Change in operative workload for rheumatoid disease of the hand: 1,109 procedures over 13 years.

Orthopaedic literature regarding lower limb joints reports a decline in operative management of rheumatoid arthritis since the 1980s. We investigated whether the demand for hand surgery for rheumatoid disease had changed over the last 13 years in our unit. Data for all patients undergoing operative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand and wrist over a 13-year period were analysed. Between 1996 and 2009, 1,069 patients with rheumatoid disease (182 men, 887 women) underwent a total of 1,109 hand surgery procedures. The operations were synovectomy (430, 39%), arthroplasty (252, 23%), arthrodesis (194, 18%) and tendon surgery (233, 21.0%). Linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of synovectomies, arthroplasties and arthrodeses between 1996 and 2009, but no decrease in tendon surgery. We explore possible factors responsible for this change in operative workload.

Providing pain relief for laser resurfacing: effectiveness of the CoolAnalgesia device.

Laser resurfacing is a painful procedure, and is therefore usually carried out under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation. However, the small but significant risk of adverse events from either of these methods has resulted in an effort to develop other methods of controlling the pain associated with the use of lasers. This trial describes of the use of a cooling device (the CoolAnalgesia device) with a carbon dioxide laser. The only anaesthetic used was a eutectic mixture of lidocaine anaesthetic (EMLA) applied as a cream to the face at least 60 min prior to the procedure. Twenty consecutive patients attending two laser centres for facial resurfacing were recruited. Each patient was asked to assess the level of pain on a visual analogue scale from 1-10 every 2 min during lasering. Only one of the patients had a mean pain score for the duration of the treatment of above five, four patients recorded a pain score of above five at some stage during their treatment, but none requested that the treatment be stopped. It would appear that the CoolAnalgesia device in combination with EMLA cream provides a level of anaesthesia sufficient to allow laser resurfacing without the use of local anaesthetic injections or intra-venous agents.

Functional outcomes following surgical repair of wrist extensor tendons.

The long term results following the repair of open injuries to extensors carpi radialis longus and brevis and extensor carpi ulnaris have not previously been reported. A retrospective case note review was performed and patients were called back for assessment following surgical repair. Grip strength and pinch strength were reduced by 9.9% (p=0.017) and 11.5% (p=0.049). Wrist movement was also reduced. This demonstrates that the division of these tendons should not be regarded as trivial as they may have long-term adverse effects on wrist function. Information gained from this study may be beneficial in patient education at the time of injury and may provide useful information when preparing medico legal reports.

The use of ADCON-T/N after repair of zone II flexor tendons.

This double-blinded randomised clinical trial investigated whether application of ADCON-T/N to zone II tendon repairs improved their outcome. Fifty-nine patients were randomised into control or ADCON-T/N treated groups and all followed an early mobilisation regime following tendon repair. Tendon rupture rates were comparable between the control and ADCON-T/N treated patients. At six months follow-up, the ADCON-T/N treated group had better proximal interphalangeal motion.

Inflammatory-cell subpopulations in keloid scars.

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of lymphocytes and macrophages to keloid scarring by morphologically characterising inflammatory cell subpopulations in keloid scars in comparison with normal skin. We took 3mm punch biopsies from the anterior forearms of eight normal healthy volunteers. Eight keloid scars were excised using an intralesional technique. All tissue was snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and serial sections were stained with a panel of anti-inflammatory cell monoclonal antibodies. The numbers of macrophages and lymphocytes and the proportions of the subpopulations were compared. Higher numbers of both macrophages and lymphocytes were found in keloid dermis (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively (Mann-Whitney U -test)). There was no significant increase in the expression of the lymphocyte-activation markers, CD25 and CD27. However, there was a significantly higher CD4(+):CD8(+)(Th:Ts) ratio (P= 0.046) in keloid tissue. This suggests that an imbalance in these inflammatory cell subpopulations may contribute to keloid scarring in man.

The use of ADCON-T/N glycosaminoglycan gel in the revision of tethered scars.

Recurrent subdermal scar tethering is a difficult management problem in areas of high tissue mobility. We describe a novel solution to this clinical problem, which involves instilling the anti-fibrotic gel ADCON-T/N in the plane between the skin and the underlying structures. We present our results in three difficult clinical situations where excellent results have been achieved using this method.

