Background

Ankle fractures are extremely common but unfortunately, over 20% fail to obtain good to excellent recovery. For those requiring surgical fixation, usual-care post-surgery has included six-weeks cast immobilisation and non-weightbearing. Disuse atrophy and joint stiffness are detrimental sequelae of this management. While rehabilitation, starting at two-weeks post-surgery is viewed as safe, the literature contains methodological flaws and a lack of focus on early exercise, perpetuating the controversy over the effectiveness of early exercise interventions.

Aims

Frailty greatly increases the risk of adverse outcome of trauma in older people. Frailty detection tools appear to be unsuitable for use in traumatically injured older patients. We therefore aimed to develop a method for detecting frailty in older people sustaining trauma using routinely collected clinical data.

Introduction

Bone transport and distraction osteogenesis have been shown to be an effective treatment for significant bone loss in the tibia. However, traditional methods of transport are often associated with high patient morbidity due to the pain and scarring caused by the external frame components transporting the bone segment. Prolonged time in frame is also common as large sections of regenerate need significant time to consolidate before the external fixator can be removed. Cable transport has had a resurgence with the description of the balanced cable transport system. However, this introduced increasingly complex surgery along with the risk of cable weave fracture. This method also requires frame removal and intramedullary nailing, with a modified nail, to be performed in a single sitting, which raised concern regarding potential deep infection. An alternative to this method is our modified cable transport system with early intramedullary nail fixation. Internal cables reduce pain and scarring of the skin during transport and allow for well controlled transport segment alignment. The cable system is facilitated through an endosteal plate that reduces complications and removes the need for a single-stage frame removal and nailing procedure. Instead, the patients can undergo a pin-site holiday before nailing is performed using a standard tibial nail. Early intramedullary nailing once transport is complete reduces overall time in frame and allows full weight bearing as the regenerate consolidates. We present our case series of patients treated with this modified cable transport technique.

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on Gustilo-Anderson (GA) type IIIB open tibial shaft (AO-42) injuries to determine the consistency of reporting in the literature.

A search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed to identify relevant studies published from January 2000 to January 2021 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The study was registered using the PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews. Patient/injury demographics, management and outcome reporting were recorded.

There were 32 studies that met the inclusion criteria with a total of 1,947 patients (70.3% male, 29.7% female). There were 6 studies (18.8%) studies that reported on comorbidities and smoking, with mechanism of injury reported in 22 (68.8%). No studies reported on all operative criteria included, with only three studies (9.4%) reporting for time to antibiotics, 14 studies (43.8%) for time from injury to debridement and nine studies (28.1%) for time to definitive fixation. All studies reported on the rate of deep infection, with a high proportion documenting union rate (26/32, 81.3%). However, only two studies reported on mortality or on other post-operative complications (2/32, 6.3%). Only 12 studies (37.5%) provided any patient reported outcomes.

This study has demonstrated a deficiency and a lack of standardized variable and outcome reporting in the orthopaedic literature for Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB open tibial shaft fractures. We propose a future international collaborative Delphi process is needed to standardize.

Aims

The last decade has seen a marked increase in surgical rib fracture fixation (SRF). The evidence to support this comes largely from retrospective cohorts, and adjusting for the effect of other injuries sustained at the same time is challenging. This study aims to assess the impact of SRF after blunt chest trauma using national prospective registry data, while controlling for other comorbidities and injuries.

Introduction

The use of the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) in the management of tibial fractures and deformity correction is well established in the literature, however the majority of published papers are small in patient number. The aim of the project was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients with tibial fractures treated with a TSF.

Aims

Deep surgical site infection (SSI) remains an unsolved problem after hip fracture. Debridement, antibiotic, and implant retention (DAIR) has become a mainstream treatment in elective periprosthetic joint infection; however, evidence for DAIR after infected hip hemiarthroplaty is limited.

Aims

The primary aim was to assess the rate of postoperative COVID-19 following hip and knee arthroplasty performed in March 2020 in the UK. The secondary aims were to assess whether there were clinical factors associated with COVID-19 status, the mortality rate of patients with COVID-19, and the rate of potential COVID-19 in patients not presenting to healthcare services.

