This is a retrospective case review of 237 patients with displaced fractures of the acetabulum presenting over a ten-year period, with a minimum follow-up of two years, who were studied to test the hypothesis that the time to surgery was predictive of radiological and functional outcome and varied with the pattern of fracture. Patients were divided into two groups based on the fracture pattern: elementary or associated. The time to surgery was analysed as both a continuous and a categorical variable. The primary outcome measures were the quality of reduction and functional outcome. Logistic regression analysis was used to test our hypothesis, while controlling for potential confounding variables. For elementary fractures, an increase in the time to surgery of one day reduced the odds of an excellent/good functional result by 15% (p = 0.001) and of an anatomical reduction by 18% (p = 0.0001). For associated fractures, the odds of obtaining an excellent/good result were reduced by 19% (p = 0.0001) and an anatomical reduction by 18% (p = 0.0001) per day. When time was measured as a categorical variable, an anatomical reduction was more likely if surgery was performed within 15 days (elementary) and five days (associated). An excellent/good functional outcome was more likely when surgery was performed within 15 days (elementary) and ten days (associated). The time to surgery is a significant predictor of radiological and functional outcome for both elementary and associated displaced fractures of the acetabulum. The organisation of regional trauma services must be capable of satisfying these time-dependent requirements to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
We describe an unusual case of non-traumatic compartment syndrome in three compartments of the left lower limb in a 57-year-old male inpatient. He had recently been started on anticoagulation therapy for multiple pulmonary emboli and deep vein thrombosis of the left posterior tibial and peroneal veins. Three of the four osteofascial compartments had pressures above 70 mm Hg, hence four compartment fasciotomies were performed. Postoperatively, intravenous heparin therapy was started resulting in a significant blood loss, but he had no neurovascular deficit. At reoperation, for primary wound closure, his tissues looked healthy. Non-traumatic causes of acute compartment syndrome, including deep venous thrombosis and anticoagulation, are considered.
Purpose The COVID pandemic has decreased orthopaedic fracture operative intervention and follow-up and increased the use of virtual telemedicine clinics. We assessed the implications of this management on future orthopaedic practice. We also surveyed patient satisfaction of our virtual fracture follow-up clinics. Method We prospectively analysed 154 patients during two weeks of 'lockdown' assessing their management. We surveyed 100 virtual fracture clinic follow-up patients for satisfaction, time off work and travel. Results Forty-nine percent of patients had decisions affected by COVID. Twelve percent of patients were discharged at diagnosis having potentially unstable fractures. These were all upper limb fractures which may go onto mal-union. Twenty-nine percent of patients were discharged who would have normally had clinal or radiological follow-up. No patients had any long-term union follow-up. Virtual telemedicine clinics have been incredibly successful. The average satisfaction was 4.8/5. In only 6% of cases, the clinician felt a further face-to-face evaluation was required. Eighty-nine percent of patients would have chosen virtual followup under normal conditions. Conclusion Lessons for the future include potentially large numbers of upper limb mal-unions which may be symptomatic. The non-union rate is likely to be the same, but these patients are unknown due to lack of late imaging. Telemedicine certainly has a role in future orthopaedic management as it is well tolerated and efficient and provides economic and environmental benefits to both clinicians and patients.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2007; 89: [513][514][515][516] 513 Helicopters were used very successfully for the transfer of wounded soldiers from the battlefields in the Korean and Vietnam wars and this model of patient transfer was then put into use in a civilian setting, initially in the US. In 1987, the first helicopter-based ambulance service in the UK was introduced in the Greater London region. 1Although this service carries an emergency physician as crew, it is unique in that respect. All other 15 dedicated HEAS providers in the UK are usually manned by one pilot and two paramedics. Advanced trauma and life-support (ATLS) teaching is that there are three peaks of mortality following major trauma. An early peak is due to patients who will die immediately with fatal injuries, a second peak of patients who will die in the 60 min following trauma and a third peak representing patients who will die of delayed complications of their injuries such as organ failure and sepsis. The second peak of mortality within 60 min of injury (the so-called 'golden hour' in ATLS teaching) represents the patients for whom rapid transfer to an emergency medical care facility from the scene of injury is potentially life-saving. 3The perceived benefit of helicopter transfer is the faster speed of transfer to hospital. This will maximise the proportion of the 'golden hour' spent in a hospital setting where potentially reversible conditions such as tension pneumothorax or cardiac tamponade can be treated. The most commonly used helicopter for HEAS in the UK is the Eurocopter 'Bolkow' 105, 2 which has a maximum speed of 252 km/h, clearly faster than ground ambulance. However, when factors such as mobilisation time, weather conditions, ease of access and the availability of helipad for landing at destination hospitals is considered, quicker transfer by helicopter is not always guaranteed. Many studies have found that patient transfer by helicopter is often not faster than by ground ambulance transfer overall except when large distances (over 45 km) are involved or when roads are poor or traffic conditions bad. These studies have questioned which
Background: There are limited randomized controlled trials with long-term outcomes comparing autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) versus alternative forms of surgical cartilage management within the knee. Purpose: To determine at 5 years after surgery whether ACI was superior to alternative forms of cartilage management in patients after a failed previous treatment for chondral or osteochondral defects in the knee. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: In total, 390 participants were randomly assigned to receive either ACI or alternative management. Patients aged 18 to 55 years with one or two symptomatic cartilage defects who had failed 1 previous therapeutic surgical procedure in excess of 6 months prior were included. Dual primary outcome measures were used: (1) patient-completed Lysholm knee score and (2) time from surgery to cessation of treatment benefit. Secondary outcome measures included International Knee Documentation Committee and Cincinnati Knee Rating System scores, as well as number of serious adverse events. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. Results: Lysholm scores were improved by 1 year in both groups (15.4 points [95% CI, 11.9 to 18.8] and 15.2 points [95% CI, 11.6 to 18.9]) for ACI and alternative, with this improvement sustained over the duration of the trial. However, no evidence of a difference was found between the groups at 5 years (2.9 points; 95% CI, −1.8 to 7.5; P = .46). Approximately half of the participants (55%; 95% CI, 47% to 64% with ACI) were still experiencing benefit at 5 years, with time to cessation of treatment benefit similar in both groups (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.32; P > .99). There was a differential effect on Lysholm scores in patients without previous marrow stimulation compared with those with marrow stimulation ( P = .03; 6.4 points in favor of ACI; 95% CI, −0.4 to 13.1). More participants experienced a serious adverse event with ACI ( P = .02). Conclusion: Over 5 years, there was no evidence of a difference in Lysholm scores between ACI and alternative management in patients who had previously failed treatment. Previous marrow stimulation had a detrimental effect on the outcome of ACI. Registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number: 48911177
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