The outcomes of constrained total hip arthroplasty for recurrent dislocation of hip hemiarthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of hemiarthroplasty dislocation for fracture neck of femurs ranges between 1 and 15% and the one-year mortality is 49- 70%. Revision of hemiarthroplasty to total hip replacement using a constrained liner has shown to improve the morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of the study was to assess whether conversion of dislocated hemiarthroplasty to total hip replacement improve functional and one year mortality. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the number of patients who had recurrent dislocations of hemiarthroplasty for fracture neck of femurs were carried out. The data were obtained from NHFD (National Hip Fracture Database) and internal hospital computer systems (Medway, Theatre notes and PACS) between Dec 2008 and Dec 2020. Patient demographics including age, sex, Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), functional assessment, mortality at one and two years were documented. The risk factors which led to dislocations such as Parkinsons disease, Cerebrovascular accidents, Musculo-neuropathies and Alzheimer`s disease was also noted. RESULTS: A total of 3994 patients were admitted during the study period of which 1735 (43.4%) patients had hemiarthroplasty. Fifty-six (3.23%) patients had dislocation of hemiarthroplasty. The mean age was 81.4 years (range - 61 to 95). There were 40 (71.4%) females and 16 males (28.6%). The average AMTS score was 5.3. All 56 patients had closed manipulative reduction under anaesthesia within in 12 h of admission. Thirty-one patients (55.4%) went on to have recurrent dislocations of which 18 patients (58.4%) had total hip replacement using captive cup, 6 patients (19.4%) had open reduction,3 patients (9.7%) had excision arthroplasty procedure and four patients (12.5%) had no intervention, Eighteen patients who had total hip replacement with constrained captive for followed up to a minimum of two years (range2- 12 years). There were no intraoperative complications, dislocation or periprosthetic fractures in the follow up period. There was no mortality at the end of two years of follow up in this group, two-year mortality for the patients with alternative management for dislocated hemiarthroplasty was 76.67. CONCLUSION: Treatment of recurrent hemiarthroplasty dislocation by revising to a total hip replacement with a constrained liner gives good functional and mortality outcomes.

Patient Outcomes of Virtual Foot and Ankle Telephone Clinics During COVID-19 Pandemic: 1 Year Experience.

COVID-19 pandemic has instigated to find alternative methods of assessing and treating patients with foot and ankle disorders. We have implemented virtual telephone clinic consultations along with the face-to-face consultations. It has reduced overcrowding in the busy outpatient waiting area and thus limiting close patient contact. The aim of this study is to audit the patient satisfaction outcomes, assess the feasibility and to find out the potential financial implications of introducing telephone clinic consultations for foot and ankle disorders. A total of 426 patients who had telephone consultations for foot and ankle disorders for a period of 1 year were included. Patients were given individual time slots for the consultations. The patient satisfaction outcomes were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The outcomes following the telephone consultation was audited. The financial cost was calculated for the study period. Following the telephone consultation 35% of the patients were discharged and 36% were given further face to face appointments. 97.5% were very satisfied or satisfied with the methodology and outcomes of the telephone consultation. Ninety-five percent of the patients commented that they would recommend telephone consultations for foot and ankle to their friends and family. The financial savings calculated during the study period was about £25,000 ($30,000). Virtual telephone clinic consultations are safe, efficient and cost effective with good patient satisfaction outcomes. It is an alternative or can be conducted adjunct to face to face consultations with adequate planning, training, good communication skills and proper documentation.

Freiberg`s disease of lesser metatarsals treated with bone grafting and autologous matrix induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) membrane - A series of 10 cases.

BACKGROUND: Freiberg's infraction is osteonecrosis of lesser metatarsal heads most commonly affecting adolescent females. They usually present with pain and swelling of the forefoot. MRI is useful investigation in the early diagnosis. It is a self-limiting disease and the main stay of treatment is non operative. Surgery is indicated in failed conservative management which include open debridement, cheilectomy, micro fracture, osteotomies and excision arthroplasty with varying success. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of ten patients with Freiberg`s disease of the lesser metatarsals treated with open debridement, microfracture, bone grafting and application of AMIC (Autologous Matrix induced Chondroplasty) membrane was carried out. The patients were followed up to five years and the outcome measures were scored using Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOxFQ) and EQVAS best health scores. RESULTS: The mean age was 42.7 years and follow-up time was 36.4 months. The most common site was second metatarsal, eight (80%) followed by third metatarsal, two (20%). The mean base line MOxFQ was 72.5 (95% CI- 45 ± 100) which improved to 42.5 (95%CI- 2.5 ± 82.5) at one year. The mean baseline VAS improved from 26.4(10.2 ± 42.6) to 30.3 (95%CI- 2.1 ± 58.5) at one year. The mean MOxFQ and VAS at the end of 36 months was 31.4(95%CI-6.6 ± 57.2) and47.3(4.3 ± 80.3) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Open debridement of the Freiberg`s disease combined with microfracture of the defect, bone grafting and application of AMIC membrane shows reliable functional and radiological outcomes at short term follow up.

Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy: Are we ignoring calcaneal bone morphology? - A radiological assessment of calcaneal parameters.

BACKGROUND: A radiological study was conducted to determine whether calcaneal morphological differences contribute to the pathophysiology of Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy. This study is aimed to support our new hypothesis to explain the pathophysiology leading to recalcitrant disease and also to identify the role of calcaneal osteotomy for treating these conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Calcaneal width and height distance deviation from centre of ankle joint rotation was measured on standardised lateral weight bearing Ankle radiographs. A comparison was made between control group and study group to identify the differences in measured parameters. RESULTS: Significant difference (P = 0.05) was observed in calcaneal width distance in study group with Achilles tendinopathy. In Plantar fasciopathy the vertical distance was reduced suggesting flattening of arch in study group. However, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The study identifies the importance of evaluating calcaneal morphology for patients with recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy. A new hypothesis is proposed to explain the high stresses produced in entire Achilles -calcaneus -plantar fascia unit which leads to chronic inflammatory response and intra substance degeneration.

Autologous Conditioned Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid Injection for Isolated Grade 4 Osteochondral Lesions of the Knee in Young Active Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the short-term benefits and results of autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) injection in osteochondral defects in the knee of young adults. The effectiveness of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections has been evaluated in osteoarthritis. However, few studies investigated its efficacy in knee osteochondral defects. METHODS:  This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. A matched cohort of 30 patients in each group was studied. Group 1 received three HA injections at weekly intervals, and group 2 received three ACP injections at two weekly intervals. We measured Kujala, Lysholm, Oxford, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores at baseline, six, 12, and 36 months to assess function and pain. RESULTS:  Most lesions were in the medial femoral condyles in both groups, followed by lateral femoral condyle and patellofemoral regions. In group 1 (HA), the mean pre-injection scores for Kujala, Lysholm, and Oxford improved significantly at six and 12 months. The scores decreased at 36 months, however, they remained significantly better than the baselines (P < 0.05). The pre-injection VAS scores continued to improve significantly from 6.06±0.785 to 3.40±0.912 at 36 weeks. In group 2 (ACP), VAS and the outcome scores showed a consistent and statistically significant improvement from pre-injection to 36 months.  Conclusions: Our study confirms the short-term clinical benefits of using ACP for symptomatic osteochondral defects of the knee. Further high-quality comparative studies with longer follow-ups are needed to ascertain whether ACP is beneficial in the long term.

The crucial factors influencing the development and outcomes of postoperative delirium in proximal femur fractures.

Objective: The aim of this study is to find the incidence, risks, and reasons for prolonged length of hospital stay, short, long-term mortality, and the factors contributing to mortality of postoperative delirium in proximal femoral fractures. Methods: The data for the study was obtained from National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) and internal hospital computer systems (Medway, ICE, Clinic letters) between January 2018 and December 2019. One hundred seventy-five patients were found have developed postoperative delirium. The outcomes measured were postoperative anemia, lower respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, urinary retention, cardiac event and stroke, alcohol or drug withdrawal, length of hospital stay, and 30 day and 1 year mortality. Results: The patients who developed delirium were 68 (38.9%) with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade 4 and 94 (22.3%) without delirium (p < 0.05). The average length of stay after developing postoperative delirium was 19.69 days compared to 17.4 days for patients without delirium. The mortality at 30 days and 1 year was 10.9% and 37% in patients who had postoperative delirium compared to 2.1% and 2.8% to those without delirium, respectively. Conclusion: Postoperative delirium is three times more common in hip fractures. Early detection and timely management are crucial in the improvement of functional outcomes and mortality.

