Aims. Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes; previously known as Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes) periprosthetic hip and knee infections are under-reported. While culture contamination with C. acnes occurs, true infections are important to recognize and treat. We sought to describe the demographics and treatment outcomes of patients with C. acnes periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) of the hip and knee. Methods. Patients with C. acnes PJI between January 2005 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed utilizing the institutional total joint registry. Patients with monomicrobial PJI and two or more positive cultures were considered to have true C. acnes PJI. Patients with polymicrobial infection or with only one positive culture were excluded. This resulted in 35 PJIs (21 hips and 14 knees); the patients’ mean age was 63 years (35 to 84) and 15 (43%) were female. Mean follow-up was five years (1 to 14). Results. The median time to positive culture was five days (IQR 5 to 6) and median synovial fluid cell count was 22,583 cells (IQR 15,200 to 53,231). The median ESR was 25 mm/hr (IQR 7 to 37), and CRP was 15 mg/l (IQR 3 to 29). Of the 35 PJIs, 18 (51%) were treated with chronic antibiotic suppression without surgical intervention, and the remainder were treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty. The two-year survival free of any revision was 94%. Four patients failed treatment due to symptomatic infection, with three treated with two-stage exchange and one treated with irrigation and debridement with modular component exchange for a survival rate of 89% and 83% at two and five years, respectively. Conclusion. Laboratory evidence of C. acnes PJI in this cohort was typical compared to more conventional organisms. Cultures grew more quickly than previously thought in patients with C. acnes PJI. Treatment with two-stage exchange or chronic antibiotic suppression alone both had few treatment failures at mid-term follow-up. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(12):1426–1430

Aims. Our purpose was to describe an unusual series of 21 patients with fungal osteomyelitis after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R). Methods. We present a case-series of consecutive patients treated at our institution due to a severe fungal osteomyelitis after an arthroscopic ACL-R from November 2005 to March 2015. Patients were referred to our institution from different areas of our country. We evaluated the amount of bone resection required, type of final reconstructive procedure performed, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) functional score. Results. A total of 21 consecutive patients were included in the study; 19 were male with median age of 28 years (IQR 25 to 32). All ACL-R were performed with hamstrings autografts with different fixation techniques. An oncological-type debridement was needed to control persistent infection symptoms. There were no recurrences of fungal infection after median of four surgical debridements (IQR 3 to 6). Five patients underwent an extensive curettage due to the presence of large cavitary lesions and were reconstructed with hemicylindrical intercalary allografts (HIAs), preserving the epiphysis. An open surgical debridement was performed resecting the affected epiphysis in 15 patients, with a median bone loss of 11 cm (IQR 11.5 to 15.6). From these 15 cases, eight patients were reconstructed with allograft prosthesis composites (APC); six with tumour-type prosthesis (TTP) and one required a femoral TTP in combination with a tibial APC. One underwent an above-the-knee amputation. The median MSTS functional score was 20 points at a median of seven years (IQR 5 to 9) of follow-up. Conclusion. This study suggests that mucormycosis infection after an ACL-R is a serious complication. Diagnosis is usually delayed until major bone destructive lesions are present. This may originate additional massive reconstructive surgeries with severe functional limitations for the patients. Level of evidence: IV. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;2(1):3–8

