Primary total hip replacement using Burch-Schneider cages for acetabular fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporotic acetabular fractures are common and pose a difficult technical challenge for the trauma surgeon. Acute total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a Burch-Schneider antiprotrusio cage with immediate postoperative weight-bearing is a method to approach these injuries. This case series reports our outcomes of acute THA using Burch-Schneider cages for acetabular fractures from a UK major trauma centre based on length of stay, radiological outcome, complications and outcome scores. METHODS: Data were collected from all patients who underwent acute THA with a Burch-Schneider cage for acetabular fractures between June 2006 and August 2015. Patients were followed up clinically, radiologically, and using Oxford Hip Scores (OHS). RESULTS: 20 patients with a median age of 73 (range 60-90 years) were identified. All patients were independent walkers at follow-up, and had achieved radiological union. There were no dislocations, subsidence, revision or deep infections. Significant complications include 1 perioperative death as a result of complications arising from pre-existing pulmonary fibrosis; 1 deep vein thrombosis; 1 intraoperative arterial injury to the superior gluteal artery; and 1 leg-length discrepancy. Mean length of stay was 10 days. The mean OHS was 37/48 at a mean follow-up of 26 months. CONCLUSIONS: This case series further validates the use of Burch-Schneider cages with primary THA in acute acetabular fractures.

Anthropometric method for estimating component sizes in total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative templating is essential in total hip arthroplasty (THA) as it not only helps to facilitate the correct implant type and size but also determines the post-operative biomechanics. Templating is also increasingly important from a medico-legal perspective and recommended in the British Orthopaedic Association Guide to Good Practice. Although templating has become increasingly digitised, there are no simple anthropometric models to predict implant sizes in the absence of digital methods. AIM: To assess the accuracy of using an easily obtainable measurement (shoe size) to predict component sizes in THA compared with digital templating. METHODS: Digital radiographs from a cohort of 102 patients (40 male, 62 female) who had undergone uncemented or hybrid THA at a single centre were retrospectively templated to desired cup and stem sizes using TraumaCad ® . We compared the templated size to the actual size of the implant and assessed if there was any correlation with the patient's shoe size. RESULTS: Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between: shoe size and templated cup size (ρ = 0.92, P < 0.001); shoe size with implanted cup size (ρ = 0.71, P < 0.001); shoe size and templated stem size (ρ = 0.87, P < 0.001); and shoe size with implanted stem size (ρ = 0.57, P < 0.001). Templated and implanted acetabular cup sizes were positively correlated (ρ = 0.76, P < 0.001) and were exact in 43.1% cases; 80.4% of implanted cup sizes were within 1 size (+/- 2 mm) of the template and 100% within 2 sizes (+/- 4 mm). Positive correlation was also demonstrated between templated and implanted femoral stem sizes (ρ = 0.69, P < 0.001) and were exact in 52.6% cases; 92.6% were within 1 size of the template and 98% within 2 sizes. CONCLUSION: This study has shown there to be a significant positive correlation between shoe size and templated size. Anthropometric measurements are easily obtainable and can be used to predict uncemented component sizes in the absence of digital methods.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the care of fragility hip fracture patients in the United Kingdom. A case control study in a major trauma centre.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 is a pandemic that forced a transformation in the services provided by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. Fragility hip fractures account for over 65,000 cases per year in the elderly population. The study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on fragility hip fractures. METHODS: A retrospective data gather was performed to identify fragility hip fractures from the 23rd of March 2020 to the 13th of May 2020, and from the 23rd of March 2019 to the 13th of May 19. Two groups were formed and compared over their 30 day follow up. RESULTS: The control group comprised of 97 patients, with a mean age of 82.1 years old (62-102 years) and M:F ratio of 38:59. The case group comprised of 102 patients, with a mean age of 82.3 years old (60-100 years) and a M:F ratio of 16:86. Significant differences between groups were identified for gender (p < 0.001), time to theatre (p = 0.002), length of stay (p < 0.001) and COVID-19 status (p = 0.001). In the Case group, association with mortality was found for male gender (p = 0.041), right side (p = 0.031) and COVID-19 positive test results (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Early surgical intervention is advocated wherever possible, and sufficient optimisation, prior to surgery whenever a COVID-19 positive patient is identified. A safe rehabilitation environment is paramount for recovery in this group of patients. Further studies are required to understand the effect of this pandemic on the fragility hip fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Retrospective case-control study.

Pelvic and acetabular fracture management in intravenous drug users.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic and acetabular fractures are significant injuries associated with high morbidity or mortality. Intravenous drug users (IVDU) represent a challenging group of patients, with an increased risk of complications and infection. To our knowledge there has not been any published literature concerning IVDU and this type of injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 19 patients with a history of IVDU and who had sustained an injury were identified. RESULTS: The mean age at injury was 36 years old; nine had a pelvic fracture and ten had an acetabular fracture. No complications were observed in the pelvic group. In the acetabular group, the infection risk was 50% and the risk of femoral head avascular necrosis was 33%. The mean follow up was 43.1 months from injury. CONCLUSION: We advise emphasis in the high infection and avascular necrosis rates, when consenting the patient for an operation. Furthermore, non-operative treatment should be considered, where possible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. Retrospective cohort study. Prognostic-investigating the effect of a patient characteristic on the outcome of the disease.

Can locking plate fixation of symphyseal disruptions allow early weight bearing?

