Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular pincer impingement.

OBJECTIVE: Arthroscopic resection of the bony overhang of the acetabular rim with concurrent treatment of associated chondrolabral injury in order to improve femoroacetabular clearance, provide symptomatic relief and in theory, delay the onset or progression of osteoarthritis of the hip. INDICATIONS: Clinical and radiographic evidence of femoroacetabular pincer or combined impingement, with minimal to moderate degenerative change in the hip joint. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Advanced osteoarthritis of the hip joint. Femoroacetabular pincer impingement arising from generalised overcoverage, e.g. coxa profunda. Acetabular retroversion in a dysplastic hip. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Arthroscopy of the peripheral compartment, using a proximal anterolateral viewing portal and anterior and anterolateral working portals. Labral assessment, release from its capsular reflection, limited bony resection of the acetabular rim or labral ossification. Central compartment arthroscopy under traction, using the anterolateral and anterior portals alternately as viewing and working portals, and a distal anterolateral accessory portal. The labrum is detached to expose the bony overhang in the acetabular rim, which is resected with a burr. The labrum is refixed if it is of sufficient quality and debrided or resected otherwise. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Labral resection: partial weight bearing, with pain-controlled progression to full weight bearing over 1-2 weeks. Labral refixation: Protected (20 kg) weight bearing for the first 4 weeks. Continuous passive motion therapy and the use of a stationary bicycle for 4 weeks, and early proprioceptive training are part of the rehabilitation regimen. RESULTS: Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement has been shown to provide symptomatic relief, improve hip outcome scores and is postulated to delay progression of osteoarthritis. Better clinical outcomes can be obtained with labral refixation if the labrum is of sufficient quality.

Fragment-specific fracture fixation and double-column plating of unstable distal radial fractures using AO mini-fragment implants and Kirschner wires.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of AO mini-fragment implants and 1.25-mm Kirschner wires using fragment-specific fracture fixation and double-column plating for displaced or unstable distal radial fractures. DESIGN: prospective and consecutive. SETTING: level II trauma hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 28 people with 30 fractures and an average follow-up of 21.1 (range 12-41) months, treated with fragment-specific fracture fixation. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: anatomical assessment using anteroposterior and lateral radiographs, graded according to Sarmiento's modification of Lidstrom's scoring system. CLINICAL OUTCOME ASSESSMENT: DASH and Modified Gartland and Werley scores. RESULTS: There were 24 excellent and 6 good radiological results. Final mean grip strength was 83% of uninjured side, and mean wrist range of motion was 61 degrees dorsiflexion, 54 degrees palmar flexion, 85 degrees supination and 83 degrees pronation. Gartland and Werley's demerit point system revealed 13 (43%) excellent, 12 (40%) good, 5 (17%) fair and no poor results. The mean DASH score was 18, with a standard deviation of +/-18. CONCLUSION: This fixation method is a reliable and low-cost alternative with good clinical and anatomical results, particularly useful in open reduction and internal fixation of comminuted intra-articular distal radial fractures.