To determine whether neurophysiological electrical pedicle testing (EPT) is a useful aid in the detection of malpostioned pedicle screw tracts

EPT data from 246 screws in 32 spinal operations on 32 patients over a 5 year period (2009–2014) were recorded and analysed. In addition to physical palpation, a ball-tipped electrode delivered stimuli and the output was recorded by evoked electromyogram (EMG). When breach threshold values were recorded, the surgeon rechecked the tract for breaches and responded appropriately. In addition, standard motor evoked potential (MEP) and sensory evoked potential(SEP) spinal cord monitoring was performed.

There were 24(9.8%) pedicle breaches by tract testing and 8(3.3%) by screw testing. In 11 instances in 7 patients where the tract testing showed a breach, the tract was redirected and subsequent screw testing showed adequate integrity of the pedicle. The total time for tract and screw testing was 25 seconds.

There were no associated changes in MEP or SEP monitoring with any of the recorded pedicle breaches and none of the patients had any post-operative neurological deficit.

EPT for the pedicle screw and tract is a safe, simple, practical and reliable technique which improves the accuracy of screw placement. Further studies would be required to confirm (and possibly revise) the threshold levels and to demonstrate whether EPT reduces the risk of misplaced screws or post-operative neurological deficit.

Aim: To determine whether operator’s experience and time of operation (MUA) affects the outcome of fractures in paediatric age group as measured by re-MUA rate.

Method: Retrospective analysis of 918 children with fractures requiring MUA over a period of eight years was carried out.

Results: Re-MUA rate for those 910 children was 9.8%(90). There was a significant difference in these fractures requiring re-MUA depending upon the operator’s experience and time. Amongst all (90) who required re-MUA 7(7.7%) had index surgery by consultants and 83(93.3%) had MUA by trainee surgeons. 23(17.4%) patients were operated between 9 to 1700 hours and rest of them had MUA after 1700 hours (82.6%). At repeat procedure 4(4.4%) required some sort of fixation. (K wiring or ORIF)

Conclusion: The current overall re-MUA rate is higher than data published from the specialised centres and surgeons, but is probably more representative of norm, when performed in a general setting. Exact fracture personality should be evaluated carefully to reduce re-MUA rate. Re-MUA rate for trainee needs to be improved.

Background: Fracture of the scaphoid bone is the most common fracture of the carpus and frequently diagnosis is delayed. The unique anatomy & blood supply of the scaphoid itself predisposes to delayed union or non-union.

The Synthes scaphoid screw is a cannulated headed screw, which provides superior compression compared with some other devices used to internally fix scaphoid non-unions.

Aim: To conduct a retrospective study looking at union rate, time to union and complications and correlating the outcome of treatment against the delay between injury and surgery and location of the fracture within the bone.

Methods: 36 patients with scaphoid non-union (30 waist & 6 proximal pole) treated by a single surgeon with the cannulated Synthes screw & corticocancellous bone graft were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: We achieved 78% overall union rate. Those patients operated within 6 months of injury achieved 100% union rate. Of the patients with persistent non-union after surgery, half reported no pain and increased movement in the wrist. The failure rate was high in patients whose injury was more than 5 years old, and in proximal pole non-unions.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that cannulated screw fixation with bone grafting has high success rate for delayed union of scaphoid waist fractures and scaphoid waist nonunions present for less than 5 years. Patients who present more than 5 years after injury or with proximal pole nonunions have a high chance of persistent nonunion, but can symptomatically improve.

Introduction: Various surgical approaches have been described for the hip joint but the optimal surgical approach for total hip replacement remains controversial. The lateral approach & the posterior approach are the most commonly used approaches.

Various scoring systems are in use to assess the outcome of total hip replacement. Since its introduction in 1996, Oxford hip score (OHS) has been validated in several studies. Total hip replacement has been shown to improve the OHS in several studies but we could not find any studies on effect of the surgical approach on OHS.

AIM: To find out the affect of surgical approach on oxford hip score.