Aims. Ankle fractures are common injuries and the third most common fragility fracture. In all, 40% of ankle fractures in the frail are open and represent a complex clinical scenario, with morbidity and mortality rates similar to hip fracture patients. They have a higher risk of complications, such as wound infections, malunion, hospital-acquired infections, pressure sores, veno-thromboembolic events, and significant sarcopaenia from prolonged bed rest. Methods. A modified Delphi method was used and a group of experts with a vested interest in best practice were invited from the British Foot and Ankle Society (BOFAS), British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS), British Association of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS), British Geriatric Society (BGS), and the British Limb Reconstruction Society (BLRS). Results. In the first stage, there were 36 respondents to the survey, with over 70% stating their unit treats more than 20 such cases per year. There was a 50:50 split regarding if the timing of surgery should be within 36 hours, as per the hip fracture guidelines, or 72 hours, as per the open fracture guidelines. Overall, 75% would attempt primary wound closure and 25% would utilize a local flap. There was no orthopaedic agreement on fixation, and 75% would permit weightbearing immediately. In the second stage, performed at the BLRS meeting, experts discussed the survey results and agreed upon a consensus for the management of open elderly ankle fractures. Conclusion. A mutually agreed consensus from the expert panel was reached to enable the best practice for the management of patients with frailty with an open ankle fracture: 1) all units managing lower limb fragility fractures should do so through a cohorted multidisciplinary pathway. This pathway should follow the standards laid down in the "care of the older or frail orthopaedic trauma patient" British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and Orthopaedics (BOAST) guideline. These patients have low bone density, and we should recommend full falls and bone health assessment; 2) all open lower limb fragility fractures should be treated in a single stage within 24 hours of injury if possible; 3) all patients with fragility fractures of the lower limb should be considered for mobilisation on the day following surgery; 4) all patients with lower limb open fragility fractures should be considered for tissue sparing, with judicious debridement as a default; 5) all patients with open lower limb fragility fractures should be managed by a consultant plastic surgeon with primary closure wherever possible; and 6) the method of fixation must allow for immediate unrestricted weightbearing. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(3):236–242

Aims. This study aims to report the outcomes in the treatment of unstable proximal third scaphoid nonunions with arthroscopic curettage, non-vascularized bone grafting, and percutaneous fixation. Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of 20 patients. All cases were delayed presentations (n = 15) or failed nonoperatively managed scaphoid fractures (n = 5). Surgery was performed at a mean duration of 27 months (7 to 120) following injury with arthroscopic debridement and arthroscopic iliac crest autograft. Fracture fixation was performed percutaneously with Kirschner (K)-wires in 12 wrists, a headless screw in six, and a combination of a headless screw and single K-wire in two. Clinical outcomes were assessed using grip strength, patient-reported outcome measures, and wrist range of motion (ROM) measurements. Results. Intraoperatively, established avascular necrosis of the proximal fragment was identified in ten scaphoids. All fractures united within 16 weeks, confirmed by CT. At a mean follow-up of 31 months (12 to 64), there were significant improvements in the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, Mayo Wrist Score, abbreviated Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, wrist ROM, grip strength, and the patients’ subjective pain score. No peri- or postoperative complications were encountered. Conclusion. Our data indicate that arthroscopic bone grafting and fixation with cancellous autograft is a viable method in the treatment of proximal third scaphoid nonunions, regardless of the vascularity of the proximal fragment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(8):946–952

Aims. Implant-related postoperative spondylodiscitis (IPOS) is a severe complication in spine surgery and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With growing knowledge in the field of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), equivalent investigations towards the management of implant-related infections of the spine are indispensable. To our knowledge, this study provides the largest description of cases of IPOS to date. Methods. Patients treated for IPOS from January 2006 to December 2020 were included. Patient demographics, parameters upon admission and discharge, radiological imaging, and microbiological results were retrieved from medical records. CT and MRI were analyzed for epidural, paravertebral, and intervertebral abscess formation, vertebral destruction, and endplate involvement. Pathogens were identified by CT-guided or intraoperative biopsy, intraoperative tissue sampling, or implant sonication. Results. A total of 32 cases of IPOS with a mean patient age of 68.7 years (37.6 to 84.1) were included. Diabetes, age > 60 years, and history of infection were identified as risk factors. Patient presentation upon admission included a mean body temperature of 36.7°C (36.1 to 38.0), back pain at rest (mean visual analogue scale (VAS) mean 5/10) and when mobile (mean VAS 6/10), as well as elevated levels of CRP (mean 76.8 mg/l (0.4 to 202.9)) and white blood cell count (mean 9.2 units/nl (2.6 to 32.8)). Pathogens were identified by CT-guided or conventional biopsy, intraoperative tissue sampling, or sonication, and Gram-positive cocci presented as the most common among them. Antibiotic therapy was established in all cases with pathogen-specific treatment in 23 (71.9%) subjects. Overall 27 (84.4%) patients received treatment by debridement, decompression, and fusion of the affected segment. Conclusion. Cases of IPOS are rare and share similarities with spontaneous spondylodiscitis. While procedures such as CT-guided biopsy and sonication are valuable tools in the diagnosis of IPOS, MRI and intraoperative tissue sampling remain the gold standard. Research on known principles of PJI such as implant retention versus implant exchange need to be expanded to the field of spine surgery. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(11):832–838

