The characteristics and predictors of mortality in periprosthetic fractures around the knee.

Aims: Periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) around the knee are challenging injuries. This study aims to describe the characteristics of knee PPFs and the impact of patient demographics, fracture types, and management modalities on in-hospital mortality. Methods: Using a multicentre study design, independent of registry data, we included adult patients sustaining a PPF around a knee arthroplasty between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. Univariate, then multivariable, logistic regression analyses were performed to study the impact of patient, fracture, and treatment on mortality. Results: Out of a total of 1,667 patients in the PPF study database, 420 patients were included. The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.4%. Multivariable analyses suggested that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, history of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), history of rheumatic disease, fracture around a loose implant, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) during hospital stay were each independently associated with mortality. Each point increase in ASA grade independently correlated with a four-fold greater mortality risk (odds ratio (OR) 4.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19 to 14.06); p = 0.026). Patients with PVD have a nine-fold increase in mortality risk (OR 9.1 (95% CI 1.25 to 66.47); p = 0.030) and patients with rheumatic disease have a 6.8-fold increase in mortality risk (OR 6.8 (95% CI 1.32 to 34.68); p = 0.022). Patients with a fracture around a loose implant (Unified Classification System (UCS) B2) have a 20-fold increase in mortality, compared to UCS A1 (OR 20.9 (95% CI 1.61 to 271.38); p = 0.020). Mode of management was not a significant predictor of mortality. Patients managed with revision arthroplasty had a significantly longer length of stay (median 16 days; p = 0.029) and higher rates of return to theatre, compared to patients treated nonoperatively or with fixation. Conclusion: The mortality rate in PPFs around the knee is similar to that for native distal femur and neck of femur fragility fractures. Patients with certain modifiable risk factors should be optimized. A national PPF database and standardized management guidelines are currently required to understand these complex injuries and to improve patient outcomes.

Is It Time to Rethink the Relationship Between Subscapularis Tears and the Long Head of Biceps Tendon?

Introduction Pre-operative diagnosis of subscapularis tears remains a difficult challenge. Ultrasound has been shown to be ineffective at directly detecting subscapularis tears. It has been widely accepted that medial subluxation of the long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) is associated with full-thickness subscapularis tears. The aims of this study are to assess whether LHBT subluxation on ultrasound scanning has any predictive value for subscapularis tears and to determine the relationship between LHBT subluxation and subscapularis tears at arthroscopy. Methods Pre-operative ultrasound and arthroscopic findings for patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at our institution between March 2011 and January 2016 were analysed. The accuracy of LHBT subluxation on ultrasound and at arthroscopy as a predictor of subscapularis tears at arthroscopy was calculated. The correlation between LHBT subluxation and subscapularis tears was determined. A standardised technique was used for ultrasound scans, and the grade of the sonographer was recorded. Results Three hundred fifty-nine rotator cuff repairs were performed. Twenty-four patients had a subluxed LHBT. Ultrasound was poorly sensitive (50%), and a subluxed LHBT on ultrasound only correlated very weakly with subscapularis tears at arthroscopy (R = 0.268, p<0.001). At arthroscopy, 92 patients had full-thickness subscapularis tears. Of these, only 16 patients (17%) had a subluxed/dislocated LHBT. Of the 24 patients with a subluxed LHBT, eight had no subscapularis tears. Thus, LHBT subluxation/dislocation only correlated weakly with full-thickness subscapularis tears (R=0.252, p<0.001). Conclusion Due to their close anatomical relationship, traditional teaching suggests subscapularis tears are associated with medial LHBT subluxation. Our data indicate that, contrary to popular belief, the two are only weakly correlated. In our series, the majority of patients with subscapularis tears (83%) had their LHBT in-groove. The authors therefore recommend high vigilance during arthroscopy for the diagnosis and repair of subscapularis tears, regardless of pre-operative ultrasound findings and the intra-operative position of the LHBT.

Role of single-ring oval disposable wound protecting device in preventing surgical site infection in laparoscopic colorectal resections.

CONTEXT: Surgical site infections (SSI) continue to be a major cause of morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays and a major reason of financial burden to health-care providers and patients after major abdominal surgeries. Along with infection control practices and care bundles, additional use of devices which protect the wound from contamination is believed to decrease the burden of SSI. AIMS: This study aims to assess the benefit of single-ring disposable wound protector in preventing SSI, overall complications, hospitals stay and morbidity data in laparoscopic colorectal resection. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study design involves case-control study, retrospective. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control study comparing single ring oval wound protector versus conventional wound protectors retrospectively between August 2019 and December 2021. The ease of use of the device, rate of SSI, overall complications, hospitals stay and morbidity data were analysed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The statistical analysis was performed by IBM SPSS Statistics 20 version. All Categorical Variables will be described as frequency and percentage. Continuous variables will be described as mean ± standard deviation. Continuous variables were analysed using t-test and categorical parameters using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 110 patients studied, wound Protecting devices were used in 58 patients Wound Protector Group (WPG group) and 62 patients did not use such devices (no WPG). The groups were comparable in demographic features, risk features, systemic illness, type of surgeries undertaken and the specimen extraction wound used. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of SSI (1.7% vs. 16% P ≤ 0.008) and the hospital stay (P ≤ 0.03) when WPG was used compared to the group in which it was not used. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from the use of infection control practices and care bundles, the use of oval-shaped single-ring wound protector is likely to reduce SSI.

