Dall-Miles cable and plate fixation system in the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures: a review of 20 cases.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of Dall-Miles cables and plates in the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures around hip arthroplasties.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 20 cases of periprosthetic femoral fracture treated with the Dall-Miles cable and plate system between November 1999 and December 2002 in James Paget Hospital in the United Kingdom. Demographic data, fracture type, and surgical outcome of the patients were reviewed and assessed.

Fracture-separation of articular cartilage in the adult knee.

Seventy-six knees with fracture-separations of articular cartilage are described. The lesion involved the full thickness of the articular surface with exposed subchondral bone in 28 knees and only part of the thickness in 48. The clinical features and distribution of the lesions within the knee are described.

The use of flexible carbon fibre in the repair of experimental large abdominal incisional hernias.

Ventral hernia was induced surgically in sheep and either left unrepaired (5 animals), repaired with plastic mesh (20 animals) or with carbon fibre (20 animals). In unrepaired animals the hernia persisted. Three hernias recurred in the group repaired with plastic mesh, 2 as a consequence of sepsis.

Carbon fibre reinforced epoxy as a high strength, low modulus material for internal fixation plates.

A multi-axial carbon fibre/epoxy composite fracture plate has been developed. This type of plate appears to allow early consolidation of internally fixed fractures whilst avoiding the ensuing disadvantage of 'plate induced osteopoenia' which are observed with metal devices. The mechanical properties of these plates (determined 'in vitro') are reported, along with early results of implantation in sheep.