; the fibula is out to length; the syndesmosis is more stable and the patient can rehabilitate faster. There is therefore considerable merit in fixing most posterior malleolus fractures. An early post-operative CT scan to ensure that accurate reduction has been achieved should also be considered.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1413–19.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 6, Issue 5 | Pages 35 - 38
1 Oct 2017


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 6, Issue 3 | Pages 1 - 1
1 Jun 2017
Ollivere B


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 99-B, Issue 3 | Pages 303 - 309
1 Mar 2017
Beaulé PE Bleeker H Singh A Dobransky J

Aims

Joint-preserving surgery of the hip (JPSH) has evolved considerably and now includes a number of procedures, including arthroscopy, surgical dislocation, and redirectional osteotomies of the femur and acetabulum. There are a number of different factors which lead to failure of JPSH. Consequently, it is of interest to assess the various modes of failure in order to continue to identify best practice and the indications for these procedures.

Patients and Methods

Using a retrospective observational study design, we reviewed 1013 patients who had undergone JPSH by a single surgeon between 2005 and 2015. There were 509 men and 504 women with a mean age of 39 years (16 to 78). Of the 1013 operations, 783 were arthroscopies, 122 surgical dislocations, and 108 peri-acetabular osteotomies (PAO). We analysed the overall failure rates and modes of failure. Re-operations were categorised into four groups: Mode 1 was arthritis progression or organ failure leading to total hip arthroplasty (THA); Mode 2 was an Incorrect diagnosis/procedure; Mode 3 resulted from malcorrection of femur (type A), acetabulum (type B), or labrum (type C) and Mode 4 resulted from an unintended consequence of the initial surgical intervention.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 5, Issue 6 | Pages 26 - 27
1 Dec 2016


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 5, Issue 5 | Pages 34 - 35
1 Oct 2016


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 10_Supple_B | Pages 22 - 27
1 Oct 2016
Bottomley N Jones LD Rout R Alvand A Rombach I Evans T Jackson WFM Beard DJ Price AJ

Aims

The aim of this to study was to compare the previously unreported long-term survival outcome of the Oxford medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) performed by trainee surgeons and consultants.

Patients and Methods

We therefore identified a previously unreported cohort of 1084 knees in 947 patients who had a UKA inserted for anteromedial knee arthritis by consultants and surgeons in training, at a tertiary arthroplasty centre and performed survival analysis on the group with revision as the endpoint.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 5, Issue 4 | Pages 40 - 41
1 Aug 2016


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1253 - 1261
1 Sep 2016
Metcalfe D Perry DC Bouamra O Salim A Woodford M Edwards A Lecky FE Costa ML

Aims

We aimed to determine whether there is evidence of improved patient outcomes in Major Trauma Centres following the regionalisation of trauma care in England.

Patients and Methods

An observational study was undertaken using the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN), Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and national death registrations. The outcome measures were indicators of the quality of trauma care, such as treatment by a senior doctor and clinical outcomes, such as mortality in hospital.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 3 | Pages 298 - 300
1 Mar 2016
Fullilove S Gozzard C

The results of the DRAFFT (distal radius acute fracture fixation trial) study, which compared volar plating with Kirschner (K-) wire fixation for dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius, were published in August 2014. The use of K-wires to treat these fractures is now increasing, with a concomitant decline in the use of volar locking plates.

We provide a critical appraisal of the DRAFFT study and question whether surgeons have been unduly influenced by its headline conclusions.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:298–300.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 3 | Pages 291 - 297
1 Mar 2016
Rogmark C Leonardsson O

This review summarises the evidence for the treatment of displaced fractures of the femoral neck in elderly patients. Results from randomised clinical trials and national register studies are presented when available.

The advantages of arthroplasty compared with internal fixation are supported by several studies. A number of studies contribute to the discussions of total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus hemiarthroplasty and unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty, but no clear-cut evidence-based recommendation can be made. THA may be particularly advantageous for active, lucid patients with a relatively long life expectancy. For patients who are physiologically older, hemiarthoplasty is probably satisfactory, and for the oldest patients with more comorbidities, unipolar implants are considered to be sufficient. If the hospital can support emergency THA surgery in sufficient numbers and quality, there may be few patients who warrant bipolar hemiarthroplasty.

