Aims

As an alternative to external fixators, intramedullary lengthening nails (ILNs) can be employed for distraction osteogenesis. While previous studies have demonstrated that typical complications of external devices, such as soft-tissue tethering, and pin site infection can be avoided with ILNs, there is a lack of studies that exclusively investigated tibial distraction osteogenesis with motorized ILNs inserted via an antegrade approach.

Aims

The primary objective of this study was to develop a validated classification system for assessing iatrogenic bone trauma and soft-tissue injury during total hip arthroplasty (THA). The secondary objective was to compare macroscopic bone trauma and soft-tissues injury in conventional THA (CO THA) versus robotic arm-assisted THA (RO THA) using this classification system.

Aims

Surgical limb sparing for knee-bearing paediatric bone sarcoma is considered to have a clinically significant influence on postoperative function due to complications and leg-length discrepancies. However, researchers have not fully evaluated the long-term postoperative functional outcomes. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the risk factors and long-term functional prognosis associated with paediatric limb-sparing surgery.

The December 2022 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Fix and replace: simultaneous fracture fixation and hip arthroplasty for acetabular fractures in older patients; Is the revision rate for femoral neck fracture lower for total hip arthroplasty than for hemiarthroplasty?; Femoral periprosthetic fractures: data from the COMPOSE cohort study; Dual-mobility cups and fracture of the femur; What’s the deal with outcomes for hip and knee arthroplasty outcomes internationally?; Osteochondral lesions of the femoral head: is costal cartilage the answer?

Aims

Perthes’ disease (PD) is a childhood hip disorder that can affect the quality of life in adulthood due to femoral head deformity and osteoarthritis. There is very little data on how PD patients function as adults, especially from the patients’ perspective. The purpose of this study was to collect treatment history, demographic details, the University of California, Los Angeles activity score (UCLA), the 36-Item Short Form survey (SF-36) score, and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome score (HOOS) of adults who had PD using a web-based survey method and to compare their outcomes to the outcomes from an age- and sex-matched normative population.

Pre-operative computerised three-dimensional planning was carried out in 223 patients undergoing total hip replacement with a cementless acetabular component and a cementless modular-neck femoral stem. Components were chosen which best restored leg length and femoral offset. The post-operative restoration of the anatomy was assessed by CT and compared with the pre-operative plan. The component implanted was the same as that planned in 86% of the hips for the acetabular implant, 94% for the stem, and 93% for the neck-shaft angle. The rotational centre of the hip was restored with a mean accuracy of 0.73 mm (. sd. 3.5) craniocaudally and 1.2 mm (. sd. 2) laterally. Limb length was restored with a mean accuracy of 0.3 mm (. sd. 3.3) and femoral offset with a mean accuracy of 0.8 mm (. sd. 3.1). This method appears to offer high accuracy in hip reconstruction as the difficulties likely to be encountered when restoring the anatomy can be anticipated and solved pre-operatively by optimising the selection of implants. Modularity of the femoral neck helped to restore the femoral offset and limb length

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.

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare any differences in the primary outcome (biphasic flexion knee moment during gait) of robotic arm-assisted bi-unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (bi-UKA) with conventional mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at one year post-surgery.

Aims

Hip arthroplasty aims to accurately recreate joint biomechanics. Considerable attention has been paid to vertical and horizontal offset, but femoral head centre in the anteroposterior (AP) plane has received little attention. This study investigates the accuracy of restoration of joint centre of rotation in the AP plane.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology and treatment of Perthes’ disease of the hip.

1. A study of the average rate of growth of the legs and trunk of 202 normal average maturing children is presented. 2. The annual growth of the limbs and trunk was related to the skeletal age of each child, and the increments of growth per skeletal year subjected to statistical analysis. 3. Methods of growth prediction of leg length and mature height have been derived and the practical application of the investigation to orthopaedic surgery is discussed

1. A case of congenital bowing of the tibia is described in which pseudarthrosis developed and recurred after nine operations performed by the age of ten years. 2. Union was finally secured by a procedure based on deep impaction of the trimmed upper fragment into the reamed-out lower fragment. This was followed by a Boyd type of partial amputation of the foot with calcaneo-tibial arthrodesis. 3. The end-bearing stump four years later is entirely satisfactory and the simple prosthesis gives equality of leg lengths