Aims. The aims of this study were to report the outcomes of patients with a complex fracture of the lower limb in the five years after they took part in the Wound Healing in Surgery for Trauma (WHIST) trial. Methods. The WHIST trial compared negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings with standard dressings applied at the end of the first operation for patients undergoing internal fixation of a complex fracture of the lower limb. Complex fractures included periarticular fractures and open fractures when the wound could be closed primarily at the end of the first debridement. A total of 1,548 patients aged ≥ 16 years completed the initial follow-up, six months after injury. In this study we report the pre-planned analysis of outcome data up to five years. Patients reported their Disability Rating Index (DRI) (0 to 100, in which 100 = total disability), and health-related quality of life, chronic pain scores and neuropathic pain scores annually, using a self-reported questionnaire. Complications, including further surgery related to the fracture, were also recorded. Results. A total of 1,015 of the original patients (66%) provided at least one set of outcome data during the five years of follow-up. There was no evidence of a difference in patient-reported disability between the two groups at five years (NPWT group mean DRI 30.0 (SD 26.5), standard dressing group mean DRI 31.5 (SD 28.8), adjusted difference -0.86 (95% CI -4.14 to 2.40; p = 0.609). There was also no evidence of a difference in the complication rates at this time. Conclusion. We found no evidence of a difference in disability ratings between NPWT compared with standard wound dressings in the five years following the surgical treatment of a complex fracture of the lower limb. Patients in both groups reported high levels of persistent disability and reduced quality of life, with little evidence of improvement during this time. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(8):858–864

Aims. The Open-Fracture Patient Evaluation Nationwide (OPEN) study was performed to provide clarity in open fracture management previously skewed by small, specialist centre studies and large, unfocused registry investigations. We report the current management metrics of open fractures across the UK. Method. Patients admitted to hospital with an open fracture (excluding phalanges or isolated hand injuries) between 1 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 were included. Institutional information governance approval was obtained at the lead site and all data entered using Research Electronic Data Capture software. All domains of the British Orthopaedic Association Standard for Open Fracture Management were recorded. Results. Across 51 centres, 1,175 patients were analyzed. Antibiotics were given to 754 (69.0%) in the emergency department, 240 (22.0%) pre-hospital, and 99 (9.1%) as inpatients. Wounds were photographed in 848 (72.7%) cases. Median time to first surgery was 16 hrs 14 mins (interquartile range (IQR) 8 hrs 29 mins to 23 hrs 19 mins). Complex injuries were operated on sooner (median 12 hrs 51 mins (IQR 4 hrs 36 mins to 21 hrs 14 mins)). Of initial procedures, 1,053 (90.3%) occurred between 8am and 8pm. A consultant orthopaedic surgeon was present at 1,039 (89.2%) first procedures. In orthoplastic centres, a consultant plastic surgeon was present at 465 (45.1%) first procedures. Overall, 706 (60.8%) patients required a single operation. At primary debridement, 798 (65.0%) fractures were definitively fixed, while 734 (59.8%) fractures had fixation and coverage in one operation through direct closure or soft-tissue coverage. Negative pressure wound therapy was used in 235 (67.7%) staged procedures. Following wound closure or soft-tissue cover, 509 (47.0%) patients received antibiotics for a median of three days (IQR 1 to 7). Conclusion. OPEN provides an insight into care across the UK and different levels of hospital for open fractures. Patients are predominantly operated on promptly, in working hours, and at specialist centres. Areas for improvement include combined patient review and follow-up, scheduled operating, earlier definitive soft-tissue cover, and more robust antibiotic husbandry. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(9):1073–1080

