Marc George

Red cell distribution width is an independent predictor of mortality in hip fracture

BACKGROUND the red cell distribution width (RDW), an automated measure of variability in the red blood cell size on full blood count (FBC) is an independent predictor of mortality in several disease states and in healthy older people. OBJECTIVE we wanted to determine the prognostic value of RDW in patients following a hip fracture-a condition associated with high mortality. DESIGN we examined the relationship between admission RDW and mortality in 698 consecutive patients admitted with hip fracture. METHOD regression analysis was used to examine admission RDW and subsequent mortality, adjusting for admission haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, age, gender, pre-morbid residence and independence level, Charlson co-morbidity index and post-operative complications. RESULTS the mean age was 78 ± 13 years. Unadjusted 1-year mortality was 12, 15, 29 and 36% across quartiles of increasing RDW. Along with age and post-operative complications, RDW remained significantly associated with in-hospital, 120-day and 1-year mortality [adjusted hazard ratios: HR: 1.119, 95% CI: (1.000-1.253), P = 0.05, 1.134 (1.047-1.227), P = 0.004 and 1.131 (1.067-1.199), P < 0.001, respectively]. These relationships remained significant at all three time points on repeat analysis in non-anaemic patients (n = 548). CONCLUSION RDW, a widely available parameter on FBC, is independently associated with an increased risk of short- and long-term mortality following hip fracture.

Current literature and imaging techniques of aseptic lymphocyte-dominated vasculitis-associated lesions (ALVAL)

Aseptic lymphocyte-dominated vasculitis-associated lesions (ALVAL) are a recognized complication of metal-on-metal bearing hip prostheses. There is an impending concern regarding the future investigation and management of patients who have received such implants. The current literature is discussed, and the current guidelines for management of these patients in the UK are reviewed. The various imaging techniques available, such as computed tomography, metal artefact reduction magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound are discussed and evaluated with respect to the assessment of patients with suspected ALVAL. The histopathological findings are discussed with images of the tissue changes provided. Images of the radiological findings are also provided for all general radiological methods. ALVAL and its radiological presentation is an important issue that unfortunately may become a significant clinical problem.

Systematic review of total hip arthroplasty in patients under 30 years old

We performed a systematic review to assess whether joint replacement in this very young patient group provides significant functional improvement and whether these procedures are associated with good implant survivorship. The studies included presented the results of 450 THA procedures. All patients showed an improvement in functional score and symptom relief. Unce-mented stems showed good integration with no signs of loosening. Cemented implants showed high rates of loosening. This study shows that THA in the very young patient can provide good functional improvement and relief of symptoms and that the more modern uncemented implant designs used with hard-on-hard bearings can be associated with improved implant survival. Long-term studies are necessary to confirm the superiority and improved survivorship of these newer implants.

Functional outcomes of total hip arthroplasty in patients aged 30 years or less: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Young adult hip surgery is a growing subspecialty. Increasingly total hip arthroplasty (THA) is offered to patients aged 30 or less suffering from end-stage hip arthropathy from a variety of congenital, developmental and acquired conditions. There is a paucity of evidence to advise such patients and surgeons alike on the functional outcomes of THA in this age group, as individual studies tend to include small cohorts. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess whether THA in patients aged 30 years or less provides significant functional improvement. The primary outcome measure was change in Harris Hip Score. Secondary outcome measures were implant survivorship and the effect of fixation type and bearing surface. Results The results of 743 primary THA procedures were included. Weighted mean patient age was 22.7 years. Harris Hip Score improved by a weighted mean difference of 42.17 points out of 100 (95% confidence interval, 36.48-47.86 points, p<0.001) after THA at a weighted mean follow-up of 8.4 years. Pooled revision rate was 5.0% for the same time period. Conclusions This is the largest review to date of THA in patients aged 30 or less. The results show significant functional improvement measured by Harris Hip Score. The revision rate of 5% at 8.4 years is comparable to the general THA population. This contrasts high revision rates reported in older reviews of the literature, suggesting adoption of improved techniques and implants in the more recent literature.

Hip arthroplasty fatality related to dabigatran induced gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

We report a fatality due to massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a patient receiving prophylactic dabigatran etexilate following a total hip replacement. A 79-year-old woman was commenced on dabigatran for venous thromboembolic prophylaxis following a total hip replacement. She presented again four days after surgery with haematemesis and hypotension but her coagulopathy could not be corrected, leading to her death. This case highlights the lack of reversal agent for dabigatran etexilate that resulted in this fatal complication.

Experience and outcome data of the British non-arthroplasty hip registry:

Introduction: The non-arthroplasty hip registry (NAHR) is a United Kingdom national register that monitors the efficacy of hip preservation surgery. We aim to highlight early experiences of incorporating the NAHR into our practice at a tertiary centre. Methods: Between December 2013 and February 2015, 381 patients were identified on the NAHR database that had undergone non-arthroplasty hip surgery. Patient-related outcome measures EuroQuol 5D-5L (EQ-5D) and the International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (iHOT-12) were recorded at baseline and 6 months. Results: The 289 arthroscopic surgeries showed a statistical significant difference (p<0.05) in iHOT-12 for both males (45.21-65.07) and females (34.57 to 55.53), and in EQ-5D for both males (0.59-0.75) and females (0.56-0.65). The 92 open procedures showed a statistical significant difference (p<0.05) in both iHOT-12 (31.71-62.42) and EQ-5D (0.54-0.68). Conclusions: Overall our results from the NAHR indicate hip preservation surgery is effective at relieving pain and improving quality of life in the short term.

Refractory metabolic acidosis in patients with sepsis following hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture: a causative role for paracetamol and flucloxacillin?

The authors report two cases of pyroglutamic acidosis as a result of paracetamol and flucloxacillin therapy in patients with prosthesis infection following hemiarthroplasty for neck of femur fractures. Pyroglutamic acidosis is an important and often unrecognised cause of refractory metabolic acidosis that disproportionately affects older women, and can be caused by drugs such as paracetamol and flucloxacillin in the setting of sepsis, renal failure and malnutrition. Although relatively rare, the widespread use of these drugs in orthopaedic patients confirms the importance of this disorder.

Non-surgical causes of pneumoperitoneum—characteristic ‘Rigler's sign’ in a chest x-ray due to pneumothorax with a diaphragmatic hernia

Riglers sign is a radiological sign of free intraperitoneal air, generally from a perforated viscus. It is the appearance of air on both sides of the bowel wall due to a large quantity of free air in the abdomen. It is important to be aware of the non-surgical causes of this appearance, one of which we describe here. An 87-year-old man whose only medical history was of a long-standing, seemingly asymptomatic, diaphagramatic hernia (figure 1, preoperative film), underwent a total hip replacement with …

The importance of pre-contouring a cricket-pad splint to avoid complications.

The use of splints in immobilising a number of knee conditions is appropriate for pain relief and for prevention of further injuries. However, physicians and healthcare workers should take absolute …