Aims

Infection after surgery increases treatment costs and is associated with increased mortality. Hip fracture patients have historically had high rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and surgical site infection (SSI). This paper reports the impact of routine MRSA screening and the “cleanyourhands” campaign on rates of MRSA SSI and patient outcome.

Background

Isolated fracture of the greater trochanter is an uncommon presentation of hip fracture. Traditional teaching has been to manage these injuries nonoperatively, but modern imaging techniques have made it possible to detect occult intertrochanteric extension of the fracture in up to 90% of cases.

This study aims to review the investigation and management of greater trochanter fractures in a single major trauma centre.

This article presents a unified clinical theory that links established facts about the physiology of bone and homeostasis, with those involved in the healing of fractures and the development of nonunion. The key to this theory is the concept that the tissue that forms in and around a fracture should be considered a specific functional entity. This ‘bone-healing unit’ produces a physiological response to its biological and mechanical environment, which leads to the normal healing of bone. This tissue responds to mechanical forces and functions according to Wolff’s law, Perren’s strain theory and Frost’s concept of the “mechanostat”. In response to the local mechanical environment, the bone-healing unit normally changes with time, producing different tissues that can tolerate various levels of strain. The normal result is the formation of bone that bridges the fracture – healing by callus. Nonunion occurs when the bone-healing unit fails either due to mechanical or biological problems or a combination of both. In clinical practice, the majority of nonunions are due to mechanical problems with instability, resulting in too much strain at the fracture site. In most nonunions, there is an intact bone-healing unit. We suggest that this maintains its biological potential to heal, but fails to function due to the mechanical conditions. The theory predicts the healing pattern of multifragmentary fractures and the observed morphological characteristics of different nonunions. It suggests that the majority of nonunions will heal if the correct mechanical environment is produced by surgery, without the need for biological adjuncts such as autologous bone graft.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:884–91.

While the demand for orthopaedic surgical expertise in the developing world is in critically short supply, short-term remedy from visiting doctors cannot solve this long-term healthcare problem. Capacity building by senior and training orthopaedic surgeons from established Western training programmes can offer a significant contribution to the orthopaedic patient in the developing world and the gains for those visiting are extremely valuable. We report on several visits by a UK orthopaedic team to a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan and discuss the operative and non-operative case mix and the benefits in terms of local capacity building and the unique experience of those visiting.

We evaluated the top 13 journals in trauma and orthopaedics by impact factor and looked at the longer-term effect regarding citations of their papers.

All 4951 papers published in these journals during 2007 and 2008 were reviewed and categorised by their type, subspecialty and super-specialty. All citations indexed through Google Scholar were reviewed to establish the rate of citation per paper at two, four and five years post-publication. The top five journals published a total of 1986 papers. Only three (0.15%) were on operative orthopaedic surgery and none were on trauma. Most (n = 1084, 54.5%) were about experimental basic science. Surgical papers had a lower rate of citation (2.18) at two years than basic science or clinical medical papers (4.68). However, by four years the rates were similar (26.57 for surgery, 30.35 for basic science/medical), which suggests that there is a considerable time lag before clinical surgical research has an impact.

We conclude that high impact journals do not address clinical research in surgery and when they do, there is a delay before such papers are cited. We suggest that a rate of citation at five years post-publication might be a more appropriate indicator of importance for papers in our specialty.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:414–19.

Pelvic ring fractures usually result from significant trauma, frequently requiring operative stabilisation. The use of an anterior internal fixator (INFIX) is a new technique. This temporary construct is quick and easy to apply using pre-existing spinal implants. No reports of functional outcomes or compartive studies with existing surgical techniques exist in indexed literature.

We present a prospective comparative case matched series of 21 patients treated with pelvic INFIX. 1:1 matching was achieved to a cohort of patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) based on fracture pattern. All patients with rotationally and/or vertically unstable pelvic ring fractures treated within our level 1 trauma centre were considered for inclusion. Patients were prospectively followed up with health outcome measures (SF-36, EQ-5D) and joint specific outcome scores (Oxford and Harris hip scores).