Methods: Exeter Primary Outcomes Study was a prospective non-randomised multicentre study involving six centres across the UK. Ethical committee approval was taken and the study was conducted over a period of five years. 1610 patients were included in the study. All the patients underwent primary hip replacement with Exeter stem AND were followed up in the clinics for pre-operative assessment and then at three months, year one, year two and year five post-operatively. Oxford hip score was noted at pre-operative assessment and postoperatively at three months, year one, two, three, four and five, either in the clinics or by post. All data was analysed in conjunction with a statistician using SPSS.

Results: We had 1587 patients with regular follow-up. Lateral approach was the most common surgical approach (n=1143) compared to posterior approach (n=436). Sex ratio for each surgical approach was comparable. Oxford hip scores significantly improved postoperatively (P < 0.05) up to four years, with both the surgical approaches. The posterior approach gave a better improvement in OHS compared to the lateral approach for all the four years. The absolute oxford hip scores improved significantly with the posterior approach for the first 12 months post-operatively.

CONCLUSION: Posterior approach gives greater patient perceived clinical benefit in the first year after surgery which could help in early rehabilitation compared to lateral approach. This should be considered when assessing the best approach for the patients.

Introduction: Various surgical approaches have been described for the hip joint but the optimal surgical approach for total hip replacement remains controversial. The lateral approach & the posterior approach are the most commonly used approaches.

Various scoring systems are in use to assess the outcome of total hip replacement. Since its introduction in 1996, Oxford hip score (OHS) has been validated in several studies. Total hip replacement has been shown to improve the OHS in several studies but we could not find any studies on effect of the surgical approach on OHS.

Aim: To find out the affect of surgical approach on oxford hip score.

Methods: Exeter Primary Outcomes Study was a prospective non-randomised multicentre study involving six centres across the UK. Ethical committee approval was taken and the study was conducted over a period of five years. 1610 patients were included in the study. All the patients underwent primary hip replacement with Exeter stem and were followed up in the clinics for pre-operative assessment and then at three months, year one, year two and year five post-operatively. Oxford hip score was noted at pre-operative assessment and postoperatively at three months, year one, two, three, four and five, either in the clinics or by post. All data was analysed in conjunction with a statistician using SPSS.

Results: We had 1587 patients with regular follow-up. Lateral approach was the most common surgical approach (n=1143) compared to posterior approach (n=436). Sex ratio for each surgical approach was comparable. Oxford hip scores significantly improved postoperatively (P < 0.05) up to four years, with both the surgical approaches. The posterior approach gave a better improvement in OHS compared to the lateral approach for all the four years. The absolute oxford hip scores improved significantly with the posterior approach for the first 12 months post-operatively.

Conclusion: Posterior approach gives greater patient perceived clinical benefit in the first year after surgery which could help in early rehabilitation compared to lateral approach. This should be considered when assessing the best approach for the patients.

Aim: To quantify changes in epidemiology, in-patient treatment and outcome of hip fracture patients over seven-year period.

Subjects and methodology: Retrospective randomised analysis of in-patient charts of patients with hip fractures admitted to a large 650-bed Acute District General Hospital in 1996 compared with 2003. The following data is gathered: Epidemiological data, baseline test data for anaemia and renal function, time to surgery from admission, post-operative complications, time to discharge from ward and functional outcome.

Results: In 1996, the total number of admissions over 6 months was 144 compared to 160 in 2003 for the same time period. The mean age has increased from 83 years compared to 85 years in 2003. Median mental test score declined from 9 in 1996 to 6 in 2003. The mean co-morbidities rose from 1.7 in 1996 to 2.8 in 2003. 11% of patients were medically unfit for surgery in 1996 compared to 30% in 2003 resulting in delay in time to theatre. 33% of patients were admitted from nursing homes in 2003 compared to 22% in 1996. The mortality rate was 12% in 1996 compared to 18% in 2003.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that deteriorating pre-operative status in terms of age, ASA, mental test score and co-morbidities seems to have negated any of the system changes we introduced to improve our service. As patients with neck of femur fractures are often already suffering from other significant co-morbidities, the improvements in the overall health care system may not have an impact on the outcome of the patients concerned.