Coding plastic surgery operations: an audit of performance using OPCS-4.

Accurate coding is essential for local and national data reporting and for contracting. It is also integral to clinical governance. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of coding in Morriston Hospital plastic surgery theatres and coding office, to reaudit and address poor practice. A third coding system, a computerised logbook developed by the senior author, was not analysed in this study. Fifty operations coded using OPCS-4 were compared with a gold standard for overall accuracy, primary and procedural codes. Results were discussed with all relevant staff and reaudit took place 3 months later. The data were analysed using the paired Student's t -test for intergroup comparisons and the unpaired test for intragroup assessment. At initial audit, the coding office was significantly better than theatre staff in overall accuracy (78% vs 43% respectively P<< 0.01) and in procedural codes (98% vs 42%, P<< 0.01) but there was no difference in primary codes (62% vs 74%). At reaudit the only significant improvement was in overall accuracy of coding office records, although the clinical coders were now significantly better at recording primary codes than theatre staff (76% vs 56%, P< 0.05). The conclusions were that the quality of coding in theatre was poor and should stop. Clinical coders performed better but 1/3-1/4 of essential codes were inaccurate. This may have been due to limited understanding of terminology and techniques, difficulty reading operation notes and complexity of OPCS-4. Recommendations included closer cooperation between surgeons and coders to support and improve clinical coding performance.

Ossification in the rectus sheath following free rectus flap.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a rare complication of laparotomy wounds. In this report, we describe an unusual presentation of ossification within the closed sheath following the harvest of a free rectus flap for lower limb reconstruction. Of specific interest to this case is that access to the rectus was gained through a lower transverse approach. Furthermore, the extremities of this incision were utilised for harvest of cancellous bone from the iliac crests. Given that one explanation for HO is intraoperative seeding it is of note that no problem was encountered in the wound intimately associated with the bony disruption.

Arteriovenous malformation of the forearm as a result of a persistent median artery.

Most arteriovenous malformations usually arise from pre-existing named vessels. We report an unusual variant of an arteriovenous malformation. An 18-year-old man presented with a painful swelling of the right forearm. Arteriograms suggested branches of the anterior interosseous artery were feeding the malformation. Operative findings however, revealed the presence of a persistent median artery, which was contributing branches to the swelling.

Early active mobilization after second stage flexor tendon grafts.

We assessed the results of nine two-stage tendon reconstructions. The tendon graft was the ipsilateral palmaris longus tendon inserted into a tunnel which had been previously created by a silicone spacer. Early active mobilization was commenced 48 hours after surgery according to a previously described protocol (Small et al, 1989). Using the grading system of Kleinert and Verdan (1983) the results were: one excellent, two good, five fair and one poor. Using the Buck-Gramcko et al (1976) grading system there were three excellent, two good, two satisfactory and two poor results. There were no cases of tendon graft rupture or dehiscence of the junction between tendon and graft.

Does selective peroperative cholangiography result in missed common bile duct stones?

A prospective randomized trial was undertaken to determine if selective peroperative cholangiography resulted in greater morbidity and mortality from missed common bile duct (CBD) stones. Five hundred and thirty-nine consecutive cholecystectomies were performed over a 3-year period. Two hundred and fifty-four had indications for mandatory peroperative cholangiography and were excluded from the trial. The remaining 285 patients, without a history of jaundice, pancreatitis or abnormal liver function tests, were randomized blindly into two groups. Group 1 underwent peroperative cholangiography (PC) and group 2 did not. If the surgeon found a dilated CBD at surgery then these patients were also excluded from the trial. Selective peroperative cholangiography revealed an unsuspected CBD calculus in 16 of the 132 patients (12%). Up to the time of review no patient from group 2 presented with symptoms or complications from retained CBD stones. One patient in group 1 had endoscopic removal of a retained CBD calculus 16 months after cholecystectomy. All patients were sent a questionnaire at least three years after surgery and 210 responded (74%). One hundred and thirty (62%) of the respondents had peroperative cholangiography. There were 11 deaths from unrelated causes. No difference between the two groups was found for postoperative dietary habit, dyspepsia, pain, flatulence, diarrhoea or signs of biliary obstruction. It seems from these results that a policy of selective cholangiography in our hands may miss a 12% incidence of unsuspected stones but, importantly, this does not appear to influence postoperative morbidity or mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A panel based assessment of early versus no nasal correction of the cleft lip nose.

