Improving operating theatre communication between the orthopaedics surgeon and radiographer.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the importance of communication between surgeons and radiographers in the operation of image intensifiers during orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: This study was designed and conducted as single-centre, observational study. Fifteen medical officers and 15 radiographers were involved in this study. Each of the 15 radiographers was assigned to a medical officer. The 15 pairs were then each given a task to simulate achieving 'perfect circles' on fluoroscopy for distal locking of an intramedullary nail. The time taken for the surgeon to verbally instruct the radiographer how to position the image intensifier in order to achieve 'perfect circles' was recorded. The overall time taken to perform the task, and total number of images taken was recorded before and after a terminology system to manoeuvre image intensifier was introduced to the pairs. RESULTS: The mean time taken for the pairs to achieve perfect circles after the introduction of the manoeuvre terminology showed statistically significant reduction from 212 to 97 s (t = 4.212, df = 88, P < 0.05) after the introduction of the terminology. The mean number of fluoroscopy exposures taken also showed a statistically significant reduction from 12 to 6 (t = 6.791, df = 88, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a clear and unambiguous set of commands to control the image intensifier, which are common to both surgeon and radiographer, can reduce the time to acquire the desired images, and requires less radiation exposure in the process.

Nonabsorbable-suture-induced osteomyelitis: a case report and review of the literature.

We are reporting a case of nonabsorbable suture-induced osteomyelitis in patient who had an open rotator cuff repair with nonabsorbable Ethibond anchor suture. Patient in this case presented with very subtle clinical features of osteomyelitis of the left proximal humerus 15 years after initial rotator cuff repair surgery. Literature had shown that deep infection following rotator cuff repairs, although rare, can be easily missed and can cause severe complications. Absorbable suture had been demonstrated to be more superior, in terms of rate of deep infection, as compared to nonabsorbable suture when used in rotator cuff repair surgery. Both absorbable and nonabsorbable suture had been demonstrated to have similar mechanical properties by several different studies. The case demonstrated that initial presentation of deep infection can be subtle and easily missed by clinicians and leads to further complications.

Assessing the accuracy of bone resection by cutting blocks in patient-specific total knee replacements.

Introduction. The key to a successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the restoration of the mechanical axis with balanced flexion and extension gaps. Patient-specific cutting block technique has been the latest development in total knee arthroplasty. This technique uses a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the patient's symptomatic knee to create bone models and cutting jigs. This study was designed to evaluate the intraoperative accuracy of the patient-specific cutting block as compared to the preoperative template. Methods. Visionaire (Smith and Nephew, Genesis 2 Knee Arthroplasty) patient-specific TKA was used in all patients. An independent research officer was responsible for measuring all the resected articular surfaces of femur and tibia during surgery and compared it to the cutting block manufactured according to the preoperative template. Seven different measurements from each patient were obtained; four different measurements from the femur and three from the tibia were recorded. The differences between the actual resections made intraoperatively, as compared to the original pre-operative templates, were noted as the error. The surgical team was blinded to the measurements of the resections and the calculations of the errors. Results. Twenty-six Visionaire patient-specific TKA were included in the study. A total of 182 readings of bone resections made intraoperatively (seven for each patient). Eighty five percent of all collected readings were below the error margin of ≤1.5 mm. Size of resection had no effect on the error margin. All patients had satisfactory post-operative alignment, and at discharge all 26 patients achieved more than 90° of knee flexion. Conclusion. This observational study provides evidence that patient-specific TKA is comparable to other forms of TKA and may have some distinct advantages. In addition, we have shown that the cutting blocks are able to consistently deliver accurate cuts that are reproducible. We recommend intra-operative measurement of the bone resection and its comparison with the cutting block as a routine surgical step to confirm the MRI scan data, block placement, and instant validation of the bony resection before implant placement.