Dedicated peri-operative pathway improved day case discharge rate for anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions.

The authors proposed that a well-developed peri-operative pathway for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions improve day case discharge rate with high patient satisfaction. A prospective observational study was undertaken at a district general hospital in UK between August 2017 and April 2018. A dedicated multidisciplinary peri-operative pathway was developed and introduced in January 2018. All primary ACL reconstructions using hamstring grafts in adult patients were included. Primary outcome measure was day case discharge and secondary outcome measures were visual analogue score for pain (VASP), nausea and vomiting scale (NVS), patient satisfaction and 30-day readmission. Patients who underwent surgery before and after introduction of the pathway were in group 1 and group 2, respectively. There were 19 and 22 patients each in group 1 and 2. Age and gender were similar in both groups. Day case discharge rate was significantly better in group 2 (68.4% vs 95.5%, p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in VASP or NVS on day 0, 1 or 3. Patient satisfaction rates were better in group 2 (85.7% vs 100%, p = 0.13). There were no readmissions in both groups. The VASP on day 1 and day 3 post-operatively was significantly better in those who were discharged on the same day (66.8 vs 41.3, p = 0.02; 60.5 vs 34.9, p = 0.03). A well-developed dedicated peri-operative pathway improved day case discharge rate for ACL reconstructions. The pathway was safe and had a higher patient satisfaction rate.

The effect of surgical experience on the amount of radiation exposure from fluoroscopy during dynamic hip screw fixation.

INTRODUCTION Dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation for proximal femur fractures is one of the most common procedures in trauma that requires the use of fluoroscopy. Emphasis is often placed on producing the 'perfect picture', which may lead to excessive use of fluoroscopy, without added patient benefit. This study, the largest of its kind, aimed to determine the effect of surgical experience on the amount of radiation exposure from fluoroscopy during DHS fixation. METHODS All hospital admissions for extracapsular proximal femur fractures to our institution between 2007 and 2012 were analysed. Patient demographics, fracture configuration, grade of surgeon and the total radiation dose after fixation were recorded. Analysis of variance was performed to assess differences in radiation levels between different grades of surgeon. RESULTS A total of 1,203 patients with a mean age of 81.3 years (range: 21-105 years) were included in the study. The majority of the fractures were three-part (33.3%), followed by two-part (32.2%), four-part (25.7%) and basicervical (8.9%). Registrars (ST3-ST8) used a significantly higher radiation dose than consultants for all fracture types (p=0.009). When analysed separately by trainee group, the most junior registrars (ST3-ST4) and the most senior registrars (ST7-ST8) were found to use significantly higher radiation levels than consultants (p=0.037 and p<0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS The level of surgical experience does influence the amount of radiation exposure from fluoroscopy during DHS fixation. Surgical trainees should not ignore the potential harmful effects of radiation and should be equipped with the knowledge of how to keep the radiation exposure as low as possible.

Spondylodiscitis in children: a retrospective series.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 16 children treated for spondylodiscitis at our hospital between 2000 and 2007. The mean follow-up was 24 months (12 to 38). There was a mean delay in diagnosis in hospital of 25 days in the ten children aged less than 24 months. At presentation only five of the 16 children presented with localising signs and symptoms. Common presenting symptoms were a refusal to walk or sit in nine children, unexplained fever in six, irritability in five, and limping in four. Plain radiography showed changes in only seven children. The ESR was the most useful investigation when following the clinical course of the disease. Positive blood cultures were obtained in seven children with Staphylococcus aureus being isolated in five. Antibiotics were used in 14 children and spinal bracing in six. Children with spondylodiscitis often present with a confusing clinical picture leading to late diagnosis. The early use of MRI in the investigation of children with an atypical picture may avoid unnecessary delay in starting treatment and possibly prevent long-term problems. All except one of our children had made a complete clinical recovery at final follow-up. However, all six children in the > 24-month age group showed radiological evidence of degenerative changes which might cause problems in the future.

Managing type II and type IV Lauge-Hansen supination external rotation ankle fractures: current orthopaedic practice.

INTRODUCTION: Differentiating supination external rotation (SER) type II and IV ankle injuries is challenging in the absence of a medial malleolar fracture or talar shift on radiographs. The accurate differentiation between a stable SER-II from an unstable SER-IV injury would allow implementation of the appropriate management plan from diagnosis. The aim of this study was to ascertain the practice of orthopaedic surgeons in dealing with these injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A postal survey was undertaken on 216 orthopaedic consultants from three regions. RESULTS: In the presence of medial-sided clinical signs (tenderness, swelling, ecchymosis), 22% of consultants would perform surgical fixation. 53% would choose non-operative treatment and the majority would monitor these fractures through serial radiographs. The remaining 25% of consultants would perform an examination under anaesthesia (EUA; 15%), request stress radiographs (9%) or an MRI scan (1%). Without medial-sided signs, 85% would advocate non-operative treatment and, of these, 74% would perform weekly radiographs. Interestingly, 6% would perform immediate surgical fixation. Stress radiographs (6%) and EUAs (2%) were advocated in the remaining group of consultants. Foot and ankle surgeons utilised stress radiographs more frequently and were more likely to proceed to surgical fixation should talar shift be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical practice is varied amongst the orthopaedic community. This may lead to unnecessary surgery in SER-II injuries and delay in diagnosis and operative management of SER-IV injuries. We have highlighted the various investigative modalities available that may be used in conjunction with clinical signs to make a more accurate diagnosis.