Classifying trochlear dysplasia (TD) is useful to determine the treatment options for patients suffering from patellofemoral instability (PFI). There is no consensus on which classification system is more reliable and reproducible for this purpose to guide clinicians in order to treat PFI. There are also concerns about validity of the Dejour classification (DJC), which is the most widely used classification for TD, having only a fair reliability score.

The Oswestry-Bristol classification (OBC) is a recently proposed system of classification of TD and the authors report a fair-to-good interobserver agreement and good-to-excellent intra-observer agreement in the assessment of TD. The aim of this study was to compare the reliability and reproducibility of these two classifications.

6 assessors (4 consultants and 2 registrars) independently evaluated 100 magnetic resonance axial images of the patella-femoral joint for TD and classified them according to OBC and DJC. These assessments were again repeated by all raters after 4 weeks. The inter and intra-observer reliability scores were calculated using Cohen's kappa and Cronbach's alpha.

Both classifications showed good to excellent interobserver reliability with high alpha scores. The OBC classification showed a substantial intra-observer agreement (mean kappa 0.628)[p<0.005] whereas the DJC showed a moderate agreement (mean kappa 0.572) [p<0.005]. There was no significant difference in the kappa values when comparing the assessments by consultants to those by registrars, in either classification systems.

This large study from a non-founding institute shows both classification systems to be reliable for classifying TD based on magnetic resonance axial images of the patella-femoral joint, with the simple to use OBC having a higher intra-observer reliability score compared to the DJC.

We examined data from a large prospectively collected dataset which followed up patients after Exeter total hip replacement (THR) - the Exeter Primary Outcome Study. We studied 78 patients who had total hip replacement for osteoarthritis on a morphologically normal hip, and in whom the other hip was also morphologically normal for comparison. All selected patients had complete patient outcome data at 1 and 5 years, and x-rays at 1 year were available.

We measured accuracy of reconstruction on AP Pelvis radiographs. The parameters measured were difference in height of lesser trochanter from horizontal pelvic line (LLD); length from ASIS to greater trochanter (indicating abductor length, AL); length from symphysis to centre of femoral head (SFH); length from centre of head to axis of femur (offset). We examined clinical outcomes including gain of Oxford Hip Score (DOHS) at 1 and 5 years, absolute OHS at 1 and 5 years, and absolute SF-36 Physical Functioning and Role Physical scores at 1 and 5 years.

Examining the ratios of AL, SFH, Offset, Offset to SFH ratio and LLD between side of THR and unaffected side all showed marked variation. Thus the ratio of SFH varied from 0.85 to 1.11. For further analysis we divided the patients into 3 groups on the basis of variability of the ratio from 1; we examined whether the clinical scores above varied between these 3 groups. 1 way ANOVA demonstrated no significant difference for any of the clinical outcomes for any of the 5 grouped x-ray variables.

Accuracy of reconstruction has been shown to affect the risk of dislocation after THR. Our results indicate that clinical outcomes of total hip replacement appear resilient to some degree of surgical inaccuracy. Future trials of navigation should be designed to demonstrate not only improved accuracy but also improved clinical outcome.

Background

Isolated fractures of the distal fourth or fifth metacarpal bones, known as boxer's fractures (BF), are the most common type of metacarpal fracture. Boxer's fractures received their name from one of their most common causes — punching an object with a closed fist. This injury has been described as “a tolerable fracture in an intolerable patient” (1) It occurs commonly during fistfights or from punching a hard object such as a wall. Greer and William demonstrated that it is usually an intentional injury and these patients were at increased risk for recurrent injury (2). Further work suggested that patients with such injuries had higher features of antisocial, self-defeating personality disorders, self harm and impulsive behaviour, compared with control groups (3). It has been suggested that all patients presenting with such an injury should have psychiatric assessment.

The majority of studies in the literature have concentrated on adults and little has been reported on children and adolescents who present with such fractures.

This study aims to assess aggression scores in young patients discharged with metacarpal fractures due to punching using a validated questionnaire and this abstract presents the interim analysis.