Aims. Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) with prior multiple failed surgery for reinfection represent a huge challenge for surgeons because of poor vascular supply and biofilm formation. This study aims to determine the results of single-stage revision using intra-articular antibiotic infusion in treating this condition. Methods. A retrospective analysis included 78 PJI patients (29 hips; 49 knees) who had undergone multiple prior surgical interventions. Our cohort was treated with single-stage revision using a supplementary intra-articular antibiotic infusion. Of these 78 patients, 59 had undergone more than two prior failed debridement and implant retentions, 12 patients had a failed arthroplasty resection, three hips had previously undergone failed two-stage revision, and four had a failed one-stage revision before their single-stage revision. Previous failure was defined as infection recurrence requiring surgical intervention. Besides intravenous pathogen-sensitive agents, an intra-articular infusion of vancomycin, imipenem, or voriconazole was performed postoperatively. The antibiotic solution was soaked into the joint for 24 hours for a mean of 16 days (12 to 21), then extracted before next injection. Recurrence of infection and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Results. A total of 68 patients (87.1%) were free of infection at a mean follow-up time of 85 months (24 to 133). The seven-year infection-free survival was 87.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79.4 to 95.8). No significant difference in infection-free survival was observed between hip and knee PJIs (91.5% (95% CI 79.9 to 100) vs 84.7% (95% CI 73.1 to 96.3); p = 0.648). The mean postoperative Harris Hip Score was 76.1 points (63.2 to 92.4) and Hospital for Special Surgery score was 78. 2 (63.2 to 92.4) at the most recent assessment. Polymicrobial and fungal infections accounted for 14.1% (11/78) and 9.0% (7/78) of all cases, respectively. Conclusion. Single-stage revision with intra-articular antibiotic infusion can provide high antibiotic concentration in synovial fluid, thereby overcoming reduced vascular supply and biofilm formation. This supplementary route of administration may be a viable option in treating PJI after multiple failed prior surgeries for reinfection. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(7):867–874

Aims. This study estimated trends in incidence of open fractures and the adherence to clinical standards for open fracture care in England. Methods. Longitudinal data collected by the Trauma Audit and Research Network were used to identify 38,347 patients with open fractures, and a subgroup of 12,170 with severe open fractures of the tibia, between 2008 and 2019 in England. Incidence rates per 100,000 person-years and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Clinical care was compared with the British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma and National Major Trauma Centre audit standards. Results. In total, 60% of all open fractures occurred in males; the median age was 48 years (interquartile range (IQR) 29 to 68). Between 2012 and 2019, the overall incidence in England was 6.94 per 100,000 person-years. In males, the highest incidence observed was in those aged 20 to 29 years (11.50 per 100,000 person-years); in females, incidence increased with age, peaking at 32.11/100,000 person-years at 90 years of age and over. Among those with severe open fractures of the tibia, there was a bimodal distribution in males, peaking at 20 to 29 years (3.71/100,000 person-years) and greater than 90 years of age (2.84/100,000 person-years) respectively; among females, incidence increased with age to a peak of 9.91/100,000 person years at 90 years of age and over. There has been variable improvement with time in the clinical care standards for patients with severe open fractures of the tibia. The median time to debridement was 13.0 hours (IQR 6.4 to 20.9); almost two-thirds of patients underwent definitive soft-tissue coverage within 72 hours from 2016 to 2019. Conclusion. This is the first time the incidence of all open fractures has been studied using data from a national audit in England. While most open fractures occurred in young males, the incidence increased with age in females to a much greater level than observed in older males. The degree of missing data in the national audit is startling, and limits the certainty of inferences drawn concerning open fracture care. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(6):736–746

Aims. Excision of chronic osteomyelitic bone creates a dead space which must be managed to avoid early recurrence of infection. Systemic antibiotics cannot penetrate this space in high concentrations, so local treatment has become an attractive adjunct to surgery. The aim of this study was to present the mid- to long-term results of local treatment with gentamicin in a bioabsorbable ceramic carrier. Methods. A prospective series of 100 patients with Cierny-Mader Types III and IV chronic ostemyelitis, affecting 105 bones, were treated with a single-stage procedure including debridement, deep tissue sampling, local and systemic antibiotics, stabilization, and immediate skin closure. Chronic osteomyelitis was confirmed using strict diagnostic criteria. The mean follow-up was 6.05 years (4.2 to 8.4). Results. At final follow-up, six patients (six bones) had recurrent infection; thus 94% were infection-free. Three infections recurred in the first year, two in the second year, and one 4.5 years postoperatively. Recurrence was not significantly related to the physiological class of the patient (1/20 Class A (5%) vs 5/80 Class B (6.25%); p = 0.833), nor was it significantly related to the aetiology of the infection, the organisms which were cultured or the presence of nonunion before surgery (1/10 with nonunion (10%) vs 5/90 without nonunion (5.6%); p = 0.570). Organisms with intermediate or high-grade resistance to gentamicin were significantly more likely in polymicrobial infections (9/21; 42.8%) compared with monobacterial osteomyelitis (7/79 (8.9%); p < 0.001). However, recurrence was not significantly more frequent when a resistant organism was present (1/16 for resistant cases (6.25%) vs 5/84 in those with a microbiologically sensitive infection (5.95%); p = 0.958). Conclusion. We found that a single-stage protocol, including the use of a high-delivery local antibiotic ceramic carrier, was effective over a period of several years. The method can be used in a wide range of patients, including those with significant comorbidities and an infected nonunion. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(9):1095–1100