Does the ASA grading influence the outcomes of best practice tariff in fracture neck of femurs.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to find the significance of different ASA grades in achieving the Best Practice Tariff (BPT) and their outcomes in patients with fracture neck of femur. METHODS: A retrospective study over a five years period. Patient demographics, ASA grading, hospital admission timing, time to theatre and discharge date were recorded. The 30 day mortality rate and length of stay were calculated for each ASA grades for patients who met and failed BPT. RESULTS: 1798 patients were included in the study. 54% was ASA grade 3, grade 4 represented 22% and grade 2, 19%. The mean AMT score was 6.4 who met BPT and 4.4 who failed BPT (p<0.001). 319 patients with ASA≤2 met BPT and 53 patients failed to meet BPT. In ASA ≥3, 1200 patients who met BPT and 225 patients failed BPT. The 30-day mortality in patients with ASA≤2 who met BPT was 2.57% and those who failed were 1.92%. In ASA ≥3 the 30-day mortality was 12.63% and who failed BPT was 25% which is statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In patients with ASA≥3 the 30-day mortality is significantly higher in those who failed BPT compared to ASA≤2 patients whether they achieved BPT or not.

A Missed Diagnosis of Bilateral Simultaneous Spontaneous Intracapsular Neck of Femur Fractures in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient.

Bilateral spontaneous simultaneous fractures of the neck of femurs are extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported in literature. They are usually following high-energy trauma or may be due to an underlying pathological process such as frailty, osteomalacia, rickets, and chronic renal disease. They can also occur following epilepsy and electric shock. We report a 79-year-old gentleman who presented with sudden onset of bilateral hip pain with a background of rheumatoid arthritis and long-term steroid treatment. The bilateral hip fractures were missed initially and later presented with completely displaced fractures of the neck of femurs. He underwent a single-stage bilateral cemented hemiarthroplasty and made a good recovery. Bilateral simultaneous fractures of the hip in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have not been reported in literature so far, and the diagnosis can be easily overlooked. In patients with bilateral hip pain, one should have a high index of suspicion. Further appropriate cross-sectional imaging in the form of CT or MRI should also be considered.

Early results of a novel technique: Hindfoot fusion in talus osteonecrosis prior to ankle arthroplasty: A case series.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of a two staged approach of subtalar arthrodesis followed by TAR for patients with ankle arthritis and AVN talus. METHODS: Out of total 210 TARs performed at our institute; 7 patients underwent a two staged procedure between 2006 and 2010. All patients had over 3 years of follow up (except one). The clinical results were assessed using AOFAS, WOMAC, SF-36 and patient satisfaction scores. RESULTS: The mean follow up was 3 years. There was significant improvement in AOFAS and WOMAC (pain and stiffness) from pre-op to 3 years post-op (P<0.05). SF 36 scores improved from pre-op to 3 years post-op for 6/8 domains. 5 patients were satisfied at 3 years for overall surgical outcomes, 4 were satisfied with pain relief. Radiological signs of talar subsidence were noted in 2 patients at year 1. This did not progress at 3 years and did not deteriorate clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: We recommend our two staged approach to deal with this difficult clinical problem. We believe this approach is safe for TAR surgery where talar vascularity and bone quality is questionable leading to reduced talar subsidence, ischaemic pain and improvement in longevity of TAR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Evidence IV (Retrospective case series).

Screening for spinal stenosis in achondroplastic patients undergoing limb lengthening.

The need for a screening programme for spinal stenosis in children with achondroplasia undergoing limb lengthening was identified in a tertiary limb reconstruction service. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether screening would identify the 'at risk' group. A total of 26 achondroplastic patients underwent our screening programme. Canal diameters were measured by MRI. Neurosurgical interventions were recorded. Of the patients, 13 had severe foramen magnum narrowing. Six patients required single or multiple surgical decompressions. We identified female sex, delayed milestones and a tight cervicomedullary junction as high risks. We stress upon the importance of developing a nationalized screening programme with guidelines to identify a high-risk group.

Risk of redisplacement after first successful reduction in paediatric distal radius fractures: sensitivity assessment of casting indices.

The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of currently available indices for casting in distal radius fractures in children and to identify risk factors associated with displacement. A cohort of 14 patients with redisplacement was compared with a cohort of 41 patients with maintenance of reduction. A significant difference (<0.008) was observed in the three-point index, the degree of comminution (<0.01) and the quality of the initial reduction (<0.003). We recommend careful identification of high-risk factors and appropriate stabilization for potentially unstable fractures at first treatment. Assessment of the three-point index is recommended for judging the moulding technique.

Joint distraction and reconstruction in complex knee contractures.

