Gouty synovitis after total knee arthroplasty: a case report

We report a case of acute gouty synovitis after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a patient with no history of gout. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of urate crystals in the synovial fluid. Acute gouty synovitis, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an inflammed knee after TKA to avoid unnecessary surgical revision.

Migration of a broken meniscal arrow: a case report and review of the literature

Meniscal repair is a common procedure that can be performed by the inside-out, outside-in, and all-inside techniques. The all-inside technique using the meniscal arrow is increasingly popular. We report a case in which a broken segment of a meniscal arrow was found on exploration of a subcutaneous swelling around the knee three weeks following meniscal repair.

Do we practice evidence based medicine with regard to drain usage in knee arthroplasty? Results of a questionnaire of BASK members

Clinical governance requires our clinical practice to be evidence based. We wished to see if British Orthopaedic surgeons are using the current evidence with regards to the use of drains in knee arthroplasty. A questionnaire was faxed to all UK members of BASK to ascertain their current practice regarding the use of drains in knee arthroplasty and the rationale for their drain policy. The study suggests that the majority of practising members of BASK do not practice evidence based medicine with regard to the use of drains in knee arthroplasty.

Ex-professional association footballers have an increased prevalence of osteoarthritis of the hip compared with age matched controls despite not having sustained notable hip injuries

OBJECTIVE

To compare the prevalence of self reported, physician diagnosed osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip in ex-professional footballers with that in age matched controls in the general public.

METHOD

A questionnaire was sent to the 92 football league and premiership managers to assess the prevalence of OA of various joints. The prevalence of OA of the hip in those managers that were ex-professional footballers was assessed. Radiographic controls were obtained and used to assess the prevalence of OA of the hip in the general population. The results of the two groups were compared statistically using chi(2) tabulation.

RESULTS

Seventy four (80%) of the managers responded to the questionnaire. Nine of the 68 ex-professional footballers who replied had OA of the hip, and six of these had undergone a total of eight total hip replacements. Of the 18 managers who did not respond, 12 were known to be ex-professionals. In the control group of 136, two had OA of the hip. The two groups differed significantly (p<0.001). The odds ratio for OA of the hip was 10.2 (95% confidence interval 2.1 to 48.8).

CONCLUSION

The ex-professional footballers had a significantly higher prevalence of OA of the hip than an age matched group of radiographic controls.

Neglected rupture of the patellar tendon

Neglected rupture of the patellar tendon is a rare but well recognised complication of knee trauma. We present the case of a 43-year-old man who sustained a complete rupture of the patellar tendon of his left knee following a fall. Clinical diagnosis was delayed by 2 months and was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment began with skeletal patellar traction and was followed by late reconstruction of the patellar tendon and transfer of the gracilis and semitendonosus tendons supplemented by figure-of-eight tension band wiring.

The effect of ongoing litigation on outcome scores following open reduction and internal fixation of the calcaneum

All sixteen patients who had undergone open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the calcaneum by the senior author between April 1993 and August 1996 were included in the study. Two had died from unrelated illnesses and one had failed to attend any follow-up following discharge. The remaining 13 were reviewed by the main author. As part of a complete clinical, radiological and functional assessment, Buckley and Meek (B&M) and Kerr and Atkins (K&A) outcome scores were calculated as well as a satisfaction score obtained by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Statistical analysis of the results using Wilcoxen's paired and unpaired ranking scores showed that the initial grade of the fracture, degree of operative reduction, correction of width of the heel and post-operative ranges of motion had no significant correlation to either B&M or K&A outcome scores or to the VAS score. However, the presence of ongoing litigation was significantly correlated to the scores (VAS < 0.01, B&M < 0.05, K&A < 0.05). These findings cast doubt on the validity of post operative scoring for fracture of the calcaneum in the presence of ongoing litigation.