Predictors of mortality in periprosthetic fractures of the hip: Results from the national PPF study.

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) around the hip joint are increasing in prevalence. In this collaborative study, we aimed to investigate the impact of patient demographics, fracture characteristics, and modes of management on in-hospital mortality of PPFs involving the hip. METHODS: Using a multi-centre cohort study design, we retrospectively identified adults presenting with a PPF around the hip over a 10-year period. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to study the independent correlation between patient, fracture, and treatment factors on mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1,109 patients were included. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.3%. Multivariable analyses suggested that age, male sex, abbreviated mental test score (AMTS), pneumonia, renal failure, history of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and deep surgical site infection were each independently associated with mortality. Each yearly increase in age independently correlates with a 7% increase in mortality (OR 1.07, p=0.019). The odds of mortality was 2.99 times higher for patients diagnosed with pneumonia during their hospital stay [OR 2.99 (95% CI 1.07-8.37) p=0.037], and 7.25 times higher for patients that developed renal failure during their stay [OR 7.25 (95% CI 1.85-28.47) p=0.005]. Patients with history of PVD have a six-fold greater mortality risk (OR 6.06, p=0.003). Mode of treatment was not a significant predictor of mortality. CONCLUSION: The in-hospital mortality rate of PPFs around the hip exceeds 5%. The fracture subtype and mode of management are not independent predictors of mortality, while patient factors such as age, AMTS, history of PVD, pneumonia, and renal failure can independently predict mortality. Peri-operative optimisation of modifiable risk factors such as lung and kidney function in patients with PPFs around the hip during their hospital stay is of utmost importance.

'Experience days': promoting interprofessional collaboration and understanding for postgraduate doctors in training.

An 'experience day' is a novel concept in medical education, targeted at postgraduate doctors in training. In this article, the term postgraduate doctors in training includes all junior doctors, ranging from foundation year level to junior specialist doctors to higher specialist registrars. Experience days offer postgraduate doctors in training the opportunity to shadow other healthcare professionals in their working environment, to enhance their perspective of their role as a clinician and their understanding of the complex interplay of services. The aim is to promote interprofessional collaboration and to encourage consideration of the expectations placed upon members of the multidisciplinary team and reflection on whether these are realistic. Taster days are a well-established educational opportunity for junior doctors, supported by Health Education England. However, there is a paucity of literature concerning shadowing for doctors who have already qualified, or those who wish to shadow services that they work alongside. This article introduces the concept of experience days for postgraduate doctors in training.

The Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Operating room waste is disposed of in landfill sites, recycled, or undergoes costly, energy-intensive incineration processes. By assessing the quantity and recyclability of waste in primary hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA), we aim to identify strategies to improve sustainability. Methods: A prospective waste audit of 15 primary THA and 16 primary TKA cases was conducted at a tertiary orthopedic hospital between April and July 2022. Waste was categorized into nonhazardous, hazardous, recycling, sharps, and linens. Each category was weighed. Items disposed as nonhazardous waste were cataloged for a sample of 10 TKA and 10 THA cases. Recyclability of items was determined using packaging. Results: Average total waste generated for THA and TKA was 14.46 kg and 17.16 kg, respectively. TKA generated significantly greater waste (P < .05). Of all waste, 5.4% was recycled in TKA and just 2.9% in THA cases. The mean amount of recycled waste was significantly greater in TKA cases than that in THA cases, 0.93 kg and 0.42 kg, respectively.Hazardous waste made up the largest proportion for both TKA (69.2%) and THA (73.4%). Nonhazardous waste made up 15.1% and 11.3% of total waste for TKA and THA, respectively. In the nonhazardous waste, only 2 items (scrub-brush packaging and towel packaging) were recyclable. Conclusions: We estimate hip and knee arthroplasty generates over 2.7 million kg of waste in the United Kingdom annually. Currently, only a small percentage of waste is recycled in hip and knee arthroplasty, which could improve through increased use of recyclable plastics and clear labeling of items as recyclable by medical suppliers.

Tips from the shop floor: postgraduate doctors working in trauma and orthopaedics.

