Shoulder arthroplasty. Part 1: Prosthesis terminology and classification.

Shoulder arthroplasty is the third most common joint replacement procedure in the UK, and there are a number of different implant options available to surgeons to treat a variety of shoulder disorders. With an increasing burden placed on clinical follow-up, more patients are remaining under the care of their general practitioners and musculoskeletal triage assessment services and are not necessarily being seen by specialists. Referrals to orthopaedic specialists are therefore often prompted by radiological reports describing evidence of implant failure. This article is the first of two reviews on shoulder arthroplasty, concentrating on implant features and the indications for their use. The second article will address the modes of failure of shoulder arthroplasty and describe the relevant associated radiological features.

Shoulder arthroplasty. Part 2: normal and abnormal radiographic findings.

Frequently, the decision made by general practitioners or musculoskeletal triage assessment services to refer patients for specialist review is initiated by a radiological report. Following shoulder arthroplasty it is important to ensure that any patient with asymptomatic evidence of a failing prosthesis is referred for review so that revision surgery can be contemplated and planned before the situation becomes unsalvageable. The first paper in this series described the various types of shoulder arthroplasty and indications for each. This follow-up paper will concentrate on their modes of failure and the associated radiographic features, and is aimed at radiology trainees and non-musculoskeletal specialist radiologists.

The hip in osteochondrodysplasias: general rules for diagnosis and treatment.

The management of hip pathology in osteochondrodysplasia (skeletal dysplasia) is complex and a multidisciplinary approach is vital. Thorough clinical assessment and knowledge of the natural history of the different disorders provides the basis for this.

Ankle arthrodesis and its relationship to ipsilateral arthritis of the hind- and mid-foot.

It has been suggested that arthrodesis of the ankle leads to osteoarthritis of the joints of the ipsilateral hind- and midfoot. We believe these studies overlooked the presence of osteoarthritic changes in these joints before the arthrodesis. We reviewed the pre-operative radiographs of 70 patients with osteoarthritis of the ankle who underwent 71 ankle arthrodeses (one was bilateral). The talonavicular, calcaneocuboid, subtalar and naviculocuneiform joints were given an osteoarthritis score according to Kellgren and Lawrence. The mean age at operation was 54.9 years and the most common indication was for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (52 cases). A total of 68 patients showed pre-existing arthritis in either the hind- or mid-foot, with the subtalar joint the most commonly affected. Ipsilateral hind- and mid-foot arthritis is almost universally present in patients with arthritis of the ankle requiring arthrodesis. The presence of such changes may not be a consequence of this arthrodesis.