Teaching Professionalism during and Posta Pandemic to Surgical Trainees: A Survey of the Impact of a Workshop on Trainers and Trainees.

Introduction: Focussed professionalism training improves surgical trainees' communication, information gathering, and counselling skills. This study reviews the impact of a professionalism workshop for surgical trainees within a large trust in the United Kingdom developed during the pandemic to support the trainees and help them develop resilience and appropriate behaviours during the time of increased pressure. Methods: A workshop involving case-based discussions and reflections on professionalism was developed from the themes and methods of training noted to be effective on a literature search of Medline, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases carried out in May 2020. The impact of Covid on surgical trainees and educator's professionalism training and the techniques of training preferred by trainees was evaluated by a survey of trainees and trainers after the intervention to evolve future training initiatives. During the workshop, a behavioural marker checklist was used to improve feedback on the observed behaviours. Results: 83 trainers and trainees were surveyed following a professional behaviour workshop training 63 surgeons at various stages of training. Surgical list availability had reduced by at least 5-10 a month for all the trainees within the trust during the pandemic. Most trainees surveyed (49 (60%)) felt that this had reduced the opportunities to train technical skills and develop professional non-technical skills like teamwork and communication skills, adversely impacting the trainee's clinical performance. The increased support offered by the workshop helped 50 trainees (80%) to improve non-technical skill performance objectively by referencing to behavioural markers and this was felt to have become embedded in practice when surveyed 4 weeks later in 38 trainees (60%). The majority of those surveyed (47 (75%)) felt trainers and trainees had acted professionally during the pandemic and subsequently. The workshop discussions also helped (56 (67%)) trainers and trainees to consider how best to engage professionally with new ways of working as work, and training switched to virtual or telemedicine platforms during the pandemic. Conclusions: Professionalism-based education facilitates surgical trainee development, making them stronger team members and helping to restore team working skills and embrace new working practices.

Outcomes of day case shoulder replacement surgery in a stand-alone day care unit in the United Kingdom.

Background: This review aims to compare the outcomes for day case shoulder replacement with in-patient shoulder replacement surgery in a district general hospital. Methods: Seventy-three patients had 82 shoulder arthroplasty procedures. Forty-six procedures were undertaken in a dedicated stand-alone day-case unit and 36 were undertaken as in-patient cases. Patient were followed up at 6 weeks, 6 months and annually. Results: There was no significant difference between the outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty procedures performed in the day case or in-patient settings making this a safe option for surgical care in a unit with an appropriate care pathway. Six complications in total were observed, three in each group. Operation time was statistically shorter for day cases by 25.1 min (95% CI - 36.5 to -13.7; d = -0.95, 95% CI -1.42 to 0.48). Estimated marginal means (EMM) revealed lower post-surgery oxford pain scores in day cases (EMM = 3.25, 95% CI 2.35, 4.16) compared with inpatients (EMM = 4.65, 95% CI 3.64 to 5.67). Constant shoulder scores were higher in day cases versus inpatients. Conclusion: Day case shoulder replacement is safe with comparable outcomes to routine inpatient care for patients up to ASA 3 classification with high satisfaction and excellent functional outcomes.

An algorithmic approach to shoulder pathology.

Introduction: Shoulder pain is a common presentation in both hospitals and the community. Shoulder pain can result from a number of different pathologies and to manage the shoulder pain, an accurate diagnosis is needed. Method: An accurate diagnosis can often be made following a detailed history and examination. Investigations, such as imaging and blood tests may also be required. In this study, we provide an algorithmic approach to shoulder pain that can be used in the clinical setting. Summary: This algorithm can be used in hospitals and the community to help identify and manage the different causes of shoulder pain.

Systematic Review of Current Approaches to Tibia Plateau: Best Clinical Evidence.

