Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from The Bone & Joint Journal
Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings
View my account settings
Stable fractures of the ankle can be safely treated
non-operatively. It is also gradually being recognised that the integrity
of the ‘medial column’ is essential for the stability of the fracture.
It is generally thought that bi- and tri-malleolar fractures are
unstable, as are pronation external rotation injuries resulting
in an isolated high fibular fracture (Weber type-C), where the deltoid
ligament is damaged or the medial malleolus fractured. However,
how best to identify unstable, isolated, trans-syndesmotic Weber
type-B supination external rotation (SER) fractures of the lateral
malleolus remains controversial. We provide a rationale as to how to classify SER distal fibular
fractures using weight-bearing radiographs, and how this can help
guide the management of these common injuries. Cite this article:
The United States and Canada are in the midst
of an epidemic of the use, misuse and overdose of opioids, and deaths
related to overdose. This is the direct result of overstatement
of the benefits and understatement of the risks of using opioids
by advocates and pharmaceutical companies. Massive amounts of prescription
opioids entered the community and were often diverted and misused.
Most other parts of the world achieve comparable pain relief using
fewer opioids. The misconceptions about opioids that created this epidemic are
finding their way around the world. There is particular evidence
of the increased prescription of strong opioids in Europe. Opioids are addictive and dangerous. Evidence is mounting that
the best pain relief is obtained through resilience. Opioids are
often prescribed when treatments to increase resilience would be
more effective. Cite this article:
A contact patch to rim (CPR) distance of <
10 mm has been
associated with edge-loading and excessive wear. However, not all
arthroplasties with a low CPR distance show problems with wear.
Therefore, CPR distance may not be the only variable affecting the
post-operative metal ion concentrations. We used multiple logistic regression to determine what variables
differed between the patients who had high and low cobalt (CoS)
and chromium (CrS) serum ion concentrations within a cohort of patients
with low (<
10 mm) CPR distances. A total of 56 patients treated
with unilateral hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) had CoS and CrS
ion studies performed more than one year after surgery. The mean
age of the patients at the time of surgery was 51.7 years (29 to
70), with 38 women (68%) and 18 men (32%).Aims
Patients and Methods
There is no consensus about the best method of achieving equal
leg lengths at total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with Crowe
type-IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). We reviewed our
experience of a consecutive series of patients who underwent THA
for this indication. We retrospectively reviewed 78 patients (86 THAs) with Crowe
type-IV DDH, including 64 women and 14 men, with a minimum follow-up
of two years. The mean age at the time of surgery was 52.2 years
(34 to 82). We subdivided Crowe type-IV DDH into two major types
according to the number of dislocated hips, and further categorised
them into three groups according to the occurrence of pelvic obliquity
or spinal curvature. Leg length discrepancy (LLD) and functional
scores were analysed.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of aseptic
loosening after the use of a cemented acetabular component and a
Trabecular Metal (TM) acetabular component (Zimmer Inc., Warsaw,
Indiana) at acetabular revision with bone impaction grafting. A total of 42 patients were included in the study. Patients were
randomised to receive an all- polyethylene cemented acetabular component
(n = 19) or a TM component (n = 23). Radiostereometric analysis
and conventional radiographic examinations were performed regularly
up to two years post-operatively or until further revision.Aims
Patients and Methods
We aimed to investigate factors related to the technique of medial
opening wedge high tibial osteotomy which might predispose to the
development of a lateral hinge fracture. A total of 71 patients with 82 osteotomies were included in the
study. Their mean age was 62.9 years (37 to 80). The classification
of the type of osteotomy was based on whether it extended beyond
the fibular head. The level of the osteotomy was classified according
to the height of its endpoint.Aims
Patients and Methods
The morphometry of the distal femur was largely studied to improve
bone-implant fit in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but little is
known about the asymmetry of the posterior condyles. This study
aimed to investigate the dimensions of the posterior condyles and
the influence of externally rotating the femoral component on potential prosthetic
overhang or under-coverage. We analysed the shape of 110 arthritic knees at the time of primary
TKA using pre-operative CT scans. The height and width of each condyle
were measured at the posterior femoral cut in neutral position,
and in 3º and 5º of external rotation, using both central and medial
referencing systems. We compared the morphological characteristics
with those of 14 TKA models.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a femoral
nerve block and a periarticular infiltration in the management of
early post-operative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A pragmatic, single centre, two arm parallel group, patient blinded,
randomised controlled trial was undertaken. All patients due for
TKA were eligible. Exclusion criteria included contraindications
