A Patient and Public Involvement Study to Explore the Need for Further Research into the Experience of Younger Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most commonly performed operations in orthopaedics. It is an operation usually performed in older patients, however the need for THA in younger patients is increasing. There is a lack of literature examining whether current recovery pathways address the specific needs of younger patients. Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) is a core aspect of good research practice and is recommended throughout the research process, including the formulation and refinement of pertinent research questions. Therefore, the explicit aim of this PPI study was to collect qualitative data from patients on the feasibility and requirement for further research into the experience of younger hip arthroplasty patients. Methods: Qualitative data was collected via an online questionnaire that was advertised on social media, requesting the input of anybody who had experienced a lower limb musculoskeletal injury or condition before the age of 50. The survey asked the respondents to describe their experiences and reflect on their priorities and goals throughout their recovery. Results: There were 71 respondents, of which 90% were female, with an average age of 43. Qualitative responses identified many concerns that were issues that could be translated across all patient ages. However, other priorities were raised that are not always recognised as important when measuring successful outcomes after a THA. Furthermore, many respondents described not feeling listened to by clinicians or treatment options not being sufficiently addressed and explored. Multiple respondents reported being told they were too young to have anything serious or that nothing could be done until they were older. Conclusions: The responses to the survey indicate that current care pathways are not fulfilling the needs and priorities in younger patients. Further research is required to explore these priorities and goals in more depth in order to understand how healthcare professionals can address them.

Reducing Implant Infection in Orthopaedics (RIIiO): Results of a pilot study comparing the influence of forced air and resistive fabric warming technologies on postoperative infections following orthopaedic implant surgery.

BACKGROUND: Active warming during surgery prevents perioperative hypothermia but the effectiveness and postoperative infection rates may differ between warming technologies. AIM: To establish the recruitment and data management strategies needed for a full trial comparing postoperative infection rates associated with forced air warming (FAW) versus resistive fabric warming (RFW) in patients aged >65 years undergoing hemiarthroplasty following fractured neck of femur. METHODS: Participants were randomized 1:1 in permuted blocks to FAW or RFW. Hypothermia was defined as a temperature of <36°C at the end of surgery. Primary outcomes were the number of participants recruited and the number with definitive deep surgical site infections. FINDINGS: A total of 515 participants were randomized at six sites over a period of 18 months. Follow-up was completed for 70.1%. Thirty-seven participants were hypothermic (7.5% in the FAW group; 9.7% in the RFW group). The mean temperatures before anaesthesia and at the end of surgery were similar. For the primary clinical outcome, there were four deep surgical site infections in the FAW group and three in the RFW group. All participants who developed a postoperative infection had antibiotic prophylaxis, a cemented prosthesis, and were operated under laminar airflow; none was hypothermic. There were no serious adverse events related to warming. CONCLUSION: Surgical site infections were identified in both groups. Progression from the pilot to the full trial is possible but will need to take account of the high attrition rate.

Survey of Bicycling Accidents in Boulder, Colorado.

In brief: To determine what public and individual efforts might reduce bicycling accidents and injuries, a survey was conducted during the primary cycling months (April through September) in Boulder, Colorado. Of 253 patients (87 women, 166 men, average age 22) treated for injuries in bicycling accidents, almost 30% of the accidents were caused by gravel, and nearly half involved a motor vehicle. The most frequent types of injury were abrasions, contusions, lacerations, and fractures. The survey results confirm the need for adequate head protection, satisfactory lighting, and increased awareness on the bicyclist's part. In addition, improved street maintenance will drastically reduce the number of cycling injuries and accidents.

Autonomic hyperreflexia.

Autonomic hyperreflexia or autonomic dysreflexia is a life-threatening condition found in quadriplegics and high paraplegics. It is characterized by generalized sympathetic hyperactivity; paroxysmal hypertension is its most devastating complication. The syndrome is precipitated by distension of hollow viscus, usually bladder, and treatment is directed at removing the offending stimulus. Occasionally parenteral drug therapy may be required to abort the symptoms. The two cases presented help to illustrate this syndrome.