Aims. Despite multiple trials and case series on hip hemiarthroplasty designs, guidance is still lacking on which implant to use. One particularly deficient area is long-term outcomes. We present over 1,000 consecutive cemented Thompson’s hemiarthroplasties over a ten-year period, recording all accessible patient and implant outcomes. Methods. Patient identifiers for a consecutive cohort treated between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2011 were linked to radiographs, surgical notes, clinic letters, and mortality data from a national dataset. This allowed charting of their postoperative course, complications, readmissions, returns to theatre, revisions, and deaths. We also identified all postoperative attendances at the Emergency and Outpatient Departments, and recorded any subsequent skeletal injuries. Results. In total, 1,312 Thompson’s hemiarthroplasties were analyzed (mean age at surgery 82.8 years); 125 complications were recorded, necessitating 82 returns to theatre. These included 14 patients undergoing aspiration or manipulation under anaesthesia, 68 reoperations (5.2%) for debridement and implant retention (n = 12), haematoma evacuation (n = 2), open reduction for dislocation (n = 1), fixation of periprosthetic fracture (n = 5), and 48 revised stems (3.7%), for infection (n = 13), dislocation (n = 12), aseptic loosening (n = 9), persistent pain (n = 6), periprosthetic fracture (n = 4), acetabular erosion (n = 3), and metastatic bone disease (n = 1). Their status at ten years is summarized as follows: 1,180 (89.9%) dead without revision, 34 (2.6%) dead having had revision, 84 (6.6%) alive with the stem unrevised, and 14 (1.1%) alive having had revision. Cumulative implant survivorship was 90.3% at ten years; patient survivorship was 7.4%. Conclusion. The Thompson’s stem demonstrates very low rates of complications requiring reoperation and revision, up to ten years after the index procedure. Fewer than one in ten patients live for ten years after fracture. This study supports the use of a cemented Thompson’s implant as a cost-effective option for frail hip fracture patients. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(9):710–715

Aims. The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of patients with severe open fractures of the lower limb in the five years after they took part in the Wound management for Open Lower Limb Fracture (WOLLF) trial. Methods. The WOLLF trial compared standard dressings to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied at the end of the first surgical wound debridement, and patients were followed-up for 12 months. At 12 months, 170 of the original 460 participants agreed to take part in this medium-term follow-up study. Patients reported their Disability Rating Index (DRI) (0 to 100, where 100 is total disability) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the EuroQol five-dimension three-level health questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) annually by self-reported questionnaire. Further surgical interventions related to the open fracture were also recorded. Results. There was no evidence of a difference in patient-reported disability, HRQoL, or the need for further surgery between patients treated with NPWT versus standard dressings at five years. Considering the combined results for all participants, there was a small but statistically significant change in DRI scores over time (1.6 units per year; p = 0.005), but no evidence that EQ-5D-3L scores changed significantly during years two to five (p = 0.551). Conclusion. This study shows that the high levels of disability and reduced HRQoL reported by patients 12 months after severe open fractures of the lower limb persist in the medium term, with little evidence of improvement between years two and five. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(5):633–639

