The primary goals of successful rTSA (Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty) are pain relief, improved shoulder motion and function with the restoration of patient independence. These goals can be achieved by optimal prosthesis design and surgical technique.

Historically there have been two predominant reverse shoulder design philosophies: the traditional valgus 155-degree neck-shaft angle with a medialised center of rotation introduced by Dr. Grammont, and the more recent varus 135-degree neck-shaft angle with a lateralised center of rotation, developed by Dr. Frankle. The latter design has reported lower incidences of scapular notching, coupled with improved adduction and external rotation. Over time, an understanding of the factors which resulted in clinical complications and those that contributed to the clinical success of both these design philosophies has been analyzed and widely publicised. With the currently available reverse prostheses the surgeon is required to be committed to one design philosophy or the other. This commitment to one singular design may hinder surgeons from the ability to individualise each case regardless of patient anatomy, rotator cuff condition, arthritic state and post-operative expectation.

Recently, a system has been launched which offers both design philosophies in one system, providing unsurpassed intra-operative flexibility. This allows the surgeon to adapt to each individual case and choose either design philosophy based on patient condition and anatomy, thus optimizing patient outcome.

The treatment of proximal humeral fractures has historically included Hemi Arthroplasty (HA) or Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA). However, rTSA has recently become the surgery of choice for many fracture treatments based on more reproducible results. Certain implant characteristics are gaining favor in the treatment of proximal humerus fractures namely:

Press fit humeral stems - which avoid the risks of cement in-between the tuberosities which has been reported to compromise healing.

Introduction

Injectable collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is a minimally invasive non-surgical therapy with efficacy in correcting Dupuytren's contracture (DC). In the concurrently run JOINT I and JOINT II studies, designed to follow clinical practice, we evaluated the efficacy of ?5 CCH injections in patients with DC.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to analyse the early experience of the technique of transitory percutaneous pinning to manage three and four part proximal humeral fractures. Methods: An independent review of 66 consecutive patients with proximal humeral fractures treated in our unit over a three-year period was carried out. The patients underwent closed reduction under image intensiþer guidance with percutaneous pinning using an average of 3.5 wires (range 3–4). A standard three dose prophylactic antibiotic regime was used. A protective collar and cuff was the used for 4 weeks, and a physiotherapy program of pendular movements going on to assisted active exercises started after this. The wires were typically removed in an outpatient setting at 4 to 6 weeks. Results: The postoperative radiographs were deemed satisfactory with good overall alignment by two external observers in all cases. Our þndings were however remarkable for a very high early complication rate. This included pin migration (50%), stiffness (41%), pain (33%), infection (25%), nonunion (8%) and radial nerve palsy (8%). The complication rate increased dramatically in those over the age of 50 or those with osteopenia. Conclusions: The technique of transitory percutaneous humeral pinning is technically demanding. Our early experience would suggest high rates of early complications and readmissions. This technique should be applied with caution in older patients with osteopenia.

We measured bone mineral density (BMD) in the proximal femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 20 patients after cemented total hip arthroplasty over a period of one year. We found a statistically significant reduction in periprosthetic BMD after six months on the medial side and on the lateral side adjacent to the mid and distal thirds of the prosthesis. At one year after operation there was a mean 6.7% reduction in BMD in the region of the calcar and a mean 5.3% increase in BMD in the femoral shaft distal to the tip of the implant. These changes reflect a pattern of reduced stress in the proximal femur and increased stress around the tip of the prosthesis. They support current concepts of bone remodelling in the proximal femur in response to prosthetic implantation.

We reviewed 12 patients six years after they had undergone total hip replacement with a cementless prosthesis, the Ribbed Hip System (Waldemar Link GmbH & Co, Hamburg, Germany). Aseptic loosening of one or both components had necessitated revision surgery in seven patients, in five within two years of operation. In view of our experience we question the wisdom of allowing the uncontrolled use of new prosthesis without postoperative surveillance.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is increasingly used to measure changes in bone mineral density (BMD) around femoral prostheses after total hip arthroplasty. We have studied the factors which affect the accuracy of these measurements. The coefficient of variation was < 2% using a hydroxyapatite phantom, 2.7% in an anthropomorphic phantom specimen, and < 1% in repeated measurements on implanted cadaver femora. The precision did not vary with different implant materials or designs. In patients we found a mean precision error of 2.7% to 3.4%. The most significant factor affecting reproducibility was rotation of the femur. We conclude that DEXA is a precise method of measurement for small changes in BMD around femoral implants, but that correct and careful positioning of patients is essential to obtain reliable results.

The prevalence of HIV infection in East Africa has increased rapidly in recent years. We made a prospective study of the incidence of HIV-seropositivity in patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures in a large district hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. One of our aims was to determine whether a clinically-based screening programme, derived from the Centre for Disease Control classification of HIV infection, could identify high-risk individuals before surgery. During a 3-month period, 76 patients were tested, and 12 were HIV-positive (16%). Only two of these patients (17%) had clinical features associated with HIV infection; ten (83%) were entirely asymptomatic. Our results indicate that preoperative clinical screening is unlikely to be successful in identifying seropositive patients before routine surgery.

We studied the pedigrees of 17 index patients with osteosarcoma, recording malignant disease and cause of death for first- and second-degree relatives. There were seven cancers and five cancer deaths per 2151.5 person-years in first-degree relatives of osteosarcoma patients under the age of 50 years, a significantly greater incidence than in an age- and sex-matched population group (p < 0.001). This excess of malignancy was largely due to two families which fulfilled the criteria for the Li-Fraumeni cancer family syndrome. Both of these families were shown to have the genetic alterations in the p53 gene which have been implicated in this syndrome. Our study suggests that orthopaedic surgeons seeing new cases of osteosarcoma should arrange screening for familial malignancy.

1. Four cases of abnormal arrangement of the lower lumbar and sacral nerves within the spinal canal are reported.

2. In all four cases the presentation was like that associated with acute lumbar disc protrusion, though in only two cases was a protrusion found at operation.

3. The significance of the findings is discussed and the findings are compared with those in the eighteen other recorded cases.

Twenty-one post-irradiation fractures of the femoral neck are reported in seventeen patients who had been treated by radiotherapy for carcinoma of the uterus.

The clinical and radiological appearances are described and the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this type of fracture are discussed.

Histological material has been studied in three cases.

It is concluded:

1. That there is a characteristic clinical picture in which premonitory pain is of paramount significance.

2. That when the diagnosis is considered, the likelihood of irradiation damage should take precedence over the remote possibility of metastatic invasion.

3. That the disability varies, but in general the prognosis is favourable.

4. That there is no specific line of treatment applicable to these fractures.

5. That avascularity is not the underlying cause of this lesion.

1. In patients who develop de Quervain's disease variations from the standard pattern of tendons at the wrist are the rule rather than the exception.

2. Conservative treatment is of no value.

3. Adequate exposure, allowing full recognition of all anatomical structures in the region, is advisable, but branches of the radial nerve must be treated with respect.

4. The extensor pollicis brevis tendon is normally small and may pass through a separate osteofibrous canal.

5. Though incision only of the stenosing tendon sheaths may be sufficient, thorough excision is more certain and does no harm.