There is a need to be able to assess the overall result in a significant series of cases of a method of management of the cleft lip and nose deformity in order to avoid "best case" reporting often used to introduce new techniques. The present study was performed by a panel placing standardised base view photographs in rank order. The photographs were of 10-year-old subjects of whom 15 were normal controls, 22 were from the Rikshospitalet, Oslo, all of whom had no primary nasal correction and 25 from Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, who all had radical primary nasal correction. Ranking was performed for upper nasal perimeter symmetry, nostril outline symmetry and for overall aesthetic appearance. Analysis of the results showed a significant difference between the three groups, with the corrected noses showing better symmetry. Inter and intraobserver correlations were very close. The limitations of a ranking and marking method of panel assessment are discussed, and a computerised method is presented in subsequent papers.

Medial Langenbeck: experience of a modified Von Langenbeck repair of the cleft palate. A preliminary report.

Early experience of a modified Von Langenbeck repair of cleft palate is reported. In each case the traditional method of repair has been adopted, but with the relieving incision placed medial to the greater palatine artery. Out of a total of 40 patients over a 2-year period 8 were noted to have a fistula, of which 4 closed spontaneously, leaving 4 (10%) potentially requiring further surgery. The modified oral layer closure was conceived with muscle repair directed at restoring normal anatomy and concentrating on construction of a median dorsal convexity.

Effectiveness of burns resuscitation using two different formulae.

Prior to 1989 burns were resuscitated at the Burns Unit Frenchay Hospital according to the Mount Vernon formula. In 1989 a 33 per cent modification was introduced as suggested by Watson, Walker and Sanders. The aim of this study was to examine retrospectively the effects of the resuscitation protocols on morbidity and mortality. The total numbers of burns admitted to Frenchay in 1988 were 93 adults and 58 children. This compares with 82 adults and 55 children admitted in 1989. Of these, approximately one-fifth required intravenous resuscitation. No statistical difference was found between the two groups for age, body weight, distribution of burn, or delay in arriving at the burns unit (taken from the time of burn). In both years the volume of albumin used in resuscitation exceeded the calculated requirement after the third period (P less than 0.05). The 1989 patients were transfused with greater volumes, resulting in increased urine output (P less than 0.001). No difference in morbidity or mortality was shown. However, the investigation did show that the 1989 patients achieved urine outputs indicative of overtransfusion. It is concluded that the Watson-Walker modification is unnecessary and possibly undesirable.

Postoperative analgesia for haemorrhoidectomy. A comparison between caudal and local infiltration.

This study compared the analgesic effectiveness of local infiltration of bupivacaine with caudal extradural bupivacaine in the first 48 hours after haemorrhoidectomy. Surgical and anaesthetic protocol was rigidly standardised. The caudal group had significantly less pain in the first 6 hours after haemorrhoidectomy, and on first bowel opening, when compared to those who received local infiltration of bupivacaine. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to further analgesic requirements, complications, time to first bowel action, and duration of hospital stay. The definite advantage of caudal extradural bupivacaine for haemorrhoidectomy must be balanced against the rare but potentially serious complications associated with its use.

Tendinitis--a common complication after renal transplantation.

A group of 170 patients having functional renal allografts were evaluated at least six months after renal transplantation. They were assessed for symptoms and signs of tendinitis in the Achilles and Supraspinatus tendons. Of the 170 patients, 34 had tendinitis. Four patients (11.8%) had spontaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon one week to 72 months after transplantation. All of the symptomatic patients had received steroids, and 81% of these had been treated with methylprednisolone. Of the asymptomatic patients 89% received steroid and 69% received methylprednisolone. There was a significant correlation between symptoms of tendinitis and the cumulative steroid dose. The number of matching HLA loci of the donor kidney and the length of time on dialysis were also related to the incidence of tendinitis. Unlike a previous study (1) we could not find significant differences between the 34 patients with tendinitis and controls with reference to the levels of serum phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, albumin adjusted calcium, or cholecalciferol therapy prior to transplantation. Our data confirm that tendinitis is surprisingly common in patients after renal transplantation (20.0%).