Symptomatic venous thromboembolism (SVTE) is a potentially significant complication which may occur following injury or surgery. Recent NICE guidelines, and clinical targets have all focused on decreasing in hospital death from acquired SVTE. Despite these guidelines there are no large studies investigating the risk factors for or incidence of SVTE in acute trauma admission.

Data from a prospective series of 9167 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of fractured neck of femur (NOF) at a single institution was used to construct a risk score for SVTE. Twenty three factors were screened with pairwise analysis. The cohort had an event rate of 1.4%. A multiple logistic regression model was used to construct a risk score and correct for confounding variables from nine significant factors identified by the pairwise analysis. Four factors; length of stay; chest infection; cardiac failure and transfusion were used to produce the final risk score. The score was statistically significant (p< 0.0001) and highly predictive (ROC analysis, AUC=0.76) of SVTE.

The score was separately validated in two cohorts from different Level 1 trauma centres. In one prospective consecutive cohort of 1000 NOF patients all components of the Nottingham SVTE score were found to be individually statistically significant (p< 0.0045). The score was further validated in a separate cohort of 3200 patients undergoing elective hip surgery. The score was found to be statistically significantly predictive of SVTE as a whole, and three of the four components were individually predictive in this patient cohort.

Balancing risks and benefits for thromboprophylaxis is key to reducing the risk of thromboembolic events, minimising bleeding and other complications associated with the therapy. Our study of 13,367 prospective patients is the largest of its type and we have successfully constructed and validated a scoring system that can be used to inform patient treatment decisions.

Aims

Bone is a common site of metastatic disease. Skeletal complications include disabling pain and pathological fractures. Palliative surgery for incurable metastatic bone lesions aims to preserve quality of life and function by providing pain relief and stable mobility with fixation or replacement.

Current literature has few treatment studies. We present a 5 year longitudinal cohort study of surgery for metastatic bone disease at our large teaching hospital reviewing our complication and mortality rates.

Patients presenting with a fractured neck of femur are a fragile group with multiple co-morbidities who are at risk of post-operative complications. As many as 52% of patients are reported to suffer a urinary tract infection post hip fracture surgery. There are little data surrounding the effects of post-operative urinary tract infections on mortality and deep prosthetic infection.

We prospectively investigated the impact of post-operative urinary tract infection (UTI) in 9168 patients admitted to our institution with a diagnosis of proximal femoral fracture over an eleven year period in a prospective population study. We examined the effects of post operative UTI on the incidence of deep infection, survivorship and length of stay.

Post-operative UTI occurred in 6.1% (n=561) and deep infection in 0.89% (n=82). Deep infection was significantly more common in patients complicated with a UTI (3.2% vs 0.74% p< 0.001) with a relative risk of 3.7:1. In 58% of patients the same organisms was cultured in the urine and hip samples. A postoperative UTI did not adversely effect 90 day survival, however was associated with an increased length of stay (ROC analysis AUC=0.79). Delays to surgery and age were not predictive of a post operative UTI.

Recognition of the risks posed by post operative UTI, the risk factors for development of infection and early treatment is essential to reduce the risks of increased subsequent periprosthetic infection.

Failed Hallux Valgus Surgery Aim

We aim to explore the reasons behind long term failure of hallux valgus surgery.

Purpose

The evolution of locked anatomical clavicular plating in combination with evidence to suggest that fixation of clavicle fractures yields better outcome to conservative treatments has led to an increasing trend towards operative management. There is no evidence however to compare early fixation with delayed reconstruction for symptomatic non- or mal-union. We hypothesize that early intervention yields better functional results to delayed fixation.

Introduction

Pre-operative urine screening is accepted practice during pre-operative assessment in elective orthopaedic practice. There is no evidence surrounding the benefits, effects or clinical outcomes of such a practice.

The most frequent cause of failure after total hip replacement in all reported arthroplasty registries is peri-prosthetic osteolysis. Osteolysis is an active biological process initiated in response to wear debris. The eventual response to this process is the activation of macrophages and loss of bone.