If not treated adequately, tibia plateau fractures result in premature osteoarthritis and lifelong disability. The advent of newer implants and techniques to improve outcomes has necessitated the development of different surgical approaches. A Medline and EMBASE search (June 2020) was conducted to identify publications during the last 10 years that focused on surgical approaches for proximal tibia fractures/ tibia plateau management. A total of 2107123 and 2715399 articles were found related to fractures in this area with 133 and 103 review articles looking at the approach on MEDLINE and EMBASE, respectively. This article reviews the continued development of the surgical approaches to aid understanding for surgeons and identify areas for future research to help improve outcomes. Although the anterolateral approach is the most commonly applied surgical technique, having the knowledge of newer approaches (medial, posteromedial, posterolateral, or direct posterior) in the armamentarium is necessary to treat the vast array of fracture patterns. There has been a shift amongst trauma surgeons of using a combination of approaches for complex tibia plateau fractures.

How Do Orthopaedic Patients Prefer to Be Contacted During a Pandemic?

Introduction Communication with patients is a vital part of the surgical pathway, and when done effectively, it can greatly improve patient outcomes and patient satisfaction and reduce canceled appointments. Different forms of communication work well for different patient demographics, and it is important to optimize communication techniques. We designed a study to review the communication preferences of orthopedic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed by asking patients who were due to undergo orthopedic procedures to answer a questionnaire on their communication preferences, the reminder notice period for appointments, and safety and satisfaction ratings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Communication method preferences are influenced by patient factors such as gender and age. Phone calls were the most popular communication method throughout all patient groups, with 61% selecting it as their preference. Younger patients preferred multiple communication methods of phone calls, texts, and emails, whereas the older group had a stronger preference for letters. Letters were more popular among females (28% compared to 10% of males), whereas males had a stronger preference for other communication methods. The majority of patients said they would not have liked a letter prior to their clinic appointment (65%). Of those who indicated a preferred notice period, 73% would have liked five days or less notice prior to their clinic appointment, while 65% would have liked 10-14 days notice prior to their surgery. The average safety rating was 55%. The overall satisfaction rating with the communication process was 71.7%. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has changed patient feelings towards healthcare and, as a result, changed the way healthcare is delivered. Communication method preferences among trauma and orthopedic patients vary and depend on factors such as gender and age. If healthcare departments can optimize their communication processes, they will improve their patient outcomes and enhance their resources.

A Rare Presentation of Myositis Ossificans in a Diabetic Individual.

Introduction: Myositis ossificans (MO) is a disease with self-limiting, benign ossifying lesions. MO traumatica is most common cause and occurs after blunt trauma to muscle tissue and the most common site of occurrence is the anterior thigh often developing after an intramuscular hematoma. The pathophysiology of MO is not well understood. The association of myositis and diabetes is quite rare. Case Report: A 57-year-old male presented with a discharging ulcer on the right lateral lower leg. A radiograph was carried out to ascertain the degree of bone involvement. However, the X-ray showed calcifications. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray imaging were used to exclude malignant disorders such as osteomyelitis or osteosarcoma. The diagnosis of myositis ossificans was confirmed with MRI. As the patient had a background of diabetes, this could have led to MO as a result of the macrovascular complication of a discharging ulcer; hence, diabetes could be considered a risk factor for the disease. Conclusion: The reader may appreciate that diabetic patients may present with MO and that repeated discharging ulcers may imitate the effects of physical trauma on calcifications. The specific take home message is that regardless of the apparent rarity of a disease and subversion to typical clinical presentation, it should still be considered. Furthermore, the exclusion of severe and malignant diseases which benign diseases may mimic is of utmost importance to correctly manage patients.

Assessing Compliance to National Guidelines for Pediatric Wrist and Ankle Fractures in a District General Hospital.

Pediatric ankle and wrist fractures are very common injuries encountered by orthopedic departments. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence has published guidelines that should be adhered to when treating these common fractures. This audit included 560 patients that have sustained wrist and ankle fractures between 2008 and 2019 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Burton (QHB) that required surgical management. The results show that 99.7% (478/479) wrist fractures and 70.8% (57/81) of ankle fractures received surgical management within the timeframe outlined by NICE. This audit has shown that QHB has been successfully treating wrist fractures within the guidelines set by NICE but has failed to meet the standards for ankle fractures.

Myositis, Osteomyelitis and a Parasymphyseal Stress Fracture in a Paediatric Patient.

