Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with a compressive retrograde nail: A retrospective study of 59 nails.

BACKGROUND: Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis is an important salvage method for patients with complex hindfoot problems. This study reports the elective results of combined subtalar and ankle arthrodesis using one design of retrograde intramedullary compression nail. METHODS: Retrospective review identified 58 patients undergoing 59 tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis procedures. Mean follow up was 9.15 (3-36) months with average age 60.7 (22-89) years. A function and subjective patient satisfaction questionnaire was achieved in 89%. RESULTS: 53 patients (93%) achieved union at a mean time of 4.17 months. Four patients (8%) subjectively thought the procedure was of no benefit while 42 (84%) had an excellent or good result. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score for preoperative functional pain was 7.46 compared to 1.98 post-operatively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This device and technique offers an effective treatment of hindfoot pathology giving reliable compression and subsequent fusion with excellent patient satisfaction and pain relief. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV case series.

Frozen shoulder after simple arthroscopic shoulder procedures: What is the risk?

Frozen shoulder is a recognised complication following simple arthroscopic shoulder procedures, but its exact incidence has not been reported. Our aim was to analyse a single-surgeon series of patients undergoing arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD; group 1) or ASD in combination with arthroscopic acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) excision (group 2), to establish the incidence of frozen shoulder post-operatively. Our secondary aim was to identify associated risk factors and to compare this cohort with a group of patients with primary frozen shoulder. We undertook a retrospective analysis of 200 consecutive procedures performed between August 2011 and November 2013. Group 1 included 96 procedures and group 2 104 procedures. Frozen shoulder was diagnosed post-operatively using the British Elbow and Shoulder Society criteria. A comparative group from the same institution involved 136 patients undergoing arthroscopic capsular release for primary idiopathic frozen shoulder. The incidence of frozen shoulder was 5.21% in group 1 and 5.71% in group 2. Age between 46 and 60 years (p = 0.002) and a previous idiopathic contralateral frozen shoulder (p < 0.001) were statistically significant risk factors for the development of secondary frozen shoulder. Comparison of baseline characteristics against the comparator groups showed no statistically significant differences for age, gender, diabetes and previous contralateral frozen shoulder. These results suggest that the risk of frozen shoulder following simple arthroscopic procedures is just over 5%, with no increased risk if the ACJ is also excised. Patients aged between 46 and 60 years and a previous history of frozen shoulder increase the relative risk of secondary frozen shoulder by 7.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1 to 28.3)and 18.5 (95% CI 7.4 to 46.3) respectively.

The acutely swollen knee. Part two--management of traumatic pathology.

The acutely swollen knee is a common presentation of knee pathology in the emergency department and the primary care setting, whether on board ship, in a Regimental Aid Post, or in a Medical Centre. The swollen knee has both traumatic and atraumatic (systemic) causes, all of which can be accurately diagnosed with an understanding of the underlying injury patterns and patho-anatomy. In Part 2 of this paper we consider the traumatic causes and also suggest a combined approach to managing an acutely swollen knee. The taking of a detailed history combined with thorough clinical examination will establish the diagnosis or at least the narrow differential diagnosis in the majority of cases. The use of specialist examination techniques, diagnostic imaging and arthrocentesis can further assist the clinician in confirming the correct diagnosis and thus prescribing the appropriate treatment. This review will endeavour to give a consensus of opinion and structured guidelines in the diagnosis and initial management of patients presenting with acute or recent onset swelling of the knee.

The acutely swollen knee. Part 1: Management of atraumatic pathology.

The acutely swollen knee is a common presentation of knee pathology in the Emergency Department and the primary care setting whether on board ship, a Regimental Aid Post or Medical Centre. The swollen knee has both traumatic and atraumatic (systemic) causes, all of which can be accurately diagnosed with an understanding of the underlying injury patterns and patho-anatomy. In Part One, we will be examining the management of non-traumatic causes, followed by Part Two, looking at traumatic causes, in the next issue of the Journal. A detailed clinical history combined with thorough clinical examination will establish the diagnosis, or at least the narrow differential diagnosis in the majority of cases. The uses of specialist examination techniques, diagnostic imaging and arthrocentesis can further assist the clinician in confirming the correct diagnosis and thus prescribing the appropriate treatment. This review will endeavour to give a consensus of opinion and structured guidelines in the diagnosis and initial management of patients presenting with acute or recent-onset swelling of the knee related to atraumatic pathology.

Frozen shoulder - A stiff problem that requires a flexible approach.

Frozen shoulder is a specific, painful and debilitating condition effecting patients mainly in middle age. While it has been recognised for over 100 years, it is still mis-diagnosed, with a natural history that is poorly understood and with limited evidence for the efficacy for various treatments. This review considers what is known about this common painful condition and the treatments available.

Is there any purpose in classifying subtrochanteric fractures? The reproducibility of four classification systems.