Activation of macrophages initiates a complex biological cascade resulting in the final common pathway of an increase in osteolytic activity. The biological initiators, mechanisms for and regulation of this process are beginning to be understood. This article explores current concepts in the causes of, and underlying biological mechanism resulting in peri-prosthetic osteolysis, reviewing the current basic science and clinical literature surrounding the topic.

Classification of osteoarthritis of the hip is fraught with difficulty Although different patterns of disease are recognised, there is no accepted classification or grading system. We aim to develop a classification system that reflects both the radiological changes, and the local disease process within the joint.

After ethical permission and consent tissue was taken from 20 patients undergoing primary hip replacement surgery. Intra-operative tissue samples were taken from each patient and the steady state gene expression of several cytokines (TNF-α, IL1-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, RANKL and OPG) measured quantitatively using Taqman RT-PCR. Relative expression was calculated for each sample using standard curves and normalised to 18S expression. The technique was consistent with high correlations for repeated measures from the same tissue type (κ=0.99) and from different tissue types in the same joint (κ=0.92). Intra-observer (κ=0.93) and inter-observer (κ=0.89) reliability for the technique were also found to be high.

Preoperative radiographs were scored by two independent observers and joint space narrowing, cysts, osteophytes and sclerosis noted in each of the DeLee-Charnley zones on the femoral and acetabular side. Based on these scores patients were then classified to either lytic or sclerotic type and subclassified into either hypertrophic or atrophic.

Subgroup analysis of cytokine expression by radiographic type was performed. There were statically significant differences in expression of macrophage stimulating cytokines (IL-1γ and OPG) in the lytic group as compared to the sclerotic group (p< 0.05). Conversely, the sclerotic group expressed significantly higher levels of IL-6. Individuals with atrophic subtype demonstrated significantly higher levels of IL-1β and IL-6, but lower levels of IFN-γ

Our results demonstrate greatly differing patterns of disease within osteoarthritic hip joints. These changes are reflected in radiographic appearances of osteoarthritis. Our proposed classification system can be used grade and classify osteoarthritis in a manner that reflects the disease process.

Introduction: The BOA recommends clinical and radiological arthroplasty follow up at one year then every five years. Increasing pressures placed on NHS Trusts with the implementation of the 18 week pathway and limitation on new:follow-up ratios has increased the use of patient reported outcome scores in arthroplasty follow-up. No single score is validated for this purpose, and there is no data surrounding their effectiveness as a screening tool for aseptic loosening.

Patients & Results: Patients undergoing their 10 year follow were included in the study and scored with the Harris (HHS), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Merle d’Aubigne (MDA), Visual Analogue (VAS) or Oxford Hip Score (OHS) according to the unit’s established follow-up protocol. All patients underwent clinical and radiographic review in addition to scoring. Patients subsequently listed for revision surgery were defined as failure. Statistical analysis included significance testing and ROC analysis to determine the predictive value of the individual scores.

Four hundred and twelve patients were included in the study. The mean Harris, VAS and HSS were significantly different between the failed and well fixed groups. However there was no statistically significant difference between the mean Oxford and MDA scores. ROC analysis demonstrated the Harris (0.97), VAS (0.98) and HSS (0.77) score to have good prediction of outcome.

Discussion: The scores in our study have been validated as outcome measures for joint arthroplasty, however they perform differently in the follow-up setting. There is evidence that a failing hip is reflected in a poorer VAS, Harris, Oxford and HSS scores however the VAS was more sensitive and specific than any hip score. Patient administered outcomes have a place in the follow up of joint replacement it must be remembered they are validated as outcome measures, not for follow up purposes.

The recent NICE guidelines on management of osteoarthritis outline weight loss as first line treatment in degenerative joint disease in the obese. There is little data surrounding the effects of obesity on the outcomes in spinal surgical interventions. Intervertebral discectomy is one treatment for prolapse of a lumbar vertebral disc. We aim to investigate the effect of obesity on outcomes for discectomy.

