Aims

Many authors have reported a shorter treatment time when using trifocal bone transport (TFT) rather than bifocal bone transport (BFT) in the management of long segmental tibial bone defects. However, the difference in the incidence of additional procedures, the true complications, and the final results have not been investigated.

Primary skin closure after surgery for club foot in children can be difficult especially in revision operations. Between 1990 and 1996 a soft-tissue expander was implanted in 13 feet before such procedures. Two were primary operations and 11 were revisions. A standard technique was used for implantation of the expander. Skin augmentation was successful in 11 cases. There was failure of one expander and one case of wound infection. Sufficient stable skin could be gained at an average of five weeks. Primary skin closure after surgery was achieved in 12 cases. We conclude that soft-tissue expansion can be used successfully before extensive surgery for club foot. The method should be reserved for revision procedures and for older children. The technique is not very demanding, but requires experience to achieve successful results

We treated 26 patients with 27 aneurysmal bone cysts by curettage and cryotherapy and evaluated local tumour control, complications and functional outcome. The mean follow-up time was 47 months (19 to154). There was local recurrence in one patient. Two patients developed deep wound infections and one had a postoperative fracture. We compared our results with previous reports in which several different methods of treatment had been used and concluded that curettage with adjuvant cryotherapy had similar results to those of marginal resection, and that no major bony reconstruction was required. We recommend the use of cryotherapy as an adjuvant to the surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts. It provides local tumour control. Combination with bone grafting achieved consolidation of the lesion in all our patients

Abstract

The medial malleolus, once believed to be the primary stabilizer of the ankle, has been the topic of conflicting clinical and biomechanical data for many decades. Despite the relevant surgical anatomy being understood for almost 40 years, the optimal treatment of medial malleolar fractures remains unclear, whether the injury occurs in isolation or as part of an unstable bi- or trimalleolar fracture configuration. Traditional teaching recommends open reduction and fixation of medial malleolar fractures that are part of an unstable injury. However, there is recent evidence to suggest that nonoperative management of well-reduced fractures may result in equivalent outcomes, but without the morbidity associated with surgery. This review gives an update on the relevant anatomy and classification systems for medial malleolar fractures and an overview of the current literature regarding their management, including surgical approaches and the choice of implants.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:512–521.

Five patients with long-standing, severe rheumatoid arthritis who developed cervical myelopathy at the subaxial levels are presented. In each patient the myelopathy occurred in the absence of major subluxation. At laminectomy the cause of the cord compression was found to be a band-like mass of ligamentous and granulation tissue in the posterior half of the extradural space, extending to the underlying portion of the dura and forming a constricting ring. In three patients this constricting ring was released by longitudinal division of the dura followed by application of a fascial patch graft. This release seems to be essential for effective decompression of the cord and good neurological recovery was achieved in these three patients. Of the other two patients, the result was fair in one and poor in the other, this latter result being due to severe intra-operative bleeding with a massive wound haematoma

Exchange nailing for failure of union after primary intramedullary nailing of the tibia is widely used but the indications and effectiveness have not been reported in detail. We have reviewed 33 cases of uninfected nonunion of the tibia treated by exchange nailing. This technique was successful without open bone grafting in all closed fractures and in open fractures of Gustilo types I, II and IIIa. The requirement for open bone grafting was reduced in type-IIIb fractures, but exchange nailing failed in type-IIIb fractures with significant bone loss. For these we recommend early open bone grafting. The most common complication was wound infection, seen more often than after primary nailing. We discuss our protocol for the use and timing of exchange nailing of all grades and types of tibial fracture

1. A concept and design of polycentric knee arthroplasty based on the biomechanics of normal knee movement is presented. The diseased articular surfaces of the femoral condyles and tibial plateaus are replaced separately by prosthetic implants secured with cement. The collateral and cruciate ligaments are retained to maintain joint stability. 2. The early results from this arthroplasty in twenty-two knees are assessed. The operation gave relief of pain in twenty-two, a range of movement greater than 90 degrees in thirteen, no lateral instability in sixteen of twenty-two knees and an increased degree of mobility for nineteen of twenty individuals (two bilateral arthroplasties). 3. Operative complications consisted of delayed wound healing in four knees and common peroneal nerve palsy in one. One knee was subsequently arthrodesed for lack of functional improvement

The effects of using a tourniquet during total knee arthroplasty were studied in 80 patients randomly allocated to two groups, either with or without a tourniquet. The groups were similar in mean age, gender, preoperative knee score and radiographic grading and the patients were all operated on by the same surgeon using one type of prosthesis. There was no significant difference between the two groups in operating time or total blood loss but postoperative pain was less in the patients in whom a tourniquet had not been used. They achieved straight-leg raising and knee flexion earlier and had fewer superficial wound infections and deep-vein thromboses. Total knee arthroplasty can be safely performed without the use of the tourniquet with the benefit that several adverse effects associated with its use can be avoided

Objectives

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of growing interest in terms of bone regeneration. Most preclinical trials utilize bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs), although this is not without isolation and expansion difficulties. The aim of this study was: to compare the characteristics of bMSCs and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) from juvenile, adult, and ovarectomized (OVX) rats; and to assess the effect of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) 1-34 on their osteogenic potential and migration to stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1).

