Joint replacement of the hip and knee remain very satisfactory operations. They are, however, expensive. The actual manufacturing of the implant represents only 30% of the final cost, while sales and marketing represent 40%. Recently, the patents on many well established and successful implants have expired. Companies have started producing and distributing implants that purport to replicate existing implants with good long-term results.

The aims of this paper are to assess the legality, the monitoring and cost saving implications of such generic implants. We also assess how this might affect the traditional orthopaedic implant companies.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:892–900.

In 2011 health policy dictated a reduction in iatrogenic infections, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), this resulted in local change to antimicrobial policy in orthopaedic surgery. Previous antimicrobial policy was Cefuroxime, this was changed to Flucloxacillin and Gentimicin. Following this change an increased number of patients appeared to suffer from acute kidney injury (AKI). We initially evaluated the incidence of AKI pre and post antibiotic change and found a correlation between the Flucloxacillin and AKI. We then made changes to antibiotic policy to mitigate the increased rates of AKI and proceeded to evaluate the outcomes.

In this prospective study all patients admitted with fracture neck of femurs were identified from the National Hip Fracture database and data obtained. The degree of AKI was classified according to the validated RIFILE criteria.

Evaluation showed a 4 fold decrease, from 13% to only 3%, in AKI after introduction of the modified antibiotic policy. C.difficile continues to be non-existent since this change.

Flucloxacillin obviously had a significant impact on this patient group. However, we have shown that with appropriate changes to antibiotic policy AKI associated morbidity can be significantly reduced. Dose dependent antibiotics will now be given based on weight and eGFR.

Reported rates of dislocation in hip hemiarthroplasty (HA) for the treatment of intra-capsular fractures of the hip, range between 1% and 10%. HA is frequently performed through a direct lateral surgical approach. The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of the anterior capsule to the stability of a cemented HA through a direct lateral approach.

A total of five whole-body cadavers were thawed at room temperature, providing ten hip joints for investigation. A Thompson HA was cemented in place via a direct lateral approach. The cadavers were then positioned supine, both knee joints were disarticulated and a digital torque wrench was attached to the femur using a circular frame with three half pins. The wrench applied an external rotation force with the hip in extension to allow the hip to dislocate anteriorly. Each hip was dislocated twice; once with a capsular repair and once without repairing the capsule. Stratified sampling ensured the order in which this was performed was alternated for the paired hips on each cadaver.

Comparing peak torque force in hips with the capsule repaired and peak torque force in hips without repair of the capsule, revealed a significant difference between the ‘capsule repaired’ (mean 22.96 Nm, standard deviation (sd) 4.61) and the ‘capsule not repaired’ group (mean 5.6 Nm, sd 2.81) (p < 0.001). Capsular repair may help reduce the risk of hip dislocation following HA.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:141–4.

In late 2011 there was a change in antimicrobial policy in orthopaedic surgery to reduce the Clostridium difficile (C. diff) rate, this was inducted top down from government, to PCT, to hospital trust. The previous antimicrobial policy was Cefuroxime, this was changed to Flucloxacillin and Gentimicin. Following this change it was noticed an increased number of patients appeared to suffer from acute kidney injury (AKI). This led us to evaluate the incidence of AKI pre and post antibiotic change and look at the causes behind this.

In this retrospective study all patients admitted with fracture neck of femurs were identified from the National Hip Fracture database and data pulled. The degree of AKI was classified according to the validated RIFILE criteria.

Evaluation showed 2–4 fold increase in AKI since antibiotic change. Although mortality was decreased in these patients, the incidence of AKI had increased significantly. However, C. difficile has been obliterated by this change.

The investigation highlights potential problems with increased rates of AKI amongst NOF patients, since antibiotic change. Flucloxacillin may have significant impact on this patient group. Dose dependent antibiotics will now be given based on weight and eGFR. Further analysis of this new change needs to be evaluated.