Demographic details including age, sex, weight and BMI were recording with a pre-operative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The fat thickness was measured at L5/S1 using calibrated MRI scans. Outcome measures included complications, length of surgery and change in ODI at 1 year following surgery. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of over 30. The units Serial patients undergoing discectomy were recruited into the study. Patients with bony decompression, instrumentation, revision surgery or multilevel disease were excluded.

Fifty patients with a single level uncomplicated disc prolapse were entered into the study. Sixteen patients had a BMI over 30 and so were obese, whilst 34 had a BMI of less than 30. The mean pre-operative ODI was 46.5 in the obese group and 52 in the normal group this difference was not significant (p> 0.05). The mean post operative ODI was statistically improved in the high BMI group at 28 (18.5 point improvement) and 25.2 (29.1 point improvement) in the normal group. The ODI improvement was significantly better in the low BMI group (p=0.036). There was no significant difference in operative time (p=0.24). Only a single patient had a complication (dural leak), so no valid comparison could be made.

The outcomes of spinal surgery in the obese are mixed.

We found no increase in the complication rate or intra-operative time associated with an increased BMI. However, the improvement in ODI was significantly better in the normal BMI group.

Introduction: The Birmingham Hip resurfacing was commercially introduced in 1997 and early originating centre series show good functional outcomes. Concerns have been raised over the longevity, functional outcomes and metal ion release from the implants. There are no series of medium term results from an independent district general hospital reported in the literature. We present a prospective series of 100 patients with mean 5 year follow up from a district general hospital. Each patient underwent yearly clinical, hip scoring, and regular radiographic evaluation.

Radiographic analysis was undertaken using Harris’, Hodgkinson’s and Amstutz’s criteria, evaluation of component position, neck narrowing and migration using diagnostic PACS workstations with standardised scaled images.

Results: Between June 2001 and Feb 2004 100 Birmingham Hip replacements were performed by two consultant surgeons (MP, AA). Mean follow up is 61.2 months (range 38–76 months). Harris hip scores (fig 1) improved from 46 pre-operatively to 90 post-operatively and no significant change over the next five years. There were no revisions in this period. Obese patients (BMI> 30) had a significantly (p< 0.03) lower post operative functional score as compared normal patients. No other factors were significant for outcome.

Component position was satisfactory in 93% of cases. Radiographic analysis showed no cups, or stems were definitely loose. Radiolucent lines were present in 8/100 acetabular and 3/100 femoral components, osteolytic lesions were seen in three acetabular components. Mean neck narrowing was 9mm. No patients show any radiographic evidence of avascular necrosis.

Conclusion This independent series shows the results of the Birmingham hip resurfacing are reproducible and comparable to those reported in the originating centre. The Birmingham hip resurfacing gives excellent clinical results, and there is no early evidence of radiographic failure. The high rate of neck narrowing gives us cause for concern and we would recommend regular radiographic follow up.

The rate and mode of early failure in 463 Birmingham hip resurfacings in a two-centre, multisurgeon series were examined. Of the 463 patients two have died and three were lost to follow-up. The mean radiological and clinical follow-up was for 43 months (6 to 90).

We have revised 13 resurfacings (2.8%) including seven for pain, three for fracture, two for dislocation and another for sepsis. Of these, nine had macroscopic and histological evidence of metallosis. The survival at five years was 95.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 94.1 to 96.8) for revision for all causes and 96.9% (95% CI 95.5 to 98.3) for metallosis.

The rate of metallosis related revision was 3.1% at five years. Risk factors for metallosis were female gender, a small femoral component, a high abduction angle and obesity. We do not advocate the use of the Birmingham Hip resurfacing procedure in patients with these risk factors.

We report the follow-up at 12 years of the use of the Elite Plus total hip replacement (THR). We have previously reported the results at a mean of 6.4 years. Of the 217 patients (234 THRs), 83 had died and nine had been lost to follow-up. The patients were reviewed radiologically and clinically using the Oxford hip score.