Trauma and orthopaedics is a useful rotation for junior doctors to undertake. Experience in the specialty allows doctors to feel more confident in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the entire musculoskeletal system. Many junior doctors cover on-calls in trauma and orthopaedics departments, often with no prior specialist experience. This article provides junior doctors with up-to-date information about how to prepare for a placement in trauma and orthopaedics, as well as helpful resources for those interested in a career in trauma and orthopaedics.

Characteristics and risk factors of UCS fracture subtypes in periprosthetic fractures around the hip.

Aims: Periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) following hip arthroplasty are complex injuries. This study evaluates patient demographic characteristics, management, outcomes, and risk factors associated with PPF subtypes over a decade. Methods: Using a multicentre collaborative study design, independent of registry data, we identified adults from 29 centres with PPFs around the hip between January 2010 and December 2019. Radiographs were assessed for the Unified Classification System (UCS) grade. Patient and injury characteristics, management, and outcomes were compared between UCS grades. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR) of variables on UCS grade. Results: A total of 1,104 patients were included. The majority were female (57.9%; n = 639), ethnically white (88.5%; n = 977), used mobility aids (67%; n = 743), and had a median age of 82 years (interquartile range (IQR) 74 to 87). A total of 77 (7%) had pain prior to the PPF. The most common UCS grade was B2 (33%; n = 368). UCS type D fractures had the longest length of stay (median 19 days (IQR 11 to 26)), highest readmission to hospital (21%; n = 9), and highest rate of discharge to step-down care (52%; n = 23). Multinomial regression suggests that uncemented femoral stems are associated with a reduced risk of UCS C (RRR 0.36 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 0.7); p = 0.002) and increased risk of UCS A (RRR 3.3 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.7); p < 0.001), compared to UCS B fracture. Conclusion: The most common PPF type in elderly frail patients is UCS B2. Uncemented stems have a lower risk of UCS C fractures compared to cemented stems. A national PPF database is needed to further identify correlation between implants and fracture subtypes.

Robotic technology in total knee arthroplasty.

Key factors for successful total knee arthroplasty include accurate implant positioning with precise tibial and femoral resection, combined with appropriate soft tissue balancing to achieve the desired alignment. Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty allows surgeons to execute pre-planned strategies with precision, with growing evidence suggesting that robotic-assisted-total knee arthroplasty reduces radiological outliers. This has yet to be proven to translate into long-term improvements in patient-reported outcomes and implant survivorship. Robotic-assisted-total knee arthroplasty systems can be divided into fully autonomous and semi-autonomous systems. While fully autonomous systems showed initial promise, semi-autonomous systems are gaining popularity with encouraging early outcomes suggesting improved radiological and clinical outcomes, although concerns remain regarding a significant learning curve, installation costs, radiation exposure and cost associated with preoperative imaging. The future of total knee arthroplasty seems certain to involve robotic technology, although to what degree and in what capacity will depend on further high-quality studies assessing long-term outcomes, complications, survivorship and cost-benefit analyses.

Experience of Spinal Surgery for the Over 70s During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Referral Centre in the United Kingdom and Ramifications for Future Management.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of our spinal surgery pathways for patients over the age of 70 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, to guide future management. METHODS: A retrospective, single-centre, observational cohort study of all patients over 70 years of age undergoing spinal surgery between June 1 to September 30, 2020, was performed. All patients were stratified by the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) COVID-19 Patient Risk Assessment Tool. RESULTS: A total of 64 operations on 59 patients were performed. The BOA risk assessment placed 67.8% of patients (n=40) in the high or very high-risk category. A total of 60% of patients (n=36) were over 75 years old. All patients had at least one other comorbidity. Following our green, amber, and red pathways, we had no cases of post-operative COVID-19 on an average follow-up of 71 days. CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates safe pathways for spinal surgery on patients over 70 years old during the first wave of COVID-19. Risk assessment tools should be used with caution, as age over 65 years was immediately medium-risk. This study would be a useful guide in the management of all elderly patients requiring surgery in the face of further COVID-19 variants or a similar pandemic.

Erratum to 'Adverse Reaction to Zirconia in a Modern Total Hip Arthroplasty With Ceramic Head' [Arthroplasty Today 6 (2020) 612-616].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.artd.2020.03.009.].

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting as pathological humeral fracture: a case report and novel surgical treatment.

We present a 73-year-old woman who presented with a pathological fracture of her right humerus. Further imaging and biopsy indicated a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung as the primary neoplasm. This represents the first published case of a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung presenting as a metastatic lesion of the humerus. Operative management of pathological fractures of the humerus has typically included either intramedullary nailing or the use of single-plating or double-plating techniques. The authors describe a novel technique using both intramedullary fixation augmented with a locking plate, steel cables and bone cement, with good outcome.