The direct lateral approach reduces the risk of dislocation compared with the posterior approach. Cemented implants lower the risk of periprosthetic fracture and its subsequent morbidity and mortality. As the risk of peri-operative death related to bone cement can be reduced by adequate measures, cemented implants are recommended in fracture cases.

Take home message: There remains a great variation in the surgical management of patients with a hip fracture, and an evidence-based approach should improve the outcomes for this vulnerable patient group.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:291–7.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 97-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1657 - 1661
1 Dec 2015
Taranu R Rushton PRP Serrano-Pedraza I Holder L Wallace WA Candal-Couto JJ

Dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint is a relatively common injury and a number of surgical interventions have been described for its treatment. Recently, a synthetic ligament device has become available and been successfully used, however, like other non-native solutions, a compromise must be reached when choosing non-anatomical locations for their placement. This cadaveric study aimed to assess the effect of different clavicular anchorage points for the Lockdown device on the reduction of acromioclavicular joint dislocations, and suggest an optimal location. We also assessed whether further stability is provided using a coracoacromial ligament transfer (a modified Neviaser technique). The acromioclavicular joint was exposed on seven fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders. The joint was reconstructed using the Lockdown implant using four different clavicular anchorage points and reduction was measured. The coracoacromial ligament was then transferred to the lateral end of the clavicle, and the joint re-assessed. If the Lockdown ligament was secured at the level of the conoid tubercle, the acromioclavicular joint could be reduced anatomically in all cases. If placed medial or 2 cm lateral, the joint was irreducible. If the Lockdown was placed 1 cm lateral to the conoid tubercle, the joint could be reduced with difficulty in four cases. Correct placement of the Lockdown device is crucial to allow anatomical joint reduction. Even when the Lockdown was placed over the conoid tubercle, anterior clavicle displacement remained but this could be controlled using a coracoacromial ligament transfer.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1657–61.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 1, Issue 6 | Pages 2 - 7
1 Dec 2012
IJpma FFA ten Duis HJ van Gulik TM

A comprehensive study of osteology remains a cornerstone of current orthopaedic and traumatological education. Osteology was already established as an important part of surgical education by the 16th century. In order to teach anatomy and osteology, the corpses of executed criminals were dissected by the praelector anatomiae of the Amsterdam Guild of Surgeons. Magnificent anatomical atlases preserve the knowledge obtained from these dissections. We present an overview of the most authoritative works of Vesalius, Bidloo, Cheselden, and Albinus authored in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. At that time a knowledge of osteology was necessary to pass the ‘master-exam’ in order to become a surgeon, and anatomical teaching was traditionally based on the practice of dissection. In the modern era, anatomical dissection and illustrations are largely being replaced by three-dimensional imaging and computer simulations, with an unfortunate trend in current curricula away from the established teaching technique of dissection. Education through the practice of dissection, particularly for future surgeons, remains integral to the development of tissue handling techniques, understanding of anatomical variation, and furthering of spatial awareness skills. With this review, we seek to remind contemporary surgeons of the lessons we can learn from our predecessors who valued education through anatomical dissection.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 93-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1586 - 1591
1 Dec 2011
Alvand A Auplish S Khan T Gill HS Rees JL

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of training on the arthroscopic performance of a group of medical students and to determine whether all students could be trained to competence. Thirty-three medical students with no previous experience of arthroscopy were randomised to a ‘Trained’ or an ‘Untrained’ cohort. They were required to carry out 30 episodes of two simulated arthroscopic tasks (one shoulder and one knee). The primary outcome variable was task success at each episode. Individuals achieved competence when their learning curve stabilised. The secondary outcome was technical dexterity, assessed objectively using a validated motion analysis system. Six subjects in the ‘Untrained’ cohort failed to achieve competence in the shoulder task, compared with one in the ‘Trained’ cohort. During the knee task, two subjects in each cohort failed to achieve competence. Based on the objective motion analysis parameters, the ‘Trained’ cohort performed better on the shoulder task (p < 0.05) but there was no significant difference for the knee task (p > 0.05).

