Management of blood loss in periacetabular osteotomy.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the use of predonation of autologous blood for the periacetabular osteotomy. We carried out a retrospective single surgeon series study looking at patient demographics, intraoperative blood loss, volume of red cells returned (by cell salvage and allogenic/autologous transfusion), and comparing pre- and postoperative haemoglobin levels in those that predonated and those that did not. One hundred and twenty-two procedures were performed on 107 patients between 1996 and 2005. An initial audit (22 procedures) revealed high wastage (45% returned) of allogenic blood. A predonation protocol was initiated and subsequently 100 procedures in 91 patients were performed. In 82 procedures, the patients were eligible for predonation. A total of 226 units of autologous blood were predonated and 92% was used. Only 13 of these patients (16%) required additional allogenic transfusion for unforeseen excessive blood loss intraoperatively. A set protocol for predonation reduces the need for allogenic transfusion and involves minimal wastage. In a procedure which has significant blood loss, we suggest that preoperative autologous donation is a safe and cost effective method of managing blood loss.

Variation in the anatomy of the tibial plateau: a possible factor in the development of anteromedial osteoarthritis of the knee.

From a search of MRI reports on knees, 20 patients were identified with evidence of early anteromedial osteoarthritis without any erosion of bone and a control group of patients had an acute rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. The angle formed between the extension and flexion facets of the tibia, which is known as the extension facet angle, was measured on a sagittal image at the middle of the medial femoral condyle. The mean extension facet angle in the control group was 14 degrees (3 degrees to 25 degrees ) and was unrelated to age (Spearman's rank coefficient, p = 0.30, r = 0.13). The mean extension facet angle in individuals with MRI evidence of early anteromedial osteoarthritis was 19 degrees (13 degrees to 26 degrees , SD 4 degrees ). This difference was significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.001). A wide variation in the extension facet angle was found in the normal control knees and an association between an increased extension facet angle and MRI evidence of early anteromedial osteoarthritis. Although a causal link has not been demonstrated, we postulate that a steeper extension facet angle might increase the duration of loading on the extension facet during the stance phase of gait, and that this might initiate failure of the articular cartilage.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the patella: a comparison of the morphology of the patella in normal and dysplastic knees.

We retrospectively analysed the MR scans of 25 patients with patellofemoral dysplasia and ten control subjects, to assess whether there was any change in the morphology of the patella along its vertical length. Ratios were calculated comparing the size of the cartilaginous and subchondral osseous surfaces of the lateral and medial facets. We also classified the morphology using the scoring systems of Baumgartl and Wiberg. There were 18 females and seven males with a mean age of 20.2 years (10 to 29) with dysplasia and two females and eight males with a mean age of 20.4 years (10 to 29) in the control group. In the patient group there was a significant difference in morphology from proximal to distal for the cartilaginous (Analysis of variance (ANOVA) p = 0.004) and subchondral osseous surfaces (ANOVA, p = 0.002). In the control group there was no significant difference for either the cartilaginous (ANOVA, p = 0.391) or the subchondral osseous surface (ANOVA, p = 0.526). Our study has shown that in the dysplastic patellofemoral articulation the medial facet of the patella becomes smaller in relation to the lateral facet from proximal to distal. MRI is needed to define clearly the cartilaginous and osseous morphology of the patella before surgery is considered for patients with patellofemoral dysplasia.

Recovery after hip fracture.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to monitor the inhospital progress of 170 patients sustaining proximal femoral fractures. The extent of delay in discharge was recorded and what effect this prolonged hospitalisation had on nosocomial infection rates. SETTING: A regional trauma centre. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: All consecutive patients sustaining proximal femoral fracture over 60 years of age. INTERVENTION: The same clinician monitored each patient throughout their inhospital stay. Factors recorded included nosocomial infection acquired and when, mobility scores, loss of independence, delay in discharge amongst others. MAIN OUTCOME: Delay in discharge, incidence of nosocomial infection and mobility scores. RESULTS: Nosocomial infection occurred in 58% of patients (99 patients) when discharge was delayed beyond 8 days (after surgery). Eighty-five per cent of patients (145 patients) achieved their maximum mobility score by the 8th, and 95% (162 patients) by the 10th postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with proximal femoral fracture derive no benefit from acute hospital admission of more than 8 days and the majority acquire nosocomial infection after this.

Factors predicting outcome after whiplash injury in subjects pursuing litigation.

Records of 277 patients presenting for medicolegal reporting following isolated whiplash injury were studied retrospectively. A range of pre-accident, accident and response variables were recorded. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the main factors that predict physical and psychological outcome after whiplash injury. The factors that showed significant association with poor outcome on both physical and psychological outcome scales were pre-injury back pain, high frequency of General Practitioner attendance, evidence of pre-injury depression or anxiety symptoms, front position in the vehicle and pain radiating away from the neck after injury. The strongest associations were with factors that are present before impact. In this selected cohort of patients, there is a physical and a psychological vulnerability that may explain the widely varied response to low violence indirect neck injury.

The classification of outcome following whiplash injury--a comparison of methods.

There are many definitions and classifications of chronic neck pain and of neck pain following whiplash injury, many of them developed for a single study. This study compares three different outcome measures (neck disability index, Gargan and Bannister grade, general health questionnaire) in 277 patients who were examined for medicolegal reporting following isolated whiplash injury. There is significant correlation between the physical outcome scales and also between the physical and psychological outcome scales examined (both p <0.01). Definitions of chronic neck pain (with or without whiplash injury) and measures to assess and classify patients with chronic symptoms are reviewed. We recommend the use of a simple self-administered questionnaire that does not require physical measurement as the most useful tool in the evaluation of these patients and the most accurate method of classifying outcome.

