The history and development of Irish orthopaedics: a descriptive review.

From'grave diggers' to a 'Trauma System for Ireland', the history of Irish orthopaedics is a unique and fascinating story. This story has developed over decades and centuries, with many late and great surgeons and trainers playing major roles in developing our orthopaedic services nationally, as we know them today. The authors acknowledge that it would be wrong to think that a 1500-word review could provide an in-depth, yet comprehensive, discussion of all topics past and present of celebration, deliberation and further debate, related to orthopaedic surgery in Ireland.

The use of radiomic analysis of magnetic resonance imaging findings in predicting features of early osteoarthritis of the knee-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The primary aim of this study was to systematically review current literature evaluating the use of radiomics in establishing the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in native knees in predicting features of osteoarthritis (OA). A systematic review was performed with respect to PRISMA guidelines in search of studies reporting radiomic analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyse patients with native knee OA. Sensitivity and specificity of radiomic analyses were included for meta-analysis.

The utility of cemented femoral stems in modern THA: a 10-year comparative analysis of the Charnley and Exeter stems.

Background: Total hip replacement (THR) is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. The controversy surrounding the relative merits of a cemented composite beam or cemented taper-slip stem in total hip replacement continues. Our aims primarily were to assess the 10-year outcomes of cemented stems using Charnley and Exeter prostheses with regional registry data and secondarily to assess the main predictors of revision.

The Irish National Orthopaedic Register Under Cyberattack: What Happened, and What Were the Consequences?

Background: On May 14, 2021, a criminal cyberattack was launched against the Irish public healthcare system, the Health Service Executive, resulting in a complete shutdown of all national healthcare computer systems, including the Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR). Cyberattacks of this kind occur sporadically, and postevent analyses can inform future preparedness efforts, but few such analyses have been published.

Question/purpose: What was the impact of the cyberattack in terms of (1) registry downtime, (2) harms to patients, and (3) costs to the INOR for data contingency and reconciliation?

Methods: All nine hospitals using the INOR were included for data collection.

Third and fourth generation ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty at a minimum of ten years.

Background: Ceramic on Ceramic bearings in Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) afford a low friction coefficient, low wear rates and extreme hardness. Significant complications include hip squeak, ceramic fracture and poor polyethylene performance in revision procedures due to imbedding of abrasive microscopic ceramic fragments. We report on the results of this bearing at a minimum of 10 years.

Can Bar Code Scanning Improve Data Capture in a National Register? Findings from the Irish National Orthopaedic Register.

Background: The Irish National Orthopaedic Register (INOR) provides a national mechanism for managing data on THA and TKA in Ireland, including a detailed implant record populated by intraoperative implant bar code scanning. It is critically important that implant details are recorded accurately for longitudinal outcome studies, implant recalls, and revision surgery planning. Before INOR's 2014 launch, Irish hospitals maintained separate, local institutional arthroplasty databases.

Obesity trends over 10 years in primary hip and knee arthroplasty-a study of 12,000 patients.

Objectives/aims: Obesity and its increasing prevalence are global public health concerns. Following joint replacement, there is evidence to support that obese patients are more likely to suffer complications. We examined 10-year trends in BMI of the primary total hip and total knee replacement cohorts in our institution to discern whether the BMI of these patients has changed over time.

A multi-site review of second hip fractures across 6 Dublin teaching hospitals.

Introduction: Fragility hip fractures are common and costly. Secondary fracture prevention is a treatment goal following hip fracture; however, the number of those that proceed to fracture their contralateral hip in Ireland is unknown. There are plans to introduce a Fracture Liaison Service Database in Ireland which will aim to prevent secondary fractures.

Assessment of previous fracture and anti-osteoporotic medication prescription in hip fracture patients.

Introduction: Hip fracture prevention is an essential component in elderly patient care. History of prior fracture is a significant risk factor for subsequent hip fracture. There are variable rates of treatment for these groups of patients.

Outcomes of the Exeter V40 cemented femoral stem at a minimum of ten years in a non-designer centre.

Aims: The Exeter V40 cemented femoral stem was first introduced in 2000. The largest single-centre analysis of this implant to date was published in 2018 by Westerman et al. Excellent results were reported at a minimum of ten years for the first 540 cases performed at the designer centre in the Exeter NHS Trust, with stem survivorship of 96.

Analysing the variation in volume and nature of trauma presentations during COVID-19 lockdown in Ireland.

Aims: Europe has found itself at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. Naturally, this has placed added strain onto healthcare systems internationally. It was feared that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could overrun the Irish healthcare system.

Assessing the Attitudes, Awareness, and Behavioral Alterations of Patients Awaiting Total Hip Arthroplasty During the COVID-19 Crisis.

Background: COVID-19 has placed a huge burden on healthcare systems which has led to widespread cancellation elective surgical care. Ireland is recovering from the first wave of COVID-19 and as such the expeditious return of elective surgical care is important. This is the first study to examine the attitudes of patients to undergoing total joint arthroplasty during the COVID-19 crisis.

