Many of these early problems are related to the unforgiving nature of the prosthesis on insertion. These poor early results have led us to stop using the prosthesis.

The aim of the study was to compare the radiological findings of wrist arthrogram with wrist arthroscopy. This allowed us to establish the accuracy (sensitivity, specificity) of MRI arthrogram as a diagnostic tool. Thirty patients (20 female and 10 male) have undergone both wrist MRI arthrogram and wrist arthroscopy over the last 3 years at a District General Hospital. The mean age at arthrogram was 42.4 years with an average 6.7 month interval between the two procedures.The MRI arthrogram was reported by a consultant radiologist with an interest in musculoskeletal imaging and the arthroscopies performed by two upper limb surgeons. Patients who underwent both procedures were identified. The arthrogram reports and operation notes were examined for correlation. Three main areas of pathology were consistently examined: TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex), scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligament tears. The sensitivity and specificity of arthrogram was calculated for each. Other areas of pathology were also noted.In the case of TFCC tears MRI arthrogram had 90% sensitivity and 75% specificity. The lunotriquetral ligament examination with this technique was 100% sensitivity and specificity. However for scapholunate ligament tears it only had 91% sensitivity and 88% specificity.Wrist arthrogram and arthroscopy are both invasive techniques. In cost terms the arthrogram remains cheaper but is superseded by arthroscopy as it is both diagnostic and therapeutic.

Complex fracture subluxations of the proximal interphalangeal joint are often difficult to treat and their outcome variable. A number of methods for treatment of these injuries have been described. We have used a ligamentotaxis device (Ligamentotaxor, Arex, Palaiseau Cedex, France) since 2008. We performed 28 operations in 28 patients with complex proximal interphalangeal joint injuries over a 3-year period. Patients followed a standardized postoperative rehabilitation regime, including fixator adjustment as necessary. The mean age was 33 years (range 18-67). The mean time to surgery was 7 days. At final follow-up (mean 22 months, range 6-52) the mean proximal interphalangeal joint range of motion was 85° (range 60°-110°). The mean QuickDASH functional outcome score was 4.8 (range 0-36.4). Our results compare favourably with other devices reported in the literature.

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Both fibrin sealant and intravenous tranexamic acid were effective in reducing blood loss. However, tranexamic acid use reduced post-operative transfusion requirements.

Professor Grammont revolutionised shoulder surgery with his reverse shoulder arthroplasty design. Patients who had poor results from a conventional shoulder replacement because of cuff deficiency can now be treated effectively. Although designed for cuff tear arthropathy, indications continue to evolve and broaden. The initial results look very promising and the implant has gained much popularity over the years. The article provides an extensive literature review of the indications, results and complications for reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Aims In the UK, deaths associated with COVID-19 have occurred in two waves. Evidence has shown an increase in 30-day mortality for hip fracture patients co-infected with COVID-19. However, there are no studies analysing mortality trends between the first two waves of the UK pandemic. Additionally, hospital versus community acquired COVID-19 infection between the two waves has not been analysed. Furthermore, predictive factors of 30-day mortality have not been fully evaluated. Methods Data from two audits conducted by the CHIP collaborative group were used: a published regional audit in England of nine hospitals providing the COVID-19 negative cases and an unpublished UK national audit of 43 hospitals, which provided the COVID-19 positive cases. Data collection for the COVID-19 positive cases was from 23 March to 31 December 2020. September 1, 2020 was used to define the transition between the two waves. Results There were 517 COVID-19 positive hip fracture patients and 1445 COVID-19 negative hip fracture patients. Overall, 30-day mortality rates were 5.7% in the COVID-19 negative group and 22.4% in the COVID-19 positive patients ( p < 0.001). A difference in survival function between the first and second waves was found ( p = 0.038). To allow for significant demographic differences, a matched analysis of 185 patients found a 26.5% 30-day mortality in the first wave compared to 21.1% in the second wave ( p = 0.222). Within the COVID-19 positive groups, the virus was hospital acquired in 66.7% of cases in the first wave and 72.8% of cases in the second wave ( p = 0.130). Independent predictors of mortality were found to include COVID-19 positive status, AMTS ≤ 6, male gender and age. Conclusion There was a reduction in 30-day mortality for hip fracture patients co-infected with COVID-19 between the two UK pandemic waves but this was not statistically significant. There was no reduction in hospital acquired COVID-19 infection between the two waves.