We retrospectively reviewed the results of joint distraction and reconstruction in complex knee contractures in 6 patients with 9 knees. The circular Ilizarov fixator was used in all cases. Extensor mechanism alignment with frame in situ was performed in 4 cases and alignment of mechanical axis of the lower limb was done in 2. All patients had a mean total arc of movement of 79 degrees before operation; however, this was nonfunctional because of the degree of flexion contracture. Three of the 6 patients were nonambulant before surgery. After joint distraction and reconstruction, mean total arc of movement remained unchanged, but this was more functional with improvement in the mobility status. At an average follow-up of 53 months, the mean flexion contracture was 100 degrees (range, 0-70 degrees), with further flexion possible up to 90 degrees (range, 60-120 degrees). Four patients had no recurrence. All 6 patients were ambulant with or without orthosis. Rebound phenomenon with loss of achieved correction was observed in 2 patients. Four patients were quite satisfied with results of surgery. Realignment of the extensor mechanism and mechanical axis is an important part that needs to be addressed in flexion contractures of the knee. Proper preoperative planning and staged procedures reduce the risk of recurrence. A treatment protocol is proposed to help in planning and further management.

Role of preoperative arthrography in early Perthes disease as a decision-making tool. Is it really necessary?

Arthrograms are commonly done in conjunction with an examination under anaesthesia (EUA), before any surgical intervention in Perthes disease. This usually is done as an independent day case procedure in the radiology department. The aim of this study is to confirm that the affected hip meets the prerequisites of a containment procedure. This study was carried out to investigate whether arthrogram findings ever altered the preoperative clinical decision of proposed osteotomy. One hundred and seven cases were reviewed retrospectively. Forty patients were excluded. Decision was not changed in 62 out of 67 hips, after the procedure. Five patients required different management following arthrogram and this was based mainly on EUA findings. EUA under image intensification helps the surgeon to decide the angle of varus osteotomy, required to contain the femoral head in the acetabulum and confirms an adequate range of abduction to undertake the procedure. This quick assessment can be done at the time of surgery under the same anaesthesia without the need for arthrography. Our findings question the role of arthrography as a routine before surgical intervention in Perthes disease and suggest that it may represent an unnecessary cost. We now reserve arthrography for cases of late Perthes disease where valgus osteotomy may be appropriate or for those unusual or questionable cases where clinical findings are inconclusive and therefore the type or appropriateness of treatment is uncertain.

Exposure of the thyroid to radiation during routine orthopaedic procedures.

The availability and usage of portable image intensifiers has revolutionised routine orthopaedic practice. Extensive use of fluoroscopy however may result into significant radiation exposure to operating staff. An accumulated dose of 65 microSv per procedure over long exposure has been reported to increase the risk of thyroid cancer. The present prospective study aimed at measuring the scattered dose to the thyroid using an Unfors EDD dosimeter during DHS/IMHS for fractures of the neck of the femur and IM nailing for long bone fractures. In 32 procedures, the dose of 65 microSv was exceeded 13 times; 8 times during DHS/IMHS and 5 times during IMN. The average thyroid dose was 142 microSv during IMN and 55 microSv during DHS. Only 9 of the total 223 (4%) theatre personnel were using a thyroid shield in spite of its availability. These results suggest that the thyroid is frequently exposed to potentially harmful radiation during these procedures. Strict inclusion of a thyroid shield as a part of routine radiation protection is recommended.

Superior dislocation of the patella. Case report and review of literature.

Superior dislocation of the patella is a rare diagnosis, which usually occurs after a trivial trauma. It usually requires manipulation with analgesics or may even need anaesthesia. We report a case of spontaneous reduction of the dislocation, which lead us to believe that this may be more common in the community than has been reported.

The need to protect the thyroid gland during image intensifier use in orthopaedic procedures.

The image intensifier has become an essential part of the orthopaedic surgeon's armamentarium. Its increasing use, however, may expose medical staff and theatre personnel to high doses of radiation. The aim of this study was to assess the compliance of surgeons and staff with radiation protection protocols, especially the use of the thyroid shield and to calculate the radiation exposure dose during routine orthopaedic procedures. We carried out this prospective study of 44 consecutive cases at the Rochdale Infirmary. The total dose of radiation and the total number of images taken were found to be more during hip surgery such as dynamic hip screw fixation for intertrochanteric fracture (1,715.5 mGy.cm2) and the intramedullary nailing (4,357.5 mGy.cm2). However the total percentage of the theatre personnel wearing thyroid shield was as low as 4% (14 people out of total 345 people present in theatre in 44 procedures) in spite of its availability. The consistent neglect in the use of the thyroid shield by surgeons and nursing staff present in theatre during fluoroscopically assisted procedures is a matter for concern. The data presented in this study will emphasise the need to wear a thyroid collar during orthopaedic procedures and the need for better guidelines to protect theatre personnel as well as patients from radiation exposure hazards.