Adverse Reaction to Zirconia in a Modern Total Hip Arthroplasty with Ceramic Head.

Hypersensitivity reactions to zirconia (ZrO2) or similar ceramics is highly unusual. Owing to the stable oxide formed between the base metal and oxygen, ceramics are considered relatively biologically inert. We report the case of an otherwise healthy 50-year-old woman with a 5-year history of progressively worsening right hip pain who underwent a ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip replacement and subsequently developed hypersensitivity reaction. After metal allergy testing showed her to be highly reactive to zirconium, the femoral head was revised to a custom titanium implant and her symptoms resolved.

An Extensive Volar Forearm Laceration - The Spaghetti Wrist: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: 'Spaghetti wrist' is an extensive laceration that involves multiple structures in the volar wrist, including tendons, nerves and arteries. This injury is frequently encountered in trauma units, but despite its complex nature, management is often handled by junior surgeons.Furthermore, the guidance on how to approach these injuries is limited, with a relatively poor evidence base on management and outcomes. METHODS: In this article, we perform a systematic review of the literature on the management and outcomes of the spaghetti wrist injury. Patient demographics, definitions of spaghetti wrist, mechanism of injury, operative and rehabilitative techniques and surgical outcomes are discussed. RESULTS: Results from this study show significant physical, functional, psychological and financial impacts of spaghetti wrist injuries. Operative technique appears relatively consistent; even though reporting of injuries and outcomes was heterogeneous, no current classification system is in common usage. CONCLUSIONS: An increased focus on the standardisation of assessment, management and rehabilitation and on overcoming the obstacles to care will serve as a guidance to the operative and post-operative management of the spaghetti wrist injury. The use of a single definition and classification system has been proposed to standardise outcome measures and improve inter-observer reliability. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic Review: Level IIa evidence.

Mesenchymal stem cells in human meniscal regeneration: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Stem cell regeneration is the holy grail of meniscal tissue repair. Currently, the best treatment is to preserve the original meniscus but if it fails, a partial meniscectomy is indicated to delay the onset of osteoarthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors present a systematic review to determine the up-to-date evidence underlying the use of mesenchymal stem cells for meniscal regeneration in humans. A search was conducted using the electronic databases of MEDLINE/Pubmed, Google scholar, and the Cochrane Collaboration. Search keywords included human, meniscus, stem cells and regeneration. RESULTS: After screening 10 non-duplicate studies, 5 were identified based on title and abstract. 4 were included in the analysis. There were marked differences in the method of stem cell harvest techniques. 3 studies administered stem cells through percutaneous injection into the knee and 1 study used a collagen scaffold. MRI analysis, functional scores and safety were assessed and the longest follow-up period was 2 years. The Visual Analogue Score (VAS) was most commonly used to assess function and patients generally showed an improvement. There were no reported adverse events. CONCLUSION: Despite positive results from animal models, there is currently a lack of evidence in humans to conclude that stem cells can form durable neotissue similar to original human meniscus. There is a need for standardisation of protocol before further trials are considered. Initial outcomes from human studies are promising and mesenchymal stem cells may play an important role in meniscal repair in years to come.

Apathy and Its Response to Antipsychotic Review and Nonpharmacological Interventions in People With Dementia Living in Nursing Homes: WHELD, a Factorial Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Apathy is common, impactful, and difficult to manage in people with dementia. We evaluated the efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions, exercise, and social interaction, in combination with antipsychotic review, to reduce apathy in people with dementia living in nursing homes in a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: Well-being and health for people with dementia (WHELD) program included a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial cluster RCT involving people with dementia living in 16 nursing homes in the United Kingdom. All homes received training in person-centered care, and were randomized to receive antipsychotic review, social interaction, and exercise, either alone or in combinations. Apathy was one of the secondary outcomes of the WHELD trial, and it was measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-nursing home version at baseline and 9 months (n = 273). We used multilevel mixed effects linear regression models to assess the impact of the interventions on apathy. RESULTS: Prevalence of apathy was 44.0% (n = 120; 95% confidence interval [CI] 38.1%-49.9%) at baseline. Severity of apathy had significant positive correlations with dementia severity, neuropsychiatric symptoms, depressive symptoms, agitation, and the needs of the people with dementia (P < .001). Antipsychotic review reduced antipsychotic use, but it significantly increased apathy (ß = 5.37; SE = 0.91; P < .001). However, antipsychotic review in combination with either social interaction (ß = -5.84; SE = 1.15; P < .001) or exercise (ß = -7.54; SE = 0.93; P < .001) significantly reduced apathy. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic review can play a significant role in improving apathy in people with dementia living in nursing homes, when combined with psychosocial interventions such as social interaction and exercise. Guidance must be adapted to reflect this subtlety in care.