The use of bone morphogenic protein-7 (OP-1) in the management of resistant non-unions in the upper and lower limb.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of local implantation of BMP-7 for the treatment of resistant non-unions in the upper and lower limb. Fifty-two patients (30 males, mean age 52.8 years; range 20-81) were treated with local BMP-7 implantation in a bovine bone-derived collagen paste with or without revision of fixation. Thirty-six patients had closed injuries, ten had open injuries and six had infected non-unions. Patients had undergone a mean of 2 (1-5) operations prior to implantation of BMP-7. Clinical and radiological union was achieved in 94% at a mean time of 5.6 months (3-19). Two patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures failed to achieve union secondary to inadequate fracture stabilisation, persistent unfavourable biological environment and systemic co-morbidities. One patient developed synostosis attributed to the BMP-7 application. This study demonstrates BMP-7 implanted in a bovine-derived collagen paste is an effective adjunctive treatment for resistant non-unions in the upper and lower limb.

High tibial osteotomy in medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus deformity using the Taylor spatial frame: early results.

We report the early results of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) in medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) and varus deformity using the Taylor spatial frame (TSF). Between October 2005 and April 2007, 9 patients with medial compartment OA and varus deformity underwent TSF application and medial opening wedge HTO. Pre- and post-operative Oxford knee scores, SF-12 and visual analogue pain scores were recorded along with radiographic outcomes. Median follow-up was 19 months (range 15-35). Mean age at operation was 49 years (range 37-59). The median time spent in the frame was 18 weeks (range 12-37). The mean preoperative Oxford knee score was 28.7. This improved to a mean of 35.4 post-operatively (P = 0.0142). 6 (67%) patients had a documented pin-site infection. With TKR as an end point, the survival rate of HTOs was 88.9% at a median of 19 months follow-up. This study demonstrates that in selected patients the TSF provides a viable treatment option for performing HTO in medial compartment OA with varus deformity.

Hand function after high dose rate brachytherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin of the hand.

AIMS: Current recommendations for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the hand are almost unanimously in favour of ablative surgery. However, many of the patients are frail and elderly, and surgical techniques frequently involve skin grafts or amputation of digits. A non-invasive method of treatment is, therefore, often preferred. Radiotherapy using a brachytherapy technique is a well-established option. This study investigated whether patients found the treatment acceptable and assessed the outcome of treatment in terms of local control, cosmesis and hand function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients who underwent mould brachytherapy using a microselectron high dose rate radiotherapy device were available for assessment. We assessed the functional status of the hand and fingers by means of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Michigan Hand Outcomes questionnaires. We examined the hand to assess the severity of post-radiation stigmata. We enquired as to patient acceptability of treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Of 25 patients who agreed to participate, the fingers were affected in 15 and the dorsum of the hand in 10. The mean age at the time of radiotherapy was 69 years (range 50-87). There were no significant differences in parameters, such as range of motion of fingers and wrist, hand/finger grip strength, between the treated and opposite sides. Sensation, including two-point discrimination, was not significantly different from the untreated hand. Seventeen patients had minor skin changes. No patient found the treatment painful or unacceptable. Twenty patients were very satisfied and five patients were moderately satisfied with the cosmetic result. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that high dose rate brachytherapy is a safe and simple alternative to surgical treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the hand, as it is not only successful in eradicating tumour, but also preserves hand function.

The effect of tourniquet padding on the efficiency of tourniquets of the upper limb.

We report the effect of padding on the efficiency of the pneumatic tourniquet for the upper limb. Varying thicknesses of two commercially-available types of orthopaedic padding (Cellona and Velband) were applied to the arms of 20 volunteers, with three pressure transducers placed directly beneath the padding. A tourniquet was positioned over the padding and inflated to 220 mmHg. Significant reductions in the transmitted pressure were recorded from the transducers with both padding materials. With eight layers of padding, reductions in pressure of 13% (1% to 26%) and 18% (7% to 35%) were seen with Cellona and Velband, respectively. The reduction in pressure with Velband padding correlated with increasing arm circumference (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.711, p < 0.001). Studies to date have examined how arm circumference affects the required tourniquet inflation pressure. Our study is the first to investigate the effect of the padding and the findings suggest that using more than two layers results in a significant reduction in the transmitted pressure.