Aims. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a highly congruent condylar-stabilized (CS) articulation may be advantageous due to increased stability versus cruciate-retaining (CR) designs, while mitigating the limitations of a posterior-stabilized construct. The aim was to assess ten-year implant survival and functional outcomes of a cemented single-radius TKA with a CS insert, performed without posterior cruciate ligament sacrifice. Methods. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing TKA at a specialist centre in the UK between November 2010 and December 2012. Data were collected using a bespoke electronic database and cross-referenced with national arthroplasty audit data, with variables including: preoperative characteristics, intraoperative factors, complications, and mortality status. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected by a specialist research team at ten years post-surgery. There were 536 TKAs, of which 308/536 (57.5%) were in female patients. The mean age was 69.0 years (95% CI 45.0 to 88.0), the mean BMI was 32.2 kg/m. 2. (95% CI 18.9 to 50.2), and 387/536 (72.2%) survived to ten years. There were four revisions (0.7%): two deep infections (requiring debridement and implant retention), one aseptic loosening, and one haemosiderosis. Results. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated no difference in implant survival according to sex, age, or obesity status. Ten-year PROMs were available for 196/387 (50.6%) surviving patients and were excellent: mean Oxford Knee Score 34.4 (95% CI 32.7 to 36.1); mean Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) 51.2 (95% CI 16.1 to 86.3); mean EuroQol five-dimension five-level questionnaire score 69.9 (95% CI 46.8 to 93.0); 141/196 (71.9%) achieved the 22-point FJS patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS); and 156/196 (79.6%) were “very satisfied or satisfied”. Conclusion. This is the only large study reporting ten-year implant survival and functional outcomes of TKA using a cemented single-radius design and with a CS tibial bearing construct. The findings of excellent implant survival, safety, and functional outcomes indicate that this combination is a safe and effective option in routine TKA. Further investigation of this single-radius design TKA with CS tibial bearings with well-matched patient study groups will allow further insight into the performance of these implants. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(8):808–816

Aims. National joint registries under-report revisions for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We aimed to validate PJI reporting to the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Arthroplasty Registry (AOANJRR) and the factors associated with its accuracy. We then applied these data to refine estimates of the total national burden of PJI. Methods. A total of 561 Australian cases of confirmed PJI were captured by a large, prospective observational study, and matched to data available for the same patients through the AOANJRR. Results. In all, 501 (89.3%) cases of PJI recruited to the prospective observational study were successfully matched with the AOANJRR database. Of these, 376 (75.0%) were captured by the registry, while 125 (25.0%) did not have a revision or reoperation for PJI recorded. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, early (within 30 days of implantation) PJIs were less likely to be reported (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34 to 0.93; p = 0.020), while two-stage revision procedures were more likely to be reported as a PJI to the registry (OR 5.3 (95% CI 2.37 to 14.0); p ≤ 0.001) than debridement and implant retention or other surgical procedures. Based on this data, the true estimate of the incidence of PJI in Australia is up to 3,900 cases per year. Conclusion. In Australia, infection was not recorded as the indication for revision or reoperation in one-quarter of those with confirmed PJI. This is better than in other registries, but suggests that registry-captured estimates of the total national burden of PJI are underestimated by at least one-third. Inconsistent PJI reporting is multifactorial but could be improved by developing a nested PJI registry embedded within the national arthroplasty registry. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(5):367–373

Aims. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of an antiprotrusio acetabular cage (APC) when used in the surgical treatment of periacetabular bone metastases. Methods. This retrospective cohort study using a prospectively collected database involved 56 patients who underwent acetabular reconstruction for periacetabular bone metastases or haematological malignancy using a single APC between January 2009 and 2020. The mean follow-up was 20 months (1 to 143). The primary outcome measure was implant survival. Postoperative radiographs were analyzed for loosening and failure. Patient and implant survival were assessed using a competing risk analysis. Secondary parameters included primary malignancy, oncological treatment, surgical factors, length of stay in hospital, and postoperative complications. Results. A total of 33 patients (59%) died during the study period at a mean of 15 months postoperatively (1 to 63). No patient had radiological evidence of loosening or failure. Acetabular component survival was 100%. Three patients (5.4%) had further surgery; one (1.8%) underwent revision of the femoral component for dislocation, one required debridement with implant retention for periprosthetic joint infection, and one required closed reduction for dislocation. Using death as a competing risk, at 100 months, the probability of revision was 0.036 and the risk of death was 0.84. Conclusion. With appropriate patient selection, the antiprotrusio cage offers good implant survival, with a reasonable perioperative complication rate in this high-risk group of patients when managing metastatic disease or haematological malignancy around the acetabulum. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(4):504–509

