Long-term results of the uncemented low contact stress total knee replacement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We analysed the long-term clinical and radiological results of 63 uncemented Low Contact Stress total knee replacements in 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. At a mean follow-up of 12.9 years (10 to 16), 36 patients (49 knees) were still alive; three patients (five knees) were lost to follow-up. Revision was necessary in three knees (4.8%) and the rate of infection was 3.2%. The mean clinical and functional Knee Society scores were 90 (30 to 98) and 59 (25 to 90), respectively, at final follow-up and the mean active range of movement was 104 degrees (55 degrees to 120 degrees ). The survival rate was 94% at 16 years but 85.5% of patients lost to follow-up were considered as failures. Radiological evidence of impending failure was noted in one knee.

Audit of orthopaedic bed utilisation.

Blockage of beds on an orthopaedic ward causes multiple problems; it can result in cancellation of patients or elective surgery, longer waiting lists and a crisis with emergency admissions. This often necessitates 'boarding out' of patients, which is not ideal for optimal patient care. Not all patients on an orthopaedic ward need continuing orthopaedic medical or nursing care and it may be more appropriate for these patients to be managed in a rehabilitation environment. From 1/09/98-30/11/98 data were collected on all patients admitted to an adult orthopaedic ward. Information recorded included the reason for admission, age, diagnosis, surgical procedure, family and social circumstances. In addition, the date when discharge was deemed appropriate was recorded as well as the actual date of discharge. We defined the length of overstay as the time spent in an orthopaedic bed after discharge had been deemed appropriate. There were 621 patients admitted for a total of 3159 bed days. There were 253 elective admissions and 368 emergency admissions. A total of 255 bed days were blocked by 46 patients (41 emergency and 5 elective) accounting for eight per cent of the total bed days. Of these 236 (93%) were due to emergency admissions and 19 (7%) were due to elective admissions, most blocked beds were due to patients who required rehabilitation in either a unit for the young disabled or a geriatric rehabilitation ward.

Wound infection in hip and knee arthroplasty.

We have studied prospectively the outcome of wound discharge in patients after arthroplasty of the hip and knee. Over a period of 3.5 years 530 primary arthroplasties were carried out in one hospital. Postoperative wound infections developed in 82. At a mean follow-up of two years a comparison was made between these patients and 82 with healthy wounds, in terms of symptoms and signs of deep infection. There was an incidence of 1.1% of early deep infection, within six weeks in all cases. The rate of 'superficial' infection was 17.3% in the hips, 10.5% in the knees and 14.3% in total. At a mean follow-up of 26 months, there were no significant differences between the patients with infected wounds and a matched group of patients with healthy wounds in terms of the ESR, level of C-reactive protein, white cell count and radiological scores, but clinical scores were significantly worse in the patients with infected knees (p < 0.05). The length of stay was also significantly longer in this group (mean 14.6 days in the healthy wound group, 19 days in the problem group; p < 0.005). There was, however, no convincing evidence that these wound infections led to deep infection and early revision in the early to medium follow-up period. A larger and longer prospective trial would be necessary to shed more light on this potential problem.

5- to 8-year results of the Freeman press-fit hip arthroplasty without HA coating: a clinicoradiologic study.

Sixty-one consecutive patients (68 hips) with an average age of 49.7 years (range, 21-72 years) had the Freeman uncemented hip arthroplasty without HA coating performed in the Southern General Hospital between 1987 and 1990. These patients were reviewed retrospectively for a mean duration of 66 months (range, 3-103 months). A high incidence of significant thigh pain (40.4%) at 5 to 8 years was noted in this series. The average 5- to 8-year femoral subsidence was 5.4 mm (range, 0-16.1 mm) in 45 hips. Seventeen hips (29.3%) required revision at the time of analysis. Nine hips (15.5%) were revised for aseptic loosening at an average duration of 54 months after the index operation. The conclusion drawn from this series is that the Freeman press-fit hip produced unsatisfactory medium-term results.

Syme's amputation revisited: a review of 46 cases.

We assessed 46 Syme's amputees attending our prosthetic clinics in terms of the clinical and radiological condition of their stumps, their level of function and problems with the prosthesis. Twenty-five were compared with a matching group of 25 transtibial amputees in regard to activity, function and prosthetic behaviour. Function was similar in the two groups, but Syme's amputees had a higher incidence of prosthetic failure. Overall, Syme's amputees were pleased with their prostheses and their function. Childhood amputations were associated with fewer long-term problems in terms of function and stump problems. Syme's amputation is indicated for congenital foot deformities, fibular hemimelia and severe injury to the foot as long as the heel pad remains viable.

Lower limb amputation following injury: a survey of long-term functional outcome.

Although there have been significant advances in surgical methods of limb preservation and various injury scores produced to predict the outcome after severe lower limb injury, there is common belief amongst surgeons that patients rehabilitate rapidly and well after amputation. There is however little evidence in the literature supporting this view of functional outcome of amputation following injury. A subjective assessment of post-injury lower limb amputees implied that there was a similar functional outcome in above- and below-knee amputations. Furthermore, there was little functional difference between early and delayed amputations, the delayed group being more satisfied with the end result.

Lumbosacral fracture-dislocations. A report of four cases.

Four patients with lumbosacral fracture-dislocation are presented. The common mechanism of injury was hyperflexion with compression. A rotational element may be implicated in single facet dislocation. Although lumbosacral fracture-dislocations can be managed conservatively, the best method of treatment is open reduction and bone grafting as soon after injury as possible. Only this will ensure complete correction of the deformity and prevent later deterioration.