Penetration of linezolid into bone, fat, muscle and haematoma of patients undergoing routine hip replacement.

Twelve patients undergoing total hip replacement were given 600 mg of linezolid as a 20 min iv infusion along with conventional prophylaxis of 1 g of cefamandole immediately before surgery. Routine total hip arthroplasty was carried out, and at timed intervals during surgery samples of bone, fat, muscle and blood were collected for assay by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Samples of the haematoma fluid that formed around the operation site and further blood samples for assay were also collected at timed intervals following the operation. The penetration of linezolid into bone was rapid, with mean concentrations of 9.1 mg/L (95% CI 7.7-10.6 mg/L) achieved at 10 min after the infusion, decreasing to 6.3 mg/L (95% CI 3.9-8.6 mg/L) at 30 min. Correction for the simultaneous blood concentrations gave mean values for bone penetration of 51% at 10 min, 60% at 20 min and 47% at 30 min. Although the penetration of linezolid into fat was also rapid, mean concentrations and degree of penetration were c. 60% of those in bone; at 10 min they were 4.5 mg/L (95% CI 3.0-6.1 mg/L; penetration 27%); at 20 min they were 5.2 mg/L (95% CI 4.0-6.4 mg/L; penetration 37%); and at 30 min, 4.1 mg/L (95% CI 3.3-4.8 mg/L; penetration 31%). For muscle the corresponding values were 10.4 mg/L (95% CI 8.1-12.7 mg/L; penetration 58%) at 10 min, 13.4 mg/L (95% CI 10.2-16.5 mg/L; penetration 94%) at 20 min and 12.0 mg/L (95% CI 9.2-14.8 mg/L; penetration 93%) at 30 min. Mean concentrations of linezolid in the haematoma fluid drained from around the operation site were 8.2 mg/L at 6-8 h and 5.6 mg/L at 10-12 h after the infusion, and 7.0 mg/L at 2-4 h following a second 600 mg infusion given 12 h post-operatively. We conclude that linezolid exhibits rapid penetration into bone, fat and muscle of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, to achieve levels in excess of its MIC for susceptible organisms (< or=4 mg/L); therapeutic concentrations were maintained in the haematoma fluid that surrounds the operation site for >16 h.

Direct measurement of bacterial penetration through surgical gowns: a new method.

There is a paucity of data on the penetration of bacteria through surgical gowns during operations. A simple new method was developed, using Petri dishes filled with horse blood agar that were attached to the outside of the gown material. This was used to assess bacterial penetration through disposable spun-bonded polyester gowns and re-usable woven polyester gowns during normal use. There was a significant difference between the two gown types when tested in the axilla (P = 0.02), the groin (P = 0.02) and the peri-anal region (P < 0.01), with the disposable gowns performing to a higher standard. Re-usable gowns demonstrated variation in penetrability, and for this reason, may be unsuitable for use in orthopaedic implant surgery.

Emergency surgery: atavistic refuge of the general surgeon?

A prospective audit of emergency soft-tissue surgery for an eight-week period revealed that general surgical emergency operations were more than twice as common as those undertaken in other soft-tissue specialties. The audit reveals that emergency general surgery needs an increase in resources, an increase in available staff and an increase in the role of the consultant general surgeon on call. An alternative solution would be to admit soft-tissue emergencies by specialty and develop specialist emergency services.

Ulnar nerve decompression in the cubital canal using local anaesthesia.

We assessed the outcome of surgical release of the ulnar nerve in the cubital canal under local anaesthetic. Seven of the 20 patients reported complete resolution of their preoperative symptoms. Eleven reported significant improvement immediately following surgery and some continuing improvement thereafter. One patient had no significant benefit, and one had complete resolution, but then his symptoms returned. Sixteen patients stated that they would choose to have the operation performed under local anaesthesia again, but four would have favoured a general anaesthetic. We conclude that decompression of the ulnar nerve under local anaesthetic is a reliable procedure, which is well tolerated by the majority of patients.

Delays in orthopaedic trauma treatment: setting standards for the time interval between admission and operation.

Delay in operating on trauma patients leads to increased morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and overall cost. The urgency of operative intervention depends on the injury sustained. There are no published guidelines on what constitutes a reasonable delay between admission and operation. As part of the clinical governance in our unit, an audit was undertaken to examine the structure and process of trauma operating. Patients were allocated to groups defined by the Bath Orthopaedic Department, according to urgency of need for surgery. Group A: patients (for example, open fractures and dislocations) should have definitive treatment within 6 h of admission. Group B: patients (for example, hip fractures, long bone injuries and ankle fractures) should have operations on the day that they are presented to the consultant trauma meeting, or on the day that they are declared fit/ready for theatre. Group C: patients (for example, tendon injuries, simple hand fractures) should have operations within 5 days of presentation to the trauma meeting. Over 3 months, there were 401 acute orthopaedic admissions requiring surgery (61 group A, 277 group B, 63 group C). 78% of group A patients, 58% of group B patients and 86% of group C patients were operated on within the target times. In total, 137 out of 401 operations (34%) missed the targets set. 119 of these (87%) were delayed due to lack of available operating time. This was despite the fact that 59 operations (15% of total) were done on lists normally used for elective operating. Most of the other delays were due to the need for an appropriately experienced surgeon to be available. If these targets are to be achieved for the majority of patients, the trauma theatre must become more efficient, or more flexible time must be made available during evenings or weekends to clear the backlog of trauma operations.