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS) classification of open fractures and economic costs. Methods. Resource use was measured during the six months that followed open fractures of the lower limb in 748 adults recruited as part of two large clinical trials within the UK Major Trauma Research Network. Resource inputs were valued using unit costs drawn from primary and secondary sources. Economic costs (GBP sterling, 2017 to 2018 prices), estimated from both a NHS and Personal Social Services (PSS) perspective, were related to the degree of complexity of the open fracture based on the OTS classification. Results. Adjusted mean total NHS and PSS costs were £13,785 following treatment of complex fractures and £3,550 following treatment of simple fractures, where the open fracture wound is closed at the end of the first wound debridement, generating a mean difference of £10,235 (95% confidence interval £8,074 to £12,396). Conclusion. Following previous work correlating clinical outcomes with the OTS classification of open fractures, this study suggests that the new OTS classification also correlates with economic costs estimated from alternative study perspectives. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(3):408–412

Objectives. Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis is a major challenge in orthopaedics, and no reliable parameters have been established for accurate, preoperative predictions in the differential diagnosis of aseptic loosening or PJI. This study surveyed factors in synovial fluid (SF) for improving PJI diagnosis. Methods. We enrolled 48 patients (including 39 PJI and nine aseptic loosening cases) who required knee/hip revision surgery between January 2016 and December 2017. The PJI diagnosis was established according to the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. SF was used to survey factors by protein array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to compare protein expression patterns in SF among three groups (aseptic loosening and first- and second-stage surgery). We compared routine clinical test data, such as C-reactive protein level and leucocyte number, with potential biomarker data to assess the diagnostic ability for PJI within the same patient groups. Results. Cut-off values of 1473 pg/ml, 359 pg/ml, and 8.45 pg/ml were established for interleukin (IL)-16, IL-18, and cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2 (CRELD2), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that these factors exhibited an accuracy of 1 as predictors of PJI. These factors represent potential biomarkers for decisions associated with prosthesis reimplantation based on their ability to return to baseline values following the completion of debridement. Conclusion. IL-16, IL-18, and CRELD2 were found to be potential biomarkers for PJI diagnosis, with SF tests outperforming blood tests in accuracy. These factors could be useful for assessing successful debridement based on their ability to return to baseline values following the completion of debridement. Cite this article: M-F. Chen, C-H. Chang, L-Y. Yang, P-H. Hsieh, H-N. Shih, S. W. N. Ueng, Y. Chang. Synovial fluid interleukin-16, interleukin-18, and CRELD2 as novel biomarkers of prosthetic joint infections. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:179–188. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.84.BJR-2018-0291.R1

Aims. Deep surgical site infection (SSI) remains an unsolved problem after hip fracture. Debridement, antibiotic, and implant retention (DAIR) has become a mainstream treatment in elective periprosthetic joint infection; however, evidence for DAIR after infected hip hemiarthroplaty is limited. Methods. Patients who underwent a hemiarthroplasty between March 2007 and August 2018 were reviewed. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify and adjust for risk factors for SSI, and to identify factors predicting a successful DAIR at one year. Results. A total of 3,966 patients were identified. The overall rate of SSI was 1.7% (51 patients (1.3%) with deep SSI, and 18 (0.45%) with superficial SSI). In all, 50 patients underwent revision surgery for infection (43 with DAIR, and seven with excision arthroplasty). After adjustment for other variables, only concurrent urinary tract infection (odds ratio (OR) 2.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57 to 4.92; p < 0.001) and increasing delay to theatre for treatment of the fracture (OR 1.31 per day, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.52; p < 0.001) were predictors of developing a SSI, while a cemented arthroplasty was protective (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.96; p = 0.031). In all, nine patients (20.9%) were alive at one year with a functioning hemiarthroplasty following DAIR, 20 (46.5%) required multiple surgical debridements after an initial DAIR, and 18 were converted to an excision arthroplasty due to persistent infection, with six were alive at one year. The culture of any gram-negative organism reduced success rates to 12.5% (no cases were successful with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas infection). Favourable organisms included Citrobacter and Proteus (100% cure rate). The all-cause mortality at one year after deep SSI was 55.87% versus 24.9% without deep infection. Conclusion. Deep infection remains a devastating complication regardless of the treatment strategy employed. Success rates of DAIR are poor compared to total hip arthroplasty, and should be reserved for favourable organisms in patients able to tolerate multiple surgical procedures. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(11):958–965