This paper reports fifteen cases of ball and socket articulation at the ankle followed up for an average of twelve years. All patients showed inequality of leg length. Ten patients showed coalitions of the bones of the hindfoot and nine patients had a reduction in the number of bony elements of the forefoot. Other associated anomalies are described. The abnormality seems to be part of a congenital short-limb malformation, perhaps modified by adaptive change associated with rigidity of the hindfoot. Surgical intervention was not required in any patient in the series

We describe the management of nonunion combined with limb-length discrepancy following vascularised fibular grafting for the reconstruction of long-bone defects in the lower limb after resection of a tumour in skeletally immature patients. We operated on nine patients with a mean age of 13.1 years (10.5 to 14.5) who presented with a mean limb-length discrepancy of 7 cm (4 to 9) and nonunion at one end of a vascularised fibular graft, which had been performed previously, to reconstruct a bone defect after resection of an osteosarcoma. Reconstruction was carried out using a ring fixator secured with correction by half pins of any malalignment, compression of the site of nonunion and lengthening through a metaphyseal parafocal osteotomy without bone grafting. The expected limb-length discrepancy at maturity was calculated using the arithmetic method. Solid union and the intended leg length were achieved in all the patients. Excessive scarring and the distorted anatomy from previous surgery in these patients required other procedures to be performed with minimal exposures and dissection in order to avoid further compromise to the vascularity of the graft or damage to neurovascular structures. The methods which we chose were simple and effective in addressing these complex problems

Discrepancy in leg length after total hip replacement has been associated with patient dissatisfaction. We prospectively studied 200 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral Charnley hip replacements to identify whether there is a demonstrable association between such disparity and postoperative function. Radiological measurements between defined points on the pelvis and femur of the operated hip were compared with the same points on the contralateral joint. A lengthening index was derived and statistical analysis used to compare this with validated functional outcome scores (Harris hip score and the SF36 Health Survey) and patient satisfaction. Our results showed no statistical association between leg-length discrepancy after hip arthroplasty and functional outcome or patient satisfaction

Vascular malformations are rare congenital lesions which often have associated skeletal changes. Over a period of ten years, 90 patients at our clinic had a vascular anomaly of the lower limb, examined by either CT or MRI. Of these, 18 (20%) had bony involvement. A questionnaire was sent to these patients (8 men, 10 women) to evaluate their age of presentation, initial symptoms and current complaints. Radiological imaging revealed 15 low- and three high-flow lesions. The mean age at presentation to a physician was six years of age. Pain was the most common complaint. Disparity in leg length of 2 cm or more was observed in ten patients. Of the 16 patients with muscle infiltration, 13 had four or more muscles involved. Treatment by resection alone would require radical surgery

We report the results in the first 16 patients treated in Sheffield using bifocal techniques for diaphyseal bone loss and deformity secondary to trauma. Eight patients had bone-transport and eight had compression-distraction methods. At a mean follow-up of 24 months all 16 had excellent or good results with union of the fracture, correction of deformity and normal or near normal leg length. There were no major complications. Mean treatment times were 16 months for bone transport and 9.8 months for compression-distraction. Bone transport was more complicated requiring an average of 2.2 additional operations compared with only one for compression-distraction. Femoral cases had shorter treatment indices than tibial cases but had less favourable outcomes

Fifty-four hips converted to low friction arthroplasty between 1965 and 1975 have been reviewed one to eleven years after operation. In many cases malposition had led to degenerative changes in the opposite hip, the lumbar spine or the knee, often with severe loss of function due to pain. It was found that total replacement could give useful relief of pain and improved function, though the range of movement obtained was not as good as in primary replacement. An outstanding feature was the correction of inequality of leg length. In general, the results were much better in cases of ankylosis acquired in adult life than in cases of spontaneous fusion after sepsis in childhood. The most important complication was a single case of sciatic palsy

Aims

Improvements in functional results and long-term survival are variable following conversion of hip fusion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) and complications are high. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical and functional results in patients who underwent conversion of hip fusion to THA using a consistent technique and uncemented implants.