INTRODUCTION: Classification systems are used for communication, planning treatment options, predicting outcomes and research purposes. The majority of subtrochanteric fractures are now treated with intramedullary nails and therefore questioning the need for classification. OBJECTIVES: To assess the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the Seinsheimer, AO and Russell-Taylor (RT) classification systems and to assess a new simple system (MCG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MCG system was developed to alert the surgeon to potential hazards: type 1-subtrochanteric fracture (ST#) with intact trochanters, type 2-ST# involving greater trochanter (entry point for nailing difficult), and type 3-ST# involving lesser trochanter (most unstable). Thirty-two anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of subtrochanteric fractures were classified independently for each of the 4 classification systems by 4 observers on 2 separate occasions. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-observer variation was poor in all systems (highest Kappa 0.35). MCG had the best reproducibility followed by RT, then AO and Seinsheimer. The data were re-analysed to determine whether the findings were due to the presence of too many subgroups and whether the observers could more accurately identify important individual subclassifications: Seinsheimer 3a, AO31-A3.1, RT 1 or 2, RT a or b, and MCG3. The MCG3 had the narrowest ranges for intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. CONCLUSIONS: The classification systems analysed in this study have poor reproducibility and seem to be of little value in predicting the outcome of intramedullary nailing as all of the fractures achieved union. The MCG system may be of some use in alerting the surgeon to potential problems.

Oxford elbow scores in an asymptomatic population.

INTRODUCTION: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are being used increasingly to assess the quality of healthcare delivery in the UK. It is important when using PROMs to know the score of the background population against which any clinical intervention may be benchmarked. The purpose of this study was to measure an elbow specific PROM for the population of the South West Peninsula. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of patients and healthcare professionals from the South West Peninsula population. Participants were asked to complete a simple demographic questionnaire and an Oxford elbow score for each elbow. Respondents with a history of elbow surgery, elbow injury, chronic elbow problems or an incomplete dataset were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 1,765 respondents (3,530 elbows) completed the survey but 567 questionnaires were excluded due to incomplete datasets, pre-existing elbow pathology or age criteria, leaving 1,198 individuals (2,396 elbows) for analysis. The median scores for each decade group were 48, with mean scores ranging from 46.74 to 47.94. There was no significant clinical difference in the scores for age, sex or hand dominance. CONCLUSIONS: When using the Oxford elbow score to assess outcomes after surgery, a normal score should be used as the benchmark. This benchmark is independent of age, sex and hand dominance.

Displaced femoral neck stress fractures in Royal Marine recruits--management and results of operative treatment.

Femoral neck stress fractures (FNSF) represent 3.5%-8% of stress fractures in military recruits; potentially resulting in medical discharge and/or complications. The incidence of displaced FNSF in the British Army has been reported as 1.8 in 10,000 recruits. We aimed to review the incidence and outcome of displaced FNSF in Royal Marine recruits. Retrospective review identified 6 recruits who sustained a displaced FNSF from 2001 to 2011 representing an incidence of 9.3 in 10,000 recruits. All were treated urgently by internal fixation. There were no cases of avascular necrosis, no surgical complications and no further procedures required. All united with a mean time to union of 11 months. 50% had a union time greater than 1 year. These fractures are slow to unite but with urgent surgical intervention and stable fixation 100% union was achieved. Awareness of this guides the management and rehabilitation whilst avoiding the risks of unnecessary secondary surgical interventions.

Audit-induced change reduces complications of the Ganz trochanteric flip approach.

INTRODUCTION: The Ganz trochanteric flip approach aims to avoid the potential risk of avascular necrosis in hip conserving surgery and may reduce the risk of femoral neck fractures, neck thinning and femoral head implant migration in hip resurfacing. Our initial audit revealed the complications of non-union and trochanteric screw irritation to be associated with this approach. We, therefore, modified our selection criteria and re-audited our results. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The initial audit (IA) ran between January 2003 and November 2007 after which an age limit of 50 years was recommended. The re-audit (RA) ran between November 2007 and December 2008 where one of the senior authors stopped using the approach in the over 50 year age group whilst the other senior author continued on selected patients over 50 years. RESULTS: There were 545 hips in the IA and 152 hips in the RA group. The incidence of non-union decreased in the RA after the change of selection criteria (6.2% [IA] vs 1.3% [RA]). In both audit groups, the incidence of non-union increased with age, and in the RA no non-unions were observed under the age of 50 years. The incidence of screw irritation and the necessity for removal remained relatively unchanged (20.7% [IA] vs 28.3% [RA]) with a combined incidence of 22.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The trochanteric flip approach to the hip can be used safely with an acceptable complication rate in young adult impingement and resurfacing surgery. Caution must, however, be exercised in patients over 50 years of age as they have a higher incidence of trochanteric non-union. In addition, all patients should be consented for the possibility of screw removal as a second procedure.

Use of the Abbreviated Mental Test Score by junior doctors on patients with fractured neck of femur.

INTRODUCTION: The mental state of patients with fractured neck of femur is important as a predictor of post-operative outcome. The Hodgkinson Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) is a validated and simple method of assessing the pre-operative mental state of patients with fractured neck of femur. This survey investigated whether or not orthopaedic junior doctors (SHOs) appreciated the importance of mental state assessment in patients with fractured neck of femur and whether they were able to recall the questions used in the AMTS. METHOD: A total of 47 on-call orthopaedic and trauma SHOs from the UK were randomly contacted by telephone and agreed to answer questions from a standard questionnaire to assess awareness of the ten-question AMTS. RESULTS: A total of 96% of SHOs claimed awareness of the importance of mental state assessment; 89% used the AMTS in their practice, of which 26% were aided by a pro forma. A mean of five (out of the ten) standard questions on the AMTS were correctly identified (95% CI = 0.68); 11% correctly identified all 10 questions. There was no correlation between use of a pro forma and correct identification of questions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with fractured neck of femur and low AMTS have higher morbidity and mortality. If the AMTS is to be used as an assessment tool in this setting, then SHOs need to be better informed and educated as to its use. Furthermore, the validity of data collection for research and audit purposes is potentially flawed; as data collected using such scoring systems may be inaccurate.