INTRODUCTION: Anterior pubic symphyseal plate fixation is the recommended treatment for disruption of pubic symphysis in an unstable pelvic ring injury. The rigid construct offered by locking symphyseal plate has the theoretical advantage of allowing patients to weight bear early. However, there are concerns of catastrophic failure about the locked plate construct. The purpose of the study was to establish if locking plate fixation for pubic symphysis disruption was effective to allow patients to mobilise weight bearing immediately after surgery. PATIENT AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database from a single centre was performed. The study period was from 2008 to 2017. Radiographic evidence of fixation failure, revision surgery, removal of metalwork and follow up duration was noted. RESULTS: We identified 46 patients (F:M 8:38) with a mean age of 46 years (range 14 to 74 years). Based on the mechanism of injury patients were classified into Antero-posterior compression (28), Vertical shear [10], lateral compression [4] and combined mechanism [4]. Either a 4-hole or 6-hole locking plate was used in all patients, depending on fracture extension. Posterior fixation was required in 28 (61%) patients. All patients were allowed to fully or partial weight bear. The mean radiological follow-up period was 31 weeks with 13 (28%) patients having evidence of radiological failure. Revision was performed in 1 (2%) patient, in whom the screws had pulled out of the bone. The most common mode of failure was either the screw backing out from the plate or broken screw. Among the 4 (8%) patients who had their metalwork removed, 1 (2%) had delayed onset of infection, 2 (4%) had symptoms related to backed out screw and 1 (2%) opted electively to have metalwork removed. CONCLUSIONS: With our series of patients, we have found that using locking plate for pubic symphyseal diastasis is safe and effective in allowing patients to weight bear early. A low complication rate and need for re-operation is demonstrated.

Evaluating risk factors following surgery for periprosthetic fractures around hip and knee arthroplasties.

BACKGROUND: The increasing demand for arthroplasty has resulted in an inevitable rise in the number of periprosthetic fractures around implants. Survival factors looking into patient's comorbidities and how they influence outcome are rare. This study aims to identify correlations between survival post-injury and pre-existing comorbidities. METHODS: A total of 144 patients underwent operative treatment for either a hip or a knee periprosthetic fracture from January 2008 to August 2017 at our Major Trauma Hospital. The mean age at injury was 80.9 years old (SD 9.9). Each patient had a case-based analysis to ascertain injury characteristics, operative parameters and comorbidities. RESULTS: The mean survival was 12.7 months (95% CI 8.4-17.1). Survival analysis showed a correlation between age more than 75 years old (p = 0.001), ASA grade of 3 or higher (p = 0.009 Breslow's test), history of CVA or TIA (p = 0.038 Breslow's test), dementia (p = 0.002 log rank test), depression (p = 0.013 log rank test) and gender (p = 0.041, Breslow's test) and survival post-periprosthetic fracture. Survival within the first year following injury was found to be affected by the presence of osteoporosis (p = 0.020) and dementia (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Periprosthetic fractures are associated with a high mortality risk (34.7%). Operative risks can be minimised with careful optimisation and surgical planning. ASA, age and comorbidities (dementia, CVA or TIA, osteoporosis) have a significant correlation with survival post-injury. Hence, careful patient selection for operative treatment is advised.

The Morel-Lavallée lesion and its management: A review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Morel-Lavallée lesions can occur in polytrauma patients. Post-operative seroma is more frequently encountered, holds many pathological similarities with MLLs and continues to challenge plastic surgeons. We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of MLLs to increase awareness of optimum treatment options amongst plastic surgery teams, and to provide a management algorithm that may also be applied to post-operative seromas. METHODS: PubMed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library were searched using the terms "Morel-Lavallée", "management" and "treatment", which yielded 52 results. One reviewer screened titles and abstracts for relevance. Seventeen full text articles were retrieved. Review of reference lists provided a further three articles for inclusion. FINDINGS: Morel-Lavallée lesions (MLLs) represent closed injuries with internal degloving of superficial soft tissues from fascial layers. Main causes of MLLs include high-energy, blunt force trauma or crush injuries. They are commonly found overlying the greater trochanter. MLLs should be actively looked for when treating patients with pelvic trauma. MRI is the investigation of choice. Currently no guidelines for the management of MLLs exist. Compression bandaging, percutaneous aspiration, sclerodesis and mass resection have all been utilised. CONCLUSIONS: Our algorithm recommends avoidance of conservative management. For chronic lesions, percutaneous aspiration should not be used in isolation. Sclerodesis using doxycycline is appropriate for lesions up to 400 ml, where evidence suggests high degrees of efficacy. Larger lesions should be treated with open surgery. Quilting sutures, curettage and low suction drains are useful adjuncts. We hypothesise this algorithm would also be effective for post-operative seromas.

Impaction bone grafting for periprosthetic fractures around a total hip arthroplasty.

The incidence of periprosthetic fractures has been reported to be between 1 and 20.9% and appears to be on the rise. Fractures that occur around the femoral stem, particularly when the stem is loose or there is a loss of bone stock pose a technical challenge. These are rare injuries and there is considerable debate regarding their optimal treatment. Reconstruction with large segment endoprosthetic replacement is an acceptable solution for elderly patients who have limited functional demands and where the prosthesis is expected to outlive the patient. The younger patient poses a much greater challenge, the bone must be reconstituted and the femoral canal geometry must sufficiently restored to allow the stable insertion of a prosthesis. There are very few techniques that exist in this scenario. One such technique is impaction bone grafting and revision to a long smooth tapered cemented stem. This allows the restoration of bone stock and the stable insertion of a prosthesis. The aim of this article is to discuss the theory behind impaction bone grafting, the technical aspects and challenges of this technique, including fracture reduction methods, and to appraise all the literature available on impaction bone grafting for periprosthetic fractures.