The limping child and painful hip are common presentations in many paediatric emergency units. Typically caused by mild self-limiting events, less commonly, they may be implicated in one of a group of inflammatory myopathies, or myositis. Diagnosis of this condition can be extremely difficult, and is aided by thorough clinical assessment, radiological imaging, and extensive blood serum testing. Myositis with associated osteomyelitis and a pathological fracture is an incredibly rare finding, described in this case report in a seven-year-old child.

Talus Fracture Dislocation Management With Crossed Kirschner Wires in Children.

Skeletal trauma accounts for 10% to 15% of all childhood injuries, with approximately 15% to 30% of these representing physeal injuries. Talus fractures are rare injuries in children with an estimated prevalence of 0.008% of all childhood fractures. Cast immobilization is sufficient treatment for non-displaced fractures, however displaced fractures of the talus require surgical intervention to minimize the risk of trauma-related avascular necrosis (AVN) due to disruption of the vascular supply originating from the talar neck. A 13-year-old boy was brought to the accident and emergency (A/E) department following a road traffic accident while he was pillion riding a bike. Following the accident, he was unable to bear weight on his right foot and his anterior ankle region was swollen, with no neurological deficit or open wound. He had no other injury and no medical or surgical history. On review of the ankle and foot radiographs, he was noted to have a right talar neck fracture with subtalar and ankle dislocation. His computer tomographic (CT) images demonstrated a Hawkins Type IV talus fracture. Initial treatment involved a plaster of Paris (POP) back slab with the ankle in a neutral position. His right leg was elevated on pillows and treated with elevation and ice to alleviate the swelling. As the fracture was comminuted and displaced with ankle and subtalar dislocation, operative intervention (open reduction and fixation of talus with crossed K wires) was planned. The patient was discharged in below knee slab which was changed to a non-walking cast at two weeks. The patient was kept non-weight bearing until fracture united. These types of fractures are rare in children and proper clinical and radiological evaluation is essential. Such fractures should be reduced as early as possible to reduce the ischemia time thus prevent the chances of osteonecrosis. Lastly avoid tourniquets and stable anatomical reduction of fracture is must.

Musculoskeletal Attendances to a Minor Injury Department During a Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a public health emergency of international concern, countries across the globe began to instate strict social distancing restrictions or "lockdowns". During these times emergency departments in the United Kingdom (UK) recorded a significant drop in patients attending when compared to the same months of previous years. Attendances related to musculoskeletal (MSK) trauma also saw a significant drop in numbers Objective: The purpose of this retrospective audit was to investigate patterns of injuries attending during the pandemic and more specifically during times of lockdown. METHOD: Retrospective audit data was collected from an electronic medical record system (MediTech V6) during the time period of the first lockdown in the UK. Data was collected for patients attending the emergency department at the Queens Hospital Burton site of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton National Health Service (NHS) Trust. Presenting complaints were recorded for the entire emergency department, and diagnosis on discharge and activity status was recorded for minor injuries only. This data was then compared to the same date from 2019. RESULTS: Overall attendances in the emergency department decreased by 45.42% during the first lockdown when compared to the same time period in 2019. MSK problems also saw a significant drop as back pain decreased by 58.88%, neck pain fell by 78.52% and limb problems decreased by 59.74%. When comparing data from the minor injury department, limb problems decreased by 20.45%. The number of soft tissue injuries decreased by 24.05% and fractures decreased by 7.96%. CONCLUSION:  Attendances in the emergency department were greatly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first lockdown. The rates of fractures and soft tissue injuries within the minors' area of the emergency department were also reduced but not at the same rate as the overall attendance. A large number of fractures and soft tissue injuries still presented to the emergency department despite reduced national activity. These attendances may be as a result of the increased rate of Do It Yourself (DIY)-related injuries and altered patient/social behaviour due to lockdown, social distancing, and seasons/weather. Further research would be required to investigate the changing patterns of behaviour especially as we enter a second wave of cases.

Prospective Study Showing Results of Large-Diameter Femoral Heads After Cementless Total Hip Replacement.

