Introducing a new proforma for the safe use of intraoperative tourniquets in orthopaedic surgery.

Introduction: The routine use of pneumatic tourniquets in orthopaedic surgery is widely adopted in current practice; however, practice varies considerably based mainly on anecdotal and cultural traditions. This Quality Improvement Project evaluated current service as per the newly published British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma & Orthopaedics guideline on 'The Safe Use of Intraoperative Tourniquets'.

Methods: Patient records were reviewed retrospectively for all patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery in September 2021 at one NHS hospital trust.

Biomechanical comparison of headless compression screws versus independent locking screw for intra-articular fractures.

Purpose: Headless compression screws (HCS) have a variable thread pitch and headless design enabling them to embed below the articular surface and generate compression force for fracture healing without restricting movement. Locking screws have greater variety of dimensions and a threaded pitch mirroring the design of the HCS. The objective of this study is to determine whether locking screws can generate compression force and compare the compressive forces generated by HCS versus locking screws.

Cut and cure: surgical therapy of synovitis.

Surgical management for synovitis has undergone radical change in the last few years with the evolution of DMARDs and advanced Interventional Radiology techniques. Here we present areas where surgical therapy may still be the most effective option, either alone or in conjunction with non-surgical measures.

Trapeziectomy versus joint replacement for first carpometacarpal (CMC 1) joint osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis directly compares joint replacement (JR) and trapeziectomy techniques to provide an update as to which surgical intervention is superior for first carpometacarpal (CMC-1) joint osteoarthritis.

Methods: In August 2020, MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies that compared these two techniques for the treatment of CMC-1 joint osteoarthritis (PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42020189728). Primary outcomes included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), QuickDASH (QDASH) and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) scores.