The December 2024 Wrist & Hand Roundup. 360. looks at: Variability in thumb ulnar collateral ligament rupture management across the UK: survey insights; Identifying five distinct hand osteoarthritis pain phenotypes highlights the impact of biopsychosocial factors; Long-term outcomes of MAÏA TMC joint prosthesis for osteoarthritis: a possible alternative to trapeziectomy; Diagnostic and management strategies for malignant melanoma of the hand; Early versus delayed surgery for distal radius fractures: comparable outcomes but higher complications in delayed treatment; Perioperative anticoagulant and antiplatelet use does not increase complications in wide-awake hand surgery; Variability in treatment of metacarpal shaft fractures highlights need for standardized care; Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound ineffective in reducing time to union for scaphoid nonunion post-surgery

Aims

This study aimed to determine clinical outcomes; relationships between postoperative anterior, lateral, and posterior acetabular coverage and joint survival; and prognostic factors for joint survival after transposition osteotomy of the acetabulum (TOA).

The December 2024 Oncology Roundup. 360. looks at: Non-reversed great saphenous vein grafts for vascular reconstruction after resection of lower limb sarcoma; Detrimental effects of COVID-19 pandemic on patients with limb bone sarcoma: reference centre experience; Whole-body staging guidelines in sarcoma; Intraoperative marrow margin frozen section in limb bone sarcoma resection; Vacuum-assisted closure and paediatric oncological limb salvage; Treatment differences and long-term outcomes in adults and children with Ewing’s sarcoma; Survival, complications, and functional outcomes of uncemented distal femoral endoprosthesis with short, curved stem for patients with bone tumours

The December 2024 Children’s orthopaedics Roundup. 360. looks at: Establishing best practice for managing idiopathic toe walking in children: a UK consensus; Long-term outcomes of below-elbow casting in paediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures; Residual dysplasia risk persists in developmental dysplasia of the hip patients after Pavlik harness treatment; 3D printing in paediatricorthopaedics: enhancing surgical efficiency and patient outcomes; Pavlik harness treatment for hip dysplasia does not delay motor skill development in children; High prevalence of hip dysplasia found in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis on routine spine radiographs; Minifragment plates as effective growth modulation for ulnar deformities of the distal radius in children; Long-term success of Chiari pelvic osteotomy in preserving hip function: 30-year follow-up study

The December 2024 Shoulder & Elbow Roundup. 360. looks at: Predicting recurrence of instability after a primary traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation; Predictors of surgery and long-term outcomes in nonoperative management of full-thickness rotator cuff tears; Reverse shoulder arthroplasty viable despite acquired acromial compromise, but higher infection risk noted; LP-PRP reduces retear rates in rotator cuff repair but shows no functional outcome advantage; Long-term clinical outcomes of arthroscopic supraspinatus tendon repair using the single anchor tension band technique – minimum five-year follow-up; Arthroscopic stabilization for anterior shoulder dislocation shows low recurrence rates regardless of prior dislocations; ORIF outperforms arthroplasty for complex radial head fractures: mid-term outcomes; Routine use of surgical helmet systems may not reduce infection risk in shoulder arthroplasty

Lisfranc injuries were previously described as fracture-dislocations of the tarsometatarsal joints. With advancements in modern imaging, subtle Lisfranc injuries are now more frequently recognized, revealing that their true incidence is much higher than previously thought. Injury patterns can vary widely in severity and anatomy. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to achieve good outcomes. The original classification systems were anatomy-based, and limited as tools for guiding treatment. The current review, using the best available evidence, instead introduces a stability-based classification system, with weightbearing radiographs and CT serving as key diagnostic tools. Stable injuries generally have good outcomes with nonoperative management, most reliably treated with immobilization and non-weightbearing for six weeks. Displaced or comminuted injuries require surgical intervention, with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) being the most common approach, with a consensus towards bridge plating. While ORIF generally achieves satisfactory results, its effectiveness can vary, particularly in high-energy injuries. Primary arthrodesis remains niche for the treatment of acute injuries, but may offer benefits such as lower rates of post-traumatic arthritis and hardware removal. Novel fixation techniques, including suture button fixation, aim to provide flexible stabilization, which theoretically could improve midfoot biomechanics and reduce complications. Early findings suggest promising functional outcomes, but further studies are required to validate this method compared with established techniques. Future research should focus on refining stability-based classification systems, validation of weightbearing CT, improving rehabilitation protocols, and optimizing surgical techniques for various injury patterns to ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(12):1431–1442.

