Retrospective review of complications following long tourniquet time in foot and ankle surgery.

BACKGROUND: Tourniquet use is ubiquitous in orthopaedic surgery to create a bloodless field and to facilitate safe surgery, however, we know of the potential complications that can occur as a result of prolonged tourniquet time. Experimental and clinical research has helped define the safe time limits but there is not much literature specific to foot and ankle surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of the postoperative course of patients with prolonged tourniquet time (longer than 180 min) for foot and ankle procedures was done. Data related to the patient factors and the surgical procedure was collected. The length of stay, re-admissions and complications were the important indicators of the individual patient's recovery. RESULTS: Twenty patients were identified with longer than 180-min tourniquet times for complex foot and ankle procedures. The average uninterrupted tourniquet time was 191 min. Eight of the twenty procedures were revision surgeries. The average length of stay was 3 days and there were no re-admissions within 30 days. Eight patients (40%) had at least one recorded complication. The complications seen in this group were transient sensory loss, wound issues, superficial infection, ongoing pain and non-union. CONCLUSIONS: This case series has not revealed any major systemic complications resulting from the prolonged tourniquet such as pulmonary embolism or renal dysfunction. Unlike past literature on knee procedures with extended tourniquet times, no major nerve palsies were seen in our patient group. Our understanding of the local and systemic effects of tourniquet is not complete and this study demonstrates that the complications do not necessarily increase in a linear fashion in relation to the tourniquet time.

The presence of the ossific nucleus and its relation to avascular necrosis rates and the number of secondary procedures in late-presenting developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Late-presenting developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) has an incidence reported between 0.07 and 2:1000 live births. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head secondary to treatment of DDH is a feared complication and may lead to adverse long-term sequelae. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the ossific nucleus (ON) presence and AVN in late-presenting DDH. This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data over a 24-year period, at a single UK centre. Late-presenting DDH who were treated surgically with a closed or open reduction were included in the series. The presence of ON was monitored, and outcomes measured included AVN and whether delaying surgery affected the number of secondary procedures. Seventy-six patients with 79 hips (mean age at presentation 13.8 months) were included in the analysis. The mean age at presentation was 13.8 months. About 45.5% of hips with no ON present developed clinically significant AVN (Kalamchi and MacEwen grades 2-4, P = 0.12), compared to 20.6% of hips with the ON present. Delaying surgery did not affect AVN rates or the number of secondary procedures. Looking at long-term outcomes, 86.7% of hips had a Severin grade of I or II and 13.3% had a grade ≥III. Factors that affected long-term outcomes were absent ON (P = 0.04) and open reduction (P = 0.03). In the multiple logistic regression model, only open reduction could increase AVN rates (P value 0.027). The presence of ON at the time of surgery may have an impact on the rate and significance of AVN. Absence of the ON at the time of reduction negatively affects long-term outcomes in late-presenting DDH.

Innovative Method of Traction in a Bilateral Diaphyseal Femur Fracture in a Polytrauma Below-Knee Amputee.

While diaphyseal femoral shaft fractures are common, it is uncommon to see this injury in leg amputees. Traditionally, these fractures are internally fixed using a fracture table with reduction obtained by traction and adequate rotation exerted on a slightly abducted extremity. Special considerations need to be given in the management of patients with leg amputations. We report the case of a 24-year-old gentleman with bilateral diaphyseal femoral shaft fractures and a previous right below-knee amputation, who was transferred to our centre following a road traffic collision. We highlight important planning that needs to be undertaken for appropriate positioning, ease of reduction, and fracture fixation. We have reviewed the literature to highlight the methods that have been previously described and our use of skeletal traction through the amputation stump that can be utilised by other surgeons in challenging situations like this.