Aims. Deep surgical site infection (SSI) is common after lower limb fracture. We compared the diagnosis of deep SSI using alternative methods of data collection and examined the agreement of clinical photography and in-person clinical assessment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria after lower limb fracture surgery. Methods. Data from two large, UK-based multicentre randomized controlled major trauma trials investigating SSI and wound healing after surgical repair of open lower limb fractures that could not be primarily closed (UK WOLLF), and surgical incisions for fractures that were primarily closed (UK WHiST), were examined. Trial interventions were standard wound care management and negative pressure wound therapy after initial surgical debridement. Wound outcomes were collected from 30 days to six weeks. We compared the level of agreement between wound photography and clinical assessment of CDC-defined SSI. We are also assessed the level of agreement between blinded independent assessors of the photographs. Results. Rates of CDC-defined deep SSI were 7.6% (35/460) after open fracture and 6.3% (95/1519) after closed incisional repair. Photographs were obtained for 77% and 73% of WOLLF and WHiST cohorts respectively (all participants n = 1,478). Agreement between photographic-SSI and CDC-SSI was fair for open fracture wounds (83%; k = 0.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.42)) and for closed incisional wounds (88%; k = 0.29 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.37)) although the rate of photographically detected deep SSIs was twice as high as CDC-SSI (12% vs 6%). Agreement between different assessors for photographic-SSI (WOLLF 88%, k = 0.63 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.72); WHiST 89%; k = 0.61 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.69)); and wound healing was good (WOLLF 90%; k = 0.80 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.86); WHiST 87%; k = 0.57 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.64)). Conclusion. Although wound photography was feasible within the research context and inter-rater assessor agreement substantial, digital photographs used in isolation overestimated deep SSI rates, when compared to CDC criteria. Wound photography should not replace clinical assessment in pragmatic trials but may be useful for screening purposes where surgical infection outcomes are paramount. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(12):1802–1808

Aims. This study presents patient-reported quality of life (QoL) over the first year following surgical debridement of long bone osteomyelitis. It assesses the bone involvement, antimicrobial options, coverage of soft tissues, and host status (BACH) classification as a prognostic tool and its ability to stratify cases into ‘uncomplicated’ or ‘complex’. Methods. Patients with long-bone osteomyelitis were identified prospectively between June 2010 and October 2015. All patients underwent surgical debridement in a single-staged procedure at a specialist bone infection unit. Self-reported QoL was assessed prospectively using the three-level EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) index score and visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) at five postoperative time-points (baseline, 14 days, 42 days, 120 days, and 365 days). BACH classification was applied retrospectively by two clinicians blinded to outcome. Results. In total, 71 patients with long-bone osteomyelitis were included. There was significant improvement from time of surgery to one year postoperatively in mean EQ-VAS (58.2 to 78.9; p < 0.001) and mean EQ-5D-3L index scores (0.284 to 0.740; p < 0.001). At one year following surgery, BACH ‘uncomplicated’ osteomyelitis was associated with better QoL compared to BACH ‘complex’ osteomyelitis (mean EQ-5D-3L 0.900 vs 0.685; p = 0.020; mean EQ-VAS 87.1 vs 73.6; p = 0.043). Patients with uncomplicated bone involvement (BACH type B1, cavitary) reported higher QoL at all time-points when compared to complex bone involvement (B2, segmental or B3, osteomyelitis involving a joint). Patients with good antimicrobial options (Ax or A1) gave higher outcome scores compared to patients with multidrug-resistant isolates (A2). The need for microvascular tissue transfer (C1 and C2) did not impact significantly on QoL. Patients without major comorbidities (uncomplicated, H1) reported higher QoL compared to those with significant disease (complex, H2). Conclusion. Uncomplicated osteomyelitis, as defined by BACH, gave higher self-reported QoL when compared to complex cases. The bone involvement, antimicrobial options, and host status variables were able to stratify patients in terms of QoL. These data can be used to offer prognostic information to patients who are undergoing treatment for long bone osteomyelitis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(11):1587–1596