The results are reported of an audit of allografts collected in the first 18 months of the Leicester Bone Bank. We retrieved 161 femoral heads at primary arthroplasty of which 103 were implanted into 59 patients. There were deep infections in two recipients and wound infections in five. In two of these cases, culture of the femoral head at implantation was positive but the organisms grown were not those which caused the clinical infection. We retrieved 22 large allografts from six cadavers. Four of these were contaminated at retrieval and required irradiation for sterilisation. There has been one clinical infection in the nine large allografts implanted so far. We recommend that all bone banks undertake prospective audit to ensure that high standards are maintained and wastage minimised

Above-knee amputation has been the traditional treatment for osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia. Recent advances in chemotherapy have encouraged the development of limb-salvage techniques. Van Nes rotationplasty for malignant lesions of the distal femur has increased in popularity as a reconstructive technique, but no similar procedure has been described for lesions of the proximal tibia. We have developed a modified rotationplasty for this lesion and have performed it in four children. The surgical technique, postoperative management and results of the procedure are described. Two patients had delayed wound healing. No other complications have developed and our patients were disease-free at follow-up, while the appearance of the leg was well accepted by the patients and their parents. This procedure is a useful addition to the armamentarium of the tumour surgeon for the treatment of malignant lesions of the proximal tibia

Aims

The aims of this study were to compare the mean duration of antibiotic release and the mean zone of inhibition between vancomycin-loaded porous tantalum cylinders and antibiotic-loaded bone cement at intervals, and to evaluate potential intrinsic antimicrobial properties of tantalum in an in vitro medium environment against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).

In a prospective, randomised trial of 81 patients with fractures of the ankle of AO types A, B and C we compared two regimes of postoperative management after internal fixation. The patients were mobilised either non-weight-bearing with crutches or weight-bearing in a below-knee walking plaster. We found a temporary benefit in subjective evaluation only (65 v 50 points, Mann-Whitney test, cft, p = 0.02) for those with a below-knee walking plaster. There were no significant differences between the groups in the loaded dorsal range of movement (25° v 23°, Mann-Whitney test, cft, p = 0.16) or in the overall clinical result. Both treatments were considered to be satisfactory and their choice depends on the ability to mobilise non-weight-bearing, wound healing, the type of work and personal preference

We examined the recovery of power in the muscles of the lower limb after fracture of the tibial diaphysis, using a Biodex dynamometer. Recovery in all muscle groups was rapid for 15 to 20 weeks following fracture after which it slowed. Two weeks after fracture the knee flexors and extensors have about 40% of normal power, which rises to 75% to 85% after one year. The dorsiflexors and plantar flexors of the ankle and the invertors and evertors of the subtalar joint are much weaker two weeks after injury, but at one year their mean power is more than that of the knee flexors and extensors. Our findings showed that age, the mode of injury, fracture morphology, the presence of an open wound and the Tscherne grade of closed fractures correlated with muscle power. It is age, however, which mainly determines muscle recovery after fracture of the tibial diaphysis

Eleven total knee replacements were performed in eight patients with severe haemophilia A and the patients were followed up for two to eight years. All the patients had disabling haemophilic arthropathy of one or both knees, which had not responded to conservative treatment. Postoperative complications occurred in 10 knees, including nose bleeding, haemarthrosis, anaphylactic reactions, urinary tract infection with haematuria, recurrent phlebitis at infusion sites, and fever for a few days. There were no wound infections. The outcome, as determined by a standard scoring system, was rated as excellent or good in nine knees, fair in one and poor in one. Nevertheless, all patients were free of pain and all but one returned to full-time or part-time employment. Total knee arthroplasty appears to be a satisfactory procedure in the treatment of disabling haemophilic arthropathy of the knee

Objectives

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most common cause of arthroplasty failure. However, infection is often difficult to detect by conventional bacterial cultures, for which false-negative rates are 23% to 35%. In contrast, 16S rRNA metagenomics has been shown to quantitatively detect unculturable, unsuspected, and unviable pathogens. In this study, we investigated the use of 16S rRNA metagenomics for detection of bacterial pathogens in synovial fluid (SF) from patients with hip or knee PJI.

Aims

The aim of this study was to estimate economic outcomes associated with deep surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with an open fracture of the lower limb.

Aims

As the population ages, there is projected to be an increase in the level of demand for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in octogenarians. We aimed to explore whether those aged ≥ 80 years achieved similar improvements in physical function to younger patients while also comparing the rates of length of stay (LOS), discharge to rehabilitation, postoperative complications, and mortality following TKA in older and younger patients.

Objectives

The incidence of acute Achilles tendon rupture appears to be increasing. The aim of this study was to summarize various therapies for acute Achilles tendon rupture and discuss their relative merits.