Delayed Achilles tendon rupture presentation: Non-operative management may be the SMART choice.

INTRODUCTION: This biomechanical study aims to assess the function of patients who were treated non-operatively for delayed diagnosis Achilles tendon rupture. Patients were treated using the Swansea Morriston Achilles Rupture Treatment protocol (SMART), which is a physiotherapy led non-operative treatment program. METHODS: 19 patients (16M:3F) were enrolled and prospectively assessed using Achilles Repair Scores (ARS)/Achilles Tendon Rupture Scores (ATRS) (PROMS), Ankle ROM and isokinetic peak torque for plantarflexion of the ankle. MRI scans of both the injured and uninjured TA were performed to compare both AP diameter and length. RESULTS: Both ATRS and ARS improved between short- and long-term follow-up. The mean difference in plantar torque between the injured and uninjured leg was 21.9%. There was no significant difference in ankle plantarflexion or dorsiflexion. There was no significant difference in length of the injured and uninjured TA on MRI. Three patients failed the SMART protocol requiring surgical fixation. DISCUSSION: The SMART protocol can be an effective method of treatment even in younger and active patients especially if delay to treatment is less than 12 weeks. It may still be preferable for patients with a large gap size or high functional demand to elect for surgical intervention, but clinicians should consider the SMART protocol as an alternative to surgery and discuss it with some patients as a viable alternative.

A new technique for radiographic measurement of acetabular cup orientation.

Accurate radiographic measurement of acetabular cup orientation is required in order to assess susceptibility to impingement, dislocation, and edge loading wear. In this study, the accuracy and precision of a new radiographic cup orientation measurement system were assessed and compared to those of two commercially available systems. Two types of resurfacing hip prostheses and an uncemented prosthesis were assessed. Radiographic images of each prosthesis were created with the cup set at different, known angles of version and inclination in a measurement jig. The new system was the most accurate and precise and could repeatedly measure version and inclination to within a fraction of a degree. In addition it has a facility to distinguish cup retroversion from anteversion on anteroposterior radiographs.

Metal ion levels not sufficient as a screening measure for adverse reactions in metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties.

This study aims to assess the accuracy of metal ion analysis in the diagnosis of adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) in patients with metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties by comparing the cobalt and chromium levels in 57 patients (62 hips) to findings on metal artifact reduction magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An ARMD was detected using MRI in 18 (29%) of the hips. Forty patients had cobalt levels less than 7 µg/L, and 33 had chromium levels less than 7 µg/L, but 8 of these had an ARMD on MRI and only minimal symptoms (Oxford Hip Score ≥ 44/48). The incidence of ARMD was significantly higher when chromium concentration was above 7 µg/L (P = .02), but normal metal ion levels can be misleading and metal artifact reduction MRI imaging is advised in all patients.

A large thumb mass.

A 31-year-old man presented with a 5-year history of a spontaneously occurring soft tissue mass on the palmar aspect of his left non dominant thumb. Over 5 months he was having progressive difficulty flexing at the interphalangeal joint. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an heterogeneously enhancing soft tissue mass likely to be either a peripheral fibromatosis or giant cell tumour of the flexor tendon (Figure 1). Intraoperatively a large neuroma in continuity with the ulnar digital nerve was found and debulked (Figure 2). The diagnosis was confirmed histologically.

Silent soft tissue pathology is common with a modern metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Adverse reactions to metal debris have been reported to be a cause of pain in metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty. We assessed the incidence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic adverse reactions in a consecutive series of patients with a modern large-head metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty. METHODS: We studied the early clinical results and results of routine metal artifact-reduction MRI screening in a series of 79 large-head metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties (ASR; DePuy, Leeds, UK) in 68 patients. 75 hips were MRI scanned at mean 31 (12-52) months after surgery. RESULTS: 27 of 75 hips had MRI-detected metal debris-related abnormalities, of which 5 were mild, 18 moderate, and 4 severe. 8 of these hips have been revised, 6 of which were revised for an adverse reaction to metal debris, diagnosed preoperatively with MRI and confirmed histologically. The mean Oxford hip score (OHS) for the whole cohort was 21. It was mean 23 for patients with no MRI-based evidence of adverse reactions and 19 for those with adverse reactions detected by MRI. 6 of 12 patients with a best possible OHS of 12 had MRI-based evidence of an adverse reaction. INTERPRETATION: We have found a high early revision rate with a modern, large-head metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty. MRI-detected adverse rections to metal debris was common and often clinically "silent". We recommend that patients with this implant should be closely followed up and undergo routine metal artifact-reduction MRI screening.