Introduction Large-diameter femoral heads (≥36 mm) were introduced to decrease instability and improve the range of motion of the hip. We hypothesized regarding the clinical outcome and complications (dislocation, implant survivorship, and functional scores) following total hip replacement (THR) surgery in an Indian population who have smaller acetabulum compared to the western population. Methodology A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary hospital from November 2011 to July 2013. A total of 70 patients with hip pathology were operated by a senior surgeon for THR using the anterolateral approach. The Harris Hip Scores were recorded pre and postoperatively in all patients. Postoperatively, radiographs were taken to check for evidence of implant loosening or osteolysis. The patients were followed up till a mean follow-up of 86.52 months (range: 74 to 108 months) in our cohort. Detailed clinical and radiographic results were available for 59 patients, while six died (three died of myocardial infarction (MI), two had cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and one patient died of pulmonary embolism) and five patients were lost to follow-up. Results Of the 59 hips, majority (76%) had acetabular inclination of 46-55 degrees. Ninety percent of the stems were in the central position and 10% were in the varus position. The average preoperative Harris Hip Score was 38.8 ± 5.7 (range: 24-46), which increased to 90.4 ± 7.3 (range: 78-94) at the last follow-up. A total of six patients died (four died of MI and two of CVA) and two patients had infection which was treated with antibiotics. Three cases of dislocation were observed; one following a fall one year after surgery and revision total hip arthroplasty was done and two cases while getting up from the bed which were managed with closed reduction and abduction brace for six weeks. Two cases of periprosthetic fracture were observed which were managed with plating. Conclusion Lower dislocation rate and better range of movement reinforces the advantage of large-diameter femoral head during THR in the Indian population.

Limb Length Inequality in Patients After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: Analysis of Radiological Assessment and Influencing Risk Factors Based on a District General Hospital Experience of 338 Cases.

Background and objective Limb length inequality (LLI) is a frequent and recurring issue after total hip arthroplasty (THA). It is often a source of patient dissatisfaction and litigation. This study reviewed the incidence of LLI in a UK District General Hospital in light of published evidence and identified the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for LLI. Methods This was a retrospective study involving 380 consecutive unilateral primary total hip replacements over a period of 12 months. Patient demographics, clinical, radiological, and operative details were collected from the National Joint Registry (NJR) database and hospital records. The limb length was measured radiologically [OrthoView WorkstationTM (Materialise UK, Southampton, UK)], pre- and postoperatively, by two authors. They assessed the vertical distance between the intra-acetabular teardrop line and the medial apex of the lesser trochanters. After excluding complex primary, revision cases, tilted X-rays, and hip replacement for trauma patients, 338 cases were included in the final analysis. Results The mean postoperative LLI was 2.7 mm with a standard deviation (SD) of 6.56 mm. Only 5.3% of patients had LLI >15 mm. None of the studied variables showed a statistically significant correlation with LLI. Even with the apparent difference in the mean LLI between templating and not templating before surgery (2.19 vs. 3.53), the p-value was 0.06, which was below the level of statistical significance. There was a weakly positive Pearson correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of lengthening of the limb. Conclusion The cause of LLI after THA is multifactorial. No single factor can be singled out as the most significant contributor to this complication.

Communication With Patients Before an Operation: Their Preferences on Method of Communication.

Background With the constantly evolving communication technologies, it is essential for all healthcare professionals to try utilising various methods in communicating with patients. This will lead to better healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction. Objective The aim of the study was to compare a patient's preference to various communication methods regarding their appointments and to evaluate if we're giving our patients an appropriate notice period prior to their operation. Methods A questionnaire was given to 111 patients who underwent elective orthopaedic procedures. Results Factors like age and gender affect the choice of communication method. Traditional letters still have a role for an older population aged 65 and over. However, younger patients showed higher preference for other communication methods such as phone calls, texts, and e-mails. Gender also had a role in choosing a preference where male patients chose a range of options whilst female patients preferred phone calls. Most patients stated they received an appropriate notice period, with 88% of patients stating they would like to be notified one-two weeks prior to their operation. Conclusion More research needs to be conducted into using text messages and e-mails in communicating with elective surgical patients, in addition to implementing newer technologies like mobile phone applications and secure online messaging portals, as this has the potential to reshape the communication process with our patients and lead to better health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Seasonal variation in trauma admissions to a level III trauma unit over 10 years.