Current concepts and outcomes in cemented femoral stem design and cementation techniques: the argument for a new classification system.

Cemented implant fixation design principles have evolved since the 1950s, and various femoral stem designs are currently in use to provide a stable construct between the implant-cement and cement-bone interfaces.Cemented stems have classically been classified into two broad categories: taper slip or force closed, and composite beams or shaped closed designs. While these simplifications are acceptable general categories, there are other important surgical details that need to be taken into consideration such as different broaching techniques, cementing techniques and mantle thickness.

Bypass: an integrated hip fracture care pathway.

Background: The incidence of hip fractures is expected to increase over the coming years, placing a greater burden on limited resources. A high volume of patients is brought to hospitals that do not have the resources necessary to provide definitive care. Optimal care involves a coordinated and integrated system of trauma care.

Connolly Hospital Trauma Assessment Clinic (TAC): a virtual solution to patient flow.

Background: Trauma Assessment Clinics (TAC) were pioneered by the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Group. Patients deemed for non-operative management are referred to the TAC for review by an orthopaedic consultant with multidisciplinary team (MDT) support. Connolly Hospital launched a TAC on 11 September 2018.

Failed osteosynthesis of cemented B1 periprosthetic fractures.

Background: Periprosthetic fractures about the hip are increasingly common. The literature estimates a failure rate of approximately 10% in Vancouver B1 type fractures which have undergone fixation. There is currently no guidance available on the next step of management for this patient group.

The effect of indirect admission via hospital transfer on hip fracture patients in Ireland.

Background And Aims: Current best practice states that hip fracture patients should undergo surgery within 48 hours to minimise perioperative complications. There are 10 emergency departments (EDs) in Ireland that receive hip fracture patients without a trauma and orthopaedic surgery unit on site. Idle periods and duplicated preoperative investigations can lead to a prolonged time to surgery.

Periprosthetic Fractures About the Hip: A Case-Matched Retrospective Analysis of Functional Outcomes Postrehabilitation.

Introduction: Little research has examined postrehabilitation functional outcomes of periprosthetic hip fractures. Predicted functional deficits and acceptable rehabilitation outcomes for these patients are not established. This study aimed to compare functional outcomes of periprosthetic fractures to matched patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Total knee replacement under tourniquet control: A prospective study of the peripheral arterial vasculature using colour-assisted duplex ultrasonography.

Background And Purpose: A tourniquet may potentiate rare and devastating arterial complications after total knee replacement (TKR) in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Most prior studies that evaluated peripheral arterial blood flow primarily used the ankle-brachial index (ABI).

Methods: We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for PVD in a cohort undergoing TKR.

The conundrum of calcaneal spurs: do they matter?

Background: Chronic plantar heel pain is a common and potentially debilitating condition, often caused by plantar fasciitis. Plantar calcaneal spurs were originally considered the cause of plantar fasciitis but are now regarded as an incidental finding by most authors. We aimed to test this hypothesis and to investigate predisposing factors for the development of spurs.

Intra-articular dislocation of the patella.

We present an unusual case of a chronic, irreducible intra-articular dislocation of the patella in an elderly nursing home resident. The patient had been unable to weight bear for 3 weeks. Radiographs in the emergency department (ED) confirmed the intra-articular dislocation with the superior pole lodged in the intercondylar notch.

Intramedullary versus extramedullary alignment of the tibial component in the Triathlon knee.

Background: Long term survivorship in total knee arthroplasty is significantly dependant on prosthesis alignment. Our aim was determine which alignment guide was more accurate in positioning of the tibial component in total knee arthroplasty. We also aimed to assess whether there was any difference in short term patient outcome.

Acetabular impaction grafting in total hip replacement.

Background And Purpose: Acetabular impaction grafting has been shown to be very effective, but concerns regarding its suitability for larger defects have been highlighted. We report the use of this technique in a large cohort of patients, and address possible limitations of the technique.

Methods: We investigated a consecutive group of 339 cases of impaction grafting of the cup with morcellised impacted allograft bone for survivorship and mechanisms for early failure.

Defining the impaction frequency and threshold force required for femoral impaction grafting in revision hip arthroplasty. A human cadaveric mechanical study.

Background And Purpose: The two most common complications of femoral impaction bone grafting are femoral fracture and massive implant subsidence. We investigated fracture forces and implant subsidence rates in embalmed human femurs undergoing impaction grafting. The study consisted of two arms, the first examining the force at which femoral fracture occurs in the embalmed human femur, and the second examining whether significant graft implant/subsidence occurs following impaction at a set force at two different impaction frequencies.

Femoral impaction grafting in revision total hip arthroplasty: a follow-up of 540 hips.

Between 1987 and 1999, 540 revision total hip arthroplasties in 487 patients were performed at our institution using the femoral impaction grafting technique with a cemented femoral stem. All patients were prospectively followed up for 2 to 15 years postoperatively with no loss to follow-up. A total of 494 hips remained successfully in situ at an average of 6.