Patients undergoing blood tests before minor/moderate trauma surgery: a retrospective review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the number of unnecessary preoperative blood tests undertaken on ASA Grade 1 patients undergoing minor/moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery.

Design: Review of all ASA1 patients who had been operated on the trauma lists for three consecutive months.

Setting: UK Teaching Hospital.

The conversion rate of bipolar hemiarthroplasty after a hip fracture to a total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Bipolar hip hemiarthroplasty is used in the management of fractures of the proximal femur. The dual articulation is cited as advantageous in comparison to unipolar prostheses as it decreases acetabular erosion, has a lower dislocation rates and is easier to convert to a total hip arthroplasty (THA) should the need arise. However, these claims are debatable.

Ipsilateral tibial shaft fracture and distal tibial triplane fracture with an intact fibula: a case report.

We present a case of an ipsilateral tibial shaft fracture and a distal tibial triplane fracture with an intact fibula in a 14-year-old boy. Computed tomography revealed the distal tibial triplane fracture with a 2.6-mm displaced Tillaux fragment and a posterior malleolar shear fragment.

Herpes zoster virus: an unusual but potentially treatable cause of sciatica and foot drop.

The herpes zoster virus is a rare but potential cause of acute motor weakness. This article describes 2 patients with drop foot secondary to an infection of varicella zoster who were incorrectly referred to an orthopedic clinic from their general practitioners. The first patient was a 74-year-old man who presented with weakness in the right foot and a vesicular rash.