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Abstract: It is unclear which length of thread may be most advantageous for the internal fixation of an intracapsular fracture with cancellous screws. We have compared the 16mm versus the 32mm threads on cancellous screws within a randomised trial for 432 patients. All fractures were fixed with three screws and patients followed-up for a minimum of one year from injury. The characteristics of the patients in the two groups were similar with a mean age of 76 years. 23% were male. The most common complication encountered was non-union of the fracture which for undisplaced fractures occurred in 7/107 (6.5%) of short threaded screws versus 11/133 (8.3%) of long threaded screws. For displaced fractures the figures were 29/104 (27.9%) versus 24/89 (27.0%). Other complications for the short versus long threaded group were avascular necrosis (two cases versus five cases) and fracture below the implant (two cases in each group). Elective removal of the screws for discomfort was undertaken in five and three cases, respectively. None of these differences between groups was statistically significant. In summary there is no difference in fracture healing complications related to the length of the screw threads. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Systems for collecting information about patient care are increasingly common in orthopaedic practice. Databases can allow various comparisons to be made over time. Significant decisions regarding service delivery and clinical practice may be made based on their results. We set out to determine the number of cases needed for comparison of 30-day mortality, inpatient wound infection rates and mean hospital length of stay, with a power of 80% for the demonstration of an effect at a significance level of p <0.05. We analysed 2 years of prospectively collected data on 1050 hip fracture patients admitted to a city teaching hospital. Detection of a 10% difference in 30-day mortality would require 14,065 patients in each arm of any comparison, demonstration of a 50% difference would require 643 patients in each arm; for wound infections, demonstration of a 10% difference in incidence would require 23,921 patients in each arm and 1127 patients for demonstration of a 50% difference; for length of stay, a difference of 10% would require 1479 patients and 6660 patients for a 50% difference. This study demonstrates the importance of considering the population sizes before comparisons are made on the basis of basic hip fracture outcome data. Our data also help illustrate the impact of sample size considerations when interpreting the results of performance monitoring. Many researchers will be used to the fact that rare outcomes such as inpatient mortality or wound infection require large sample sizes before differences can be reliably demonstrated between populations. This study gives actual figures that researchers could use when planning studies. Statistically meaningful analyses will only be possible with major multi-centre collaborations, as will be possible if hospital Trusts participate in the National Hip Fracture Database. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A retrospective review of fractures occurring around the femoral component of total hip replacements was performed using patient notes and X rays. Between 1996 and 2002, 12 patients with total hip replacement had fixation of their periprosthetic femoral shaft fracture with carbon fibre plates. The mean patient age was 76 years (range 57–94). With regard to fracture type (Johansson Classification), three were Type 2 and nine were Type 3. In 11 cases the average time to union was 4 months (range 3–6). There was one non-union leading to implant failure. This was subsequently treated with a revision arthroplasty. There were no other significant complications. Although designed to fit the supracondylar region of the femur, we had no difficulty in applying the plate over the trochanteric region. Our results indicate that carbon fibre plates are effective in the management of femoral periprosthetic fractures in the elderly and this may be related to the unique properties of the plate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: In hip fracture surgery, the exact choice of implant often remains somewhat unclear for the individual surgeon, but the growing literature consensus has enabled publication of evidence-based surgical treatment pathways. The aim of this article was to review author pathways and national guidelines for hip fracture surgery and discuss a method for future pathway/guideline implementation and evaluation.Methods: By a PubMed search in March 2015 six studies of surgical treatment pathways covering all types of proximal femoral fractures with publication after 1995 were identified. Also we searched the homepages of the national heath authorities and national orthopedic societies in West Europe and found 11 national or regional (in case of no national) guidelines including any type of proximal femoral fracture surgery.Results: Pathway consensus is outspread (internal fixation for un-displaced femoral neck fractures and prosthesis for displaced among the elderly; and sliding hip screw for stabile- and intramedullary nails for unstable- and sub-trochanteric fractures) but they are based on a variety of criteria and definitions - and often leave wide space for the individual surgeons' subjective judgement. Appearing neither exhaustive nor exclusive, most of the pathways seem difficult to evaluate scientifically, which might explain why only very few have been evaluated for compliance, reliability and complications after implementation in an actual clinical setting. We therefore introduce a model for step-wise pathway implementation including proper scientific evaluation.Conclusions: Surgical treatment pathways for proximal femoral fractures are available