Iatrogenic vascular injuries during arthroplasty of the hip.

Vascular injuries during total hip arthroplasty (THA) are rare but when they occur, have serious consequences. These have traditionally been managed with open exploration and repair, but more recently there has been a trend towards percutaneous endovascular management. We performed a systematic review of the literature to assess if this change in trend has led to an improvement in the overall reported rates of morbidity and mortality during the last 22 years in comparison with the reviews of the literature published previously.

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty at a non-specialist centre.

Introduction: Few studies have reported the outcome of hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) with respect to implant characteristics from non-specialist centres. We report the survival, clinical and radiological outcomes of a single surgeon series of HRA with an average follow-up duration of five years.

Methods: All consecutive HRAs performed by a single surgeon between 2003 and 2011 at a district general hospital were retrospectively examined clinically and radiologically.

Data protection training improves data handling.

Background: Clinicians are required by law to keep personal patient data secure. Data protection training (DPT) has been suggested to educate medical professionals in how to most appropriately manage such information.

Methods: Information regarding the handling, storage and disposal of patient information and prevalence of DPT was gathered using anonymous questionnaires.

Sporting activity following Birmingham hip resurfacing.

The purpose of the study was to assess whether patients who undergo hip resurfacing arthroplasty are able to take part in sporting activity following surgery. Sporting activity before and after surgery was assessed by means of a questionnaire in 43 patients who underwent a total of 51 hip resurfacing procedures. Thirty-three hips (65 %) participated in sports before surgery.

Changes in intraocular pressure in anesthetized prone patients.

Background: Postoperative visual loss occurs more commonly in patients placed prone. The mechanism may be raised intraocular pressure (IOP) causing an ischemic oculopathy.

Methods: IOP was measured in 20 patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Anti-infective measures and Entonox equipment: a survey.

We surveyed 102 maternity suites to investigate whether the guidelines of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, for the use of anti-infective filters or fully disposable anaesthetic breathing systems for each patient, were being followed with regard to Entonox equipment on labour wards. Of 100 units giving information (98%), only seven used filters and only two replaced tubing between cases. Our survey shows that the recommended policy is not being applied to Entonox apparatus in delivery suites.

Frozen shoulder syndrome. A comparison of hydraulic distension and manipulation.

Thirty-two patients, who had frozen shoulders which had not improved with physiotherapy, were treated by manipulation under general anaesthesia or by steroid injection and hydraulic distension under local anaesthesia. Distension is recommended as it is easy to carry out and gave better results than manipulation.