Although specific training improved the arthroscopic performance of novices, there were individuals who could not achieve competence despite focused training.These findings may have an impact on the selection process for trainees and influence individual career choices.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 95-B, Issue 11 | Pages 1445 - 1449
1 Nov 2013
Sonnadara R McQueen S Mironova P Safir O Nousiainen M Ferguson P Alman B Kraemer W Reznick R

Valid and reliable techniques for assessing performance are essential to surgical education, especially with the emergence of competency-based frameworks. Despite this, there is a paucity of adequate tools for the evaluation of skills required during joint replacement surgery. In this scoping review, we examine current methods for assessing surgeons’ competency in joint replacement procedures in both simulated and clinical environments. The ability of many of the tools currently in use to make valid, reliable and comprehensive assessments of performance is unclear. Furthermore, many simulation-based assessments have been criticised for a lack of transferability to the clinical setting. It is imperative that more effective methods of assessment are developed and implemented in order to improve our ability to evaluate the performance of skills relating to total joint replacement. This will enable educators to provide formative feedback to learners throughout the training process to ensure that they have attained core competencies upon completion of their training. This should help ensure positive patient outcomes as the surgical trainees enter independent practice.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1445–9.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 2, Issue 2 | Pages 37 - 37
1 Apr 2013
McNamara I


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 3, Issue 6 | Pages 31 - 34
1 Dec 2014

The December 2014 Research Roundup360 looks at: demineralised bone matrix not as good as we thought?; trunk control following ACL reconstruction; subclinical thyroid dysfunction: not quite subclinical?; establishing musculoskeletal function in mucopolysaccharidosis; starting out: a first year in consultant practice under the spotlight; stroke and elective surgery; sepsis and clots; hip geometry and arthritis incidence; and theatre discipline and infection.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 96-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1578 - 1585
1 Dec 2014
Rankin KS Sprowson AP McNamara I Akiyama T Buchbinder R Costa ML Rasmussen S Nathan SS Kumta S Rangan A

Trauma and orthopaedics is the largest of the surgical specialties and yet attracts a disproportionately small fraction of available national and international funding for health research. With the burden of musculoskeletal disease increasing, high-quality research is required to improve the evidence base for orthopaedic practice. Using the current research landscape in the United Kingdom as an example, but also addressing the international perspective, we highlight the issues surrounding poor levels of research funding in trauma and orthopaedics and indicate avenues for improving the impact and success of surgical musculoskeletal research.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1578–85.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 94-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1170 - 1175
1 Sep 2012
Palan J Roberts V Bloch B Kulkarni A Bhowal B Dias J

The use of journal clubs and, more recently, case-based discussions in order to stimulate debate among orthopaedic surgeons lies at the heart of orthopaedic training and education. A virtual learning environment can be used as a platform to host virtual journal clubs and case-based discussions. This has many advantages in the current climate of constrained time and diminishing trainee and consultant participation in such activities. The virtual environment model opens up participation and improves access to journal clubs and case-based discussions, provides reusable educational content, establishes an electronic record of participation for individuals, makes use of multimedia material (including clinical imaging and photographs) for discussion, and finally, allows participants to link case-based discussions with relevant papers in the journal club.

The Leicester experience highlights the many advantages and some of the potential difficulties in setting up such a virtual system and provides useful guidance for those considering such a system in their own training programme. As a result of the virtual learning environment, trainee participation has increased and there is a trend for increased consultant input in the virtual journal club and case-based discussions.

It is likely that the use of virtual environments will expand to encompass newer technological approaches to personal learning and professional development.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 3, Issue 5 | Pages 169 - 174
1 May 2014
Rangan A Jefferson L Baker P Cook L

