Objectives

Despite the fact that research fraud and misconduct are under scrutiny in the field of orthopaedic research, little systematic work has been done to uncover and characterise the underlying reasons for academic retractions in this field. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of retractions and identify the reasons for retracted publications in the orthopaedic literature.

Critics of Unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) highlight poor survivorship in national joint registries and argue that revision to Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is technically difficult with inferior function and survivorship compared to primary TKR.

We prospectively reviewed outcomes of UKRs in our institution undergoing early revision to a TKR, comparing conventional revisions to those performed using computer navigation. 20 cases were identified, 7 conventional and 13 navigated. 13 were male and 7 female, mean age at primary UKR was 63.6 years (range: 47–81).

Mean follow up time after revision was 5.2 years (2–9.5). Mean surgical time was 152 mins in conventional revisions and 163 mins for navigated. 43% of conventional cases required revision stems or augments, compared to 15% of conventional cases. Mean Oxford Knee Scores for revised knees were 32.8 in the conventional group and 34.64 in the navigated group, compared to 30.02 in the national joint registry. This compares to a mean Oxford score of 37.16 for primary TKRs in the registry. One of the conventional revisions required a further revision of the tibial component for loosening. This equates to a 95% suvivorship at mean 5 year follow up, or 1.10 revisions per 100 component years. Joint registry data had 1.97 revisions per 100 component years for UKR to TKR revisions, and 0.48 for primary TKRs.

Our results are significantly improved compared to other published series of UKR revisions to TKRs. Only one other series has reported outcomes of these revisions using navigation. Despite small numbers, our results suggest that navigation makes revisions of UKRs more straightforward with similar surgical times. Fewer revision components were required with navigation and functional scores were marginally improved.

Aim: To compare the outcome of primary ACL reconstruction in patients who had either an autograft or allograft ACL procedure for symptomatic instability.

Methods: 21 patients reviewed and assessed between 2 and 8 years post ACL reconstruction using patient centred scoring methods.

Results: 21 patients underwent isolated primary ACL reconstruction. 14 patients underwent reconstruction with autologous patellar tendon “bone-tendon-bone” ipsilateral graft (mean time post op 3.55 years) and 7 had “bone-tendon-bone” allografts (mean time post op 2.13 years). Both operations were performed through an open approach. Previously validated Knee Outcome Survey of the Activities of Daily Living Scale questionnaires were completed for all patients and also a single score for overall satisfaction with the outcome.

Overall levels of patient satisfaction and function were good. Testing the data with a one-sample t-test showed that donor graft patients showed higher levels of satisfaction, higher knee scores and less pain than autologous graft patients (p< 0.01).

These data suggest that although autologous grafts are more commonly performed, there is an improved outcome in the group of patients following donor grafting of the ACL.

Aims: High evacuation pressure is known to increase drained blood loss following uncemented total knee replacements (TKRs). However, the effect of different evacuation pressures on drained loss or total blood loss in cemented TKRñs is unknown. We set out to investigate this effect. Methods: One hundred patients undergoing cemented TKRñs were randomised to receive high or low-pressure suction drains after surgery. The following were observed:-

The volume of blood evacuated from the knee joint,

The calculated total blood loss,

Time to discharge, range of movement and incidence of wound problems.

Results: Greater drainage volumes were seen with the higher evacuation pressures. However, total blood loss from the circulating volume was not statistically different between the two groups. No difference was seen in morbidity or clinical outcome. Drained volumes were substantially less than published values for uncemented TKRs. Conclusions: For a given drop in total blood volume, the high-pressure drains were more efþcient in evacuating haemarthrosis. However, the lower pressures drains demonstrated no increase in morbidity or worsened clinical outcome. The relevance of these þndings in the context of autologous salvage drainage systems, which operate at similar low-pressures to avoid haemolysis, is presented.

Aim: A ten-year review of uncemented hip arthroplasty using the Spotorno (CLS) stem, Morscher (Mathys) cup and a ceramic head in patients under the age of 60. Method: 113 hips implanted in 104 patients (mean age 50.5: range 19–60) between 1987 and 1995. Mean follow-up: 9.7 years. A postal questionnaire, based on the modiþed Harris Hip Score was followed by clinical and radiographic examination. Results: 3 patients had died and 18 (17%) could not be traced. Complications: sepsis 2%; aseptic loosening 5%; gross polyethylene wear 1%; fractured ceramic head 1%; periprosthetic fracture 1%. Pain was ñabsentñ or ñmildñ in 90%,and ñmoderateñ in 10%. 59.7% had a modiþed Harris Hip Score above 90, 35.8% between 70 and 90, and 4.5% less than 70 (mean 89.4%). According to Enghñs criteria, femoral stems had Ôingrowth conþrmedñ in 94%, suspected in 5% and þbrous encapsulation in 1%. None was predicted as unstable. Osteolysis was absent around 65.8% of stems, conþned to the neck in 14.8%, present proximally in 17.1% and distally in 2.3%. According to ARA criteria, acetabular þxation was Ôexcellentñ in 72.1%, Ôfairñ in 12.8% and Ôpoorñ in Osteolysis around the cup was Ôabsentñ or in Ôminimal in 91.8%, Ômoderateñ in 3.5% and Ôsevereñ in 4.7% Conclusions: We observed an association between acetabular polyethylene wear rates and radiographic evidence of osteolysis, which was greater around the rough-blasted stem than the hydroxyapatite-coated cup. Where osteolysis is present, the linear wear rate is consistently greater than 0.1mm/year, which may seem high but is comparable to other currently-used cement-less combinations.

We report a case of benign giant cell tumour which over a 20-year period has given rise to pulmonary and bony metastases. The indolent nature of these metastases is remarkable, with considerable implications for the long-term management of such cases.

1. Eight cases of monarticular brucellar arthritis in children are described. They have been followed up from between one and six years and all are now fully active and clinically normal.

2. The history was usually short, with limp, swelling of the joint and pain as the presenting symptoms. Constitutional disturbance was slight in all cases.

3. Diagnosis was confirmed by high concurrent serum agglutinin titres which were not found in control children of the same age from the same areas. Mercaptoethanol resistant antibody (IgG) and complement fixing antibodies were also demonstrated in the sera of four cases. One child had a positive blood culture.

4. The condition responded rapidly to rest and splintage and, to date, recovery seems to have been complete.