A prospective study on the risk of glove fingertip contamination during draping in joint replacement surgery.

Introduction: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the risk of contamination of surgical gloves during preparation and draping in joint replacement surgery.

Methods: During 46 hip and knee replacement procedures, the gloves of orthopaedic consultants (n=5) and registrars (n=3) were assessed for contamination immediately after draping by impression of gloved fingers on blood agar. Contamination was evaluated by the surgeon's grade, the type of procedure, the role of the assistant and the dominance of the hand.

Failure of total hip arthroplasty with a precoated prosthesis. 4- to 11-year results.

A series of early femoral component failures prompted a detailed retrospective clinical and radiographic review of 176 hybrid cemented total hip arthroplasties using a polymethyl-methacrylate coated femoral prosthesis. All surgeries were performed using third generation cement techniques. Average length of followup was 6.

Revision total hip arthroplasty with a retroperitoneal approach to the iliac vessels.

Although vascular complications during revision total hip arthroplasty are rare, the results can be devastating. Reports in the literature describe staged operations, with the first procedure being abdominal to remove cement and/or the acetabular component followed by a second joint reconstruction procedure. A protocol was developed that combines a retroperitoneal approach with revision total hip arthroplasty in one operative procedure in patients at risk for vascular injury.

Arthroscopic excision of symptomatic medial plica. A study of 118 knees with 1-4 year follow-up.

We retrospectively reviewed 93 patients (118 knees) treated by arthroscopic excision of painful medial plica. A scoring scale 0-100 was used to evaluate the symptoms. After an average of 2 (1-4) years, 109 of 118 knees had little, if any, pain and the average improvement in the score was 41 points.