The aim of this study was to review the role of clinical trial networks in orthopaedic surgery. A total of two electronic databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) were searched from inception to September 2013 with no language restrictions. Articles related to randomised controlled trials (RCTs), research networks and orthopaedic research, were identified and reviewed. The usefulness of trainee-led research collaborations is reported and our knowledge of current clinical trial infrastructure further supplements the review. Searching yielded 818 titles and abstracts, of which 12 were suitable for this review. Results are summarised and presented narratively under the following headings: 1) identifying clinically relevant research questions; 2) education and training; 3) conduct of multicentre RCTs and 4) dissemination and adoption of trial results. This review confirms growing international awareness of the important role research networks play in supporting trials in orthopaedic surgery. Multidisciplinary collaboration and adequate investment in trial infrastructure are crucial for successful delivery of RCTs.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:169–74.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 3, Issue 3 | Pages 2 - 8
1 Jun 2014
Phillips JRA Waterson HB Searle DJ Mandalia VI Toms AD

This is the second of a series of reviews of registries. This review looks specifically at worldwide registry data that have been collected on knee arthroplasty, what we have learned from their reports, and what the limitations are as to what we currently know.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 2, Issue 4 | Pages 17 - 19
1 Aug 2013

The August 2013 Shoulder & Elbow Roundup360 looks at: the sternoclavicular joint revisited; surgical simulators: more than just a fancy idea?; arthroscopic tennis elbow release; costly clavicle stabilisation; a better treatment for tennis elbow?; shock news: surgeons and radiologists agree; overhead athletes and SLAP repair; and total shoulder arthroplasty more effective than hemiarthroplasty


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 92-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1332 - 1337
1 Oct 2010
Leung KS Tang N Cheung LWH Ng E

Fluoronavigation is an image-guided technology which uses intra-operative fluoroscopic images taken under a real-time tracking system and registration to guide surgical procedures. With the skeleton and the instrument registered, guidance under an optical tracking system is possible, allowing fixation of the fracture and insertion of an implant. This technology helps to minimise exposure to x-rays, providing multiplanar views for monitoring and accurate positioning of implants. It allows real-time interactive quantitative data for decision-making and expands the application of minimally invasive surgery. In orthopaedic trauma its use can be further enhanced by combining newer imaging technologies such as intra-operative three-dimensional fluoroscopy and optical image guidance, new advances in software for fracture reduction, and new tracking mechanisms using electromagnetic technology. The major obstacles for general and wider applications are the inability to track individual fracture fragments, no navigated real-time fracture reduction, and the lack of an objective assessment method for cost-effectiveness.

We believe that its application will go beyond the operating theatre and cover all aspects of patient management, from pre-operative planning to intra-operative guidance and postoperative rehabilitation.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 92-B, Issue 4 | Pages 477 - 479
1 Apr 2010
Banaszkiewicz PA

The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board wants either ‘run through’ or ‘uncoupled’ orthopaedic training to be adopted throughout the United Kingdom but it is not willing to let both continue together as is the current situation. This annotation explores the argument for and against ‘run through’ training.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 90-B, Issue 4 | Pages 494 - 499
1 Apr 2008
Howells NR Gill HS Carr AJ Price AJ Rees JL

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laboratory-based simulator training on the ability of surgical trainees to perform diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee.

A total of 20 junior orthopaedic trainees were randomised to receive either a fixed protocol of arthroscopic simulator training on a bench-top knee simulator or no additional training. Motion analysis was used to assess performance objectively. Each trainee then received traditional instruction and demonstrations of diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee in theatre before performing the procedure under the supervision of a blinded consultant trainer. Their performance was assessed using a procedure-based assessment from the Orthopaedic Competence Assessment Project and a five-point global rating assessment scale.

In theatre the simulator-trained group performed significantly better than the untrained group using the Orthopaedic Competence Assessment Project score (p = 0.0007) and assessment by the global rating scale (p = 0.0011), demonstrating the transfer of psychomotor skills from simulator training to arthroscopy in the operating theatre. This has implications for the planning of future training curricula.