to the medications involved in the study and patients with a neurological
abnormality of the lower limb. Patients received either a femoral
nerve block with 75 mg of 0.25% levobupivacaine hydrochloride around
the nerve, or periarticular infiltration with 150 mg of 0.25% levobupivacaine
hydrochloride, 10 mg morphine sulphate, 30 mg ketorolac trometamol
and 0.25 mg of adrenaline all diluted with 0.9% saline to make a
volume of 150 ml.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of revision
total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with and without proximalisation of
the tibial tubercle in patients with a failed primary TKA who have
pseudo patella baja. All revision TKAs, performed between January 2008 and November
2013 at a tertiary referral University Orthopaedic Department were
retrospectively reviewed. Pseudo patella baja was defined using
the modified Insall-Salvati and the Blackburne-Peel ratios. A proximalisation
of the tibial tubercle was performed in 13 patients with pseudo
patella baja who were matched with a control group of 13 patients
for gender, age, height, weight, body mass index, length of surgery
and Blackburne-Peel ratio. Outcome was assessed two years post-operatively
using the Knee Society Score (KSS).Aims
Patients and Methods
Infection following total hip or knee arthroplasty is a serious
complication. We noted an increase in post-operative infection in
cases carried out in temporary operating theatres. We therefore
compared those cases performed in standard and temporary operating
theatres and examined the deep periprosthetic infection rates. A total of 1223 primary hip and knee arthroplasties were performed
between August 2012 and June 2013. A total of 539 (44%) were performed
in temporary theatres. The two groups were matched for age, gender,
body mass index and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade.Aims
Patients and methods
Periprosthetic fracture is a significant complication of total
hip and knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to describe the survival
of patients sustaining periprosthetic femoral fractures and compare
this with that of the general population, as well as to identify
the factors that influence survival. A total of 151 patients (women: men 116:35, mean age 74.6 years,
standard deviation 11.5) that sustained a periprosthetic fracture
between January 2005 and October 2012 were retrospectively analysed.
Epidemiological data, comorbidities, type of surgical management,
type of implant, and mortality data were studied.Aims
Patients and Methods
Restoring the pre-morbid anatomy of the proximal humerus is a
goal of anatomical shoulder arthroplasty, but reliance is placed
on the surgeon’s experience and on anatomical estimations. The purpose
of this study was to present a novel method, ‘Statistical Shape
Modelling’, which accurately predicts the pre-morbid proximal humeral anatomy
and calculates the 3D geometric parameters needed to restore normal
anatomy in patients with severe degenerative osteoarthritis or a
fracture of the proximal humerus. From a database of 57 humeral CT scans 3D humeral reconstructions
were manually created. The reconstructions were used to construct
a statistical shape model (SSM), which was then tested on a second
set of 52 scans. For each humerus in the second set, 3D reconstructions
of four diaphyseal segments of varying lengths were created. These
reconstructions were chosen to mimic severe osteoarthritis, a fracture
of the surgical neck of the humerus and a proximal humeral fracture
with diaphyseal extension. The SSM was then applied to the diaphyseal
segments to see how well it predicted proximal morphology, using
the actual proximal humeral morphology for comparison.Aims
Materials and Methods
The aim of the present study was to compare the 30- and 90-day
re-admission rates and complication rates of outpatient and inpatient
total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The United States Medicare Standard Analytical Files database
was questioned to identify patients who had undergone outpatient
or inpatient TSA between 2005 and 2012. Patient characteristics
were compared between the two groups using chi-squared analysis. Multivariate
logistic regression analysis was used to control for differences
in baseline patient characteristics and to compare the two groups
in terms of post-operative complications within 90 days and re-admission
within 30 days and 90 days.Aims
Patients and Methods
Promising medium-term results from total shoulder arthroplasty
(TSA) have been reported for the treatment of primary osteoarthritis
in young and middle-aged patients. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the long-term functional and radiological outcome of TSA
in the middle-aged patient. The data of all patients from the previous medium-term study
were available. At a mean follow-up of 13 years (8 to 17), we reviewed
21 patients (12 men, nine women, 21 shoulders) with a mean age of
55 years (37 to 60). The Constant-Murley score (CS) with its subgroups
and subjective satisfaction were measured. Radiological signs of implant
loosening were analysed.Aims
Patients and Methods
Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF)
has been well validated in overweight and obese patients who are
consequently subject to a higher radiation exposure. This prospective
multicentre study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a novel lumbar
localisation system for MITLIF in overweight patients. The initial study group consisted of 175 patients. After excluding
49 patients for various reasons, 126 patients were divided into
two groups. Those in Group A were treated using the localisation
system while those in Group B were treated by conventional means.