Aim. Decubitus ulcers are found in approximately 4.7% of hospitalized patients, with a higher prevalence (up to 30%) among those with spinal cord injuries. These ulcers are often associated with hip septic arthritis and/or osteomyelitis involving the femur. Girdlestone resection arthroplasty is a surgical technique used to remove affected proximal femur and acetabular tissues, resulting in a substantial defect. The vastus lateralis flap has been employed as an effective option for managing this dead space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of this procedure in a consecutive series of patients. Method. A retrospective single-center study was conducted from October 2012 to December 2022, involving 7 patients with spinal cord injuries affected by chronic severe septic hip arthritis and/or femoral head septic necrosis as a consequence of decubitus ulcers over trochanter area. All patients underwent treatment using a multidisciplinary approach by the same surgical team (orthopedic and plastic surgeons) along with infectious disease specialists. The treatment consisted of a one-stage procedure combining Girdlestone resection arthroplasty with unilateral vastus lateralis flap reconstruction, alongside targeted antibiotic therapy. Complications and postoperative outcomes were assessed and recorded. The mean follow-up period was 8 years (range 2-12). Results. Of the 7 patients, 5 were male and 2 were female, with a mean age of 50.3 years at the time of surgery. Minor wound dehiscence occurred in 28.6% of the flap sites, and 2 patients required additional revisional procedures—one for hematoma and the other for bleeding. There were no instances of flap failure, and complete wound healing was achieved in an average of 32 days (range 20-41), with the ability to load over the hip area. No cases of infection recurrence or relapse were observed. Conclusions. An aggressive surgical approach is strongly recommended for managing chronic hip septic arthritis or proximal femur osteomyelitis in patients with spinal cord injuries. A single-stage procedure combining Girdlestone resection arthroplasty with immediate vastus lateralis muscle flap reconstruction proves to be an effective strategy for dead space management and localized antibiotic delivery through the vastus muscle, giving reliable soft tissue coverage around the proximal femur to avoid the recurrence of pressure ulcers. The implementation of a standardized multidisciplinary protocol contributes significantly to the success of reconstruction efforts

Aims

The Bankart and Latarjet procedures are two of the most common surgical techniques to treat anterior shoulder instability with satisfactory clinical and functional outcomes. However, the outcomes in the adolescent population remain unclear, and there is no information regarding the arthroscopic Latarjet in this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the arthroscopic Bankart and arthroscopic Latarjet procedures in the management of anterior shoulder instability in adolescents.

Background. Cephalomedullary nails are widely used for fixation of unstable pertrochanteric fractures. In 2018, the Depuy Synthes Trochanteric Fixation Nail - Advanced (TFNA) implant was introduced at a level I academic trauma center. Thereafter, the TFNA swiftly replaced the older implant models used at the time. Subsequently, clinical concerns were raised about the use of the TFNA due to reports of nail breakage. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the concerns raised about the performance of the TFNA were valid and to assess long-term outcomes. Methods. The data consisted of 2397 patients who had undergone a proximal femoral hip fracture procedure between 2014 and 2020. Data were handpicked from patient records. TFNA was compared with TFN, PFNA, Gamma3, and Intertan regarding nail breakage, breakage time and long-term outcomes. Results. After exclusion a total of 23/1667 (1.4%) nails broke during the follow-up period. The TFNA broke the most often with 15 cases (2.0%), followed by the Gamma3 with five cases (1.1 %) and the PFNA with three cases (1.3%). Overall, the mean (SD) nail breakage time was 233 (147.8) days. However, for the TFNA, PFNA, and Gamma3, the mean breakage times were 176.8 days (109.9), 419 days (108.6), and 291.8 (153.4), respectively. In cox regression analysis we observed significant reduction in nail breakage when using PFNA with adjusted hazard risk of 0.081 [95% Ci, 0.011-0.576, p=0.011]. Conclusions. In our data, the TFNA had a slightly higher risk for nail breakage when compared to the PFNA and the Gamma3, with a risk difference of 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively. On average, the TFNA broke nearly four months earlier than the Gamma3 and more than eight months earlier than the PFNA. It should be noted, however, that implant breakage is a relatively infrequent complication

