Purpose: Given recent evolving guidelines regarding maximum allowable work hours and emphasis on resident quality of life, novel strategies are required for implementing call schedules. The night float system has been used by some institutions as a strategy to decrease the burden of call on resident quality of life in level one trauma centres. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in quality of life, work-related stressors, and educational experience between orthopaedic surgery residents in the night float and standard call systems at two level one trauma centres.

Method: This was a prospective cohort study at two level one trauma hospitals comprised of a standard call (1 in 4) group and a night float (5pm-7am, Sunday to Friday) group for each hospital, respectively. Residents completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) general quality-of-life questionnaire, as well as, questionnaires on stress level and educational experience before the rotation (baseline), at two, four and subsequently at six months. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) approach was used to compare between-group differences using the baseline scores as covariates. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests (non-parametric) were used to determine if the residents’ SF-36 scores were different from the age and sex matched Canadian norms. Predictors of resident quality of life were analyzed using multivariable mixed models.

Results: Seven residents were in the standard call group and nine in the night float group for a total of 16 residents (all males, mean age=35.1 yrs). Controlling for between-group differences at baseline, residents on the night float rotation had significantly lower role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), social function (SF) subscale scores (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study suggests that the residents in the standard call group had better health related quality of life in comparison with the night float group. No differences existed in subjective educational benefits and stress level between the groups. The study findings may be limited due to the small sample size. However, this sample size is substantial given the size of most orthopaedic residency programs in North America.

To evaluate the clinical accuracy of computer-assisted fluoroscopy for the placement of percutaneous lumbosacral (LS) pedicle screws.

A prospective computed tomographic (CT) analysis was performed in forty consecutive patients. Three independent observers were utilised. Postoperative CT scans of one hundred and fifty-nine titanium pedicle screws (n = 6(L3); thirty-eight(L4); sixty-five(l5) and fifty(S1)) were reviewed. All screws were percutaneously placed using the two-dimensional FluoroNavTM system. The relative position of the screw to the pedicle was graded as follows: I-completely in; II – < 2mm breach; III - = 2–4mm breach; IV – > 4mm breach. The direction of the breach was further classified as well as its trajectory.

Correlation between observers was near perfect. The three observers rated 74.2%, 78.6%, and 78.0% of screws were completely contained within the pedicle. The data from the observer with the most significant pedicle breaches is as follows: thirty-five (22%) pedicle breaches (grade II -n=30; III - n=4; IV - n=1/n= 11 medial; n=19 lateral; 5 superior). Only one clinically significant breach occurred medially (grade III) at L5. This required screw revision (performed with a minimal access technique) with complete resolution of acute post-op L5 radiculopathy.

The in-vivo percutaneous pedicle breach rate in this study was higher than that reported for similar open navigational techniques. The majority (85.7%) of breaches were minor (< 2mm) and over half (54.3%) were lateral with no potential for clinical squealae. This high lateral breach rate is due to a modified lateral starting point required for the percutaneous technique. However, there is concern that this technique resulted in one clinically significant medial breach and highlights the increased risk associated with percutatneous pedicle screw placement. The findings of this study suggest that improved screw placement accuracy for minimal access instrumented fusions is required.

The purpose of this study was to determine which activities are important to patients and to determine the severity of those problems. The five most important activities were walking outside, driving, walking indoors, stair climbing and daytime pain. Importance of these did not change postoperatively. The five most severe problems causing limitation were a limp, stiffness, loss of energy, daytime pain and locking. All these activities become statistically less severe over twenty-four months. Activities that are important to patients are different than the problems that are ranked by severity. Surgeons can educate patients that the severity of problems do improve over time following TKA.

The objectives of this study were:

to determine the five most important activities and five most severe problems for patients prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using the Patient Specific Index (PASI) and

Activities that are most important to patients are different than problems that patients find severe. Important activities remain important over time. Severe problems become less severe over time.

Functional activities and PASI scores improve after TKA. Surgeons can educate patients that the problems they find most severe preoperatively do improve over time following TKA. Important activities remain important.

Patients scheduled for elective primary (or revision) TKA at two tertiary care teaching hospitals were enrolled in the study, excluding those not fluent in English and those undergoing TKA for a tumour, acute fracture, or an infection of the prosthesis. Patients completed the PASI pre-operatively, six, twelve and twenty-four months post-operatively.

One hundred and nineteen subjects were enrolled, nineteen were excluded. The five most important activities (ten- point scale, ten is most important) preoperatively were (mean; 95% CI): walking outside (6.25; 6.23–6.27), driving (6.17; 6.12–6.22), walking indoors (6.14; 6.12–6.16), climbing stairs (6.12; 6.10–6.14), and daytime pain (5.84; 5.81–5.87). These activities were not statistically less important over time. The most severe problems were limping (4.81; 4.77–4.85), stiffness (4.59; 4.56–4.62), lack of energy (4.51; 4.47–4.55), daytime pain (4.46; 4.43–3.39) and locking (4.38; 4.27–4.49). These were significantly less severe at twenty-four months (p < .001).

Introduction and Aims: Incidental dural tears and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are common complications of spinal surgery. Collagen matrix (DuraGen, Integra LifeSciences) derived from bovine flexor tendons allows CSF absorption up to 100 times its weight without a volume change. Aim of this study was categorising the dural tears and monitoring post-operative complications.

Method: In this three-year prospective study, 35 patients (22 males, 13 females; mean age 53.8 years (range 16–82)) were selected by the following criteria: (1) any spine operation resulting in intra-operative CSF leak due to dural tear; or (2) persistent post-operative CSF leak. Collagen matrix was cut according to the extent of the dural defect (pinhole, < 1cm, 1–2 cm, and > 2cm). Dural matrix was moistened and applied as a graft and overlying tissues were meticulously reconstituted. Collagen sponge was not sutured on the dura. Subfascial drain was used at the discretion of surgeon to avoid hematoma and blood loss.

Results: The 39 procedures were as follows: 23 laminectomies, six diskectomies, four hematoma repairs, three structural repairs, two fracture stabilisations and one cystectomy. The locations of the 39 procedures were: 27 lumbar, seven thoracic, and five cervical. In 33 of 39 procedures, hemovac subfascial drain was used to avoid hematoma and excessive blood loss. Fibrin glue was used in two cases only. In 13 cases the dural defect was > 2cm, five cases 1–2cm, five cases < 2cm, and nine were pinhole defects. Of importance was the successful repair of 13 large dural tears (> 2cm) using the collagen sponge. Our study showed a 97.4% success rate for repairing dural tears using the collagen sponge surpassing the established techniques success rates by up to 10%. There were no wound infections post-operatively, versus the 6% rate of deep wound infection using the standard suture and fibrin glue. The mean follow-up time was 3.1 months. In two out of 39 procedures collagen sponge was used to repair persistent post-operative CSF leaks (no dural sponge used in the original operation).

Conclusion: Considering the technical challenge of dural tears, especially ventral or lateral tears, the use of collagen sponge offers an excellent alternative mini-mising a prolonged procedure, wound infection, use of tissue grafts, as well as excessive blood loss. This study showed collagen sponge to be effective as a permanent dural substitute.