The primary outcomes were the effective radiation dosage to the
surgeon and the exposure time.Aims
Patients and Methods
Fractures of the distal femur can be challenging to manage and
are on the increase in the elderly osteoporotic population. Management
with casting or bracing can unacceptably limit a patient’s ability
to bear weight, but historically, operative fixation has been associated
with a high rate of re-operation. In this study, we describe the outcomes
of fixation using modern implants within a strategy of early return
to function. All patients treated at our centre with lateral distal femoral
locking plates (LDFLP) between 2009 and 2014 were identified. Fracture
classification and operative information including weight-bearing
status, rates of union, re-operation, failure of implants and mortality
rate, were recorded.Aims
Patients and Methods
Hip hemiarthroplasty is a standard treatment for intracapsular
proximal femoral fractures in the frail elderly. In this study we
have explored the implications of early return to theatre, within
30 days, on patient outcome following hip hemiarthroplasty. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of all hip hemiarthroplasties
performed in our unit between January 2010 and January 2015. Demographic
details, medical backround, details of the primary procedure, complications,
subsequent procedures requiring return to theatre, re-admissions,
discharge destination and death were collected.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this prospective randomised controlled trial was to
compare non-operative and operative management for acute isolated
displaced fractures of the olecranon in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Patients were randomised to either non-operative management or
operative management with either tension-band wiring or fixation
with a plate. They were reviewed at six weeks, three and six months
and one year after the injury. The primary outcome measure was the
Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score at one year.Aims
Patients and Methods
Intercalary allografts following resection of a primary diaphyseal
tumour have high rates of complications and failures. At our institution
intercalary allografts are augmented with intramedullary cement
and fixed using compression plating. Our aim was to evaluate their
long-term outcomes. A total of 46 patients underwent reconstruction with an intercalary
allograft between 1989 and 2014. The patients had a mean age of
32.8 years (14 to 77). The most common diagnoses were osteosarcoma
(n = 16) and chondrosarcoma (n = 9). The location of the tumours
was in the femur in 21, the tibia in 16 and the humerus in nine. Function
was assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scoring
system and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS). The survival
of the graft and the overall survival were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of the study was to compare measures of the quality of
life (QOL) after resection of a chordoma of the mobile spine with
the national averages in the United States and to assess which factors
influenced the QOL, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and coping
with pain post-operatively in these patients. A total of 48 consecutive patients who underwent resection of
a primary or recurrent chordoma of the mobile spine between 2000
and 2015 were included. A total of 34 patients completed a survey
at least 12 months post-operatively. The primary outcome was the
EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were
the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
anxiety, depression and pain interference questionnaires. Data which
were recorded included the indication for surgery, the region of
the tumour, the number of levels resected, the status of the surgical
margins, re-operations, complications, neurological deficit, length
of stay in hospital and rate of re-admission.Aims
Patients and Methods
To assess the long-term effect of distal trochanteric transfer
(DTT) on the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with
Legg-Calvé-Perthes’ disease (LCPD) following a varus derotational
osteotomy (VDRO). For this single centre cross-sectional retrospective study we
analysed the data of 22 patients (24 hips) with LCPD who had greater
trochanteric overgrowth (GTO), following a VDRO performed in our
institution between 1959 and 1983. GTO was defined as an articular
trochanteric distance (ATD) of <
5 mm. We compared the radiographic
and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent DTT for GTO (ten
patients, ten hips) with those who did not (12 patients, 14 hips).
Age at presentation was 6.9 years (4 to 10) and 8.0 years (3.2 to
12) respectively. Symptoms associated with the hip and general quality
of life were assessed using the Harris hip score (HHS) and the Short Form
(SF)-36 questionnaires.Aims
Patients and Methods