in literature and nationally with somewhat evidence based treatment consensus, but the scientific evaluation of the pathways them selves needs to be optimised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical management of hip fractures in elderly people is challenging and complications relating to surgery could be devastating. They often lead to reoperation and revision surgery and can be associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. The most common surgical complications after internal fixation of hip fractures include cut-out, nonunion, Z-effect/medial migration, periimplant failure and avascular necrosis. High quality surgical fixation is of outmost importance to avoid surgical complications. This article presents the aetiology, risk factors and incidence of perioperative and post-fracture fixation complications. Technical tips and tricks for a successful fixation as well as the contemporary evidence surrounding the augmentation of osteoporotic bone fixation in internal fixation of hip fractures are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was in thoracolumbar fractures to assess the effectiveness of minimal invasive stabilisation compared to the open technique with regards to the change in kyphosis angle, the loss of reduction and length of hospital stay.Methods: The retrospective study consisted of 104 patients who received minimally invasive stabilisation or open stabilisation. Patients were between 15 and 86 years of age, had a thoracolumbar fracture and no neurological deficits. Kyphotic angle (Cobb angle) and loss of reduction was compared after minimal invasive and open stabilisation. The Cobb angle was evaluated directly post operatively, at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery.Results: Evaluated patients who received the minimally invasive technique had a shorter surgical intervention time and a shorter hospital stay compared to patients who received the open technique. Kyphosis angle and loss of reduction showed no significant difference compared to open technique. There was also no significant difference between minimally invasive poly-axial and mono-axial stabilisation.Conclusion: In this study we provide evidence that MIS instrumentation in selected thoracolumbar fractures can effectively be used without significant differences in loss of reduction compared to open stabilisation. MIS can also sufficiently retain reduction as compared to traditional open techniques. The main advantages are reduced operation time and shorter hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this prospective randomized clinical study was to evaluate the magnitude of bone mineral changes as well as the clinical results after cemented and cementless haemiarthroplasty (HA) for femoral neck fracture. The study was comprised of 60 patients (mean age 85.2 years); 30 of them underwent cemented HA and 30 cementless HA. All patients underwent osteodensitometry for the purpose of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) evaluation. BMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry test (DEXA scans), which was scheduled at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. BMD was evaluated at each of the seven Gruen zones. Harris Hip Score (HHS) at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months was used for evaluation of functional outcome. No difference was found between the two groups of patients in terms hospital stay, morbidity and mortality. The procedure took longer time in group A (cemented HA) compared to group B (cementless HA) (79.03 ± 3.59 vs 68.02 ± 5.97 minutes; p = 0.00). The Harris hip score averaged 76.97 ± 7.49 one year after surgery. At each follow – up examination the HHS was significantly higher in patients with cemented HA. We noted a trend of less intensive BMD reduction in all Gruen zones in group A compared to group B. However, the difference in BMD reduction between these two groups was significant only in zones 2, 3 and 4. Our results support the view that cemented hemiarthroplasty should be used for the management of displaced femoral neck fractures providing better functional outcomes and lower periprosthetic bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: It has been suggested that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in total hip replacement (THR) is less traumatic than standard techniques. This study was designed to address the question of whether an anterior MIS approach generates less inflammation and muscle damage than the standard posterolateral (PL) approach. Inflammation parameters such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), muscle damage parameters like heart type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were determined pre-operatively and at five consecutive points post-operatively in 10 patients operated through a MIS anterior approach and in 10 patients operated through a PL approach. The mean IL-6 concentration increased from 3 pg/ml in both groups pre-operatively to 78.5 pg/ml (PL group) vs 74.8 pg/ml (MIS group) at 6 hours post-operatively and reached a maximum of 100 pg/ml (PL group) vs 90.5 pg/ml pg/ml (MIS group) after 24 hours. Up to this time point, there was a decrease in both groups. The post-operative mean H-FABP concentration increased to 10.7μg/l in the PL group vs 15.8 μg/l in the MIS group. It formed a plateau and decreased after 24 hours post-operatively. The Hb levels were 14.5 g/dl before surgery and decreased to 10.7 g/dl (PL group) and 10.0 g/dl (MIS group) at 72 hours post-operatively. No significant differences were found between the two approaches either in inflammation and muscle damage or blood loss. Although the absence of a learning curve may explain the lack of a difference between both techniques, we speculate that the term MIS is at least doubtful in terms of being less traumatic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]