INTRODUCTION: Major trauma centres have improved morbidity and mortality for moderate and severely injured patients. Less injured patients may be treated in facilities less resourced for trauma care. In these units, understanding the variations in injury presentation and treatment over time allows service delivery to be tailored to demand. This study set out to describe seasonal variations in trauma over a 10-year period at a level III trauma unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient demographics, admission frequency, site of injury, season of admission, management, complications, onward transfers, and length of stay were extracted on consecutive patients admitted with traumatic injuries between January 2009 and December 2018 and recorded on a prospectively maintained database. Analysis was undertaken to determine if there were reproducible patterns in trauma presentation across seasons, based on the patient's age and gender, type of injury, management and length of stay. RESULTS: There were 13,007 'first admissions' over 10 years, with a mean (SD) age of 55.6 (27.7) years. Admissions were higher in summer (27%) and lower in winter (23.6%) and patients were on average younger in the summer (52.8 years) and older in winter (59.2 years). The proportion of female and male patients remained relatively constant across seasons (CV=6% and 8%, respectively). There was seasonal variation in the incidence of forearm (36%) elbow (19%), and multi-sites injuries (17%) compared with hip and wrist injuries (CV=5% for both). A lower proportion of patients underwent operations in summer (72%) compared with other seasons with winter having the highest at 77%. More patients aged less than 60 years stayed in hospital during winter than summer (13.2% vs. 11.6-12.4%) although often for a day. Patients aged 60 years stayed longer in spring and winter. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate trends in the admission and management of trauma patients to a level III trauma unit. Some of the patterns in admission, treatment and length of stay had not been identified previously. The results can be used to enhance patient care and minimise health care costs by reducing unwarranted variations and enabling service delivery to match the demand in all trauma units.

Atraumatic Scapular Spine Fracture: A Rare Injury in a Patient With Rotator Cuff Arthropathy.

Scapular fractures are uncommon, and the spine of the scapula is a particularly rare site of injury. As a result, our knowledge of these injuries, the management options and the functional outcome is limited. We report a rare case of a scapular spine fracture in a patient with rotator cuff arthropathy with no obvious history of trauma. The pathophysiology behind this is unclear; however, we suggest that a combination of cuff arthropathy, steroid use and chronic cough contributed to it. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is commonly used to treat rotator cuff arthropathy, and the effect of scapular spine fractures on surgical outcomes is unknown. It is possible that the deltoid function provides a better indicator of post-operative outcomes.

Systematic review of patient reported outcomes from open tibia fractures in low and middle income countries.

BACKGROUND: Open tibia fractures are a common cause of admission following road traffic accidents in low and middle income countries (LMICs), resulting in substantial mortality and disability. It is important to summarise the clinical course of this injury using patient reported scores in order to assess best treatment in LMICs. OBJECTIVES: To summarise the disability after sustaining an open tibia fracture in LMICs METHODS: All studies were identified from a systematic search of Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included any human with a diagnosed open tibia fracture, following any intervention. Studies were performed in a low or middle income country. The primary outcome was any validated patient reported outcome score reported after three months. Secondary outcomes included economic impact and complications such as infection, non-union and amputation. Data was extracted and summarised. RESULTS: We reviewed 3,593 articles from our search. A total of 18 studies were included from 10 countries with 8 different outcome scores. The average age was 35 years old and 86% of the patients were male. Thirty-one percent were Gustilo I, 28% Gustilo II, 19% Gustilo IIIA, 17% Gustilo IIIB and 5% Gustilo IIIC. The most common complications reported were 18% infection, 15% non-union and 15% amputation. Economic impact was reported in only one study with 100% patients working pre-injury and 20% post-injury at 12 months. Mean follow-up duration for outcome scores was 19.8 months. There was heterogeneity between the studies in terms of subject of the studies, outcome criteria, fracture type, surgical technique and length of follow-up. Therefore, no meta-analysis could be performed. CONCLUSION: The clinical history of open tibia fractures in low or middle income countries remains largely unknown in terms of patient reported outcomes. Further studies are required to define these outcomes in open tibia fractures before best treatments can be assessed.