Bone & Joint 360
Vol. 1, Issue 3 | Pages 34 - 34
1 Jun 2012
Redmond AD


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 92-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1195 - 1202
1 Sep 2010
Moran CJ Shannon FJ Barry FP O’Byrne JM O’Brien T Curtin W

Orthopaedic surgery is in an exciting transitional period as modern surgical interventions, implants and scientific developments are providing new therapeutic options. As advances in basic science and technology improve our understanding of the pathology and repair of musculoskeletal tissue, traditional operations may be replaced by newer, less invasive procedures which are more appropriately targeted at the underlying pathophysiology. However, evidence-based practice will remain a basic requirement of care. Orthopaedic surgeons can and should remain at the forefront of the development of novel therapeutic interventions and their application. Progression of the potential of bench research into an improved array of orthopaedic treatments in an effective yet safe manner will require the development of a subgroup of specialists with extended training in research to play an important role in bridging the gap between laboratory science and clinical practice. International regulations regarding the introduction of new biological treatments will place an additional burden on the mechanisms of this translational process, and orthopaedic surgeons who are trained in science, surgery and the regulatory environment will be essential. Training and supporting individuals with these skills requires special consideration and discussion by the orthopaedic community.

In this paper we review some traditional approaches to the integration of orthopaedic science and surgery, the therapeutic potential of current regenerative biomedical science for cartilage repair and ways in which we may develop surgeons with the skills required to translate scientific discovery into effective and properly assessed orthopaedic treatments.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 94-B, Issue 3 | Pages 297 - 301
1 Mar 2012
Haddad FS Konan S

An international faculty of orthopaedic surgeons presented their work on the current challenges in hip surgery at the London Hip Meeting which was attended by over 400 delegates. The topics covered included femoroacetabular impingement, thromboembolic phenomena associated with hip surgery, bearing surfaces (including metal-on-metal articulations), outcomes of hip replacement surgery and revision hip replacement. We present a concise report of the current opinions on hip surgery from this meeting with appropriate references to the current literature.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 93-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1165 - 1168
1 Sep 2011
Leung K Ngai W Tian W

There is no unified national training system for orthopaedic surgeons in China. With such rapid progress in many aspects of life in China, there is an imminent need for improvement in the training of orthopaedic specialists. Since 2003 the orthopaedic community in Hong Kong has been working in collaboration with their colleagues in mainland China to develop a training system for orthopaedic surgery. We adopted the system from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), setting up a trial centre in the Beijing Jishuitan hospital in 2006, with trainers and trainees attaining the standards set by RCSEd and the Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (HKCOS). This trial is ongoing, with the success of two trainees who passed the exit examination in 2010 and became the first Chinese orthopaedic surgeons with a joint fellowship of both the RCSEd and the HKCOS. Following this inaugural success, we are confident that China will develop a training system for orthopaedic surgeons to a consistently high international standard.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 93-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1145 - 1148
1 Sep 2011
Nie YX Guo J Knight DJ Porter DE


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 87-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1182 - 1186
1 Sep 2005
Sher JL Reed MR Calvert P Wallace WA Lamb A


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 93-B, Issue 1 | Pages 62 - 67
1 Jan 2011
Camp SJ Birch R

The integrity of the spinal accessory nerve is fundamental to thoracoscapular function and essential for scapulohumeral rhythm. This nerve is vulnerable along its superficial course. This study assessed the delay in diagnosis and referral for management of damage to this nerve, clarified its anatomical course and function, and documented the results of repair. From examination of our records, 111 patients with lesions of the spinal accessory nerve were treated between 1984 and 2007. In 89 patients (80.2%) the damage was iatropathic. Recognition and referral were seldom made by the surgeon responsible for the injury, leading to a marked delay in instituting treatment. Most referrals were made for painful loss of shoulder function. The clinical diagnosis is straightforward. There is a characteristic downward and lateral displacement of the scapula, with narrowing of the inferior scapulohumeral angle and loss of function, with pain commonly present. In all, 80 nerves were explored and 65 were repaired. The course of the spinal accessory nerve in relation to the sternocleidomastoid muscle was constant, with branches from the cervical plexus rarely conveying motor fibres. Damage to the nerve was predominantly posterior to this muscle.