Of the 234 THRs, 19 (8.1%) had required a revision by the final follow-up in all but one for aseptic loosening. Survivorship analysis for revision showed a survival of 93.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 89.2 to 96.5) at ten years, and of 88.0% (95% CI 81.8 to 92.3) at 12 years. At the final follow-up survival analysis showed that 37% (95% CI 37.3 to 44.7) of the prostheses had either failed radiologically or had been revised. Patients with a radiologically loose femoral component had a significantly poorer Oxford hip score than those with a well-fixed component (p = 0.03). Radiological loosening at 6.4 years was predictive of failure at 12 years.

Medium-term radiographs and clinical scores should be included in the surveillance of THR to give an early indication of the performance of specific implants.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy encountered in clinical practice. Previous studies have suggested that the disease has a higher prevalence in the elderly(Stevens JC etal, Neurology 1988;) and that this sub group also tends to have a higher prevalence of severe CTS.(Seror P, Ann Hand Surg 1991; Bland etal, J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry). Surgical decompression of the median nerve is the treatment of choice with a reported success rate of between 53 and 97 %.(Katz et al, J Hand Surg 1998).

There has been some controversy regarding the effectiveness of surgery in elderly patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of carpal tunnel release in patients over the age of 75 years at the time of surgery. A literature search revealed few studies carried out in elderly patients–Weber etal-(mean age 75 years), Porter etal (mean age 59.8 years) and Leit et al (mean age 79 years). The average age of our patient group (80.4 years) is the highest reported in literature so far.

We posted questionnaires to all patients who were over 75 years at the time of their surgery. There were a total of 49 patients (65 hands) operated over the last 10 years who belonged to this age group. We used the Brigham And Women’s Hospital Questionnaire devised by Levine et al. (1993). In addition, we added some questions to assess patient satisfaction with the procedure. 65% of the patients were females. The average age was 80.4 years.

The completed questionnaires were used to calculate the Pre and Post operative scores. The mean pre operative score was found to be 3.18, which improved post operatively to 1.8. (Scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the best and 5 the worst). Importantly, although all symptoms improved, some such as pain and numbness showed a much greater improvement than grasping power. On the Visual Analogue Scale, pain scores improved from 6.4 to 2.3 post surgery. 82 % of patients had no scar tenderness, 12 % had mild to moderate tenderness, while 6 % reported severe scar tenderness. Overall 79% of patients showed improvement, 15 % felt that the surgery had made no difference, while 6% reported worsening of their symptoms after surgery.

Our study showed that 8 out of 10 elderly patients will improve after carpal tunnel release, though all symptoms are unlikely to improve. The symptom least likely to improve is weakness of the hand. The results of this study are important to counsel this sub group of elderly patients, so that they may take an informed decision on whether to proceed with the surgery.

Introduction: Infection remains the single most important complication in elective joint replacement. 1.1% of patients suffer early deep infection and 10–17% of patients superficial infection [1]. Antibiotic prophylaxis has been used extensively in elective orthopaedic practice, approximately halving the post-operative infection rate [2]. Cefuroxime is almost universally used in the UK. However there is an increased incidence of multiple drug resistant bacteria within the environment in addition cephalosporin use and resistance is widespread [3]. Many patients are treated pre-operatively for urinary tract infections with cephalosporins, and a further group of patients are already colonised with cephalosporin resistant staphylococcus. We have previously shown that 8.1% of patients fall into one or other of these categories.

Methods: We present a prospective series of 630 serial elective orthopaedic admissions from all orthopaedic disciplines. We have examined notes and reviewed lab records in order to determine outcomes. The centre for disease control [4] definition was used for suspected infections, and confirmed with wound swabs. 48 cases were confirmed infectious from a suspected 142 cases meeting this definition.

Results: We found a positive correlation between previous urine infection, MRSA status, revision surgery, and diabetes and wound infection. Nearly 35% of bacterium cultured were cephalosporin resistant, and 12% demonstrated multiple antibiotic resistance.

Discussion: It is good clinical practice to provide antibiotic prophylaxis in joint replacement, but the blind use of cephalosporins in all patients does not make sense because of increased incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. We present evidence based guidelines for the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in elective orthopaedic surgery and empirical antibiotic treatment in patients with wound infection before culture results are available.