Introduction. Vascularized fibular grafting following tumor resection is an essential treatment option in limb salvage surgery. This study aimed to assess the surgical and oncological outcomes of patients treated in Denmark between 2010 and 2022. Method. We present a retrospective review of a national cohort comprising 27 patients. The indications were 13 cases of Ewing sarcoma, 12 cases of osteosarcoma, and 2 cases of giant cell tumor. The median age at surgery was 16 years (range: 2-39), and the median follow-up was 82 months (range: 12-138). Patients were analyzed overall and stratified into upper and lower extremity groups based on tumor location. Result. The primary rate of graft union was 63%, and after secondary procedures, the overall rate of graft union was 67%, with a median time to union of 13 months (range: 7-29). The reoperation rate was 74%, while the rate of limb salvage was 93%, with two patients undergoing amputation during follow-up. The 5-year overall survival rate was 81% (95% CI: 61-92). Patients with upper extremity tumors were more likely to attain graft union (92% vs. 47%, p=0.02) and less likely to undergo multiple reoperations (17% vs 60%, p=0.047) compared to patients with lower extremity tumors. Conclusion. Vascularized fibula grafting remains a valuable option in limb salvage surgery with acceptable long-term outcomes. However, especially in lower extremity cases, a low rate of graft union and multiple reoperations are to be expected

Aims

While residual fixed flexion deformity (FFD) in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has been associated with worse functional outcomes, limited evidence exists regarding FFD changes. The objective of this study was to quantify FFD changes in patients with medial unicompartmental knee arthritis undergoing UKA, and investigate any correlation with clinical outcomes.

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A review of the literature on elbow replacement found no consistency in the clinical outcome measures which are used to assess the effectiveness of interventions. The aim of this study was to define core outcome domains for elbow replacement.

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This multicentre retrospective observational study’s aims were to investigate whether there are differences in the occurrence of radiolucent lines (RLLs) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between the conventional Attune baseplate and its successor, the novel Attune S+, independent from other potentially influencing factors; and whether tibial baseplate design and presence of RLLs are associated with differing risk of revision.

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We aimed to compare reoperations following distal radial fractures (DRFs) managed with early fixation versus delayed fixation following initial closed reduction (CR).

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A variety of surgical methods and strategies have been demonstrated for Andersson lesion (AL) therapy. In 2011, we proposed and identified the feasibility of stabilizing the spine without curettaging the vertebral or discovertebral lesion to cure non-kyphotic AL. Additionally, due to the excellent reunion ability of ankylosing spondylitis, we further came up with minimally invasive spinal surgery (MIS) to avoid the need for both bone graft and lesion curettage in AL surgery. However, there is a paucity of research into the comparison between open spinal fusion (OSF) and early MIS in the treatment of AL. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the clinical outcomes and radiological evaluation of our early MIS approach and OSF for AL.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the tapered cone stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with excessive femoral anteversion and after femoral osteotomy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients who had sustained an unstable ankle fracture with a posterior malleolus fracture (PMF) and without (N-PMF). Adult patients presenting to a single academic trauma centre in Edinburgh, UK, between 2009 and 2012 with an unstable ankle fracture requiring surgery were identified. The primary outcome measure was the Olerud Molander Ankle Score (OMAS). Secondary measures included Euroqol-5D-3L Index (Eq5D3L), Euroqol-5D-VAS and Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ). There were 304 patients in the study cohort. The mean age was 49.6 years (16.3–78.3) and 33% (n=100) male and 67% (n=204) female. Of these, 67% (n=204) had a PMF and 33% did not (n=100). No patient received a computed tomography (CT) scan pre-operatively. Only 10% of PMFs (22/204) were managed with internal fixation. At a mean of 13.8 years (11.3 – 15.3) the median OMAS score was 85 (Interquartile Range 60 – 100). There was no difference in OMAS between the N-PMF and PMF groups (85 [56.25 – 100] vs 85 [61.25 – 100]; p = 0.580). There was also no difference for MOXFQ (N-PMF 7 [0 – 36.75] vs PMF 8 [0–38.75]; p = 0.643), the EQ5D Index (N-PMF 0.8 [0.7 – 1] vs PMF 0.8 [0.7 – 1]; p = 0.720) and EQ5D VAS (N-PMF 80 [70 – 90] vs PMF 80 [60 – 90]; p = 0.224). The presence of a PMF does not affect the long-term patient reported outcomes in patients with a surgically managed unstable ankle fracture

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This study aims to evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome in the setting of obesity on in-hospital outcomes and resource use after total joint replacement (TJR).

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Limited implant survival due to aseptic cup loosening is most commonly responsible for revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). Advances in implant designs and materials have been crucial in addressing those challenges. Vitamin E-infused highly cross-linked polyethylene (VEPE) promises strong wear resistance, high oxidative stability, and superior mechanical strength. Although VEPE monoblock cups have shown good mid-term performance and excellent wear patterns, long-term results remain unclear. This study evaluated migration and wear patterns and clinical and radiological outcomes at a minimum of ten years’ follow-up.