Despite the delay, the results of repair were surprising, with early relief of pain, implying a neuropathic source, which preceded generally good recovery of muscle function.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 93-B, Issue 3 | Pages 393 - 398
1 Mar 2011
Findlay JM Keogh MJ Boulton C Forward DP Moran CG

We performed a retrospective study of a departmental database to assess the efficacy of a new model of orthopaedic care on the outcome of patients with a fracture of the proximal femur. All 1578 patients admitted to a university teaching hospital with a fracture of the proximal femur between December 2007 and December 2009 were included. The allocation of Foundation doctors years 1 and 2 was restructured from individual teams covering several wards to pairs covering individual wards. No alterations were made in the numbers of doctors, their hours, out-of-hours cover, or any other aspect of standard patient care. Outcome measures comprised 30-day mortality and cause, complications and length of stay. Mortality was reduced from 11.7% to 7.6% (p = 0.007, Cox’s regression analysis); adjusted odds ratio was 1.559 (95% confidence interval 1.128 to 2.156). Reductions were seen in Clostridium difficile colitis (p = 0.017), deep wound infection (p = 0.043) and gastrointestinal haemorrhage (p = 0.033). There were no differences in any patient risk factors (except the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cause of death and length of stay before and after intervention. The underlying mechanisms are unclear, but may include improved efficiency and medical contact time.

These findings may have implications for all specialties caring for patients on several wards, and we believe they justify a prospective trial to further assess this effect.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 91-B, Issue 8 | Pages 1123 - 1123
1 Aug 2009
Albert JS


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 94-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1604 - 1610
1 Dec 2012
Angadi DS Brown S Crawfurd EJP

The aim of this prospective randomised study was to compare the clinical and radiological results of a cemented all-polyethylene Ultima acetabular component with those of a cementless porous-coated acetabular component (PFC) following total hip replacement (THR). A total of 287 patients received either a polyethylene acetabular component (group A) or a cobalt–chromium porous-coated component (group B) with an identical cemented femoral component and 28 mm cobalt-chromium head, thus making it the largest study of its type. Patients were evaluated radiologically and clinically using the Harris hip score (HHS). Group A comprised 183 patients (73 male, 110 female) with a mean age of 71.3 years (55 to 89). Group B comprised 104 patients (48 male, 56 female) with a mean age of 69.8 years (56 to 89). A total of 16 patients (13 in Group A, three in Group B) did not have post-operative data for analysis. The mean follow-up in group A was 7.52 years (0.4 to 15.0) and in Group B 7.87 years (0.5 to 14.0).

At final follow-up the mean HHS was similar between groups A and B (74.5 (25 to 100) and 78.0 (37 to 100), respectively; p = 0.068). The total number of revisions for any cause was 28, 17 of which were in group A and 11 in group B. The ten-year survivorship was 86.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78.4 to 92.1) and 89.2% (95% CI 78.3 to 94.8) for groups A and B, respectively (log-rank p-value = 0.938). A total of 20 cemented and two cementless acetabular components had evidence of acetabular radiolucencies or acetabular component migration at last follow-up (p = 0.001).

These results indicate that patients with a cemented all-polyethylene and cementless porous-coated polyethylene lined acetabular component have similar long-term clinical outcomes.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 91-B, Issue 2 | Pages 151 - 156
1 Feb 2009
Gidwani S Zaidi SMR Bircher MD

Payments by the NHS Litigation Authority continue to rise each year, and reflect an increase in successful claims for negligence against NHS Trusts. Information about the reasons for which Trusts are sued in the field of trauma and orthopaedic surgery is scarce.

We analysed 130 consecutive cases of alleged clinical negligence in which the senior author had been requested to act as an expert witness between 2004 and 2006, and received information on the outcome of 97 concluded cases from the relevant solicitors. None of the 97 cases proceeded to a court hearing. Overall, 55% of cases were abandoned by the claimants’ solicitors, and the remaining 45% were settled out of court. The cases were settled for sums ranging from £4500 to £2.7 million, the median settlement being £45 000. The cases that were settled out of court were usually the result of delay in treatment or diagnosis, or because of substandard surgical technique.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 1, Issue 3 | Pages 36 - 41
1 Mar 2012
Franklin SL Jayadev C Poulsen R Hulley P Price A

Objectives

Surgical marking during tendon surgery is often used for technical and teaching purposes. This study investigates the effect of a gentian violet ink marker pen, a common surgical marker, on the viability of the tissue and cells of tendon.

Methods

In vitro cell and tissue methods were used to test the viability of human hamstring explants and the migrating tenocytes in the presence of the gentian violet ink.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 88-B, Issue 5 | Pages 698 - 698
1 May 2006
Salter RB


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 90-B, Issue 7 | Pages 958 - 965
1 Jul 2008
Leong JJH Leff DR Das A Aggarwal R Reilly P Atkinson HDE Emery RJ Darzi AW

The aim of this study was to validate the use of three models of fracture fixation in the assessment of technical skills. We recruited 21 subjects (six experts, seven intermediates, and eight novices) to perform three procedures: application of a dynamic compression plate on a cadaver porcine model, insertion of an unreamed tibial intramedullary nail, and application of a forearm external fixator, both on synthetic bone models. The primary outcome measures were the Objective Structural Assessment of technical skills global rating scale on video recordings of the procedures which were scored by two independent expert observers, and the hand movements of the surgeons which were analysed using the Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device.

The video scores were significantly different for the three groups in all three procedures (p < 0.05), with excellent inter-rater reliability (α = 0.88). The novice and intermediate groups specifically were significantly different in their performance with dynamic compression plate and intramedullary nails (p < 0.05). Movement analysis distinguished between the three groups in the dynamic compression plate model, but a ceiling effect was demonstrated in the intramedullary nail and external fixator procedures, where intermediates and experts performed to comparable standards (p > 0.6). A total of 85% (18 of 21) of the subjects found the dynamic compression model and 57% (12 of 21) found all the models acceptable tools of assessment.

This study has validated a low-cost, high-fidelity porcine dynamic compression plate model using video rating scores for skills assessment and movement analysis. It has also demonstrated that Synbone models for the application of and intramedullary nail and an external fixator are less sensitive and should be improved for further assessment of surgical skills in trauma. The availability of valid objective tools of assessment of surgical skills allows further studies into improving methods of training.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 87-B, Issue 1 | Pages 102 - 103
1 Jan 2005
Eshete M

A two-year retrospective survey in southern Ethiopia revealed that 49 amputations had been performed, 25 of which were for gangrene following tight splintage applied by traditional bone setters. The aim of this study was to determine if it was possible to reduce this incidence of gangrene by offering one-day instructional courses to bone setters. In ten separate one-day courses 112 tradition healers attended. In addition, two-day courses were given to local health assistants, who also received written instructions for the safe care of fractures. A two-year prospective study revealed a marked reduction in amputations, from 49 to 25, with only seven rather than 25 being required for gangrene.

We found that it is possible to educate traditional healers so that fewer gangrenous limbs require to be amputated.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 87-B, Issue 9 | Pages 1187 - 1191
1 Sep 2005
Pitts D Rowley DI Sher JL


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 87-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1391 - 1396
1 Oct 2005
Griffin DB Beaulé PE Matta JM

There remains uncertainty about the most effective surgical approach in the treatment of complex fractures of the acetabulum. We have reviewed the experience of a single surgeon using the extended iliofemoral approach, as described by Letournel.

A review of the database of such fractures identified 106 patients operated on using this approach with a minimum follow-up of two years. All data were collected prospectively. The fractures involved both columns in 64 (60%). Operation was undertaken in less than 21 days after injury in 71 patients (67%) and in 35 (33%) the procedure was carried out later than this. The reduction of the fracture was measured on plain radiographs taken after operation and defined as anatomical (0 to 1 mm of displacement); imperfect (2 to 3 mm) or poor (> 3 mm). The functional outcome was measured by the modified Merle d’Aubigné and Postel score. The mean follow-up was for 6.3 years (2 to 17).

All patients achieved union of the fractures. The reduction was graded as anatomical in 76 (72%) of the patients, imperfect in 23 (22%), and poor in six (6%). The mean Merle d’Aubigné and Postel score was 15 (5 to 18) with 68 patients (64%) showing good or excellent and 38 (36%) fair or poor results. Function correlated significantly with the accuracy of the reduction (p < 0.009). Significant heterotopic ossification developed in 32 patients (30%) and was associated with a worse mean Merle d’Aubigné and Postel score of 13.7.

The extended iliofemoral approach can be performed safely in selected complex acetabular fractures with an acceptable clinical outcome and rate of complications. Effective prophylaxis against heterotopic ossification should be strongly considered.